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RFID implants for humans have been used in a variety of contexts since their commercial inception in 2003. The VeriChip product which typically carries a 16 digit number was first marketed as an identification device in the ehealth space (e.g. for emergency response), then as an access control mechanism (e.g. security), and finally as an epayment solution (e.g. the purchase of drinks at clubs). This paper investigates the story behind RFID implants for club patronage access control and epayment. The study uses a two-fold qualitative approach in the collection of data for the single case study of the Baja Beach Club in Barcelona, Spain. A single semi-structured interview was conducted with the IT Manager who created the application at the club that utilised the human chipping product. The full length interview was conducted in Spanish, translated into English, and analysed using content analysis. The interview was supported by an exhaustive search online for documents that met the criteria "Baja Beach Club + implants". The documents returned by this search included academic articles, government policy documents, publicly accessible blogs and media commentary. Search engine results online uncovered one other dominant document type- that of popular religious literature linking implantable microchips in humans to end-time prophecy in the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament. The findings indicate that despite the successful application of RFID implants for club patrons, the complexity of the technology during trialability led to its stilted diffusion. The paper draws on Roger's (1995) diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory to describe the poor uptake of the technology for access control worldwide but points to the possibility that this is only a short-term trend. The paper also ponders on whether the slow rate of adoption of humancentric implantables will continue and what factors might need to be overcome before widespread diffusion can occur.
SECTION 1. Introduction
On the 12th of May 2004, news broke in the United States of a club in Barcelona that was implanting patrons under the skin with 'electronic credit cards' [1]. Put simply, an RFID transponder was being inserted into the body of a consenting club patron, a unique code identifying the individual, which could then be used for electronic payment and as an access control mechanism to special VIP (very important 'patron') only areas. The Baja Beach Club in Barcelona, Spain [2] was one of two clubs (both carrying the same name) to conduct the RFID implant trial. The other was the Baja Beach Club located in Rotterdam, The Netherlands [3], although there was allegedly a third Baja location implanting patrons in the United States. The Baja Beach Club was founded in 1985 by Mr. Larry S. Spatz [4]. He and two other partners developed Baja into the largest nightclub chain in the United States and later expanded into Europe, with operations in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Holland, making it at one time the largest night club chain in the world.
The organisation involved in developing the implantable chip for humans was the Verichip Corporation [5] (known as 'CHIP' on the NASDAQ), once a subsidiary of Applied Digital Solutions (now known as the Digital Angel Corporation) [6]. Marketing plans for the VeriChip began in October of 2002, just over a year after September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks [7]. One of the earliest patent applications in the area of implantables for living creatures was filed by Mejia and Casey on the passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag comprising of an integrated circuit and a unitary core (patent: 20020154065) [8]. VeriChip received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to distribute its RFID transponder as a medical device in October of 2004 [9]. A reclassification request to a device of type class II was made by the owner of the VeriChip product so there could be a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device [10]. A single adverse event report was submitted to the FDA on the 27 July 2007 pertaining to the removal of the chip after the bearer experienced discomfort at the point of implantation some hours after the initial insertion [11]. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration provided permission for the VeriChip to be fit for use as a device for electronic health monitoring, little is known about the commensurate jurisdictional authorisation gained in the European Union and South America at the time the product was rolled out for club patronage and security access control, respectively.
SECTION 2. Conceptual Framework
Of all the scenarios [12] that were developed for the implantable microchip, the following applications reached either a proof of concept or were actually tested in the marketplace: identification, emergency response, electronic health record (HER) identifiers, club patronage, VIP access, epayment, security access, physical perimeter access, prison inmate tracking and monitoring, employee access control, location services, asset tracking (including object-to-subject tracking, and subject-to-subject tracking), Alzheimer's wandering, the collection of physiological parameters remotely, glucose and other biodrug delivery devices, virus detection etc. What is interesting to ponder is why it was a part of an international club chain that was chosen as one of the first markets to trial the complex technology. The diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory [13] can help to frame such discourse and will be used here to study the potential adoption of a complex product, the implantable microchip for humans.
2.1. The Commercialisation of Complex Products
Studies in innovation will always emphasise that a technology itself is not a product; that only when a technology is linked and implemented for a given application or context does it become a fully-fledged product. This is especially true of high-technologies which are considered complex as they often bear dual capabilities as a product and a process. The implantable microchip is one such complex technology that relies on a system of component devices and processes to function. But beyond the complexity in the actual implantable "system", in terms of commercialisation neither the technology nor the markets were well-defined or understood.
In the case of the RFID transponder implant for humans, the technology has evolved since its original inception for animal identification, and the potential markets are presently evolving with it over time. There is to some degree a process of co-evolution occurring as developers and users interact [14]. Developers in the case of the implantable device must not be constrained to meaning the product developers alone but must include a number of stakeholders in the value chain, such as the manufacturers, application developers, network access providers, third party equipment providers, ehealth professionals (i.e. conducting the implantation), government agencies etc. And users are not merely people, but can include organisations that provide end-users with the opportunity to receive an implantable chip for a given application, and these can be merchants (e.g. potential issuers) or organisations where end-users hold a private interest (e.g. clubs).
In investigating the potential adoption of microchip implants for humans, forecasting on the basis of functionality or performance would have been futile. Even doing a technical comparison between alternative technologies, such as weighing up epayment solutions against several techniques like magnetic-stripe card, smart card and biometric payment solutions would not provide any foolproof evidence for predictive analysis. We have long known of the insecurities of magnetic-stripe cards for credit card payments, and yet the adoption of smart cards has been relatively slow in markets like the United States and Australia. Simply because the performance of smart cards is known to outstrip magnetic-stripe cards for credit card payments, it has not meant an immediate shift in market share of card technology types worldwide. There are therefore two parts to the puzzle- the first is certainly to look at the pros and cons of adopting one technology over another alternate technology, but then to consider how target customers might react in a behavioural sense.
In the case of the trial of microchip implants for Baja Beach club patrons in Spain and The Netherlands, what we have witnessed is the implantation of only one of numerous application types (a specific technical segmentation) against a single customer type (club patrons fitting a certain demographic) tested over several jurisdictions. In the case of the Baja Beach Club in Barcelona, Spain, not more than 100 people were implanted for VIP access and epayment, thus the technical segmentation was conducted on a very small group of users. The need to analyse the same product in several jurisdictions was to identify the similarities and differences in the user requirements. Comparing the behaviours of club patrons in Spain and The Netherlands (i.e. both European Union member states and typically consisting of patrons of the same demographic) meant that behaviours in adoption could be analysed between markets. Thus, by combining technical segmentation by application with behavioural segmentation by critical success factors, a big picture view begins to emerge about the likelihood of commercialising the implantable microchip.
An outcome of the microchipping of club patrons proved to reaffirm what is widely reported in the innovation literature; that risk is central to the buying process for complex products. This is especially true of automatic identification and location-based services which can be considered as both a product and process [15]. Consider what happened in the case of Baja Beach Club in Spain. A patron visiting the club was provided with the opportunity to have an implant to access VIP areas and conduct electronic payments. To actually buy-in to the implantable product each individual would have to evaluate the risks. Risk can be defined as "a function of a buyer's level of uncertainty and the seriousness of the consequences of the decision to purchase" [14]. For a product that can be considered completely new besides its use-case in animals or nonliving things, it can be assumed that the perceived risks as they pertained to end-users were deemed prohibitively high.
The main points surrounding the perceived risks of patrons were almost certainly associated with implanting high technology beneath the skin, the ability to be tracked and monitored or have confidential information lost, potential health exposures of implanting an integrated circuit, the reliability and performance factors, the ease of removing the device in the future, and personal philosophical, cultural or religious clashes with the symbolism imbued by an implantable for anything other than prosthetic requirements. Thus we can separate the perceived risks into two main categories- those pertaining to performance risk, and those pertaining to psychological risks. In the case of the VeriChip product application trials, both performance and psychological risks were found to be present.
2.2. Characteristics Affecting the Diffusion of Innovation
When analysing the characteristics affecting the diffusion of implantable microchips for club patrons, one needs to question the original motive behind the roll-out of the technology. Was it a market research study [16], was it a trial of a prototype, or was it adoption at the "innovators" stage of the diffusion process? One might also play the devil's advocate and ponder that it had nothing to do with any of these motivations, but rather gaining mind-share in the general public regarding the feasibility of future services based on implantable devices for health and non-health initiatives. The media had a great role to play in popularising implantable microchips, a great story bordering on the science fiction, only this time it was reality. A story being sold on the grounds that it was now a real possibility for future generations, at least, to do away with plastic cards towards a real cashless society.
Rogers' [13] five perceived attributes of innovations provide a vehicle for discussion with respect to implantables for humans, and their current rate of adoption. Relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability are the five aspects of implantable technology for humans that will be explored in the main body of this paper. These attributes should act to shed light on why the uptake of implantable solutions has been so low for access control applications. The paper will also ponder on whether the slow rate of adoption will continue and what factors might need to be overcome before widespread diffusion can occur.
SECTION 3. Methodology
The methodology used to explore the commercialisation of RFID implants for access control was that of a single case study. Exploratory research in innovation is about understanding the background context, and to crystallize problems associated with new technologies, and their prospective impact and benefit to society [17]. One of the primary aims of conducting exploratory research pertains to diagnosing a situation, beyond discovering new ideas. The case study method investigates a single situation intensively. It does not seek to generalise but to observe phenomena which might shed light on the current situation and may be used as a trigger for further research.
3.1. Case Study Method
A single case study will be presented in this paper of the Baja Beach Club located in Passeig Maritimo de la Barceloneta, Barcelona, Spain. The case will focus on the implementation of microchip implants for patrons of a single Club, despite that there were several other clubs in the chain that also deployed similar RFID-implant systems. The Baja Beach Club in Barcelona, was that club which received by far the greatest amount of attention by the western media, between 2004 and 2008. It should be noted that the premises is now under new management and the implant scheme has been discontinued.
The data collected for the case study was provided by a single semi-structured interview and exhaustive online document collection. The data was analysed using content analysis software and presented in a narrative form. Rogers' five perceived attributes of innovation were used to frame the findings of the study.
3.2. Semi-structured Interview
The semi-structured interview was conducted with the former employee of Baja Beach Club who was responsible for the actual implementation of the RFID implant system at the Barcelona club. The interviewee had the role of Information Technology Manager, was a Spanish citizen, a male aged 31 years of age at the time of the interview, and who did not possess tertiary level qualifications. The young male was a self-taught web designer, clearly talented and self-assured of his skills, and had other business interests besides working at the Club. The semi-structured interview took place in Barcelona City, on the 4th of June, 2009, and took 45 minutes to complete during the interviewees lunch hour. A translator was present, as the interviewee had only a working knowledge of English. The interview mainly focused on gathering facts about the Baja Beach Club establishment [18]. Furthermore, the interview aimed at learning about people's beliefs and perspectives relating to the voluntary implantation of patrons at Baja Beach Club and the specifics of the creation, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of the RFID-based system. There were also questions pertaining to feelings and motivations behind the roll-out of the application, and management perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages, risks and benefits of the system to patrons and Club owners. The broad themes addressed can be seen in Figure 1. The interview was transcribed and translated by a final year American undergraduate information technology student who held a minor in Spanish from Indiana University.
3.3. Documentary Online Secondary Data
The online documentation search was conducted using an iterative process [19]. The main search used to gather the greatest number of relevant documents was "Baja Beach Club + implants" which returned over 7,000 individual results using the Google Search Engine. Of these total documents, only 2% were considered to fall into the following categories: academic or conference paper or presentation, industry/trade news or magazine, government policy and position papers, traditional online news media. In the second stage of the online search process, documents pertaining to a social, religious, philosophical or cultural basis were drawn from the results, yielding a significant portion of hit results. It must be emphasised that there was a great deal of duplication of online documentation, cross-posted to blogs for instance. Duplicates were removed and not included in the content analysis so that bias was not introduced in the sample size. The results of the documentation pertaining to the social context within which RFID implants are perceived is in no way meant to be representative of the consensus on the applicability of such systems for non-medical purposes. However, we can point to the issues raised by authors of such materials, as being important, albeit to one or more sub-groups.
SECTION 4. The Case of Baja Beach Club in Spain
4.1. Chipping Club Patrons
The Baja Beach Club implementation of the radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder acted to allow club patrons to pay for items purchased with a 'swipe' of their hand (epayment solution), and also to allow implantees to access Very Important Persons (VIP) zones within the club. The implant service for patrons was launched in August 2004 with only 12 persons adopting the solution by year-end [20], and implantation occurring on Tuesday evenings. Although widely cited in the secondary online data that becoming a VIP patron by being implanted cost about 100 euro dollars, the IT manager stated in the interview that participants in the service were not charged to be implanted, given they would often spend a great deal of money at the Club anyway and so charging extra for implantation hardly made sense.
The decision to deploy RFID transponder implants to patrons came from the young manager of the Club, Mr Conrad Chase, who had previously visited the United States and heard about the use-case of implants in the medical field, especially for the elderly and sick (mainly for identification purposes). He considered the possibility of implanting club patrons in Spain and believed the idea would be of commercial value, even if all it did was to generate discussion via word-of-mouth between patrons and tourists to the area, thus creating an aura around the brand, and acting to generate revenue by drawing large crowds. The implants were also used by staff at the Club to provide access control to various sections of the Club, thus ensuring additional security and the ability to do away with keys. A picture of the refurbished establishment can be found in Figures 2–3.
SECTION 5. Results
5.1. Relative Advantage
According to Rogers, "[r]elative advantage is the degree to which an innovation is perceived as being better than the idea it supersedes" [13]. Certainly for the product and application developers of the human implantable microchip, the technology superseded credit cards and other paper-based or biometric-based access control mechanisms to VIP zones. In terms of relative advantage with respect to economic terms, it was perceived by management initially that there would be a saving in time and effort to grant access to VIP patrons in particular zones. It was also noted that the ease of using the device to pay for purchases at the Club was so effortless, that it might indeed act to an increase in sales as no physical cash in the form of notes or coins was actually being exchanged. However, this also meant that by offering an implant-only epayment solution that the solution had to be as ubiquitous as normal credit or electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS) facilities on the premises. So initial start up costs, besides the existing cash register were a reader to read the RFID implant, and a computer that could run the epayment application at each point of sale (POS), along with specialist training to staff to use the equipment.
Speaking in terms of relative advantage with respect to non-economic factors, e.g. social factors, the implant solution was supposed to offer implantee patrons an unrivalled convenience when compared to any other club in Barcelona. The convenience would come from not having the requirement to carry cash or credit on oneself or a physical purse. It also meant that clothing worn to the club did not need to have pockets. This was perceived to be of greater benefit to females whose apparel generally is not fitted with secure deep pockets for aesthetic reasons. It also meant that patrons enjoying the summertime on the beach till late, could walk into the club without having to worry about bags being stolen or otherwise. It is not uncommon to find club patrons today who have attached valuable items such as passports or driver's license and credit cards in secret pockets in the inner lining of garments or in a sentinel jacket that is connected to the person via a necklace.
The social prestige of being an implantee was obvious when the IT manager noted: "[o]ur implanted patrons would have access to special VIP areas, and when they walked into the club, their name would automatically flash up on a big screen and a loud beep could be heard echoing throughout the club… the reaction by the other clubbers was always 'Oh, look, so and so is here and he is bearing an implant in his body', or 'Ah, here comes that person again, he is special'. It was quite interesting to sit back and watch peoples' reactions… it was at times quite amusing really … but the implantee patrons, really loved the extra attention, and people would instantly go up to them and talk to them and strike a conversation about anything… they were no longer anonymous, but were very approachable because people knew their name." Obvious from this excerpt is that there was a fair bit of the 'cool factor' involved in this type of prestige. The IT Manager believed it brought these VIP patrons 'instant' reward, in terms of prestige. He noted: "[t]hey were different and there was an attraction in that… our VIP patrons were pretty big spenders, they had a sizeable budget… so if your name flashed up on the screen, pretty much, people knew you were quite wealthy."
But it should be noted that relative advantage indicates not only the benefits but the costs resulting from the adoption of an innovation. While the humancentric RFID application did not take long to design, implement, test and operate, i.e., not more than three months in total, the costs of operating a dual epayment solution was not insignificant, when one considered that it took several persons with different skill-sets to register and enroll an individual patron onto the RFID-based system. About the only limitation that the IT manager noted of the club patron implant identification system "was that the enrolment process was very messy and required all these people to come together so that just one patron could be registered. It was … very disruptive to add a new patron to the program. You needed a doctor or nurse, you needed a Club employee who had been trained in the process of registration (and most of the time it was me needing to be available to do the data entry and make sure it was all working as it should be), you needed the patron to make sure they wanted to participate in the trial, and that some kind of light anesthetic would be applied so the person would not feel any pain… It is just not viable as a business process, as there are too many costs involved." Generally, the greater the perceived advantage of using the innovation, the faster the rate of its adoption [21].
5.2. Compatability
When a company launches a new product it does so with the knowledge that in some markets it will be more compatible than others; that is, ultimately there will be a higher penetration of a given innovation in some markets before others. Compatability is about the degree to which an innovation is perceived to match the existing values, past experiences, and needs of potential adopters [13]. In the case of microchip implants for humans for access control, the perception is of a less compatible and more uncertain innovation. And perhaps here is the reason, why several different market locations were strategically tested in Europe using implantable microchips. The uptake of the implantable solution at the Baja Beach Club in Spain suggests that the product was incompatible with the sociocultural values and beliefs of the Spanish consumers (figure 4).
While "[y]oung people love new technology" as echoed by the IT Manager, the whole implantable product for humans seems to have ignored a simple rule in the rate of adoption of a new innovation, that if the technology is not compatible with sociocultural value and beliefs it will almost certainly fail. In the case of the microchip implant, a plethora of online secondary data resources indicate a belief that the implant is somehow linked to the fulfillment of prophecy in the Book of Revelation. Figure 4 shows the "beast" concept which is highlighted with direct allusion to chapter 13 verses 16–18 where the charagma is described, a mark on the right hand or forehead. While the authors do not claim for a moment that this type of endtime theology is embraced by all Christian groups, there is a part of the broader community that is opposed to a foreign object being implanted into the body, especially for access control or payment of any kind.
There is a second type of movement that is identified in the secondary online data sources which unlike the stereotyped "religious fundamentalists", often are considered as either conspiracy theorists or engaging with an underground rebellious resistance movement such as anti-government revolts to globalization (e.g. against the G8). There is a complex mesh of voices in this subgroup-some pertain to the upkeeping of human rights, others to the enactment of legislation to guard against enforced chipping of humans, and still others very suspicious of the role the government is playing in surveillance of its citizens. At the heart of the compatability problem is the struggle of people to ensure their information remains private and in countering the power-control issue evident in relations between citizens and their state. If these compatability issues are to subside over time to enable the adoption of RFID implants for humans in a variety of applications (not just club patronage), then it will take "time", it will depend on context, market and "place", and for the public to become more educated on the symbolic and real "meaning" of the "identification number". For now at least, the fine print is missing and the details are absent on how the technology may become an enabler or disabler. The question the content analysis raises, is indeed, how an implant ID used for a given application, may be misused into the future, and what the implications are for all concerned, especially for long-term tracking and access to services of all kinds.
Figure 4 Content Analysis of Internet-blogging about Baja and the RFID implant service directly describing issues pertaining to socialcultural values.
Given that an average uptake of the implantable microchip at Baja Beach Club Spain, amounted to only 22 patrons per annum on average, it is the opinion of the authors that the rate of adoption was affected by not only sociocultural values but also a mismatch of product to client needs, and even as a result of a more effective previously introduced club innovation for epayment and access control such as biometrics. It is generally perceived in the literature that compatibility with existing values and norms is of far greater importance than compatibility with existing practices [22]. Existing practices can be changed through a process of mutual adaptation, but values and norms are deeply engrained in the individual psyche and these are often intentionally applied in the decision-making process whether they are of a social, religious, cultural or philosophical nature [23].
5.3. Complexity
Of all the attributes of innovations, complexity perhaps is the simplest to comprehend. Complexity is the degree to which an innovation is considered to be difficult to understand or use in a relative sense. For example, a technology such as a wooden table can be considered a simple innovation when compared to an embedded beneath-the-skin advanced technology such as radio-frequency identification transponder implants. Figure 4 depicts how every-day people perceive implant systems as complex; and how the Baja Beach Club implementation of the implantable product was perceived by global members of the online community. The main concepts titled, "RFID" and "chip" with the dense number of terms surrounding them, show the perception of the required components by members of the online community with respect to epayment and access control system based on implantable devices. The online community refers to "tags", "technology", "devices", "applications", "products", "security", "electronic", "chips", "computer", "RFID", "radio" and "reads".
Despite the obvious complexity, when asked whether or not the solution at Baja Beach Club required a major integration effort, the reply from the IT Manager was: "[n]ot at all… it was a small customized system that I built. I did not rely on anything more than the RFID device, the readers, the antennas, a database to store the information collected, and the program I built to register patrons on the system and to enable transactions to be processed in real-time." An example of the epayment interface built by the IT Manager is presented in Figure 5. On the left is a picture showing a computer sitting on a stand near a VIP cordoned off area with a screen shot of the application, and on the right is a captured screen shot conveying how someone purporting to have a Baja Beach club implant was not given access to the VIP zone, as his read attempt was negative and was indicated by the words "NOT OKAY" in the application. Additional complexity was increasingly added to the system as in 2006 Baja Beach Club recruited a third party organization to assist in the target marketing of club patrons [24].
Despite the IT Manager's elucidations about the simplistic nature of the advanced technology, the matter has more to do with understanding how the system works and what this means for the individual considering implantation. While technologies such as automatic teller machines (ATMs) allow people to understand the generic "process" of withdrawing funds for example, without having the need to know what happens in the back-end systems, implantable solutions are yet another leap into the unknown. Because the component becomes a part of the patron's body, the individual is no longer just "trusting" that the system will work, they most likely want to know more details, in the sense of what it means in the end-to-end process taking place, and what it means for them as a living being. The health domain is somewhat different, as patients requiring a heart pacemaker for instance, often do not have a choice regarding implantation; they just want the pacemaker to work because it means they have a chance at surviving. But when there are choices and options and alternatives, one is a little more skeptical about implanting technologies into a completely healthy body.
Technical factors usually contribute to an innovation's complexity- such as how is the implant injected, how can it be maintained, and how can it be removed. Indeed when asked whether any of the 100 VIP patron implantees had requested the removal of the implantable microchip, the IT Manager replied: "No, they have not… it is just sitting in their body, it cannot do them any harm." However, what if even one club patron had asked to remove the chip, what then, and how would this be achieved, and at whose expense? Or what if the RFID implantable transponder had been rendered dysfunctional, what then, simply implant the patron with a second transponder into the same location? The absence of standards only acts to increase complexity.
Complexity is present in almost all high technologies on the very basis that a great number of these have the dual role of product and process. So whether one talks about actual components of an implantable system such as the one deployed at Baja Beach or the actual processes involved with usage-related technical issues over the longer term, the complexity is ever-present. No matter the kind of advanced technology which is trying to be introduced, if it has anything to do with computing, is wireless, and implantable, and data is stored remotely, then it will come adorned with numerous upfront barriers in any vertical sector or market in which it is deployed.
5.4. Trialability
The ever increasing pace of change has had an impact on the number of products that are trialed before commercial diffusion takes place. Trialability is the degree to which an innovation may be tested for a limited duration. This can be a valuable process and time for an innovation, as developers seek to interact with users, and learn from them about their needs, and to identify dysfunctional qualities in the product. The trend in the high-tech space today is toward limited initial deployment, and then for changes to product design to be based on early feedback provided by the first adopters who are often influential leaders in social networks. This is notable, particularly in the luggable and wearable computing space. For users it is a type of learning-by-doing which will hopefully extend to buy-in later. It should be noted also, that trialability may act to reduce the rate of adoption [21], if the line between desirable and undesirable consequences of the innovation cannot be distinguished.
One of the fundamental changes that occurred in implanting patrons at Baja Beach was the physical bodily location where the implant was to reside. At first, the directive by the company supplying the implantable solution was to implant in the upper arm of the individual but this approach was destined to failure based on early patron feedback to do with usability of the system. The IT Manager stated: "…to be honest we realized this [the upper arm] was not the most convenient location and so some people had it implanted on the inside of their wrist. This is the site that gives the individual maximum mobility and is user friendly. We injected so far as the implant could lodge itself in the muscle of the person and would not go moving around inside the body to render the program useless." These are the kind of issues that extensive trials would have shown, but given the solution went straight to market, the issuers of the implant had to respond to patron sentiment 'on the fly'.
It must also be underscored, that "trialability" with particular types of implantable solutions are quite difficult if left in the body for a certain period exceeding 3 months. In actual fact, volunteering to be a part of a trial might mean you are a life-long carrier of an implantable device, even if it is dormant, unless extraction via an operation is possible. When the IT Manager was asked about the fact that the program was now discontinued under new management, and whether the implants in the VIP patrons were just lying their dormant, he responded: "Yes they are dormant and not only that, but they are also quite useless now. Even if someone was to chop off someone's arm to use the ID device, they could not get far with it… I have changed all the ID entry access codes now- it was very simple." It was clear by this remark that the IT Manager was more concerned about the security at the new establishment, then the implications of the dormant device in the human being. This is perhaps somewhat analogous to the gathering of junk in space after many missions, except unlike space, the body is a great deal more limited.
5.5. Observability
Observability pertains to how well an innovation is received, or communicated to others. In some cases it is easy to observe an innovation but in other cases it is difficult. In computing the distinction between computer hardware versus software programs can be made. Generally the less observable an innovation is, the slower the rate of adoption. Where the product is less observable, as in the case of microchip implants that are inserted beneath-the-skin, peers who have already inserted an implant can act to propel its uptake by providing "safety credibility" [21]. This was indeed the strategy of the chief executive officer of the VeriChip Corporation, Mr Scott Silverman, who not long after the official approval of the VeriChip by the Food and Drug Administration, pronounced he was bearing a chip. Potential adopters will often seek the advice of those who have lived and breathed the technology to derive the full story about the positive and negative effects of the device.
It was never the intention of the owner of Baja Beach Club Spain to have a high penetration of VIP implantees, as that would simply render the VIP status useless and place too many demands on the organization in terms of employee tasks. Rather, the Club wanted to use the implants as a means to stimulate discussion about the club, and in fact, it was very successful in executing that strategy. Guide books, even popular ones like Lonely Planet, noted the implant application, wrote about it, and encouraged travelers and citizens of Spain, to go and find out first-hand what all the fuss was about. The IT Manager revealed that it "was all about the novelty…. In short, it was a marketing ploy, and it actually worked well. We strongly believed that despite the high-tech application, it was good old traditional word of mouth that would drive people to come and participate in the clubbing experience."
Observability has a great deal to do with how policy forms around the technique- high visibility is critical for exposure, but it does not always guarantee uptake. In some cases, too much exposure can be counter-productive to the main aim of the issuing party, especially where government policy for instance, has not yet even considered what its stance is on a certain device and respective applications it enables. The deployment of the implantable microchip at the Baja Beach Club in both Spain and The Netherlands in 2004, placed pressure for an Opinion to be released by the European Union in 2005 [25]. The assumption was, that in other markets like Asia, Africa, or North America there would have been too much of a revolt against the technology (e.g. the experience of CASPIAN [26]), while Europe was seen as a larger and also more complex market with a different governance structure, perhaps more easily overcome.
SECTION 6. Findings
As technology moves faster than the enactment of policy and legislation, it is innovation that is now driving new levels of technology acceptance. The bombardment of the diffusion of new innovations, day after day, at an exponential growth rate, has meant that consumers' expectations and their ability to adapt to changes in the marketplace have made them more resilient and to some extent more akin to the trialability of new ideas. But with the onslaught of new inventions, also comes the increasing importance of how these technologies can be used, beyond their original scope of design. It is this aspect, that even in the reports on implants and nanotechnology coming from sober sources of secondary data (figure 6), that the concerns of people vested with the direction of a state's policy, legislation, law enforcement, bio-ethical and health opinions, are similar to those who are generally labeled as "conspiracy theorists" or "religious fundamentalists" or "human rights activists" or "anti-globalisation revolutionaries". The only differentiator in the implantables space, is that the so called "conspiracy theorist" or "religious fundamentalist" will reach for sources of evidence in posing their arguments in completely different domains, than those of the government policymaker or law reform commission or otherwise.
Despite the inspiration for the argument that different groups are putting forward regarding why people should or should not be implanted for commercial applications, it is important to bring diverse groups of people together to debate and discuss what the possibilities might herald, what they might mean today and well into the future. Ignoring the various voices, or dismissing them as outright nonsense, can work to introduce new technologies without the commensurate controls or safeguards in place. Discussions about human rights, liability and loss, and the potential for an invasion of privacy and breakdown of trust between organizations and citizens or insurmountable control of governments over citizens will have major repercussions well into the future.
We cannot hold to the attitude as possessed by the former IT Manager of the Baja Beach Club in Spain, who when asked repeatedly about the risks replied: "No. Frankly I can only see positive benefits. There are no negatives." However, this kind of thinking does not allow for the critical assessment of the social implications- both intended and unintended consequences- of emerging technologies on society. For example, what might such changes mean for the way people live and work and interact with one another? Are there potential detrimental effects for individuals who bear high tech devices? The current development process is for organizations to patent, then to clinically test if required, and then to deploy. Commercialisation more than ever has become a buzz term- if you can conceive, then you can receive the rewards, presumably some of this in a monetary form. But the successful filing of a patent does not imply that the technology can be deployed without further approval. Consider the patent for a system and method to manufacture a swallowable sensor device of April 2009 [27]. One need only ponder for a moment on what kinds of issues might arise with a sensor device that finds itself in the hands of the wrong kind of doctor.
The risks are present, and words like "consent" and "choice" and "opting-out" have almost become synonymous with politically correct statements. At least for now, we can speak about options and not mere compliance or acknowledgement of reception of identity devices in differing contexts. And if there was anything of magnitude to gain from the case of the Baja Beach Club in Spain, it was that patrons were given an option. The Club did not say, "be chipped or find another club", but who knows how far off this kind of either/or scenario might actually be! We can already see the advent of biometrics in club patronage across Australia. The IT Manager affirmed the importance of consent- "if people want it they can adopt it, if they don't want it, then that's that. The decision must be with the consumer and not with the system creator. We never told anyone at the club- look, now you are under our patronage you must take this technology. No, never. And for the patrons, I must stress again, it was always up to them."
On reflecting on worldwide trials, the IT Manager stated that while the trials were not large scale there were a lot of people looking at the potential. He said: "I always like to see where things are at in this space, and often look for information related to RFID to note the developments. While the vast majority of trials have only had very few people in them, nevertheless they have tested the concept works…" As for the IT Manager he hopes for a day in which he does not have to carry cards at all- "when everything is stored on centralized databases, and that my ID will be an implant so I do not have to carry around cumbersome wallets. I would feel very relieved as a consumer if all this would happen. I just want to be free of the extras that are a nuisance." Privacy experts would well warn about the perils of maintaining a false sense of "freedom", "security", and "justice" based around convenience solutions which look like they are making life easier but instead encroaching on our human rights.
SECTION 7. Conclusion
For now at least, it is the attribute gap, the discrepancy between a potential user's perception of an item of knowledge and how the potential user prefers to perceive that attribute that is the problem in the rate of adoption of human implantable technologies for epayment and access control applications. This exploratory research aimed to present a single case study of the Baja Beach Club in Spain, supported by a single interview with the IT Manager of the club who implemented the implantable solution, and also secondary online data used to support evidence presented. The paper hopes to have conveyed the need to conduct pre-tests with all implantable solutions that are being patented so that the value of the technologies can be enhanced and so that adequate safeguards can be introduced in a timely manner. Another contribution of the paper was in raising awareness of the commercial applications that are sporadically becoming available through the use of information and communication technology (ICT) humancentric implantables.
The authors would like to extend their appreciation to the former IT Manager of the Baja Beach Club, Mr Serafin Vilaplana for the opportunity to conduct a full length interview, and to Ms Sara Kepa from Indiana University who meticulously translated the original interview transcript.
1. K. Maney, "Get chipped then charge without plastic — you are the card", USA Today.com I Money, May 2004.
2. 2004.
3. October 2004.
4. L. S. Spatz, About the Founder, December 2004.
5. About Us VeriChip, 2009.
6. Safeguarding the World Digital Angel: About Us, 2009.
7. "Inspections Compliance Enforcement and Criminal Investigations Warning Letter: to Mr. Richard J. Sullivan Chief Executive Officer", Food and Drug Administration, November 2002.
8. E. Mejia, S. Casey, Passive integrated transponder tag with unitary antenna core, October 2002.
9. "Medical Devices; General Hospital and Personal Use Devices", Classification of Implantable Radiofrequency Transponder System for Patient Identification and Health Information Food and Drug Administration, October 2004.
10. G. Gantt, "Implantable Radiofrequency Transponder System for Patient Identification and Health Information", Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff Class II Special Controls Guidance Document, December 2004.
11. "VeriChip Corporation VeriMed Patient Identificator VeriChip Implant", FDA: MAUDE Adverse Event Report, July 2007.
12. J. Cagan, C. M. Vogel, Creating Breakthrough Products: Innovation from Product Planning to Program Approval, New Jersey:Prentice Hall, 2002.
13. E. M. Rogers, Diffusion of Innovations, New York:The Free Press, 1995.
14. J. Tidd, J. Bessant, K. Pavitt, Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological Market and Organisational Change, Brisbane:John Wiley and Sons, 2001.
15. K. Michael, M. G. Michael, Innovative Automatic Identification and Location-Based Services: from Bar Codes to Chip Implants, Hershey: IGI Reference, 2009.
16. B. von Stamm, Managing Innovation Design and Creativity, London:John Wiley, 2003.
17. W. G. Zikmund, Business Research Methods, Australia:Thomson, 2003.
18. P. D. Leedy, J. E. Ormrod, Practical Research: Planning and Design, Pearson, 2005.
19 .M. Saunders, P. Lewis, A. Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, Prentice Hall, 2007.
20. Harper's Index, 2004.
21. J. Tidd, J. Bessant, Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological Market and Organisational Change, Sussex:John Wiley and Sons, 2009.
22. D. Leonard-Barton, D. K. Sinha, "Developer-user interaction and user satisfaction in internal technology transfer", Academy of Management Journal, vol. 36, pp. 1125-39, 1993.
23. J. M. Boyle, D. Novak, P. A. Singer, A. M. Viens, "Introduction to Religious and Cultural Perspectives in Bioethics" in The Cambridge Textbook of Bioethics, Cambridge:, pp. 379-81, 2008.
24. The glamorous night in the Paseo Marítimo in Barcelona con SITSMS, November 2006.
25. S. Rodotà, R. Capurro, "Ethical Aspects of ICT Implants in the Human Body", Opinion of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies to the European Commission, March 2005.
26. K. Albrecht, "Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering", CASPIAN, 2004.
27. M. R. Arneson, W. R. Bandy, R. A. Davenport, K. J. Powell, M. C. Sloan, System and Method for Manufacturing a Swallowable Sensor Device, April 2009.
Keywords: Radiofrequency identification, Implants, Access control, Humans, Books, Data security, Government,Blogs, Search engines, Joining processes, radiofrequency identification, authorisation, electronic money, financial data processing, innovation management, diffusion of innovation theory, RFID implants, access control, epayments, Baja Beach Club, Barcelona, VeriChip, human chipping, implantable microchips
Citation: Katina Michael, M. G. Michael, "The diffusion of RFID implants for access control and epayments: A case study on Baja Beach Club in Barcelona", 2010 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS), Date of Conference: 7-9 June 2010, Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 23 July 2010. DOI: 10.1109/ISTAS.2010.5514631

subset: commoncrawl


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Endless sunshine. That's what the weather forecasted for the day of Dusty's and Ella's photo shoot. However, come that afternoon, heavy cloud cover loomed above our heads and rain showers threatened to put a stop to our session. Luckily, the showers remained at bay and we got to squeeze in a dry afternoon with these two Shelties.
Dusty was the main focus of this session because his grandfather just thinks the world of him and his
beautiful handsome coloring. Dusty is a sable merle - a pretty rare combination. I must say that I agree with Dusty's grandfather. He sure is a sight for sore eyes.
We also got some images of Ella, a tri-color little lady and Dusty's cousin. She is slightly disabled as she has 4 legs but only 3 paws. They both were a pleasure to work with and we had a blast in their backyard...
Ella has the most endearing eyes :) Dusty takes his play time seriously!I love Dusty's hair blowing in the wind. He is just so gorgeous!Ella is so inquisitive and loves to keep watch over the backyard. Squirrels and ducks better beware!After hanging out in the backyard, Dusty headed off to Jetton Park - a great place for doggy pics! It actually started to rain on our way over but stopped just as we pulled into the park. Yay! Dusty started off with some posing...But quickly went into play mode. I just love the way his hair flows as he jumps around!And back to posing...Dusty's grandfather didn't want to be in any of the pics, but I just love this one. Dusty loves him so much and follows him everywhere!Lastly, we headed over to the beach area for some good stick throwing - one of Dusty's favorite things...Lovin' the sandy nose!
Thank you, Dusty and Ella, for a DRY and fun session!


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Please be sure to warm up before all exercise. This is an ADVANCED YOGA SERIES. Practice with mindfulness, the series is meant for students already doing yoga daily.
The following set of asanas is referred to as the Rishikesh Series in the very good manual, Yoga Self Taught by Andre Lysebeth (1971). It is an ideal way to begin your day and end your evening. "Subject to the most precise ruling, each pose completes or accentuates the previous one". Do them in order, and feel refreshed after only 30 minutes of enjoyable yoga, including the Cobra, Seated Twist and Headstand. It was taught by Swami Sivananda at his ashram in Rishikesh, on the Ganges River.
We begin with an inverted posture, Sarvangasana, the Shoulderstand. This will get the blood pumping.
The Halasana, the Plough, increases compression on the neck and stretches the spinal column. Here we massage the stomach and release the blocked ribs.
In the counter posture, Matsyanasana, the Fish pose, the cervicals of the neck are squeezed instead of stretched, ultimately leading to better thoracic breathing.
From the sitting position, in the Paschimottanasana, or Forward Bend, we complete the plough by bending the spinal column without compressing the nape of the neck.
Down onto the stomach, we find the Bhujanasana, Cobra pose, to be the third dynamic pose in a row. There is both the compressing of the stomach and the stretching of it. Elongate the neck for better release of the whole spine.
Shalabhasana, the Locust, complements cobra by contracting the lower portion of the torso. Keep the glutes relaxed.
Next is another back bend. Dhanurasana, the Bow pose, which eccentuates the previous stretches to the dorsal muscles. Be sure the big toes point together.
Rising up to sitting, from here we move into the ever important twist. Ardha-Matsyendrasana corrects any intensification of spinal curvatures that may result from successive bending.
Onward to the Sirsasana, or Headstand, crown-jewel of yoga postures.
The series starts and ends with inverted postures. Upon descending from the headstand, lean onto your thumbs, which are placed at the Third Eye… hooked into the brow ridge, and let the full weight of your head be supported.
When the asanas have been completed engage the Uddiyana Bhanda, abdominal squeeze, followed by a advanced breathing (such as the Nadi Shodhana). Culminate with sitting meditation.
Take at least 5 minutes for end relaxation, or Savasana. Scan your body for tension. Release with gratitude.
The asanas of the Rishikesh Series are:
- Sarvangasana
- Halasana
- Matsyasana
- Paschimottanasana
- Bhujangasana
- Shalabhasana
- Dhanurasana
- Ardha-matsyendrasana
- Sirsasana
- Uddiyana Bhanda
- Breathing Meditation
- Savasana
Filed under: Articles & Posts, Postures, Routines | Leave a comment »


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Millions of U.S. citizens don't have dental insurance. Usually, even when they do have coverage, it's still not enough. At the same time, the cost of treatment has increased significantly over the last few years, making it much harder for the average person to take advantage of professional dental services.
Our Tijuana dental clinic was born out of a passion and commitment to provide excellent dental care at affordable prices, particularly to those living in the United States. We specialize in Dental Tourism in Mexico, and have some of the best dentists in Tijuana.
Our core values center around serving the needs of our patients, and we so appreciate their commendations of what we do for them. Most of our patients, after receiving the excellent attention of our Mexico dentists, return regularly to our Tijuana dental clinic, and have recommended us to all of their friends and family.
For your convenience, we now have two locations: Zona Río Clinic & Border Clinic.


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|Master's Program
* The following items must be submitted in order to apply. (Additional details can be found by clicking on the item.)
* All documents should be in English. (If the original documents are not in English, then, notarized translations must also be submitted. Letters of Recommendation may be submitted in Korean.)
* Applicants are advised to compile all documents and mail them in one complete application package to Yonsei GSIS. Documents mailed separately by universities or those writing a recommendation may increase the time required to process the application and delay the results. Applicants can expect to wait 4-8 weeks before a decision has been made.
|① Complete the GSIS Online Application. Be sure to click "submit" once you are finished.
|② Official Transcripts of All Undergraduate Work (in a sealed and signed envelope).
|③ One Photocopy of Bachelor's Degree
|④ TOEFL or IELTS or TOEIC score (the original document) if high school and undergraduate education was not in English.
|⑤ Two Letters of Recommendation from Professors or Supervisors (in sealed and signed envelopes)
|⑥ Application Fee of USD 80 or KRW 80,000
|⑦ Verification of Deposit (VOD) of the Person Responsible for Student's Expenses.
⑧ Copy of applicant's Passport information page (non-expired)
⑨ Copy of both parents' Passports information page (non-expired). If a parent is deceased, please submit a copy of a death certificate.
⑩ Two passport-sized photos (plain background)
⑪ Copy of Korean Alien Registration Card 주민등록증 (for applicants who resided in Korea at the time of application, and have been issues an ARC by the Korean Immigration Office.
⑫ Education Record Request Form (click to download)
|*Chinese Students need to additionally submit the 4 items below.
|① Resume (Please detail your work and volunteer experience after graduation)
|② Copy of National ID Card (居民身分證 寫本)
|③ Copy of Household Register ( 居民戶口簿 寫本, one that shows ALL of your family members)
|④ Certificate of Employment (If you had worked before or are currently working)
|Doctoral Program (in addition to all the documents listed above)
|① Official Transcripts of All Graduate Work (sealed and signed / doctoral program applicants only)
|② One Photocopy of Master's Degree (doctoral program applicants only)
|③ A Research Proposal
|④ A Writing Sample (term papers or Master's thesis of at least 40 pages)
|⑤ Official GRE scores (optional)
|*NOTE1: We highly recommend students applying for the doctoral program to consult with the Chair Professor of the program they are interested in before making any formal application. In light of the highly selective nature of the selection process and the limited number of candidates which can be supported at any one time, this will ensure that the applicant and GSIS faculty each have a clear understanding of the applicant's research plans and the faculty's respective compatibility with those goals.


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Ebay. It is the mother. The life giver. The font of greatness.
At least I think so.
Today I straddle the line between insanity and genius. You may decide I have jumped the shark, what with my bad iphone picture posts and now this. I say you may be right. I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for. Turn out the light...
Don't try to save me.
So the other day I was cruising one of my favorite antique/thrift shops Uncommon Objects and this peeped out from behind the rabble, and by rabble I mean piles of lampshade forms, taxidermied hooves and dusty crocheted blankets. Who buys that crap? Anyway, obviously it caught my eye because it's NEON and AWESOME. And it was only $49.
For some reason (poverty) I didn't buy it and I've been sad ever since. Enter ebay. Same poster, $19.
They had this one, too.
Now I am kind of a snob about art. I try to only buy original stuff, but I've been known to buy vintage posters now and then. I really like how heavy and good these looked in person. Nice paper stock, tight line quality, super saturated colors.
These are so crazy... I imagine them in an all white room with fantastic molding. Here and here.
I am obsessed with this, but it's $120. Still cheap, but not dirt cheap. It would look fabulous in my entry way, though.
I don't know. I just couldn't help myself. I love cats.
This is would shine like a star (duh) in a light cool colored room.
Hand screened. Big. Well under $100. Amazing colors.
There are a lot of ridiculous tweety bird penis booby posters out there, I can't lie. But there are some real gems, too.
If you buy one, please skip the blacklight unless you are 19 and need some ambiance to go with your acid and Meat Beat Manifesto.
Not that I would know anything about all that.
In other news, sorry I haven't posted any big awesome house tours or rug buying guides yet. The babes have been so sick it's dumb and I have to type most of my posts one handed.
Hopefully on to bigger and better things next week.
Until then,
Peace. Love. Other trippy stuff.


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Simply Divine is a full service design company that carefully curates beautiful events and celebrations with menus to dazzle the most discerning palates. We create an unforgettable event experience through our innovative culinary approach that just happens to be Kosher.
People Love Simply Divine
People Love Simply Divine
Our client list includes the most recognized names in New York City. Here are just a few we've worked with, not to mention the private clients we serve.
Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Great Performances
Creative Edge
The Natan Fund
Craft New York
Patina Group
The 92nd Street Y
Jewish Week
UJA Federation NY
The Bronfman Foundation
Young & Rubicam
Marcey Brownstein Catering
NYU Medical Center
Canard, Inc.
New Israel Fund
Israel Policy Forum
JCC in Manhattan
We also work with venues such as...
Museum of the City of New York
Angle Orensanz Foundation
Metropolitan Pavillion
Manhattan Penthouse
Metropolitan Club
The Pierre Hotel
Helmsley Palace
TriBeCa Rooftops
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
Time Warner Building
The Essex House
JCC in Manhattan
The Jewish Museum
The Green Building
26 Bridge
DUMBO Loft
Council on Foreign Relations
The Picnic House (Prospect Park)
The Lotos Club
Harmonie Club
Studio 450
Faculty House (Columbia University)
Bronx Botanical Gardens
501 Union
My husband and I planned a very intimate party to celebrate our 30 year anniversary with 30 of our closest friends in the city. I felt completely unprepared, but Judy is an absolutely a live saver. She and her team were able to understand the feeling I wanted to have that night, and draw up a design concept that was so us. Oh and the food! Our friends are still talking about it.
— Lisa G., Livingston, NJ
Judy Marlow and her team were able to execute three very detailed events for my family and I. They make you feel heard, and have an amazing ability to tie themes throughout multiple events, which is so incredibly challenging.
— Marcy T., Brooklyn, NY
— Lauren K., Manhattan, NY
When you think about your kosher catering experiences, there is a lot to be forgotten, but WOW, Simply Divine is in a category of it's own!! From the food you taste to the beauty you see, a Simply Divine event is something to be remembered.
— Misha.L., Brooklyn, NY
I never knew my wedding could be so magical. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
— Celine.M., Manhattan, NY
Our family has grown up with Simply Divine and the memories they created will last a lifetime. Judy Marlow and her staff catered and designed our baby naming, our daughter's Bat Mitzvah and a few years ago, her wedding.
My husband and I are not Jewish, don't keep kosher, and have been really lucky to experience some amazing food in amazing places. When we were looking for a caterer for our wedding in the Prospect Park Picnic House, they told us we had to use one from their list of approved caterers. We spoke to ALL of them. We ended up going with Judy Marlow and her crew at Simply Divine and they were all amazing!
She recognizes great people and keeps them on her crew. Our event manager was on point, responsive, and wonderful!! Our chefs, bartenders, and servers knew their business and even their sanitation staff were super friendly and happy for us.
Our top 3 reasons we went with Simply Divine:
- Budgeting: Judy worked with us on editing the menu and to help us make financial choices
- Plating: Her plating is really gorgeous and different and I WANTED them so much for our wedding.
- Staff: She hires nice and competent people. All the kitchen crew we interacted with during our tasting were friendly and genuinely seemed happy to see us (every other tasting we did, we maybe got to meet 1 or 2 people who barely made eye contact with us and scurried away asap to leave us with the pitch person). There is just no substitute for nice people who get the job done on the big day.
Your wedding day is ridiculously stressful in ways you'd never imagine. Having everyone there on your team, trying to help you have the best day ever, and who you feel are also totally happy for stranger you and your new spouse, that is priceless.
Judy Marlow, the owner, automatically made us feel at ease and shared suggestions for the day. She is very responsive and flexible. The food was absolutely delicious and the presentation stunning. Her staff was also extremely well prepared and really made our day fabulous. We received so many compliments about the food, staff and decoration on the day. Judy also has an eye for details and knows how to make your ideas come to life. She was extremely helpful (even helped me bustle my dress before the reception!) and friendly. I would 100% recommend Simply Divine.
- Florence L., New York, NY
We chose Simply Divine for our wedding as we were looking for a kosher caterer with an eye for elegance and sophistication. Judy Marlow, the owner, automatically made us feel at ease and shared suggestions for the day. She is very responsive and flexible. The food was absolutely delicious and the presentation stunning. Her staff was also extremely well prepared and really made our day fabulous. We received so many compliments about the food, staff and decoration on the day. Judy also has an eye for details and knows how to make your ideas come to life. She was extremely helpful (even helped me bustle my dress before the reception!) and friendly. I would 100% recommend Simply Divine.
Vision to Reality
Vision to Reality
So much time and energy goes into planning a wedding. We take a great deal of time and energy helping brides and grooms, and their families through this process. Details are the baseline of memories for your special day.
Whether a product launch or philanthropy, we are passionate about expressing a cohesive and creative approach to your event.
Simply Divine offers distinctive elements to create sophisticated, yet simple events that range from birthday parties, anniversaries, to drop-offs for any occasion. We'll work with you too create menus to fit the occasion.
How do you take a common event and make it special? By focusing on the people it's about. We like to get to know your child, you, and your family and through this process of discovery, we come up with a plan for your event that is about what's important.
Carefully crafted events are what set us apart from the rest. We are experts in transforming spaces. Our design work is not only stunning, but it also always has a purpose. We're a full-service company that provides everything a client needs.
Simply Divine works with resorts all over the world to carefully design and construct food and buffet design concepts to impress and delight guests from the moment they step into their restuatants.
Simply Divine has an in-house design team to answer all your print needs. We offer an array of custom materials such as invitations, save-the-date cards, thank-you cards, directions/map card, keepsakes, favors, table numbers, ceremony program, escort cards, place cards, menu cards, and much more!
Congratulations and thank you for considering Simply Divine for your upcoming event. We look forward to creating an indelible memory of this occasion for you and your guests.
334 Amsterdam Ave., (@ West 76th St.) New York, NY 10023


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2013 Topps Turkey Red #45 - Jon Lester - $1.63
We'll start things off with a couple of Red Sox from the 2013 Turkey Red set, which I think was some kind of internet-sale-only gimmick by Topps. They're relatively scarce, I've read maybe 500 copies or so of each card, so I was happy when my $1.63 offer for Jon Lester's card was accepted.
2013 Topps Turkey Red #52 - Dustin Pedroia - $1.25
I ended up with the Pedroia for even less than that, which was surprising to me. Best part is these are the only two Red Sox on the checklist so that's a complete team set right there for less than $3.
2013 Topps #241 - Jacoby Ellsbury Emerald Foil Parallel - $1.00
$1 might have been a bit much for this one, but it was purchased shortly after release and prices were still a bit crazy. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good parallel.
2013 Topps #64 - Will Middlebrooks Wal-Mart Blue Parallel - $.75
Here's another one, featuring one of my favorite photos from the 2013 set. Fantastic shot.
2011-12 O-Pee-Chee #530 - Ron Francis Rainbow Foil Parallel - $1.99
I might have been able to find this parallel in a dollar bin at some point had I waited it out long enough, but I didn't feel like waiting any longer so $2 it is.
2010-11 Upper Deck SPx #107 - Gordie Howe #'d/999 - $1.12
Here's another new Whalers card, numbered to 999 copies. It's a little busy for me, but a new Whalers card of Mr. Hockey for just over a buck was too hard to turn down.
1995-96 Metal International Steel #3 - Sergei Fedorov - $.77
I grabbed two Fedorov inserts from the '95-96 Metal set for $.77 each. The International Steel card you see here is decent enough, but I like the other one a bit more.
2006-07 Parkhurst #227 - Kevin Dineen Captains #'d/3,999 - $.77
Here's a card I've needed for a good long while, but never wanted to pay the shipping costs required to snag one off of eBay. I still need the Mike Rogers Captains card to go along with this one.
1995-96 Metal Heavy Metal #2 - Sergei Fedorov - $.77
Here's the other Metal Fedorov insert, this one is much nicer. It didn't scan so well but it's an impressive card in person.
2012 Topps Archives #207 - Vida Blue SP - $.82
I'm still half-heartedly chasing the 2012 Archives set (although I won't be pursuing 2013 other than Red Sox cards). Thanks to Brad of Brad's Blog I completed the 200-card short set earlier this year. I'm still whittling away at the short prints, here's one off the list. Great card of Vida, I would have probably picked this one up even if I wasn't chasing the set.
2001-02 Topps Archives #38 - Bill Clement - $.75
Here's another Archives card I needed, this one from the '01-02 hockey set. Now that I've got Bill Clement in hand I'm down to needing just two cards to kill this one off...
2011-12 O-Pee-Chee #L8 - Ron Francis Marquee Legends - $1.88
Here's another O-Pee-Chee Francis, with Kevin Dineen lurking in the background.
2010-11 Upper Deck French 20th Anniversary Buyback #172 - Pat Verbeek - $1.88
Upper Deck included buybacks from their inaugural flagship set in their 2010-11 French set. I've been picking up Whalers cards as I see them for a reasonable price (stopped bidding on a Ron Francis when it went above $14!). I was able to land Pat Verbeek...
2010-11 Upper Deck French 20th Anniversary Buyback #327 - Brad Shaw - $1.88
...and Brad Shaw for $1.88 each, both from the same seller. Would love to complete this team set someday, but these don't crop up all that often. Anyone else out there have any of these buybacks?
2007 Goudey #243 - Ichiro Heads Up SP - $1.06
To finish this post off, a trio of short prints towards my 2007 Goudey set...
2007 Goudey #231 - Akinori Iwamura SP RC - $.89
2007 Goudey #246 - Kei Igawa Heads Up SP - $.85
There you have it, 17 new cards for $20.06. Best of all no buyer's remorse, which is more than I can say about a blaster most of the time. I think I have enough COMC purchases left to do maybe one more of these, I'll try to get it posted sometime this coming week...


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The Power of Color is the collection of illustrations created in the process of color, depth and texture exploration. Needless to say that color is a powerful tool on its own. It's astonishing how you can create an illusion of dimension on a flat screen by simply using light, shadows and shapes.
Layer illustrations were inspired by paper cutting designs and layering techniques with strong attention to color and simple geometric forms. I brought a clean and modern touch by using my favorite colors: shades of cyan, magenta, turquoise. I like clean lines and white space.
To create them I used perfect digital tool for this kind of project; Adobe Illustrator. Each layer has a unique shape and color. Shadows add complexity, depth and dimension. For the fur texture I used different sizes and shapes of Photoshop brushes to achieve realistic effect. The stitches on the basketball and typography were created from scratch using Photoshop Blending options.
I really enjoyed working on this project and received positive feedback. I feel I will be adding more artwork to this series; the more I experiment in this direction the more I like it. If you like my style check my work and become friend on Behance https://www.behance.net/yuliyashumilina
or Dribbble https://dribbble.com/ydodesign


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Grattons de Canard à l'Échalote 375g £7.95
(best before 23/02/21) (serves 6) Grattons are the same as Fritons but here it is with shallots. Fatty and delicious! Spread on toast or crunchy bread.
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Duck Meat inc skin 69%, Stock, Duck fat, Shallots 2%, Salt, Pepper.
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WoW Woman in Wearable Tech and Sex Tech | Stephanie Alys, Co-founder and Chief Pleasure Officer of MysteryVibe/
Interview by Marija Butkovic (@MarijaButkovic)
Stephanie Alys is a co-founder and Chief Pleasure Officer (CPO) of MysteryVibe, an award-winning British pleasure brand. As CPO, Stephanie is focused on changing perceptions around pleasure in a positive and empowering way.
A strong advocate that pleasure is a beautiful part of the human experience, and fundamental to our happiness, Stephanie is MysteryVibe's spokesperson on the role of technology within sex and relationships. She has been featured in major publications such as the Times, Guardian, Economist, CNBC, TechCrunch and WIRED and regularly appears as a keynote speaker on international stages.
Stephanie's work has won her numerous nominations and awards including the Europas, Young Guns and PathFounders Top 100 European Founders. She was selected as one of the Top 50 Women under 30 by The Drum in 2017.
What is the idea behind MysteryVibe and how did you come up with it?
MysteryVibe was an idea that surfaced way before we officially launched. It came from a belief that pleasure is so intimately personal, human and fundamental to our happiness, yet when it comes to technological innovation and advancement, it often gets overlooked.
We understood that everyone is different. Everyone has different desires and tastes, and we all experience pleasure (specifically orgasm) in different ways.
In 2014, we got together a group of friends, and decided we wanted to create something that adapted to the person, their moods, desires and sensations. We approached our industrial designer, SeymourPowell, with the idea, and they loved it. Working together, we created MysteryVibe and designed our first product, Crescendo.
One of the hurdles we had to overcome when starting up was attracting people who wanted to work with a sextech brand. Sex, pleasure and intimacy are still taboo topics so people can be quite reluctant to associate themselves with a brand advocating these things.
So we took a different approach.
We wanted to collaborate with the best people so we approached agencies who could work with us on a project basis. This way we built a product alongside the best designers, developers and manufacturers in the market. Collectively, we worked together until we made something we were all proud of.
How long did it take you to be where you are now?
We've been going for 3 years now! We had a slower start than your average hardware startup, because we spent a lot of time ensuring the product we were building had a real market fit.
To do this we launched our Pilot 1000, where we asked 1000 real users to test our product and supply constructive feedback, which we then implemented in production. Obviously this was an expensive idea (because it meant doing everything twice) and a first for a pleasure product like Crescendo, but it meant we had developed a truly user-driven product we were really happy to launch into retail.
Do you have any other women in your team? If so, how many women are in your team and what are their roles?
In our opinion, it's essential for every company to have a diverse team. We spend a lot time thinking about user personas and habits, so having a mixed team is really helpful.
Crescendo is a gender neutral product, so we always seek a wide range of reviews from people of all genders and orientations.
It's really important that everyone we work with shares our vision understands the importance of elevating conversations around pleasure - specifically for female empowerment.
That's exactly why our CFO, CPO and Head of Communications are all women!
What was the biggest obstacle?
Getting access to finance that would support our growth was difficult for us. Startups in other industries can approach venture capital firms, something we just could not do.
That's not to say we didn't try - we spent a lot of time speaking to VC firms who were intrigued by our product, but ultimately turned us down for being too risque.
So our options were limited to self-fund, crowdfund or find angel investment. Luckily we found a group of amazing angel investors who helped us raise funds to continue on our mission.
What are the challenges of being an entrepreneur in the niche you are in? How about being a female founder?
As I mentioned, accessing finance and getting the right people involved was really challenging for us. It was always our mission to encourage conversations about intimacy and sex, so getting our brand out there and our content noticed is also a challenge.
Getting your message out in a clear authoritative way can be difficult when you work in an industry that has deeply rooted taboos attached to it. That's why we always ensure our content is informative, fun and thought provoking across all channels.
As for female founders, there is a lack of diversity in the tech scene, which is something women in the space are very much aware of. I love being a founder, and I think we have a responsibility to support each other and encourage other women to follow their passion.
I'm incredibly proud that we have an amazing tight-knit group of badass female founders in the sextech scene who are inspiring change across dating, intimacy, love and sex.
What are your biggest achievements to date?
In 2016, we became the first pleasure brand to win the Startup Sesame Event Accelerator award, the Young Guns Award and to be showcased at the Virgin Voom Awards. We were also nominated for the Best Hardware Start-up award at Europas, another world first for a pleasure product.
It's been an incredible journey going from an industry outsider to thought-leader in the space of 3 years - especially when it means I get to talk about topics I'm so passionate about and change people's lives for the better.
But our biggest win is hearing positive feedback from customers who now couldn't live without their Crescendo!
What are your projects you are currently working on within your company?
We're always working towards making MysteryVibe the first brand people think of when they want to enhance their pleasure experience.
It's our belief that everyone deserves the best, most personalised orgasm they can achieve, and we're happy to help them get there.
The taboo surrounding pleasure products is still very powerful, so one of our main objectives is breaking down misconceptions that surround pleasure and masturbation whilst using tech to create the most advanced products in the market.
Speaking of which, we've just launched the second version of our app which now allows users to create their very own vibration, as well as live-control each of the six motors. We're very excited about this new level of personalisation!
I'm also working hard on our next product - keep your eyes peeled at the end of summer!
What will be the key trends in the wearable tech and IoT industry in the next 5 years and where do you see it heading?
We've seen an increase in wearables designed to help women understand their bodies better. I'm keen to see this trend develop, and uncover the physical and mental health benefits it offers.
I'm also really interested in the intersection of fashion and wearables - from sensual jewellery from Wisp to clothes that have embedded feedback. That would literally give me goosebumps!
Why is #WomenInTech movement important to you?
As a society, it's proven that we innovate and perform better when we work in diverse teams. Women have an incredible potential and drive to build products that will move society forwards. If I can help support them in any way - I will.
What is the most important piece of advice you can give to all female founders and female entrepreneurs out there?
Everyone will have an opinion on what you're doing. Listen to and consider their advice, but in the end you need to make your own mind up what's best for your vision and company.
Who are your 3 inspirational women in wearable tech?
Tania Boler - Elvie
Dr Elina Berglund - Natural Cycles
Wan Tseng - Wisp
And of course the Women of Wearables team ;)
Website: mysteryvibe.com
Twitter: @mysteryvibe, @StephanieAlys
Instagram: MysteryVibe
Facebook: MysteryVibe
LinkedIn: MysteryVibe, Stephanie Alys
Read our blog on the FemTech event here!
This interview was conducted by Marija Butkovic, Digital Marketing and PR strategist, co-founder of Women of Wearables and Kisha Smart Umbrella. She regularly writes and speaks on topics of wearable tech, fashion tech, IoT, entrepreneurship and diversity. Visit marijabutkovic.co.uk or follow Marija on Twitter @MarijaButkovic @Women_Wearables @GetKisha.


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Cellular Respiration in Yeast Lab
This lab explores the concepts of Cellular Respiration and Fermentation in yeast. Yeast do Alcoholic Fermentation and one of the byproducts is Carbon Dioxide. When you bake bread with yeast, Carbon dioxide is produced, which forms bubbles in the dough, causing the dough to rise. The heat kills the yeast and the bubble pockets lighten the bread.
In this lab, you can actually see fermentation happening by measuring "bubble production". The tricky part of this lab is setting it up. So I put together a little video to show you exactly how to do that. Special thanks to my Student Worker Brian Powers for helping me film the video. He did a pretty good job – Smooth zooming and all. Enjoy!
Video Introduction
[flashvideo file=http://leslie-samuel.s3.amazonaws.com/YeastRespiration.flv image=http://www.interactive-biology.com/images/cellularresp.jpg /]
Lab Handout
And here's the actual lab. You can download it by clicking on the download link on the top left of the document. You will need Adobe Acrobat or another pdf viewer in order to download it and see it on your computer.
Sample Results
The following picture was taken approximately 45 minutes after the test tubes were placed in an incubator at 30 degrees Celcius. You can see that there's CO2 production in both samples with sugar and none in the control (click image to enlarge).


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SSC Result 2019 App! Welcome to the latest information of The SSC Exam Result 2019 Check by Android App. Dear user, Greetings from us. Here we are describing the Rules or system of Checking SSC Result 2019all Education Board via Android Mobile App. Because, there are too many Android Mobiles are Available in Bangladesh. They can use their Android Mobile to check their Result Very fast. According to the Education Board Result Check via Android Mobile App, The other people will also be pleased to check their Result Online because that time, The Server won't be down. So, help the people to Check SSC Exam Result 2019 easily by Checking Your Own SSC Result 2019 by Android App.
SSC Result 2019 Android App Download:
The Android Smartphone requires downloading the App from the Education Board Result Provide Official Link. Just Visit the Education board Bangladesh Official Result Check Portal where the SSC Exam Result 2019 Check APP Download Link Available in the footer section. Just Click in the Link and Visit the Download page to download the BD Result Android App.
The User can also install the App directly to Visit the google Play Store from their Android Smartphone. This Process is also very easy. Just Visit Google Play Store and Search via "BD Result Android App by Teletalk" and Search it. Then, you will Show the Result Check App in the Front Page. Then, Install The App which Developed by Teletalk Bangladesh Limited.
SSC Result 2019 by Android App Check:
After Successful installing the SSC Exam Result 2019 Android App, You will be Eligible to Check Your JSC Results all Board by The App. Please make sure the Result has Published Officially. Then, Turn on the Data Connection of your Device and and Open the Installed App. Then Select The Examination as SSC/Dakhil Select Education Board Name, Enter SSC Roll Number, Registration Number and then click in the Submit Button to Check Your Result. You can also Check Your Full Mark Sheet of SSC Result with the same System after 6 PM of the Result Publish date.
If you face any kinds of Problem while you are trying to Check Your SSC Result 2019 by Android App, Just share the problem to us via the below comment box or via the contact us form. We will Reply You back soon with proper Guideline. Thank you for visiting us.
Read more from sscresult2019.com
Hello, We are not a Person. We are from the Education Board of Bangladesh. We are publishing the SSC Result 2019 of All Education Board with the Equivalent Result like Dakhil Result 2019 & SSC Vocational Result 2019. Every Result of this Session can check on this Website quickly at Online by Roll Number & Registration Number.


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Whenever you are looking for a reliable service provider, especially for SIP trunking services, you will find the following three qualities to be very important and worth considering:
Unified communication services demand a great deal of expertise. One must have the know-how to be able to install and manage SIP-enabled solutions. This practice comes with knowledge in other related fields in both SIP and VOIP technologies. Therefore, check whether your SIP service provider has the required certification. Also, you may need to confirm that they have the recommended legal license to operate as a trunk service provider.
Industry Mastery
There are many recent upgrades in the communications' industry. As such, you should choose a service provider that understands the latest trends in the market. A well-versed service provider will only offer the best solutions in the industry. They should also be able to educate you which one will best suit your business' communication needs.
High Referral Rate
This quality is what users should consider more. Check online reviews of the service provider with whom you are planning to sign up with. This is especially true if you are looking for a provider to install and manage the communication system for a business or an establishment. If the service provider is reputable enough, they will provide clients with a list of referrals that will attest to the quality of services they have received.
Aside from considering these three qualities, you will find it very helpful to inquire from other businesses using SIP trunking. It is great practice to learn from other companies' experiences as well.


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Wednesday, September 29, 2004
From Russia with love
A situation is developing in the Russia with the potential to trigger another BSE-type export ban on British farm produce – only this time the problem is Bovine TB.
The first intimation of this impending disaster came on 30 July when an unannounced "customer information note" was posted on the DEFRA website.
This advised that, with effect from 30 September, the Russian Federation had decided to rescind the current agreement bilateral agreement with the EU on mutual recognition of export health certificates. Instead, Russia was to impose its own specific health requirements, with the crucial difference that it would no longer accept milk and milk products from herd unless they were certified as TB-free.
And, as the DEFRA notice blandly announced, "Exports from EU Member States will stop if Russia and the EU cannot agree certification by then".
Despite this information being posted on the DEFRA site, however, it seems not to have been noticed. Nor was a subsequent posting, this one on 6 September, which reaffirmed Russia's position is that it no longer wished to allow imports of animals and animal products from individual EU member states using bilaterally agreed export health certificates.
The situation, as it stood, was that the Federation would discuss new certification only with the EU Commission, although it did agree to extend the deadline to 1 January 2005.
Only within the last few days, however, did the British diary industry begin to realise the implications of this hitherto obscure new. Is problem is that, owing to the extraordinary neglect of the current Labour administration, Bovine TB has been allowed to rip through the British dairy herd – largely because of a refusal to control the increasingly infected badger population.
Under current bilateral animal health agreements, however, milk from restricted herds is acceptable as long as it has been pasteurised, but this will no longer be the case once the new arrangements come into force. And, because this milk is bulked with other supplies, it will not be possible to certify that either milk or milk products from British farms are sourced from TB free herds, the UK is looking to have its products banned from Russia.
That, however, is the least of our problems. Owing to the wonders of the Single Market, where our products can be exported freely to EU member states, these is a distinct possibility that, because any dairy products from any EU member states might contain British milk, Russia may well ban all EU dairy products unless there is a guarantee that this milk is excluded.
To protect its trade with Russia – which is extremely important to countries like Poland and Germany - therefore, the EU may well be forced into a position of banning the export of any milk or milk products from the UK, unless guarantees can be given that it is source from TB-free herds – a guarantee, under current conditions, that would be difficult if not impossible to give.
At the very least, the growing number of dairy farmers, whose herds are under TB restriction, might find their milk excluded from the wider market, with the risk of a two-tier pricing structure, where they are paid less for their milk.
But, with this product going only to the domestic market, it is only a matter of time before one or other newspaper gets hold of the story and starts asking why, if milk from TB restricted hers is not acceptable to our EU neighbours, why British consumers are "forced" to drink it.
While the Bovine TB saga has, therefore, been a domestic issue, it is now creeping up the international agenda and now has the potential to precipitate yet another crisis between Britain and the rest of the EU – all courtesy of the Russian Federation and, of course, our own useless government.
2 comments:
As things are progressing with more and more badger sets becomming infected with TB, it shouldnt be very long before they wipe out themselves as they become a weekened species. It doesnt take a rocket scientist brain to realise that the badger groups that are so called preserving these 'cuddly luvies'now, are in fact quietly exterminating them!!
- Matthew said...
The reason 'old stripey' is such a successful host of bTb, is that it can survive, maintain body weight and breed more 'little stripeys' while shedding that lethal load of 300,000 units of tb per 1 ml of pee into the environment.
It's only during the very final stages of the tb disease cycle that it crawls around half dead, and finally dies horribly from supporating abscesses throughout its emaciated body.
But yes, you're right. By their denial, this is the sort of badger the so called 'badger lovers' will see many more of, but fed a diet of glossy pictures of healthy badgers (mainly on collecting boxes)unfortunately they never do.
Farmers see them... They find them huddled in farm buildings, excluded from their family group, seeking food and shelter - anywhere. But by that time they'll have infected half the cattle in the area.


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Humans and tigers are the main enemies of gray wolves. Although wolves often encounter opposition from prey or from other animals looking to steal their kill, only humans and tigers seek out nearby wolves with intent to kill.
Wolves are often misperceived as dangerous, bloodthirsty creatures, which led to their widespread eradication as humanity expanded across the Old and New Worlds. People feared that gray wolves would eat their livestock or harm their families. Very few records exist of wolves injuring humans. Wolves prefer to keep to themselves and their territories, eating large hoofed animals and small mammals, such as elk and rabbits, in the wild rather than livestock near humans. Gray wolves drive away other predatory animals that attempt to steal their kills or compete with them when food is scarce.


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Each year, the Boy Scouts of America invites Scouts and Scout leaders ages 18 to 30 from around the world to come to the United States to spend the summer as an International Camp Staff member of a BSA summer camp. The International Camp Staff program is operated by the Boy Scouts of America for camp program enrichment. It provides an opportunity for local councils, like the Bay-Lakes Council, throughout America to invite qualified Scouters from other countries to be a part of their summer camp and Cub Scout day camp programs. The International Camp Staff program is recognized as a cultural exchange program by the U.S. State Department. It gives to our membership and Scouters from other countries an international exchange of mutual benefit. Its aim is to allow Scouts in councils throughout America to come into personal contact with experienced Scout leaders from another part of the globe and learn, firsthand, not only about their Scouting program but also about their country, its culture, and its customs. The program is an in-depth international Scouting experience for Scouts in the Bay-Lakes Council.
Through our partnership with the International Department of the Boy Scouts of America, we're excited to announce that we will host two international Scouts this summer. With our Cub Scout Summer Camp theme, Passport to Adventure, one international Scout will be hosted at Camp Rokilio and the other will be hosted at Twin Lakes Scout Camp. We're also working through the logistics to ensure that they will be able to visit Camp Hiawatha, Bear Paw Scout Camp, and Gardner Dam Scout Camp at some point this summer.
Calum, who is from South Africa will be based at Twin Lakes Scout Camp. His experience in working with youth begin at the age of 14, where as a Scouts he was allowed to become a Cub Instructor. This involved assisting the Unit Leader with running games and events for boys and girls between 7 and 11 years old. Calum became more involved with his Pack when he turned 18 and could start assisting with meetings, camps, and other events as an adult. He has remained with the same Pack where he now serves as the Assistant Pack Leader, a Scouter, and a Rover. Calum is 24 years old and lives in Alberton, South Africa and has 13 years of Scouting experience. He currently attends the University of Johannesburg where he is majoring in geography and environmental management.
Gabby, who is from the Dominican Republic will be based at Camp Rokilio. She was born and raised in Santo Domingo. She is a young women with a joyful, adventurous, outgoing, and creative character. Gabby says that Scouting is a lifestyle that has allowed her to discover, develop, and encourage the best of herself and everyone around her. She holds steadfast that Scouting enables anyone to be a part of the experience of a global community of people who just give themselves to their best capacities and make the world much brighter by living one good turn at a time. Gabby is 19 years old and lives in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and has 7 years of Scouting experience. She currently attends a university where she is majoring in performing arts and film.
We're incredibly excited to host both Calum and Gabby this summer. If you're visiting either Cub Scout World or Twin Lakes Scout Camp, be sure to seek them out and say "hi!"


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You are invited to take an artwork home!
Thursday, May 28, 2015
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Site:Brooklyn, 165 7th Street, Gowanus, Brooklyn
Tickets are limited! Buy your tickets now.
Join in! Celebrate arts, artists, and the Gowanus neighborhood, AND TAKE HOME ONE PIECE OF ORIGINAL ARTWORK from a Gowanus artist, including me. All while supporting the critical mission of Arts Gowanus to support, promote, and advocate for artists and a sustainable local arts community.
The Great Fredinni of Coney Island will be the Master of Ceremonies!
Bring your fellow art lovers. Appreciate the artwork that will be displayed from across Gowanus.
Enjoy drinks from Gowanus Wine Merchants, delicious nibbles from Runner and Stone, and desserts from 4&20 Blackbirds.
Meet artists and art lovers.
Support the work of Arts Gowanus.
And then, TAKE HOME one of the artworks.
$200 Individual Ticket: Includes entrance to event for ONE and ONE piece of original artwork
$250 Couples Ticket: Includes entrance to event for TWO and ONE piece of original artwork
Tickets are limited! Buy your tickets now.