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|Date Range
|Biscuit Wildfire
|July 30 - August 1, 2002
|The Biscuit Fire was a wildfire that took place in 2002 that burned nearly 500,000 acres (2,000 km²) in the Siskiyou National Forest in southern Oregon and northern California. This event was chosen for Case Study analysis as an example of a relatively rare, large fire with high emissions and therefore a high potential of significantly affecting ozone formation.
The fire was highly active in the middle of ozone season (July-August). The analysis was initiated by looking at observed ozone within the vicinity of the fire, combined with CAMx modeling results, to look for exceedances of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS with a high estimated contribution from fire.
There were many NAAQS violations throughout California during this period, many of which had a contribution from fire. However, the analysis was limited to a geographic region in the vicinity of the Biscuit fire (even in this small region there are two ozone non-attainment areas and 11 Class I Areas). There were three ozone monitors with 8-hour ozone values >75ppb during the peak of emissions from the Biscuit fire, July 30-August 1, 2002. Two monitors exceeded the 8-hour ozone NAAQS on July 31, 2002, and had a large (>6ppb) contribution from fire predicted by the CAMx model. A summary of fire activity within the chosen study area shows a large amount of burning exclusively from wildfire; within the study domain were the Biscuit fire as well as two moderate-sized wildfires in southern Oregon. Examining the model animation, it was unclear whether the Biscuit fire contributed to observed ozone at both monitors. However, a HYSPLIT trajectory analysis it revealed that the regional meteorology was moving air due south, suggesting that the fire-caused elevated ozone observed in Jackson County, OR was due to the other wildfires burning at the time, whereas the Tehama County, CA monitor likely was influenced by emissions from the Biscuit fire (or all three fires).
|McNally Wildfire
|July 21 - August 29, 2002
|The McNally fire started in July of 2002 between Sequoia National Park and the Dome Lands Wilderness in southern California. The Biscuit Fire was also burning during this period, and smoke from the two fires merged over large swaths of California and Nevada.
Elevated ozone concentrations, including 8-hour averages above the ozone NAAQS, were measured consistently during this period throughout southern California. In many instances these exceedances would have occurred anyway, but the contribution from the McNally and Biscuit fires was significant throughout July and August. This case study highlights the complexity of assessing the impact from large wildfires amidst already elevated levels of ozone, including in several non-attainment areas. Understanding which exceedances qualify as Exceptional Events, and understanding how impacts from large wildfires affect SIP design, is a critical problem in areas with many sources of ozone-causing pollutants.
Attributing ozone impacts to a single fire event is difficult when there are several large events occurring simultaneously. Animations of CAMx modeling output and HYSPLIT trajectory analyses can help identify regions impacted by each event on a particular day. In this analysis, since all of the impacts from fire were due to wildfire emissions, it is less important to determine which fire caused the impact than to assess the total impact from fire on elevated ozone concentrations. The plots below showing observed 8-hour ozone combined with predicted fire contribution identify days where the fire impacts may have pushed ozone concentrations above the 8-hour NAAQS. There are also many instances where the observed ozone concentrations were high enough that an exceedance would have occurred regardless of the presence of fire.
|Missionary Ridge & Hayman Wildfires
|June 8 - July 2, 2002
|The Hayman and Missionary Ridge fires started in the summer of 2002 in Colorado, totaling over 200,000 acres burned. Concurrent emissions resulted in smoke transport and mixing across the region, and likely have contributed to ozone exceedances in Colorado and elsewhere.
Time-lapse animations of CAMx modeling results for 2002 show fire-caused ozone impacts across large swaths of the Southwest and Rocky Mountain regions originating from the Hayman and Missionary Ridge fires. Plots below show observed 8-hour ozone at several monitors with values above the NAAQS and a significant contribution from fire.
This case study demonstrates the potential of transported smoke from large wildfires to cause or contribute to exceedances of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS.
|Northern California Wildfires, 2008
|June 20 - August 31, 2008
|The summer 2008 California wildfires, collectively dubbed the Northern California Lightning Series by CALFIRE, were a concentrated outbreak of wildfires during the summer of 2008. Over 2,780 individual fires were burning at the height of the period, burning large portions of forests and chaparral in California. The majority of the fires were started by lightning from dry thunderstorms on June 20.
An article published in Atmospheric Environment in 2013 examined median ozone concentrations at a monitor in Devil's Postpile NP in a "low-fire" year (2007) and a "high-fire" year (2008). A similar approach was taken below, examining observed maximum 8-hour concentrations paired with predicted contributions from fire from CAMx modeling at several monitors throughout California and Western Nevada. Boxplots of monthly observed ozone in 2007 and 2008 are shown for two monitors. The results corroborate the conclusions of the article that ozone levels were consistently higher in 2008 than 2007 during the period of intense burning in Northern California. Model results predicted, with varying accuracy, large contributions from fire to ozone concentrations on some days, as high as 30ppb. Model performance at each of the monitors highlighted show the model under-predicts more with decreasing latitude. The monitor in Tulare County experiences the heaviest influence of urban sources of ozone pre-cursors.
|Rodeo-Chediski Wildfire
|June 21 - July 07, 2002
|The Rodeo-Chediski fire started in June of 2002, at the start of ozone season, and expanded rapidly throughout July. It burned 500,000 acres of Pondersa pine and shrubland, much of it with near-total consumption.
Exceedances of the ozone NAAQS were measured throughout the Southwest and into the Rockies during this period, and CAMx modeling results from our study show periods of significant ozone formation from Rodeo-Chediski and other fires burning simultaneously in the region.
|Evans Road Wildfire (Pocosin NWR) / Peat burning
|June 1 - August 1, 2008
|The Evans Road Wildfire was a smoldering peat fire in Eastern North Carolina that started on June 1, 2008. It burned 41,534 acres inside the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and smoldered for three months. It was chosen as a case study because of its persistence as a source and also to evaluate model and EI performance when dealing with peat fires.
CAMx modeling results, observed ozone data, and estimated fire emissions reveal a complicated scenario with implications for exceptional event designations, fire planning and SIP development. The map below shows over a dozen monitors that measured an exceedance of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS on 6/13/2008, during the peak of emissions as estimated by the fire emissions inventory. CAMx modeling results indicate a significant contribution from fire to ozone concentrations that day, but it is clear the model performed poorly during this period as it significantly overestimated ozone concentrations. The air chemistry in this part of the country during this time of year is complicated, with many anthropogenic sources of VOC and NOx combined with biogenic emissions. What is clear is that smoke from the Evans Road fire was present over the region in the days surrounding 6/13/2008, and may have influenced ozone concentrations significantly.
The overestimation of fire contribution to ozone in the CAMx modeling is partly due to the fire emissions inventory. Acres burned per day from the Evans Road fire were calculated using satellite-detected fire activity and scaled to the fire perimeter derived from MTBS data. If fire activity is detected in the same place over several days the emissions are partitioned over all days detected. In the case of Evans Road, the prolonged smoldering of the fire was likely not hot enough to detect via satellite, and therefore more emissions were compressed into a shorter time period. Peat fires have an extraordinary amount of available fuel to burn, as evidenced by the fire statistics summary below (compare acres burned to fuel consumed).
The fire contribution plots below show a small contribution from planned burns (agricultural and prescribed) that, while small, have the capability to influence ozone concentrations during the ozone season, which may be important for areas identified as marginal.
|Mid-Atlantic Region 2008 Wildfire and Managed Burns
|June 25 - June 28, 2008
|The Evans Road Wildfire was a smoldering peat fire in Eastern North Carolina that smoldered for three months. Another case study looks at the Exceptional Event implications of this wildfire but also revealed a small impact from managed burns.
This case study uses the CAMx modeling results for 2008 to examine the relative contribution of different types of fire to ozone formation during a period in late June when impacts were the highest.
|Fall burning in southern Louisiana, 2008
|September 27 - 30, 2008
|This case study was identified by interrogating the database of observed 8-hour ozone values in the "shoulder season" (Sep-Oct) in 2008 and looking for instances of elevated ozone. These results were then filtered to identify areas with planned fire-contributed ozone predicted by CAMx modeling.
This time period in southern Louisiana saw two days with ozone above the current 8-hour ozone standard with a significant fire influence. September 27th saw smoke transported from wildfires in Northern California and Canada carried southward, as can be seen from the HYSPLIT trajectory results and the modeled fire contribution plots (there was also a significant local influence from prescribed burning). Fire impacts on ozone were also seen on September 30th, but this time the impacts were predominately from nearby planned fires occurring throughout the state.
|Northern GA/southern TN
|October 3 - 6, 2008
|Open burning occurs in the Southeastern United States nearly year-round. This Case Study was identified by searching observed ozone data paired with CAMx modeling results from 2008 to find instances in the "shoulder seasons" with elevated ozone attributed to fire. October 4, 2008, saw an exceedance of the ozone NAAQS at a monitor in Chattanooga, TN, with a small, but significant, estimated contribution by fire. The fire summary map reveals that planned fires of different types were occurring throughout the region. CAMx modeling results predict that, despite the "obvious" source of agricultural burning from the west, the largest contribution was from nearby prescribed burning.
|Agricultural fires' influence on ozone formation - MN
|April 14 - 15, 2008
|April is a time of intense agricultural burning in the Midwest, especially in Kansas. Over a period of 2 days, April 14-15, 2008, an estimated 16,000 acres of agricultural land was burned. CAMx model results were interrogated to look for instances of fire contributing to ozone formation at ozone monitors in the Midwest during this period. Three monitors in Minnesota and Wisconsin were modeled to have a nearly 5ppb contribution from agricultural burning. The map below shows minimal burning in the vicinitiy of the western-most monitor in Minnesota, so presumably the influence is from the burning in Kansas to the south. Measured ozone concentrations, while not exceeding the current 8-hour ozone standard, were elevated enough such that a lowered standard could cause greater concern about smoke transport to this region in the Spring.
|Annual burning patterns in the Southeast United States
|October, 2004 - 2007
|This is one of three case studies that looks at patterns of burning over several years. Burning in October 2008 in the Southeast US was analyzed as a separate case study and showed the potential for fire to contribute to elevated ozone in the Fall. This analysis looks to see if similar patterns of burning occur in other years or if 2008 was unusual.
Daily fire activity estimated by the FETS from 2004 - 2008 is displayed, and reveals a consistent pattern of burning from October to April each year, with a minimum in the summer (the spike in May 2007 was due to the Big Turnaround Complex, the largest fire in Georgia history). The annual pattern of fire activity does not clearly correlate with annual trends in observed ozone, seen by comparing tons consumed to observed ozone at a monitor in Hamilton County, Tennessee. However, looking at the month of October from 2005-2007, tons consumed in the study area on and/or leading up to days of elevated ozone observed at the Hamilton County monitor.
|Chatfield, CO July 2004-2007
|July, 2004 - 2007
|Chatfield, CO July 2008 was analyzed as a separate case study looking at fires' contribution to ozone formation in a Non-Attainment Area (NAA). That case study concluded that smoke from wildfires burning throughout the Western US contributed to elevated ozone just above the 8-hour ozone standard at a monitor in Douglas County, CO. This case study pairs observed ozone data in non-model years with fire activity in the same geographic domain. While it is difficult to conclude that fire contributed to ozone exceedances in those years, there are instances, similar to 2008, where a spike in fire activity lead to a period of elevated ozone above the 8-hour standard several days later.
|Chatfield, CO July 2008
|July 4 - 18, 2008
|Denver, CO is a non-attainment area for ozone and has a mixture of sources contributing to ozone formation. Ozone monitors during the summer months often hover just below the ozone NAAQS. Introducing fire emissions into the mix has the potential to bump concentrations just over the standard that otherwise would have been just below.
This case study was identified by filtering observed ozone data paired with CAMx modeling results to find NAAQS exceedances just above the standard with a significant contribution from fire. Burning was occurring during this time period to the east (Midwest Ag fires) and to the west (large wildfires in Northern California). The source apportionment from CAMx clearly shows the signal is dominated by wildfires, and therefore the emissions are coming from the Western US.
|Fall burning patterns in southern Louisiana, 2004 - 2007
|Sep - Oct, 2004 - 2007
|This is one of three case studies that looks at patterns of burning over several years. Managed burning in early Fall 2008 in southern Louisiana was analyzed as a separate case study and showed the potential for fire to contribute to elevated ozone in the shoulder season. This analysis looks to see if similar patterns of burning occur in other years or if 2008 was unusual.
Pairs of box plots and fire activity tables for each year from 2004 - 2007 are displayed, and reveal a consistent pattern of managed burning (mostly prescribed fire) in the September-October time-frame. A time series of tons consumed for the entire 4 year span show an annual pattern of burning mainly in the spring and fall. The ramp-up in burning in Sep-Oct coincides with sporadic instances of elevated ozone, whereas in the summer ozone is high with little burning occurring. Two years, 2005 and 2007, have several larger fires burning simultaneously for short periods but that do not show increased frequency of elevated ozone. Two monitoring sites from the area show instances of elevated ozone into October; the site at LaFourche Parish has a more consistent annual pattern. The ozone threshold chosen for this analysis was 70ppb.
|Flint Hills
|April 2008
|Each year in April, thousands of acres of agricultural land are burned in the Flints Hills region of Kansas. April is generally considered a "shoulder" season for ozone formation, and this annual event was chosen as a Case Study to examine its effect on ozone formation throughout the region.
Observed ozone data in the vicinity was examined for the month of April, and compared with CAMx model results to show the estimated impact of fire on observed values. Fire emissions data for non-model years were summarized to demonstrate the persistent nature of burning in this region each year.
|Managed burning proximate to Non-Attainment Areas
|April - October, 2008
|The fire emissions inventory developed for 2008 revealed several ozone non-attainment areas (NAAs) that have planned fires inside or near the NAA boundary at certain times of the year. Burning proximate to NAAs has the potential to affect ozone formation in areas already prone to elevated ozone.
Three NAAs were isolated and observed 8-hour ozone concentrations were compared to CAMx modeling results that predict the contribution by 3 types of burning to ozone formation. Three NAAs were chosen by ranking the total tons consumed by agricultural and prescribed burning (together referred to as 'planned fires') within 100km of the NAA boundary between April and October, 2008. Timeseries plot of one ozone monitor representative of each area are presented below with modeled fire contributions. Reference maps for each area are also presented.
The modeled fire contribution plots show that the majority of impacts from fires at each ozone monitor is caused by wildfire in the summer months, and by planned burning in the spring and fall. The monitor in Arizona has a distinct annual trend such that spring and fall ozone concentrations do not approach 70ppb, but both Polk County, Texas and Dawson County, Georgia see periods of elevated ozone in the Spring and Fall coincident with planned burns.
|Prescribed fires' influence on ozone formation - AZ
|Sep 30 - Oct 2, 2008
|Prescribed burning occurs in Arizona in the Fall. As seen in the map below, some of this burning occurs near the nonattainment area (NAA) in the Phoenix Metro Area. October is generally not a problem for ozone exceedances in this area, but the case study below shows that prescribed burning has the potential to contribute to ozone formation during this time, and a lower standard of 65ppb may require more careful planning in the shoulder seasons in this area, as revealed by the plot below of observed ozone and model fire contributions at a monitor in Maricopa County, inside the NAA.
|Prescribed fires' influence on ozone formation - MT
|Oct 12 - 25, 2008
|This case study was developed by looking at areas with large amounts of prescribed burning and coincident prescribed fire-caused ozone predicted by CAMx modeling in 2008. Idaho and western Montana have an active prescribed fire season in the fall, as can be seen in the map below that covers a two-week period in October, 2008. One ozone monitor location still active during this time period in 2008 was shown to have a significant amount of predicted ozone formation caused by prescribed fire. However, observed ozone at this site was quite low, and closer examination of the model performance shows consistent over-prediction of total ozone, shown below. Despite the model over-prediction, estimated values with up to 5ppb of prescribed fire-caused ozone are still well below the current or any potential near-term new standard. So, while there is evidence that prescribed burning in this area at this time can influence ozone concentrations, it is not enough to be a concern in the context of fire planning or SIP development.


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Categories > Cartoons > Delilah and Julius > The Last Good-bye
The Last Good-bye3 reviews
What happens when Julius and Deililah are trapped, and only one of them can come out alive...what choice will be made? (poetry, one shot)
The Last Good-bye
(#) princessofoyownworld 2006-06-29Wow. Great now my mascara is running. Very well writen ,very Romeo and Julliette.
Author's responsehands princessofoyownworld tissues woah, really? Your mascara is actually running? Aww thanks so much. I just love stories and poetry! Thanks for reviewing!
xxDarkness' Kidxx
The Last Good-bye
(#) greektitan 2007-01-09aww,that was so cute,Julius killed him self because he wanted to be with Delilah!Awww best D.J.Story..poem...i have read yet!^_^ keep it up!=)
The Last Good-bye
(#) darkangel666 2007-04-14thats good but you should have made the story longer and not start at the climax it good though :)
The Last Good-bye
(#) fruit_addict 2007-08-14that's sad. and these peeps are right... romeo and juliet. I like how it's both a story and a poem. cool format
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subset: commoncrawl


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Dear Monument Australia visitors, we are a self-funded, non-profit organisation, dedicated to recording monuments throughout Australia. Over time the costs of maintaining this website have risen substantially (in fact they are probably larger than those of many companies who exist for profit). In the past we have borne all the costs associated with maintaining the website but we are now having difficulties in paying the monthly expenses.
If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Pasha BulkerPrint Page
Grounded is an abstract representation of the ship's bow. The shape and colour of the sculpture, and its physical placement at Nobbys, will be an important memory marker for the community and a powerful stand-alone work of art. An original section of 22mm plate steel from the rudder of the Pasha Bulker has been incorporated into the work. The main body of the work is made from 12mm plate steel and is approximately 2 metres in height and 6 metres in length. Grounded was commissioned by Newcastle City Council with support from Arts NSW and One Steel.
Early on the morning of 8 June 2007, Newcastle Port Corporation radioed the 56 moored ships waiting off the coast to load coal to warn them to move out to sea to escape an approaching storm. Pasha Bulker, along with 10 other ships, did not heed the warning. As the storm hit, Pasha Bulker could not clear the coast and it beached at 9:51am. The ship never called for tug assistance, ran aground with a fully operational engine room and still had both anchors stored in the hawsepipes leading some maritime experts to believe that proper precautions were not taken by the ship's captain.
After Pasha Bulker ran aground the 22 Filipino and Korean crew members aboard were successfully rescued by the Westpac Rescue helicopter service from the vessel, which grounded about 30 m (98 ft) from shore at the popular Nobbys Beach. The ship was empty of cargo at the time, waiting to load 58,000 tonnes of coal from Newcastle Port. However, it contained around 700 tonnes of fuel oil, 38 tonnes of diesel and 40 tonnes of lube oil, which if released could have caused an ecological problem.
During further stormy weather, the ship was pushed onto the beach so that it was almost parallel to the beach, and both bow and stern were stuck on the sand. The whole ship was then completely trapped between the beach and a rocky reef. In the first week the salvage crew loaded the ship with ballast water, which sunk it lower, so that its hull was firmly on the seabed.
Its location on a popular beach and close proximity to the Newcastle CBD made Pasha Bulker a tourist destination and precipitated a minor economic boom
|Shortland Esplanade, Nobbys Beach Promenade, Newcastle East , 2300
|GPS Coordinates:
|Lat: -32.923927
Long: 151.791937
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
|Monument Type:
|Monument Theme:
|Actual Event Start Date:
|Actual Event End Date:
|John Petrie
|Actual Monument Dedication Date:
|Friday 5th June, 2009
Grounded 2000
Artist: John Petrie
This sculpture marks the anniversary of the grounding of the ship 'Pasha Bulker" in fierce storms on 8 June 2007.
Unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle John Tate and Minister of the Hunter and member for Newcastle Jodi Mackay on 5 June 2009
Commisioned by Newcastle City Council and supported by Arts NSW and One Steel.


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Rev. Mike Hunter has been involved in ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for the past 40 years and was ordained by Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1995. Mike has served Disciple congregations in Lufkin (78-92; 00-09) and Tyler (92-00) in times of numerical and spiritual growth. From 2000-2009, he served as Senior Minister for First Christian Church of Lufkin, Texas. Mike led all three congregations through program and facility growth. . Mike's past congregation served as a shelter for the evacuees of three hurricanes!
Since September 2009, Mike serves as Senior Minister and Administrator of First Christian Church, Midland. The congregation is now doing ministry beyond its walls, in city parks and partnering with more than 30 community connections. The Midland church has grown from 200 people on campus weekly to over 1500 campus participants each week.
Mike is a certified educator and has additional distinction as a CCA (Certified Church Administrator) Fellow with the The Church Network (formerly NACBA). He has served as board member for the Association of Disciple Musicians, Hospice in the Pines, and Love, Inc. He currently serves on the board of Disciple Village in Odessa.
Mike has degrees from Wayland Baptist University (BM) and Stephen F. Austin State University (MA). Mike has extended continuing education in preaching, program development and stewardship. Mike has written stewardship materials and led stewardship workshops for congregations across the Southwest.
Mike is now serving his fourth different appointment with two different areas to the Regional Committee on Ministry for the Christian Church in the Southwest. This committee is responsible for the ordination and standing of clergy for the 434 congregations of this Region. Mike's passion is to mentor men and women seeking ordination.
Mike is a member of the Emmaus community and has been guest preacher, assistant spiritual director and spiritual director for numerous Emmaus Walks.
Mike recently completed his 16th year of football officiating, at the high school and junior college level and has finally decided it's time to watch and enjoy from the stands.
Mike is the oldest of four children, two of which are ordained clergy. He grew up on a farm near Morton, Texas, where he played basketball on a state championship team and made two appearances at the State Tournament.
Mike is married to Enid Hunter. Enid is an accomplished double reed soloist and elementary music educator. They have two daughters. Most importantly our two girls have both made them grandparents, Cadence, Oden, Zoey and Xander!
Mike and Enid love RV camping and enjoy the southwest and the mountains.


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The ten day break between Lords and the upcoming third Test at Old Trafford is like an oasis for Australia. A bounty of space and time devoid of Jimmy Anderson and Graeme Swann. There's been no time for relaxation, jelly and ice cream though. A section of the touring party has been battling Sussex at Hove, while the rest receive counselling.
Some of Australia's fans are in need of counselling too after we copped a seventh defeat in ten Test Matches in London last week. With James Pattinson returning home injured, David Warner piling on 193 for the A side in Pretoria, and Ed Cowan posting 66 and a 77 not out against Sussex, heart rates remain high with conjecture raging about Australia's XI for the next Test.
Australia's immensely bad batting, which I discussed in depth in the Lords Preview and again in Australia's Invertebrate Batting, has generated vociferous commentary. If we analysed some of the propositions circulating, we'd have about fifteen different 11s. I've made my feelings clear about the big picture and some of the factors affecting Australia's batting demise, but with some radical ideas frisbeeing about in relation to who should play next, I'm in the conservative camp when it comes to selection for the remainder of this series.
Stick with the squad
You can't go ringing up blokes and dragging them in from all corners with inadequate preparation, and dump them in the middle of an intense Ashes contest. Some people have demanded "bring in young guys and start building". This popular line is trotted out in all sports, whenever things aren't great, but it's a shallow throwaway. This is already one of the youngest assemblies of Australian Test players in the past 25 years.
Mishandling our player resources is now a habit that requires breaking. The last thing we need to do is inhibit some young lad's development by having him terrorised by England's attack in front of the Barmy Army, who will be deployed in force for the first time this series at Old Trafford.
You don't develop players in the Test team, you develop them in First Class cricket and pick accomplished and proven candidates to play Test cricket. Clearly this hasn't happened for Australia with recent selection lacking philosophy and consistent logic, so it's time for some continuity.
Chopping and changing is something to avoid in these circumstances
He's a strong candidate and it looks likely he'll play in Manchester, but I believe David Warner should not be rushed back in on account of one score for Australia A. Over 1300 runs were scored in that match with 3 centurions, a double centurion and a collection of worthy starts. This indicates the pitch was like the Great Eastern highway.
Warner scored 33 in the second dig and reports suggest he had to be separated from a heated confrontation with the opposition wicket keeper. He was sent there for disciplinary reasons and to fix an ailing attitude. Has the penny dropped for Warner? I'm not sure, I'd tell him we want another hundred for the A team when they play Sth Africa A again on Wednesday, but I believe he's just arrived back in England to rejoin the squad so it seems he'll play and hopefully prove me wrong.
As for the top order that failed at Lords; We can argue that Phil Hughes shouldn't have been brought back so soon (or at all) and that Watson is an opener, a number six or a T20 specialist. Simon Katich should not have been deposed in 2011, but he should not be brought back in now, and we should not play Mathew Wade (0 & 30not out v Sussex) – a future wicket keeper who should bat at 7 – as a top six batsman.
Ed Cowan was dropped after the First Test so to reinstate him in the Third creates a revolving door and perpetuates a culture of self-preservation and fear.
Frankly, there should only be two certain changes for Old Trafford
Jackson Bird or Mitchell Starc in for the injured Pattinson and Nathan Lyon in for Ashton Agar. Naturally, this assertion lacks detailed pitch and weather analysis and the fitness of our players could affect selection come Thursday, but I'm hoping for some continuity both in the line up and the batting order.
My Old Trafford XI
Watson, Rogers, Khawaja, Clarke, Hughes, Smith, Haddin, Siddle, Harris, Lyon, Bird. (12th man Starc)


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Birtherism is rightly remembered as a racist conspiracy theory, born of an inability to accept the legitimacy of the first black president. But it is more than that, and the insistence that it was a fringe belief undersells the fact that it was one of the most important political developments of the past decade.
Birtherism is a synthesis of the prejudice toward blacks, immigrants, and Muslims that swelled on the right during the Obama era: Obama was not merely black but also a foreigner, not just black and foreign but also a secret Muslim. Birtherism was not simply racism, but nationalism—a statement of values and a definition of who belongs in America. By embracing the conspiracy theory of Obama's faith and foreign birth, Trump was also endorsing a definition of being American that excluded the first black president. Birtherism, and then Trumpism, united all three rising strains of prejudice on the right in opposition to the man who had become the sum of their fears.
In this sense only, the Calamity Thesis is correct. The great cataclysm in white America that led to Donald Trump was the election of Barack Obama.
Adam Serwer on lurking nationalism.
A long but absolutely cracking essay on the influence of white nationalism on politics in the US.
As per usual with these things. Australians do not get to sit smug; anyone who thinks we don't have our own equivalent of this here is freakin' kidding their racist-ass self.


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Facebook is aping one of Google Now's more useful features in an attempt to keep users engaged. According to a new report from TechCrunch, Facebook is testing new contextual pop-up cards in its iOS app, which are designed to keep users wandering in the Facebook universe for longer periods.
Google Nows cards are useful because they serve as gentle reminders of appointments you have coming up, like meetings or when your favorite team is playing on TV. What Facebook is reportedly testing on a small subset of users is a bit different. Whenever you complete an activity on Facebook–say, you "like" a movie, maybe The Grand Budapest Hotel–a card will pop up on your iPhone's screen to tell you which of your other friends liked the movie, too. (Surprise: It's all of them.) The hope is that you'll click on a bunch of other stuff, and maybe even find something interesting to hold your attention.
As TechCrunch's Josh Constine notes, it's vaguely like Foursquare's vaunted recommendation engine, which suggests cool stuff to check out in your area based on your geolocation.
But like a sad street magician trying to distract you, it is hard to be wowed. It isn't Facebook's fault. Outside of Amazon suggesting what else you should buy, we're still at a point where algorithmically generated recommendations have a hard time curating stuff you might actually care about. Human taste is still too fickle, messy, and complicated. Even for card tricks.


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Judge Higbee is set to hear two cases in one next week: The plaintiffs are Thomas Cona and John McDarby, who each allege their use of Vioxx for more than 18 months contributed to their respective heart attacks.
One took the drug for 25 months, the other for four years. The VIGOR study with its 18 month key ingestion period will certainly play a larger role than in previous trials.


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Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced yesterday that after more than 20 years in frontline duty, his penis would be standing down from public office.
'My right honourable member has given his best days in upstanding service to this country,' said Mr Berlusconi in a statement. 'Over the years it's had its ups and downs and its ups again, and at times it's divided the population, but no one could ever question its commitment to the tireless pursuit of good causes. I am proud that my penis will be leaving behind a considerable legacy of achievement.'
Mr Berlusconi's penis, which has defied advancing years in pursuing a full and relentless programme of activity, will remain in office during the current economic instability in order to provide reassurance to anyone seeking it.
'There are questions about whether Italy can service its debts, so it is important that at this difficult time my penis continues its hard and unending work of servicing whatever needs doing,' he said. 'You can see that inflation is becoming an issue, but at my age that's inevitable. Nevertheless, my interest rates remain high and all the key performance indicators are pointing up.'
After saying farewell to public service at an exclusive party to be held later this month, it is understood that Mr Berlusconi's penis will spend more time pursuing his lifelong passion for engaging the younger generation.


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Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health. By reducing air pollution levels, countries can reduce the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. The lower the levels of air pollution, the better the cardiovascular and respiratory health of the population will be, both long- and short-term The "WHO Air quality guidelines" provide an assessment of health effects of air pollution and thresholds for health-harmful pollution levels Ambient (outdoor air pollution) in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide in 2012 Some 88% of those premature deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries, and the greatest number in the WHO Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions. Policies and investments supporting cleaner transport, energy-efficient housing, power generation, industry and better municipal waste management Reducing outdoor emissions from household coal and biomass energy systems, agricultural waste incineration, forest fires and certain agro-forestry activities (e.g. charcoal production) would reduce key rural and peri-urban air pollution sources in developing regions Reducing outdoor air pollution also reduces emissions of CO2 and short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon particles and methane, thus contributing to the near- and long-term mitigation of climate change In addition to outdoor air pollution, indoor smoke is a serious health risk for some 3 billion people who cook and heat their homes with biomass fuels and coal
Air pollution
Outdoor air pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone in developed and developing countries alike.
WHO estimates that some 80% of outdoor air pollution-related premature deaths were due to ischaemic heart disease and strokes, while 14% of deaths were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or acute lower respiratory infections; and 6% of deaths were due to lung cancer.
Some deaths may be attributed to more than one risk factor at the same time. For example, both smoking and ambient air pollution affect lung cancer. Some lung cancer deaths could have been averted by improving ambient air quality, or by reducing tobacco smoking.
A 2013 assessment by WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that outdoor air pollution is carcinogenic to humans, with the particulate matter component of air pollution most closely associated with increased cancer incidence, especially cancer of the lung. An association also has been observed between outdoor air pollution and increase in cancer of the urinary tract/bladder.
Ambient (outdoor air pollution) in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide per year in 2012; this mortality is due to exposure to small particulate matter of 10 microns or less in diameter (PM10), which cause cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and cancers.
People living in low- and middle-income countries disproportionately experience the burden of outdoor air pollution with 88% (of the 3.7 million premature deaths) occurring in low- and middle-income countries, and the greatest burden in the WHO Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions. The latest burden estimates reflect the very significant role air pollution plays in cardiovascular illness and premature deaths – much more so than was previously understood by scientists.
Most sources of outdoor air pollution are well beyond the control of individuals and demand action by cities, as well as national and international policymakers in sector like transport, energy waste management, buildings and agriculture.
There are many examples of successful policies in transport, urban planning, power generation and industry that reduce air pollution:
- for industry: clean technologies that reduce industrial smokestack emissions; improved management of urban and agricultural waste, including capture of methane gas emitted from waste sites as an alternative to incineration (for use as biogas);
- for transport: shifting to clean modes of power generation; prioritizing rapid urban transit, walking and cycling networks in cities as well as rail interurban freight and passenger travel; shifting to cleaner heavy duty diesel vehicles and low-emissions vehicles and fuels, including fuels with reduced sulfur content;
- for urban planning: improving the energy efficiency of buildings and making cities more compact, and thus energy efficient;
- for power generation: increased use of low-emissions fuels and renewable combustion-free power sources (like solar, wind or hydropower); co-generation of heat and power; and distributed energy generation (e.g. mini-grids and rooftop solar power generation);
- for municipal and agricultural waste management: strategies for waste reduction, waste separation, recycling and reuse or waste reprocessing; as well as improved methods of biological waste management such as anaerobic waste digestion to produce biogas, are feasible, low cost alternatives to the open incineration of solid waste. Where incineration is unavoidable, then combustion technologies with strict emission controls are critical.
In addition to outdoor air pollution, indoor smoke is a serious health risk for some 3 billion people who cook and heat their homes with biomass fuels and coal. Some 4.3 million premature deaths were attributable to household air pollution in 2012. Almost all of that burden was in low-middle-income countries as well.
The 2005 "WHO Air quality guidelines" offer global guidance on thresholds and limits for key air pollutants that pose health risks. The Guidelines indicate that by reducing particulate matter (PM10) pollution from 70 to 20 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m), we can cut air pollution-related deaths by around 15%.
The Guidelines apply worldwide and are based on expert evaluation of current scientific evidence for:
- particulate matter (PM)
- ozone (O3)
- nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
- sulfur dioxide (SO2)
in all WHO regions.
Reference: who.int
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
Guideline values
40 μg/m3 annual mean 200 μg/m3 1-hour mean
The current WHO guideline value of 40 µg/m3 (annual mean) was set to protect the public from the health effects of gaseous.
Definition and principal sources
As an air pollutant, NO2 has several correlated activities.
- At short-term concentrations exceeding 200 μg/m3, it is a toxic gas which causes significant inflammation of the airways.
- NO2 is the main source of nitrate aerosols, which form an important fraction of PM2.5 and, in the presence of ultraviolet light, of ozone.
The major sources of anthropogenic emissions of NO2 are combustion processes (heating, power generation, and engines in vehicles and ships).
Health effects
Epidemiological studies have shown that symptoms of bronchitis in asthmatic children increase in association with long-term exposure to NO2. Reduced lung function growth is also linked to NO2 at concentrations currently measured (or observed) in cities of Europe and North America.
Reference: who.int
Ozone (O3)
Guideline values
100 μg/m3 8-hour mean
The recommended limit in the 2005 Air Quality Guidelines was reduced from the previous level of 120 µg/m3 in previous editions of the "WHO Air Quality Guidelines" based on recent conclusive associations between daily mortality and lower ozone concentrations.
Definition and principal sources
Ozone at ground level – not to be confused with the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere – is one of the major constituents of photochemical smog. It is formed by the reaction with sunlight (photochemical reaction) of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) from vehicle and industry emissions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by vehicles, solvents and industry. As a result, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during periods of sunny weather.
Health effects
Excessive ozone in the air can have a marked effect on human health. It can cause breathing problems, trigger asthma, reduce lung function and cause lung diseases. In Europe it is currently one of the air pollutants of most concern. Several European studies have reported that the daily mortality rises by 0.3% and that for heart diseases by 0.4%, per 10 µg/m3 increase in ozone exposure.
Reference: who.int
Particulate matter
Definition and principal sources
PM affects more people than any other pollutant. The major components of PM are sulfate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water. It consists of a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles of organic and inorganic substances suspended in the air. The most health-damaging particles are those with a diameter of 10 microns or less, (≤ PM10), which can penetrate and lodge deep inside the lungs. Chronic exposure to particles contributes to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as of lung cancer.
Air quality measurements are typically reported in terms of daily or annual mean concentrations of PM10 particles per cubic meter of air volume (m3). Routine air quality measurements typically describe such PM concentrations in terms of micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). When sufficiently sensitive measurement tools are available, concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5 or smaller), are also reported.
Health effects
There is a close, quantitative relationship between exposure to high concentrations of small particulates (PM10 and PM2.5) and increased mortality or morbidity, both daily and over time. Conversely, when concentrations of small and fine particulates are reduced, related mortality will also go down – presuming other factors remain the same. This allows policymakers to project the population health improvements that could be expected if particulate air pollution is reduced.
Small particulate pollution have health impacts even at very low concentrations – indeed no threshold has been identified below which no damage to health is observed. Therefore, the WHO 2005 guideline limits aimed to achieve the lowest concentrations of PM possible.
Guideline values
10 μg/m3 annual mean 25 μg/m3 24-hour mean
20 μg/m3 annual mean 50 μg/m3 24-hour mean
In addition to guideline values, the Air Quality Guidelines provide interim targets for concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 aimed at promoting a gradual shift from high to lower concentrations.
If these interim targets were to be achieved, significant reductions in risks for acute and chronic health effects from air pollution can be expected. Progress towards the guideline values, however, should be the ultimate objective.
The effects of PM on health occur at levels of exposure currently being experienced by many people both in urban and rural areas and in developed and developing countries – although exposures in many fast-developing cities today are often far higher than in developed cities of comparable size.
"WHO Air Quality Guidelines" estimate that reducing annual average particulate matter (PM10) concentrations from levels of 70 μg/m3, common in many developing cities, to the WHO guideline level of 20 μg/m3, could reduce air pollution-related deaths by around 15%. However, even in the European Union, where PM concentrations in many cities do comply with Guideline levels, it is estimated that average life expectancy is 8.6 months lower than it would otherwise be, due to PM exposures from human sources.
In developing countries, indoor exposure to pollutants from the household combustion of solid fuels on open fires or traditional stoves increases the risk of acute lower respiratory infections and associated mortality among young children; indoor air pollution from solid fuel use is also a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer among adults.
There are serious risks to health not only from exposure to PM, but also from exposure to ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). As with PM, concentrations are often highest largely in the urban areas of low- and middle-income countries. Ozone is a major factor in asthma morbidity and mortality, while nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide also can play a role in asthma, bronchial symptoms, lung inflammation and reduced lung function.
Reference: who.int
Guideline values
20 μg/m3 24-hour mean 500 μg/m3 10-minute mean
A SO2 concentration of 500 µg/m3 should not be exceeded over average periods of 10 minutes duration. Studies indicate that a proportion of people with asthma experience changes in pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms after periods of exposure to SO2 as short as 10 minutes.
The (2005) revision of the 24-hour guideline for SO2 concentrations from 125 to 20 μg/m3 was based on the following considerations.
- Health effects are now known to be associated with much lower levels of SO2 than previously believed.
- A greater degree of protection is needed.
- Although the causality of the effects of low concentrations of SO2 is still uncertain, reducing SO2 concentrations is likely to decrease exposure to co-pollutants.
Definition and principal sources
SO2 is a colourless gas with a sharp odour. It is produced from the burning of fossil fuels (coal and oil) and the smelting of mineral ores that contain sulfur. The main anthropogenic source of SO2 is the burning of sulfur-containing fossil fuels for domestic heating, power generation and motor vehicles.
Health effects
SO2 can affect the respiratory system and the functions of the lungs, and causes irritation of the eyes. Inflammation of the respiratory tract causes coughing, mucus secretion, aggravation of asthma and chronic bronchitis and makes people more prone to infections of the respiratory tract. Hospital admissions for cardiac disease and mortality increase on days with higher SO2 levels. When SO2 combines with water, it forms sulfuric acid; this is the main component of acid rain which is a cause of deforestation.
Reference: who.int


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Nagarajan R. Network Analytics to Assess Team Science. Oral presentation at 2017 SciTS Conference. Clearwater Beach, FL. Jun 13, 2017. Multi-Site Health Research Collaborations
Online at: http://www.scienceofteamscience.org/2017-agenda.
Recent studies have clearly demonstrated an
increasing shift towards team science potentially
attributed to growing interdisciplinary,
multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research.
Grants from federal agencies (e.g. Clinical
Translational Science Awards, NCATS) have
especially emphasized the importance of
translational research that in turn demand team
science approaches. Our recent studies have
successfully used network analytics of grant
collaborations to objectively quantify and assess
team science in translational settings in an
evidence-based/data-driven manner (Nagarajan
R et al., J. Biomedical Informatics 2013; Nagarajan
R et al. Clinical Translational Science 2015).
Collaborative grants are often the culminating
point or outcome of successful and sustained
research collaborations. Grant collaboration
data sets are accessible and curated diligently
with minimal errors making them a useful
resource for investigating team science efforts.
Grant collaboration networks (GCNs) provide a convenient abstraction of collaborations that
can be studied in a controlled and cost-effective
manner in-silico. In this presentation we show
that GCNs can provide insights into inherent nontrivial
community structures, cross-talk between
communities and their temporal evolution. The
strength of these communities as a function
of time is also investigated by using synthetic
surrogate network models (e.g. random graphs)
as internal controls. Understanding the temporal
evolution of these communities and their
deviation from random graphs can especially
be useful in evaluation in pre-/post-intervention
settings and has the potential to serve as
evaluation metrics. Inherent community structures
and cross-talk between communities in the GCN
can also assist in targeted resource allocation
that can impact policy. However, GCNs are opensystems
and prone to external perturbations and
confounders that demand careful interpretation
of the results. Forecasting of the GCNs can also be
challenging as the nodes as well as the edges are
not conserved as a function of time. Universality of
the findings presented will demand repeating the
exercise across diverse settings.
Oral presentation
scits 2017 conference, presentation, network analytics, team science
Narrow your search by
resource type or goal:
Team science experts write about current issues in the field.
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John goes to work painting white lines on the motorway with a tin of paint and a brush, after the first day he accomplishes 4 mile… later that day his boss congratulates him.
The next day John paints 2 mile of white lines… so his boss said, "yeh thats acceptable."
On the third day he only does 1/4 of a mile… the boss says, "Whats wrong you did 4 mile the first day?"
John replies, "Yeh but the tin keeps getting further away"…
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Edinburgh Theological Seminary is pleased to offer - through partnership with the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) - a Certificate in Independent Church Ministry. This course is offered in alternate years. The course will next be on offer in 2019-2020.
Check out this video, where FIEC Scotland Director Andy Hunter and ETS student Chris Ranson explain to prospective students what the Independent Church Ministry course involves.
About the Course
Independent churches are a growing force for the Gospel in 21st Century Scotland. They come in all shapes and sizes and with a variety of historical backgrounds. Those who serve in them need to be well trained both theologically and in the practicalities of leading a self-governing church. Independent churches are a growing force for the Gospel in 21st Century Scotland. They come in all shapes and sizes and with a variety of historical backgrounds. Those who serve in them need to be well trained both theologically and in the practicalities of leading a self-governing church.
To meet this need FIEC has partnered with ETS to provide training geared specifically to the needs and dynamics of Independent churches. As a network of over 600 Independent churches of all types (Baptist, Brethren, Congregational, Mission Hall, new Plants etc) across the UK, FIEC is uniquely placed to provide wisdom and practical instruction in this area. A range of experienced pastors and ministry leaders will lead sessions sharing their own experiences and knowledge.
Those attending will gain an understanding of the theology and history of Independent churches, along with a range of practical ministry issues. Sessions will allow time for discussion and questions. Students who complete an optional assignment will be eligible for the ETS Certificate in Independent Church Ministry.
Who is this course for?
ETS offers exisiting students who are preparing to serve in Independent Churches the Certificate in Independent Church Ministry as an optional supplementary module. The Certificate is also open to anyone serving in Independent churches who could benefit from the course.
When does the course take place?
The course runs on Tuesday afternoons at 2pm over 14 weeks. Each session consists of two 45 minute halves with a short break in the middle.
Classroom or Distance Learning
Participants can either attend in-class or live stream the sessions using the seminary's fully interactive online facilities.
See Distance Learning FAQ for more information on Distance Learning at ETS.
Module Outline
Teaching will focus on the following specific areas:
- Introduction to the theological and ecclesiological rationale for Independent forms of church order, governance, and sacramental practice
- Exploration of the historical background to the Independent Church tradition as it is today, including key developments and individuals, and assessment of its future trajectory in the UK
- Introduction to contemporary approaches to Church leadership and issues in Pastoral Care in Independent Churches
- Examination of missiological challenges in Britain for Independent Churches, and current and potential responses
Course Programme
You can download the 2019-2020 course programme here.
Learning Strategy
The learning strategy will include lectures, discussion groups, class debates and case studies.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this programme.
Certificate in Independent Church Ministry Application Form
The relevant Application Form is found here.
Certificate in Independent Church Ministry Fees
For course fees see here.
Further Enquiries


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Getting Back Into Building an Independent Solo Business (2017)2017-09-06
The choice to be transparent and honest about business and life is one which I greatly admire. In the past, I have always learned something new and found inspiration from reading "year in review"-style articles and honest reflections by people in the bootstrapping field. I don't think that I would be in the position I am in today, nor have the same level of understanding how companies work and why people do the things they do, if not for those. In the coming years, I intend to take part in the sharing-part of the transparency movement.
I am starting to build an independent solo-business, focused around me as a person and the technical stuff I do for a living. I will share struggles, pains, plans, tactics, learnings, regular reflections on progress and actual numbers. The only constraints, will be spare time and making sure the best-interests of my business partners are kept.
The rough roadmap I have in mind, is to go from freelancing in the short-term to consulting in the mid-term, and to build a product-focused business in the long run. The journey will be transparent and I welcome you to follow along. Drop your email in the box below and we'll stay in touch.
In this post, I want to share details about my current context, background, and thoughts which will influence the choices of possible ways forward.
Who's Talking
As you can see on the main page, I'm Vladislav. I studied computer science with a focus on computer vision and machine learning. Since graduating with a M.Sc. in computer science in 2013, I have had an interesting time. Among others I
* Stumbled into web dev freelancing, being completely clueless about biz * Discovered a weird passion for automation and server stuff * Worked in a DevOps position at a 100-person startup * Started building a solo consulting business around data engineering * Switched to co-founding a tech startup in Berlin
In that order.
I learned a lot at every single step of that journey. The latest step was especially fascinating and valuable. My past year-and-some, was a deep-dive into the world of startups, funding and the lifestyle of VC-track businesses. I joined my two co-founders Sebastian and Felix on an endeavor to connect AI, machine learning, computer vision and social media marketing - together we started iterating on 'Pivii'. We had a good run, having secured pre-seed funding through an EXIST scholarship at the beginning which was paying our salaries, getting accepted into the Axel Springer Plug and Play Accelerator in Berlin shortly after.
It was a great, and at times very intense experience. An opportunity and time to be grateful for, with lots of lessons learned and useful skills acquired. I got on board after the other two, as a second technical co-founder - focusing on our company-data handling, platform and infrastructure. As time went on, I got to wear a lot of hats and take on tasks which turned out more challenging, rewarding and enjoyable than I could have suspected when starting out. Most notably:
- Hiring the right people to grow the team.
- Actually having to wear a user- and product-hat while contributing to the product.
- Working on internal processes and the way we worked to keep the team going (+ going in the right direction).
- Diving into traction and digital marketing with a budget to spend.
All of them fascinating areas, which I may not have discovered or gotten a chance to work in for a long time otherwise.
Being part of a founding team was a very challenging, interesting and sometimes terrifying experience. Despite working for young companies as an employee, freelancer and consultant previously - the hands-on experience was something completely different from the not-my-company experience. The "feeling of being on a rollercoaster" is real and accurate. None of my previous professional experiences, compared to the tangible scarcity of time, and the sheer amount of stuff which needs to be taken care of when starting a company on the VC track. I can't imagine a similar timespan where I'd had the opportunity to learn as much. I'd also be very hesitant to choose this path a second time, as it's not in sync with what I want from life at the moment, but more on that later.
Let's jump to the end of the experience. After putting in all our best effort, neither profitability nor sufficient traction to secure the next funding round were in sight. We decided to call it a day, wrap everything up and part ways. My personal runway however was in good shape, which left me in the position of being able to pick the next occupation at my own pace. I had time to look around explore the possibilities of a number of jobs and other options.
What Is Success?
Success means different things to different people. I really like this question, when talking to potential clients. "What would constitute success for you on that project?" - good answers are never focused on technical solutions or "HOWs". They always describe a world where the company stops losing money on an issue, can make more, grow or where the working day of the person is a bit less painful.
So, what does success mean for me, when regarding work as a project which is meant to provide an outcome? It's definitely not a end in itself, as my interests are far from singular. Having a great business to have a great business seems like the kind of answer which gets you in trouble. Kinda like building a data warehouse to have a data warehouse, or switching to microservices because then you have microservices, although the outcome can be good sometimes.
In my opinion, building a business or career is a pointless endeavor if you don't want it for it's own sake, or have a clear idea in mind of how it will make your life better.
Priorities, AKA My Definition of Success
My definition of success, is not coupled to maximizing financial gain. Not without other, more important conditions in the mix.
I genuinely like the technical stuff which I do. Automation and building interesting systems which do useful stuff is UTTERLY FASCINATING to me, for some weird reason. I also enjoy the ways good businesses operate, doing marketing & selling, hiring, getting traction and helping people. And oh gosh, it's just so rewarding to combine multiple skills and interests. Especially if you can shift the focus over time when it makes sense. Here's an assortment of things which I learned to appreciate, and wouldn't want to do without:
- Having personal independence and flexibility.
- Having the work be technical in an interesting way (not limited to coding).
- Have a feedback loop, where you see other people being better off due to the stuff you do.
- Working close to the cashflow of a business (work is easier to sell, success is more tangible, can be measured and communicated easier).
- Have the work connect with a topic I personally care about and think is worthwhile - creating value and not just value for businesses (helping people I like do better).
- Being able to structure days in a flexible fashion.
- Work at a time of day which feels right (either early mornings or evenings, this changes).
- Being able to go for an occasional walk during the day, cook a good meal or work out when it feels right.
- Avoiding regular, long commutes.
- Being as location-independent as possible.
- Having financial stability and downtime - weekends and vacation among others (those are not that easy to implement when working on an own business unfortunately)
It's hard to hit 100% of those. Even when going for a lower percentage, finding a job given those constraints is kinda hard. That said, creating a job from scratch is unrealistic as well. Temporary tradeoffs are alright.
Being self-employed is not strictly necessary for what I want to achieve. It's just one of the paths which naturally aligns with my goals, not the only possible choice. Running a solo business has limitations in the short-term, such as not having the budget of a large company for hiring, not being in a position to build a team and similar.
Back to my constraints. I could do without spome of them for a while. What is a must-have however, and there from the start, is freedom to work on, and completely own side projects (writing, coding or biz). This is a point I feel strongly about. Anything else is fucking ridiculous, one-sided and completely unacceptable without an appropriate upside. Not a good kind of business relationship.
So, having most of those is what would mean success for me. If I run a business, make a heap of cash but can't take a day off is failure.
I'd like to stay in tech and deal with the details of making businesses successful. I would like to couple it with one of the following topics in the mid-term. There's a few topics for which I have an affinity, and could imagine dedicating lots of time towards:
- Data plumbing with a sprinkle of business focus (still cool).
- Traction + startup marketing + data handling (like above, but more business-outcome focused).
- DevOps, deploying web apps, automation and dev processes for startups
- Blockchain technology
- The combination of mental health + mobile apps
- Somewhere in the Venn diagram of generative-art, music and deep-learning
Not listed are things which I enjoy by themselves - such as the craft of raw programming, at it's technical purest. But I'd not like to linger there. Some of those are interesting but do not seem like being able to provide a clear road towards my current goals - thus will need to remain hobbies or secondary interests. Some have a more obvious, immediate way towards profitability.
My process here was, to try and find a sync between interests, skills, the "outlook to tick off enough priorities" and perceived business-viability.
Despite the work and progress I have built up previously on data stuff, the idea of having it as main focus does not resonate as much. I prefer to switch away from it for a while, and take some time to reorient and see how and if my newly found interests can be combined with already existing skills. Prior work will probably be made use of in one way or another.
VR is cool, and Blockchain stuff as well, but I don't have enough work to build on in those areas, nor is the vision anywhere near concrete enough to have a plan - that's fixable by exploring the topics, which would take too long for now.
The last two points would be better served with a PhD format of free exploration and curiosity - I don't think I'm in a position to make those work as a business focus.
Traction is really cool, but I don't have enough success to build on, nor a strong enough interest in the field or conviction to put in the months of work/hustle to get going.
Automation, DevOps and deploying web applications however still is friggin fascinating. It's not too far away from my previous occupations and I can see myself being able to provide solid value. I also like the task, dealing with people in the field (small tech teams and startups), and have the credibility to do so, having founding experience, and having built/maintained more than a few production systems in the past. The only downside is, that the business value of DevOps is always a bit hidden. I can work with that
The Path Forward
So, with the above I have a rough field of interest, and something like a first draft of who I'm going to help with what. That needs so much more work to be of any practical use for potential clients or to help me with marketing. The very next article will be about taking the next few steps towards making the first draft into something usable and useful (niching, creating a service offering, doing market research and starting outreach).
As you can see, I have already adjusted my messaging on the page, and have put my previous articles on the topic on it, as well as created new ones. So this article is lagging behind a bit. I've really decided to commit to this course of action on the 26th of August, after being back from vacation, and started working on it with full focus, so everything's relatively fresh and the dissonance is not big. I am really not quite starting from zero. However, my network and previous experiences are still comparable to a person who has been working in tech for a while and was being active.
For this business, I'm aiming for consulting in the mid-term and product business long-term. Freelance or remote work would be possible while getting started to get money flowing and extend the runway, but the conditions need to be right.
That's it for now! I want you to join me on this journey and follow along. Just drop me your email at the bottom of this article and we'll stay in touch :) If you have any feedback or questions, just send me a mail or ping me on Twitter.


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Scanned images can be saved to mobile devices such as tablet and smartphone, using wireless LAN. With this application, you can receive the scanned image via your computer, or scan directly to a mobile device.
*Supported scanner model: iX500/iX100
You can connect your tablet/Smartphone via the Wi-Fi access point at home or in the office.
*Supported scanner model: iX100
Even when there is no Wi-Fi access point available while on the road, iX100 can be connected to a tablet/smartphone directly.
*Supported scanner models: SV600/iX500/iX100/S1500/S1500M/S1300i/S1300/S1100i/S1100
You can scan documents directly to a tablet/smartphone, without touching the keyboard or mouse of the computer, using the buttons on the mobile application ScanSnap Connect Application.
ScanSnap S1500/S1500M/S1300/S1100 users can add the function through an updated program that is available at no cost from "ScanSnap Software Downloads".
- Only one mobile device can be connected at a time when scanning to a mobile device via a computer.
- Only one mobile device can be connected at a time when scanning with iX500/iX100.
- When connecting iX500 to the scanner via Wi-Fi, a Wi-Fi access point/router (sold separately) is necessary. In addition, it is necessary to connect the computer with iX500 to configure wireless LAN connection settings beforehand.
- ScanSnap Connect Application is required to be installed on the mobile device.
- It is necessary to have .Net Framework 3.0 or later installed on the Windows® OS.
- It is necessary to set up the computer beforehand when using USB connection. Refer to the Operator's Guide or Getting Started for details.
ScanSnap Connect Application (iOS) is available as a free download from the App Store.
ScanSnap Connect Application (Android™) is available as a free download from the Google Play.
ScanSnap Connect Application (Android™) for Kindle Fire is available as a free download from the Amazon Appstore.
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Kissan Jam Pinwheel
Kids love to eat their tiffin when the food inside looks extraordinary. So try this recipe to make ordinary jam bread look even more delectable.
¾ cups Kissan Pineapple Jam
1 unsliced bread loaf
2 pineapple slices, chopped
1. Slice the bread horizontally into four slices. Remove the crusts from all the sides.
2. Place each bread slice on the worktop. Spread three tablespoons of Kissan Pineapple Jam evenly on it. Sprinkle the chopped pineapple.
3. Roll up each bread slice and wrap it up tightly in a cling film. Refrigerate the rolls for fifteen to twenty minutes.
4. Cut the bread roll into one-inch thick roundels and serve immediately.


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The responsible manufacturing of pesticides is an integral part of industry stewardship which sees plant science companies take action to protect their employees and the environment. Companies also take part in a number of voluntary schemes, including Responsible Care®, which is the chemical industry's global initiative to drive continuous improvement and achieve excellence in environmental, health, safety and security performance.
Through adoption of good manufacturing practices, the industry aims to protect its neighbours, its employees and the environment. National and international standards are strictly adhered to, and international standards adopted; ISO 14000 and ISO 9000 in particular. The industry also subscribes to a number of government-sponsored voluntary standards including the EU's Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).


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GS-911 V2004.3 is available for download! http://www.hexcode.co.za/may-2020-software-updates-available
HelloIf there is a floater mounted, please read the measurements disconnect connectorSTVB X9220 Pin 2+3 for low level 87,3Ω - 89,9ΩSTVB X9220 Pin 2+3 for full level 2,6Ω - 4,3Ω...if I'm right, because there is no wiring diagram And remember, some of these needs to be driven to show the new level
HelloWhat's about reading the Real-time values in the cluster? Are there any hints for this?Gauge tests > for verifying of dial gaugeZFE Central Vehicle Electronics Controller Real-time values?Cable tests with wiring diagram


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Been busy
There is a lot to talk about, but I am out of town and dont have my laptop. Will be back in a couple of days. heres some quick news: Ezzat Hamza is due in Ramallah where the national team will have a closed training camp following the sessions at the FH Stadium this week. The qualifiers schedule has been announced.


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The Vitamix 5200 completely pulverizes whole foods to release flavor like you've never tasted!
Vegetarian? Vegan? All Veggie Lovers Love the Vitamix Machine!
Vegetarians, raw foodists and people who just want to eat healthier have a secret weapon that makes their lifestyle easy and enjoyable. The ones who have a Vitamix in their kitchen!
Why? It can difficult to find new ways to prepare fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains in delicious meals without spending a lot of time. Time that is better spent in other activities.
With a Vitamix machine, you have a whole new menu of choices - the smoothest smoothies in just 1 minute, delicious steaming hot soups in just 5 minutes and tasty frozen treats in 2 minutes all without a single attachment.
And because of the Vitamix machine's unique design, you won't need to buy a replacement for a long, long time. In fact, we get letters and emails from customers every day telling us how durable and reliable their machines are with everyday use.
Vegetarian, Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian, Lacto Vegetarian, Veggie, Vegan, Strict vegetarian, Raw Foodist
There's a central theme to all these lifestyles that you already know: Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables gives you more energy and a longer, healthier life. And a blender, food processor and/or juicer is probably an important part of your daily routine.
As a heavy-duty user of these appliances, you will appreciate what only the Vitamix machine can do for you.


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Most years, before visiting WordCamp London, I write a long bucket list of things I hope to achieve. This year it's no different, although the main focus is on developing blocks for the new block editor, Gutenberg.
|Brief notes
|How to test JS code
|Let's see if I can use the same solution as Gutenberg
|How to correctly implement issues with "keys"
|Avoid those horrible console Warnings
|got help from JJJ
|How to access options from the REST API
|for dynamically populating the attributes in generic shortcode block
|not started
|How to lazy load JS / CSS
|rework code to use register_block_type instead of enqueue_block_assets
|not started
|How to lazy load REACT code
|same as above?
|not started
|How to perform REST queries
|to populate attribute select lists – similar to options?
|How to internationalize
|Does __() support text-domain yet?
|How to support JS in metaboxes
|Hey! Looks like I'm already sorted!
|How to control block conversion
|Especially inline shortcodes
|How and when to implement logic for deprecated blocks
|Some time in the future?
|How to automatically migrate content?
|Can this be done using the PHP PEG parser?
|investigating autocrlf=false
|How to tell lint I've got CRLF's
|Or do I change my Git config?
The list is taken from the
Unknowns sheet of my
estimate spreadsheet which you can find in the bobbingwide/oik-block plugin.
If you're going to be at WordCamp London this weekend, and can assist with any of the above, then I'd love to hear from you. I expect to be attempting to contribute on Friday, and I'll be easy to find on Sat and Sun afternoons since I'm the room monitor and rear mic runner for Track A in the main hall.
This post was brought to you by Gutenberg 2.6.0 and oik-block 0.0.0.alpha-20180409.


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Monarflex RMB350 Reinforced Radon Barrier
€289.00 Incl VAT
Monarflex RMB350 Reinforced Radon Barrier is a high quality loose-laid radon resisting membrane made from blends of virgin low density polyethylene (LDPE). It consists of Reinforced multi-layer membrane with high tensile and tear strength and when used in a new building, it provides an effective barrier to the passage of radon, air and moisture from the underlying soil.
Size: 4m x 25m Roll
NOTE BEFORE PURCHASING: Due to the shape and size of this product, delivery cost may vary depending on delivery address, quantity ordered etc. Contact Darren on (087) 980 4925 for cost of delivery prices before ordering.
Category: Radon Barrier Products
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Address:Rocklands, Cahereens, Castleisland Co. Kerry
Telephone: 066 714 1863
Mobile: 087 980 4925
E-mail: email@example.com


text: Masters Backpacks are a trendy new item being sold at Augusta National. A new twist for this year's backpack. This backpack is navy and green with dual bottle holders on both sides. Padded straps for extra comfort. Backpack features two separate zipped compartments. Very solid backpack; lightweight and durable. Great for carrying books for school, a change of clothes to the gym, while traveling, or to the golf course. Be the envy of all your friends at the clubhouse, order today!


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One of the things we like to do here at the Bethlehem Food Co-Op is honor and recognize people that strengthen our local food economy. Billy Gruenewald certainly fits this category. He recently opened his breakfast and lunch spot, dubbed the People's Kitchen, and it's rapidly becoming a favorite among local diners. Located at the corner of Linden and E. North Streets, The People's Kitchen provides high-quality, affordable options outside of the downtown area and in a densely-populated neighborhood.
His eatery quickly became my go-to place for weekend breakfast. The People's Kitchen is cozy and friendly, and the food is consistently top notch. They offer breakfast standards like eggs, bacon, potatoes, and pancakes, while also featuring specialty items on a rotating basis. I could ramble for pages on how good the food is, but you'll just have to try it for yourself. However, I will say that the superior taste and eclectic selections make you feel like you should be paying much more. To me, the fact his place doesn't charge much more really helps to make the patron feel as if Billy and his staff truly want everyone to enjoy something special, and not just those who can afford gourmet prices. In this way, the eatery truly is the "People's Kitchen."
Recently I was able to sit down with Billy and ask him a few questions about his operations. You can see his responses below. After reading, I suggest you try to check his food out soon because something tells me the wait times will skyrocket as Bethlehem's best kept secret is already getting out!
Owner of the People's Kitchen answers the people's questions:
Q. When did you officially open?
A. October 4th 2014
Q. What influenced you to open an eatery of this kind?
A. I hope to someday own several restaurants. I thought a small breakfast place was a good start to help me with future ventures.
Q. Of all the places in the world, you chose Bethlehem to open shop. Why did you decide to run your business here?
A. I was born and raised in Bethlehem. I am a third generation liberty grad and have always loved the area.
Q. Do you work with any local providers?
A. Just started buying bread from the "Soup Lady" and cheese from Valley Milkhouse. This week's quiche also uses truffle oil from Season's Taproom.
Q. What is your customer's favorite item on the menu?
A. The customers tend to get our breakfast mac and cheese in the morning and the crab bread at lunch.
Q. What is YOUR favorite item on the menu?
The Irish turkey sandwich with a side of cucumber salad.
Q. What is one thing you'd like people to know about your business?
A. The one thing I want people to know is that we are here to accommodate them in any way possible. If there is an item you prefer, we can get it. If you don't like your dish we can fix it. We like to hear the opinions of the people.


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Photo by Leonor Fonseca
This is
More than a concert, D'Alva's stage experience is like having them as a host to an old school New York block party with a punk rock attitude, an 808 rhythm, African sweat, Brazilian balance and some Portuguese pop sensitivity. This has been the rule ever since Alex D'Alva Teixeira and Ben Monteiro started working together.
"3 tempos" has gotten Portugal dancing and asking "what is this?". One Year later, "Homologação" becomes the song that bridges on to the coming debut album. D'Alva now becomes a collective. Ben Monteiro (so far in charge of production) gets together with Vitor H. Azevedo (ex-Iconoclasts), Gonçalo de Almeida (Tiago Guillul) and Ricardo Ramos (ex-Iconoclasts) for what is now D'Alva's live show.


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A sitemap is a digital index of all content and pages on your site, delivered to search engines to ensure your content appears in search results for relevant keywords searches. All businesses should create sitemaps — which can be done for free using plugins — to ensure maximum exposure in search engines like Google.
If your site doesn't offer quality content, a sitemap won't help your business rank well in search engine results pages (SERPs). To help you create that quality content, Ignite Digital will evaluate your site to determine what improvements it needs to rank well in SERPs, then their experts will generate the content to make it happen. Click here to get a custom search engine optimization quote from Ignite Digital.
What Is a Sitemap & What Are its Benefits?
A sitemap is a list of all the URLs, content (text and multimedia), and information on a website. This includes tags, categories, images, videos, and details on when content was last updated. Sitemaps can either be HTML-based, meaning they exist on your site as a separate index page of all site content; or they can be XML-based, which is a file type used to store sitemap information that can be submitted to search engines like Google.
To create a sitemap, install and configure a sitemap generator plugin like Yoast on your website. Then, open a Google Search Console account and connect it to your website by copying and pasting the tracking code into your plugin's tracking code field. Locate the sitemap URL that Yoast produces and paste it into your Search Console. Finally, monitor your Google Search Console reports for the next few weeks to ensure Google indexes your content.
When a sitemap is submitted to a search engine like Google, it helps to ensure the search engine is aware of the content the website owner would like evaluated for listing in search engine results pages (SERPs). This process serves your business by continually increasing the chance that key content on your website appears when people search related keywords. Don't worry about updating your sitemap; Yoast will take care of that for you.
According to Google, XML sitemaps are especially important to generate and submit to search engines when you've launched a new website, when your website has a lot of content or large archives, and when a website uses rich media like images and videos. While Google crawls internet content constantly, sites like these benefit from providing Google with extra crawling guidance, ensuring their websites get maximum exposure and higher rankings in SERPs.
How to Create & Submit a Sitemap in 5 Steps
There are both automated and manual ways to create a sitemap. However, we're going to lean on an automated process using WordPress, due to its popularity, and the Yoast plugin, as it makes it easy to create a sitemap for a small business owner. In fact, the free Yoast plugin creates an XML sitemap with only the toggle of a button. Once you have created your sitemap, all you need to do is submit it to Google.
Here's how to create and submit an XML site map in five steps:
1. Install a Site Map Generator in Your CMS
To begin, log in to your WordPress website backend.
Once your dashboard appears, look to the left-hand menu and click the "Plugins" option. Then, from the pop-up menu, click "Add New."
Use the search bar to find "Yoast SEO." Once you've found it, click "Install Now." Wait for it to install. You will know it's installed once the "Install Now" button changes to an "Activate" button. At that point, click the "Activate button."
Once installed, you can begin using the Yoast plugin by clicking "SEO" from your WordPress dashboard menu.
2. Generate Your Sitemap
Once Yoast is installed, you can easily generate your XML sitemap. From your left-hand WordPress dashboard menu, click "SEO." A submenu will pop up revealing more options. From the submenu, click "General."
On the next screen, click the "Features" tab.
Once inside, you will see a toggle switch labeled "XML sitemaps." Toggle it to "On." Click "Save changes."
3. Connect Google Search Console to WordPress
Now you must submit your sitemap to Google Search Console — a platform that allows you to monitor and maintain your site's presence in search results pages. But, first, connect Google Search Console to your website. This will allow it to begin tracking your website pages. To do so, open a Google Search Console account and add your website domain. Then, copy the authorization code and paste it into the Yoast Google field. Finally, verify your website.
Begin by opening another tab on your browser while leaving your WordPress dashboard open; you'll need to switch between the two as you complete this step. Next, visit the Google Search Console website. Click "Start Now" and follow the prompts to open an account. Next, enter your domain under "URL Prefix." Be sure to include all prefixes to your domain, including "www" and "http" or "https," as shown below. Click "Continue."
On the next screen, scroll down to find the "HTML tag" option and click the down arrow at the far right.
When the HTML Tag option expands, you will see a snippet of code. Highlight this code and then copy it.
Now, click on the browser tab for your WordPress website's dashboard. Click "SEO" from the left-hand menu. When the "SEO" menu option expands to reveal a submenu, click "General."
Next, click the "Webmaster Tools" tools. Scroll down to find the field labeled "Google Verification Code" and paste your HTML tag code. Then, click "Save Changes." It will take you back to the Webmaster Tools page in case you want to add your site to other search engines.
Now, head back to the browser tab where you have Google Search Console open. Click the "Verify" button. You will see a screen congratulating you for successfully verifying the ownership of your website.
4. Submit Your XML Sitemap to Google Search Console
Now that you have a Google Search Console account connected to your website and you've generated your sitemap, it's time to add your XML sitemap to Google. To do so, sign into your Google Search Console account (or click the browser tab with the Console already open). In the sidebar, click "Search Property" and select your website URL from the drop-down menu.
On the next screen, click "Sitemaps" located under the "Index" option. If you don't see "Sitemaps," click "Index" first to expand the submenu, then click "Sitemaps."
In the "Add a new sitemap" field, type "sitemap_index.xml" after your URL. This is your sitemap URL, which is generated by Yoast. It always consists of your website domain, plus sitemap_index.xml. The complete URL would look something like "https://.yoursite.com/sitemap_xml." Finally, click "Submit."
5. Verify Google Is Indexing Your Site
Once you've submitted your XML sitemap to Google, it can take up to five weeks for Google to crawl your site. In the meantime, your sitemap will appear as "Pending" within Google Search Console's "Sitemaps" submenu option under the "Crawl" left-hand menu option.
Once Google has begun crawling your sitemap, Google Search Console will show you data surrounding the pages it crawled and what content was indexed. For example, it will show you the number of links it found and which ones were indexed. To see this information, click "Crawl," then "Sitemaps" in the Console.
Once Google has crawled your website, you do not have to resubmit an XML sitemap every time you make a change to your website. Yoast makes those updates automatically and the submitted sitemap link does not change.
While this is perhaps the easiest way to create a sitemap, there are other manual and automatic methods. Check with your website host to see how best to handle sitemap creation if you do not have a WordPress website.
Types of Sitemaps & Sitemap Examples
There are quite a few different types of website sitemaps. Some, like HTML sitemaps, are used to show your website visitors how your website is laid out. Others, like XML sitemaps, Video Sitemaps, Image Sitemaps, and Dynamic Sitemaps tell search engines like Google the content you wish to be listed in their search engine results pages when people search related keywords.
Here are the six types of sitemaps and their examples:
HTML Sitemap
An HTML sitemap is a list of pages on a website organized in the hierarchy in which they are presented on a website. It serves as a table of contents for your website to make it easier for website visitors — not search engines — to find what they're looking for. Each page listed includes a link so website visitors can click to navigate to it. Usually, website visitors can access a website's HTML sitemap by clicking "Sitemap" from the website's footer menu.
XML Sitemap
An Extensible Markup Language (XML) sitemap is a list of a website's important pages, just like an HTML sitemap, but is written in XML — a code commonly used by Google to parse website content. This code includes a list of URLs, content, and accompanying data (like the date URLs were last modified).
Once it is submitted to a search engine like Google, an XML sitemap serves as a road map for bots to crawl a website. These bots evaluate pages to understand their content so they can then tell search engines how and when to include them in search engine results pages in response to people's searches.
Image Sitemap
An image sitemap is an XML sitemap that is dedicated only to providing search engine bots with information about the images on your website. In addition to listing the images on your website, it also offers additional data about them like their URLs, geotags, captions, and other metadata search engines like Google can use to determine their relevance for user searches.
You can either create a separate sitemap for the images or you can add image information to your website's XML sitemap. If your XML sitemap exceeds 50,000 URLs (the maximum limit for an XML sitemap), being able to create separate sitemaps — like an XML sitemap as well as a separate image sitemap — helps you get all your content indexed without anything being excluded.
It is recommended that any site primarily focused on image content, like a photography website, have separate XML and image sitemaps by default. This ensures search engines bots do not miss critical site content.
Video Sitemap
A Video sitemap is an XML sitemap that includes information about the videos on your website. You can either create a separate video sitemap or add video information to your larger XML sitemap. Smaller websites benefit from adding video information to their existing XML sitemap. Large websites that exceed 50,000 URLs or an uncompressed sitemap file limit of 50MB should create a separate video sitemap to ensure images get indexed.
Just as we mentioned when discussing the image sitemap, if your business sells or promotes videos (like webinars), you should create a separate sitemap for them by default. Because your business relies on them being indexed, this helps ensure none of them are missed by Google indexing.
Mobile Sitemap
Mobile sitemaps are used to map out content on your website specifically designed for feature phones. Feature phones are standard phones that offer text messaging and inbound and outbound calls, plus some select smartphone-type features, but aren't as advanced as smartphones. Given advancements in smartphone technology, it is unlikely your small business needs a mobile sitemap. These maps are not for websites that are simply mobile-friendly.
Dynamic XML Sitemaps
A lot of plugins or crawling software create sitemaps that are static. This means that each time you add or remove content from your website, you have to create a new sitemap and resubmit it to search engines like Google.
However, other plugins and software, like Yoast, automatically update sitemaps every time changes are made. And, since Yoast allows you to submit a sitemap to search engines in link form, that link remains the same but the sitemap the link points to is automatically updated; this means you don't have to resubmit your sitemap. A dynamic sitemap looks just like an XML sitemap but is often submitted to search engines in link form so it can be easily updated.
3 Top Sitemap Generator Tools
Sitemap generators are tools or plugins you can use to crawl your website to generate a list of all your website pages in sitemap form that search engines like Google will accept. While some sitemap generators are meant for only one type of site builder, others work for all site builders, are better for using on more than one website simultaneously, or are best for agencies serving their clients' varied sitemap needs.
Here are the top three sitemap generators for small businesses:
1. Best Free Sitemap Generator for any CMS: Screaming Frog
Screaming Frog is a website crawler and sitemap generator. The free version allows you to create an XML sitemap with just a few clicks and detect broken links so you can fix them to produce a high-quality sitemap. Regardless of the CMS you use, you can enter your domain and instantly begin crawling your website to create your map. Click here to get started with Screaming Frog.
2. Best Free Sitemap Generator for WordPress: Yoast
Yoast is a WordPress search engine optimization and sitemap generator plugin. It offers a free version that automates website sitemap creation with just a toggle of a button. Moreover, you never have to recrawl your site; Yoast will crawl your site every time you change it and automatically update the sitemap you've submitted to search engines like Google. Click here to get started with Yoast.
3. Best Sitemap Generator for Agencies: Slickplan
Slickplan is a sitemap generator that offers the ability to generate unlimited sitemaps for $89.99 per month. You can also brand your sitemaps for sending to clients to formalize them before submission to search engines like Google. Finally, you can use its drag-and-drop builder to build HTML sitemaps for client websites. These features make Slickplan the best sitemap generator for agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the purpose of a sitemap?
A sitemap is a listing of all pages on a website. Useful for both complex and basic websites, sitemaps show search engines all the content they need to crawl. Then, these search engines will show relevant content to searchers in SERPs when they search specific keywords. Google originally introduced Google Sitemaps to help businesses ensure that none of their website pages are missed when Google's bots crawl the internet.
What should a sitemap include?
A standard XML sitemap should include all of the website URLs you want website visitors to be able to easily find on your website. For many small business websites, this includes blog posts, landing pages, product pages, tag overview pages, category pages, FAQs, about us pages, contact us pages, and team bio pages. It should also include your media, like your website photos and videos.
Do I need to submit a sitemap to Google?
Yes. By submitting a sitemap to Google, you show Google all the content on your website that you wish Google to crawl and index. By ensuring Google knows about this content, it can include all relevant information in search results.
How do I submit a sitemap?
To submit a sitemap to Google, begin by generating one using a sitemap generator like Yoast or Screaming Frog. From there, open a Google Console account and connect your website to it. Finally, submit your sitemap by pasting your website's sitemap URL into the Console. You can do so under the "Sitemap" submenu option under "Index" in your Google Search Console left-hand menu.
Do I need a sitemap for SEO?
Yes. A sitemap is important for search engine optimization (SEO) because it helps to ensure all of the pages on your website are indexed by search engines like Google and included in relevant search result pages. If pages are not crawled and listed, you run the risk of losing traffic to those pages.
Bottom Line – What Is a Site Map?
A sitemap is a complete list of your website's content. This information is shared with search engines so that they can include relevant content in search engine results pages (SERPs). Creating a small business sitemap can be automated via plugins like Yoast. Once you've generated your sitemap, be sure to submit it to search engines like Google and check back into your search engine account to ensure the content is being accurately indexed.
While sitemaps are critical for website visibility, if your website doesn't offer quality content, a sitemap likely won't help drive traffic to your site. To help, Ignite Digital can evaluate your website to pinpoint needed improvements and then create or improve content for optimal ranking. Click here to get a custom quote from Ignite Digital.