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I spent the last two days at the Defrag Conference. It was awesome on so many levels including the content, the venue, seeing a bunch of great friends, and meeting a bunch of new people.
The conference originated out of an email exchange that Eric Norlin (the amazing guy who puts on the Defrag and Glue Conferences with his even more amazing wife Kim) and I had as a result of a series of blog posts that I wrote in 2006 starting with There Is A Major Software Innovation Wave Coming and Intelligence Amplification.
Over the past three years there has been an incredible amount of innovation around this theme (which we originally called the Implicit Web.) While lots of it is still messy, sloppy, or ineffective, that's just part of the innovation cycle. A consistent discussion point at Defrag was "how to deal with this overwhelming amount of information" – there is no debate about the (a) amount, (b) need to deal with it, or (c) value of dealing with it. However, a lot of the subtext was that there was too much information and we needed better ways to deal with it.
I agree with the conclusion, but not the premise. I don't think there is too much information. I want more. More, more, more, more, more. MORE. I don't want to stop until I have all the information. MORE! You can't give me too much information!
I don't believe the issue is too much information. This is an independent variable that we can't control. For the foreseeable future, there will be a continuous and rapid increase of information as more of the world gets digitized, more individuals become content creators, more systems open up and provide access to their data, and more infrastructure for creating, storing, and transmitting information (and data) gets built.
Yeah – I know – that's obvious. But there are a few ways to approach it. My desired way is to accept the thing you can't control (more information) and drastically improve the methods for consuming it. I spent the better part of two days having this thought over and over again.
By the end of the second day, I'd decided that my original premise was correct – there continues to be a huge innovation wave in software that addresses this. And we are just starting to deal with it. And while software is at the core of it, we've learned an enormous amount in the past few years about the power of people to help curate it, both directly (by doing things to it) and indirectly (by software interpreting the broad signals of what a large number of people are doing to it.)
The user interfaces – and user interaction model – for all of this stuff still sucks rocks. And I love things that suck, because that creates huge opportunities for innovation.
A few weeks ago I wrote a post titled The Maturing of the Implicit Web. In it I talked about new releases from AdaptiveBlue and OneRiot. As I sit here in my hotel room in Seattle waiting for TA McCann (CEO of Gist) to show up for our pre-board meeting run, I'm pondering how much work I'm starting to get the web to do for me.
For example, as part of my morning information routine, I go through my Gist dashboard. This is a list of all the new information that Gist has found from a wide variety of data sources about people and companies in my social network. It derives the social network from my email inbox, integrates it with my Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter social graphs, and then presents it to me in a way that is prioritized by what it thinks I find most interesting. The level of relevance to me is amazing now that I've had it running for a few months. While Gist is still in closed beta, if you want an invite just email me.
Gist is synthesizing the data for me from a variety of other web services. At our board meeting today we have a long list of potential partners and data services that we prioritize based on (a) quality of data, (b) availability of data, and (c) ability to integrate the data. Exactly one year ago I wrote a post titled No API? You Suck! I feel so strongly about this; if I wrote the post again today I would have titled it "No API? You Really Suck!"
One of the data sources that has a strong API layer is our company Gnip. They recently announced that they will be integrating data from the Facebook Platform into their data set. This comes on the heals of their announcement about adding WordPress as a data publisher to their system. Gnip now has over 30 data publishers actively flowing through their system and have found rapid adoption from a number of interested customers. Oh – and Gnip's API is well documented, public, and evolving rapidly.
So – it was with great pleasure when I saw Alex Iskold's announcement that there is now a Glue API. There is a tremendous amount of interesting semantic data in AdaptiveBlue's Glue system – the API liberates it for anyone that wants to put some energy into working with it.
But wait, there's more. OneRiot also just released their API, which – while not public yet – is available by request. OneRiot has a fascinating set of real time data available via a search interface that gets better and more relevant every week. They've also demonstrated that they can build to search scale as they have some superb technical search folks on their team.
Gang – thanks for not sucking. Y'all are helping set things up so the web does more of the work for me!
I've been fascinated with the notion of the Implicit Web since I determined that I was tired of my computer (and the Internet in general) being stupid. I wanted it (my computer as well as the Internet) to pay attention to what I, and others, were doing. Theoretically "my compute infrastructure" should learn, automate repeated tasks (automatically), figure out what information I actually want, and make sure I get it when I want it.
In 20 years, I expect we will snicker at the idea of having to go search for information by typing a few words into a text box on the screen. It's way better than 20 years ago, but when you step back and think about it, it's pretty lame. I mean, I've got this incredible computer on my desk, a gazillion servers in the cloud, this awesome social network, yet I find myself typing the same stuff into little boxes over and over again. Ok – it's all pretty incredible given that it wasn't so long ago that people had to rub sticks together to get fire, but can't it be amazing and lame at the same time?
Several companies that I've got a personal investment in that play in and around the implicit web recently came out with new releases that I'm pretty excited about; each addresses different problems, but does it in elegant and clever ways.
The first – OneRiot – came out with a new twist on using Twitter for search. OneRiot's goal is to provide a search engine for the real time web. To that end, they've historically gotten their data on what people are looking at from a collection of browser-based sensors (anonymous, opt-in only). They've built a unique search infrastructure that takes a variety of factors, including number of people on a specific URL in a particular time period, freshness of the content, and typical content weighting algorithms. A little while ago they realized that people were tweeting a huge number of URLs, mostly via URL shorteners (which are loathed by some very smart people.) Twitter search addresses keywords in the tweet, but it doesn't do anything with the URL's, especially the shortened ones. So, OneRiot built a pre-processor that grabs tweets from Twitter's API that include a URL, tosses the shortened URL into OneRiot's search corpus (which expands the URL and indexes the full page text), and then references it back to the original tweet. It also correlates all tweets with the same URL (including re-tweets) across any URL shortened service. Now, imagine incorporating any URL data that's real time that has an API, such as Digg. Aha! It's alpha so forgive it if it breaks – but give it a try.
The second – AdaptiveBlue – has released their newest version of Glue. Glue is a contextual network that uses semantic technology to automatically connect people around everyday things such as books, music, movies, stars, artists, stocks, wine, and restaurants. It uses a browser-based plugin to build this contextual network implicitly. When you are on a site such as Amazon, Last.fm, Netflix, Yahoo! Finance, Wine.com, or Citysearch, the Glue bar automatically appears when it recognizes an appropriate object, categorizes it, and let's you take specific action on it if you want. Glue has been evolving nicely and now includes the idea of connected conversations between friends (e.g. talk about whatever you like regardless of the site you are visiting), smart recommendations (e.g. implicit recommendations), and web wide top lists of the aggregated activity of all Glue users.
In addition, we've finally found a company that we think is attacking a wide swath of the problem of the Implicit Web the correct way, at least given today's technology. We hope to close the investment and start talking publicly about it early next month.
For now, I expect the applications around the Implicit Web to continue to fall into the early adopter / you need to see it to believe it category (where it's harder to explain than just to show). In the near term, if you are interested in this are, try out OneRiot and Glue – they are both evolving and maturing very nicely.
Josh Kopelman doesn't blog that frequently, but almost all of them are worth reading carefully. His latest post – Feed Frenzy – is great. Josh is facing the "multiple news feed problem" as he joins more and more services that publish a news feed. He takes on the notification side of the equation – the opposite of what FriendFeed and SocialThing do.
All of the social network sites continue to use email as a notification mechanism. When something happens on the social network that pertains to you (including messages), you get an email. Anyone that has a meaningful volume of social network activity quickly learns how to turn these notifications off. This defeats part of the real time value of social networks – now I have to go check and see what's going on to see if anything relevant to me has happened.
As the "too much email" meme continues to circulate, someone is going to realize that one of the drivers of it is the endless notification cycle and the least common denominator – namely email – that is the mechanism for the notifications.
The solution – as Josh points out – is analogous to SNMP and network operations. Josh wants an SNMP enabled dashboard for all his news feeds. Aggregate everything into one easy to monitor dashboard, take action automatically on critical things that I've told the dashboard it can take action on, and organize the rest of the notifications in a way that I can deal with.
As an extra special bonus, this dashboard would help me connect all the atomic data (namely – my friend data) on the various social networks I'm getting news feed data from. Fred Wilson would be "Fred Wilson" across twitter, his blog, his tumblr, facebook, linkedin, myspace, disqus, intense debate, etc. I'd be able to interact with "Fred Wilson", not each of the discrete Fred Wilson's.
There was a moment in time where I thought RSS might be the solution for this. But it's not – there's a second order problem (and opportunity) here that requires something additional, especially given that new API's are appearing for handling specific services news feeds.
Stuff like FriendFeed and SocialThing address part of the problem, but not all of it (and – ironically – often create additional data as anyone who was been notified by email that a new friend has signed up to follow them on FriendFeed has discovered.)
I love recursive problems.
My partner Ryan put up another post on the Foundry Group blog about our Implicit Web theme. This is a theme that is particularly interesting and useful to me since I spend so much time in front of my computer trying to deal with and synthesize a never ending stream of data and information.
I want my computer to do more of the work for me. I want the web to figure stuff out for me. I want my computer to learn. I want my friends' behavior and interests to inform mine. I want people I don't know but am connected to through other people I trust to help me find things. I want a pony.
A couple of years ago my path crossed with Eric Norlin. Out of our interactions emerged a conference called Defrag. The first version of Defrag happened last fall – as is typical of my schemes, I always have an evil plan. In this case is was to get in the middle of a bunch of really smart people and hear what they think about the wide range of problems we addressed at Defrag (which was a proxy for the concept of the Implicit Web.) Eric talked about this in his post today titled On Community-driven tech conferences.
My evil plan worked great and I learned a ton. We're doing Defrag 2008 in – surprise – 2008 (11/3 and 11/4 to be exact.) I'm continuing to spend a lot of time looking at, thinking about, and investing in the Implicit Web between now and then. And reading as much Alex Iskold as he will write.


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- We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Kosovo because of the threat of politically-motivated violence.
- Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
- The overall security situation in Kosovo remains calm but unpredictable.
- You should avoid all public gatherings, political rallies, demonstrations and protests given their potential to turn violent.
- Civil disorder continues in the northern part of the city of Mitrovica and Kosovo's three northern municipalities of Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvecan. We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to these areas because of the high threat of politically-motivated violence.
- There is a high degree of tension at the northern Kosovo border crossings of Jarinje and Brnjak (also known as Gates 1 and 31). If you intend to travel between Serbia and Kosovo, you should not use these routes. If you decide to travel in these areas, you should exercise extreme caution.
- Serbia does not recognise entry points direct from Kosovo. You should not attempt to enter Serbia from Kosovo unless you initially travelled into Kosovo from Serbia.
- There is an ongoing risk of terrorism in Europe. In the past, terrorist attacks have occurred in a number of European cities.
- Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Kosovo. The Australian Embassy in Austria provides consular assistance to Australians in Kosovo.
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
Entry and exit
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Further information on visa requirements is available at the Kosovo Foreign Ministry's website.
Currently, Australians do not need a visa to enter Kosovo. You may be required to provide documentary evidence giving a reason for your visit when entering Kosovo. Upon entry, authorities issue a 90-day entry stamp, which is renewable for longer stays.
Travellers to Kosovo should be aware that Serbian authorities may react with hostility to enquiries about documentation for travel to Kosovo.
The security situation along the Kosovo-Serbia border remains unpredictable. There is a high degree of tension at the northern Kosovo border crossings of Jarinje and Brnjak (also known as Gates 1 and 31). If you intend to travel between Serbia and Kosovo you should not use these routes. If you decide to travel in these areas, you should exercise extreme caution. See Safety and security: Civil unrest / Political tension for more information on the security situation along the Kosovo-Serbia border.
Long waiting times and vehicle queues are common when entering Kosovo from Serbia at Gates 3 and 5 (Merdare and Dheu i Bardhe).
Serbia does not recognise entry points direct from Kosovo. You should not attempt to enter Serbia from Kosovo unless you initially travelled into Kosovo from Serbia. Australians wishing to enter Serbia from Kosovo must transit via a third country unless they have a valid Serbian entry stamp in their passport. Road travel from Kosovo to Serbia is possible if transiting via Montenegro or the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Safety and security
Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General advice to Australian travellers.
There is an ongoing risk of terrorism in Europe. In the past, terrorist attacks have occurred in a number of European cities.
Civil unrest/Political tension
We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Kosovo because of the threat of politically-motivated violence. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
The overall security situation in Kosovo remains calm but unpredictable. We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Kosovo because of the threat of politically-motivated violence. In the past, violent, armed inter-ethnic conflict has erupted mainly, but not exclusively, in several towns in northern Kosovo, including the northern part of the city of Mitrovica. There have also been incidents along the southern border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Kosovar general public is hospitable towards travellers. However, we still recommend you consult a local guide when travelling as an individual, in particular if travelling to the three northern municipalities of Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvecan, and the northern part of the city of Mitrovica.
The Republic of Kosovo declared independence on 17 February 2008, and Australia recognised Kosovo's statehood on 19 February 2008. However, Serbia has not recognised Kosovo's statehood and still considers Kosovo to be part of Serbia.
Following its declaration of independence, Kosovo entered a period of political transition. In December 2008, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) passed rule of law functions to the European Rule of Law Mission (EULEX).
EULEX's central aim is to assist and support the Kosovo authorities in the rule of law area, specifically in the police, judiciary and customs areas. EULEX is a technical mission which monitors, mentors and advises whilst retaining a number of limited executive powers.
A North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) led international force, the Kosovo Force (KFOR), together with the Kosovo Police Force and assisted by EULEX police, is responsible for maintaining security in Kosovo.
You should check local developments before and during your journey. UNMIK and KFOR provide the latest security information on their websites www.nato.int/KFOR and http://www.unmikonline.org. Security information is also broadcast on Radio KFOR wwww.radiokfor.com.
You should avoid all public gatherings, political rallies, protests, roadblocks and demonstrations because of their potential to turn violent.
Australians should make sure their travel documents are valid and be prepared for a possible deterioration in the security situation in Kosovo.
You should also be aware that the indiscriminate use of fireworks and firearms in 'happy fire' can result in accidental injury. Each year, people are injured through the misuse of fireworks and firearms at celebrations. In addition, several hundred thousand illegal small firearms are still believed to be privately owned in Kosovo.
Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvecan municipalities and North Mitrovica: We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to the northern part of the city of Mitrovica and the northern municipalities of Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvecan because of the high threat of politically-motivated violence. Unofficial roadblocks are sometimes erected at short notice to block the movement of organisations such as EULEX. In recent years, violent, armed inter-ethnic conflict has occurred in Kosovo, mainly, but not exclusively, in several towns in northern Kosovo, including the northern part of the city of Mitrovica.
The situation remains unpredictable due to tensions between ethnic Serbs and Kosovo Albanians. There remain some impediments to freedom of movement in northern Kosovo. The situation continues to be volatile.
Kosovo-Serbia Border. Following incidents in January and June 2012, the security situation along the Kosovo-Serbia border remains unpredictable. There is a high degree of tension at the northern Kosovo border crossings of Jarinje and Brnjak (also known as Gates 1 and 31). If you intend to travel between Serbia and Kosovo, you should not use these routes. If you decide to travel in these areas, you should exercise extreme caution.
While acts of petty crime against foreigners are not significant, travellers should be aware of pickpocketing and bag snatching. Criminals are known to target foreigners in crowded places including markets and on public transport.
Violent criminal acts, such as assassinations and murder, are often linked to organised crime and not directed at foreigners.
Money and valuables
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques may not be accepted by some money changers. Consult with your bank to find out whether your ATM card will work in Kosovo.
Kosovo's economy is largely cash-based. The Euro is Kosovo's official currency. The Serbian Dinar (RSD) may occasionally be accepted in the Serb-majority area of northern Kosovo. Banks with international ties and automated teller machines (ATMs) are becoming more common, but are not yet fully developed throughout Kosovo. Credit cards are accepted in some hotels, shops and restaurants. Cash payment in local currency is expected, especially in small establishments.
Make two photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
Local travel
Despite the fact that Kosovo has been cleared of most land mines, there are still land mines and unexploded ordnance in Kosovo, particularly in regions bordering Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, including the Dulje Pass area close to Prizren. Australians are urged to use only roads and paths labelled as cleared by a competent de-mining authority.
Driving in Kosovo can be dangerous due to poorly maintained roads and vehicles and poor driving skills. Roads are sometimes shared with pedestrians and farm animals in rural areas. There are many roadworks ongoing in Kosovo, which further contribute to continually changing traffic conditions. For further advice, see our road travel page.
There is a risk of landslides on the main route between Pristina and Skopje in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Heavy snowfalls can severely disrupt travel in Kosovo.
Airline safety
Please refer to our air travel page for information about aviation safety and security.
When you are in Kosovo, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
While homosexual activity is not illegal in Kosovo, it is not widely accepted. Overt public displays of affection by persons of the same sex should be avoided. See our LGBTI travellers page.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, child pornography and child sex tourism, apply to Australian overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism and child pornography laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 25 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in child sexual exploitation while outside of Australia.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
It is important to consider your physical and mental health before travelling overseas. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before you travel. At least eight weeks before you depart, make an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic for a basic health check-up, and to discuss your travel plans and any implications for your health, particularly if you have an existing medical condition. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our health page also provides useful information for travellers on staying healthy.
Medical facilities in Kosovo are below Australian standards. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with appropriate facilities would be necessary. Costs for a medical evacuation could be considerable.
Outbreaks of food-borne and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis A, trichinosis, brucellosis and rabies) occur from time to time. We recommend you avoid raw and undercooked food, drink bottled water and avoid unpasteurised dairy products.
Levels of air pollution in Kosovo can be high, particularly in winter when heavy smoke from coal and wood burning heaters can linger for days or even weeks. Accidental emission of toxic substances from factories is not uncommon and public health warnings after such accidents are not always issued. Sufferers of asthma or other bronchial conditions should seek medical advice.
Travel in forested areas in Kosovo brings the risk of exposure to tick-borne encephalitis. Another tick-borne infection, Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), is endemic to Kosovo. Ticks are common in country areas and are active from spring to autumn. We recommend you take measures to avoid tick-bites, particularly in rural areas. The National Institute of Public Health in Kosovo has reported that since April 2010, there have been 84 suspected cases of CCHF, including five deaths. Cases have been reported in the municipalities of Malisheva, Rahovec, Suhareka, Klina and Gjakova. If you suffer from a fever during your visit in Kosovo you should seek immediate medical attention. More information of CCHF can be found at the WHO website.
Where to get help
Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Kosovo. The Australian Embassy in Austria provides consular assistance to Australians in Kosovo. Contact details are:
Australian Embassy, Vienna
Mattiellistrasse 2
A1040 Vienna
Telephone: +43 1 506 740
Facsimile: +43 1 513 1656
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: www.austria.embassy.gov.au/
The British Embassy in Pristina can provide limited emergency consular assistance to Australians in Kosovo. This does not include passport or visa services. Contact details are:
British Embassy, Pristina
Ismail Qemali 6
Telephone: +381 (0) 38 254 700
Facsimile: +381 (0) 38 243 062
Email: email@example.com
If you are travelling to Kosovo, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency; whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
Additional information
Natural disasters, severe weather and climate
Kosovo is located in an active earthquake zone. Tremors are not uncommon.
Bush and forest fires can occur in summer months (June to September), particularly in northern Kosovo. Extreme hot and dry periods may lead to water shortages.
Information on natural disasters, including earthquakes, can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
For parents
For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling with Children brochure.

subset: commoncrawl


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PLATTSBURGH — The consul general of Canada for New York sees the vital importance of the U.S.-Canada relationship, particularly in New York.
Speaking at the North Country Chamber of Commerce recently, Consul General John Prato said the cross-border relationship is especially important in Plattsburgh because of the city's proximity to Montreal and the number of Canadian companies that have established operations here.
"I think a prosperous Plattsburgh is good for Canada and good for Quebec, in particular," he said.
The trade relationship between the United States and Canada totaled $742 billion last year, Prato said. Canada's next largest two-way trade partnership is $70 billion.
Eight million jobs in the United States depend on the relationship with Canada, he continued. That includes slightly less than 600,000 jobs in New York state.
The consulate general has three priorities, the first being in the area of finance, investment and innovation.
Part of that is to help Canadian companies expand into the United States. Canada has many terrific startup companies, and one of the best ways to help them continue to grow is to expand into the U.S. market, Prato said.
"This area (North Country) is a no-brainer for businesses in Canada."
The second priority is in the field of energy and the environment, including the clean, reliable hydroelectricity that primarily comes from the Province of Quebec.
Prato said many people are surprised to learn Canada is the largest supplier of oil to the United States. He said the positive relationship between the two countries ensures it is a safe and secure supply.
Congressman Bill Owens (D-Plattsburgh) said he doesn't think enough legislators in Washington, D.C., or Albany realize the importance of the relationship shared by Canada and United States. More focus is needed, he said, on educating government officials and the general populace on that issue.
The Beyond the Border Initiative and the Regulatory Cooperation Council make up Prato's third priority.
Beyond the Border calls for a shared approach to security to address threats while expediting lawful trade and travel.
Continued use of trusted traveler and shipper programs, such as NEXUS and FAST, are important, he said, so a secure border isn't also an impediment.
The Regulatory Cooperation Council works to increase regulatory transparency and coordination between the two nations to promote economic growth and job creation. Prato said this area has a network of professionals in many fields with knowledge of the different regulations in the United States and Canada.
Asked to provide details of the Canadian Technology Accelerator Initiative, Prato said that is in place in three locations: Boston, San Francisco and New York City.
The focus in New York City is digital media startups. Fledgling Canadian companies receive assistance in access to capital, collaboration with similar companies, identification of potential clients and development of a global presence through a New York location.
Prato said 32 companies have participated so far, and half of those have since set up a permanent presence in the United States.
"I think the key to its success is you can't have a cookie-cutter approach," he said, adding each location has its own unique selling points.
North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said Prato's visit was a welcome opportunity to continue to develop the region's relationship with its neighbor to the north.
"When we say what's good for Canada is good for the North Country, we mean it," he said.
Email Dan firstname.lastname@example.com


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And now, to the dulcet tones and beeps of Underworld's Rez/Cowgirl, we shall commence liveblogging the second half of the Previews Catalogue. What does this mean, by the by? Well as I flip through the pages of the May 2009 Previews catalogue (for items scheduled to start shipping in July), I'm reading descriptions of the books, checking our order history and our sell-through of previous issues, and then figuring out how many copies I'm going to order. What you're seeing are my honest, off-the-cuff reactions to the books (and attitudes…) found in your average issue of Previews. Ready, let's read!
12:44pm: Page 178 features this month's WIZARD solicit, which, again, looks like it's being designed by the Previews staff rather than at Wizard. I really do think they've finally fired everyone at that magazine that they could…? Anyway. This page is notable because one of the features of this issue of WIZARD is: HOW TO GET YOUR GIRL TO READ COMICS, which is delightful in a late-90s internet article sort of way. The best, BEST part? The afformentioned "girl" in the little photo accompanying the article is carrying copies of: 6 Superhero books, Sin City, Y The Last Man, and… can't quite make out the top one. Against a wall of high-priced back issues. So, yeah, this photo is not doing the article any favours. I've long-since grown past the need to read Wizard just to be offended or upset at bad content, but I'm really kind of anxious to read this one, just to see if it "lives up" to the photo.
Of course, I'm actually cutting orders on this issue as sales are sliding badly on the magazine…
12:52pm: We are continuing to sell out of Dave Sim's Glamourpuss, which is kind of surprising… We're also continuing to do the same with Terry Moore's ECHO, which is less surprising, but I'm going to be honest, I really thought the first trade paperback would've killed the issue sales. Nope! It seems people want to read Terry Moore as soon as they can get him. Good for him.
12:59pm: PROCESS RECESS 3. The 3rd in AdHouse's release of James Jean art-books. The first two have sold right-the-fuck-out and are going for ludicrous prices online. This third one apparently collects sketchbook work, new paintings and illustrations, all kinds of cool stuff by M. Jean. We'll be ordering a bunch.
Cover Image to the right, click for (much) larger.
EDIT: Oh yeah, check out James Jean's blog for more info on this, it's nifty: http://www.processrecess.com/?uid=FA8BCD
1:20pm: So, Page 188 shows us that Antarctic is now designing their own section of the Previews catalogue… With, I think, utterly disastrous results. I appreciate that it's good to be able to control the size and presentation of your books–good for you, seriously. But? This is a jumbled mess. No center-of-interest, doesn't lead the eye, and the blue hackground makes it basically-impossible for me to write my little numbers for what I want to order next to the solicit. :-/
As you can see, the only thing that really stands-out is the PRESIDENT EVIL title treatment, and even then, it's a little difficult to make-out as Barack Obama (although really what else could it be…).
Yeah, guys, seriously this is not doing you any favours whatsoever. Look at like… catalogue layout sometime or something. Or figure out some way to layout your info better, because this is terrible.
1:36pm: I'm kind of having guilt pangs about not ordering this terrible fucking Obama/Resident Evil 'parody', because I know it will sell off the rack, but it's just conceptually awful, like the terrible Barbarian comics probably will too. But no one has preordered them so I just don't want them on the rack, I'd like to stand for something, you know?
Anyway, I am conflicted. But I am not ordering them. If someone really wants one they can do a special order.
1:39pm: So APE Entertainment's The Trouble With Katie Rogers (p190) looks kind of neat. A contemporary romantic comedy in graphic novel format. We have a healthy balance of men and women shopping at the store, I'm curious if something like this will do well for us, or if it really is a bookstore thing. I'll give it a go. (Nice MySpace page too, actually).
Oh, also on this page is Zeke Deadwood: Zombie Lawman from SLG. I'm actually not "sick" of the Zombie thing yet, and this looks pretty good, played for laughs. Looks like a sort of Westerns versions of Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse. We'll give this a solid order, hopefully it works out.
1:45pm: So all of my questioning is for naught, it looks very much like the Mouse Guard series has finished, and at Archaia to boot. Now here comes the second graphic novel collection, Mouse Guard Volume 2: Winter 1152. I imagine it will do well for us.
I think I saw someone, maybe Mike Sterling, wondering aloud on his blog as to why the sales on the single-issues of the MOUSE GUARD series had dropped through the floor at his store. I think one reason why might be that the solicit for this collection promises "a new epilogue", which, considering the series just ended this past week, is kind of unfortunate. I don't subscribe to the idea that putting new content is "screwing" people who bought the singles–I did when I was a little younger but now I realize that you get what you pay for. You paid four bucks and issue for 6 issues of a comic, and you didn't mind doing so at the time, you probably got $4 of enjoyment out of that book, epilogue or no. But seeing stuff like this happen? It does make customers less likely to support serialization, it does erode customers faith and interest in a series, and when you make it a selling feature that the pretty new hardcover contains a bunch of stuff not in the smelly-old issues, it makes me as a retailer reconsider my approach to ordering your single issue comics. Not just from this creator, but from this whole publisher.
So, you know, as a publisher you can do whatever the hell you want, it's your business. Just know that there are reprecussions.
1:56pm: The ASPEN MLT INC. publisher pages look an awful lot like advertisements, but it turns out those are the solicitations, and the only ones at that. Meanwhile, flipping along, the AVATAR solicits look a lot more like solicits than advertisements (although the Anna Mercury 2 #2 spread was a little confusing at first). Still, one looks like it is imparting information, the other is drowning in graphic elements, headlines, logos, and tiny tiny text. It's pretty easy to figure out which is more successful.
2:17pm: I know they're "just" licensed books, but I'm kind of shocked to see that the first wave of trade paperback collections of Boom's THE MUPPET SHOW, THE INCREDIBLES, and THE WORLD OF CARS got almost no play at all in the catalogue. We've done very well with the single issues of all of these books, Very Well, and the treade paperback collections (at a friendly $10 price point) are going to do gangbusters for us, I think? Maybe I'm wrong on this, but we're definitely investing in them at the store… We're doing progressively better with kids material and this is really solid looking stuff.
2:41pm: Similarly surprising? No special-attention paid to Cartoon Books' solicitation of the limited-edition RASL HC (P222). Limited edition oversized HC of Jeff Smith material… you'd think that Diamond would be all over that. I mean, I know it's not going to sell BONE HC numbers, but we've been doing really well with RASL. Again, I'm all over this collection, particularly for the long-haul collectors that are going to want this (very) limited collection, but might not have the pocket-money on hand to do so now.
2:46pm: Also on page 222 is Jack Moriarty's THE COMPLETE JACK SURVIVES from Buenaventura Press. Originally published in the venerable RAW magazine, this collects every Jack Survives strip in a lovely 11×14 package, in full colour. I'm only very casually familiar with the material, but it's spoken-of very reverently amongst my artcomix friends, and anything out of RAW is obviously work at least a look.
3:20pm: I know this is going a little slower than usual today, but man, things are a little intense at work here today. Lots of stuff in the air. Sorry.
DMP BOOKS is changing the size of some of their manga? I think I missed this announcement, but going through their solicitations today (starting on P237) it looks like they're doing some of their books at B6 (a format more-or-less unknown in North America), which measure 5 1/8″ x 7 3/16″, or thereabouts… which is a little smaller than the current "TOKYOPOP SIZE" favoured by the majority of the comics industry. They're doing the rest of their books in the A5 size, which measure 5.875″ x 8.25″, or slightly smaller than their current size of manga. Basically their entire line is changing size over the next few months. I… assume this is to cut costs? But I've got no idea.
I hope that the effect of this is minimized when it comes to changes in size between volumes of the same series, because comics fans of all ages, genders, and sexual proviclivities, FUCKING HATE IT when the spines don't match up on their manga.
Just saying.
3:29pm: I had kind of thought that Big Questions #12 by Anders Nilsen (P243) was the last issue of the series, but the solicit makes no mention either way. I am greatly, greatly looking forward to a collection of this series… though these individual issues are just gorgeous too. Hopefully any collection will include all of the colour paintings and things. But of course, it's D&Q, so that's probably very likely…
Speaking of D&Q, THE JOHN STANLEY LIBRARY: NANCY VOL 1 is also solicited this week. I have to say I kinda dug the old-school repro on their recent Melvin The Monster collection… The feel of reading old comics is a much nicer one, to me, than the feel of reading badly-computer-recoloured comics with digitally altered linework. I hope I'm not in the minority? I'd much rather see this kind of reprint, when good-quality copies exist to shoot from (or be fixed with minor tweaks).
6:15pm: Okay, let's try and power through to the end of the Previews, shall we?
Page 245: I'm always pretty excited about new work from Fanfare/Ponent-Mon. Their new graphic novel YEARS OF THE ELEPHANT is something of a departure for them, a European work with no Japanese connection. I got to see a preview of this one at the New York Comicon this past winter, and it's a really unique work. It's nicely drawn, in pencils mostly, though a bit sketchy sloppy at times. The solicit calls it "rudimentary" but it has a classical cartooning kind of feel. And the nature of the story, about a many who's sort of slowly and humourously losing his mind after his son committs suicide, it takes a while but it definitely grows on you as you flip the pages. I have no idea how something like this will be received in North America, quite honestly. As far as I can tell it's at least partly autobiographical, and personal tragedy memoirs tend to find their audiences more often than not. But it really is a strange book… One that I'm personally looking forward to, particularly considering that Editor Stephen Robson has the foresight to pick up strange-tale-of-personal-tragedy Hideo Azuma's DISAPPEARANCE DIARY and it was fantastic. I figure this one is at least worth a shot.
Page 246-247: Fantagraphics' acid-trip orange-and-purple spread is certainly eye-catching, and the info is laid out in a professional, easy-to-read way. It's just that the overall effect is sort of hideous. But anyway, good books in here. The one I'm most immediately interested in is the TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE hardcover collection, collecting the first four issues of the series, and now in full colour. THRIZZLE has been an easy single-issue sale for us since its debut, I imagine this handsome new hardcover will do similarly well.
For the classic strips guys, there's another volume of POPEYE. For the art guys, there's a third JIM FLORA art book. For nerds, there's THE BEST AMERICAN COMICS CRITICISM OF THE 21ST CENTURY. Pretty solid month for Fanta.
Page 252: It's not often that authors tend to really get behind the graphic novel adaptations of their work, but Tim Hamilton's graphic adaptation of FARENHEIT 451 features an introduction by Bradbury himself, quite a coup. The $30 price tag is surprisingly high, but then so are the expectations on this one if the advance press I've seen is anything to go by.
Also on this page, Kevin Eastman releases his (competing? complimentary?) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Anniversary collection. the TMNT 25TH ANNIVERSARY BY KEVIN EASTMAN (kind of a fuck-you-title, isn't that?) features Eastman's fav Turtles stories, some of them in colour for the first time. That's kind of interesting? But the big turtles release is a few pages away still.
Page 253: RICHARD STARK'S PARKER: THE HUNTER adapted by Darwyn Cooke. What can I say? This looks pretty darned amazing. IDW let me know that they sent me a preview of this one a few days ago, but it hasn't shown up yet unfortunately. I was hoping to have read it before I could just unequivocally recommend it, but since I can't I'll have to just say that it's PROBABLY the best new book in the Previews this month and you should pick it up. If you're not sure, there's tons of great preview/interview stuff online, and if just reading the first 20 pages doesn't convince you I dunno what will.
Hey IDW guys: Maybe I'm blind here, but why isn't that PARKER preview linked off of your frontpage? I actually couldn't find it on your site, had to google it.
Page 270: Alright, here you go. It's the first 540 pages of Eastman and Laird's TMNT from the 80s, in black and white (11 issues plus the four 'micro-series' issues) for $30. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE COLLECTED BOOK VOLUME 1 SC. I am definitely going to take one of these home with me. I've read a bunch of these through random reprints and stuff, but I think I'd really dig reading these all at once. Hell, SOMEBODY did… And it's been one of our most-demanded trade paperback collections for years…!
Page 278: The long-anticipated Jeff Smith TOON BOOKS entry drops in July. LITTLE MOUSE GETS READY seems to be in the format of their youngest-reader stuff, like the Silly Lily books, and it looks great. I kind of felt like the Silly Lily books had a lower vocabulary for the 4-6 year old set, and this one seems like a book that you read-to a child, rather than one they can read on their own? I'm not an expert or anything, but I'd be curious to know who the age group is for this one. Either way, it's lovely looking.
Page 280: The kids comic series THE STUFF OF LEGEND got a bit of buzz following Free Comic Book Day, so I'll give the first issue a decent order, see if it will pick up a following in our store. It seems to be in Mouse Guard format, so I guess they know who they're going-after audience-wise.
Page 282: Long awaited D.N. ANGEL VOLUME 12 from Tokyopop, and no a whole hell of a lot else. BISENGHAST VOLUME 6, possible the last "OEL" title that TP is physically publishing, actually, that's kind of news too.
Page 284: For those of you who read my earlier bitching, the LENORE: NOOGIES color edition is here. 128 pages for $24.95. Also this page is the second collection of Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele's SURROGATES, FLESH AND BONE, a prequel to the first trade and, conveniently enough, the upcoming movie. Also from Top Shelf on the following page is a new printing of SURROGATES VOLUME ONE, and an omnibus HC collecting one and 2, for people that need to own things in HC.
Page 286: Speaking of Darwyn Cooke, Twomorrows solicits MODERN MASTERS VOLUME 23: DARWYN COOKE to coincide with THE HUNTER. A 120 page collection of sketches, rare art, and illustration. Generally the Modern Masters series of books are snapped-up by the fans of the creators they cover, this one will be no different. Actually, that's not true; thanks to his huge fanbase and a hometown crowd, we'll probably just add a zero to the end of whatever number we ordered on volume 22 for this one.
Page 292: So this year Yoshihiro Tatsumi's A DRIFTING LIFE shared the top prize for the Tezuka Cultural Prize for manga. It shared it with Fumi Yoshinaga's series OOKU: THE INNER CHAMBERS, and the first volume of that series drops this month from Viz. If it's half as interesting or well-done as A DRIFTING LIFE, it'll be a must-buy for sure. Yoshinaga is the author of ANTIQUE BAKERY and FLOWER OF LIFE amongst many other fan-fav almost-yaoi titles, and more of her work will certainly be appreciated.
Okay then, I think we're done for this month. Thanks for reading, hopefully next month will go a little more smoothly.
- Chris


text:
PCADS: A Military Solution to Wildland Firefighting
An aerial firefighting crisis exists in the U.S. Nearly four dozen heavy air-tankers could be called upon to assist firefighters roping in past wildfires. But even as wildfires have increased in size and ferocity, air-tanker numbers have dwindled to a...
type='node' cid='402564' />An aerial firefighting crisis exists in the U.S. Nearly four dozen heavy air-tankers could be called upon to assist firefighters roping in past wildfires. But even as wildfires have increased in size and ferocity, air-tanker numbers have dwindled to a shadow of their former strength. Fire agencies have tried to fill the gap with helicopters and Single Engine Air-Tankers (SEATs), but the speed and retardant capacity of the heavy, fixed-wing air-tankers is sorely missed. Is there any way to increase the firefighting capacity of U.S. fire agencies quickly and cheaply?
An Alternative Solution
PCADS (Precision Container Aerial Delivery System) is the brainchild of William Cleary, an Advanced Systems Project Manager at Boeing Aerospace's Long Beach facility. Cleary got the idea from dropping water balloons off a rooftop. "What we're doing with PCADS is airdropping on wildfires," he explains. "For a long time now, the Department of Defense has tried to improve how you deliver something to the ground, such as supplies to our warriors, and how you do it accurately.
"With PCADS, we are taking advantage of all the technology that is applied to airdrops today," he continues. "What we found is that by using the aircraft technology, meaning GPS in the aircraft and computers that can measure wind and other factors way beyond GPS, we're able to be extremely accurate with these PCADS."
PCADS Revealed
So what exactly is a PCADS unit? It is a 250-gallon plastic bag surrounded by a cardboard box and mounted on a skid. The units are loaded into the cargo bay of a transport aircraft, then a pilot simply flies to the GPS coordinates of the fire and the loadmaster deploys the bundles out the back of the aircraft at a safe altitude.
"What we've done with PCADS is to design them around the military system called CDS (Container Delivery System), so our 2,000 pounds fits that system perfectly," Cleary explains. "We had to design PCADS so that it met an Air Force requirement, but we also had to create a scenario where it came apart when it got into the airstream. Because we use a CDS rigging system, we don't have to use straps on PCADS." As a result, the parts all separate on leaving the aircraft, with the oversized top acting like a parachute, and pieces that are like razor blades that are connected to the rigging with a lanyard, so that these razor blades cut the rigging.
"What we've done lately is that we've replaced those razor blades with a timing device that delays the cutting of the rigging at a pre-set time – 10 seconds, 4 seconds, etc. – to delay the time that PCADS bursts," Cleary adds. "This allows the aircraft to drop from a higher altitude [than a conventional air-tanker would drop]."
Military On-Board
Needless to say, the military is already adept at night-dropping cargo. "They have night-vision goggles, air-dropping requirements that they drop within certain distances at night, so we're using the same crews who do the air-dropping for fighting fires," explains Cleary. "What the IC [Incident Commander] has to provide the aircrew is latitude and longitude as to where you want PCADS."
And the military is warming to the mission. "We're now at a point where we'll be working with the Air National Guard on the strategy and tactics for using PCADS on fires," Cleary reports. "We're very excited about the Air National Guard work because they have lots of ideas for PCADS and they have a requirement to fight wildfires."
If you are concerned about difficult terrain, it is not a problem. "The good thing about this tactically is that it opens up opportunities that are not available right now [to air-tankers] because we can drop into a box canyon or a deep gorge," PCADS team member and Wildfire Consultant Don Green explains. "There are so many different things this can do – we can drop on spot fires as small as a car fire. It expands the operational capability of aerial firefighting."
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'You Have TB': Melissa Sanchez's Story
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Lance Armstrong Sings Radiohead (Sort Of)
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text:
BlackBerry Z3
SIM Free?
BlackBerry and the UAE government
International News
Android not such a good deal
BlackBerry Media
CrackBerry Polls
BlackBerry Games
BlackBerry Media
BlackBerry Media
BlackBerry Media
BlackBerry Apps
BlackBerry Apps
Now ready for developers
News & Rumors
BlackBerry Games
BlackBerry Apps
BlackBerry Media
BlackBerry Games
With all the BlackBerry 10 craziness the last few weeks (more so this week) it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. We've been non-stop posting all the BlackBerry 10, BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 stuff we can find and we won't be slowing down anytime soon -- we're all crazy excited for BlackBerry and what's in store for the coming months.
Kevin and Bla1ze are on a plane back to Toronto at the moment, so before he advises against it, I figured I'd drop this post in.
Cruising around the site today to catch up, I was pulled around to some older posts and noticed a few things that pretty much blew my mind. Hence, why you should always believe what Kevin says.
Numero Uno: Yesterday, Research In Motion officially rebranded to simply BlackBerry. It was a change that was long overdue and that we'd be waiting on for quite a while. It's awesome and needed to be done. So awesome in fact that Kevin suggested it should happen - and he did so a year earlier to the day.
RIM at the time was just off a huge change in CEO Thorsten Heins. Mike and Jim were out and it was the start of a new RIM. Heins was seeking out a new CMO (later choosing Frank Boulben) and also making plenty of changes around the company.
Our fearless leader Kevin new darn well that change was good, but bigger change was better. He suggested that RIM drop their long-standing title and go with just BlackBerry instead.
It's time to change the name of the company from Research In Motion to BlackBerry. Period. New CEO. Let's finally do what should have been done years ago and make the BlackBerry brand one and the same with the corporation and people that deliver the product. I know there is a long history with the Research In Motion name and I'm sure it will cost a chunk of cash and be a headache for a company of RIM's size to go through the change, but the time is now to get it done.
Well, it only took a year, but the folks at BlackBerry saw the light and did just that - yesterday it was announced that Research In Motion was no more and the company would be BlackBerry from here on out. 365 days later. One year. Only a mere 7 minutes keep the announcements from being exactly one year apart. Thanks CookMon!
Numero Dos: It's not so much what Kevin said, but what he did - and it just adds to the crazy factor.
Anyone remember this image?
That was the first leaked image of the BlackBerry London - aka BlackBerry Superphone, BBX and ultimately BlackBerry 10. There was an earlier image that was of a BBX phone at the time, making this the first BlackBerry 10 image to hit the web. The image was posted here on CrackBerry a year ago today. Today is the day that the BlackBerry Z10 went on sale in the UK -- including London. If that doesn't blow your mind that I don't know what else to say.
I'm not trying to butter up Kevin or be a brown-noser (I just spent 10 days with him so I don't owe him any favors, trust me) I just think it's pretty insane how the timing on all of this worked out.
So remember, you don't have to believe everything that Kevin says, but this should be proof enough that he knows what he's talking about.
bluetroll Jan 31, 2013 at 5:08 pm
i was thinking the same thing! Now if Kevin could predict the lottery numbers for me.......
pavlako11 Feb 1, 2013 at 9:22 am
4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42
jkomo001 Jan 31, 2013 at 5:09 pm
haha wow both of those are crazy. CrackBerry > all other BB sites
Nate650 Jan 31, 2013 at 5:09 pm
That's quite remarkable.
Ruslan Botsyurko Jan 31, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Exactly. That editorial by Kevin was the first thing that came to my mind after Thor announced the rebranding. But it's just now that I realize it was exactly one year ago, just remarkable!
Big thumbs up Kevin, keep being spot on ;)
rcheung135 Jan 31, 2013 at 5:10 pm
I believe what Kevin has may be defined as "Insider information" XD.
Ruslan Botsyurko Jan 31, 2013 at 5:32 pm
I would rather say that what BlackBerry has may be defined as the "Insider Kevin" :D
Esgetn2hoT Jan 31, 2013 at 7:45 pm
Everything happens for a reason
Thats all i have to say about that
True.....and so glad BlackBerry ® stops by for a listen!
gjohnsto Jan 31, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Instagram - Doesn't have be a nice car Kev, but you need to come up with something!
z_scorpio_z Jan 31, 2013 at 10:28 pm
exactly why we need a date :) OR do we need to wait for Blackberry 10.1 and then he would owe us a car OR do we need to wait for Blackberry 11?
aloofkid Feb 1, 2013 at 2:36 am
If Instagram becomes available in BlackBerry 10.1 or above Kevin doesn't own us a car contest, but if BlackBerry 11 came first without Instagram in BB10 then I think Kevin owns us a Car Contest =]
But Kevin has been very confident with Instagram that it will be on BlackBerry 10 so like what I've said in BGR, when CrackBerry Kevin says it's coming, it's coming!
00stryder Jan 31, 2013 at 5:13 pm
Nah, I'm convinced Heins is just a figurehead and Kevin is the REAL mastermind behind the new RIM/BlackBerry. Isn't it rather interesting that Thor's first phone call as "CEO" was to Kevin? I bet that conversation had more to it than what Kevin posted here! ;)
The conversation probably started like this "So Kevin, I finally got the CEO job. Now boss, what's the first thing you want me to do? "
togardergrosse Feb 1, 2013 at 9:33 am
That made me remember of the joke of "I hid the body, now what?"
It turns out Thorsten was joking but called the real boss at BlackBerry. XD
sahil123 Jan 31, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Kevin said in December that we're gonna get Instagram for sure. So we just have to wait one more year? :P
camera531 Jan 31, 2013 at 5:19 pm
I remember when he said that RIM should become BlackBerry last year, and it was the first thing I remembered when they announced the change yesterday.
vel4769 Jan 31, 2013 at 5:20 pm
Being that Kevin is the BB guru maybe he can influence the carriers here in the U.S. to release the z10 earlier.
Or maybe he influenced the delay and made sure Canada got them before us.
sml20exel Feb 1, 2013 at 1:12 am
+10... BB10 that is.
BionicKris Jan 31, 2013 at 7:34 pm
...and I wish the US carriers would listen and act on it. If we have to wait until March maybe it will come out in time for my birthday on March 14th and not the end of the month.
BaconMunch Jan 31, 2013 at 5:21 pm
No wonder these new changes sound so familiar to me, I've heard them before and NOT just in my head. As long as Instagram doesn't take a year to come out. ha!
Thachoc1 Jan 31, 2013 at 5:22 pm
This is just amazingly awesome!!!!
Silvius Jan 31, 2013 at 5:22 pm
Now if Kevin can predict the day when BIS will be supported on OS 10 that would be just great.
willie44 Jan 31, 2013 at 5:24 pm
From what I remember, Kevin was also the person that first described the always running "Hub" before it was publicly revealed. I remember him saying in a podcast or video that he wanted the email app to always be running.
tharrison4815 Jan 31, 2013 at 6:54 pm
I think you're right. And I might be making this one up but I also seem to remember him suggesting changing App World to BlackBerry World.
Kevin is secretly the Co-CEO of BlackBerry.
G-bone Jan 31, 2013 at 5:25 pm
Yep, he got it right. :)
I feel pretty certain that Monsieur Boulben had a LOT to say about the name change. I would also speculate that, due to Kevin's article, Thor was already thinking about it. Thor seems to be far more attentive to The Nation.
Good post. Them are some freaky-deaky facts...
Kev looks like a sinister puppeteer that undoubtably "pulls the strings", if you will, inside BlackBerry.
brandonwh Jan 31, 2013 at 5:36 pm
He was correct with both of these. Everyone that somewhat follows BlackBerry knows instgram is coming. But how about Google Maps? I'm hearing a lot more people talk about that app as the "deal breaker".
Please. The people who are saying that are just those who aren't happy unless they have something to whine about.
Their entire wishlist has been fulfilled, so they had to scramble for a new "deal-breaker".
Whiny brats, I say...
Tariq.H Jan 31, 2013 at 7:04 pm
Excuse me? Google maps is a deal breaker... So many people rely on a good maps application to navigate and search for a ton of stuff... I know we are blackberry fans but let's be objective and realistic here eh? I'd do anything to get Google develop the app for the z10 ..
Just use maps.google.com in the browser. Easy fix.
Tariq.H Jan 31, 2013 at 7:05 pm
Excuse me? Google maps is a deal breaker... So many people rely on a good maps application to navigate and search for a ton of stuff... I know we are blackberry fans but let's be objective and realistic here eh? I'd do anything to get Google develop the app for the z10 ..
soaresr Jan 31, 2013 at 8:07 pm
Maybe you'll be able to side load it if someone converts it? it might work??
squished18 Feb 1, 2013 at 12:39 am
No native Google Maps app yet, but it works in the browser. Just go to maps.google.com on the BB10 browser. This includes:
* finding your location
* directions
* layers (like traffic conditions)
* and of course, local search
I haven't tried to see if StreetView is available or not.
Turn-by-turn is not available, although it was never there for the BBOS app either.
brandonwh Feb 2, 2013 at 10:00 am
Yes it does have the google maps functionality, but after everything the past year about, "BlackBerry people are people who do. Don't waste time messing around with other stuff" The OS should be seamless I think. Not having to go into browser, then to google maps, then type in where you want to go. I was hoping for at least some sort of announcement on this.
anthonybaker Jan 31, 2013 at 5:36 pm
He's also the dedicated leader of the CB nation, dude got a live haircut for BB, after growing his hair OUT for BB. Man that guy blows my mind!
IFytFyrs Jan 31, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Anyone know Thorsten's CrackBerry handle?
Michelle Haag Jan 31, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Sadly he doesn't have one.
Uh huh. I believe that about as much as when Kevin said he didnt have a BB10 test unit.
ddlax22 Jan 31, 2013 at 6:08 pm
That's actually nuts. So Kevin has a method to ALL of his madness Adam? Ahaha guess jersey guys aren't the end all be all.
It looks like the jacket Kevin wore was standard issue. Interviewer seems to be wearing the same lol
HofstraJet Jan 31, 2013 at 6:32 pm
That was probably the standard jacket they used before they put anyone on screen (like the jacket the maitre d' has in fancy jacket-only places for those who show up without one). LOL
Is Kevin actually the CEO of BlackBerry? Maybe Thor is just his puppet! haha
Good on you, Kevin!
polytope Jan 31, 2013 at 6:18 pm
Will the stock change from RIMM to BB10? :)
HofstraJet Jan 31, 2013 at 6:28 pm
BBRY is the new ticker symbol.
sjawelsh Jan 31, 2013 at 9:55 pm
and BB on the TSX.
So I am totally amazed that there is so much chatter about Instagram. Seriously what is the deal with this app. Sure I have used it, and it's a good place to put your pics, but I can't believe it's such a necessity. Netflix I can understand, Skype I can understand, but I can't wrap my head around instagram LOL!
BionicKris Jan 31, 2013 at 7:38 pm
I don't get the big Instagram draw either.
cbvinh Jan 31, 2013 at 8:33 pm
It's one of the apps that users from other platforms would want if they were to switch. Basically, it's needed to cover all bases...
bbicons Jan 31, 2013 at 11:43 pm
Don't be amazed. Several reasons why it could be an important app in the BB10 ecosystem. They have something like 100 million+ users as of late last year. Compare that to Netflix: roughly 35-40 million users (they reported 31.9 million oct 12). It's probably the only company that's made a billion dollars solely off of one app. Plus it is more than an app, it's a social network with plenty of room to grow. Then of course there are iphone/android people that say, "well, BlackBerry doesn't have instagram"
anfidhlear Feb 1, 2013 at 7:59 am
Not only can I too not understand this Instagram crap, but personally I don't give a rat's behind about Netflix. They used to be awesome. Then their Instant Viewing library went to hell, then they pulled that price hike BS. I dropped them then and haven't missed it.
If I ever got a streaming subscription again, it would be Amazon's. Which I'm told works on the PlayBook... Anyone care to confirm if it works on BB10?
Isn't Instagram really just a hipster trend that stopped being cool a year ago?
Jobook1 Jan 31, 2013 at 6:20 pm
All hail king Kevin.......
No but seriously, kind of creepy and cool! :b
We are just so lucky to have kevin!
Blacberry by choice!
HofstraJet Jan 31, 2013 at 6:31 pm
What about the splat/spark naming? Wasn't that Kevin as well?
And how many people in the global audience went "who the *#@! is that?" when Kevin's pictures were put up on the screens! LOL
sandra_17 Jan 31, 2013 at 10:36 pm
And didn't all of us CB'ers feel kinda special because WE DID know who he was?!
Kevin Michaluk Jan 31, 2013 at 6:40 pm
Funny post. So this is what happens when I leave for a few hours and don't give you explicit instructions to follow. :p
Totally freaky about being only 7 minutes to a year off on the BlackBerry re-branding. Inception freaky.
Re: Instagram... so yeah... it's coming to BlackBerry. We got word on that yesterday. Not at the point where an announcement can be made yet, but BlackBerry / Instragram is working it out and it'll be there.
Hopefully it'll be there sooner than a year from the day I said it would it come to BlackBerry 10.
luc aubuchon Jan 31, 2013 at 7:06 pm
So when the hair cut now ? Mister Winnipeger :p
dannyd86 Feb 1, 2013 at 12:45 am
they cut his hair at the launch event man lol.
myckle Jan 31, 2013 at 6:42 pm
We ♥ Kevin.. no homo :)
gsansone Jan 31, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Sorry, but that host for the launch totally creeped me out.
DbkBerry Jan 31, 2013 at 7:53 pm
Iz Kevin on BlackBerry's Payroll hahah :) that's what makes CrackBerry addicitive hmm. On point and timely news/info. CrackBerry World.
ayekon Jan 31, 2013 at 7:52 pm
Kevin, has anyone ever told you that you look like Les Stroud but with hair?
walt63 Jan 31, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Kevin was BlackBerryScoop. He called out the fake one on the thread almost immediately. And BBScoop was kinda spot on with all the scoops.
ilikebacon Jan 31, 2013 at 8:13 pm
Nice work Lord Kevin...keep it up fearless leader. :)
landolambert7 Jan 31, 2013 at 8:13 pm
Now I must admit, this is just uncanny. Kevin was truly on point. I remember seeing these articles because I've been watching everything since two months before the famous BIS/BES outage of 2011. I love BB and I'm in shock at how Kevin and the Crackberry Team nailed it straight on in prediction.
So why didn't Kevin become the new Creative Director? They should at least make him like an honorary board member, grant him special priviledges, Blackberry VIP, personal advisor to the Thor, or knight him to be Sir Blackberry.
Anyway, it seems that with the new leadership changes at Blackberry they are keeping a closer ear to what the Crackberry community has to say.... and that's a GOOD thing.
juliankueh Jan 31, 2013 at 9:04 pm
Kevin for Blackberry CEO!!!!!!
formerwebosfan Jan 31, 2013 at 9:07 pm
Kevin is a true Crackhead, but in a good way :-) I detect some inside information though. I can hardly guess what my wife will do tomorrow and we have been married for 30+ years. Maybe BlackBerry used him to check users thoughts.
misskalunji Jan 31, 2013 at 9:26 pm
maybe Kevin should have been the creative director :) but i agree with ^ i do think BlackBerry used him to get users input. which is fine either way.
sjawelsh Jan 31, 2013 at 10:05 pm
He did seem to have unlimited access to the RIM HQ two years back when he was at the shareholders meeting.
Getting all that video of the new OS7 devices, and the PlayBook patrol car.
A little too much ;)
9of13 Jan 31, 2013 at 10:13 pm
Now can our fearless leader predict if and when Sprint will have the Z10.
All hail Berrimus Prime!
Thats what im calling him from now on!!
smader12 Jan 31, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Sign the petition to get the BlackBerry Z10 on Sprint http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bring-the-z10-to-sprint/
Pegon_Fighter Jan 31, 2013 at 11:01 pm
Kevin is part of the illuminati :O
Pilot Prop Jan 31, 2013 at 11:27 pm
Thanks alot CBK for all the insight and for Crackberry.com
zdn1042 Jan 31, 2013 at 11:36 pm
Has Kevin cut his hair since BB10 has been released?
BruvvaPete2 Feb 1, 2013 at 12:17 am
When its crackberry its Kevin!!!
El Bori Feb 1, 2013 at 7:59 am
kev u are the man thank you for keeping focused. now please what can u do for us PB folks...
wehttam Feb 1, 2013 at 9:49 am
you know with the passion that kevin has for blackberry they should have hired him instead of Miss Alicia Keys ........................................ hope rim is listening it is people like kevin they should have as part of their PR and development team someone on the ground who knows what people would want on their phones etc
Rootbrian Feb 4, 2013 at 8:03 am


text:
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
GIRL POWER! "JEDI"s FEMALE FIGHTER PILOTS...
Though women fighter pilots were seen amongst the crowd within the Rebel Cruiser briefing room earlier in RETURN OF THE JEDI, it was believed that none were seen in the actual final battle above Endor...until now, with the Blu-ray revealing that one of the brave A-wing pilots was indeed female (as seen in the above image) but, for reasons unknown (probably an accident made during the Post Production dialogue re-dubbing phase in the US) replaced with a male actors voice instead (with one line: "Got it"). Her character was seemingly killed mere seconds later by a TIE fighter.
The full undubbed footage of this lady pilot, and one of her older A-wing colleagues (pictured above), both speaking classic STAR WARS combat and technical dialogue, can be found on the new Blu-ray release. Hopefully, someone like fan entrepreneur Jason Joiner will eventually find these actresses for signings and we'll get more behind the scenes filming info.
For reasons unknown, the footage of the two lady X-wing pilots (including actress Vivienne Chandler (pictured below)), also shot for the movie, were not made available for this release. Perhaps they'll show up in the future, too...
With thanks to Chris Baker and Adywan for selected images.
17 comments:
I read somewhere that the footage of the female pilots frying in their cockpits was too disturbing and was cut. This probably explains the missing female x-wing pilot cutscene on the blu-ray as well as the male voice change. I've also watched war psychology programs that explained male soldiers watching female soldiers die really screws with their heads. Even though this makes sense, Lucasfilm should have included the footage.
- 9 April 2012 23:16
- actfigman said...
the fact that such scenes exists...and there are images online...incredible...cheers from Brunei!
- 8 August 2012 03:50
"For reasons unknown"? They cut out all the female parts. That's pretty obvious sexism, especially when compounded with it somehow being too disturbing to show female pilots frying, but just fine to show male pilots in the same situation.
- 12 December 2012 06:08
Ben Diaz: Wait, wait: you say they removed women from the movie because looking at them die in combat might disturb male viewers? In what way isn't this exactly the same thing as forcing women to wear burkas?
- 12 December 2012 12:07
Disappointing it was cut, but glad to see it come to light.
Jen, while it's patriarchy at work that implies a female death is more disturbing than a male one (making females out to be more fragile, and other gross things), Ben didn't say that the test footage was run by an all male panel. Perhaps all viewers were disturbed? Also, not every Muslim woman is forced to wear a burka. What a sexist implication.
- 12 December 2012 14:33
Did Jen say, "Every Muslim woman is forced to wear a Burka?" I don't see that part. Where's the 'Muslim' part?
What a racist implication.
- 12 December 2012 18:14
- aficionadofan said...
I think we should draw a line in the sand now. It's just a movie and some behind the scenes info!
- 12 December 2012 18:54
- Derek Knox said...
Just a movie, repeat, just a movie. As long as film makers use marketing psychology to create their films and design them for the lowest common denominator, there will always be someone unhappy with the results.
- 12 December 2012 23:59
It's not 'just' a movie - to myself, and to a great number of people, this movie was a part of growing up. Knowing that there were female pilots who never made it into the movie is quite disappointing. Makes the Blu-ray worth watching, though, so there's that.
- 13 December 2012 03:59
Um, folks, that was the 70s. It was a different time. Lincoln freed the slaves, but he was still a racist. Different time.
- 13 December 2012 09:47
- aficionadofan said...
The good thing is that we at least got some female pilots by the time of EPISODE I.
- 13 December 2012 11:37
Not to mention the multi-million dollar 1997 Special Edition facelift. Maybe these scenes will be included in the 3D version.
- 14 December 2012 00:39
You all got to remember when this movie was released. It may have been disturbing to test audiences at the time due to differing sensibilities than we have now.
- 14 December 2012 11:53
Ahh yes the dreaded patriarchy is the reason why men don't like seeing women get brutally murdered. Couldn't be the fact that (many) men have a chivalrous nature, which is part of the backbone of our turrrrible Western Civilization? Like it or not, Jessika, but women generally ARE less physically strong than men. Who performs most of the most difficult physical labor in this country? Not wanting to see women physically harmed is a good thing. Would you prefer we live in a society where the majority of males get their jollies from seeing females get dismembered or raped? Spare me the 'patriarchy' leftwing womens studies nonsense. Our society isn't perfect but it's a hell of a lot better than the alternatives. End rant! Lol
- 14 December 2012 23:17
- aficionadofan said...
With this last post, unless any relevant behind the scenes info comes up linked to the feature, I'm now closing this hot debate. Thanks for all your contributions.
- 15 December 2012 12:17
- Doug Baldwin said...
I bet the reason they dubbed in a man's voice is because it was cheaper. They probably already had someone in the studio doing something else and figured for just two syllables, it wasn't worth it to bring in the actress.
- 4 February 2013 08:35
Consider that there's now a much greater chance of having female pilots in episode 7, and the rest of its trilogy.
- 3 January 2014 06:14


text:
I'm just back from a week in Oklahoma City, attending the American Meteorological Society's Broadcast Meteorology Conference. It's continuing education for TV weathercasters that gather from all around the United States.
The big topic at the conference - Dual Polarization Weather Radar. And it's coming to Florida next year.
A quick history on radar: It was developed in the early 20th century and first used as a defen- sive tool by Great Britain during World War II.
Its use for weather detection began in the United States during the 1950s, when the U.S. Weather Bureau (as it was known) saw the importance of tracking rain and snowstorms, as well as violent thunderstorms that could produce deadly tornadoes.
Doppler radar in the 1990s brought the ability to look inside of thunderstorms, and different- iate between garden variety downpours and storms that contained powerful winds and pre-tornadic rotation.
Dual Pol will take the technology a step further.
Dual Polarization radar transmits two types of electromagnetic energy to better define what's falling from the clouds.
Radar waves will be able to look at the size and shape of the falling raindrops. Doesn't sound important, but it'll give meteorologists new information on rainfall rates and the potential for flooding.
Here in Southwest Florida, that may mean better forecasts for excessive thunderstorm rains, as well as rains from approaching tropical storms.
Dual Pol will also be more helpful forecasting hail in summer thunderstorms. Doppplers that we use now sometimes can confuse heavy thunderstorm rains for hail or vice versa.
The new technology can better differentiate between the two - and even project the size of the hail thats falling.
For our Northern neighbors in wintertime, Dual-Pol will provide a very clear picture of precipitation types - snow, sleet and liquid rain - and where the critical rain/snow line is setting up.
I doubt we'll use that application very much down here!
Doppler radars in Ruskin (Tampa), Melbourne, Miami and Key West are all scheduled to be upgraded with Dual-Pol technology and operational sometime in 2012.
And as it comes on line, NBC2's First Alert Doppler radar network will bring this data to our meteorologists and, ultimately, to you!!
By Meteorologist Jim Reif - bio | Facebook | email


text:
August 13, 2014 - Industry News
A truck driver has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying his logbooks and failure to maintain proper records resulting from a fatal July crash on I-55 near Chicago, but reckless homicide charges are still possible in the crash that killed five.
Tags: Hours of Service, Illinois, I-55
February 10, 2014 - Industry News
This past weekend marked the official opening of the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge. The monumental $695 million bridge provides a different way for millions of drivers to cross the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri.
Tags: Missouri, Illinois, I-70, I-55, Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge
September 10, 2013 - Industry News
An area of East St. Louis is likely to see major delays for drivers this week on I-64 and I-55/70 due to the level of road construction, according to the Mid-West Truckers Association.
Tags: Road Construction, St. Louis, Missouri, I-64, I-70, I-55, Highways
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NEW YORK – A New York bankruptcy judge says he'll rule by Wednesday about whether to grant a 14-day restraining order to an attorney who challenged the merger of Fort Worth-based American Airlines and US Airways or allow the two to become one.
American Airlines returned to U.S. Bankruptcy Court in lower Manhattan on Monday for what is likely to be the final time before Judge Sean Lane rules to finalize the merger or not.
Last week, a San Francisco-based attorney applied for Temporary Restraining Order to stop the merger out of concern that it will increase fares and reduce competition. But American is asking for the judge to sign off on its reorganization plan, which is to merge with US Airways.
The lawyer, Joseph Alioto, represents 40 travel agents and business passengers concerned about the effects the merger would have on those businesses. If the judge grants Alioto's temporary restraining order, his clients will testify in court before Lane rules in finality on the merger.
If Judge Lane grants American's reorganization plan the merger is expected to close on Dec. 9. During Monday's proceedings, Lane frequently challenged Alioto and was critical of his request –– the judge has no intention of retrying the Department of Justice case and refused to allow Alioto to enter new evidence, he said.
"You don't get to make up arguments on the fly," the judge said.
Alioto argues the merger will result in 24 airports, making American Airlines a monopoly. Lane, however, could not locate the lawyer's arguments in the legal briefs he filed.
None of Alioto's 40 plaintiffs were present on Monday. An attorney for US Airways questioned that they face personal harm from being present and said that the lawyer's argument provided much rhetoric with scant substance.
The judge adjourned the hearing just before noon.
Should Lane approve the merger, American Airlines and US Airways would still operate as two separate carriers until the Federal Aviation Administration grants a single-operating certificate, which could take 18 to 24 months.
Several American executives including Bev Goulet and Gary Kennedy were in the courtroom with several dozen attorneys. Laura Glading, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, is also here. Glading and the Allied Pilots Association pushed hard for the merger before the airlines publically announced it in February.
Two weeks ago, American and US Airways settled an antitrust lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice which paved the way for the hearing today. The airlines agreed to give up slots at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC and at New York's LaGuardia airports.
The divestiture will result in 44 fewer departures from D.C. and a dozen fewer from LaGuardia. In addition, American also agreed to give up a couple gates in Boston, Miami, Dallas Love Field, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Miami International Airport.
The merger between American and US Airways will create the world's largest airline with more than 6,500 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56 countries.
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Google Maps Mania is an unofficial Google Maps blog tracking the websites, mashups and tools being influenced by Google Maps
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Australian Rain Radars on Google Maps
BOMMap is an Australian weather map that allows users to view animations of the latest radar images from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.
The initial view of BOMMap shows where it is currently raining in Australia and therefore where radar animations are also currently available to view on the map. Users just need to select one of the displayed map markers to view the latest radar animation from that location.
The creator of BOMMap has also set up a subReddit where users can submit suggestions and possible improvements to the map.
Posted by Keir Clarke at 3:10 PM
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