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Todd McDonald

Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, R3

Todd is Co-Founder and CPO of R3. Todd co-founded R3 in 2015 and was one of the first to uncover the promise of blockchain technology for the financial services industry and beyond. In his current role, Todd is responsible for R3’s product and marketing strategy, aligning key markets and customers to drive the longer-term strategic roadmap for Corda. He also served on the Hyperledger Governing Board where he oversaw all project business and marketing matters. Todd, alongside fellow leaders in the crypto assets sector, founded The Global Digital Finance (GDF) industry body to release an industry code of conduct to drive sustainable crypto assets innovation.

Prior to R3, Todd spent fourteen years at Standard Chartered Bank as a Managing Director in their financial markets group where he held positions such as Global Head of Electronic FX Trading and Head of FX for the Americas. Todd holds a BA in Economics and Political Science from Colgate University, NY.


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Friday, February 26, 2010

Is Math too hard?

Are humans good at Math?

In the movie Oh God Book II God (played by George Burns) says that Math was a mistake, I made it too hard!. While I am reluctant to contradict God, George Burns, or God as portrayed by George Burns, scientists have found evidence that people are pretty good at math. At least people have known about numbers for a far longer time than previously thought. See this article. What does this mean for us? The next time one of your students says I can't do this! I'm just not that good at math! you can tell them that this is just not true.

An Aside: Before posting this I wanted to verify that that quote really was in that movie. I would have thought it would be a quote that math people, or people who think math is hard, or math people who know math is hard, would remember. When I googled it all I could find was a comment on this blog entry of Scott's by Bill Gasarch. Not what I would call a confirmation. It may be that my quote is not quite exact. If anyone knows for sure (e.g., has the DVD and checks it) let me know.

  1. From the article you point to:

    "Numbers make modern life possible".

    Not only modern life. Also life itself was "made it too hard!".

    Siempre que pasa igual, ocurre lo mismo.

  2. I disagree; most math is very easy compared to some of the impossible things humans attempt to do all the time, like predict the behavior of the stock market, the weather, or a brain! As von Neumann once put it,

    If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is.

  3. Keith Devlin makes the exact opposite point in his book "The Math Gene".

    He makes the point that the key property of mathematics is abstraction and that humans' ability to abstract is what gave us evolutionary advantage. Therefore we (generally) all share a "math gene".

    Note that he distinguishes this from the algorithm following ability associated with arithmetic and points out research showing that the two activate completely different areas of the brain. His claim is that people are turned off math by the algorithm following and as a result miss the really interesting and useful part of higher math which is the abstraction.

  4. Along the same lines as Paul Beame's post, Vladimir Arnol'd concluded a 1997 AMS interview as follows:

    Our brain has two halves: one is responsible for the multiplication of polynomials and languages, and the other half is responsible for orientation of figures in space and all the things important in real life. Mathematics is geometry when you have to use both halves.

    @article{Lui:1997eu, Author = {Lui, S. H.}, Journal = {Notices Amer. Math. Soc.}, Number = {4}, Pages = {432--438}, Title = {An interview with {V}ladimir {A}rnol'd}, Volume = {44}, Year = {1997}}

  5. Math, so easy a caveman could do it.

  6. Google is FAST!

    I did a search for
    "oh god" math "too hard"
    and YOUR blog post was the first hit.

  7. Easy math is hard in the hands of a weak teacher.

    Hard math is easy in the hands of a great teacher.

  8. Going back to the article, there is a continous confusion between quantities and numbers in it. What animals can recognise (even birds, at least until 3 or 4)are quantities, not numbers.

    Numbers are abstract (simbolic) representations of quantities, as graphs are abstract (simbolic) representations of relations or dynamic systems are abstract representations of change.

    They also say:

    "In this view, numbers are a kind of technology, a man-made invention to which our all-purpose brains can adapt".

    I would say that from a certain point of view the whole mathematical theories can be seen like this: a man made invention (or institution), full of free options, conventions, efficiency looking tricks...) and the fact that it is teached the platonic way make it harder than it really is.

    As any other invention mathematical theories can be compared and judged according to how they fulfill their purpose.
    In this respect regarding theories whose purpose is to explain how the world works and why it works this way it can be said that there is still much improvement to be done and it can be done: we have now much more information about the world than ever. I would say that we have enough information...

  9. I'm missing John Sidles :)

  10. Math is easy enough if the student works at learning and it has nothing to do with whether the teacher is a good teacher or a bad teacher. Blaming the teacher is the first thing that a student who has poor study habits does. What is hard is teaching math to students who have the mind set that the teacher's job is to entertain and make it easy.

    Also there is a move afoot in the Department of Education in several universities to dumb down all math, english, and science courses. If this direction is taken then you can be sure that the USA will become a third rate country within less than thirty years. Aiming at the least motivated student will make sure that no student is motivated as we will be rewarding those who don't care about learning. Instead, get them out of the classroom before they infect the healthy students, as they are sick.

  11. Interesting to hear TCS guys talk about Math. Do TCS people ever use integration? differentiation? Real Analysis? Functional Analysis? When you write in LaTeX, do you ever use $\int$ ? All TCS people ever think of is their polynomial time reductions! Time for TCS to leave Garey and Johnson behind and do the real math.

  12. Math is difficult only because the way it is being mostly taught.

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Add Value to Your Logo Design Process by Creating Options

Add value to your logo design process by creating options following these 7 tips.

There are a few schools of thought when it comes to providing logo options to a client as a part of the design process. Some people would argue that providing options makes the design process confusing and leaves your client doubting your expertise–after all, you’re the expert, and your client is looking to you for guidance. Others would say, that by creating a few carefully crafted options, you are showing your creative chops while illustrating how well you’ve listened to their ideas. I’m in the latter school of thought when it comes to logo design. I believe you add value to your logo design process by creating options…with a few important caveats.

1) Not every stage of your logo design process requires options.

By providing options in the early stages of the design process you are involving your client in the decision-making process and gleaning more ideas about their preferences. Your creative brief might not contain all the details about a client’s preferences.

Rebellious Unicorns Production Company Inc. FINAL logo versions

However, once an option has been selected there is no real point in presenting more options unless you’re simply making adjustments to your client’s selection for refinement. Presenting more options at this point might frustrate and confuse your client.

2) Make sure your logo options match the creative brief.

Creative Brief
PLAN Okanagan Logo options
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Creative Brief
PLAN Okanagan Logo options
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Nothing is worse than having to explain why none of your designs incorporate the client’s set of must-sees. If you can’t back up your creative solutions based on previously agreed-upon terms, be prepared for rejection.

However, when each option follows the creative brief and represents a snapshot of possible options, you’re showing that you have considered a multitude of viable solutions. When your client has this concise set of options to choose from they feel included and heard. It is also important to note that a client’s preferences should be closely linked to their audience’s preferences. In order to do this, you will have to diplomatically suggest that every preference should be weighed against an actual goal. Then put those preferences and goals into a cohesive creative brief.

You can include a rationale that provides evidence to support your choices following the creative brief and allows your client some time to make a decision.

3) Make sure your logo options are recognizably different from a distance.

Qusic logo options
QUSIC logo options
Qusic final logo
QUSIC final logo

Simple colour tints and shades don’t make too much difference in the early stages of logo design. If a set of options are simply subtle permutations of another option pick your choice of one for presentation. The time for details comes last.

4) Don’t include logo options you don’t like.

This sounds like a very obvious thing to say. It’s easy to mistakenly include options we don’t like when we are trying to show our creative abilities to create options. Put a limit on the number of options you will present and stick with it. If an option is not working out ditch it.

You should only present the logo options you would be proud to use yourself. A project you like is great for your portfolio. A project you don’t like will only haunt you.

NOTE: There is no image for this section. I do my best to delete the option that I don’t like and erase it from my memory. Why would I hang onto my worst work? A question for another post perhaps.

5) Try to leave colour out of it.

Leave colour OUT of it!
Colour and Black & White Logo options
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Leave colour OUT of it!
Colour and Black & White Logo options
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Logo options should be in black and white in the concept phase unless expressly requested otherwise. A good logo should stand out without including pops of colour. By removing colour you are forcing your client to assess the options based on form and function alone. Colours can be polarizing and everyone has their preferences. I’ve seen some great designs overlooked because the client didn’t like the colour.

If you are going to have colour in the early stages try to show what the logo would look like in black and white as well. There will almost always be a time when a single colour black or white logo can be used.

6) Don’t turn your logo options into a pick your combo lunch special.

This tip is difficult to get some clients to comprehend. When we are given too many options, and we don’t see something we like, we often try to create a new option. There is a desire to take different elements from various options and mash them together. The conversation then becomes similar to a combo lunch special where you choose a drink, a main, and a side dish–the possibilities are endless. The result is the soul-crushing Franken-logo that often leaves someone displeased with the outcome. Especially if you devote your time to creating the logo abomination only to get the same unsatisfied response from the client and you start the process over again.

Too many competing options on a page

To avoid this you need to be confident in what you present. Make sure each option is on a separate page with rank indicators in order according to your favourites. It’s like being the chef that says “no substitutions” and also has a recommendation or special of the day. Try to add a tab at the top of the page that indicates your first choice, and provide a rationale.

TOP CHOICE logo option page.
PLAN Okanagan Second Choice logo
SECOND CHOICE logo option page.

When this approach doesn’t work I still try to keep the Franken-logo away from the villagers. I ask what the client likes and dislikes about each logo option and promise to create a new option that takes those thoughts into consideration.

7) Write a concise rationale.

Not everyone thinks or creates in the same way. If they did the world would be boring. However, it is for this reason that you might want to consider your professional design choices. Evaluate whether they are based on fact rather than your personal preference. A client has the luxury of choosing based on preference and that is a fact. The designer needs to create based on a combination of facts and preferences in order to develop the best-rationalized outcome.

Let me break it down using a couple of examples:
FACT: Black and white create the highest contrast possible. Colours opposite each other on the colour wheel create the highest contrast colour combos.
PREFERENCE: I like blue.
OUTCOME & RATIONALE: Dark blue on white and Dark blue on bright orange have been used to create the highest possible contrast while using your preference of the colour blue.

FACT: Bebas Neue Pro is a modern condensed sans serif font family that has been compared to Helvetica, but is more affordable.
PREFERENCE: I want a modern font that’s like Helvetica, but I don’t want Helvetica.
OUTCOME & RATIONALE: Bebas Neue Pro was selected because it is modern and readable like Helvetica, but its uniqueness and affordability make it ideal for your new logo.

By stating things clearly in terms that address both fact and preference you are able to provide a rational and pragmatic reason for your design choices that brings validity to your logo design option.

In the early stages of the logo design process, you are still getting to know your client and better understand their business. You are also in the process of establishing a business relationship. If your client is going to trust your decisions it is important to include them in the creative process. You are the expert, however, you are going to have to prove it.

Logo options help guide the design process and give insights into the mind of your client. You’ll be able to understand their preferences for future design solutions by the choices they make.

By providing logo options you are showing your dedication to getting the project completed correctly the first time.

Alternatively, by presenting one logo option you are effectively saying that you know everything about your client and there is only one possible solution for them. This is dangerous territory to be in. If you get it wrong your client may think your hubris isn’t worth working with you. You can also expect to have to go through many logo changes and reiterations to make it to the solution. If you get it right kudos, your mindreading skills are on point. JK. This can happen from time to time, however, you can expect to get it wrong more than you get it right.

Finally, these tips are not rigid rules. I try my best to follow them but there are always exceptions. By designing options you add value to your logo design process. The main idea is that options are not a bad thing and by creating options you are giving your creative problem-solving skills a boost while involving your client in the design process.

Are you having designers block when creating options? Check back later to learn about logo categories.

Want some help with your logo designs? Connect with me through my website


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Thursday, October 25, 2018

Google Jib: build Java Docker images better

Introducing Jib — build Java Docker images better | Google Cloud Blog

"...Jib, an open-source Java containerizer from Google that lets Java developers build containers using the Java tools they know. Jib is a fast and simple container image builder that handles all the steps of packaging your application into a container image. It does not require you to write a Dockerfile or have docker installed, and it is directly integrated into Maven and Gradle—just add the plugin to your build and you'll have your Java application containerized in no time."

podcast interview with product managers
Java & Jib with Patrick Flynn and Mike Eltsufin | Google Cloud Platform Podcast

we could expect similar tools for other platforms also.
In fact Visual Studio does this automation already for .NET

Google + GitLab vs. Microsoft + GitHub

Alphabet Bets On GitLab Following Microsoft's GitHub Acquisition

"GitLab recently obtained a $100 million investment from Alphabet's Google Ventures (GV), Iconiq Capital and Khosla Ventures, valuing the company at $1 billion."


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REX Extortion #1 - Publishing my first game on Steam

10 months ago, on October 30th 2020, I was publishing my first game on Steam “Extortion”, it’s a game where you’re playing an computer engineer which is blackmailed and forced to hack some servers....

Real and false issues of javascript

Hello ! In this article, we will talk about a sensitive subject in many developers communities: “Why using or not using JavaScript ?”. Environments & versions In that article, we will consid...


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Spring brings with it countless wild birds that use the season to find a safe place to nest and raise their chicks. A nice way to help them out is to place nests and eating troughs up in the trees in our gardens.

Which nests to buy

Most bird species build their nests using whatever they find in nature, but they never say no to a nest ready to move in. If you’re willing to host some of these marvellous birds in your own garden, buy some artificial nests. There are many different models available in the market, in different sizes and materials, some more suitable to some species than others.

Ferplast offers a wide variety of outdoors nests for wild animals made of wood strictly from sustainably managed forests.

Our Nest line of house-shaped nests with standard front opening (39 mm) that can be reduced with an adapter (to 32 or 28 mm) is suitable for Eurasian wrens, coal tits, European crested tits, Eurasian blue tits, great tits, common redstarts, Eurasian nuthatches, and house sparrows.

Our mailbox-shaped nests, with double entrance slits on the sides, are particularly suitable for treecreepers and for greater and lesser spotted woodpeckers.

Nests shaped like boxes, with a wide front entrance window, such as Ferplast’s Nest 9, are advised for white wagtails, robins and spotted flycatchers.

Where to install nests for wild birds

To make sure you’re doing a good deed and helping the birds you should put them up during winter, but even in March or April you’ll be fine – it’s just that the new tenants will have less time to adapt to the new little house.

Large trees with widespread branches and a lot of room between the leaves are not safe places for birds, which prefer medium-sized trees with thick branches, or even bushes, which they offer more privacy. Ideally, artificial nests should be placed in peaceful areas, away from noise and from possible predators.

How to install the nests

After deciding which tree is the most suitable, move on to the practical stage: installing the nests. They should never be exposed to cold winds, to direct sunlight or to the elements in general, and must always be well fixed to the trunk, through its top and its bottom parts. Of course, they should be firm enough that they won’t sway!

Different bird species nest at different heights, but in general nests should be placed a little more than 3 metres above the ground. Keep in mind that it must be easy to access and not too covered by vegetation. We advise you to place it in such a way that the entrance hole leans slightly down, to keep rainwater from dripping in.

Where there are nests, there should also be feeding troughs, to attract the birds. But don’t overfill them: during the spring months, birds should be able to forage for food themselves!

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Implementing API keys on SUSI.AI server

The clients of SUSI.AI need config keys to work with some APIs like captcha, maps and blog and these keys are stored in the server of SUSI and the clients fetch them using API calls to the server. The admins can add or delete api keys from the server using the

API. This API stores the API keys in a json format in the apiKeys.json file in the system_keys_dir directory which is in the data directory on the susi server.

For the clients to fetch these API keys and use them in their respective APIs, they need to use

Continue ReadingImplementing API keys on SUSI.AI server


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3 Reasons to Become a Construction & Maintenance Electrician (& What to Expect in Training)

Most prospective students have already heard that demand for skilled tradespeople has risen sharply across Canada over the last few years.

Our aging population is creating a skills-vacuum in the construction trades. Many workers are retiring, or getting ready to retire, and there simply aren't enough trained workers to take their place.

However, demand for tradespeople varies by geographical region within Canada, and by the type of trade. Before pushing forward with training, it's important for students to research the job outlook in their particular province and city, and for the specific trade they'd like to pursue.

This post is for anyone hoping to pursue construction and maintenance electrician training in Ontario, and specifically in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

We looked at the data on employment prospects for this particular trade, and found three compelling reasons to start an electrician program this year.

Jobs are Booming in Ontario for Electricians

In December of 2016, the Government of Canada Job Bank published its analysis of career trends for thousands of occupations, including "construction and maintenance electrician".

The Job Bank looked at factors impacting employment for electricians in each of the provinces, territories, major regions, and cities across the country.

Then, the government used this data to forecast the job outlook for construction and maintenance electricians in each location, and make predictions about job growth over the next several years.

We looked at the results for Ontario, and the Toronto region in particular, to see what students entering electrician programs could expect in terms of employment opportunities following their training.

We found an encouraging forecast for both the province and its largest city. Here are the highlights of the government analysis:

  • The Job Bank predicts that Ontario as a whole will offer steady demand for construction and maintenance electricians over the next several years (the province received a 2/3 star rating for job growth in this field)
  • Toronto received the Job Bank's highest rating for job growth for construction and maintenance electricians: 3/3 stars for overall employment outlook in this trade
  • Job opportunities will open up as a wave of currently employed electricians retire—at the moment, there aren't enough apprentices ready to take their place, leaving many jobs open for new applicants
  • Population growth in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is prompting new construction, such as numerous condominium projects and residential developments—creating new job opportunities for electricians
  • The province has committed to new construction and upgrades to educational, health, and heritage institutions: long-term projects that will raise demand for construction and maintenance electricians in the GTA and other regions across Ontario

It's Relatively Quick to Become a Construction and Maintenance Electrician in Ontario

Students looking to enter the workforce quickly after high school—or change careers later in life—typically want a fast training program they know will lead straight to employment after graduation.

While there are many career college programs that offer training in just one or two years, few can offer the job security and short duration of electrician training in Ontario.

Construction and maintenance electrician programs can be completed within six months to one year of study. Training is intensive and efficient, covering the most relevant theory and hands-on skills. Common coursework includes:

  • Electrical installation methods (procedures for installing switching devices, conduits, tubing, and cables)
  • Electrical safety protocols (working at heights, lock out and tag safety, traffic control, working in confined spaces or with scaffolding, relevant requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, etc.)
  • Understanding the Electrical Code & Interpreting Blueprints (an overview of the Canadian Electrical Code, and how to complete an electrical installation based on architectural, mechanical, and structural drawings/specifications)

Electricians Can Find Employment in a Range of Work Environments

The Job Bank reports that the majority of construction and maintenance electricians in Ontario are employed in the construction industry. They work for electrical contractors, providing services to a broad range of institutional, residential, and commercial establishments.

However, electricians can find employment with a range of other companies and organizations, such as:

  • Manufacturing companies
  • Commercial construction companies
  • Residential construction companies
  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturers
  • Government companies including municipalities

And there you have it—some very encouraging data that supports electrician training as a wise educational investment, and a relatively quick pathway to employment in the GTA.

Are you planning to launch a new career and become a construction and maintenance electrician this year? Looking for a reliable construction trades school in the Toronto area?

Your next step is to speak with Admissions. An Admissions Advisor will guide you through the Electrician training program, costs, financial aid, how to apply, and more.

Chat live with an Advisor now. Or click below to explore the program in more detail. We're here to help!Learn More About Electrician Pre-apprenticeship Training

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Friday, July 8, 2005

Microsoft's Windows Marketplace has my applications

I just found that a couple of my applications, SmartPurger and JTB FlexReport has been added to Microsoft's Windows Marketplace.

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Kanto's Father's Day Buying Guide | Kanto Audio Kanto's Father's Day Buying Guide | Kanto Audio

Kanto’s Father’s Day Buying Guide

Buying the perfect gift for the guy that has it all can be challenging – we’re here to help. We asked the Kanto Dads what they’d love to receive on Father’s Day this year and curated their top picks into a buying guide. The Kanto Dads know what’s up.

DJI Spark with Remote Control

$400 USD

The DJI Spark was released two years ago and it’s still the best of its class. This drone is incredibly capable for its tiny size. It has great range with the remote control, a good camera with a stabilized gimbal, and some nice safety features like obstacle avoidance and GPS guided “return to home”. We recommend picking up an extra battery because of the DJI Spark’s short flight time.

Wyze Cam v2

$20 USD

The best value smart home camera on the market, hands down. This camera can integrate into an existing smart home eco-system to keep tabs on a front entrance or anywhere a bit of extra security is required. Unlike its competitors, 14 days of recorded cloud storage are included for free.

Monoprice MP Mini Delta 3D Printer

$160 USD

The MP Mini Delta 3D printer is one of the lowest priced ways to get into 3D printing as of 2019. It’s not fancy, it doesn’t produce the highest quality results, but for the price there’s not much that can compete with it. Because the MP Mini Delta comes pre-assembled and includes a handy carrying strap, Dad can bring it anywhere he wants. Get ready for 3D printed golf ball belt clips and #1 Dad tie clips!

Tile Pro

$35 USD

Bluetooth trackers are one of those things you don’t realize you need until it’s too late. Make sure Dad never loses or misplaces his keys again by picking up the newest version of the rugged Tile Pro. It has better range and a louder alert compared to the standard entry-level Tile Mate.

Kanto YU4 and Kanto SYD

$330 USD

Your father will love how versatile these speakers are. With legacy and modern inputs, Kanto speakers can accept everything from vintage turntables to smart-home devices. The YU4 and SYD share many of the same components and a similar sound signature. Choose YU4 if your dad is an audio purist and wants separate left and right audio channels, or SYD if your dad likes simple all-in-one solutions.

Kanto SUB8

$290 USD

The YU4 and SYD are capable speakers, but their compact size means they won’t be able to cover the lowest portion of the audio spectrum. With a subwoofer, your dad will be hearing music the way the producers and engineers intended it to be heard.

Kanto S4

$40 USD

The perfect addition to the YU4 when used on top of a desktop. The S4 stand aligns the YU4 with the user’s ears by tilting the speakers 16° upward. The stands also isolate the speaker ensuring no vibrations are transmitted through the desks’ surface.

Koss Porta Pro Headphones

$35 USD

Despite being made for Walkman era tunes, the Koss Porta Pros can still handle any type of music thrown at it. With deeper, more detailed bass than one would assume by looking at them, it’s no surprise this classic has stood the test of time.

Vinyl Me, Please – 3 Month Subscription

$81 USD

Each month, Vinyl Me, Please sends you a new record alongside additional art, extended liner notes, critic commentary, cocktail recipes, and more. It’s a new experience every month and many gifts are exclusive to Vinyl Me, Please members. Choose three options – Essentials, Rap & Hip Hop or Classics to suit your dad’s tastes.

Enso HD 8″ Chef’s Knife

$130 USD

Every home chef needs a dependable knife that will stand the test of time. Enso knives are made in Japan combining modern materials with old school, folded Damascus steel construction. It performs even better than it looks and will appease both entry-level and seasoned cooks alike.

KING #1000 Whetstone

$40 USD

Make sure to pick up a whetstone to keep Dad’s new knife sharp. This 1000 grit stone is ideal for maintaining an edge if used regularly. Lower grit stones will remove material more quickly if a knife hasn’t been sharpened often, while higher grit stones are better suited for polishing.

Pizzacraft Steel Baking Plate

$40 USD

Ceramic baking stones used to be the material of choice for home pizza cooks, but the rapid heat dissipation of steel is better suited for the quick cooking times authentic pizza requires. A steel baking plate can also double as a griddle on the BBQ – so versatile!

Fuego Box: Hot Sauce of the Month Club

3 Bottle, 3 Month Subscription

$87 USD

Get three hot sauces shipped to your father’s door every month. There are different options including an Extra Hot subscription for daring dads.

$10 USD/Mo

A streaming service designed for the cinephiles. MUBI features an ever-changing list of award-winning, art-house films curated by movie buffs.

$140 USD/Yr

This design orientated magazine covers a range of topics such as architecture, fashion, travel, and art. Wallpaper* is one of the most well-respected design publications – in circulation since 1996.

How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler

$20 USD

If your father ever finds himself in the awkward position of needing to rebuild civilization from the ground up, this book will have him covered.

Darn Tough Socks 1/4 Hiker Sock

$18 USD

These hiking socks are made with Merino wool which is moisture wicking, odor resistant, and incredibly soft. All Darn Tough Socks are backed by a lifetime warranty.

Herschel Charlie Wallet

$20-$30 USD

A high quality, slim wallet designed in Vancouver, BC – Kanto’s own backyard. With a huge array of fabrics to choose from or classic black leather, you’ll be able to find the perfect one for Dad.

Orient Kano Diver Watch

$255 USD

As Seiko continues to shift more upmarket, their sister company Orient continues to offer incredible build quality at attainable prices. The Kano is brand new for 2019 and is already gaining a cult following as one of the best affordable dive watches on the market.

Kirkland Signature Men’s Athletic Shoe

$17 USD

When Dad’s itching to do some yard work or tinker in the garage, there’s no shoe that can hold up quite as well. Make sure you cop a white pair to really highlight those grass stains.

*Retail pricing is subject to change. All retail pricing is valid as of May 24th, 2019.


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Is the Bar Prosecutor Alleging Murder When Only Manslaughter Is Appropriate?

The state bar is overcharging its cases.” Thus started the commentary by Carol M Langford, in the newspaper, The Recorder, in San Francisco. Langford is a defense counsel and former chair of the State Bar’s Law Practice Management and Technology Section. She quotes the California Supreme Court to the effect that “bar matters are ‘quasi criminal’ in nature.” She asserts that respondents before the State Bar Court have none of the usual constitutional safeguards in a normal criminal proceeding.

She further asserts that the Chief Trial Counsel (Jayne Kim) commented that the bar had to be “tougher” as evidenced by the Supreme Court’s rejection of 24 stipulations in 2012. Ms. Kim responded to Langford’s August 28th Viewpoint column, claiming she was misquoted.

This sounds a bit like the classic prosecutor/defense counsel “difference” of opinion. Ms. Langford would obviously prefer more stipulations that favor respondent attorneys; Ms. Kim would obviously prefer that those attorneys being “charged” be locked in jail and the key thrown away. The bottom line is that the general fund of the State Bar of California is $64 million, 75 to 80% of which goes to fund the bar’s disciplinary system. That is a whopping $48 million, give or take, that is expended to discipline attorneys who allegedly violate the rules of professional conduct.

I have watched this scenario for more than 40 years. In that time, there is only one State Bar president who indicated that the goal of the State Bar was twofold, one to protect the public and two to educate lawyers in more effectively running their law practice. By doing the latter, we do achieve the former as well. But for Jim Heiting, the president who suggested this, the State Bar is now in an adversarial position with its members, lawyers.

Langford suggests that the State Bar should make “real offers to respondents to settle matters…”  A lawyer signs a stipulation still receives punishment. In none of the comments made by Langford did she suggest that the respondent lawyer not receive discipline. The focus is whether there be a stipulation without a trial (and the concomitant additional cost to both the State Bar and to the respondent) or whether all matters need to go to trial. Why does the State Bar trial department not focus its energies against lawyers who turned down good offers reflective of the misconduct at issue.

This is a good question and one that is not answered merely by suggesting that the current legislation in California mandates that the public be protected. “Cleaning out a backlog” by offering reasonable stipulations, educating lawyers (members of the bar) on client relations and economics of the practice of law and developing a mutually respectful relationship between the Bar and its members will go a long way toward reducing the cost of attorney discipline and (Heaven help us) reducing the cost of membership in the State Bar.

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Questions? 888.282.9777
Questions? 888.282.9777

Our Guide to Online Dating Profile Photos – 2 Mistakes to Avoid

group profile picture

If you’ve been on the online dating world long enough, you’ll soon notice that everyone’s profile seems to be the same over and over again. This repetition may cause you to believe that you should be doing exactly the same because it seems to be the “correct” way.

Despite this pressure, remember that you’re unique. You have your preferences, tastes, personality—there is no one like you! You have no reason to create a dating profile that looks like everyone else’s profile. To be successful here, know that you need to be different and stand out from the crowd!

With that said, here are two dating profile photo mistakes you should avoid;

1. Action photos

If you’ve ever rummaged through anyone’s profile, you might have seen pictures of them in action. They might show off their skiing trip, scuba diving adventures, or jungle trekking moments. They upload such pictures, believing that these activities help them look fun, brave, courageous, and attractive to anyone looking for a potential partner. You might believe the same, thinking that action photos help capture the fun and adventurous side of you. After all, who wouldn’t want a partner that’s exciting, right?

While it might give out that message, what does it say? Not much, really, other than the fact that the person goes out many times. There is a massive downfall to these pictures, and that is it obscures the one element of the profile that people are looking for and that’s the individual. Yes, these photos might showcase your favorite activities, but what people are more interested in is you. They won’t be able to tell how you look and figure out whether or not they like you. It will tell them that you’re not unique and that you’re like anyone else out there with all their action photos.

If you want a picture that will attract anyone and showcases who you are, while staying unique, include photos of you and only you in your profile. Include well-lit, high-quality pictures of your head and shoulders, where people can see your eyes directly. This is more effective in proving yourself to be unique when compared to any wild, out-of-your-mind action photos can ever do.

2. Group photos

Some people rely on group photos to prove that they’re sociable, that they have a large circle of friends, and that they are the life of the party, among others. While the pictures may do that to a certain extent, there are plenty of downfalls to these kinds of photos that you should avoid using them.

For example, people looking at the picture might not be able to tell which person you are. They might even end up going out with one of your friends that, to them, looks better. In the case that your potential partner is looking for you, they might give up figuring out which one you are and leave.

In other words, you’re just decreasing your chances of landing a partner by uploading pictures of yourself surrounded by a group of friends. Remember that you need to make sure that your images are all about you and no one else. With a picture of yourself, you can fully display your personality and character!

At this point, you now know that you need to avoid doing anything extravagant and stay simple. By sticking with solo shots of yourself, you give yourself the highest possible chances of landing a pleasing partner. Sure, you can add some flair to the pictures, but make sure that the picture is all about you. Only that way can prospective partners carefully study you and decide whether or not they want to swipe you in the right direction.

If you are looking for a professional online dating photographer, get in touch with us today to see how we can help.

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Ten Years of Visual Studio

Post ImageI missed this last week, but March 19th was the ten year anniversary of the release of Visual Studio 97 – the first release of the Visual Studio product. Rob Caron has written my thoughts exactly:

Visual Studio has come a long way in that 10-year period.

I remember Visual Studio 97. It was sitting around in my Dad’s office, and I asked if I could “borrow” it. Who knows why they had ordered it…they never used it! I might even have the box around someplace.

I love Visual Studio. It’s a great product. More than that, it’s a great environment…and it now forms the base environment of tools in SQL Server and BizTalk Server, among others. Combined with the expanded lineup of SKUs, you could say that Visual Studio is taking over the tools scene at Microsoft!

Despite coming a long way in ten years, there’s much more on tap. Check out the future releases page for more info.

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Tag Archives: ola share monthly pass

Travel anywhere at flat Re. 1 for the entire month.

Have you ever imagined riding a cab at just Re.1? That too for an entire month? No? We mean it! We present to you the monthly Ola Share Pass. get yours at Rs. 399 and travel anywhere in the city at flat Re. 1.

Cut your monthly travel cost with the monthly Share Pass and make your commute easier with Ola. So be it riding to work, to a party or to a friend’s place, do it all at just Re. 1.

[maxbutton id=”1″ url=”bit.ly/sdinter” text=”Buy Yours Now” ]

Terms and conditions:

  • Valid only in Chandigarh till 31st December, 2017
  • Offer applicable on selected users
  • Valid on up to 20 rides per pass
  • Flat fare applicable up to 6 km, Micro fares applicable thereafter
  • Toll charges extra if applicable
  • An additional fare might apply in case two seats are selected during time of booking


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Sexy schemes and projects of pride – what have you submitted via the Planning Portal

by on March 19, 2013

The recent approval by the Secretary of State of the Liverpool Waters scheme brought to a conclusion the planning application process that witnessed the largest planning application yet submitted via the Portal.

It got me to thinking what other noteworthy applications have shimmied through our system into the real world, and being a nosey so and so I thought I ask you to provide the answers.

Large, small or particularly tricky, I ‘d love to hear your tales.

From → Uncategorized

  1. Hi, This was a successful submission following 1 years discussions with the very helpful planning and listed building departments in Elmbridge. The project was successful in getting planning and listed building approval but was stopped by Mr Osbourne’s decision to levy 20% VAT on listed building projects. We were 6 days outside the deadline. The project reference was 2012/1183.

  2. Isn’t it time to increase the size of files that can bu uploaded to the Planning Portal as part of an application? In this digital age, drawings and D & A statements are invariably larger than the 5MB limit.

  3. Karen Read permalink

    I agree with Marcus. Easier to burn a CD with all supporting information for submission than partial upload of plans / documents. Seems to defeat the object.

  4. A small but sensitive job. Penellick near Looe in Cornwall.
    The main building is grade 2 Star listed, but the barn is falling down and has no roof, so something has to be done. We want to keep the look and ragged shape of the existing walls and slot in the new build.
    Planning application number is PA13/01394. Or have a look at some design drawings on – go to Buildings/architecture on left, then ‘view details’ of Penellick on right.
    The Bodmin office have been really helpful giving guidance throughout the process. All we can do now is wait to see if we are successful.

  5. Vinod Patel permalink

    Why do my planning departments lose planning applications placed through the planning portal as well as paper ones. They used to admit losing the paper ones that I had to send in until I got someone to sign for them before the planning portal. Since then they have lost three applications that have been made for my planning in the last two years, Two through the planning portal and one hand delivered. The local paper have reported that they have had IT problems, but as a critic of the council services, I seriously don’t have a chance of having anything approved by them, as was proved when my last householder application was rejected at committee despite having unanimous local support and no objections, except from the planner for a side extension much smaller than identical ones in the area.
    Anyway the question is that is there a mechanism of forcing the council to accept that an application has been made, or do I have to accept their word that their system didn’t receive it.
    I am sure that this is not typical of planning departments, but then we as householders can’t chose the borough and in my experience, the appeals system is not independent as the planner uses 1cm resolution from the boundary based on the drawings and later admitted that she used the A4 drawings and made a planning decision that went through the appeals without even attending site. I don’t even think that planning decisions could be made without attending site.

    • Any application made through the portal is traceable. You should receive an email from us on the applications registration at the LPA.
      Please contact our support team who will check delivery for you.

  6. ‘Planning portal’ a life saver.Been using it since 2007 ( approx), never had any major issue,(minor glitches sure) numerous applications submitted over the years, have seen it develop over these years .As a regular user I would like to have a few more improvements done to the portal but all in all it is way better than photocopying numerous drawings and forms.My turnaround time has reduced a lot thanks to the portal, clients are happy, I m happy. Keep it up!

  7. Far too many tales to tell but thought the ‘Summary details of case’ for this appeal on the Planning Portal Search for an Appeal tool looked particularly interesting APP/Q9999/A/12/2185572. As the decision was dated the 28th March I wonder if it had anything to do with the first tranche of decisions that are not so tightly controlled!

  8. I love the Planning Portal (as you know) How about our Duke Street Scheme.. Conservation Area, World Heritage Site Hotel, Car park & Retail

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Planning Portal Relaunch

by on March 24, 2016

Hopefully, you will know by now that we are launching the new Planning Portal website over the Easter weekend (24-27 March 2016).

Just a reminder that the existing site will be taken offline tonight (Thursday 24 March) at 17:00 and the new site will be available from 09:00 on Tuesday 29 March at Don’t forget to update your bookmarks!

If you are a registered user, your account details and any draft/submitted application data which has been modified since 1 July 2015 will be transferred to the new site.  However, you will need to perform a quick set-up before you access the new application service for the first time:

  1. When you first sign in to the new Planning Portal you will be asked to ‘Set-up your account’.
  2. Your user name and registered email address will then be displayed. If these are correct and you still have access to the email address please click on the ‘Confirm account and send activation email’ button.
  3. The system will then send you an email. You will need to follow the instructions in the email to complete the process.
  4. Once activated, you will be sent a new temporary password that will need to be changed the first time you sign in.

And that’s it! Once you’re in, you will have access to all the functions and facilities you are familiar with but will quickly notice some significant improvements and a new look and feel.

We have published a series of short videos highlighting the new features on the blog if you want to take a look while you are tucking into your chocolate eggs.

Have a good Easter!

  1. I didn’t know about this until today, slightly inconvenient for those of us who will be working between 17.00 today and 9.00 next Tuesday. Can we submit direct to LPAs & if so how?

    • sarahchilcott permalink

      Hi. Sorry to hear that. We have been publicising the downtime through messages across the website and application service as well as on the blog. After working hours today, applications would have been registered by local authorities first thing Tuesday in any case, so it shouldn’t delay things for you. Apologies again.

  2. R jones permalink

    I am the web manager for a local authority and have spent all morning trying to find out why the portal was down only to find a twitter post today about the new url. We did not know and the links are all across our website. Could you have not planned a redirect on the old url to give us some time to make the change?

    • sarahchilcott permalink

      Hi. Apologies that you were unaware – we’ve sent regular communications out via this blog and Twitter, as well as email to local authorities. Regardless, there should have been redirects in place from the old site to the new one, but unfortunately we have been let down by the third party supplier which manages the domain. Its been escalated this morning and should be fixed today or first thing in the morning at the latest. Sarah

  3. The link to your website is very very slow today. I hope this will quickly improve.

  4. permalink

    Hi Sarah Is the site still down as unable to get in to the new address? John B Newton FRICS

    John Newton Associates Chartered Surveyors and Planning Consultants Mortimers Back Lane Monks Eleigh IPSWICH IP77BA

    t. 01449-741600 m. 07860-533221

    • sarahchilcott permalink

      Hi John. The site has been live since 9am. Have you tried clearing your cache? If you’re still having problems, please let me know what internet browser you are using. IE11 and Safari are not working for everyone – Chrome seems universally successful. Thanks, Sarah

  5. sara burrell permalink

    I agree no redirect from the old site and no information on where to go, dont do blogs and twitters – I have work to do, so completely unaware until this morning. It has taken me most of the day off and on, between other work, to track down the new planning portal site , very frustrating. I have yet to try and re -register , hope that goes well!! First time I have ever commented on anything , so annoyed by this lack of sensible publicity on a public government website.

    • sarahchilcott permalink

      Apologies for the confusion Sara. We are very frustrated with the redirects situation and continue to work with our supplier to get this fixed. We had comprehensive publicity in place for the launch – including on the homepage and application screens on the site itself – but this was predicated on the redirects working as they should. Apologies again. Sarah

  6. I know that you are doing your best to cope with the changes ….
    But this email is in frustration after 75 minutes trying to log-in, register, change email address, to telephone you or even email you, or even to find you email and telephone contact details
    No email received after entering account name and password
    No response to telephone calls – after waiting, line just goes quiet and nothing
    No response to asking to change my email address

    Many thanks, Clive Wilson

    • sarahchilcott permalink

      Hi Clive. I’m sorry that there is still a problem resetting your account. Its still unclear why emails are being sent from the system but aren’t being received by some users. We’re trying to work out why that is the case and fix it, but in the meantime I am expecting a workaround to be given to us tonight. This will allow us to reset passwords on your behalf – with your permission – and get you in. As soon as we have it, we will work through those affected as quickly as possible. Sarah

  7. Matt Frost permalink

    Lost all downloaded plans and documents from draft application set up before the change. Very annoying.

    • sarahchilcott permalink

      Hi Matt. When did you set the draft up? Everything from 1 July 2015 should have been transferred over already. Sarah

  8. needleandmortar permalink

    When will that anachronistic and infuriating 5MB limit on uploads be removed?

    • aherbert permalink

      Yes, we know this causes frustration. Apologies, it is very high on the list of improvements to introduce.

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Hospitable to us but hostile to their own -:(

A barricade in the bus to separate boys from girls….Different classrooms for boys and girls….A student was sent back to the room from the hostel entrance,for he was wearing a cargos pant and another for wearing a shirt with two breast pockets…
A finger print scanner at the entrance of hostel to identify them and restrict them from leaving hostel unnecessarily….
If you wanna come back early from class to hostel,you are expected to bring a permission letter from dean…
No cell phones in campus(really no cell phones!!!!), 5 BSNL lines are placed at the reception in booths,it is open only2 and a half hours a day,except on weekends….
This is what poor peers of ours are being put through at Satyabhama College…

About Raghav/Raghu

A fortunate mass of hydrogen cloud conscious enough to be contemplating that very fact.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to Hospitable to us but hostile to their own -:(

  1. Sudhi :-) says:

    and not to forget, only one hour of water supply daily. its a miracle that seven of us in the room survived it!!!!

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300 Ideas are Immortal

While I am composing this 300th post for my blog, I am involuntarily thinking as to what has been my inspiration to have blogged 299 posts. I feel it necessary, to envelope the important sources of inspiration, which have made me disperse out my thoughts, ideas, reminiscence, imagination and manifestations to the readers like you, in a seemingly effortless and non-compulsive manner.

I am startled at this introspective analysis.

I started blogging, mostly for making myself more complex, as in, to add another facet to my personality, and to quench my thirst of sudden impulses of words and random thoughts. As you can see, my initial posts were mostly amateurish written by a pretensive megalomaniac! (That’s what I feel about them)

As I started putting some conscious efforts about the content in my posts, it seemed to get a dimension – A character of its own; An Identity. This identity mostly converged to an ‘enhanced’ version of my perceptions, and ME.

I call them enhanced, because I believe that the strings of words, and play of ideas I have expressed on my blog are instantaneous; By which I mean,they have occurred sequentially, and have been expressed over a long period of time. But when a reader tries to contemplate me to be a collective sum of the individual posts in my blog, they would be definitely misled.

The precise relation of me and my blog would be, to see it as a measure of the change I have undergone, right in front of all of you, with tangible proof exposed all over my blog. It is not to be misinterpreted as a tedious and elaborate chronicling of the different facets of the simple me.

With running time, the sources of inspiration now have grown and the next major influence would be the society – Mainly the negativity in it! I feel compelled to express my views about it,and it is mainly with a motive of involving more of you into the debate.

There are also posts about numerous special people I know, and all those posts were intended to show how special they are to me.

Sometimes I feel, I give exaggerated importance to my blog ( appending to the complaints from many of you), but then, I realize,
If i give my blog that amount of importance, then it must deserve it,for,

Ideas are Immortal!

About Raghav/Raghu

A fortunate mass of hydrogen cloud conscious enough to be contemplating that very fact.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

5 Responses to 300 Ideas are Immortal

  1. swathi says:

    Hey Raghavendra Congratulations ! 300 must be an inspiration only to write 300 more. spread more life , laughs and literacy as you always do.

  2. @ Sri @ Swathi: Certainly I will :)Thank you

  3. tejaswini says:

    congratz dear!!!!!!!!!!!! keep going…. u r enormously efficient to captivate the readers with ur passionate writing….. u still hv a long way to go….

  4. @Teju: Thank you 🙂 Generous comment 🙂

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Self-Care True Stories: How a Phoenix Rises

Overcoming unimaginable challenges through self-care, transformational and wellness leaders from The Wellness Universe share their stories with the goal of inspiring you to live your best life.

In this Self-Care True Stories series, we look to wellness leaders, gurus, and experts to light the way for us. Direct us. Guide us.

What was their personal journey? Are they the real deal? What have they experienced in life that qualifies them to lead our way to our happiest, healthiest life?

Meet Manuela Rohr. Manuela knows hardship, uncertainty, and what being a caregiver is all about.

She also knows she is a woman who needs balance, harmony, and emotional resiliency to cultivate inner strength and carry on.

Manuela is a special needs mom. After losing three children to miscarriages, 30 years ago her one and only child was born four months premature. Sarina weighed just under two pounds and was later diagnosed with several disorders, including Autism. As a caretaker, Manuela faces challenges daily.

How does she continue to rise?

Join us and be inspired by her story and lifestyle practices.

Connect with Manuela Rohr on The Wellness Universe and walk away feeling better!

All information, content, and material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. The information supplied through or on this page, or by any representative or agent of The Wellness Universe, is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice. Health-related information provided through this website is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. The Wellness Universe reserves the right to remove, edit, move or close any content item for any reason, including, but not limited to, comments that are in violation of the laws and regulations formed pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. None of the posts and articles on The Wellness Universe page may be reprinted without express written permission.

Get Your Ticket – 6 Days Left!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is SoulTreat-Blog-Banner-1.jpg

The Wellness Universe invites you to SoulTreat Wellness Retreat for Mind, Body, and Spirit. Imagine yourself and your friends in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina for self-care workshops, talks, and one-on-one experiences with wellness experts from around the globe this October.
Release what no longer serves you. Reset your mind, body, and soul.

An Amazon #1 Best Seller! The Wellness Universe Guide to Complete Self-Care 25 Tools to Achieve Anything is the book that just might change everything for you. It’s like having 25 expert coaches rolled into one, each teaching you a practice or tool to help you achieve your goals. You’ll find techniques for mind, body, spirit, and soul. You’ll enjoy a multitude of topics and modalities that will assist with better sleep, spiritual magnificence, mindset mastery, enhanced intuition, balanced nutrition, and peak performance in every area of your life.

Both e-Book & Paperback are available.

Complementary Journal - The Wellness Universe Self-Care Book Series

The Wellness Universe Complete Self-Care Notes & Companion Journals are here to support your self-care journey!

Enjoy a complimentary notes journal for each book The Wellness Universe has published. All books are available on Amazon in our Self-Care series.

The Wellness Universe is here to serve your best well-being. If you are experiencing anxiety, grief, overwhelm, guilt, anger, or seeking ways to cope and get help for stress, relationships, parenting, or any other issue during this challenging time, we have wonderful resources for you to connect with. Our WU Best Help members are offering reduced rates, sliding scale payment options, and even pro-bono sessions.
WU Best Help


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Migrate Windows 10 to SSD

By | January 25, 2016

My desktop Dell XPS 8700 is a beast even after more than 2 years of the official release. The problem with it is that in a typical big corporate fashion it contains an unbalanced set of hardware:
* A very fast processor
* 16GB of memory (4x4GB so not so up-gradable to the 32GB maximum)
* A good motherboard but without any extension slots (one 4x PCIe + one 1x PCIe is not “up-gradable system” as the stupid commercial said)
* A slow 1TB drive. I am glad I did not went for the “SSD option”. The Dell’s idea of SSD system is: the same slow 1TB drive + a 32GB mSATA drive in the motherboards mSATA slot used as drive cache.
* An OEM graphic card (GeForce GTX 745) not the top of the line for gaming. Has all the stupid cost cuts of the OEM cards that transform a great hardware in a mediocre one.

As you can see there are plenty of things to upgrade.

In order to bring new life into the desktop I got a very cheap deal for a huge SSD (Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB) to replace my Dell XPS 8700 main drive. This is a very fast drive my estimate is that is 4x faster than the original Dell drive. This is in raw speed not counting the SSD optimizations that increase even more the performance.

Steps to migrate my Windows 10 to the SSD using Samsung Data Migration

Install the SSD in an available place in the desktop case. It helps to have an adapter from 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch drive.

Go to the Samsung SSD mini site and download the latest version of Samsung data Migration and Samsung Magician Software. Install both of them.

Start the Samsung Data Migration and start the cloning. The interface is very simple you only have to select the source disk and the destination disk. The problem is that almost certain the cloning will fail. The constant error I got was :
"Failed to retrieve source disk information. 201109[031195]"

This step involved a lot of curse words and several restarts. Basically you have to stop any Windows software that has anything to do with: back-up,snapshot, restore, snapshot, indexing drive optimization. I had to remove indexing on C: , stop the Dell backup/restore software (the only way it to kill it), stop the windows services that do the volume snapshots etc. There is a hint how to do that in the help provided by Samsung to this error code.

Finally after several changes and restarts the cloning started. Note that this is not a true clone, all the hidden Dell recovery partitions are not copied so make sure you do a mirror of the original drive for safe keeping.

Remove the old drive and make the SSD the primary boot device.

Steps to migrate Windows 10 to the SSD using a Fedora Live USB/DVD

The following steps are an alternative of the easy solution from above. Note that the following steps are easy to be done if the SSD is at least as the original disk or bigger.
In fact I used this procedure to migrate a Windows 8 installation on a laptop from a small 64GB mSATA to a 256GB mSATA.

Boot the targeted machine from a Fedora Live USB/DVD. Look at the Fedora site how to create a boot-able USB or use an ISO to create a DVD.

Add to the machine an external USB disk that can hold the entire disk you want to migrate.

Start gnome-disks. This is an amazing piece of software that makes it very easy to do a bit-copy of a partition. Then simply select each partition of the disk to be migrated and do “Create Partition Image”. This will create a bit-copy of the partition in an .img file.

Insert the new SSD instead of the old SSD/disk and boot again from the Fedora Live image

Start gnome-disks, then simply select each saved partition image of the disk to be migrated and do “Restore Partition Image” on the new SSD. This will create a bit-copy of the original partition to a new partition on the new disk.

Resize any of the partitions or create new ones with gparted or your favorite partitioning utility.

Boot your Windows with the new disk.

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TinyPilot For Advanced Remote Server and Notebook Control

When it comes to controlling or using remote PCs or servers, I use SSH connections and VNC or RDP for interaction with the graphical user interface. But there are cases when installing remote access software is not an option, or one needs to control the remote notebook / PC / server before the operating system is up and running. For such cases, remote-KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) devices are the solution. There’s one brand that is quite famous for such solutions but their devices are expensive and they use a Java (!) based web browser interface. While a web browser interface is great, Java is definitely a no-go in this day and age and shows that product development must have ceased many eons ago. So I was looking for an alternative and found a cool open-source Raspberry Pi based solution: TinyPilot.

Remote notebook screen in a web browser. (Open in a new tab for full resolution)

The basic idea of remote-KVM solutions is to plug them into the video, keyboard and mouse connectors of a device to be controlled remotely. In addition, the device needs network connectivity via Ethernet or Wifi for remote access. This way, one can control the notebook / PC / server in any state, install operating systems remotely and even modify settings in the BIOS menu. In practice, most servers, PCs and notebooks these days come with USB keyboard and mouse support and either a VGA, HDMI or Display Port video output. So in the easiest case, a remote-KVM device just needs 3 cables: One for the video output, one for USB to simulate a mouse and keyboard, and one Ethernet cable for remote access.

Instead of proprietary hardware and software, TinyPilot uses a Raspberry Pi 4, and the community version of the software is open source and hosted on Github. Installation based on a standard Raspbian image is child’s play and can be done with a single command straight from the source on Github. Note that a Raspberry Pi 4 is needed, as previous hardware versions do not have the ability to simulate USB devices over their USB ports. One additional piece of hardware that is required for the ‘easy use case’ above is a HDMI to USB converter. These are easy to get online and cost around 10 to 15 euros. The project’s Github page has the necessary details. So for less than 100 euros you can build yourself a fully featured remote-KVM solution!

I was a bit hesitant at first to put things together myself, so I chose to order a kit with all cables, some extra hardware and the ‘pro’ version of the software with additional features directly from the developer in the US. The other reason for doing so was to sponsor the work that has gone into this! Order fulfillment was lightning fast and delivery to Europe took just 3 days. Unfortunately, DHL then massively messed up and it took them an additional two weeks to actually deliver the parcel. Shame on you DHL! So after a week of frustration, I decided to get the Raspberry Pi and the HDMI to USB adapter from a online supplier with next day delivery and put things together myself and work with this setup for the time being.

With the Pi-4 and the HDMI adapter, it took me only a few minutes to get my remote-KVM up and running. Amazing! In addition to simulating the keyboard and mouse over USB, the Raspberry Pi is also powered over this connection. The power delivered over USB by the controlled device is sufficient for that. I’ll have a closer look at this and other technical details in a follow-up post as well.

As my main application for the remote-KVM was to control a device in the local network remotely for longer periods of time, I was not certain if the screen delay, which was indicated to be around 200 ms would be a problem. In practice, one does indeed notice the delay a bit, but I have no problem using the device on a daily basis. The standard resolution that is handled by the HDMI adapter is full-HD, i.e. 1920×1080 pixels and that’s also a comfortable resolution to work with remotely. Lower resolutions are possible as well.

On the client, TinyPilot uses a web browser front end, so no software installation is necessary. The remote screen is zoomed seamlessly and when using the browser’s full screen mode on a full-HD client display, the zoom ratio is exactly 100% and the quality of the remote screen is very good. This way, I have no problems working on a remote machine for several hours at a time, only slightly inconvenienced by the somewhat noticeable delay.

The next thing I was not certain about was whether the data rate of streaming the screen remotely would fit my purpose. When streaming with 30 fps, the datarate on the Ethernet interface easily jumps to 50 Mbit/s. That’s not a problem if you are in the same network. However, for remote support over the Internet, that is definitely a deal breaker. However, it’s possible to reduce the frame rate to a low value, which brings down the datarate to a few Mbit/s. Still high but it probably works for support over the Internet.

Streaming to a web browser at 50 Mbit/s takes its toll on my notebook and CPU load is around 40% most of the time. This means some fan noise which is definitely not ideal. In my case, the solution to this and the high streaming data rate is to use a VNC connection to my powerful but silent ‘remote workstation’ under the desk and run TinyPilot in the web browser on that machine. All CPU intensive work is thus offloaded and the datarate required by VNC is much lower and totally usable over the Internet even at a TinyPilot frame rate of 30 fps. Perhaps a bit of a kludge but it works very well in practice.

Long story, short, I’m totally happy with this solution! And, after two weeks, DHL finally managed to deliver the parcel with the TinyPilot from the developer. I went for the “Hobbyist Kit” edition which includes a USB power splitter that is very useful in many scenarios, and which also includes the full version of the software that can also emulate USB storage devices. More about this and other technical details in a follow-up post.


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4 Surefire Ways To Target and Retain eCommerce Customers for Sales

4 Surefire Ways To Target and Retain eCommerce Customers for Sales

So you’ve started your dream online store and have been working hard to get your first few customers. Everything’s going well, but you’re hoping for more sales so you can further expand.

While making sure your customer acquisition strategy is rock solid, you need to also start looking into customer retention. It’s much easier to keep your current customers than get new ones. In fact, it’s estimated that it can be 5 -10 times cheaper to keep a customer than to get a new one.

Even if your offerings are relatively low priced, your most loyal customers are very valuable due to the amount they spend with you over time.

So once you’ve started on your ecommerce journey, it’s a good idea to start retention strategies. Sending emails inviting your customers to purchase again is a great start. Then you can move on to loyalty programs and other strategies.

Starting small and growing outwards will ensure you’re on the correct path. Here are some surefire ways you can consider for targeting and retaining your valuable customer base.

1. Get to Know Your Promoters

Getting to know the people who talk about your business is easiest while you’re still a small, manageable outfit. But it remains valuable throughout the lifecycle of your online brand! If you come across people who love talking about your products, take note of them and reach out if you can.

These people are your advocates. They can help your online store’s online and social credibility through word of mouth. In addition to being loyal, paying customers, they can bring in even more shoppers, so taking care of them works for both retention and acquisition.

Think of it as your grassroots influencer marketing, especially while you’re lean and need to be very careful with your capital.

You can think about offering these people incentives to promote your brand even more. Providing discount codes that their friends and referrals can use to purchase from you not only helps you land that extra sale, but also helps you keep track of your best promoters and who to prioritize building a strong relationship with.

One great example we’ve seen is the campaign The Hawaiian Tourism Authority ran to promote the #LetHawaiiHappen hashtag in 2015.

They tapped into some travel photographers with an instagram following like Jordan Hershel to help push usage of the hashtag. The campaign received almost 100,000 posts using the hashtag when they released details, and are now at almost 500,000 posts. How’s that for traction?

Remember to focus on authenticity when working with influencers. Build a relationship if you can. They’re also valuable allies for keeping in touch with your market base. Take care of them and they will take care of you.

For more checkout The Essential Guide to Getting Started with Influencer Marketing.

2. Call Their Attention With a Great Magnet

Crafting effective lead magnets is a popular strategy both for acquisition and retention. A lead magnet is an offer, promotion, or other incentive that you can give potential customers in exchange for their contact information, such as their email address for your mailing list.

These lead magnets can take many forms, such as:

  • In-depth guides that help your customers make the most of their purchased products/services, or otherwise related to their interests, is very effective

  • Video tutorials are an engaging way to provide a face to your business in addition to providing valuable content to your customers

  • Resource lists are easy to consume and always welcome

  • Cheat sheets have been steadily gaining traction and may be great at highlighting your offerings

  • Free trials and consultations can help your store get a foot in; many potential customers are hesitant about spending, and a free chance to try your products and/or get to know your business more is a great way to invite them

  • Exclusive deals like free shipping, discounts, and promotions are always a good idea

Whatever you do, make sure that your content is actually useful to your customers and easy to digest! Remember that this is an exchange: they are giving you means to contact them directly for something they expect will be of value to them.

An example of an effective lead magnet is the 10-day mini accounting course that we’ve set up at InvoiceBerry, that delivers small bite-size accounting information to subscribers’ email inboxes daily for 10 days.

We’ve had great success signing up people through this lead magnet, through published blog posts, pop ups and press release announcements.

Bottomline is: don’t disappoint your subscribers! This is your chance to really deliver and impress them. You can be rewarded with loyal customers who believe in your brand.

If you need help crafting CTA’s here’s a guide on 25 Proven Call-to-Action Words to Maximize Conversions.

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Book a free call Get more customers, grow your email list, and track sales using Wishpond’s all in one marketing platform built for Shopify stores.

3. Harness Your Guest Checkouts

While having guest checkouts enabled for your online shop is important for cro, having your customers open an account with you is just as valuable.

Give people the option to create an account after their first purchase. You can do this right in the checkout process like what Nordstrom did:

...or even send an invitation to set up an account after they purchase, with your order confirmation or thank you email. You can opt to use different wordings for this invitation--you can invite them to save their details for faster checkouts, or tell them they can easily check their order status if they set a password on your website.

You can also add perks for when they do sign up with an account, such as discount codes or a loyalty program.

4. Connect With Your Followers

Don’t forget to use social media and email lists to create genuine relationships with your customers. Don’t just be a pushy salesperson and talk only about your products and promotions.

Take a page from popular fast food chains like Denny’s, Wendy’s, and Taco Bell, who have interesting and fun interactions on Twitter with their followers. It’s great for brand awareness, and they are engaging and staying up to date with their market.

Online and downloadable coloring book pages probably generates zero revenue for Taco Bell, but that doesn’t stop them from connecting with their followers:

It’s also important to monitor complaints and negative feedback on social media for your brand, and reach out to people in a timely manner. Unresolved public complaints can be harmful for your shop, and can snowball out of control if you don’t take care of it.

Additionally, being proactive about things like this will only improve your brand’s image as people see first-hand how you deal with customer service issues.

Remember to Always Reevaluate

Our lives are never static and unchanging. There is always something happening around us and around our customers. It’s important to always reevaluate your efforts if they are still working as you intended, or if you need to tweak some things.

*Are your promoters still active, and do they have any insights on what their contacts and audience wants to see from your brand? *Is that lead magnet still working, or do you need to update it for a more knowledgeable audience? Do you need to make new ones to capture changes in your market? *Try to play around with your online shop's guest checkout process, and see what layout, wording, or signup promotion works best with your market. *Don't let your social media stagnate--keep current with the mood of your followers, and assure them that you are journeying alongside them.

The goal is to turn your potential customers into loyal customers. With a little care and heart, you can start reaping the rewards of good customer service and potentially produce 25% more profit through a mere 5% increase in customer retention.

So what are you waiting for? Contextualise and try out these tips today!

About the Author

Uwe Dreissigacker is the founder of online invoicing software InvoiceBerry & also offers free invoice templates to businesses. Small businesses and sole traders can create, send and manage their invoices, quotes and credit notes with the tool. In his free time, Uwe travels the world and enjoys experiencing different cultures.