#Also turns out that the images I was trying to upload were roughly the size of the continental US without me knowing but is that my fault? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

giantpredatorymollusk · 2 years

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Let's talk about the .webp format.

Webp for animations

We will hereby examine the various ways to turn the above clip from Princess Tutu, which I'm uploading as a 600 pixels tall 967,000 byte mp4, into a GIF-style looping animation. The easiest way is obviously to turn each frame into an image and make people page through them. Let's do that, and, to keep things simple, we'll use the Microsoft Paint BMP format, which uses no image compression:

Job done 😌 we now have 187 BMP files that i should be able to share with all of my friends over the internet. Except, wait,

Our clip has gone from 967,000 bytes to 387,773,298 bytes. This is 400 times bigger. If I start a social network where people can share clips and they do it by sending hundreds of BMPs back and forth, I will use up a lot of storage space and bandwidth, and the user experience will probably be somewhat slow. Maybe a less simplistic approach is in order.

I have also created a nice GIF version of the scene. It is not pictured, because it is 3 times Tumblr's maximum GIF size limit:

This saves a lot of hard drive space over the "hundreds of BMPs" approach, but it still yields a fairly large file. The GIF format was created in 1987 and last updated in 1989; it was intended to display simple clip art on computers that looked like this:

One way this makes itself evident is through the limited color palette that each GIF uses. If you don't want to use weird tricks that explode the file size, a GIF can only use 256 distinct colors per file. Here some of them are, plainly visible in a detail shot of my new GIF:

Artful blending of these colors can hide the limited palette a lot of the time, but it seems like a dumb sacrifice to have to make when using such a large file. Anyway: if we want a Tumblrable GIF, we need to put more work in. Let's try shrinking the GIF to 300 pixels tall, cutting the frame rate to 15 per second, and reducing the quality using the gifsicle utility's "lossy" option:

It's here 🥺

It's 6,010,622 bytes (6mb), so it's about 6 times bigger than the original mp4, and looks much worse.

"What was wrong with the original mp4, anyway?" Nothing, except that browsers and image viewers know to play GIFs automatically and loop them, and Tumblr lets you arrange them into a grid. If everyone were to listen to me, I could simply say, "if you rename a .mp4 file to end with .mp4loop instead, it needs to be autoplayed and looped, and can't have sound" and we could just use those instead. But no one listens to me.

Let's continue to try to find technical solutions to this dumb standardization problem. Weren't we supposed to talk about Webp files?

A 6mb Webp file can store the clip at its original resolution and framerate. Evidence

If we reduce the Webp to 300 pixels tall and 15 frames per second like we did with the GIF, it's now 1,902,920 bytes, which is roughly a third of the size that the GIF was. Evidence

So it's obvious that using Webp files allows for much higher quality and/or much smaller files, which is extremely desirable if you're running a website, or if you're a website user that wants things to load quickly. Everyone should want this thing. You may have noticed, though, that I had to link to those Webp files instead of uploading them directly. This is because Tumblr doesn't support uploading them (probably because they don't think you'll have any Webps you'll want to upload from your computer.) Neither do browsers support them particularly well: Despite the fact that the format has been out for 10 years and growing in prominence the whole time, only recent versions of Safari on Apple computers and phones can display Webp files; the browser watchdog website CanIUse estimates that they're available to about 93% of devices. If you're running a social media site, you probably don't want to block 7% of people from seeing animated content. Also, if I try to download them, I soon find out that the Photos app on my Windows 10 laptop has no idea what these files are.

So, websites are strongly incentivized to use the Webp format instead of the GIF format and users are not necessarily going to like it when they do, probably because developers of software like browsers and image viewers don't realize how inefficient GIFs are from website creators' point of view and how they should be replaced. Great job, guys. Are there any other places where Webp images could be used?

Webp for still images

Although Google claims that Webp files are 30% smaller than JPGs, they are actually usually not smaller than JPGs that are created with an advanced encoder like Mozilla's MozJPEG. However, Webps are 26% smaller on average than equivalent PNGs no matter what, which means that they're the naturally preferred format for images with transparency, which means you might as well just use them for everything instead of having both PNGs and JPGs (which are smaller than PNGs but don't support transparency at all), assuming people upgrade their browsers.

The Conclusion

Websites use Webp files so they don't have to distribute larger, lower-quality GIF files (and just plain larger PNGs) to you. One alternate way people have tried to replace the GIF format is: those things labeled "GIF" on Twitter are actually just normal mp4 video files that they try to force browsers to autoplay and loop. Attentive readers will note that this is very similar to the ".mp4loop" replacement for the GIF format that I proposed. However, Twitter's solution only works on Twitter, because if you download one of these "GIFs" you'll get a non-looping video that looks like it should have sound and doesn't, which makes them harder and more confusing to play and share around. But people continue to not listen to me. If you're annoyed at Webp files now, wait until you start seeing the new AVIF, APNG, animated SVG, and HEIF formats. The fact that the term GIF at this point refers not just to a type of binary file but, effectively, to a genre of highly shareable media is fascinating to me; the goal people should have is to create a file type that removes the GIF format's technical limitations while preserving its social capabilities. A coordinated solution to this goal is only difficult because of the need for coordination.

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newstfionline · 3 years

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Friday, March 12, 2021

Rich, developing nations wrangle over COVID vaccine patents (Reuters) Richer members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) blocked a push by over 80 developing countries on Wednesday to waive patent rights in an effort to boost production of COVID-19 vaccines for poor nations. South Africa and India renewed their bid to waive rules of the WTO’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) agreement, a move that could allow generic or other manufacturers to make more vaccines. South Africa argued the current TRIPS system does not work, pointing to the failure to secure life-saving medicines during the HIV/AIDS pandemic that had cost at least 11 million African lives. Medecins Sans Frontieres in October put together a letter signed by over 375 civil society organisations supporting the waiver. The South Africa and India proposal was backed by dozens of largely developing countries at the WTO, but opposed by Western countries, including Britain, Switzerland, EU nations and the United States, which have large domestic pharmaceutical industries.

US reports surge of kids at SW border, a challenge for Biden (AP) The number of migrant children and families seeking to cross the U.S. southwest border has surged to levels not seen since before the pandemic, a challenge for President Joe Biden. Statistics released Wednesday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection showed the number of children and families increased by more than 100% between January and February. Kids crossing by themselves rose 60% to more than 9,400, forcing the government to look for new places to hold them temporarily. The surge has been seized on by Republicans and former President Donald Trump as a line of attack on Biden, though his administration is turning back nearly all single adults, who make up the majority of border-crossers, under a public health order imposed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The Biden administration is temporarily holding children and families, mostly from Central America, for several days. They are generally then allowed to enter the U.S. while authorities evaluate their claims to asylum or see if they have any other legal right to stay in the country. It is a challenge for an administration that has been working to restore an asylum system largely dismantled under Trump and likely to face increasing pressure. Factors driving the increase include widespread hunger in Central America due to recent hurricanes, the economic upheaval of the pandemic and more fundamental social problems dating back years.

Brazil hospitals buckle (AP) Brazil’s hospitals are faltering as a highly contagious coronavirus variant tears through the country, the president insists on unproven treatments and the only attempt to create a national plan to contain COVID-19 has just fallen short. Piaui state’s Gov. Wellington Dias told The Associated Press that, unless pressure on hospitals is eased, growing numbers of patients will have to endure the disease without a hospital bed or any hope of treatment in an intensive care unit. “We have reached the limit across Brazil; rare are the exceptions,” Dias, who leads the governors’ forum, said. “The chance of dying without assistance is real.” Those deaths have already started. In Brazil’s wealthiest state, Sao Paulo, at least 30 patients died this month while waiting for ICU beds, according to a tally published Wednesday by the news site G1. In southern Santa Catarina state, 419 people are waiting for transfer to ICU beds. In neighboring Rio Grande do Sul, ICU capacity is at 106%.

Athens tackles heat and pollution with pocket-sized parks (Reuters) Tucked between rows of apartment blocks on an Athens street, a strip of green with a few trees, some plants and a bench offers a breathing space in the surrounding crush of concrete. The Greek capital has started creating “pocket parks”, transforming small plots once ridden with garbage and weeds, in a bid to tackle its chronic pollution. “It’s about creating green spaces, lowering the temperatures, giving quality of life and creating new reference points inside the city,” Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis said. “It lets us breathe a bit, because the way we are here ... we are suffocating,” said 65-year-old Dimitra from the densely populated neighbourhood of Kypseli.

Myanmar’s searing smartphone images flood a watching world (AP) The images ricochet across the planet, as so many do in this dizzying era of film it, upload it, tell it to the world: scenes from a protest-turned-government crackdown, captured at ground level by smartphone users on the streets of Myanmar. Images shot across barricades and furtively through windows. From behind bushes and through smudged car windshields. Horizontal video. Vertical video. Video captured by people running toward chaos and away from it. People shouting. People helping. People demanding. People dying. It is a dynamic completely unlike the uprising that spread through the Southeast Asian nation in the pre-internet, pre-smartphone summer of 1988. Then, when student-led demonstrations were violently put down by the government, cementing Myanmar’s global notoriety as an isolated, repressive state, it took months, even years, for the outside world to understand the full story of what had happened. This time around, the imagery is plentiful and unsettling. Filmed by participants on the ground and uploaded, sometimes immediately, the protests and crackdowns are reaching millions of handheld devices around the planet, also almost immediately. It’s a vivid example of a technological truism in an age when capturing images has become utterly democratized: If you can glimpse it up close, you’re more likely to pay attention.

Most Americans support tough stance toward China on human rights, economic issues (Pew Research Center) Roughly nine-in-ten U.S. adults (89%) consider China a competitor or enemy, rather than a partner, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Many also support taking a firmer approach to the bilateral relationship, whether by promoting human rights in China, getting tougher on China economically or limiting Chinese students studying abroad in the United States. Americans rarely brought up the Chinese people or the country’s long history and culture in their responses. Instead, they focused primarily on the Chinese government—including its policies or how it behaves internationally—as well as its economy.

Ten years on, Japan mourns victims of earthquake, Fukushima nuclear disaster (Reuters) Japan on Thursday mourned nearly 20,000 victims of a massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan 10 years ago, destroying towns and triggering nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima, the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Huge waves triggered by the 9.0-magnitude quake—one of the strongest on record—crashed into the northeastern coast, crippling the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant and forcing more than 160,000 residents to flee as radiation spewed into the air. The government has spent about $300 billion (32.1 trillion yen) to rebuild the tsunami-devastated region, but areas around the Fukushima plant remain off-limits, worries about radiation levels linger and many who left have settled elsewhere. Decommissioning of the crippled plant will take decades and billions of dollars. The disaster has also left survivors in Tohoku struggling to overcome the grief of losing families and whole communities to the waves in a few frightening hours on the afternoon of March 11, 2011.

Lebanon’s politicians show no sign of saving their country, France says (Reuters) France’s foreign minister said on Thursday time was running out to prevent Lebanon collapsing and that he could see no sign that the country’s politicians were doing what they could to save it. France has spearheaded international efforts to rescue the former French protectorate from its deepest crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war by trying to use Paris’ historical influence to persuade squabbling politicians to adopt a reform roadmap and form a new government to unlock international aid. “I would be tempted to qualify Lebanese politicians as guilty of not helping a country in danger,” Jean-Yves le Drian told a news conference in Paris. “They all committed to act to create an inclusive government and committed to implementing indispensable reforms. That was seven months ago and nothing is moving. I think it’s not too late, but the delays are very small before collapse.”

UN food aid chief visits Yemen, fears famine (AP) The head of the U.N. food agency warned after a visit to Yemen that his underfunded organization may be forced to seek hundreds of millions of dollars in private donations in a desperate bid to stave off widespread famine in coming months, describing conditions in the war-stricken nation as “hell.” The World Food Program needs at least $815 million in Yemen aid over the next six months, but has only $300 million, the agency’s executive director, David Beasley, told The Associated Press in an interview. He said the agency would need another $1.9 billion to meet targets for the year. Beasley visited Yemen earlier this week, including the capital of Sanaa which is under the control of Iran-backed Houthi rebels. He said that at a child malnutrition ward in a Sanaa hospital he saw children wasting away from lack of food. Many, he said, were on the brink of death from entirely preventable and treatable causes, and they were the lucky ones who were receiving medical care. He said the world needs to wake up to how bad things have gotten in Yemen, particularly for the country’s youngest.

Shock and uncertainty after death of Ivory Coast PM Bakayoko (Reuters) Ivory Coast faced shock and uncertainty on Thursday following the death of Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko, the West African nation’s second premier to die in office in less than eight months. A close ally of President Alassane Ouattara, Bakayoko, who died of cancer a few days after his 56th birthday, was appointed prime minister in July 2020 after the death of his predecessor Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Ouattara’s handpicked successor. A central figure in Ivorian politics over the past two decades as the country was plunged into a prolonged conflict and a partition, Bakayoko, a jovial character with roots in media and showbiz, emerged as a conciliatory figure, able to talk to all sides of the conflict. His capacity to gain the trust of all sides including former rebel soldiers who staged a series of mutinies in 2017, threatening a fragile peace in the world’s top cocoa producing nation, saw him appointed as defence minister in 2017, and kept the portfolio when he became prime minister.

Nuclear power (Scientific American) Nuclear power is waning, but not for the typical fears. Rather, other ways of generating electricity have just become cheaper and more available. Nuclear power in 2020 accounted for about 19 percent of U.S. electricity needs, a figure that by 2050 is projected to slip to 11 percent according to the Energy Information Administration. Nuclear power is over half of low-carbon electricity generation in the U.S., and is about 30 percent of the world’s low-carbon electricity. The coming years will determine how much nuclear power will play a role in the energy future, as new demos of small modular reactors begin to roll out in the United States.

Tiny internal cameras (Times of London) Thousands of NHS patients will be given tiny cameras to swallow to check for cancer in a new national trial. The technology, in a pill-sized capsule, takes images as it passes through the bowel and beams them to a recording device worn on a belt and shoulder bag. It can then be flushed away. Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said that the “ingenious” capsule cameras would allow more people to undergo cancer investigations quickly and safely.

#headlines #news

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haveclotheswilltravel · 6 years

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ModCloth FitShop Washington, D.C.

ModCloth recently opened a new brick and mortar store in Washington, D.C. This will be their 3rd permanent location (including Austin and San Francisco). However, ModCloth’s “FitShops” aren’t your normal run-of-the-mill shops! I was fortunate enough to visit the Washington, D.C. FitShop last week and will explain how it works, plus my thoughts on the experience (and show some of the fun things I found) in this post.

How ModCloth’s FitShop Works

Usually, when you go to a clothing store, you wander around, try some things on and then purchase them. Given that ModCloth is a fun, online retailer, that’s not exactly how your shopping experience is going to go here – not that that’s a bad thing.

While you can certainly wander into a ModCloth store and look at their super cute merchandise…you won’t actually be able to buy the items in the store. Let me explain how this works…

1.) Make an Appointment with a ModCloth Stylist

To get the most out of your ModCloth shopping experience you should make an appointment ahead of time with a ModCloth Stylist. (Click here to do that!) You’ll answer a short questionnaire when you make your appointment, so your stylist will know roughly what you’re looking for. You can also give them permission to look at your ModCloth account, so they have a better idea of your style.

Pro Tip… Update your ModCloth wishlist! I, unfortunately, hadn’t done this and had bought many of the things on my wishlist already. My poor stylist had to take a completely different direction with their picks once I showed up and said… “Sorry, I already bought all of this.” My stylist was fantastic and had a new set of clothes for me to try on in no time – but it would’ve been much more efficient on my end to just have updated my wishlist before going in!

[show_ms_widget id=”36006703″ image_id=”41869297″ width=”780″ height=”520″] [show_shopthepost_widget id=”3252678″] 2.) Chat With Your Stylist + Shop Around

Once you arrive at the store, your stylist will sit down and chat with you about what you’re looking for. They’ll also let you look around the store at what’s all in stock. You’ll then get a little notepad to write down your favorite items. Then, you and your stylist will put together a whole bunch of outfits to try one! Let the fun begin!

3.) Try It All On!

[show_ms_widget id=”36006701″ image_id=”41869294″ width=”800″ height=”1000″]

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3252764″]

Then comes the fun part…you get to try everything on! Your stylist will hand you the outfits they put together, and they will also be more than happy to offer any opinions and suggestions. I had so much fun trying on the different outfits my stylist put together. I wouldn’t have even bothered to try this jacket, so I am so happy my stylist suggested it! It turned out to be my favorite item of the day.

4.) Place Your Order or Add to Your Wishlist

Once you’re done trying on your outfits, you and your stylist will chat a little more about what you liked and didn’t like. You can then add items to your shopping cart or put them on your wishlist for later. The big perk of shopping in store is not only getting to try things on before you buy, but you’ll also get free express shipping right to your door! And if you’re lucky, you might stumble on a coupon when you’re in store too.

So, you won’t be able to take the items home with you that moment, but you’ll get super fast, free shipping!

My Thoughts on Shopping at a ModCloth FitShop

I had a blast shopping at the ModCloth Washington, D.C. FitShop! It was incredibly dangerous, haha! This is because it was a great opportunity to see things in person that I was too afraid to order online, as I wasn’t sure if I would love them (especially shoes – I have a really hard time ordering shoes online).

[show_ms_widget id=”36006704″ image_id=”41869298″ width=”780″ height=”520″] Those oxblood loafers are currently sitting in my shopping cart now! They fit my wide feet and were super comfortable.

Also, it opened my eyes to products I had seen on the website, that I didn’t think looked all that great. For example, the cute, cactus purse below is SO much cuter in person than it is on the website. Honestly, when I saw it on the website, I thought it looked rather cheap, but seeing it in person…oh man, I fell in love.

[show_ms_widget id=”36006705″ image_id=”41869299″ width=”780″ height=”520″]

Shop Local

I also thought it was nice that ModCloth was trying to feature small, local businesses. My stylist was telling me how a very talented jewelry maker was selling her handmade pieces in the store earlier that week. (I think they had all sold out by the time I got there!) There was also a local plant store selling succulents and bouquets. ( I think they were leftover from earlier in the week – fresh shipment coming on Monday!)

What I Found at the ModCloth DC FitShop

I found entirely too many cute things at the ModCloth Washington, D.C. FitShop! Like I said this was dangerous… Feel free to also click on any photos below to go to the products on ModCloth’s website!

[show_ms_widget id=”36006706″ image_id=”41869300″ width=”800″ height=”1000″]

Absolutely loved this dress…didn’t realize I needed it until I went into the store, haha. It’s true-to-size and so comfy and soft!

[show_ms_widget id=”36006707″ image_id=”41869301″ width=”800″ height=”1000″]

It was so much fun to finally try this galaxy dress on too! It looked way better on than I expected. It seemed like the arm holes were a little big on me, though. I’m not sure if I’d feel comfortable wearing it without a cardigan (because you could see my bra from the side). But gosh, I really liked it!

[show_ms_widget id=”36006708″ image_id=”41869302″ width=”800″ height=”1000″]

And how GORGEOUS are all these heels? I have the gold pair already, but I really want the middle pair with the flower! (The grey sparkly pair would be wonderful for a wedding.)

[show_ms_widget id=”36006709″ image_id=”41869303″ width=”780″ height=”520″]

Yep…totally bought this mustard bag I’ve been talking about nonstop. I’m SO excited!

My ModCloth FitShop Shopping Bag

So, the widget below is everything that I added to my bag…(Whoops!)

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3252750″]

Bottom line…

If you happen to be near a ModCloth FitShop, by all means – go to it! You’ll have so much fun! But be sure to set a budget before you go, as it’s awfully tempting to buy the entire store once you see it in person! (And update your wishlist before making an appointment!)

Has anyone else visited a ModCloth FitShop? If so, how did you like it? Let me know in the comments! P.S. – Don’t forget! I’m giving away a $100 ModCloth gift card! Click here to enter!

Enjoy a few more photos from the store, below, And click here to shop ModCloth online.

Follow// < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ (function(d, s, id) {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) return;js = d.createElement(s);js.id = id;js.src = "https://www.bloglovin.com/widget/js/loader.js?v=1";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, "script", "bloglovin-sdk")) // ]]>

*Disclosure: some of these links are affiliate links. Meaning, if you click a link and make a purchase, Have Clothes, Will Travel gets a very small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! I am also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

*Thank you to ModCloth for partnering with me for this post. As always, all opinions are my own, and I am not being compensated for a positive review.

I'm beyond excited that I was able to check out the @ModCloth DC FitShop! Today's post will explain how ModCloth's FitShops work + what I all found at the DC FitShop. Has anyone else had the chance to visit one of ModCloth's FitShops? ModCloth recently opened a new brick and mortar store in Washington, D.C. This will be their 3rd permanent location (including Austin and San Francisco).

#how FitShops work #ModCloth #ModCloth DC FitShop #ModCloth FitShop #Washington D.C.

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kathydsalters31 · 4 years

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What to Expect at Your First NAVHDA Training Day

I took my weimaraner Remy to our first bird dog training day with NAVHDA this spring ( North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association). Due to the fact that I was out of my component, I was very nervous. I’ve never ever gone searching in my life, as well as I have actually never educated a pet for hunting or for field trials. Today I’m composing concerning our experience as well as what to anticipate at your first NAVHDA training day if you ever attend one. I wish this assists someone! IN THIS POST: What

is NAVHDA?The flexible hunting dog breeds What to expect at your initial NAVHDA training day Below’s what to offer training Searching for birds Tracking and water obtains It

‘s OKAY if you have no experience Is it too late to educate my hunting dog?Benefits of

NAVHDA What is NAVHDA? NAVHDA is a non-profit company that enlightens people regarding training”

functional “hunting dogs in

North America. The organization

has dozens of chapters throughout the United States and Canada that host sanctioned training days, quest tests, workshops, youth occasions as well as other tasks. In my experience, the organization has actually been very inviting of beginners like me and most of the people there doing the training are additionally fairly brand-new.

Every person exists to improve as well as find out. The versatile searching dog breeds NAVHDA defines a flexible hunting pet dog as a type reproduced to dependably: quest and point game get on both land and water track injuredgame on both land and also water It presently acknowledges 30 breeds. You guessed it, the weimaraner(my pet)is

one of these breeds, together with the vizsla, the Brittany spaniel, German shorthair guideline and also all of the setter breeds. The recovering breeds such as Labs as well as goldens are not considered versatile hunting canines, according to NAVHDA’s philosophy.< img src ="https://www.thatmutt.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Bird-dog-training.jpg"alt=" very first NAVHDA training day

“class=”wp-image-44505 careless “data-sizes =”(max-width : 600px)100vw, 600px”srcset=”https://www.thatmutt.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Bird-dog-training.jpg 600w, https://www.thatmutt.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Bird-dog-training-300×226.jpg 300w”> What to Expect at Your First NAVHDA Training Day Every chapter is a bit various, so email the boss and ask questions. I’ll quickly discuss what our NAVHDA training days appear like below in Montana. Among my observations is that the interaction is not ideal. I needed to email 3 or four different people prior to I finally got a reply concerning exactly how to join as well as where to go. So maintain trying. Likewise join your regional phase’s Facebook group, if they have one. In our case, the training time and place was provided on

the regional phase’s website, in addition to a general concept of what to bring.

Our training days generally start around 8 a.m. to cover as well as defeat the warm up around 1 p.m. With our neighborhood phases, you can go to one event without being a member, but afterwards you’re anticipated to join (regarding$ 45 each year ). What to give your first NAVHDA training day A great deal of water on your own and your canine( 2 1-gallon jugs minimum )A long rope or check cable(30 feet is good )– no manage on the end Gloves to prevent rope burn!Cash or check to pay

for the 4-5 birds you might utilize (around $5-8 per pigeon)Blaze

orange hat or vest on your own Leash as well as training collar– I use a prong collar Pet crate or

tieout blog post(or crate from your car if it’s amazing) Dog deals with, if you desire Snack or lunch on your own Ear plugs or other hearing security Excellent shoes/boots– you walk around a lot!Waders if you have them(if there will be water retrieving) E-collar for recall if your canine is already trained on one(or else don’t bother with it)Training dummy/bumper if there will certainly be water obtains Fold patio chair

(optional)You probably wo

n’t require these things at your first NAVHDA training day: Shotgun as well as ammo Blaze orange for your canine Bird launcher Birds( will certainly be given) How NAVHDA training days function I’ve attended 4 training days total right here in Montana

. I get the feeling that other chapters around the country are rather similar. In our case, 1 or 2 individuals supervised, yet several of the various other experienced members were helping out. They established a training terminal or 2 and also

most of us turned through, each of us practicing roughly the very same thing with each pet dog

. We had roughly 10 canines as well as handlers every day. Most were pups or young pets– newbies just like us. Practically every person there was training

for one of< a aria-label ="undefined

(opens up in a brand-new tab )”href=”https://www.navhda.org/about-the-navhda-testing-system/ “target =”_ space”rel=” noreferrer noopener”

> NAVHDA’s tests– either Natural Ability for the young pet dogs or the Utility Test for a couple of advanced pets. We were the just one not getting ready for an actual examination. A pair working with their dog at a NAVHDA training day The handlers were a mix of males and females

and a variety of ages. I say this due to the fact that some more youthful females may

feel daunted( as I did), yet you must not feel this way. Everybody is handy and there to find out. What we serviced at the initial NAVHDA training day We dealt with having the canines search for grown online birds (pigeons )out in the field positioned in bird launchers.

A bird launcher safely holds the bird until it is released

by a remote. Often we fire the launched bird and sometimes we just want the dog to go after the bird as it flies away. Searching for planted birds I had Remy on a 30-ft

check cable

As soon as he located it, while he browsed for birds so I could stop him from billing the bird. (We desire the canines to quit and also “factor,” not charge.)

Ideally, Remy would stop and direct for a few seconds. After that among the trainers would “introduce” the bird for him to go after. I release the check cable so Remy can after that run. This was to construct his existing bird drive.

We did refrain any kind of actual capturing or obtaining birds with Remy up until his 3rd and fourth training days. The goal in the beginning was merely to obtain him interested in birds and also to aid him understand he was supposed to be looking for them.

I’ll direct with my tongue? Tracking and water gets At your NAVHDA training day, you will most likely work on browsing,”solidity

“as well as fetching on land, like we did. The dog’s steadiness suggests he will hang on factor while the trainer fires the bird and also flushes. Then the pet dog is sent out to obtain the bird. Preferably, anyway.

You could also deal with monitoring or water recovers. Tracking is where somebody will certainly drag a dead duck or pheasant a number of lawns while your canine is out of sight. You bring your canine to the start of the track where a few plumes have actually been gone down. You launch your pet and also ideally he must use his nose to locate the bird.

The water obtains are what you ‘d anticipate. You’ll work on presenting your dog to water, constructing self-confidence as well as excitement and hopefully retrieving bumpers or birds.

Remy and I have actually dealt with water retrieves on our own, beyond NAVHDA.

Take the training advice wherefore it’s worth– decide on You need to keep in mind that these are not always expert pet dog instructors. They are absolutely seasoned canine trainers as well as hunters as well as a few are dog breeders.

A lot of do not make a living training dogs. You will certainly see a selection of training styles as well as viewpoints at a NAVHDA training

day, and this is OK. Some participants utilize e-collars( shock collars) as I do. Some don’t. Certain trainers like to keep dogs on check cables. Others wish to allow their pet simply be a pet as well as figure points out.

Some fitness instructors will make use of chain or prong collar as I do. You likely won’t see many harnesses or deals with.

You’ll see a lot of “tough” guys on their knees praising their young puppies with laughs and rubs.

Every person is extremely happy.

All I suggest is, you need to be a supporter for your own pet.

Speak up if you want to attempt something a little various than what the “leader” is suggesting or if you favor to miss a certain training drill. This is absolutely OK.

At the same time, it’s not the end of the globe if you attempt a somewhat different training method than what you’re used to. Essentially, these breeds are quite resilient and also go with the flow.

It’s OKAY if you have no experience with searching or training My pet as well as I are an interesting set. A little bit enjoyable to some of the various other members, I’m certain.

Honestly, a few of them possibly wonder why the hell we’re also participating in. I assume some members are surprised we’ve returned momentarily, 4th as well as third time.

We pretend we understand what’s up While I’m from Minnesota as well as have lots of seekers in my

household, I’ve never ever really gone searching. And, at 4 years of ages, Remy is by far the earliest start canine in the group while also the least seasoned as well as possibly the most awful acted. He’s really quick-tempered. I have trouble controlling him. He does not heel when he’s ended up, and also he does not come when called accurately.

We’re a mess, sometimes.

This canine is extremely humbling. He makes me work hard to see outcomes.

Everybody is really inviting at NAVHDA. They recognize Remy as well as I are beginners with literally no searching experience.

Is it far too late to start educating my pet for searching? I would certainly state no, it’s never too late to train a hunting canine if they have the drive to do it.

Some pets simply don’t have the “drive” for birds and you can not compel that. Others have some major instinct for discovering birds, chasing, aiming, purging or recovering.

If the pet intends to do the work, it’s never ever far too late to train her, in my point of view.

It’s not concerning age, it’s concerning exposure, whole lots and lots of perseverance and also coming up with a plan that benefits you and your canine.

Some dogs are much more tough than others.

I waited as long to begin training Remy for searching since I stayed in San Diego when I got him as a puppy.

As you can envision, it’s not hassle-free to take your dog hunting in Southern California for lots of reasons. There is an absence of offered land for searching, the state has stringent weapon regulations and it was a long drive to the training locations.

We live in Montana now.

Searching is simply one more sporting activity I can do with my energetic, working canine.

Remy and I train for agility for enjoyable as well as we train for path marathons. Hunting is one more task we can do. And it’s what he’s reproduced to do.

Other sources I’ve found the most practical

There are likewise great deals of YouTube video clips as well as books that can help you educate your attendant. As well as there’s always the option of hiring a professional bird dog trainer.

A few of my favored sources:

Overall benefits of NAVHDA

Below are the advantages I’ve discovered until now:

Learn regarding training your searching dog

Have a good time with your dog & & make buddies

Easy accessibility to birds & & launchers for training

Learn about the other flexible hunting dog breeds

Talk pets with like-minded individuals

Obtain assistance from handlers/trainers with different experiences

Observe the various other trainers and dogs as well as learn

Obtain comments on issues with your pet

What concerns or advice do you have for your first NAVHDA training day?

If you prepare to go to a NAVHDA occasion, let me understand if you have any type of concerns. I definitely had a bunch prior to I began.

If you are included with NAVHDA, please share your experience listed below for any kind of brand-new individuals who may be asking yourself.

I’m sure I’ll have an upgrade at some time soon with exactly how our progress is going!

-Lindsay & & Remy Lindsay Stordahl

is the owner of That Mutt. She writes about pet training and behavior, healthy and balanced raw food for animals and also keeping up dogs.

source http://www.luckydogsolutions.com/what-to-expect-at-your-first-navhda-training-day/

from Lucky Dog Solutions https://luckydogsolutions.blogspot.com/2020/07/what-to-expect-at-your-first-navhda.html

0 notes

barryswamsleyaz · 4 years

Text

What to Expect at Your First NAVHDA Training Day

is NAVHDA?The flexible hunting dog breeds What to expect at your initial NAVHDA training day Below’s what to offer training Searching for birds Tracking and water obtains It

‘s OKAY if you have no experience Is it too late to educate my hunting dog?Benefits of

NAVHDA What is NAVHDA? NAVHDA is a non-profit company that enlightens people regarding training”

functional “hunting dogs in

North America. The organization

one of these breeds, together with the vizsla, the Brittany spaniel, German shorthair guideline and also all of the setter breeds. The recovering breeds such as Labs as well as goldens are not considered versatile hunting canines, according to NAVHDA’s philosophy.< img src =“https://www.thatmutt.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Bird-dog-training.jpg"alt=” very first NAVHDA training day

the regional phase’s website, in addition to a general concept of what to bring.

for the 4-5 birds you might utilize (around $5-8 per pigeon)Blaze

orange hat or vest on your own Leash as well as training collar– I use a prong collar Pet crate or tieout blog post (or crate from your car if it’s amazing) Dog deals with, if you desire Snack or lunch on your own Ear plugs or other hearing security Excellent shoes/boots– you walk around a lot!Waders if you have them(if there will be water retrieving) E-collar for recall if your canine is already trained on one(or else don’t bother with it)Training dummy/bumper if there will certainly be water obtains Fold patio chair

(optional)You probably wo

most of us turned through, each of us practicing roughly the very same thing with each pet dog

. We had roughly 10 canines as well as handlers every day. Most were pups or young pets– newbies just like us. Practically every person there was training

for one of< a aria-label =“undefined

(opens up in a brand-new tab )”href=”https://www.navhda.org/about-the-navhda-testing-system/ “target =”_ space”rel=” noreferrer noopener”

and a variety of ages. I say this due to the fact that some more youthful females may

A bird launcher safely holds the bird until it is released

by a remote. Often we fire the launched bird and sometimes we just want the dog to go after the bird as it flies away. Searching for planted birds I had Remy on a 30-ft check cable As soon as he located it, while he browsed for birds so I could stop him from billing the bird. (We desire the canines to quit and also “factor,” not charge.)

I’ll direct with my tongue? Tracking and water gets At your NAVHDA training day, you will most likely work on browsing,”solidity

The water obtains are what you ‘d anticipate. You’ll work on presenting your dog to water, constructing self-confidence as well as excitement and hopefully retrieving bumpers or birds.

Remy and I have actually dealt with water retrieves on our own, beyond NAVHDA.

A lot of do not make a living training dogs. You will certainly see a selection of training styles as well as viewpoints at a NAVHDA training

Some fitness instructors will make use of chain or prong collar as I do. You likely won’t see many harnesses or deals with.

You’ll see a lot of “tough” guys on their knees praising their young puppies with laughs and rubs.

Every person is extremely happy.

All I suggest is, you need to be a supporter for your own pet.

Speak up if you want to attempt something a little various than what the “leader” is suggesting or if you favor to miss a certain training drill. This is absolutely OK.

It’s OKAY if you have no experience with searching or training My pet as well as I are an interesting set. A little bit enjoyable to some of the various other members, I’m certain.

Honestly, a few of them possibly wonder why the hell we’re also participating in. I assume some members are surprised we’ve returned momentarily, 4th as well as third time.

We pretend we understand what’s up While I’m from Minnesota as well as have lots of seekers in my

We’re a mess, sometimes.

This canine is extremely humbling. He makes me work hard to see outcomes.

Everybody is really inviting at NAVHDA. They recognize Remy as well as I are beginners with literally no searching experience.

Is it far too late to start educating my pet for searching? I would certainly state no, it’s never too late to train a hunting canine if they have the drive to do it.

Some pets simply don’t have the “drive” for birds and you can not compel that. Others have some major instinct for discovering birds, chasing, aiming, purging or recovering.

If the pet intends to do the work, it’s never ever far too late to train her, in my point of view.

It’s not concerning age, it’s concerning exposure, whole lots and lots of perseverance and also coming up with a plan that benefits you and your canine.

Some dogs are much more tough than others.

I waited as long to begin training Remy for searching since I stayed in San Diego when I got him as a puppy.

We live in Montana now.

Searching is simply one more sporting activity I can do with my energetic, working canine.

Remy and I train for agility for enjoyable as well as we train for path marathons. Hunting is one more task we can do. And it’s what he’s reproduced to do.

Other sources I’ve found the most practical

There are likewise great deals of YouTube video clips as well as books that can help you educate your attendant. As well as there’s always the option of hiring a professional bird dog trainer.

A few of my favored sources:

Overall benefits of NAVHDA

Below are the advantages I’ve discovered until now:

Learn regarding training your searching dog

Have a good time with your dog & & make buddies

Easy accessibility to birds & & launchers for training

Learn about the other flexible hunting dog breeds

Talk pets with like-minded individuals

Obtain assistance from handlers/trainers with different experiences

Observe the various other trainers and dogs as well as learn

Obtain comments on issues with your pet

What concerns or advice do you have for your first NAVHDA training day?

If you prepare to go to a NAVHDA occasion, let me understand if you have any type of concerns. I definitely had a bunch prior to I began.

If you are included with NAVHDA, please share your experience listed below for any kind of brand-new individuals who may be asking yourself.

I’m sure I’ll have an upgrade at some time soon with exactly how our progress is going!

-Lindsay & & Remy Lindsay Stordahl is the owner of That Mutt. She writes about pet training and behavior, healthy and balanced raw food for animals and also keeping up dogs.

from Lucky Dog Solutions http://www.luckydogsolutions.com/what-to-expect-at-your-first-navhda-training-day/

from Lucky Dog Solutions https://luckydogsolutions.tumblr.com/post/622634417741086720

0 notes

luckydogsolutions · 4 years

Text

What to Expect at Your First NAVHDA Training Day

is NAVHDA?The flexible hunting dog breeds What to expect at your initial NAVHDA training day Below’s what to offer training Searching for birds Tracking and water obtains It

‘s OKAY if you have no experience Is it too late to educate my hunting dog?Benefits of

NAVHDA What is NAVHDA? NAVHDA is a non-profit company that enlightens people regarding training”

functional “hunting dogs in

North America. The organization

the regional phase’s website, in addition to a general concept of what to bring.

for the 4-5 birds you might utilize (around $5-8 per pigeon)Blaze

(optional)You probably wo

most of us turned through, each of us practicing roughly the very same thing with each pet dog

. We had roughly 10 canines as well as handlers every day. Most were pups or young pets– newbies just like us. Practically every person there was training

for one of< a aria-label ="undefined

(opens up in a brand-new tab )”href=”https://www.navhda.org/about-the-navhda-testing-system/ “target =”_ space”rel=” noreferrer noopener”

and a variety of ages. I say this due to the fact that some more youthful females may

A bird launcher safely holds the bird until it is released

I’ll direct with my tongue? Tracking and water gets At your NAVHDA training day, you will most likely work on browsing,”solidity

The water obtains are what you ‘d anticipate. You’ll work on presenting your dog to water, constructing self-confidence as well as excitement and hopefully retrieving bumpers or birds.

Remy and I have actually dealt with water retrieves on our own, beyond NAVHDA.

A lot of do not make a living training dogs. You will certainly see a selection of training styles as well as viewpoints at a NAVHDA training

Some fitness instructors will make use of chain or prong collar as I do. You likely won’t see many harnesses or deals with.

You’ll see a lot of “tough” guys on their knees praising their young puppies with laughs and rubs.

Every person is extremely happy.

All I suggest is, you need to be a supporter for your own pet.

Speak up if you want to attempt something a little various than what the “leader” is suggesting or if you favor to miss a certain training drill. This is absolutely OK.

It’s OKAY if you have no experience with searching or training My pet as well as I are an interesting set. A little bit enjoyable to some of the various other members, I’m certain.

Honestly, a few of them possibly wonder why the hell we’re also participating in. I assume some members are surprised we’ve returned momentarily, 4th as well as third time.

We pretend we understand what’s up While I’m from Minnesota as well as have lots of seekers in my

We’re a mess, sometimes.

This canine is extremely humbling. He makes me work hard to see outcomes.

Everybody is really inviting at NAVHDA. They recognize Remy as well as I are beginners with literally no searching experience.

Is it far too late to start educating my pet for searching? I would certainly state no, it’s never too late to train a hunting canine if they have the drive to do it.

Some pets simply don’t have the “drive” for birds and you can not compel that. Others have some major instinct for discovering birds, chasing, aiming, purging or recovering.

If the pet intends to do the work, it’s never ever far too late to train her, in my point of view.

It’s not concerning age, it’s concerning exposure, whole lots and lots of perseverance and also coming up with a plan that benefits you and your canine.

Some dogs are much more tough than others.

I waited as long to begin training Remy for searching since I stayed in San Diego when I got him as a puppy.

We live in Montana now.

Searching is simply one more sporting activity I can do with my energetic, working canine.

Remy and I train for agility for enjoyable as well as we train for path marathons. Hunting is one more task we can do. And it’s what he’s reproduced to do.

Other sources I’ve found the most practical

There are likewise great deals of YouTube video clips as well as books that can help you educate your attendant. As well as there’s always the option of hiring a professional bird dog trainer.

A few of my favored sources:

Overall benefits of NAVHDA

Below are the advantages I’ve discovered until now:

Learn regarding training your searching dog

Have a good time with your dog & & make buddies

Easy accessibility to birds & & launchers for training

Learn about the other flexible hunting dog breeds

Talk pets with like-minded individuals

Obtain assistance from handlers/trainers with different experiences

Observe the various other trainers and dogs as well as learn

Obtain comments on issues with your pet

What concerns or advice do you have for your first NAVHDA training day?

If you prepare to go to a NAVHDA occasion, let me understand if you have any type of concerns. I definitely had a bunch prior to I began.

If you are included with NAVHDA, please share your experience listed below for any kind of brand-new individuals who may be asking yourself.

I’m sure I’ll have an upgrade at some time soon with exactly how our progress is going!

-Lindsay & & Remy Lindsay Stordahl is the owner of That Mutt. She writes about pet training and behavior, healthy and balanced raw food for animals and also keeping up dogs.

from Lucky Dog Solutions http://www.luckydogsolutions.com/what-to-expect-at-your-first-navhda-training-day/

0 notes

spinach-productions · 7 years

Text

Overwatch: do u want 2 join Talon?

The goal here was to a.) take the idea of Reaper being terrifying and pitch it out the window, and b.) take characters who don’t interact and put them together to see what happens. I really enjoyed this.

Might continue if I get more ideas. No promises.

Wordcount: 2019

Summary: Hanzo has no interest in joining Talon. No, really. Reaper, stop asking.

A small hand mirror (extracted from a circular hand compact because its round edges are pleasing to nervous fingers) reflects Dorado’s center square, its string lights illuminating the messy space and showing it to still be empty. Hanzo tucks the mirror into his pocket. His communicator reads quarter-to-eleven. He turns the display off and folds his arms. Someone is wasting his time, and if there’s one thing Hanzo can’t abide, it’s someone who wastes his time.

He begins to dial Overwatch HQ’s main line.

“I said don’t call anyone.”

By the time the speaker his finished, Hanzo is already on the adjacent rooftop, arrow nocked and aimed into the smoky, billowing mass coiling up over the gutters of his original vantage point.

“You’re late,” he says, bow still at the ready.

“You’re not where we agreed to meet.”

“You didn’t really expect me to stand in the middle of the square.”

The mass begins to fold in on itself, trading volume for density as it builds up into a human shape. “I don’t care what you think I expect. I’m here to make an offer. Put that down.”

“I will not,” Hanzo says. “What is your offer.”

“You’ve just watched me turn into mist and ooze up the side of a building. Do you honestly believe that sharpened stick is any kind of dissuasion?”

“If it’s no dissuasion, then you won’t mind if don’t put it away.”

The particles coalesce into a figure, roughly six feet tall by Hanzo’s estimate. A man, if the voice isn’t modulated. He’s wearing a hooded coat, under which is a mask that is shaped either like a skull or a barn owl. The ensemble is black with fasteners that seem to be made of ammunition holders. His gauntlets are large, his shoulder pads are huge, and his boots are the most enormous of all. The entire thing, Hanzo decides, is utterly tacky.

“Fine,” Reaper says, folding his arms, “If it makes you feel better. Did you come to hear my offer, or would you rather trade barbs over your toothpick all night?”

“I’m listening.”

“I represent an organization called Talon—”

Hanzo has already released the tension in his bowstring. “No.”

“You don’t know what I was going to say.”

“I’m well aware of your organization,” he says, storing the arrow back in its quiver, “You believe that humanity is strengthened through conflict. To this end, you stir up chaos wherever you go, although why you wish to force growth on humanity is a mystery to me.” Hanzo swings himself off the roof to a drainpipe, “I do not share your ideology, I do not care for the means through which you pursue your goals, and I am not interested in aiding or joining your cause.”

Reaper watches him. The mask doesn’t articulate emotions, but he has an air of inhuman patience about him. “I have ways of making you change your mind.”

“I will not,” Hanzo says as he scales down the building’s façade.

“You will,” Reaper calls from the roof.

“I will not!” Hanzo rebuts as he exits the square.

As he selects Overwatch, Gibraltar from his list of contacts, he hears a faint noise through the cracks in Dorado’s historic architecture, like a man-sized pile of autumn leaves burning to ash and scattering across the ground. The wind carries a faint whisper that sounds eerily like You will.

Hanzo allows himself an eye roll as he keys in his location for extraction.

“There’s no need to debase yourself,” Winston says when Hanzo’s report strays into reassurances about his allegiance, “I had full confidence in you. If there were doubts about your loyalty, I wouldn’t have invited you to Overwatch.”

“Thank you,” Hanzo replies. He clears his throat to cover the gratitude that must show in his voice. “Do you believe Talon’s interest was based on my abilities, or my place in the organization?”

Winston skims the last of Hanzo’s written files before uploading them into one of Athena’s many databases. “Both make you a prime target. I’m grounding you for a few days to see if I can find where they the intel. Most likely they caught you during their surveillance of Overwatch, but I want to be sure they haven’t breached our security. I’d like your eyes on it after I’ve done the first sweep.”

“Of course,” Hanzo says.

Winston sends him off with two days off and strict instructions to schedule a full physical sometime during them. Hanzo makes a reluctant appointment with Doctor Ziegler for the next morning. Having completed his return-to-base duties, he showers off the post-mission stink and settles at his desk with a cup of tea and the latest piece of Helix security coding queued up on his tablet.

He’s just begun testing for standard weaknesses (which Helix usually covers beautifully, but it’s always good to try the basics first) when there’s a knock at the door.

“One moment,” he calls, saving his progress and locking the tablet before he opens the door.

“I want you to reconsider— now stop that.”

Hanzo, who has already grabbed his bow and quiver and thrown himself out the window, rolls to his feet at the edge of the cliff and slams the red Intruder Alert button on his communicator. The base’s windows turn red as the lights switch to emergency mode, and a klaxon begins sounding the alarm that means a hostile agent has breached Overwatch’s defenses. Hanzo slings the quiver over his shoulder and sprints along the path leading towards the control room in hope of getting some part of the base on lockdown.

The ground ahead of him begins to crackle and smoke, and Reaper rises up out of the grass with his arms crossed like this encounter isn’t meeting his expectations.

“You’re not listening to me,” he says.

Hanzo dodges around him, desperately trying to remember if there are any shortcuts to the main hall that connects with Winston’s meeting room. If not, he’ll have to run the full perimeter and scale the barriers that have surely descended around the front door by now, which isn’t impossible but will slow him down considerably.

“Who threw the alarm?” Someone barks into the main communications channel.

“I did,” Hanzo replies, “Gabriel Reyes just knocked on my door.”

“What? Are you sure?”

“Unless someone here has taken to wearing black cloaks with an owl mask. Then it would be a problem of taste rather than security,” Hanzo deadpans. He recognizes this as his tendency to shut down his emotions in the face of danger.

The ground ahead regurgitates Reaper again. “My taste is impeccable.”

Hanzo fire off an arrow. It passes through Reaper’s wraith form and soars into the distance.

The smoky human shape slithers through the air and places itself directly on the path, cutting off Hanzo’s only escape route. Reaper materializes and has the gall to look annoyed. “I said stop that.”

Hanzo lets loose a volley of arrows. Each finds its mark in Reaper’s torso, knees, head, and each continues through until the ground is peppered with failed homicide attempts.

“Stop shooting me,” Reaper snaps, “I want to make another offer.”

“There is nothing you can offer me,” Hanzo snarls, bow drawn as he tries to edge between Reaper and the building.

Reaper matches his movements. “The Shimada Clan is in shambles. Talon could pull them together under your leadership.”

“I will do no such thing,” Hanzo spits. Over the communication chatter coming from his wrist, he can hear the intruder alarm spilling out of an open window behind him and halfway up the wall.

Reaper holds his ground. “You could rebuild it, better, strong. In your own image instead of your father’s.”

Hanzo stashes Stormbow on his back and scales the wall, vaulting back into the cacophonous base without answering. Reaper’s sigh carries on the wind again as Hanzo pings his location and runs for the control room.

It takes several hours for the various members stations at Gibraltar to turn the base upside-down. Unsurprisingly, they find nothing. Hanzo gives his second report of the night. With little doubt that Reaper’s second visit means there will be a third, Winston creates a buddy-system schedule to ensure Hanzo’s safety while on base.

“This is humiliating,” he tells Orisa as she finishes sweeping his room.

“It is logical,” she disagrees, carefully pushing his chair back under the desk. “The hour is late; a human guard would be affected if they were to guard you at this hour, but I am able to recharge at any time.”

“I meant it’s humiliating that Winston thinks I need a guard at all,” he snaps.

“That is also logical. If there are two people, no one can be taken unaware.”

“I have trained since childhood to prepare for an assassin’s life. There is no need for anyone to babysit me,” Hanzo snarls.

Orisa pauses. Hanzo has seen this behavior when she is researching vocabulary. “I do not believe Winston believes you incapable,” she says a moment later.

The pause has given him a moment to collect himself, and for that, he is grateful. Hanzo takes a slow breath and mirrors her calm. “You are probably correct,” he says in a smoothed-out voice, “It would be foolish to leave a target unguarded, no matter what their skill level. There is no reason to sacrifice safety for my pride.”

“Your pride is important, but in this case, there are other things to be considered,” Orisa says agreeably. “I will take up a position outside to ensure the hallway is clear. Please summon me if you have any need.”

Hanzo thanks her and bids her goodnight. His ego stings, but Orisa has given him space to see the necessity behind Winston’s plan.

He sighs, toeing off his shoes and opening the closet to retrieve a robe.

“Don’t shoot me this time.”

Hanzo slams the door shut.

“Rude,” Reaper says from the other side.

He leaves one shaky hand planted against the closet door. It will do little good if Reaper decides to ooze between the cracks in the frame, but it makes Hanzo feel better. “Why are you in my room?”

“Well I came to make an offer, but I guess what I really wanted was to sit in your clothes hamper and chat through a door all night.”

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t call the OR-15 unit standing outside.”

“Because you haven’t been able to catch me so far and you want to gather intelligence. It’s what you do in the face of uncertainty.”

He isn’t wrong. Hanzo glares at the door. “Alright. What is your offer?”

Something makes a noise like someone moving several coat hangers to one side and then shifting to lean against a wall. “Your clan, your power, and your family. All of it, up to and including the latest research in human genetic regeneration for your brother.”

“Is that what happened to you? Regeneration?”

“Don’t interrupt, but yes, something like that. The technology has advanced since I… happened, and there have been multiple cases where over 70% of the body was restored. So what I’m really offering is redemption. You like redemption, don’t you?”

“You’re absurd,” Hanzo mutters.

“And you murdered your brother. Wouldn’t it be nice to make up for that?”

“You don’t know anything,” Hanzo hisses.

“Of course, what would I know about death? Aside from that fact that it turns up in the least expected places and doesn’t appreciate the smell of lilac detergent.”

“I did not choose the soap--” Hanzo uses his free hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. “I am going to call the guard in a moment. Please leave by whatever means you entered.”

“Think about the offer,” Reaper says, followed by the same burning/scattering noise from Dorado.

Hanzo wrenches open the door to find his closet predictably empty. He stomps to the door, informs Orisa of his visitor, and allows himself to be relocated to an empty set of quarters while his room is systematically taken apart because someone decided to make a house call.

#Overwatch #overwatch Hanzo #overwatch Reaper #overwatch Winston #overwatch Orisa #fanfiction #fanfics #Yoo writes!

22 notes · View notes

passionspoon · 4 years

Text

Paleo nut and seed bread

Omg, you have to check out this paleo nut and seed bread! Packed with seeds and nuts, which will help you feel full between meals, make this bread healthy, vegan, keto-friendly and gluten-free. This will become the one and only recipe you'll ever need...

Omg, you have to check out this paleo nut and seed bread! Packed with seeds and nuts, which will help you feel full between meals, make this bread healthy, vegan, keto-friendly and gluten-free. Maybe, this will become the one and only recipe you’ll ever need when making bread from now on.

(more…)

View On WordPress

#baking recipes #breadrecipe #easy recipes #great recipes #healthy food #healthy recipes #I love food #oven recipes #paleo recipes #passionspoon recipes #snacks recipes #vegan recipes #vegetarian recipes

0 notes

toptecharena · 6 years

Text

WADI NATRUN, Egypt — Christian monks living in the solitude of Egypt’s deserts have always faced the threat of attack from outside. In the early centuries, they built drawbridges and windowless towers to repel marauding nomads.

More recently, barricades and armed police officers ring the monasteries to guard against Islamic State suicide bombers, who target Christians.

But now, to the shock of the faithful, it turns out that danger also lurks inside the monastery walls.

The death of Bishop Epiphanius, the abbot of the 4th- century Monastery of St. Macarius, last month has set off an ecclesiastical murder mystery worthy of a Dan Brown novel. More than a simple whodunit, the case has exposed simmering tensions of a theological, if not personal, nature in an influential corner of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

A scholar of ancient manuscripts with a frizzy beard typical of Orthodox clerics, Epiphanius, 64, was found at dawn on July 29, lying in a pool of blood outside his monastic cell. Injuries to his skull indicated he had been hit on the head with a blunt object, possibly a pipe, police said.

The intrigue deepened days later when the Coptic authorities defrocked a younger monk, Isaiah, who had clashed with the bishop in the weeks before his death. Soon after that, another monk, Faltaous, 33, slashed his wrists and tried to throw himself from a four-story building.

Faltaous was hospitalized and treated for his injuries. On Aug. 11, Egyptian prosecutors said Isaiah had been charged with the murder of Epiphanius after confessing to the crime. Two days later they said they had detained Faltaous for questioning.

Beyond that, not much more is known. The police have sealed off the monastery to interview 150 people, including staff members, monks and bishops. The Coptic patriarch, Pope Tawadros II, has issued orders apparently aimed at tightening discipline among the country’s 2,000 monks.

New admissions to the monasteries have been suspended for a year; monks require permission to travel outside; and they have been given a month to close their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“In the light of what has happened, we need to give the monks their space and let them return to a focus on monastic life,” said Archbishop Angaelos of London, a prominent Coptic leader, speaking by phone. “They do not need social media accounts.”

The bishop’s death has become the subject of feverish news coverage in Egypt and, in private among Copts, much speculation. What would motivate two monks to plot against their bishop in a remote desert monastery, presuming they are the culprits? Possibilities floated by Coptic officials, experts and monks in interviews include theological disputes, financial misdeeds and even talk that the two monks had a close personal relationship they feared might be exposed.

One senior church official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that, during a search of the monastery, Egyptian police officers had uncovered compromising material on a cellphone that could offer a motive. He declined to provide details.

“This is about more than just the death of a bishop,” said Ishak Ibrahim, an expert on the Coptic faith at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, an advocacy group. “It’s a shock to the entire church.”

At the nearby Monastery of St. Pishoy, 7 miles from the scene of the bishop’s death, monks declined to comment, citing orders from superiors. But like everyone else they were eager to discuss the rumors privately. “It’s is very unfortunate. I see these as two men who have been touched by the tongue of Satan,” said a deacon providing a tour of the monastery. But he added, “we cannot judge them.”

“All of us are weak,” the deacon went on. “And if they repent, Jesus will accept them.”

Acknowledging the intense public interest, church leaders say they are trying to strike a balance between transparency and allowing the investigation to take its course. “It’s difficult because this is entirely unprecedented,” said Angaelos, who had a brief moment of global celebrity when he delivered a prayer at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May. “We need to pray for wisdom, peace and an exposition of the truth.”

The Copts, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s roughly 97 million people, are more usually in the headlines as victims of persecution. Since December 2016, Islamic State suicide bombers have attacked several Coptic churches. In May 2017 gunmen killed at least 28 Coptic pilgrims as they traveled by bus to a monastery.

A failed suicide bombing at a church in northern Cairo last weekend left just the bomber dead but was a reminder of the threat.

Epiphanius’ death opens a window on the cloistered world of the desert monasteries, which have enjoyed a major revival in the past 50 years and have come to occupy a central place in the Coptic faith. Four of the most famous monasteries are in Wadi Natrun, north of Cairo, an area once known for the salty lakes that provide the sodium carbonate used by the ancient Egyptians for mummification, now dotted with farmland reclaimed from the desert.

Epiphanius was viewed as a senior figure in a reformist Coptic movement that has been gaining momentum inside the church under Tawadros, said Samuel Tadros, an expert on the Coptic Church at the Hudson Institute in Washington. His appointment, in May, to a position in which he would work as a liaison with the Catholic Church was seen as a sign that conservatives were being sidelined, Tadros said.

But Epiphanius also faced opposition inside his own monastery. Earlier this summer the bishop considered expelling Isaiah, the monk now in custody, for “ongoing violations,” Angaelos said.

“He had been given several opportunities to cease what he was doing and to stop those violations,” said the archbishop, declining to specify the nature of the violations. After the bishop was killed, the monk was defrocked, he added.

The scandal has shattered the image of the monks as austere servants of God, devoted to prayer and solitude, that is held by many Copts in Egypt. Some question whether Copts are ready for the full truth about why the bishop was killed.

“I had no doubt from the beginning that this was personal,” said Tadros, citing confidential information he received from Coptic officials about the case. “Yet the ramifications of the murder are likely to continue with the church for a long time.”

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Go to Source Author: Declan Walsh World: Murder mystery in ancient monastery reverberates in coptic church WADI NATRUN, Egypt — Christian monks living in the solitude of Egypt’s deserts have always faced the threat of attack from outside.

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longislandweekly-blog · 6 years

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One of only four canopy bicycles in North America is just over the U.S.-Canada Border

Pedal through the treetops on the VéloVolant (Photos by Kimberly Dijkstra)

On a recent trip to the province of Quebec, I had the exciting opportunity to ride the VéloVolant, a unique activity that roughly translates to “flying bicycle.” Sounds fun? It is! Seated securely on the VéloVolant, you cycle through the canopy of the forest of Au Diable Vert, a mountain resort in the town of Sutton, QC.

Sutton is conveniently located about 10 minutes north of Vermont—about a six-and-a-half-hour drive from Long Island. Au Diable Vert is about a ten minute drive from Quebec 139 (Rue Principale, aka Main Street) up the aptly named Chemin Scenic Road.

Maybe orange dandelions are common in areas of the U.S, but I’ve never seen them before. The fields of orange dandelions and other wildflowers flowing over rolling hills makes this part of Quebec feel magical.

When you arrive at the resort, the kind folks in reception will point you on your way to the rustic gravel path that winds through the forest and leads to the VéloVolant starting point.

An attendant helped me into the canopy bike—a suspended recumbent bicycle if you want to be technical—and adjusted the pedals for my height. It is comfortable to sit in, like a canvas beach chair. There is a pouch on the back to store your belongings.

Children as young as 12 can participate as long as they are at least 55 inches tall and able to pedal for 45 minutes. The same goes for adults. It’s a great family activity, and surely different from any other.

Completing the full course takes 45 minutes at a leisurely pace or can take as little as 20-25 if you pedal very fast. I wanted to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere so opted for a slow pace.

The pedaling is not completely passive as you might expect. There is some resistance and your legs are what propel you forward. Occasionally, the cable tilts upward slightly, requiring a little bit more strength to gain momentum. Other times, the cable slants down and you’ll need to use your legs as the brakes to control the descent.

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It is a breathtaking experience that turns the forest on its head. Instead of looking up at trees that disappear into sky, you look down at them until the branches blend into ground. At some points you can’t even see the forest floor through all of the foliage. At other times you can—and it is a long way away. At the highest point, you’ll be 30 meters (about 100 feet) up in the air—not above the forest, but within in it and able to appreciate it at eye level.

Be prepared to be one with nature on this journey. Not only mentally, but in a literal sense. The bike goes directly through branches and leaves occasionally. In June, when I visited, caterpillars were abundant. If that is the case during your visit, give them a friendly hello and be on your way!

Other wildlife abounds and if you’re lucky you’ll get a glimpse.

The real treat however is the view. After pedaling for a while through dense forest, there is a clearing with a picturesque view of Vermont’s White Mountains framed gorgeously by the tallest trees of Au Diable Vert. The White Mountains are very much green this time of year, as is everything else.

Get a new perspective on the forest from the VéloVolant.

Later, as you start to close the 1-kilometer (about 5/8 of a mile) loop, you’ll pedal above a stream, complete with the tranquil sound of babbling waters.

Riding the VéloVolant is both a relaxing and thrilling experience. When else can you glide around among the treetops? Perhaps while zip-lining, but the treetops go by a lot faster on a zip line.

The VéloVolant is what drew me to Sutton. I saw photos of it online and knew I had to try it. However, Au Diable Vert has many more activities to offer. Kayaking, other water sports, hiking trails, cabins and campgrounds, not to mention skiing and snow sports during the winter months, make the mountain the site of many adventuresome family vacations.

New this year is ObservEtoiles, the world’s first open-air augmented reality planetarium. Situated on an alpine pasture between Mont Sutton, Jay Peak and Owl’s Head, far from the light pollution of cities, visitors to the mountainside amphitheatre have an unimpeded view of the southern sky. Stargazing, the oldest pastime in the world, becomes something new with modern technology involved. I am so intrigued by the concept, I may have to make a return visit.

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Sutton itself also has a lot going for it—restaurants, breweries, boutiques, antiques, a chocolaterie, a museum, B&Bs, mountain lodges—not to mention gorgeous scenery that is doubly beautiful in the fall, or so I’ve gathered from photos.

At only ten minutes over the Vermont border, you could easily pop by for an afternoon out of Montpelier or Burlington. Or on a trip to Quebec City or Montreal, Sutton could be an overnight stop on the way there or back.

Or better yet—make Sutton your destination! The idyllic village is central to all kinds of recreation, during every season. Learn more at suttontourism.ca.

Meander your way through the canopy (Photo source: Au Diable Vert)

The VéloVolant is one of only four like it in North America, and possibly the world as far as my research indicates. Cancun, Mexico, has the Aero Cycle; Orlando, Florida, has the Cypress Canopy Cycle; and Costa Rica has the Canopy Bike. I’m sure every one of these is a blast, but only in Quebec are you surrounded by towering maples and pines.

A ride on the VéloVolant costs CAD$50 for an adult and CAD$35 for a child. At the time of this posting, that is about USD$37.50 for adults and $26.30 for a child. Click here for up-to-date currency exchange rates.

Planning to stay at Au Diable Vert? Check out this interactive map of cabins on the property, including legitimate treehouses, connected by hiking trails of various skill levels. Take note: with lodging at Au Diable Vert, there is a 20 percent discount on the VéloVolant!

Have I convinced you to go to Sutton and try the VéloVolant? Let me know in the comments below!

See eye to eye with the forest when you ride the VéloVolant, a canopy bicycle located in Sutton, Quebec. See photos and read our first-hand experience on the "flying bicycle" at Au Diable Vert, a family-friendly mountain resort only 10 minutes north of Vermont. One of only four canopy bicycles in North America is just over the U.S.-Canada Border On a recent trip to the province of Quebec, I had the exciting opportunity to ride the…

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welldresseddadblog · 6 years

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If you’ve followed the previous two Yorkshire-based posts, you’ll know that HebTroCo is the Hebden Bridge trouser guys and I found myself there by their invitation on a drizzly Monday in March. This is the third in a series of articles about the background and makers of the HebTroCo products.

I was recently given the opportunity to spend a week in Yorkshire. Yorkshire, described by many as “God’s own country”, home of the best pork pies in the world, the deepest dales and highest peaks, the most rugged and silent of man, where the industrial revolution kicked off, the ancestral home of many an influential 80’s bands and also the setting of a remarkable number of gritty crime series on TV. It’s probably not unfair to summarise it as a county of contrasts, right? I’ve been there too many times to count before, but actually only to Sheffield though, and always taking the same route there, over Snake Pass, the twisty route over the Pennines between Manchester and Sheffield. And hence, to Sheffield, I went first.

Setting out the next morning, I entered “Hebden Bridge” into the phone, requested the fastest route and set off. Not long after I left the congested roads of Sheffield and stepped back in time. Or so it felt. I’m not sure exactly where I drove, but I did not see another human or moving vehicle for about 45 minutes. I did see lots of lovely nature, stone buildings, drystone walls, mist and woodlands though. And the narrow road went up and down, winding it’s way towards Hebden Bridge, just as it said on the box. It was a really wonderful experience, and a rarity in a modern Britain that to be honest is pretty much choked by cars, be they inching their way forward in congested traffic, or parked up on either side of narrow roads.

The typical Yorkshire street where the main character in “Happy Valley” lives.

Now Hebden Bridge is a place of notoriety. On the one hand, it’s where the popular crime drama “Happy Valley” is set, and the title is a misnomer, it’s anything but a happy valley, in fact, it portrays as one of the bleak modern-day British towns rife with drugs, crime and poverty. On the other hand, it’s also known as maybe the UK town most tolerant and inclusive of the LGBT community and is a small haven of gender fluidity. Either way, you’d probably be wondering what my purpose of heading there was, given that until now I have shown little interest in either twocking or exploring by gender boundaries.

The interesting buildings on the industrial estate outside Hebden Bridge.

I arrived at the specified time at a small industrial estate outside Hebden Bridge and was immediately struck by how unusual it was. Industrial estates are usually where hideous buildings of high volume to cost ratio are hidden away near the main road, but here the buildings were notably different. Long, low and numerous, and according to the informational board, home to a very diverse selection of businesses, from accounting to craft beer to catering to trousers. Indeed, I had arrived at my destination, HebTroCo, proud makers of British trousers. And more.

The story of HebTroCo is unusual. Winding back time to the start though, it all began in the pub. And after spending some time with the lads, I realise that if their life was set as a sitcom, the main set would be the pub. It’s where the grand ideas are thrashed out. Like the original one, which was the result of a conversation that started out with a question of “We both need jobs, what can we do?”. Given that Brant was a bicycle designer and Ed a mountain bike guide, you’d no doubt think that something along the lines of two-wheeled transport would be a natural progression. Oh no, that was not to be.

The name arguably derives from the Hebden Bridge trouser company, inspired by the fact that once upon a time Hebden Bridge was the “trouser town” of the UK, at its height producing a million pairs of trousers a year. And while Brant and Ed had no background at all in making trousers, in fact, local lore has it that least one of them rumoured to be barely out of wearing shorts, they have gone from strength to strength in the two years they’ve been going. Starting out with a tour de force of crowdfunding, where through Kickstarter they managed to sell out the initial offering of 176 pairs of trousers in a remarkable 5 or so hours. Now, this is a quite remarkable feat, as most Kickstarters fail. And those that succeed do so over a period much longer than 5 hours. So there was obviously a vacuum in the market that could only be filled with British made moleskin trousers. If you think about it, that was never going to be obvious.

Found Ed discussing the finer points of locally made heavy duty belts with Steve Bate, MBE, Paralympian and a good bloke.

I’m received by founder Ed (beard and tattoos, according to his business card) and shown around the compact premises. Packed floor to rafters with mainly moleskin trousers, it’s clear that the small business is keeping busy. A little later founder Brant (tall and bald, again according to the informative card) arrives. They’re still just the two founders, Brant and Ed, as full-time staff, though they’ve recently taken on Sean part-time to help with shipping. And this is how many modern businesses work today. Whereas previously they would have set up a workshop, populated it with machinery, painstakingly learnt to sew trousers and when the craft was perfected, taken them to the market. Now though, there is a surplus of capable production capacity around, and if you have ideas there are people who can help you realise them.

While we’re enjoying a mug of tea and a digestive biscuit, one of the primary fuels the business runs on, a guy comes cycling by on a Fatbike to look at a pair of trousers. In a typical Yorkshire way, the conversation quickly gets going, topics weaving in and out, good laughs and such. Turns out he’d just won a cycle race in Rovaniemi, which to me is almost where I spent my teen years, so it has me intrigued. As it turns out, he’s the Paralympian cyclist and gold medal winner, Steve Bate MBE, and as it turns out a really humble and funny guy.

The original HebTroCo development trousers, with authentic marker pen based instructions to modifications made in the pub.

The latest development is the merino wool field jacket, based on a 60’s British army jacket and remade now by the original maker in Blackburn.

Donated by a local, an original vintage pair of corduroy breeches made in “Trouser Town”. Rumour has it this may be the next HebTroCo model. Fingers crossed.

The “Trouser Town” of old was almost all gone through, just a single factory left that could make trousers. So this was where things would happen. The factory could make 176 pairs in a week, hence the toe in the water Kickstarter campaign was for a weeks production. Once the water was found to be suitable, more models and fabrics have come into the pipeline. Heavy duty corduroys, canvas, an interesting blend of linen and cotton, in tapered and straight fits, and even shorts (for sale all year round). The number and diversity of trouser variations have meant that a second factory had to be involved, as the aforementioned capacity was rapidly exceeded.

The boys still enjoyed sitting in the pub though, and the business expansion and product development meetings go something like this:

Ed: “You know Thomas? He makes belts with amazing brass buckles”

Brant: “We should do a belt!”

Ed: “Thomas, can you make us a belt?”

Thomas: “Yeah”

Brant and Ed: “Sorted!”

Various stages of evolution of the HebTroCo locally made leather and copper buckled belt. The double-prong is the latest.

And so the range also expanded to include some jackets, including a new merino wool version of a 60’s British army field jacket. Because it was begging to be done. Then boots were included, as the last British heavy work boot factory was nearby. And more recently to include a Sheffield made pocket knife with a Damascus steel blade. If you can see a pattern in this, you’re doing well, as there are really only three factors: Can it be made locally, from local components, and is it cool? Which is a pretty sound business strategy is you have a decent grasp of what is “cool”. And therein lies some of the advantage of being a small, flexible company: Unless you’re trying to take over the world, you really only need to find enough customers for what you produce. There is a lot to be said for that.

I got to join a business meeting in the de facto board room of the company, clearly identified by using their own beer mats as a guerilla marketing tool.

Looking at the beer taps, it becomes obvious that there is a certain hipster flavour to the offerings. Yes, I did taste a sip and yes, it tasted roughly as you’d expect.

How can you not fall in love with a place that runs the perfect retro music night? Sign me up!

There is a lot to be said for being a company that in reality is more about marketing than producing as well. Observing how many other companies and people are involved in the HebTroCo enterprise, it’s clear that their success is shared far beyond the lads and their immediate family. Obviously, the landlord at the pub has been doing well, but there are also a couple of mills that have been busy making fabric, a couple of garment factories that have had a fair amount of work come their way, not to mention William Lennon spending roughly half their capacity making Hebden boots and so it goes. Even the local post office har perked up, as now there are daily loads of packages to be sent off, delivered by the lads on their electric cargo bikes.

The best fish & chips in Hebden Bridge, the fastest to re-open after flooding, and stil with the original interior, Crown Traditional Fish & Chips.

Fish, chips and mushy peas. A British classic.

Right over the road, upstairs at the Chinese takeaway, is where Nico had a flat. Reality less glamourous than the lore?

And Hebden? It was great. I had very quick tour of the “Happy Valley” landmarks and I didn’t get mugged. The people all looked happy, the range of shops was great, it was tidy and clean. We had chips in a wonderful cafe fitted in a superb retro style (the legacy of putting off redecorating), which happened to be across the road from where Nico of Velvet Underground had a flat at some point. We even had a pint in the pub, and would you believe it? New ideas were born. And it didn’t flood while I was there either, although this happens every few years, as the town is built on a floodplain, which surely must haunt whoever decided to found the town right there. In all, it reminds me more than a little of Portlandia.

A sneaky selfie down a Hebden Street with the lads striding off, full of fresh ideas. What a grand day out!

Heading back to Sheffield after an eventful day, I even got to see the Wainhouse folly in Halifax. What a sight! Usually I miss all the good stuff, as I tend to be driving, but in this case, traffic congestion allowed me to revel in this piece of structural one-up-manship. Brilliant, would love to go back on a sunny day and climb to the top.

To read more about bearded Ed, bald Brant and their selection of trousers, boots, belts and pocket knives, visit their website at HebTro.Co. In my two previous posts about the Yorkshire trip, I wrote about:

The Wiliam Lennon heavy boot factory in Stoney Middleton and their boots for HebTroCo

Michael Mays knife workshop in Sheffield and the Damascus steel Barlow knives for HebTroCo

In the next and final instalment, I visit a fabric mill in Leeds and a garment factory in Blackburn. Oh, and meet Iain Trickett for lunch and eat a pie that isn’t a pie.

And in case you were wondering:

The long low buildings? They’re actually what’s left from the business empire of a local man based on the clever idea of selling chickens and henhouses to families all over Britain. Boxes of chickens and assemble-your-own henhouses were shipped all over the country, so families could have their own supply of fresh eggs. A hugely successful business, until the advent of supermarkets and their reliable supply of eggs. Read more about this here.

Adventures in Yorkshire - Visiting HebTroCo in Hebden Bridge #hebtroco #hebdenbridge #yorkshire #trousertown #happyvalley #moleskin #savethemole #boots #trousers #menswear #blog #blogger #mensfashion #visityorkshire #sheffield If you've followed the previous two Yorkshire-based posts, you'll know that HebTroCo is the Hebden Bridge trouser guys and I found myself there by their invitation on a drizzly Monday in March.

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chriscope · 6 years

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Daytona Bike Week is presently in full-swing, so it’s probably a little late for you to make this year’s event. It’s entirely possible that won’t bother you. If you’re like me, events like Daytona often carry a pretty bad reputation in your mind – chauvinism of all kinds perpetuated by fat, old white guys. But after attending last year’s gathering, I’ve had something of a change of heart and now feel that every motorcyclist should attend an event like Daytona at least once.

TENUOUSLY LINKED: How to Save Motorcycling in 5 Easy Steps

Taking place in Daytona Beach, Florida, in early March, Daytona Bike Week is the unofficial opening of the riding season in the United States. Folks living in more northerly parts of the country will be looking at the snow outside their windows and feeling such a claim is a bit ambitious, but remember that there are a hell of a lot of Americans south of the Mason-Dixon line (and the imaginary line that continues west along the same latitude), and many of them are already wearing T-shirts. If it’s warm enough to play baseball, it’s warm enough to ride a motorbike.

Never mind the bikes; Daytona Beach is worth visiting just by itself.

Like many events of its type – eg, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Laconia Motorcycle Week – Daytona Bike Week started out as a racing event. Back in 1937, a handful of moto nuts got together to duke it out over 200 miles on a 3.2-mile course consisting of beach and public road. These days, the races are held at Daytona International Speedway. The firm-sanded beach, stretching in either direction as far as the eye can see, is now untroubled by motor vehicles.

‘It’s not just fat, old white guys.’

Roughly half a million people attend Daytona Bike Week each year. And last year, I was one of them. I came as a guest of Harley-Davidson, who flew me out to crash its Street Rod and watch the first contest of American Flat Track’s inaugural season. Despite the fact I ended up sliding across a Florida highway at 70 mph, the three days I spent at Daytona were amongst the highlights of 2017 for me.

RELATED: Popularity of Flat Track Booming: Can Indian, Harley Take Credit?

That’s not just because Harley knows how to do a press event. Or because I was able to wear short sleeves on St. Patrick’s Day for the first time since 2003. Or because I got to hang out with ultra-awesome moto-journalists like John Burns, Lemmy, “Goober” Joe Gustafson, and Ron Lieback. Though, certainly those things played a part. But one of the biggest reasons I look back at that event fondly is that it helped me to change – or, at least, adjust – some of my very negative opinions about motorcycle events like this and the people who attend them.

‘Merica, y’all

The fat, old white guys were there, of course – many wearing three-quarter helmets and ferrying their equally mature and generously proportioned wives on American-flag-festooned Gold Wings and Ultras. But, firstly, why are we hating on these folks? I mean, take a moment to think about the root cause of your anger toward fat, old white guys. Is it because they have committed the sin of aging? Is it because they have more money than you? Is it because they think differently than you in a country founded on the belief that people who think differently can still get along? Is it because they are of your parents’ generation? Is it because you can feel yourself turning into them?

And, of course, if you interact with these graybeards face to face you discover that, by and large, they’re pretty cool. OK, the “brother” stuff feels a bit affected, but, hey brother, are you really going to shit on somebody for trying to be nice to you? Fact is, these guys are bike nerds, just like you.

Carrying on from that thought, it occurs to me that events like these are the Comic-Cons of motorcycles. One of the clichéd criticisms waged against Daytona/Sturgis-type attendees is the assertion that they are all a bunch of dentists and accountants dressing up as land-pirate bad boys. Wandering around Daytona Beach, I suddenly thought: “Well, so what if they are? Who am I to judge?”

Spot the rogue Yamaha Super Ténéré in this sea of Harleys

I mean, FFS, y’all. I’m a sucker for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, where I will straight-up dress like an actual pirate. Or sometimes a pirate in a kilt. Because that makes all kinds of sense. And it’s definitely 100-percent historically on-point with medieval times. And the Britishy accents that people put on at Ren Fest are totally believable, and all of it – turkey legs and cloaks and tankards of Schell’s and jousting – is representative of how I live my life 24/7. Or… ah… maybe not.

In making this comparison in my mind I realized I don’t have firm ground to stand on if I try to criticize someone who wants to pretend that he or she is tougher or more rebellious or wilder than their minivan and suburban ranch home might suggest.

Secondly, it’s not just fat, old white guys.

Main Street at night

Watching the impromptu parades that roll up and down Main Street each night, I saw a whole lot of young white guys, as well – only a few of which were fat. Most were riding sportbikes with New Jersey plates, wearing flat-brimmed baseball caps and transporting Jersey Shore-like girlfriends who were Snapchatting from the passenger seat. There were also black dudes – considerably more than I would have ever imagined, since I had thought events like this were all leather chaps and sexism. Many were riding the most amazing and cartoonish baggers you’ve ever seen: sparkle-painted, enormous-wheeled mobile pieces of art equipped with 300-watt stereos. Their bikes’ lung-rattling bass was outmatched only by the mobile music festivals that were the blinged-out Slingshots.

RELATED: Polaris Slingshot Adds Roof, Becomes Even Less Like a Motorcycle

Visiting the various events taking place around town I ran into genuine outlaw motorcycle clubs, motocrossers, hipsters, weirdos, scooter geeks, and every other kind of person who’s ever thrown a leg over a motorcycle. With all this spinning around me – this huge, ridiculous, and disjointed mess of humanity that had rolled into this spot beside the Atlantic Ocean – I couldn’t help but begin think: “Actually, this is kind of… cool.”

Maybe “cool” isn’t the exact word I want there. I mean, I’m not sure I would make an effort to go to Daytona Bike Week again, but I am so very glad I went at least once.

Even though I write and think about all kinds of different bikes every single day, I’ll admit I can get a little too lost in what I like. And then I can get a little too lost in thinking that because I like something it must be the right thing to like. Being at Daytona helped me correct my thinking. It was a chance to see and interact with hundreds of thousands of people who ostensibly share the same passion as me – motorcycles – while not necessarily sharing my exact vision of it. Being reminded of just how varied motorcycling really is made me appreciate it all the more.

Tropical Tattoo custom bike show

A fine example of Busa brilliance

One of the highlights of large biker events is the opportunity to test ride all kinds of bikes.

Are Daytona Bike Week or Sturgis not really your kind of thing? You should probably still go at least once. Daytona Bike Week is presently in full-swing, so it's probably a little late for you to make this year's event.

#Cruisers #Events #Naked and Standard #Touring #United States

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freddanielsenk · 6 years

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Video is the Emperor: 5 Video Options for Agents to Fuel Facebook Reach

If you’ve attended any training classes or lunch-n-learns on real estate marketing (or have read anything on marketing best-practices for that matter), you’ve likely heard that “content is King.”

But if you’re trying to drive eyeballs to your Facebook page … video is the Emperor!

Let me explain.

Studies have found that Facebook video gets triple the engagement and 1,200% more shares than text and image posts combined. And, videos uploaded directly to Facebook (we call this “natively” because it lives directly on Facebook vs. a platform like YouTube), get 110% higher engagement and 478% higher share rates (on average) than simply sharing a link to a video.

Before you get worried, I have a few solutions below that require no physical presence in front of the camera. No hair and makeup. No shaving. No first-time-in-front-of-a-camera jitters. So, keep reading!

Why does video work for Facebook?

There are a couple reasons why video works so well on Facebook:

People love visual content and want to share it —roughly 92% of people who consume mobile videos share them with other people!

Facebook’s algorithm loves it —in addition to shares, likes, and comments, the algorithm takes into account how much time people spend watching a video, which helps it show up in your followers’ feeds.

Viewers can be entertained, escape the mundane, and learn something —studies show the main reasons people watch videos are to be entertained (53%), to relax or escape (28%), or to learn something (21%).

Think about the last time you were scrolling through Facebook. Isn’t video content easier to consume than stopping to read a long-winded post? What catches your eye when you scroll through your feed? THAT is the magic.

What kind of video content should agents create?

The question then becomes … What type of video content should agents create? Here are a few (really great, super excellent) ideas to get you started:

Great Idea #1: Market Update Videos

We recently wrote a blog on how to create a market update video in 15-minutes or less. This is a great way to quickly and easily create useful and educational video content with the information you already know … How the market is doing!

PRO TIP: This doesn’t need to be a Spielberg-length video. The sweet spot for Facebook videos is between 60 and 90 seconds. So make it short, quick and to the point.

Great Idea #2: Vendor Interview Videos

As an agent, you work with SO. MANY. VENDORS. Why not utilize their expertise to do a short interview video?

Perhaps you ask a local mortgage broker to chat FHA loans for 90 seconds. Maybe you meet the local inspector at an upcoming inspection for 5 quick tips/things to look for when buying a home. (Be sure to ask the homeowner for permission to shoot video at their property.) Do you have connections with a home staging company? Even neighborhood folks like restaurant owners, the YMCA staff, etc. would make great interviews.

The bonus? When you share this video on Facebook and mention their company, you’re exposing your video to THEIR audience, too! This equals a wider audience reach for your Facebook page.

PRO TIP: Don’t want to do the interview on-site? Check out BeLive.tv – it allows you to go live on Facebook using a split screen. Think you + the vendor, live on Facebook!

Great Idea #3: Live Q&A Videos

Facebook recently tweaked their algorithm to rank LIVE videos higher than those that are not. They report that people spend 3x more time watching a Facebook video when it is live and comment 10x more on live videos than on regular videos. (Talk about ways to build your engagement on Facebook, wow!)

So, how about a live Q&A? Before you go live … send out a post asking for people to message you with their real estate questions. Simply answer the question while you’re live!

Want some basic instructions on how to go LIVE on Facebook? This article offers some great pointers.

PRO TIP: Live videos also work great for behind-the-scenes or “day in the life” type content. Don’t be afraid to try it out and show your audience what you’re up to!

Great Idea #4: Screen Share Videos

**The no makeup, no shave, pajama pants optional option!**

Let’s say you’re a little camera shy or simply don’t want to jump into the video deep end. You can simply share your computer screen to make a video. This is a great option if you want to review a Market Snapshot® neighborhood report, end of the month ‘sold’ stats, highlight a listing you have for sale, etc.

If you have a Mac (with Snow Leopard or newer), you can actually use QuickTime Player to record your screen. Here’s a great article with step-by-step instructions on how to do that.

If you have a PC, try Bandicam, ShowMore or, my personal favorite, Camtasia.

PRO TIP: Don’t forget to include a link to your neighborhood report landing page when you post the video. This will allow viewers to sign up for their own report! (And, you capture their email!)

Great Idea #5: Videos from Existing Content

**Another no makeup, no shave, pajama pants optional option!**

If you’re creating original blog content, your broker is creating content, or you just have some great lists in mind, i.e. 5 Easy DIY Home Improvements … you can quickly and easily turn that into a video with Lumen5. (This could also work great for market reports!)

The service skims through your article or list and picks the most important sentences (with a little help from you). You can then drag and drop stock images and video clips, or your own images, to create a custom “video blog” … and you never have to step in front of the camera.

Here’s an example of a neighborhood report video I threw together with Lumen5.

//tsablog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Market-Update-Lumen-1.mp4

PRO TIP: These short videos from Lumen are great for other social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter, too! Make sure to save the video in 1×1 square format.

Oh! [Don’t forget the captions]

Before we sign off … Don’t forget to include closed captions on your videos! A shocking 85% of videos are watched on Facebook without sound. (Another reason why the Lumen5 videos are a great option.) In fact, Facebook defaults to playing videos without sound … So, you want to be sure you’re getting your message across even without the volume on.

Tools like Rev.com make it easy and inexpensive to add captions to your videos, and both Facebook and YouTube also have integrated tools to help you. Want a more casual way? How about cue cards or flashcards that you hold and flip while filming? Be creative.

Dip your toes in the video waters

Don’t be afraid to get your toes wet! Dive in and start trying out some of these video options —we promise, no one’s sending it to Rotten Tomatoes.

In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you! What are some of the things you’d like to learn about Facebook? Share your questions our Facebook page, where we keep in touch with more than 35,000 agents from across the country!

Catch up on the Facebook Reach series here:

This is part four of our series on how to get more attention to your Facebook page. Here are links to the other articles you may have missed:

Personal PROFILE or Business PAGE: What’s the right choice for real estate agents? (Did you know there’s a difference?)

Have you fallen off the social media bandwagon? 6 ways to dust off your Facebook account and get back in the game

Fewer eyeballs are seeing your Facebook posts: How agents can uncover their true reach

Video is the Emperor: 5 Video Options for Agents to Fuel Facebook Reach syndicated from http://ift.tt/2lmGCAv

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jobsinthefuture-blog · 6 years

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How to Become a Bionics Engineer - Bionics in Real Life Brings Hope to Amputees

New Post has been published on http://jobsinthefuture.com/index.php/2017/11/15/how-to-become-a-bionics-engineer-bionics-in-real-life-brings-hope-to-amputees/

How to Become a Bionics Engineer - Bionics in Real Life Brings Hope to Amputees

Updated November 15, 2017

Technology has given us the ability to overcome disease, famine, and tragedy like never before. A plague that would have killed millions of people in the 1600s now may only end the lives of a dozen people today. Technology has brought new found fancies to our lives. Technology has also complicated our lives in many other frivolous ways, but none the less technology has brought a great deal of convenience to many peoples lives.

It can occasionally be overwhelming to me when I see people using a device 20x more powerful than the first computer ever built to play angry birds or post cat videos on Facebook, but that is the beauty of free enterprise. Putting the best technology into the hands of the people and allowing them to use it in the manner they desire.

This made me think. How can technology help people in need of physical redemption?

Wounded war veterans, terrorism victims, and birth defections. How can these tragic cases be turned into victorious testimonies of technological advancements. According to a research article done by Dr. Grant McGimpsey and Terry C. Bradford there are roughly 189,000 amputees every single year in the U.S. and currently 1.9 million citizens living with amputated limbs.

During the Boston Marathon Patrick and Kensky Downes lost their legs in the terrorist bombing. Newly married, active, and excited about life’s opportunities the Downes had no idea that morning would be the last time they would use their legs to carry them through the streets of Boston.

CAMBRIDGE, MA – OCTOBER 6: Boston Marathon bombing survivors Patrick Downes and Jess Kensky, his wife, walk the two-mile route around Fresh Pond with their service dog Rescue in Cambridge, Mass., on Oct. 6, 2015. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe)

Think about it. Something you use every day, without a thought. Your legs are an intricate part of your human anatomy, can you imagine if they were no longer there? I cannot fathom being without my legs. The idea is so foreign to me, so vague. What Kensky and Patrick must go through to become “whole” again (partially whole) is the most cumbersome process of trial and error.

Three-and-a-half years after the attacks, Kensky has spent so much time in surgical wards that she doesn’t bother counting how many surgeries she’s had. “For me, it’s not been helpful. I feel like with the numbers, it wouldn’t summarize this journey,” says Kensky. “The answer I give is that it’s been three-and-a-half years and I have them on a regular basis.”

Quote from People Magazine Online

Everyday Kensky and Patrick are struggling with testing new mechanical limbs, technologies, and extensive invasive surgeries. What if there were a better solution to all of their pain, unsuccessful limb testing and surgeries…

Over the past decade we have seen the development of telecommunications, clean energy solutions, and artificial intelligence to name a handful of Silicone Valley’s mind babies.

But what about Kensky and Patrick? Where are the developments for bionics and artificial limbs. There is all of this development in robotics but has any of this made it into the human bionics sector? There is one man making incredible developments in the area of Bionics, Hugh Herr. Hugh is an amputee himself, with a passion for the outdoors. He lost his in a winter climbing expedition due to extreme frost bite, but that has never stopped him from pursuing his love for the outdoors.

Over the years Hugh has continued to advance technology in the sector of artificial limbs. Recently he gave a Ted Talk about the current advancements being made and they are truly incredible. You can watch his talk below:

It is evident that incredible advancements are being made in the area of Human Bionics, but there is still so much that needs to be accomplished.

When it comes to a career in Bionics it is so much more than a salary. Although there can be great income potential ranging from $75k – $150k and beyond, the ability to help people like the Kensky and Patrick Downes is more satisfying than any amount of money the world can give to you.

Now that you have a little back ground on the need for bionics let’s talk about how you can start training to become the next bionics engineer!

1 ) Introduction to Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

If you are brand new to the field of science you are going to want to get started with a class on the Introduction to Biology. If you are up to speed on all of the life sciences than you can jump ahead, but maybe you need to brush up on your knowledge. Don’t skimp out on the basics!

2 ) Robotics: Locomotion Engineering from Pennsylvania University

This may sound odd. Why would I learn how to build robotics…I am trying to develop a solution for humans. Consider the previous video featuring Hugh Herr. He was utilizing robotics technology to create artificial legs that were responsive to his movements. This is essential to innovating limbs that will not only fill in the void of missing limbs, but create life like response and usability.

3 ) Power Electronics Specialization from the University of Colorado Boulder

By 2030, 80% of all electrical energy will be processed by power electronics. Professional advantages continue to grow for technical engineers who understand the fundamental principles and technical requirements of modern power conversion systems. This specialization covers design-oriented analysis, modeling and simulation techniques leading to practical engineering of high-performance power electronics systems.

Not only will you be ready to equip bionics with highly functional electronics systems but you will have a competitive edge on an expanding market. Power electronics is gives you the ability to know how a vast majority of the products you use every single day operate and receive their power.

Don’t miss The Ultimate Guide to Future Proof You Career. An Invaluable resource to ensure that you are secure within the Jobs in the Future!

Click Here to Download the Ultimate Guide Now!

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timothyakoonce · 7 years

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How to Use Content Upgrades and Capture More Leads

How to Use Content Upgrades and Capture More Leads written by Guest Post read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Without a content upgrade, every time someone reads your post, something terrible happens…

Nothing.

It doesn’t matter how much traffic you get. It doesn’t matter how many shares or comments. Unless that traffic is converting, it’s worthless.

Content upgrades are like patching holes in a leaky pipe – it stops the water (aka your traffic) from escaping forever. It converts visitors into leads, who can then turn into customers and profits.

In this post, I’m going to explain what a content upgrade is, how to use content upgrades to capture more leads, and best practices when creating your own content upgrade.

Oh, and I have a special bonus for those of you who make it to the end of this post, as well! So, stay tuned!

Now then, let’s get started.

What is a Content Upgrade?

The premise behind a content upgrade, as we’ve previously explained on the Duct Tape Marketing Blog, is this:

“Write a really great, useful blog post and then when people show up to read it offer them an “upgrade” to the content in the form of a checklist, video, or case study relevant to the topic in exchange for content details.”

It’s essentially a very specific extra piece of content you offer your audience in exchange for their email. Other types of content upgrades include:

eBooks

Templates

Whitepapers

Cheat sheets

Worksheets

Loads more…

For example, one of the content upgrades on my blog looks like this:

With a great content upgrade, not only can you capture leads, but you can also:

Segment those leads based on which upgrade they opted into.

Gain insight into what your customers are interested in.

Content Upgrade Best Practices

When it comes to actually creating your content upgrade, there are a few things to keep in mind to make it a success:

Make it relevant to the article.

While generic, site-wide lead magnets (like an eBook on your general topic) can work to capture emails, a specific upgrade to the exact blog post a user is currently reading will convert much better.

For example, if you’re writing about how to lose 5 lbs in a month, a site-wide lead magnet might be an eBook on healthy eating or fitness. However, a relevant content upgrade would be a cheat sheet or checklist to taking action on the exact steps you outlined in that article.

Make it valuable.

Don’t just give away some crappy PDF that took you five minutes to create (although great content doesn’t need to take forever). Ask yourself: Would you be happy or excited about getting this as an upgrade? If not, you may need to rethink your strategy.

That said, keep it simple – you don’t need to give away a 400-page eBook that very few people will ever read. It’s natural to think that more content means more value, but people want shortcuts. Give them a ton of value in as few words as possible.

Make it pretty.

Sure, you can send a simple word document that looks like a normal book. However, just as formatting a blog post is important to increase readability and engagement, so too should you make your upgrades look nice.

Besides, it’s often just a matter of taking an extra 20-30 minutes to spruce it up. It’s that little extra bit that helps you stand out from the crowd.

Deciding What to Actually Give Away

You know you need something valuable to give away. But, how do you come up with an idea for a content upgrade?

First, find your most popular posts.

Head over to your Google Analytics page. From there, head to Behavior -> Site Content -> Landing Pages.

As you can see from the screenshot, my detailed post on content marketing was the most popular page on my site. What’s yours?

Start with that.

Once you’ve discovered your most popular post, it’s time to come up with an awesome resource that compliments it.

For example, I created an eBook on content marketing to give away alongside my popular post. It’s since converted at roughly 12%.

Here are a few ideas you can create:

An interview with an expert on your post’s topic.

Bonus tips & tricks.

A downloadable PDF version of the article (so they can read it on-the-go).

A visual guide to your post (such as an infographic).

A video tutorial that expands upon one section of your post.

A free product guide or hands-on review (excellent for eCommerce sites).

Pro Tip: Make your content upgrade stand out. Use SumoMe to create a free welcome mat or exit-intent pop up for the upgrade. Create a banner. Add an inline text box. Make it a different color and try different copy to see what works best.

How to Create a Content Upgrade

Creating the actual content upgrade is fairly simple. You can do it with Microsoft Office, G Suite, or iWork. Depending on the upgrade, you’ll use different tools.

If you’re creating an eBook, for example, I would take these steps:

Draft it up in a word document to get your thoughts together and make it sound good.

Transfer it to a PowerPoint to make it look pretty. (I set the size of the slides to 7.5 in. by 12 in. for the ebook shown below. HubSpot has a ton of eBook powerpoint templates you can use if you’re not much of a designer.)

Convert your file to a PDF and upload it to your WordPress backend.

Use a tool like SumoMe or LeadBoxes to create a popup to capture emails whenever someone clicks your linked text or button.

Create an automation email that sends the content upgrade (via a link to the file you uploaded to WordPress) to your new leads using a tool like MailChimp, Drip, or Aweber.

It’s as simple as that! The process is basically the same for most of your content upgrades. If you have a spreadsheet, you can skip a few steps, but most things will require PDF conversions.

Here’s an example – When creating my eBook on The Building Blocks of Content Marketing, it looked like this:

A Few Tips From the Experts

Here are some extra words of wisdom from a few digital marketing experts:

Sam Hurley: Ranked No. 1 Digital Marketer by Webinale

“I’ve worked on campaigns where simple, one- or two-field gates (meaning only asking for an email or name and email) were inserted into blog content by adding a contextual CTA in-between paragraphs. It’s a VERY quick and painless way to build an email list.

There’s also the option of squeeze pages; existing to extract information from visitors in return for another download or offer of some kind. These are typically reserved for ‘epic’ content pieces with high perceived value.

The opportunity with gated content (especially squeeze pages) is the fact you can gradually build up detailed profiles of each subscriber using marketing automation software (which has the intelligence to progressively auto-fill fields on various CTAs or forms within your website). These profiles can then be scored over time using a lead scoring matrix, based on their propensity to buy from you.

The bottom line? Tasteful gated content is critical to building a database of people who may become customers in future. Those who take the time and energy to hand you any of their details are already one step closer to your brand. Give plenty away for ‘free’, but nudge your audience to help you out, too.

I’ve applied this method on my one-page website which now has 1300+ signups without any direct promotion, aside from the odd tweet! 100% of my content is published on other websites and most of it is gate-free.”

Sujan Patel: A Marketer Who’s Worked With Forbes, Inc. and the WSJ

“Content upgrades are a very effective way of growing an email list but only when done right. I recommend only adding content upgrades to your best content – meaning highest traffic, time on site and engagement.

I also recommend starting with a minimum viable product content upgrade by creating a simple banner and a PDF version of the site. You can use Snappa.io to create a custom banner image and Sumome or Optinmonster to deliver the PDF. When you start seeing results it’s time to get serious and invest real resources into content upgrades.

I used this exact process on my highest performing content in early 2016 and it’s converted users at 8% ever since.”

Bringing It All Together

Content upgrades are the secret sauce to content marketing. Without them, it just wouldn’t work as well. They make capturing leads so much easier.

Just follow the steps – find your best content, create a high-quality addition, then add it using one of the tools I mentioned.

Oh, and don’t worry, I didn’t forget about the bonus I promised you!

Just for readers of the Duct Tape Marketing blog, I’ve created an exclusive video of myself going through the steps in this article and creating a content upgrade, right in front of your very eyes – all in just 8 minutes. Click here to get the video right now!

About the Author

Bill Widmer is a content marketing consultant and freelance writer. With over four years’ experience creating and promoting content, he’s learned the ins and outs of what works (and what doesn’t). He’s also a Twitter junkie – follow him @TheBillWidmer.

from Duct Tape Marketing https://www.ducttapemarketing.com/content-upgrades-to-capture-leads/

#Duct Tape Marketing

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