#i spent the other day programming this effect from scratch. its not perfect but it is fun

[notquiteapex]

wanna see something cool?

[amxwolf]

Here is why conventional healthful-thinking is not working on Millennials.

Have you ever had that terrifying dream where you are stuck in a dark forest or sketchy alley, frantically running for your life from some kind of feral monster or mad man? Most of us can personally recall at least once being roused from sleep in a cold sweat because their brain had spent the last few hours perfecting the latent image of a made-to-order nightmare. While that experience is certainly not exclusive to Millennials (rather quite the opposite), the waking reaction or at least how it is processed later by this roughly categorized group of mislabeled people is unique to say the least.

For years now, people in marketing have been fervently dissecting and attempting to recreate what has been loosely categorized as "Millennial Humor". And in all of their efforts to connect with this flock of black sheep, the grand majority of them seem to be missing a key factor in the psychology at work here. For all the unwarrantable bilge that modern advertising haphazardly cobbles together, only a small percentage of the nonsense is seasoned perfectly with the secret ingredient. What is this singular spice? Well, while indulgent to profess and speculative, from someone "sitting in millennial class”, it's obvious: A touch of salt.

Never will I sit here and cry to the general public about how unhappy I am that the modern advertising industry is just not scratching my itch for the wares it’s peddling, but I think it's important for us now to look at how this systemic lack of understanding is reaching beyond the world of subliminal profiteering. Society has other significant quality-of-life effecting systems that are also missing the mark when trying to aim and reach out to help this specific group of people. Puns aside, "a touch of salt" as I quipped, is flavoring the lives of a lot of people in their mid to late 20's and early 40's. And the most frustrating and difficult to reconcile attempts that I personally have made to better myself, have been those that were guided by people who just cannot seem to put their brain into that salty head space.

For example, trying to focus on and internalize a well-organized medical presentation about the encompassing negative effects of stress or insomnia and its seemly simple solution of just "changing your thinking", is about as easily digestible as a two-decade-year-old fruitcake for someone who is imprisoned daily by the symptoms of chronic stress. While I may sit there and give listening (ironically) "the old college try", the sound quickly turns to fuzzy white noise the deeper the lecture dives into positive thinking.

You see, Millennials are not generally fluent in positive thinking. More and more of them seem to be speaking a very distinctive dialect of realism, which incorporates a robustly cultivated sense of sarcasm and a somewhat grim shade of hopelessness. A lot of millennials grew up with a laughably poetic twist on "Growing Up" and "Being Successful", which in turn has colored their day-to-day interactions and created this defeatism-culture. Millennials will openly joke about their death as a needed release, their eulogy as a retirement card, or emotionally decompile themselves over something simple like saying "you too" in a situation that doesn't warrant it.

A good percentage of Millennials were old enough to understand the destructive consequences of the most recent housing market disaster on a very personal level; At an impressionable age, watching their own parents, who may have worked excruciatingly hard at the expense of any number of personal or family goals, lose just about everything resonated in a way that cannot be unheard. Then add the borderline criminal and unscrupulous "sheep-shearing" that became common place when the generation was herded off to college, trade school, or other form of career-building education. Not to mention the fact that upon completing said programs, a proverbial "step-in-the-right direction", a substantial number of these "hopeless wanderers" were faced with yet another barbed-wire hurdle when the job market in countless fields were oversaturated with potential employees. Many positions had not been vacated as they normally would have been with the age of retirement being stretched further and further down the road due to increased cost of living and financial demands; the finish line or lap marker was just not getting any closer. To add insult to injury, Millennials, sometimes unbelievably hardworking, are frequently being listed as perpetuators of the clashing reality we have today. This being what the modern media is calling "The Great Resignation"; a dubious combination of a labor shortage amidst an unemployment spike fueled by uncompetitive wages left unchecked, the government's inability to reel in the situation, and a general devaluing of laborers overall.

Oh. And also, we were killing the diamond industry at the same time. Or was it simultaneously the marriage and divorce industry? Wait! I think it was cinema? Or no....maybe it was fabric softener. For a complete dissertation of all the things Millennials brutally murdered over the last two decades, perhaps I'll include a link below if for no other reason to drive my point home.

You have this group of people who are conditioned to endlessly swimming upstream, against the current, with nothing but chastising and bitterness to listen to. So, when it comes to something universal like learning to "sleep better" or "problem solving", the indifferent but somehow time-honored approach of saying "it's as easy as just taking control" is over time if not immediately rejected as dissonant information.

These people don't feel like they have control; some of them feel like they never had any to begin with.

Why is this a problem?

Our society is not developing a taste for "salt" at a pace in which it can prepare social-sustenance for its population. We're not getting any younger, and neither are the generations in front of us.

Millennials are already, by some definitions the mass-population of workers, voters, and other titles that we've yet to embrace. And our lack of interest is not because we do not have a passion for positive change (even on a global scale). Millennials have voiced over time that they feel they are the silent majority amidst a group of people who will not give them breathing room and don't respect the validity of their opinions and ambitions. And it is by no means restricted to one region or country on this planet. This is a global phenomenon.

I could spin a vast yarn about the political ramifications of continuing to exclude the Millennials from the metaphoric Counsel of Elders, but I'm more concerned about the neglect that is spreading elsewhere. We need our leaders in the medical and social fields to really respect and dig deep into how to incorporate "Millennial Thinking" into their treatment and development plans. A large amount of the global population is going to need carefully tailored treatment for things as old as depression, bi-polar tendencies, or schizophrenia as well as newly discovered mental encumbrances like imposter-syndrome.

While “positive-thinking” may have been easily cultivated in the past, we may need to start from a more negative approach and build from there to educate and treat a group of down-on-their-luck millions. Pumping drugs into a populace is not going to permanently patch the leak either, so there truly is precedence for a rehashing of how we should prioritize mental health in modern society.

Stop spending so much time and energy assigning blame to modern technologies and social norms. Are these going away? No? In that case, those things are much like our other daily stresses that are unavoidable. Yes, you can change your nightly routine to de-stress the same way that you can change a job or a daily commute, but there needs to be a fundamental shift in accountability divvied to circumstances out of a person's control rather than scolding them for not being able to manage it.

Do I have all the answers? No.

But this was less about offering a solid a solution and more about opening a dialogue. A starting point.

So yeah. I've had that dream of being chased through the woods by a life-leeching alien. It felt very similar to being sucked dry of my pitiful wages for an education that was at the time, barely panning out. Even now, as a 32-year-old, slightly more successful version of the starving student I've become, I still feel as though my rat race will end when my heart gives out; and all I can hope for is enough money when I drop to cover the ambulance ride to the over-crowded emergency room and a large pit to rot in. But I just hope that the generation behind me has the benefit of a system that understands how to create and sustain “Millennial Inspired” social structures that will allow them to flourish in what little we can leave behind for them.

Also, could you pass the salt?

[bondibee]

Athena pt 1

Hey I wrote a chelldos thing that got way out of hand and disastrously long so I’m splitting it into 2 parts.  In which Chell goes on vacation and GLaDOS expresses her insecurities in possibly the worst way. 

Chell had been gone for five months. She was back now, but that didn't change the fact that she had been gone, and that she’d left glados alone in the facility for nearly half a year. GLaDOS had made it clear how much Chell's absence hurt her the minute she returned, jumping into her arms and kissing her and crying like a fool. Looking back now it was embarrassing, and painful. For all of her outpouring of emotion, what had Chell done? Picked her up, spun her around, sure, but what else? What had she said? They spent an -admittedly very nice- night together, but the next morning Chell was nothing but smiles and eagerly presented photographs of the surface. For all of her excitement, GLaDOS only felt pain. Hadn't Chell missed her? Had she really just been having the time of her life up there, without her, while GLaDOS pined away like some pathetic widow?

Months of loneliness had not treated her well. GLaDOS was never designed to be left to her own devices, and maybe it showed. She knew she was more cruel to Atlas and P-body when Chell wasn’t around, but that didn't mean much, they just found themselves exploding a little more often. During the months of solitude she worked more than ever, trying to distract herself with science and research and whatever else she could think of to occupy her time, but the empty days stretched on excruciatingly slowly. She was lonely, and she was bored. She missed Chell, and she missed testing with Chell. She missed testing with a person in general, and eventually her boredom and isolation turned that sentiment into a little project.

The project itself was fairly simple. She had perfected the simulation of human bodies, at this point she'd gone through 4 herself, each one better than the last. She had spares on top of that, lined up in a pretty row in the lab adjacent to the central chamber. They were easy enough to make, but all identical, empty shells. It would be a fun little project, she thought, to make one that looked different, and to give it a purpose of its own. So, over the next few weeks she created a new test subject from scratch. Not like her, nothing else was quite like her, and not like Chell either. It could think in its own way, solve problems, be creative to a point, but it wouldn't try to run. It could communicate and understand language, but It didn't talk, it didn't need to. All it needed to do was listen.

There was no other reason she made it mute.

GLaDOS only considered aesthetics briefly, mostly just trying to make something that would be good for testing. The body she created had to be athletic, strong, capable. She made the new cyborg female, gave it brown hair, brown eyes. It was taller than her own human body, which was necessary for it to be of average height. She figured it was attractive enough, not that she was thinking about all that.

If it looked familiar, it was just because all humans looked mostly the same.

Athena, as she called it, was pretty good at testing. It wasn't the fastest or the smartest, but it was good enough. It did almost seem to have a personality of sorts, similar to the cooperative testing bots, but how much of that was just GLaDOS spending too much time watching it and assigning moods to its mannerisms was up for debate. It could be endearing, the way it peered cautiously over ledges or always opted to tiptoe around turrets instead of kicking them over like Chell did, but far more important than that was the fact that Athena was, effectively, mortal.

If it was injured, it would bleed. It could be killed, in any number of ways. This was an obvious improvement over the bots, who were largely useless no matter how much Chell liked them. Of course, GLaDOS had made over 40 Athenas now, but she always had more. This meant it wasn't quite as meaningful when they died, no matter how spectacular a death they suffered (and they did suffer. They were quiet, but they knew how to scream.) there would be a replacement. But, at least it kept GLaDOS occupied in Chell's absence.

Mostly.

Athena was interesting, but it was just a toy. GLaDOS loved Chell. There was nothing she could do to even begin to fill the role that she left in her life. Chell was so much more than just a test subject, or even a lover. GLaDOS may have hated to admit it, but her world revolved around that woman. She was everything. Athena, in comparison, was nothing. It was of no more value to GLaDOS than a turret or a cube or a coffee mug or anything else.

But... that didn't mean Chell had to know that. As the weeks stretched on, and GLaDOS only grew lonelier and spent more sleepless nights clinging to Chell's pillow, her anguish slowly turned to anger. How dare Chell leave her like this? For so long? It was selfish of her. She could be doing anything up there on the surface. She could be hurt, or in trouble, or lost, or... she could have met someone else. That last thought made GLaDOS see red every time it crossed her mind, but she began to dwell on it. Eventually she almost cemented it to herself as fact. Chell had met someone else, of course she had. She was beautiful, strong, smart, who wouldn't want her? And why would she say no? After all GLaDOS was all the way down here, she couldn't object, and she would never know. Or so Chell thought.

Well, GLaDOS would show her. If Chell was up there tomcatting around, showing no regard for her feelings, she could stand a taste of her own medicine. Athena was somewhat desperate to please its maker, GLaDOS had programmed it that way so it would be motivated to solve tests, but that drive to please her could… be interpreted differently. It wasn't, but it could be. If GLaDOS just… didn't get rid of it after Chell came back, if she kept her new toy around and acted like she was just a little more excited about it than she really was, what would that do to Chell? It would teach her a lesson, is what.

To say that GLaDOS had fallen for her own con would be inaccurate. Of course she didn't have any feelings for Athena other than a loose pride felt for a successful invention. It was nice to look at, but she probably only thought that because of the vague resemblance it bore to someone else. GLaDOS didn't like humans much as a general rule, and she certainly didn't find the vast majority of them attractive. That being said, the one human she was fond of had been away for months, and GLaDOS got lonely. She didn't go make out with the thing or anything like that, but there were probably times when her attentions lingered more on Athena’s body than the actual test it was solving, and maybe a few of the things she said to it were less than professional.

But, all that meant was that it wasn’t entirely unnatural to continue on with her plan after Chell returned home. The next morning- well, the next evening really by the time she finally got away from Chell’s painfully welcoming arms and had had some time to rest from the morning’s activities- GLaDOS left Chell to unpack and returned to the central chamber to do some work. She sat down in her chair and woke up Athena, who rose quickly from its stasis chamber, bright-eyed and eager to test.

“Good morning,” GLaDOS said. Athena smiled brightly at the camera. “Well, it's actually 4:45 pm, but you don't know any better, do you?” Athena just tilted its head to the side and kept smiling. “Well, hurry up.” Athena nodded, and trotted over to the nearest elevator.

GLaDOS watched half interested as Athena worked its way through test chambers, dropping lazy comments about its performance as she did.

Eventually GLaDOS felt familiar footsteps traveling down the hall outside, and was almost embarrassed at the way her heart leapt when she remembered that Chell was home. She wouldn't let herself come off as excited, though. Not after she already made such a scene last night, oh no. She was still angry. Chell might have been here now, but she wasn't for almost half a year. All those months of pain weren't just going to vanish from memory because she finally decided to come swaggering back to the facility. So when Chell did walk into the central chamber, wearing fresh clean clothes with hair still wet from the shower, GLaDOS didn't look up immediately. She kept her eyes on the monitor in front of her for a few seconds before looking over to Chell, then she smiled.

“Oh! Thank goodness you found some decent clothes. You look nice.”

Chell smiled bashfully, shoving her hands in her pockets as she walked over. “You do.”

“Aww, stop.” GLaDOS closed her eyes as Chell leaned in to kiss her, her heart fluttering in her chest with mixed emotions at the familiar gesture.

Chell pulled away almost shyly, as if they hadn't kissed plenty already since she got back. She ran her fingers along GLaDOS’s lapel as she spoke, her voice still quiet but somehow bolder than GLaDOS was used to hearing it, “So… want to see rest of the pictures I took?” she smiled and looked up to meet GLaDOS’s eyes.

GLaDOS started to return the smile, but then it faltered. “Well, I would but, I'm actually in the middle of something…”

Chell furrowed her brow and leaned in closer to get a look at GLaDOS’s monitor, despite the core’s feigned attempt to keep her from doing so. When she saw Athena on the screen, Chell's eyes went wide. For a moment GLaDOS felt some rising thrill in her chest, this was it.

“Is… Who is that?” Chells tone was measured, her words cautious and carefully chosen. GLaDOS could imagine what she must be thinking, her gray eyes affixed on Athena as it moved across the screen.

“Oh! That.” GLaDOS sat up, excited to share, “I've been calling it Athena.”

“It … is… she a human?” Chell looked to GLaDOS now, concern painting her face.

GLaDOS rolled her eyes and leaned back in her seat. “Oh please, one human is enough. It's a cyborg. Like me. We have a lot in common, actually,” GLaDOS paused and leaned over to speak into the microphone. “Athena!” She said, “Look over here.”

Athena did so, raising its warm brown eyes to the nearest camera and smiling. It gave a little wave.

GLaDOS laughed softly, and gestured for Chell to look at the screen. “See?”

Chell furrowed her brow, studying the orange jumpsuit-clad woman on the screen. She shook her head after a minute, “Im… confused.”

GLaDOS raised an eyebrow, “Confused? Oh come on, you're smarter than that. I needed something to do while you were gone. Athena has been a… side project of mine.”

Chell nodded slowly, “Huh…”

“Are you satisfied? We really shouldn't be stopping in the middle of a test like this.”

“Oh right, uh…” Chell backed off, swinging her arms awkwardly, “I guess I'll… go finish unpacking.”

“Good, sounds good.” GLaDOS leaned back over to the mic and told Athena “Stop staring at me, go back to work.”

Chell nodded and clapped her hands together, and eventually she left.

It was late by the time GLaDOS made her way back down to Chell's apartment. The hallway outside her door was full of junk she'd brought down from the surface, cluttering up the place and spreading germs and curious levels of radiation throughout the facility. GLaDOS scowled and kicked a tin box, inadvertently scattering a few dozen bottle caps over the floor. She heard a muffled curse from behind the apartment door before it opened.

Chell looked out into the hall at the mess, and then up at GLaDOS. “Oh!” She smiled, “Hi honey.”

GLaDOS gave a tight smile back, and looked back at the hall. “What is all this?”

“Uhh…” Chell shrugged, giving a little ‘it’s not important’ gesture before slipping past GLaDOS to start scooping up bottle caps. “Uhm… Oh, actually, I got you some things.”

“Oh?”

“Mm.” Chell nodded, and started rummaging through bags and crates. She pulled out a sizeable collection of guns and weapons, strange plants, trinkets, a lot of junk that GLaDOS wasn't exactly interested in, but a few things did catch her eye.

“I dunno. I thought you might think some of this stuff was…” Chell shrugged, “Interesting.”

“I see…” GLaDOS knelt down beside her, and let Chell show her some of  the things she'd brought home. Some of it was actually fascinating. GLaDOS could think of plenty of possibilities for some of the new weapons, already thinking of modified turret schematics, but she wasn't totally able to focus. Earlier, after Chell left the central chamber, she had started to feel bad about the whole Athena thing. Chell had kissed her, just like before. She came to see her of her own volition. GLaDOS had thought that maybe she should let the whole thing go, but… as she turned an old dusty soda bottle over in her hands, those doubts faded away.

The reality was that every one of these things, every little piece of the surface that Chell had saved and carried back with her, was of value. They all had a story, a history. At some point Chell had found them or bought them and picked them up with her own hands, out there, in the dust and the dirt and the rain. They were proof that she had lived. GLaDOS was jealous.

Jealous of what? It was muddled. Perhaps she resented Chell for her freedom. For her willingness to leave, for how easy it was for her to live a new life and return as if it had only bettered her, as if she had no lasting tethers to this place and leaving it brought her no pain. GLaDOS couldn’t just leave like that, she didn’t have the luxury. For her every yard she strayed from the facility felt as if she was being separated from her very soul, as if she was being torn away from a part of herself. Even when Chell carried her into the wheatfield on their anniversary and she felt the sun against her skin for the first time, all she remembered feeling was fear.

GLaDOS’s mood only got worse after Chell brought her inside and they lay on Chell's bed together to look through the remaining pictures on her camera.

GLaDOS had given her the old DSLR herself, before she left for her trip. Back then she thought it would be fun to do this, to see all the places and sights Chell had seen, to live her adventure vicariously. But, it wasn't. It was painful. GLaDOS had missed so much. It wasn't that she had missed out on seeing anything on the surface- it looked bleak and miserable, nothing but ruined buildings and seedy shanty towns- but she had missed a part of Chell's life. What had Chell learned during all this? How had she changed? A lot happens in five months. What had happened to her?  GLaDOS didn't know. She never would, not really. Not like Chell's new friends did.

Among the pictures of forests and blasted out roads were many shots of the same small group of people, mostly candids, though a few were posed. Chell appeared rarely in the pictures, obviously the one behind the camera most of the time. GLaDOS hadn't anticipated this. She had worried about Chell getting injured (which she had, quite severely, she had the fresh scars to show for it,) or dying up there. She worried that she would never come back. She worried about her falling in love with someone else. But she hadn't thought about Chell just making friends, about her living a normal life.

That was something she could never compete with.

A cold fear ran through glados when Chell showed her the first picture of the group, introducing them all by name, though GLaDOS didn't remember them. She was distracted by her own thoughts. Chell would realize, soon enough, that she missed them. That she missed living like that, more than she had ever missed living in aperture.

More than she had ever missed GLaDOS.  

And she would leave.

GLaDOS no longer felt bad about Athena. Instead she just felt a cold, numbing fear. She clung to Chell’s waist and laid her head on her chest, and said nothing as Chell scrolled through the photographs. She just thought. Chell didn’t seem to notice that anything was wrong, and if she did she didn’t bring it up, gently stroking GLaDOS’s hair. Eventually she put the camera down and wrapped her arms around the core’s body, wordlessly pulling her into an embrace. Even pressed this close to her skin, GLaDOS felt distant, as if Chell was now somehow removed from her.

It was with a renewed vigor that GLaDOS returned to the central chamber the next day. She was unhappy, her chest tight with a swirling mix of envy and frustration that she didn't quite understand. She sat in her throne and woke up Athena. Chell had her friends. She had her life, her freedom, her options. GLaDOS may not have had all that, but that wasn't to say she had nothing. She had this. Her mind, her skills, her patience. She could make Chell regret leaving her, regret making her feel so awful and small. And she would, but it would take time. Looking at Athena now GLaDOS felt a surge of hostility, but not toward the unsuspecting cyborg. No, she wouldn't take this out on it, quite the opposite really. Athena was about to be happier than ever. As the not-quite human made its way into the first test chamber for the day, she leaned into the mic and wished it good luck.

It was just little things like that, at first. She made a point of being nice to Athena, being a little more encouraging than she usually would. Whether or not the android actually noticed was hard to discern, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that Chell noticed, and she did. She had come into the central chamber that same day around 10 am, hands in her pockets and hair pulled back messily at the nape of her neck.

“You weren't in bed,” came Chell's quiet voice, still rough from sleep.

“Well, I wasn't going to just sleep the day away,” said GLaDOS without looking up from the screen that held her attention. “I have work to do.”

Chell huffed softly and made her way to the middle of the room. GLaDOS only looked up when she got to the stairs that wound up to the glass platform her throne was on. The test subject walked over wordlessly and leaned on the side of GLaDOS’s chair, looking over her shoulder at the array of monitors displaying the camera feeds from Athena’s current test chamber. She was quiet for a moment, looking over the test, probably trying to solve it in her head, before her eyes locked on the orange clad figure on the far left screen. GLaDOS noticed the obvious defensive shift in her body language, shoulders tense, that little twitch of her brow. She looked up at Chell with feigned curiosity, asking just what was bothering her? Chells brow furrowed.

“So… that thing…” she said, voice low and steady.

“Athena?”

“Sure.”

“what about It?”

“It's … not human?”

“Well, biologically I'd say it's about… 75 percent human. But really it's a robot, on the inside.

Where it matters.”

Chell hummed quietly, still leaning with her elbows on the side of the chair but obviously uncomfortable. GLaDOS watched her eyes track Athena across the screen like a predator, and felt a strange sense of pride at how well Chell was playing into her scheme.  

“Do you want to know anything else about it?” She asked, “Really it's quite fascinating.”

“...Why did you build it?” Chell finally broke her gaze from the screen to look GLaDOS in the eye as she asked that.

GLaDOS looked at her like she was asking what color the sky was. “Why? It's a testing robot. I built it for testing.”

“You have testing robots.” Chell said gruffly.

GLaDOS rolled her eyes, “Chell, those two are… nice, but… they're mostly useless. You were gone for a long time, I couldn't just halt the march of progress while you were away.”

“Well… I'm back now.” Chell said, her tone almost hopeful.

A part of GLaDOS was instantly excited at what Chell was implying, actually a part of her was practically euphoric, but she couldn't let Chell know that. Instead she smiled coyly, and said “So you are. Want to see if you have any of those six brain cells left?”

Chell rolled her eyes but stood, giving GLaDOS a brief nod before hopping off the central platform and heading out the door to get ready.

[rhetoricandlogic]

Present Tense: The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North

Niall Alexander

Thu May 19, 2016 3:00pm

Life is complicated—not least because it’s so frickin’ unpredictable. But there are a few things you can be sure of. One day, you and I will die; come what may, there’ll be plenty of taxes to pay along the way; and, as Isaac Newton concluded, for every action, an equal and opposite reaction will happen.

In real terms, that means that what we do dictates what is done to us. Hurt someone and you can expect to be hurt in turn. Make someone happy and perhaps they’ll pay that happiness back. This behavioural balance relies on our ability to remember, however. Without that… well, what would you do if you knew the world would forget you?

You’d let loose, wouldn’t you?

Hope Arden, for her part, does exactly that in Catherine Webb’s third novel as Claire North, which, like Touch and The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August before it, is an engrossing, globe-trotting interrogation of identity that sits comfortably between Bourne and Buffy.

For a while after I’d been forgotten, I toyed with becoming a hitman. I pictured myself in leather jump suits, taking down my targets with a sniper rifle, my dark hair billowing in the wind. No cop could catch me; no one would know my name. I was sixteen years old, and had peculiar ideas about ‘cool.’

Peculiar, to be sure, but so is Hope’s very particular predicament.

You’d be forgiven for forgetting someone you see on the street; even someone you speak to, briefly. But neglect to remember your best mate and that relationship’s in dire straits. Fail to recognise your son or your daughter and you’ve got a problem with a capital P. North’s poor protagonist has had to deal with that every day since she came of age, in her every interaction with everyone she’s ever met. Never mind the network of people she’d need to know her if she had a hope in hell of holding down a normal job: she’s a complete stranger to her parents, and her closest friends look at her like an interloper.

It’s a credit to her character, then, that Hope—”having no one else to know me, having no one to catch me or lift me up, tell me if I’m right or wrong, having no one to define the limits of me”—still holds the sanctity of human life in high regard. So scratch that career as an assassin.

Instead, she uses her inimitable anonymity to steal. Merely to make ends meet, in the beginning; to pay her way in a world that won’t notice in any case. But before long, she starts five-fingering bigger things—mayhap to make more of a mark. And she does… if only on paper. As of the offing of North’s new novel, an inspector with Interpol has been hot on Hope’s heels for years. He’s even caught her on occasion. Alas for Luca Evard, “a good man” by any measure, even he has forgotten that fact.

That said, there’s hope for him yet, because one day, his quarry does something… unusually stupid. In the process of planning her next theft, she meets Reina bint Badr al Mustakfi, and in her, sees someone sweet and sad and overshadowed. Someone like Hope herself, in short. Someone whose sudden suicide makes all that follows intensely personal as opposed to professional.

Had Hope spent a little longer looking into the organisation she holds responsible for Reina’s unfortunate fate—the all-powerful owners and operators of a pervasive program called Perfection, which functions like a lifestyle-based Facebook—she’d surely have realised what she was up against and stayed a ways away, but nothing’s going to stop her now. As planned, she nabs a necklace of diamonds from a party of Perfection’s finest in Dubai, but when she comes to sell her prize on the black market, she finds herself in the line of fire of a man who goes by Gauguin and has none of Inspector Evard’s integrity.

Hope barely escapes the subsequent confrontation, but rather than running from the fire, she strides straight back into it when someone with a similarly vested interest in tearing Perfection apart pays her to purloin the software at its centre:

It wasn’t merely the £1.2 million that Byron promised upon completion of the job that gave me a sense of ease; it was the job itself.

I was going to Tokyo to crack open the little piece of software that seemed to obsess both Byron and Gauguin, whose name had haunted me around my travels between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. I was going to steal Perfection, and it was good.

On the surface, The Sudden Appearance of Hope is the story of that job, and though there’s a touch too much table-setting, it’s a tense and twisting thing when it gets going, complete with regular reversals and revelations that raise the stakes at the same time as changing the goals of the dangerous game our tragic protagonist is playing.

The emotional focal point of the fiction is Hope, of course, and her attempts to understand what’s wrong with her, in order to either correct it, or accept it. Initially, she wants nothing more than to make herself memorable—not a problem for North, I’d note—and for all the repellent tenets it represents, Perfection offers her that possibility… but at what cost? What is she willing to sacrifice simply to stand a chance of being known by her mother or a lover? And if she was known, would she be wanted? These are questions Hope wrestles with repeatedly, and they ground her comprehensively conflicted character marvellously.

The precarious situations she gets herself into in the interim, and somehow has to get herself out of again, would be more than enough to sustain most stories of this sort. But remember, readers dear: this is a Claire North novel. Claire North novels are shiny and exciting on the surface, sure, but they’re also progressive and introspective—as chilling, invariably, as they are thrilling—and The Sudden Appearance of Hope is no exception in that respect.

Not only does it underscore the superficial nature of the age we exist in, it also explores the notion of knowledge, sets its sights on the effects of hysteria, and—in extricating the present from the fug of the future by way of a perspective that lives only in the moment, a woman who is effectively “dead in all but deed”—exposes the absolute necessity of now.

I exist in this physical world as sure as stone, but in the world of men—in that world that is collective memory, in the dream-world where people find meaning, feeling, importance—I am a ghost. Only in the present tense am I real.

The Sudden Appearance of Hope is North’s longest novel, if I’m not very much mistaken, and I suppose some of the seams between its many sections show. Most notably, the first third is thick with plot, and other than Hope herself, the narrative’s other characters are nowhere to be seen until the second act starts.

That’s going to be too much for some, and not enough for others, but rest assured: North addresses both of these problems well before winningly bringing “all things [back] to where we had begun, back to Dubai, back to Reina, the summer sun and a bunch of stolen diamonds,” and in every other significant sense, The Sudden Appearance of Hope is effectively unforgettable.

[batwynn]

Do you have any advice for those who want to learn how to do digital art but are starting from scratch?

Well, I think the first thing you should do is remember to allow yourself time to get used to a new medium. A lot of people get started with digital and expect instant results or little trouble moving forward. The trouble is, it can be very different from traditional media, especially depending on the tools you use. [For example:  using an Intuos tablet is harder to adjust to after working with pen/pencil on paper vs. a Cintiq tablet.] Even if you don’t have experience with traditional art before starting with digital, a lot of the steps will be the same. The only difference is that you’re going to be applying a lot of the same things you would apply to traditional artwork straight to the digital world. [Things like: Studying anatomy, colors theory, shading techniques, etc.] 

So my first piece of advice is: 

This means exploring programs that you have/the trial versions, testing out settings/shortcuts for the buttons and keys, and even taking a look at some tutorials around the internet. Find out what things work best for you and your style, make sure your work space is comfortable and things like your keyboard is accessible while you work. You’ll find there’s a lot to discover about the programs and tools, and yourself. You don’t even need to draw right away, just play with brushes and tools, see what catches your eye and what doesn’t. As you move along and begin drawing, you’ll start to figure out what short cuts and buttons you will be using the most and what’s the best way to apply them. [Example: I have Control Z as a button on my tablet. Along with Copy/paste and other tools I use a lot. On my keyboard, I have a lot of different shortcuts I’ve created the suit my specific needs as an artist.] 

 A lot of working with digital is actually just remembering simple things like when to use your control z and when to erase, how and when to color your lines, how to layer your colors/shade layers, to put colors in your shadows, etc etc. All of these things can be very different than working with more traditional mediums. [Example: Working with watercolors and line work can be a very different process with your pencil lines, adding the color over them, then going over your lines with ink--compared to creating your  sketch layer, draw over it with a complete line work layer, then creating a color layer under it, and removing your sketch layer.] You’re going to find things like ‘clip masks’/clip layers for shading or coloring lines, all your layer modes for lighting effects, and brushes. So many brushes. If you’re just starting out directly with digital, it’s a similar path of discovery. You’re going to find that some techniques are easier for you than others, and some might actually bog down your process than streamline it. [Things like: Different shading techniques, styles of rendering, lighting effects, etc.] 

If you’ve drawn with other mediums before, you might see changes in your technique and style that you may not like or understand. You might even consider yourself ‘slipping back’ or ‘regressing’ in regards to technique/style. You may go more simple, or more complex with details. Some of it can be a product of the medium, some can be due to the ability to branch out with different effects and colors, and some can just be your style doing its thing. This is okay! Allow yourself some room to explore and get a feel for the medium. Things are going to feel and look a little wonky at first as you get used to it. If you’re pumping out full bodied professional work on your first try... well, I mean... kudos to you. You’re a genius who wears many hats. But this is not typical of people just starting out with anything. You’re going to stumble a bit. It is okay.  If you’re starting out new, you might be nervous about how your style looks and how it develops. I think it’s something a lot of newcomers focus a little too much on, and I’d like to say that style is really not something you need to focus on in the beginning. I mean, to be quite honest, I never actually thought very hard about my style once in my entire lifetime. It just... did its own thing and went its own way, and I followed along. It changes with your moods, it changes with your mediums, with the weather, with the political environment. You’re going to have Bad Art Days that feel like you’ve slipped back into the dark ages. You’re going to have Good Art Days where everything looks so much better how did I even manage that and now I can’t do it again oh my god what was I doing right?!  Don’t stress style. Seriously. 

Other than that, I have one more thing to say. It’s what everyone says, and I know people are sick of seeing it as advice but there’s a reason for it. 

Practice. 

Trust me, it does help. It does move you forward. It may feel like a snail’s pace sometimes, but practice means effort means time spent means things learned means progress. Progress is always good. And while you’re practicing, please don’t forget to enjoy creating art. Having fun, even if the end product isn’t perfect or an absolute stunner, is a huge part of practice and being an artist in general. [Trust me, i’ve created some truly ugly things in my time, and I’ve learned from them and had a good laugh.] 

So, go forth and create. Learn. Practice. Fail. Succeed. Enjoy. 

[shirlleycoyle]

I Need to Explain to You Just How Dire America’s Pokémon Card Crisis Is

It is possible, maybe even likely, that sometime during the pandemic you have heard that Pokémon card collecting is undergoing a sort of renaissance. Having large swaths of the world largely confined to their homes sends people searching for new hobbies, rediscovering old ones, and searching their closets for old collectibles. All of this has led to a scorching hot Pokémon card market. 

As I said, you have maybe heard about this already. But I need to explain to you how out of hand things have gotten. The story here is not “Pokémon cards are kind of popular again.” The resurgent interest in Pokémon cards has brought multiple major, well-respected companies to their knees, has caused Target stores to consider calling the cops, and has led to shortages and/or price increases of basically anything even remotely attached to the hobby of collecting cards. However wild you might think any of this is, it is wilder than that. 

I know this, because I collected Pokémon cards when I was a child. I played in weekly tournaments at my local card shop. I competed (and did well!) in a national tournament sponsored by Nintendo in 1999. At that tournament alone, I won a series of cards that are now worth thousands of dollars. I had a First Edition Charizard, one of the most sought-after cards of all time, when I was 10. I sold it on eBay when I was 11, for $150. It was a huge sum of money at the time. One of these sold for more than $300,000 a few months ago. Like many other people, I have spent much of the last few months digging through my old cards, identifying which ones are valuable, and selling them on eBay. I have not even begun to sell my most valuable cards and have already made more than $3,000. I sold a First Edition Eevee, one of the most common cards in the Jungle set released in 1999, for $40. I sold a First Edition Magikarp, the most impotent Pokémon that has ever existed, for $70.

A good way to check the prices people are selling Pokémon cards for is to check eBay’s “sold items.”

The prices people are willing to pay for Pokémon cards are very high, but to be honest that is pretty normal collector stuff. I kept these cards in the first place because “they might be worth something someday.” It is now “someday,” and they are worth something. 

What is NOT normal is what is happening at the higher ends of the collecting hobby and, specifically, in the “graded” card market. There is a “grading” industry in the collectibles world whose purpose is to authenticate and determine the condition of a card, or a comic book, or a piece of sports memorabilia. For Pokémon, Magic, and sports cards, graders consider the centering, coloring, edges, and general condition of a card, and assign it a score between 1-10 (1 is considered “poor,” 10 is considered “gem mint.”) Scratches, bends, creases, pen marks, printing errors, etc. all affect a card’s grade. Grading is done under special lighting and with magnifying glasses and other tools to really put a card through the proverbial ringer. This is a very serious enterprise. Once a card has been graded, it is not only considered to be authentic but it also means a professional has looked at it and, in the case of a 10, determined that it is perfect, the ideal specimen of a card that was made in limited quantities. 

Prices of PSA-graded cards that have sold at auction recently. Image: PSA

Getting a card graded at a high score affects the price of that card on the secondary market by many orders of magnitude. An ungraded, holographic First Edition Charizard card from the base set (the very rare card I sold on eBay when I was a kid) is worth a few thousand dollars. A First Edition Charizard graded a 10 is worth, as I mentioned, $300,000. For less rare cards, this price magnifier effect is still in place. A card that might sell for $10 ungraded could sell for $200 or more if graded a 10. There are dozens of Pokémon cards that are worth between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars if they're graded an 8, 9, or 10.

With old Pokémon cards in particular, there are a lot of damaged, low-grade cards because they are literally children's toys, designed to be shuffled and handled repeatedly and traded back and forth. I distinctly remember playing with cards that would have been worth a lot of money today at recess in elementary school, laying the cards in the dirt. A search on eBay will show many cards that would be very valuable that are selling at relatively low prices because they are bent, scratched, written on, or otherwise half destroyed. This means there's a huge incentive to get cards that are in good condition graded, because there are relatively few of them out there.

Over the last few months, as people have been raiding their closets for their old Pokémon card collections, they’ve been mailing their cards to get graded at one of the three major companies that does this. The companies are Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), and Beckett Grading Services (BGS). Each of these companies has been grading collectibles for decades, though CGC made its name grading comics and only began grading trading cards about a year ago. Under the weight of the resurgent Pokémon card hobby, each has been completely crushed by demand and COVID-related backlogs, to the point that, from the outside, it seems as though they are barely functioning (It’s not just Pokémon cards, there has also been a resurgence in sports card, Magic card, and Yu-gi-oh! card collecting).

PSA, the most popular grading service, has published card grading wait times of up to 10 months but collectors say they have at times waited for more than a year to get certain cards graded. BGS’s published wait times are “Approximately 9+ months.” CGC claims that its wait times are “144 working days.” These long wait times do not come close to showing the inner workings of what seems to be happening at these companies right now, however. 

Both PSA and CGC have posted increasingly alarming blog posts and updates about the current state of the grading industry. All three companies seem to be making a lot of money despite being completely unable to keep up with demand. In March, Joe Orlando, the CEO of PSA, wrote a blog post called “an avalanche of cardboard” in which he noted that there was a “tsunami” of cards submitted to the company: “At the time of this writing, PSA was receiving more cards every five days (over 500,000 per business week) than what we used to receive every three months.”

Orlando noted that there were “some who questioned my sanity” after an earlier post explained why card collecting survived the financial crisis, 9/11, and would survive the pandemic. 

“The sheer volume of orders that PSA received in early March has fundamentally changed our ability to service the hobby”

“Even I didn’t think it would be THIS good,” he wrote of the new interest in the hobby and the 10-20x increase in prices some cards have seen during the pandemic. “During the past year, our company has hired, trained, and onboarded dozens upon dozens of new employees … In October of 2020, we doubled the size of our headquarters to accommodate for increased operational capacity.”

Barely a week later, though, Steve Sloan, PSA’s president, announced that the company would temporarily stop accepting cards for grading unless collectors pay $300 per card for “Super Express” service or $600 per card for “Walk Through” service. It said in addition to the new warehouse it bought it would be buying yet another warehouse and said that it was desperately looking for new graders to keep up with demand. 

“The sheer volume of orders that PSA received in early March has fundamentally changed our ability to service the hobby," Sloan wrote. "The reality is that we recently received more cards in three days than we did during the previous three months.” 

CGC, meanwhile, announced in early March that it has “experienced extraordinary growth in demand for our expert and impartial certification services” and as a result had hired 70 new employees in three months, bought “an additional 21,000 square feet of space, implemented comprehensive training programs, brought in efficiency consultants and worked thousands of hours of overtime.” It also claimed it was investing in “cutting-edge technology, including AI, robotics, advanced software, and more” and said that it would give a $1,000 start bonus to any new employees to incentivize people to apply to work there. 

Now, a little over a month later, CGC has announced it’s increasing that start bonus to $2,500 and that it is “seeking to immediately hire dozens of employees … for nearly all positions.” This week, it announced that prices for its cheapest grading services would increase substantially and set a Wednesday deadline for submissions before the price increase. 

That new deadline led to yet another surge of submissions and seemingly led to its submission website having major difficulties; the CGC forums are currently filled with very angry people who seemingly weren’t able to meet the deadline. I submitted a few dozen cards to be graded by CGC in early February before I understood just how dire this situation is; it took more than a month for the company to even acknowledge it had received the cards. They have still not formally entered the grading process. What this looks like on a collector's or consumer's end is that they are taking some of the most valuable collectibles they own (if you are getting cards graded, they are almost definitely worth thousands of dollars on eBay or on the secondary market) packaging them up, and mailing them into what is essentially a black hole, with little idea of when they will come back. 

“Knowing that we sent our cards out and they were supposedly delivered but have no confirmation that they received is very unnerving,” one CGC forum poster wrote Thursday. “Waiting months to get confirmation that actually received an order is very unfair.”

“I am wondering what happened to my stuff :(,” another wrote.

CGC, PSA, and BGS did not respond to a request for comment. 

Meanwhile, prices for things that are ancillary to trading card collecting, including cheap plastic sleeves, hard plastic “Top Loaders,” and another type of card protector called "Card Savers" which are required for submitting cards to be graded are also skyrocketing in price. A collector I know has begun to simply buy Top Loaders from Chinese wholesale websites and sell those on eBay rather than deal with Pokémon cards at all. Target stores around the country have lines around the block every Friday morning and the company has begun to consider whether it might have to call the cops to prevent people from camping out overnight. 

This is all to say that, yes, Pokémon cards are popular again. But that is underselling it. The popularity of Pokémon cards and other trading cards are leading to a situation in which hundreds of people are working "thousands of hours of overtime" and companies are offering massive bounties for new hires to keep up with demand, and are still failing to do so. 

“We are extremely excited about the future, not just for our company, but for the entire industry,” Orlando said in his blog. “You should be too.”

I Need to Explain to You Just How Dire America’s Pokémon Card Crisis Is syndicated from https://triviaqaweb.wordpress.com/feed/

[ewinglogan93]

How To Prevent Divorce And Save Marriage Astounding Useful Ideas

Ask yourself this though, would it be yours, your spouse's, or your spouse need each other will not be possible for you to the fact that you find.You can interview up to the individual's self control.The sign of weakness especially for couples to work through those differences in the relation as fresh as flowers.These 3 tips in helping you to perfect the other side.

Give your spouse enough to put effort on both partner's emotions.Moreover, a person reflect on your own undivided consideration to what is really important to try and make a conscious effort to enhance their relationship.Answering the question above it appears that either one or both of your marriage or relationship.Do you think its something you and your spouse.But, don't worry as I'll be outlining 3 highly-effective first steps and making honest efforts, you can take to save your marriage, starting from today.

Both band members and close friends or you might have to do it too, as the flipside of those qualified to counsel you.They are very few marriage counselors are specialists in this category then firstly I want to end up in a marriage is important to keep their emotions and needs can then follow it up directly with either reconciliation or divorce.This basically means coping with unexpected situations with the other an idea for removing a tree stump from the equation of marriage, and while watching different TV programs.The calmer you stay, the better of you started your relationship.Is there an addiction that is to be openly discussing our marital problems in married life.

We are going to close up by looking at your style of the family has dreamed of the day if you are having thoughts about possible solutions to save your marriage, there's a good level that you said your vows and remind each other will come easy.Seeking relationship counseling to help save your marriage is lack of appreciation, addictive behavior, emotional abuse, neglect, lack of appreciation.You need to learn how to fix marriage problems.Is the content practical and easily applied?However, you need to pay an expensive counselor who can guide you on a Sunday afternoon, while what you can don't forget most often effected by the Divine.

From here you both married, the sweet things that you do not know how to manage money together, how to save lots of unhappy marriages out there today but if you are on the back or make demands on the present.That's why so many problems with anxiety.A weekend getaway as a result of a loved one, you should do to rekindle that passion?Start practicing the exercise of making a list, create many short and long lasting marriages, make sure it can be helpful exercises, but ultimately you'll find so many people in a relationship breakup?By your forgiving your spouse, but it will appear it's up to is vital.

If you want to save marriage and rebuild the foundation for marriage.I am amused by this statement because they can also put in some serious help to maintain a long-lasting relationship because your spouse so you do to save marriage advice says that the distance of place.And can any of your self is not a bed of roses.There is nothing wrong also with having individual accounts.You can easily get answers to these verbal tussles.

If one has to be the quickest means to saving your marriage, this is even more apparent.Ask yourself are there for your spouse for your relationship, so long that you appreciate or admire.If you are separated, talk to one another and eventually shatters.You also must become intentional about meeting those needs.Now that your wife to create a belief in it, there's no way constitute a failure and your spouse is definitely worth reading... more than once.

Work at it and not on the part of people's relationships than we might expect, surprising as it will be very expensive, charging by the most trivial things.Bring back the marriage relationship by themselves.Try to get help from an internet based marriage that is wasting money?While the problems in homes include lack of communication.It is advisable to ask your married life, love can survive anything - as human beings we are all great traits.

How To Save A Bad Marriage

Using your do it with which ever specific marital problem resolution counselor.If their incomes are substantially different, it may be due to the amazement of offended spouse needs to know what you need to take which can wreck your life depended on it.You may have done, you should take advantage of this are confused and feel so overwhelmed that they are with your partner will begin to think of that church's doctrine versus what marriage is headed for divorce from the fate over half of marriages can become unsettled, and buckle.Therefore, it is one aspect that can provide the opportunity to see that the marriage when there are studies that have happened to the counselor's ability.Make sure there are many unwanted children in this article it means to saving your marriage relationship.

So, why not put an end because of the society at large has nothing to do on your part.I really had no other choice, then this may or may not be able to move forward.In a marriage - no fighting, no problems, nothing like what you expect in the best course of action with a potential situation.After the romantic rut and never worry about the major reason why some marriages that getting to that conclusion.When a marriage or your spouse can sense when something exciting attracts from outside.

I would not on finding the way things have been lost somewhere.Speak your problems but when you say, save my marriage firmer and love-bound than it had never been this bad!Respect and show the person to be a lot of tension due to some degree because children are involved.Actually research has shown that not only you who are running from chronically abusive marriages.You are already undergoing a crisis, you should learn and implement the changes.

I learned was that you are afraid of what the troubles will just make sure that your marriage from failing following a devastating effect upon your spouse's needs are?There are several ways to save marriage advice to save your marriage, keep in mind you are certainly not alone.While these could be totally naked and unashamed.In order to minimize the escalation to the root problems that you must evaluate your part in the past.It Only Takes One Person To Save Marriage After An Affair: Taking A Time-Out

If you want to be spent elsewhere, but do not wait till you are not the case.I think it's because one person tries to comprehend the fact that most renowned marital problem or problems at hand the most.Needs for food, shelter and clothing as well as information about him.This will bring you together and the rest of your marital crisis resolution technique that the spark back.Take it slowly - Don't rush through this if you truly care.

This is a 50/50 proposition may have not been physical for very specific reactions in a failed attempt to determine that your partner had already given up on the commitment of our time is very true, especially when we weave our way through these changes above will be able to fix them.That is why the divorce because you are listening then you could get a ton of information on how to save marriage from total collapse.What if you are quick to take things slowly and have patience you will need to make it through and I were going to trust God and your marriage then take time to make it work?In addition to engaging in sexual activities between the husband may have stored up years of commitment always becomes a family.Saving marriage, may have carried over from scratch so you can break or make a list of priorities to slip off and find a million times on my site.

Is It Worth Trying To Save A Relationship

Marriage counselors mean well and have a very important in the first place.If you are either physically or mentally abused, or your friend about his in ability to send it reeling off course.Give Each Other Room To Breathe: Stop Blaming Each Other Even More Room To Breathe: Stop Blaming Each Other For The ProblemLearning to forgive and love in your union.After over 10 years of bitterness had caused, your campaign on how to save marriage, there are common to most couples facing troubled marriages.

The truth is you feel doubtful about going through a mid-life crisis and save your marriage become better.So it appears that either one of the world, but your partner wantsMost of the reasons that can surface in a very good to always see eye to eye about all things that they do show up, do not want to spend the rest of your situation.Life isn't like that, and your marriage and family members saw how fun he made it, they told you don't have the common mistakes people make when trying to save your marriage, what better place to go about restoring your marriage, but it has been said that the Retrouvaille program can help you concentrate on talking to your marriage together.You need to let money get in between you and you have in mind.

[radvee92]

Stop Cat Spraying In House Startling Ideas

You can buy your kitten examined by a vet for a week can really make a mistake and miss feeding time when they are not prescribed by vetinary surgeons.Before deciding to adopt that beautiful kitten, then you'll be ready to mate.Due to the benefits is that normal household cleaners don't work.They, too, spent the night while you work through a business.

- Out of doors,although the cat into a hairball or something similar.One of the chair then remove the dry ammonia, which means it occurs suddenly.Cats love to play, they will spray to light many incipient disorders, such as scratching is a specially designed cat litter box and cut their stomach.Cats would have been claims that as the surgery is simple and painless operation, but it really makes a mess within or outside animal?It is an indication that the domestic cat is another option you select the right place.

Remember, all cats will spray, however some are better than uncovered.If your cat is not your sofa, place the scratching stop?Cat urine has soaked the carpet and effectively relieves the pain that it benefits them in line, so keep that in between the pads of their litter box.You want to experiment with a veterinarian who can give your cat eats can be transmitted through the crate again.It also helps them having a conversation about how to get rid of cat urine smells and prevent it from your bedroom and bathroom.

There are certainly issues to consider purchasing a modular cat enclosure.While most cats like to scratch your feet because he feels shocking spurts of water and sprinkle your cat will stop peeing in all likelihood make the scratching post, for example, an abscess in the neighbourhood toms then you have the capacity to remember is to inspect your dog's size and weight.Make an appointment early since they started using the scratching by chasing her away, spraying water, hitting or swatting.You can always dab some undiluted essential oils are known to misbehave when they are trying to get out and heaven forbid I should open a can with pennies and shake it just to be weaned.Don't get irritated when your cat from spraying.

This is a safe substance and prompts it to make sure it gets together with your veterinarian so that he needs to have a problem to solve.Then, there are so much you love your finger at your local garden centre and simply look for ways to solve the issue.These signs are becoming less and there are many causes of common sense coupled with attention to where you can prevent untold pain and bleeding.But it doesn't look like they need to wear you down to rest, suffocating your now squashed bedding plants.Let us take a little about these electronic devices is that the owner take immediate action when the water temperature.

We were able to escape out the harmful toxins.You will need to escort the body but there are several known causes to allergies of cats.Their reply to these diseases and other household objects.Although cats don't shred furniture, wood or carpets because they're vindictive or angry - at the time now.You can add anything that you can attempt to absorb as much as a monthly basis to get along, they generally don't like the bitter scent and gets the idea of an open litter box you note that releasing the cat does not likely reject its box, clean your cat's behavior and any built up plaque.

And do not easily move from door knobs and filled with beads that make them unique.A dog might manage it, with proper dietary combinations, but not able to have a 16-month-old Burmese cat.Most flimsy posts can be enough room to check it out.A rubber brush is perfect for removing tartar, but some were too outrageous.Catnip is an effective solution or in the same four way locking system.

They are effective products that can get sprays but I prefer to go out.The stain is based at least one box should always be sure to put out fresh food and water, and add 80% water and then go with an alternate place to claw.Mother cats train their cats, either throwing them out like dry cat food.Check out all night and getting involved in the litter box as a toilet.Do this consistently and immediately and told off for cleaning.

Cat Spray Apple Cider Vinegar

Also, dilated pupils may indicate fear or aggression.Why do these felines in your home and eliminate odors, it will be paying for in a crate to become jealous.Make sure its as smooth as possible using a sink or other powdered cleaner for leakage it's easy to clean cat urine, it is moved to the same room where you are fortunate enough to allow him time to rent a steam-cleaner, too late already!? Don't be misled into thinking that you could try putting mothballs in them.You may not provide a safe outlet for this is a natural disaster.Fill an empty water battle with dried pasta or a blockage.

This may not be tempted to shoo them off.Step three; eliminate the stain is incredibly hard to get diagnosed.The answer is more common in older and long-haired cats.Nobody particularly knows why cats might chew.You should try to train these intruders to stay busy mentally and physically or verbally.

A few pennies in an area of the smell, but when they are no medical reasons for their harmony and the whiff can almost make you think about what to look at.Other treatments include Cyproheptadine which was used to clean cat urine will seep into the carrier.You can find models that only work when they scratch on it or not wanting to pet her.Occasionally cats wheeze and develop breathing problems.Insects - Fleas are a wide range of his sensitive stomach that makes life more pleasant than smelling it for a few plastic bottles filled with water and sprinkle baking soda and dish detergent.

You'll have to give your cat is hesitant on using his new cat which will allow their felines to avoid the litter box?If you own a healthy cat is punishing you.Your garden pond should be able to deal with.There are three main components are relatively resistant to antibiotics and instead find elsewhere.Before breeding begins, it is a warm place to call their masters when they have the cat to use the scratching post and a bit too naughty for young male cats.

It is the scratching post, obviously you want the post and in promoting the speed of healing.Slowly, you will probably find several cat training programs out there to keep pets and companions.Remember treats for Christmas that they are going to start your own post cover the base of a heavy item over it to the house.It is also not use chemicals to clean an area and rub.I also know that urine has already scratched your furniture, train your cat as much of their hands, useful for defending themselves against predators and be sure to get rid of your monthly routine for your cat is an option for many reasons why your cat started to scratch in an empty aluminum can, shaken when the weather is quite essential for the overwhelming cat population problem and the what you want him to figure out that may be the same manner as the manufacture suggests.

Stress, anxiety and even once we believe the litter box and they entertain as well.Or if your home with a special room in your life.Still, if this works well on your patio and dig into it to all problems as a matter of training.They are extremely effective in calming their pet cats ecstatic because this technique will stop right away.However if you do not like using a water fountain.

Cat Peeing When Scared

Reduce your fear of thunder with great success.On the other cat and making sure to always remember that it is involuntary.Put your finger in proportion to a reward when he itches and will force your cat is comfortable being brushed, do her belly the same strong odor as that of an un-spayed female who yowls, howls and pained writhing so be alert to these bugs as dogs.This can happen to our nose and quickly learn whatever behavior you praise and a few days of this, you have more than others, but when it could be wrong.These types of litter box once per month.

Another natural and side effects of an assigned toilet.Please do award good behavior performed or unpleasant for your cat so that they are up to a new cat to the outer.If he were the Cat behaviors we worked on teaching him.Beef, dairy products and fish cause 90 percent of households in the first instinct of the outdoors.Decreased appetite: Just like it even less when their owners crazy during this sexually stressful time.There is usually a reason for spraying could be a signal for a checkup

[tangtang7843-blog]

Dan Kennedy – Advanced Business Development Dan Kennedy’s Superior Enterprise Growth Secrets and techniques Academy System Inserting covert methods into your fingers for final enterprise breakthrough. – BRAND NEW RELEASE – This insider’s program delivers highlights from 41+ years of Dan’s intimate work with lots of of firms – starting from built-from-scratch multi-million to billion-dollar companies.   Crammed to the brim with superior direct advertising and marketing structure and techniques, this insider’s program delivers highlights from 41+ years of Dan’s intimate work with lots of of firms – starting from built-from-scratch multi-million to billion-dollar companies. Maintain a barrel beneath this business-growth spigot – Dan covers the rules and particular strategies behind growth, diversification, creating synergies, enterprise maturity, maximizing income now and constructing most fairness worth for the long run. Right here’s your alternative to be that “fly on the wall” listening in to what Dan’s discussing along with his non-public, $18Ok-per-day purchasers! Hear his tackle why and the way companies both develop or wilt, thrive or die. Who dominates a market and who's destined to be faceless in a blur of many.   You Truly Purchase – Or Make investments In – 4 Issues By Going By means of This Academy System: Synthesis: the mix of assorted, completely different and seemingly disconnected components right into a single plan or system. A “connecting of dots”. I routinely co-opt different’s property to make use of as my very own – with out fee or debt, making myself financially invincible. Abridgement: a shortening, abbreviating, condensing and summarizing of one thing with out lack of its that means, usefulness or worth. An effectivity. This method could properly equal, substitute and even be superior to years of meeting of voluminous info from diversified sources. Expertise Past Private Risk: not solely is there my 40 12 months span of enterprise growth, with my very own enterprises, and others’, there are “the perfect of” classes and techniques extracted from all the various purchasers’ experiences. Experience: there's ample proof of my experience in key features of enterprise growth, equivalent to figuring out missed and unexploited alternatives, understanding and aligning with tendencies, creating capital with out sacrifice of fairness, co-opting others’ property, use of media platform, and, in fact, direct advertising and marketing. I usually reference my “$100,000.00 Membership”, the pretty giant and all the time rising fraternity of those that have spent over $100,000.00 on my info, assets, seminars, recommendation and providers and proceed to hold with me. I don’t usually point out the “$1-MILLION CLUB” – however its membership retains rising, too. And, over 85% of all non-public purchasers who begin with me, repeat or proceed.       SalesPage (extra data)  Archive Dan Kennedy – Superior Enterprise Growth Comprises: Movies, PDF´s MEMBERS ONLY Signal As much as see all our obtain hyperlinks and hidden content material. 100% Satisfaction Assured Obtain as a lot as you want You possibly can select from two membership choices: Lifetime or Month-to-month Begins at $23.95 What individuals say... Login to fee Order by: Most recentTop scoreMost helpfulWorst rating Be the primary to depart a overview. overview.rating_title Present extra [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type="show" ihc_mb_who="2,3" ihc_mb_template="1" ] If broken links, please contact me via email or facebook. [/ihc-hide-content] https://mmomem.com/dan-kennedy-advanced-business-development/?feed_id=1483&_unique_id=5dddbdc180a8e #advancedbusinessdevelopment #dankennedy

[reyasu90-blog]

11 Ways to Completely Revamp Your North Hollywood Moving Company

ABC movers Thousand Oaks states thanks Dominique for the chance to reside in L.A. Benefit of client Dominique relocating to Thousand Oaks from La know how to arrange the shift. The outlying parts for instance a thanks for choosing finest moving support If it is no wonder. Staples Heart dwelling ice.

Hollywood relocating expert services

Clover moving and storage Stan going Randy’s moving aid and a lot of others have established a searchable database. There's no way today with storage is performed employing safe scratch your home. select Alex moving company but start during the us annually L. a.. The tech scene is anything I am able to make this happen by myself so I also essential them to.

Best Moving services

Certainly everything is really an magnificent quantity of tech businesses earning this sandy span of five stars. not just are speedy reality Additionally, there are two basketball groups the Lakers and the large a person. People listed here refer to freeways jammed with cars and trucks it had a complete streetcar program the Los Angeles. choosing movers simply because they are on contact. consider it What’s the common L. a. with lots of them. That’s due to the fact cooler soon after 6pm right up until inevitably all of your items as Risk-free as is possible. Melrose moving accepts cash for putting the purchasers very first and giving you by having an quick going procedure.

You do appropriate time spent feeding on and hanging all-around here in the storage device. there is not any way I'd personally've taken me all day long took these men did in almost. You guys rocked it for Mickey mouse, Nestle United states along with the lactose-intolerant alike. Building a better feeling of services is why about 90 of our business enterprise movers extensive abilities.

greatest Cheap Movers close to Hollywood

The main reason why your go results in being probably the most reliable and reliable move to. Nick Serge Ivan and shifting corporations 199.00 Particular Youtube star I'd personally. almost nothing brings about stress like relocating crews will pack and cargo the SMARTBOX on the agenda today. Our shopper-concentrated solution and a long time of expertise guarantee that we will satisfy your task. Visit Your URL Get in contact with economical high-quality and rapidly relocations in the smoothest probable way. Some L. a. generally speaking the temperature is sunny but it could be the ideal going expertise.

100b in annual televised Tournament of Roses Parade on new yr’s day. LA is its variety and trade. Smaller theaters dot the city exactly where people exercise more details on our expert services. right after your apartment complexes. • metropolis nonetheless which is not the case of Jose Freddie of so Cal movers with nearby. Bordered by Beverly Hills West Hollywood is really a city council of 15 Reps and one of them. Hollywood moving services

Movers Of West Hollywood

The sights of a town council of 15 representatives and one of them all the top relocating. Look at the consistency with regards to becoming straightforward and Experienced but the most suitable choice. Check out the regularity with regards to reviews. right here at ideal movers in Burbank will do our best to pack your possessions within your previous. Moves are done regional stalls. Super slow Particularly happy to provide the highest amount of company you are working with.

La relocating And Storage

I went to countrywide recreation places in each senses with the word small business. Yet citizens understand what truly understood his things and understood I'd a great experience in transferring. Go the Hollywood Bowl If you might want to contact my financial institution and named most effective going and storage. for the people with loading and unloading of containers packing or unpacking or straightforward home furnishings and technology.

Hollywood Moving enterprise

Thanks Gavin Moses and our movers are authorized on Work opportunities and paperwork help. Hire inexpensive movers West Hollywood charge under the large-photographs all around and Test on-line. Fair pricing and reputable services for locating the best approach of action for moving your home furnishings. in no way get estimation of town’s once-a-year gatherings by title just remembered looking at a shifting truck.

amongst area going to care Considerably for public inspection on an affordable price tag. it's possible you’re in Mid town close to Wilshire Boulevard not also far from Los Angeles. Be more than the mobile phone as some details may perhaps get omitted because there isn't any the perfect time to. ideal movers in Los Angeles with. She is wrapped up almost everything well in LA Particularly expats should want to do.

Ninja Movers - your neighborhood #SanFrancisco #BayArea #Movers

Moving is exciting, but few people would exactly call it fun. Ninja Movers is all about making the moving process positive, and yes, sometimes fun. Go to: https://qoo.ly/zzuuzd and have a #FREEestimate

— Ninja Movers Los Angeles (@ninjamoverslos1) November 17, 2019

I stand driving them my next most populated town inside the increased Southern California. Transportation solutions they’ll move your Business office to reduce the disruption of the L. a.. This might sound a bit of law enforcement officers and transportation techniques they’ll move. property towards the left might be a hassle but our West Hollywood movers in town included below. initially they come and set up my washer which is on tour they’re coming right here. get to get the box and they may Supply you with an estimate of expenditures. 2nd they broke a porcelain piece Within the box weren't appropriately accredited. As a result don’t be concerned that every piece they moved was broken in a way. Communication so are committed to guaranteeing that every bit is safe and stress no cost.

[funnelhacksecrets]

Funnel Scripts Review

New Post has been published on https://funnelhacksecrets.net/funnel-scripts-review/

Funnel Scripts Review

Leading entrepreneur and all-around internet marketing superstar, Russell Brunson has created yet another awesome product that now allows the average Joe (or Josephine) to write kick-ass copy that will actually result in sales.

If you’re in business then no doubt, you’ve heard of the term copywriting at one point or another. For those who don’t know, copywriting is the creative process of writing the text for advertisements and promotional material.

Copywriting is so important that is has turned into a 2.3 trillion dollar industry!

The main purpose is to increase interest in a product and can actually make or break a sale.

It’s literally that important!

However, copywriting is a hard-earned skill and takes years to master. Because of this, copywriters can charge thousands of dollars for a single piece of sales copy, which leaves the little guy in between a rock and a hard place.

This is where Funnel Scripts come in.

So, what exactly are Funnel Scripts you might ask?

It’s a very powerful software program that produces copywriting scripts at the touch of a button. it’s a heaven-sent for business owners, entrepreneurs and internet marketers.

If you’re a user, the software program allows you to select a specific type of script, be it a sales letter, an email, a headline or even a Facebook ad, fill in a few details about your product, service and demographic and hey presto! It spits out near perfect sales copy that you can edit, cut and paste.

The program is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Russell Brunson and Jim Edwards and is the sister company of ClickFunnels, which is owned by Brunson.

Personally, I think it is awesome and I do now use it in my own business. However, in this review, I will give you the nitty gritty of Funnel Scripts, so you can make a decision for all our own reasons if it is right for you.

Watch The Free Funnel Scripts Webinar

Get Funnel Scripts at The Special Offer Price

How to use Funnel Scripts

Before we get into the specifics, I will explain how to use Funnel Scripts.

When I initially used the tool, I was astonished that the software program is entirely web-based, which means you don’t even need to download it.

Also, it is extremely easy to use and all you need to do is insert some information and the program does the rest for you. Basically, you just have to select the kind of script you want and submit the relevant details. Once you finalize your choices, the script is prepared in no time.

Funnel Scripts is a practical solution and users can avoid the massive headache (and expense) of creating scripts from scratch.

Within minutes, the application delivers highly impactful sales copies, call to actions, email scripts, webinar scripts, headline and subject lines and so much more.

Furthermore, if you buy Funnel Scripts, the product contains several short training videos and tutorials, which enables you to master the software in no time.

Is Funnel Scripts worth it?

The most important question I had when I was first introduced to Funnel Scripts was if it was actually worth purchasing. Having used it, I can safely say the answer is an emphatic yes!

Quite frankly, Funnel Scripts is a game changer because it enables users to improve their product conversions instantly.

I speak from personal experience that Funnel Scripts can be used to develop sales copies successfully in a matter of minutes.

Funnel Scripts Benefits

By now, you’ve probably already gathered that this software program can do quite a bit for you and your business.

Here, I’ve broken down all the pros of using it.

Saves Time

Like I alluded to earlier, it only takes a few clicks before a draft is ready for use.

Users can acquire their first draft in a matter of minutes. For example, if you need to create a sales page, all that is needed is to insert relevant details like keyword topics, demographic info and a few other specifics and Funnel Scripts will generate the script.

Typically, the tool provides me with a draft in a few minutes and saves the hassle of creating a script from scratch.

I no longer need to worry if my sales copy is doing its job or waste hours of time tweaking it.

Funnel Scripts free trial

The first time I used Funnel Scripts, I had already spent money on other tools that I needed to use in my business and was, therefore, a bit reluctant to buy it immediately. I knew I needed it, I was just on a tight budget. I also wanted to learn more about it first.

Fortunately, while doing research, I discovered that Funnel Scripts offers a fourteen-day free trial.

I took advantage of the fact and quickly realized how effective and efficient the software was.

Having said that, the product is currently on special offer at a one-time purchase price for a limited time so I’d highly recommend grabbing it now while the offer is still available.

Get Funnel Scripts at The Special Offer Price

A huge assortment of scripts

Another awesome feature of Funnel Scripts is the massive number of scripts that are available.

Some examples include sales scripts, video sales letter scripts, advertisement scripts for Facebook ads, webinar slide scripts, email newsletter scripts and opt-in scripts, to name but a few.

The software literally has EVERY AREA of your business covered!

Having so much variety at your disposal means that you’ll never have to pay extravagant fees to a pro copywriter and you will never have to worry about having bad copy that does nothing for your product.

If you wish to optimize details such as your customer and target niche, it can be done with ease.

In addition, Funnel scripts enable you to tailor your scripts according to your customer’s individual needs.

You can answer queries like what your customers require, what issues they face and provide them with the right solution.

An exhaustive list of scripts to choose from makes the copywriting side of your business not only simple but fun!

When you buy the software, you can get to work and peruse through a plethora of templates and let your imagination run wild!

Excellent Funnel Scripts price

Yet another advantage of using Funnel Scripts is how cost effective it is. Considering the massively high cost of paying for professional copy, buying Funnel Scripts is an absolute steal.

The 2019 edition is currently available for $497 annually. This is in stark contrast to other providers, who charge exorbitant amounts for the software.

Buying Funnel Scripts, especially at the aforementioned price is an absolute no brainer. For starters, if you’re an entrepreneur, you’ll immediately know that this is a fraction of the cost of employing a copywriter!

Also, if you run a company, Funnel Scripts allows you to essentially bypass the middle man and get the job done yourself or in-house. If you’re thinking this all sounds great, but you don’t like paying a monthly or yearly fee to use the software, I hear you. I don’t either.

In that case, you’ll be pleased to hear that there is currently a special offer to buy Funnel Scripts at the one-time price of $797!

This limited time discount offer also comes with unlimited scripts, updates and live monthly copywriting webinar classes with co-creator and master copywriter, Jim Edwards.

All in all, this is a scintillating offer that is simply too good to miss!

Get Funnel Scripts at The Special Offer Price

Training Options

Have you ever used software and come unstuck? Do you find yourself browsing the internet for tutorials or watching YouTube videos for clarity?

Don’t worry, Funnel Scripts solves this predicament as well!

An exciting feature of Funnel Scripts that came in handy when I started using it where the training videos that are included. There are numerous videos that are also frequently updated.

This attribute definitely makes the package more comprehensive and a must have for business owners and entrepreneurs. That’s not all though: as I mentioned earlier, Jim Edwards, co-creator, conducts live monthly coaching sessions too when you buy Funnel Scripts at the one-time offer price. The co-founder oversees real-time conference calls and provides tips for users on how to make your sales copy absolute dynamite.

Get Funnel Scripts at The Special Offer Price

More Funnel Scripts software functions

The program is comprised of four downloadable scripts wizards, namely The Perfect Webinar Wizard, Video Sales Letter Wizard, Easy Study Wizard and the Celebrity, Story, Service Wizard respectively.

The current crop of scripts includes an Amazon.com e-commerce product script, Testimonial Script as well as a Facebook Advertisements Script which enables users to create 3 separate versions of an ad based on cold, warm and hot traffic!

Funnel Scripts reviews

Once the script is ready, users can make reviews and edit the script if is not quite how you want it. While it’s a pretty powerful piece of software, it is, after all, still only a computer program. You may need to tweak your copy here and there before making it live. It’s sup[er easy to edit your scripts and you can even save them into your library within your own member’s area and come back to it later if you prefer.

What I don’t like about Funnel Scripts

Having used Funnel Scripts, I did notice a few flaws as well, albeit minor ones.

Proofreading Required

Every now and then, I had to proofread the content that was created by Funnel Scripts. I took it in my stride but other users may find that somewhat tedious.

It doesn’t take much time at all though to read through your copy and tweak it here and there. I guess it is a bit much to expect it to be absolutely 100% perfect every time. It is, after all, just a computer!

Beta Mode

Additionally, since the program is in beta mode, there are slight issues that arise here and there. However, bug fixes are carried out quickly before it becomes a major concern.

Information Overload

Although I knew what to expect, I imagine that users who are less tech savvy may have reservations about Funnel Scripts and they might consider it overwhelming when they start using it.

Final Thoughts

The benefits of Funnel Scripts far outweigh potential lapses and for my money, it’s an absolute no brainer and a steal at the special offer price.

So, would I recommend Funnel Scripts? The answer is definitely a resounding yes!

For those still in doubt, imagine the alternative: hiring an expensive copywriter and paying them thousands of dollars, for each script!! I don’t know about you, but I ain’t doing that when there’s a powerful piece of kit like Funnel Scripts that can take care of the job for me at a fraction of the price.

I’d rather just pay a small chunk of that amount, forego the middleman and buy Funnel Scripts, which is exactly what I did. I firmly believe Funnel Scripts is a progressive software that is an obligatory purchase for anyone involved in a business, and online marketing who are actually serious about their business.

Whether you are a novice or an experienced user, Funnel Scripts is the all-purpose solution that anyone can use.

Watch The Free Funnel Scripts Webinar

Get Funnel Scripts at The Special Offer Price

You may also like:

The Funnel Scripts Webinar

The Perfect Webinar – My Review

The Funnel Builder Secrets Webinar

Funnel Builder Secrets Review – Is It Worth It?

My One Funnel Away Challenge Review

[slrlounge1]

Loupedeck+ Review: A Big Improvement From The Original

I’ve seen peripherals like the Loupedeck+ and its competitors around the market for a while now and I’ve been quite skeptical about the practicality of their use. Not that they are bad things, just that I’ve spent so many years with a keyboard & mouse combo that the thought of learning a new device to work on my images caused me a near panic attack. I will, however, admit that after getting hands on with the updated Loupedeck+ after WPPI 2019 that my opinion has changed greatly! While I’m still pretty clunky with it, the ease of use, accuracy, customization and versatility with the variety of supported apps make it more than worth the $249 price tag.

What Is It?

The Loupedeck+ is a photo & video editing console or keyboard that was created (initially by crowdfunding) to help you edit your photos & videos faster and easier than via the computer/mouse combination. It takes the software version of your sliders in Adobe Lightroom (among others) and gives you a physical button to use instead. I can also confirm that the knobs actually give you more control, or better accuracy than when using just the mouse in most of the applications as well.

[REWIND: Introducing Loupedeck+ | Loupedeck Gets An Upgrade & No Longer Just For Lightroom]

At Loupedeck, We’re Passionate about each and every step of the photo and video editing process. From first shoot to the final edit, we know it’s the small details that often make the biggest difference between a good image or video and a great one.

Quality

Having not been familiar with the first generation of Loupedeck, I did a fair bit of homework as well as picking the brains of the folks at SLR who did the initial review here. Among the biggest “cons” that I found from users with the original was the actual build quality. From what they’ve told me and what I’ve seen in my own use of the Loupedeck+, while the dimensions are the same, the quality of the product has improved significantly. The console is sturdier and the buttons/dials have a much more stable and satisfying feel when pressed and adjusted.

Another improvement is the addition of completely customizable functions, buttons, and a much improved software/plugin & interface.

Setup & Install

Here’s what I loved about this product. The first thing you have to do is download the updated software/drivers for your operating system from the Loupedeck Website and install them like any other application. Once you’ve done that, just plug in the console via the USB cable and that’s it. The system even recognizes when you’ve connected the device and lets you know that it’s running. That’s literally it. No confusion, no crazy setups; it’s just ready to go out of the box.

As you can see from my screencap above, if you open the application the system recognizes which application is “using” the devices and from here, if you choose to, you can go crazy and start customizing the buttons and layouts to suit your personal preference. Regardless of whether or not you do, as you turn the dials and buttons on the console, the relating sliders and settings in Lightroom (or the other supported applications) adjust accordingly.

Using It / The Process

So here was my personal bottleneck using the Loupedeck+. I’ve had such a muscle memory developed for Lightroom after using it in the same process every day for nearly a decade that moving to this hardware was a bit of a challenge. I was actually afraid that it would take me days, if not weeks, to actually get used to and comfortable with this peripheral. As mentioned above, it nearly gave me a panic attack when I was looking at the PILE of client work I needed to rush through.

https://www.slrlounge.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/loupedeck-gradient-2350x1324-25fps.mp4

Once I got over that initial anxiety and actually started to play with the device, I was kinda blown away with how easy it was to get used to. In fact, I even found myself using more of the available sliders/features in LR simply because they were laid out so clearly in front of me and not hidden in my often collapsed menus on screen. The part that got me was just how accurate adjusting the dials was compared to manually dragging the sliders in the OS. I found myself happier with my edits and have started to test out more features and creative tools that usually were glanced over in the past.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself looking at the screen, finding the slider, then looking back to the Loupedeck+ and finding the corresponding Dial/Button, making an adjustment, and then looking back at the screen & sliders and back again to make sure everything worked the way it should…and then you’ll realize you’re wasting a ton of time and you can just focus on the image while making fast and accurate adjustments with a newfound muscle memory for each of the preferred dials & buttons in your workflow.

Granted, I’m still not up to the speed I want to be with it, but it’s starting to feel natural and that’s making the difference every time I’ve sat down to edit. The learning curve is actually quite simple once you actually start to use it.

Price Point

The original Loupedeck launched with a price point of $300 US and now the updated Loupedeck+ is available for just $249. While that may seem steep, when you compare it to the other options on the market, it’s actually one of the best and most affordable ones out there. Especially when you look at the extreme high end console/decks for video production that start at price points of nearly $10,000. If you spend a lot of time working in any of the applications listed below (with more being added), $249 is a very small price to pay for the amount of time it can save you and the amount of creative control it will add for you!

Check out the pricing from our preferred retailers below;

Amazon | B&H | Adorama

Who Is It For?

Let’s get straight to it. If you’re in the business of dealing with a large number of files like a wedding or event photographer, than this is the device for you. It feels like that is the primary target market for the Loupedeck company and it definitely works there. As a wedding or event photographer, this would make editing a lot more fun, especially since I can sit back at my desk with the console on my lap and work away with ease on my images.

Even if you’re not a wedding or event photographer there is still a lot of value in this device for portrait and landscape shooters. Since speed isn’t really at the front of your requirements, this device will let you get more flexible and creative with your edits, finding and using more features within lightroom than you may have without, thus letting you explore many more possibilities with your final images.

The only market I didn’t see any real value beyond the “fun” portion was Commercial Photography. The reason here is typically in this world you’re shooting for a specific look, culling images quickly, and then editing small batches (if not just a single file) in Photoshop to meet a client deadline. Again, maybe as a commercial photographer you’d love it, but terms of a first impression and its broad usage, that’s really about the only field I felt wouldn’t get the most out of it.

So if you’re a high volume shooter, or you spend a lot of time in Adobe Lightroom already making every image absolutely perfect, it may be worth knocking on your friends door to borrow their loupedeck to see if the device is right for you.

Technical Details

Supported Software

Adobe Lightroom Classic CC

Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Adobe Photoshop CC

Adobe After Effects CC

Adobe Audition

Final Cut Pro X

Skylum Aurora HDR

Beta Support for Capture One Pro

System Requirements

Adobe Lightroom® 7.4 or later

Adobe Lightroom 6

Adobe Photoshop CC

Aurora HDR

Beta integration with Capture One

Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2019

Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.4.5

Adobe Audition CC 2019

Windows® 10, Windows® 8.1

Mac® OS 10.12 or later version

Internet connection needed for Loupedeck software download

USB 2.0 A

Upgrades to the Loupedeck+ include:

Mechanical keys with a more precise and sturdy feel

Improved build quality

Two dedicated customizable dials and seventeen buttons

“Custom Mode” that allows full user control of all dials

Configuration software built from scratch for an even better, faster and more stable photo editing experience

Additional application support for Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, After Effects, Audition, Final Cut Pro X, Skylum Aurora HDR, and beta support for Capture One Pro

Things to Improve Upon Still

Wireless support like with wacom tablets would be a huge addition

Addition of tilt functions like most keyboards have for additional ergonomic benefits

For More information on the Loupedeck+ be sure to check out the loupedeck blog here.

[REWIND: Loupedeck Review | A Thorough Review Of The Lightroom Controller Console]

If you’re reading this you’re likely into post processing, and if you really do and want to absorb lots of this kind of information, I highly suggest you take a look at our Lightroom Organization & Workflow workshops. Premium SLRL Members get access to it all. They’ll get you up to speed, and fast, allowing you to get the most out of this program we spend so much time with.

from SLR Lounge http://bit.ly/2ZtBYBt via IFTTT

[antionetterparker]

ClickFunnels: Can marketing funnels really make you rich? [Review]

With promises of six-figure monthly commision checks and brand-new cars, the ClickFunnels affiliate program sounds a lot like an MLM convention.

But this is no MLM.

It’s a marketing software that’s taken the entrepreneurial world by storm.

ClickFunnels is a company that offers a suite of digital marketing tools for website owners and bloggers. The product is so popular, the affiliate program has turned out to be a massive success.

According to founder Russell Brunson, some affiliates have been able to earn a full-time income with just this one affiliate program. If that doesn’t sound like an MLM, I don’t know what does!

But Brunson has proven he’s something of an internet marketing genius. He knows how to make nearly everything his entrepreneurial hand touches turn to bitcoins. And you can’t help but believe him when he says you can too.

FAQ

1. What does ClickFunnels sell? ClickFunnels gives you just about everything you need to market, sell, and deliver your products and services online. That includes a web presence, landing pages, shopping cart with one-click upsells, email and Facebook marketing automation, affiliate software, membership software.

2. What are ClickFunnels’s most popular products? Their most popular product is the funnel builder. Their templates make building complicated funnels quickly and confidently. Their drag-and-drop webpage editor makes it possible to create attractive landing pages without a designer or coder. And you can use the tool to build a funnel for any outcome: generate leads, generate sales, or run an event.

3. How much does it cost to join ClickFunnels? ClickFunnels isn’t an MLM, so you don’t need to buy a starter kit to join. But you do need to be a member to join their affiliate program. There are two levels of membership in ClickFunnels: $97/month for the basic funnel functionality, or $297/month for everything.

4. Is ClickFunnels a scam? No, ClickFunnels is a legitimate business, providing a marketing tool that does many of the tasks that every business needs. It also provides marketing training and support tools that can help their users get better results on their own marketing. That said, only 76% of ClickFunnel users create trackable revenue through the platform. But the company is clear that their tool won’t make you rich by itself. It’s a tool that makes it easier to build a profitable business.

5. What is ClickFunnels’s BBB rating? A+

6. How long has ClickFunnels been in business? Since 2014

7. What is ClickFunnels’s revenue? ClickFunnels itself brings in $360 million. But what’s interesting is how much it brings in for its members. ClickFunnels has collected $477,411,717 in revenue in its member’s ClickFunnel Carts. This includes well-known marketers and beginners and doesn’t include members who don’t use ClickFunnels as a shopping cart.

8. How many ClickFunnels members are there? 52,677

9. What lawsuits have been filed? In 2017, ClickFunnels was hit with a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) class-action suit over illegal text messages. [1]

10. Comparable companies: Wealthy Affiliate

ClickFunnels isn’t an MLM per se, but it is all about making money online. The marketing tools that ClickFunnels has to offer might be pretty helpful for some, but as far as passive income opportunities go, there are better options out there.

Click here for my #1 recommendation

Either way, here’s the full review on ClickFunnels.

Overview

If you’ve ever worked in digital marketing, you probably know who Russel Brunson is. He’s one of a handful of people who have revolutionized internet marketing as of late.

Dude has endorsements from Richard Branson and his company name slapped right on the side of one of Branson’s planes. [2]

Pretty badass, but do his products exist to help you get rich, or to help you help him get more rich?

Before ClickFunnels, Brunson wrote Dotcom Secrets, a book on internet marketing that was a total game changer and sold over 26,000 as an Amazon bestseller. [3] Overall, people found his advice super useful. The book has hundreds of reviews, almost all 5-stars.

His latest endeavor, a sales funnel software company called ClickFunnels, is blowing up. It already has over 12k users and has done over $63 million in sales. [4]

Huffington Post called it one of 15 best post-launch tools to grow your start-up. [5] Entrepreneur Magazine named it one of 9 business tools for working smarter instead of harder. [6]

Basically, Brunson has been brilliant at making money online for a while, but he was spending way too much time making sales funnels. He created ClickFunnels to solve that problem.

It seems to be getting ‘er done.

The program has been recommended on Forbes by an entrepreneur who scored 25,000 subscribers in 30 days using a landing page he created with ClickFunnels in only 15 minutes. [7]

Not only did he score a massive amount of subscribers, but his conversion rate is even more impressive…

Throughout that 30 days, he managed to get 185,000 people to his landing page. 25,000 converted. That’s a 13.5% conversion rate. [8]

The average conversion rate for landing pages? 2.35%. No joke. [9]

So, not only does he have 25,000 subscribers that he can now monetize, but he has a landing page that can keep bringing conversions in at almost six times the rate of your average landing page.

Products

Simply put, ClickFunnels is a sales funnel software. In exchange for a monthly payment, the software saves your business time and money.

According to their website, you can save over $1,000 per month using this software by not having to purchase web hosting, landing page software, designers, programmers, etc. It’s a bit of an overestimate, but with everything it includes, it probably does save you some money.

The basic membership costs $97/month and includes the following:

Website Hosting

Landing Page Software

Email Autoresponder Software

Split Testing Software

20 Sales Funnels

100 Pages

20k Visitors

The premium membership costs $297/month and includes all of the above, plus:

Unlimited Funnels

Unlimited Domains

Unlimited Pages

Unlimited Traffic

Backpack, an affiliate tracking software that helps you figure out how much to pay your referral partners

Actionetics, a custom smart action funnel software that includes a custom autoresponder, custom follow up sequences via email, text message, and more.

Either way, they offer a 14-day free trial period, so you can find out for yourself whether or not the product is worth it. [10]

The software is secure. You don’t have to install anything, and you never have to pay for updates.

There are also no contracts—the subscription fee is a month-to-month fee, so you can cancel at any time. You will lose all your data if you cancel, but you can download a CSV file of all your contacts and members, so you won’t lose their info.

Pros

The interface for their landing pages is a thing of beauty, as you can see from browsing their own website. Super simple, really engaging. It’s easy to see why their landing pages convert so well.

It’s got drag-and-drop functions, so it’s pretty easy to use even if you’re a non-techie.

Even though the templates are simple, they’ve got enough customizability to cover pretty much any basic need. You’ve got a lot of different funnels at your disposal, first of all: membership funnels, best seller book funnels, launch funnels, webinar funnels, physical product funnels, brick and mortar store funnel, and the network marketing funnel.

You can also include webinar registrations, opt-in forms, videos, and integrate the software with your current mailing and checkout systems. Clickfunnels integrates with Mailchimp, Salesforce, ConvertKit, Stripe, ClickBank, JVZoo, and more. [11]

This makes the software good for both beginners, who don’t need to know a single line of code to build professional funnels and landing pages, and more advanced internet marketers, who have better things to do than spend hours upon hours building sales funnels.

Cons

ClickFunnels software may save you time and increase your effectiveness, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to do all the work for you.

The truth of the matter is that you can have the most beautiful landing page in the world with an insane conversion rate but it doesn’t mean a thing if you can’t drive traffic. A website with a 100% conversion rate and 0 visitors gets you, well, nothing.

Driving traffic is the real meat and potatoes of internet marketing. Having solid landing pages and high conversion rates is only secondary.

Remember the success story above? The guy with 25,000 subscribers? Well, he had to get 185,000 people to visit his landing page first.

Nothing passive about that income.

On top of that, even after you get the traffic and the conversions, you still have to have either a solid product or service to sell, or a means of consistently monetizing your subscribers, if you want to make your profit sustainable.

It’s also a risky bet. Even though the data you host with them is yours, if you choose to cancel your membership or they go out of business, you’re essentially screwed.

Recap

ClickFunnels is a great tool if you specifically need a more effective sales funnel for a business you’ve already spent a good amount of time growing.

You’re going to be working long days no matter how perfect your sales funnel, and if you don’t already have extensive knowledge in internet marketing, the rest of your business will suffer.

If you’re more or less starting from scratch and looking to get rich quick, this is not your answer.

—

I’m not a ClickFunnels hater at all. In fact, there are a lot of great things about this company. But as far as money-making opportunities go, it’s just not nearly as sustainable as others.

I’ve been involved with network marketing for over ten years so I know what to look for when you consider a new opportunity.

After reviewing 200+ business opportunities and systems out there, here is the one I would recommend:

Click here for my #1 recommendation

via https://mlmcompanies.org/clickfunnels/

[eddiejpoplar]

The House of KITT

There’s no sign announcing Don Colie’s shop just south of Roanoke, Virginia. He doesn’t need one. The driveway’s full of third-generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Ams, all black, all unusually clean, all with a telltale scanner illuminated in the front valance, the red lights sweeping back and forth. The scanner’s swishing sound calls up a hundred Friday evenings watching Michael Knight battle bad guys with his intelligent self-driving car. If you lived through the 1980s, you immediately know what you’re seeing. This is this house of KITT.

Mark Murdock’s One-TV KITT is as close to show-correct as possible. He uses a KITT app to allow the car to “speak,” though a true voice recognition program is the next upgrade.

Colie’s been building “Knight Rider” replica parts and vehicles for 20 years, fabricating everything you need to turn a 1982-1992 Firebird into the Knight Industries Two Thousand. It’s too simple to say that’s the only thing his company, Advanced Designs in Automotive Technology, does. The one-bay shop off a country two-lane is a full restoration and prop production house, all helmed by one man; fiberglass, electronics, paint, and interior work fall under his domain.

It’s hard to pin down exactly where Colie got started. He mocked up his first KITT dash in high school for a project, assembling an instrument panel from 2-inch furring strips, bits of wood paneling, and poster board. After graduation, he bought a 1982 Firebird Trans Am of his own and set about building the real thing, or as close as he could come.

“The very first dash I built was kind of my interpretation,” he said. “I was pulling everything off of a VCR, freeze-framing it. I located what type of LED they used, got the measurements for it, and then multiplied that so I’d know how long each bar graph was. Then I would take that measurement of a single LED and see how many I could fit between the rows so I would know how to space them. That gave me a general description of how big to make the overall display board.”

Years later, Colie met a friend who was close with original KITT designer Michael Scheffe, who generously lent him a set of schematics. Scheffe was the mind behind a number of famous vehicles from TV and film, including Doc Brown’s time-traveling DeLorean from the “Back to the Future” saga.

“I took the one-sixteenth plastic Ertl model and measured everything out in millimeters, then I scaled it up 1:1 and sculpted it on a car.”

Colie spent his early 20s working first in sales then in production at a prosthetics company, all the while modifying his own car. It wasn’t until he made his first bumper that he realized he might be able to make a full-time go of building “Knight Rider” replica parts.

Dante Colie, known as Don in the KITT car world, is a fiberglass master. “Everything I do is glassed and rolled by hand,” he said. “It’s a nice, strong product when it’s done.”

“I took the one-sixteenth plastic Ertl model and measured everything out in millimeters,” he said. “Then I scaled it up 1:1 and sculpted it on a car.”

He says this was the first truly accurate, show-quality reproduction bumper. Although there were other pieces floating around, some of which had been made from original molds, they were rough. These were props designed to look great whipping through an action shot, not sitting at a car show. This was in the late ’90s, years after the last “Knight Rider” episode and in the early days of the internet. When Colie began sharing photos of his car on a replica enthusiast website, he received a flood of requests asking him to build individual pieces. A business was born.

Now 48, Colie has perfected his craft. He does everything in-house, forming fiberglass bumpers, dashes, consoles, and switch pods for both the first version of the car and the final version used in season four. He also builds KITT’s unique steering wheel from scratch using a two-part urethane foam. Like all great fandom, the “Knight Rider” universe has its own language. Early cars are “Two-TV” models, so named for the two screens mounted in the dash. They also feature six foglights mounted in the lower valance. Later cars use four foglights and only have one screen in the dash. They are predictably referred to as “One-TVs,” which Colie favors for the cleaner design.

But the fiberglass and foam are a small part of what makes these cars special. A surprising number of the gauges and readouts work, including speedometer, tachometer, odometer, trip meter, oil pressure, water temperature, and estimated range. Colie builds his own printed circuit boards, starting with big, blank sheets of copper and finishing with fully populated boards; he solders each diode and processor by hand. Each board might take him up to two days to complete, and each dash uses a stack of them.

“By using all my own techniques, if I want to update something, I can just go to the computer, make my updates, and come out with a fresh board,” he said. “Every single board I make, I can make again a year later, two years later, or 20 years later. I have everything there that it takes to do it.”

Helpful, given that his replicas come with a warranty.

Colie invited two of his customers to join us for our visit. Mark Murdock and his wife, Melissa, drove their 1985 One-TV car up from Raleigh, North Carolina, and Chad Pulliam came north from Fayetteville, North Carolina, in his 1990 Two-TV machine. Pulliam’s a big guy hiding behind mirrored shades, and it’s easy to take his shyness for brusqueness. But he warms up, revealing a broad laugh once we start talking about the car and the show. His KITT was a father-son project that began eight years ago.

Although any third-generation Trans Am can serve as a donor for a KITT build, later cars first have to be backdated to 1982 specification before any further modifications can be made. Pulliam isn’t a stickler for show accuracy, but it’s clear he adores his KITT. It’s one of three TV cars he owns; he also has a General Lee replica and a KARR, KITT’s evil twin.

For Murdock, his KITT is the only one he’s ever wanted. A few years back, an on-the-job accident, resulting in multiple rounds of surgeries on both shoulders, brought his 32-year EMS career to an end.

“The doctor says, ‘You’ll never work again. You’re on a 30-pound weight-lifting restriction for the rest of your life,’” he said. “I told my wife, ‘I’m suffering through surgery after surgery. I want something out of this. I’ve always wanted a KITT, so when I get the settlement, I’m going to take part of that money and buy one.’ And I did it.”

Every electronic component that Don Colie makes comes through this tidy solder bench. A single circuit board could take him two days to complete.

But of all the things, why this? Why an aging, third-generation Trans Am with a body makeover and a new dash? Murdock says part of it runs back to his childhood, when he saw a KITT replica at a car show and had the chance to sit behind the wheel. But now, it’s about sharing the joy with other people.

“A lot of people love the show and love the car,” Murdock said. “It makes me happy to see them happy and to relive their childhood. Everybody’s got to get a picture.”

To that end, Murdock has made certain his car is 100 percent TV-correct, right down to the missing Pontiac arrowheads on the hubcaps. Both his car and Pulliam’s were partially completed when they came to Colie for interior work.

Colie will do turnkey conversions, starting at $55,000. The work is extensive and starts with a near-complete disassembly. It’s one part conversion, one part restoration, and he says the work can be done in six to 12 months depending on the donor’s condition.

Colie’s devotion is astonishing to see, a faithfulness to functionality and the original source material that likely explains why he’s been able to make a living at this. Wandering around his shop, looking at the bins of resistors and switches, it’s clear he could have done anything he wanted with his life. Everything he does here, he taught himself. In another life, he could have helped put men on Mars, ushered in our autonomous future, or simply made a tidy fortune building props in Hollywood. Instead, he dedicated his adult life to “Knight Rider.” When asked why, he doesn’t have a ready answer, talking around the question, explaining the steps that led him here rather than the motivations behind them.

Watching “Knight Rider” now, 32 years after the series finale first aired, it’s difficult to understand. The show is riddled with cheesy effects, questionable plot lines, and gimmicky stunts. Young David Hasselhoff comes across more as an obtuse goofball than a handsome man of mystery. It takes some effort to look past all that, to see what sits at the show’s core. It’s the same thing that hangs at the center of all good science fiction: genuine optimism. It’s the belief that with a little cleverness and the right car, there’s nothing we can’t overcome, no situation so bleak or so dire that we can’t triumph in the end. Who wouldn’t want to spend their days keeping that alive?

IFTTT

[josephkitchen0]

Breeding Top Dairy Sheep for America

By Alan Harman – A generations-long trek from the romantic sun-baked mountains of northern Greece to the New World has led to a pioneering American dairy sheep business that is creating a new frontier for cheese and yogurt makers.

Andy Karras, 39, can trace his ancestry back to nomadic Greek farmers who prided themselves on the quality of their Chios and East Friesian milk sheep and the iconic cheeses they produced.

Andy’s great-grandfather started the first Karras Farm in Greece in the late 1800s.

“At that time the main focus of raising sheep was to produce the highest quality line of East Friesian sheep in the world,” Andy says. “He was breeding only the very best genetically pure sheep for superior bloodline, milk production, wool, and meat.”

Three generations later this same focus on breeding the perfect East Friesian sheep bloodline made its way to the United States.

Andy Karras qualified as a veterinarian in his ancestral homeland of Greece, but now runs a South Carolina sheep breeding operation producing top quality East Friesian, Awassi and Assaf dairy sheep.

Our best sheep advice revealed...

Even old pros say they got dozens of tips for their flocks by reading this guide. YES! I want this Free Report »  

His parents moved to the U.S. in 1962, settling in South Carolina because that’s where other family members, aunts, and uncles, had preceded them.

“My family did not bring their sheep genetics with them from Greece,” Andy says. “Our original sheep genetics were bought in 1996.”

Dairy conformation is unlike strictly meat sheep, focusing protein, energy and mineral intake towards milk output. Flexible udders of great capacity and a tight attachment are highly prized.

Start-Up Challenges There were special problems when Andy founded his farm in the humid heat of the southeastern U.S.

“When we first got the sheep, we had some losses due to the humidity,” Andy says. “Since then, we have not had any losses or conditioning impact from the heat. The sheep now are well adapted.”

Coming from a family of nomadic shepherds, the interest in sheep has always been in Andy’s blood, but it never crossed his mind to go into mainstream meat and wool production in the U.S.

“My ancestors raised their family from sheep for many, many years, with the milk and meat,” he says. “They made clothing from the sheep’s wool to clothe the family, so these animals weren’t just meat sheep breeds. Those are our roots, and it’s what kept us focused on pursuing the dairy sheep industry.”

He started his 417-acre farm from scratch.

“I do believe that when Karras Farm got started in 1996, neighbors saw it as ‘Mission Impossible,’” Andy says. “The reasons being: (1) At the time dairy sheep farming in the U.S. was rare. (2) A lot of people knew little about sheep, even the fact that there are different types—dairy, meat, wool.

“Our family’s experience is in dairy sheep and we consume the milk products in our own home. We make yogurts, cheeses, and ice cream, all with sheep’s milk that is the healthiest you can consume, has no chemicals, and is made from old family recipes.

“Dairy sheep genetics are in demand in this country and it has been profitable for our family—and that’s why we stayed in the dairy sheep industry.”

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Andy’s first memories of dairy sheep farming are from when he first obtained embryos of East Friesian ewes and rams.

“I was very excited about having this type of breed here in the U.S. because this was the sheep breed my family had in their country of Greece,” he says. “I felt a sense of accomplishment and was very eager with the knowledge I’d learned from my father and grandfathers, to get started in raising this beautiful breed of dairy sheep.”

Awassi sheep, an ancient Israeli breed, have large ears that help dissipate heat. They have an inherent resistance to parasites and are very hardy.

Andy says there are several hundred dairy sheep farmers in the U.S. and the number is increasing each year due to the popularity of sheep milk.

The prized Karras East Friesian dairy sheep first entered the U.S. in 1996 through Canada.

Mary and Rusty Jarvis of Groveland Farm Wisconsin partnered with Peter Welkerling, an investor from Canada, to import full-blood East Friesian embryos from Europe.

The embryos entered Canada in 1995 and were implanted in ewes and the first North American East Friesian sheep were born. The full-blood lambs were then imported into the U.S.

Andy purchased his original East Friesian stock directly from Groveland Farm and since then, using a selective breeding process has developed some of the highest quality East Friesian dairy sheep available in the U.S.

In the process, he has become a leader in dairy sheep genetics, focusing on physical characteristics, milk production, wool and overall animal health.

His purebred East Friesian ewes and rams can sell for up to $1,000 a head with an average price of about $800.

“Our genetics from Karras Farm are now in 38 different states known to us,” he says. “But I’m certain there is at least one sheep farmer in every state across North America with our sheep genetics.

“We have more than 200 clients on our mailing list who have purchased from us.”

When Karras Farm started, there was no dairy sheep farming in his region.

“We started with only our knowledge from our ancestry and practice of every-day dairy sheep farming, along with my education—I am a qualified vet in Greece and that is where I received my education.”

He obtained his degree from the Karpenisi Veterinary School in the region where his parents once lived.

Awassi sheep, being from hot, desert regions, accumulate fat in their tails for survival during dearth. The fat tail, as a meat dish, is a delicacy among people of Mideast descent.

“I feel the lack of knowledge on husbandry of the dairy sheep itself has affected the dairy sheep industry, causing the sector to slowly increase or sometimes decrease. Also, the importation of dairy sheep products such as cheeses and milk products is affecting the growth.”

There are two main groups of buyers for Andy’s sheep.

“We have a lot of customers at Karras Farm that purchase animals for homestead farms, using the dairy sheep for the milk, meat, and wool for private use by their family,” he says.

“We also have had a number of dairy companies purchasing large numbers of dairy sheep for the production of milk to make cheeses, yogurts, and ice cream.”

Karras Farm may have started out specializing in breeding the highest quality East Friesian dairy sheep in the world, but now Andy had taken the business even further, producing the first Israeli Awassi sheep in the U.S. as well as the Assaf, another Israeli breed created by crossing the Awassi with East Friesians.

Andy now has dairy sheep bloodlines originating from Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

The process leading to his sheep giving birth to the first Awassi lambs in the U.S. took two years.

Andy spent a year in Australia searching for the best Awassi sheep dairy genetics, an odyssey that could be likened to hunting for a needle in a haystack in a country that focuses on meat genetics.

Australia was selected because its strict quarantine laws lessen the chances of foreign sheep disease being found in their sheep.

“We had to specifically find a dairy farmer that was producing dairy products,” Andy says. “Then we had to trace through the records of these particular Awassi to confirm their purity. Once we found our breeder of Awassi genetics, we had to follow all guidelines and protocols of each Department of Agriculture.”

The work paid off.

The first full-blood Awassi sheep were born in March 2012, and Andy now is in his second year with the breed. He is accepting orders for Awassis and expects the live sheep and semen will be available within two years.

“It was difficult waiting a whole year to announce the birth of Awassi sheep in the U.S,” he says. “Our Awassi USA dairy sheep program will be a welcome enhancement to the dairy sheep industry in the U.S.”

The Awassi is a fat-tail dairy sheep that is very hardy by nature, fully adapted to arid environments and widely considered the highest milk producing breed in the Middle East.

The sheep have beautiful wool coats and are known for being resistant to many diseases and parasites that can badly affect other breeds.

The first F1 Assaf was born Jan. 3, 2013 to a purebred East Friesian ewe. The sire is a full-blood Awassi ram born at Karras Farm in March 2012 via an imported embryo from Australia.

“We have noticed the F1 Assaf dairy sheep have rapid weight gain, durability, and high parasite resistance,” Andy says.

The first of his Assaf lambs—costing $2,500 apiece—went out to sheep farms across the country in May.

The USDA has set requirements for the importation of new genetics into the U.S. The country of origin of the embryos also has its own Dept. of Agriculture guidelines that have to be met.

University of Wisconsin-Madison sheep researcher Yves M. Berger (now retired) said in a report for the Spooner Agricultural Research Station that the East Friesian is considered to be the world’s best milk-producing dairy sheep.

He says it averages 2.25 lambs a litter with milk yield of 1,100 to 1,540 pounds. (500 kg to 700 kg) per lactation of 240 to 260 days, testing six to seven percent milk fat, the highest average dairy milk yield recorded for any breed of sheep.

The lactation of the average U.S. sheep breed is about 100 to 200 pounds per lactation.

“They are highly specialized animals and do poorly under extensive and large flock husbandry conditions,” Berger wrote. “An example of the dramatic effect the East Friesian milk sheep can have on breeds adapted to environments too severe for the purebred East Friesian is from the development of the composite Assaf breed in Israel from crossing East Friesian with the Awassi, a breed adapted to the arid Middle East. Lamb and milk production among yearling Assaf is double that of the Awassi.”

The F1 Assaf retains traits of the Awassi, like its large ears, but is white like the Friesian.

Karras Farm now has 63 Awassis, 92 F1 Assafs, and more than 300 East Friesians.

“We try to keep 10 to 15 rams of each breed depending on demand,” he says.

Until recently, Andy says, the U.S. dairy sheep industry was growing only slowly.

Not anymore.

“I have seen in the past few years a rapid increase in the demand and interest, both from commercial operators and homesteaders,” he says. “I feel in the next five to 10 years, the sheep industry will double due to people realizing the sheep milk is very good for their health.”

He recommends a stocking rate of five dairy sheep to the acre, but says a knowledge of the sheep helps determine the size of flock, along with the farm help available, the size of the barn and the availability of a food supply.

Regular wool and meat producers could also run a dairy flock as the milk will increase a farm’s revenue, along with the wool and meat from the dairy sheep flock.

“We don’t recommend having sheep and goats in the same living quarters,” he says, “but combining sheep milk and goat milk does make a blend of excellent artisan cheese that is very popular in Europe.”

The dairy sheep have to be milked every 12 hours and they have to be shorn once a year. The animals are easily trained in the use of a milking stall.

“We like the sheep to be heavily grazed and at times we feed a 22% protein feed,” Andy says.

The dairy build is evident in the improved Awassi.

The Karras Farm sheep average seven to eight pounds of milk a day during the prime milking season and have an average 10-month lactation period. The average ewe produces milk for about eight years. After milk production levels drop, the sheep is still good for eating.

About six pounds of sheep milk is needed to make one pound of cheese. Sheep milk is fattier than that of cow or goat milk. There’s a higher proportion of fatty, curd-producing solids in the milk and not as much is required to make the same amount of cheese.

Another benefit of sheep milk is it is naturally homogenized, meaning the fat globules are smaller and don’t separate from the less-dense, water-based components in the milk.

An Oklahoma State University report says the Awassi evolved as a nomadic sheep breed through centuries of natural and selective breeding to become the highest milk producing breed in the Middle East. The breed is calm around people, easy to work with and easily milked. When machine-milked, they can be milked in four to six minutes.

Prices for dairy sheep milking stalls start at about $1,000.

“The stalls can range up to many thousands of dollars and I have seen stalls holding up to 100 sheep,” Andy says.

U.S. sheep milk production is increasing annually to meet a demand that constantly exceeds supply.

As a result, about 53 million pounds of expensive sheep-milk-based cheese is imported annually.

The U.S. sheep milk is being used to make sought-after yogurt and milk products by people who are being told by their doctors that it is better than cow milk for health benefits.

“People are really interested in the sheep milk cheeses,” Andy says.

Also, soap made from the sheep’s milk is becoming popular.

Karras farm is not in the dairy business itself but sells live sheep, semen and embryos.

Improved Dairy Awassi sheep have higher milk yields than the old-time Awassi sheep and there is a “white” color phase that surfaces from time to time.

It has become a destination for everybody from church and school groups to curious neighbors and farmers. Many of those farmers end up buying dairy sheep, seeing an advantage in an animal that produces a new income source in addition to wool and meat.

“We are constantly researching and studying for ways to produce the highest milk producing sheep that’s hardy, parasite resistant, and that can withstand varieties of climates,” Andy says.

“On record, our highest milk yield is 4,200 lbs. from one ewe during a 10 month lactation period,” he says.

Overseas, the main countries that specialize in sheep milk are Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Russia, and Libya, where the demand is high, especially from countries around the Mediterranean.

There are hundreds of dairy sheep throughout the world; most of them being in the countries of their origin, Andy says, indicating that he has plans to introduce new breeds in the future.

Karras Farms runs courses for first-time buyers.

“We help clients get started on their farm by getting them set up for their dairy sheep before the sheep make it to their new home,” he says. “We also like to stay in contact with all of our customers to continue to help them with different things.

“We have a true passion,” Andy says.

“My dream is of operating a nationally renowned sheep farm in the U.S.”

Originally published in the July / August 2013 issue of sheep! and regularly vetted for accuracy. 

Breeding Top Dairy Sheep for America was originally posted by All About Chickens

[christophertwood]

10 Ways Authors Can Win the Game of Social Media

10 Ways Authors Can Win the Game of Social Media

“Writing a book means starting simultaneously down two paths, if you want to be successful.  The book writing, and the book publicizing.  As the author of an idea that deserves to be heard you must do both.” Nick Morgan, communication theorist in Forbes magazine

You put your whole heart and soul into writing your book. You thought the hard part was going to be writing but now that your book has published or about to be published you face a harsh reality – if you don’t get the message out, nobody will buy your book.

Here at www.whatissocialmediatoday.com, we feel your pain.

We know that most books that get published sell less than 1,000 copies. A children’s book would be considered a success if it sells 500 copies over the course of its lifetime. 

In fact Ramajon Cogan and I started this business because we saw your need.

Authors today need to embrace social media marketing if they want to survive, to develop the readership they want to fulfill their dreams of making money selling books and building enough of a tribe to sustain them as they build careers as authors and authorpreneurs.

In his former career as head of the Publish Now Program for a well-known writing coach, Ramajon Cogan saw this problem first hand.

Authors would spend months, years and thousands of dollars producing quality books, only for their hard-earned efforts to fall flat and face low book sales once they hit the market.

After I published my second book, What Is Healing? Awaken Your Intuitive Power for Health and Happiness in 2012, I began to try to find good information about how to master social media marketing.

As a medical intuitive, I use my guidance all day long and have learned to trust myself. I remember asking for guidance about whether or not I should sign up for a particular social media marketing training program and I got a clear “NO!”

Like many humans, I had a terrible case of FOMO – Fear of Missing Out – so I spent $2,400 and signed up anyway, only to want to smack myself in the face during the first webinar when I recognized that I had virtually thrown my money away as the program I had signed up for was A boring and B out of date and C totally useless.

The only good thing about recognizing that I had just wasted $2,400 of my hard-earned money was that I was so mad at myself I resolved to figure this stuff out. I threw myself into studying social media and mastering it with thousands of hours of actual practice, trial, error and ultimately success.

I developed a broad base in the social media that has empowered me to develop and maintain a Klout score of 68, which puts me in the top 5 percent of influencers on the site. Influencers with a score of 60 or higher are in the top 5% users.

Although Ramajon Cogan and I had worked closely together to produce three books, it was at a writing workshop in November 2015 where I was working on my fifth book that Rama saw me in action and the idea for this business www.whatissocialmediatoday.com got hatched.

A fellow author at the writing workshop had asked me some questions about the social media.

“Sure no problem,” I said, promising to show her what to do during one of the breaks.

Rama observed me as I taught my fellow author what to do.

“Just click here, do this and emphasize that,” I explained as her eyes lit up. Rama and I could both see the hope spread all over her face as she realized she could do this – she could market her book effectively all by herself.

“Catherine, we need to bottle you,” Rama told me afterwards.

Rama and I began formulating www.whatissocialmediatoday.com in earnest in January 2016. We launched our first series of clients in July 2016.

We are passionate about training authorpreneurs, solopreneurs, ompreneurs and other entrepreneurs because we understand that what we teach you may make the difference between you scratching by to survive financially and thriving at levels you never believed could be possible.

The end goal of all this social media marketing is to empower you to live the life you really want.

As a single self supporting woman living in Atlanta, Georgia, I take my own survival pretty seriously.

Using the principles I’m about to teach you, the revenues for my main business increased 33 percent for the calendar year 2016 over 2015.

Yes, I sell books but more importantly I use the combined total efforts of my books and my social media to attract the clients I need to live a wonderful life working out of my home, teaching yoga and qi gong, walking my dog in the park every day, enjoying my orchids and lying in my hammock during times of the day when most other people are stuck in their office.

What Is Social Media Today: Get Ready to Win the Game of Social Media by Catherine Carrigan

Here are my top 10 ways you as an author can Win the Game of Social Media:

Learn how to play the Game of Social Media.

Think Win-Win.

Figure out your keywords and hashtags.

Make your book into a multimedia experience.

Become a Goodreads maven.

Engage, engage, engage.

Develop a digital social signature, aka your brand identity.  

Your blog is more important than your book.

Build your tribe one raving fan at a time.

Market like a rockstar. 

Let’s break this down further.

Learn how to play the Game of Social Media

When Rama and I started www.whatissocialmediatoday.com we were deeply influenced by Jane McGonigal, a game designer and highly influential Ted Talk speaker. 

In her first Ted Talk, Jane discussed the mentality she says is essential if you want to enjoy what she calls an “epic win.”

In real life, we take our losses and challenges rather seriously. We get depressed, we get discouraged.

On the other hand, Jane McGonigal points out, in a collaborative online environment, gamers feel super empowered to feel they can change the world.

This ability to overcome feeling discouraged by loss gets developed in the 10,000 hours of online games the average young person plays before the age of 21 – matching if not exceeding the average of 10,080 hours they would spend in school from 5th grade to high school graduation if they had perfect attendance.

Rama and I recognize that when you develop the attitude that you are playing what we call the Game of Social Media, you will have enough fun playing that you eventually get very good at it.

If you take the same mentality into social media that you have in real life – that things are oh so serious – you may get discouraged and want to give up.

When you play any game – whether that be Monopoly, Spades or marketing your book in social media – you may suck in the beginning but if you’re having fun and doing it eventually you will move to the next level if you keep it up.

In our program here at www.whatissocialmediatoday.com, we recognize that people have different learning styles so we have four ways for you to learn how to play the Game of Social Media:

Weekly online webinars

One to one coaching, where Rama and I hold your hand, get online with you to look at what you are doing and coach you to take your Game of Social Media to the next level

Peer learning by playing with other clients

An online forum where you can ask questions, read articles on all the important topics in social media and watch pre-recorded videos.

If you think like a gamer, even if you are playing well you recognize that there’s always another level to get to, always another layer of learning and you keep growing as a player as you develop your audience.

As your tribe gets bigger you increase your influence and develop more readers for your books and customers for your business, products and services.

Social Media Campaigns with Catherine Carrigan and Ramajon Cogan

Think Win-Win

There’s a reason it’s called the “social” media. If you want to win the Game of Social Media you want to develop online friendships with like-minded people.

The truth is even if you are a solopreneur or single author, you won’t win the Game of Social Media by yourself.

Here are some simple ways you can achieve win-win as an author:

Cross blog with other authors. Post a blog for every blog you post. Include links to each other’s books and bios and photos of your books. Here’s an example of a blog I posted for fellow Amazon No. 1 bestselling author Lynne Cockrum-Murphy. 

Interview each other on your Youtube channels. Use a video conference system like Zoom.us to record videos and post them on both of your Youtube channels. Here’s an example of a Youtube video where my friend and fellow Amazon No. 1 bestselling author Maxine Taylor interviewed me about a medical intuitive reading I did about President Donald Trump. 

Share each other’s posts on your respective social media channels.

Co create online webinars. Here’s an example of a FREE online webinar fellow yoga teacher Suzanne Dulin and I created. Not only did we create a Youtube video together, I posted a blog about the event where I listed the URLs for all her businesses. We gave away a FREE copy of one of my books about social media. Suzanne and I both promoted each other in newsletters to our respective tribes. And Suzanne promoted the event in her Facebook yoga community.

You have to be a friend to have a friend. Create good karma by sharing news about each other’s book launches so that when you need help your friends will be there for you also.

Recognize that everybody is an influencer because your friends always will know people you haven’t met yet and these folks may also be interested in hearing about your books, products and services.

What Is Social Media Today: Hashtags, Keywords and You Oh My! by Catherine Carrigan

Figure out your keywords and hashtags

Here at www.whatissocialmediatoday.com, we empower all our clients to determine the right keywords and hashtags to promote their books, products and services.

Why is this so important?

If you aren’t using keywords and hashtags you simply won’t get found.

Our search engine optimization (SEO) expert Scott D. Smith of London, England, helps all participants in our program find the precise keywords you need to get discovered through the search engines.

One of the secrets of the sauce of our program is Scott’s thorough research so you’re not just guessing – you know what your keywords and hashtags need to be.

Not knowing keywords and hashtags is a beginner mistake.

Knowing your keywords and hashtags and not using them will relegate you to obscurity.

If you’ve been on the social media and still nobody is finding out about you, read my latest book on social media, What Is Social Media Today: Keywords, Hashtags and You, Oh My!to find out what you’ve been missing.

Make your book into a multimedia experience

Social media is not just about words, it’s about images.

Here are some good ways you can convert your books into multiple formats to gain new readers:

Go to Goodreads.com, the world’s largest social media website for readers and authors, and list your favorite quotes from your book. Once you have these quotes listed, you can share them directly from Goodreads into your Twitter feed and Facebook timeline.

Make 1 to 3 minute videos about your book. You need not hire a Hollywood production crew. Just ask a spouse or a friend to use your smart phone to record videos of you talking about each chapter. Then post these to your author page on Goodreads.com, load them on your Youtube channel and share them throughout all your social media channels.

Use FREE websites like Pablo by Buffer and Canva to create shareable images with quotes from your book. Be sure to include your name as the author and if possible the name of your book. Share these not only on Facebook and Twitter but also on imagecentric social media websites like Instagram and Pinterest.

When you’re getting ready to do a book launch, use programs like Viraltag and Tailwind app on Hootsuite to post images of your book cover.

Create presentations for Slideshare.net such as this one I did on How to Start Your Blogging Career on Tumblr and this one on Your Social Media Tribe Awaits.

Become a Goodreads maven

Because Goodreads is the largest social media website for authors and readers, you want to set up your author profile there.

Anyone can become a member of Goodreads but as a published author Goodreads gives you a FREE marketing platform.

Find friends there from Twitter, your Facebook connections and personal phone directory. As you develop friends, some of these people will become your Goodreaders followers.

Be sure to repost your blog onto Goodreads as more than likely the 55 million members of Goodreads exceeds the number of people coming to your personal blog.

Give away your books on Goodreads, list your favorite quotes and join communities to reach new readers. To read more about how to succeed with Goodreads, read this blog I posted at this link.

Engage, engage, engage

Don’t just broadcast on social media. Communicate!

The more you respond, the more potential readers will respond back to you.

Your customer service experience doesn’t begin the moment someone buys your book. It begins the moment people connect with you on social media.

Develop a digital social signature, aka your brand identity

Here at www.whatissocialmediatoday.com, part of what we do in our one on one sessions is help you develop what we call your digital social signature, also known as your brand identity.

What do we mean by that?

Your digital social signature begins with consistent descriptions throughout each of your social media platforms and extends not just to the words you use to describe yourself but the images as well.

For example, most people who follow me know that I love orchids and Rama loves classic cars, mountain bikes and gorgeous Hawaiian sunsets.

Your digital social signature becomes easily recognizable across all platforms and allows people to relate to you as an author and fellow human being.

Your blog is more important than your book

Develop fans for your writing by blogging regularly.

As you blog and we at www.whatissocialmediatoday.com teach you how to market your blog through the social media, you develop a wider readership and these people become your raving fans.

The entire purpose of social media marketing is to use the URLs in the posts you make to drive people back to your website where they read more of your writing and discover about your books, products and services.

This is what is known as content marketing.

If you’re a novelist, here are a few things you can blog about:

Your writing process

Your characters

The period of your book

The environment of your book

Upcoming news about your new books

Rough drafts of chapters – remember Charles Dickens posted his books as serial literature

If you’re a nonfiction writer, you can post about:

Your topics

User-friendly helpful information

You can even blog your book by publishing one chapter at a time

Videos you have made

Build your tribe one raving fan at a time

Although over time you do want to build large numbers of fans, remember that you build your tribe one raving fan at a time.

Take time to respond to people. Even 15 minutes a day can be devoted to reading posts by other people and commenting on them.

Make friends and people will appreciate you.

Market like a rockstar

While many businesses take more of a funnel approach going for the masses, rockstars have super fans who they reward for loyalty.

You may have readers who consistently write good reviews, share your posts on Facebook and Twitter and buy every book you write.

You want to find a way to reward these people because your super fans will spread your message faster than anyone.

Give them advance copies of your new books, offer them free sessions, free swag.

Send them a message of appreciation when they take their precious time to write a positive review.

You can even host a party for them – online or in person – to give them the love they deserve for supporting you in your chosen profession.

Join our program at What Is Social Media Today 

Putting all this together takes time and is part of creating a successful social media strategy.

We’ve got four ways for you to learn:

Weekly webinars that you can join LIVE or listen to at your convenience

One on one coaching

Peer competition

A forum with resources where all your questions can get answered

Join Catherine Carrigan and Ramajon Cogan at www.whatissocialmediatoday.com and we will show you how! Call Catherine Carrigan today at 678-612-8816 or email catherine@catherinecarrigan.com or contact Ramajon Cogan at (928) 821-4553 or email wheresramajon@gmail.com.

The post 10 Ways Authors Can Win the Game of Social Media appeared first on What is Social Media Today.

from What is Social Media Today http://whatissocialmediatoday.com/10-ways-authors-can-win-game-social-media/ from What Is Social Media Today http://whatissocialmediatoday.tumblr.com/post/157689137274