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Kickstarter Is Not a Store
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It's hard to know how many people feel like they're shopping at a store when they're backing projects on Kickstarter, but we want to make sure that it's no one. Today we're introducing a number of changes to reinforce that Kickstarter isn't a store — it's a new way for creators and audiences to work together to make things. We'd like to walk you through these changes now.
Creators must talk about "Risks and Challenges"
Today we added a new section to the project page called "Risks and Challenges." All project creators are now required to answer the following question when creating their project:
"What are the risks and challenges this project faces, and what qualifies you to overcome them?"
We added the "Risks and Challenges" section to reinforce that creators' projects are in development. Before backing a project, people can judge both the creator's ability to complete their project as promised and whether they feel the creator is being open and honest about the risks and challenges they face.
The new section will appear below the project description of projects that launch starting today.
New Hardware and Product Design Project Guidelines
The development of new products can be especially complex for creators and seductive to backers. Today we're adding additional guidelines for Hardware and Product Design projects.
They are:
- Product simulations are prohibited. Projects cannot simulate events to demonstrate what a product might do in the future. Products can only be shown performing actions that they're able to perform in their current state of development.
- Product renderings are prohibited. Product images must be photos of the prototype as it currently exists.
Products should be presented as they are. Over-promising leads to higher expectations for backers. The best rule of thumb: under-promise and over-deliver.
We've also added the following guideline for Hardware and Product Design projects:
- Offering multiple quantities of a reward is prohibited. Hardware and Product Design projects can only offer rewards in single quantities or a sensible set (some items only make sense as a pair or as a kit of several items, for instance). The development of new products can be especially complex for creators and offering multiple quantities feels premature, and can imply that products are shrink-wrapped and ready to ship.
These guidelines are effective for all Hardware and Product Design projects that launch starting today.
We hope these updates reinforce that Kickstarter isn't a traditional retail experience and underline the uniqueness of Kickstarter. Thanks for reading, and thanks as always for using Kickstarter.
UPDATE (Monday, September 24): We just posted an update answering follow-up questions from this post. We've also pasted the content of that post below.
Kickstarter announced that it's prohibiting product renderings in the Hardware and Product Design categories, but "rendering" can mean a lot of things. What does Kickstarter mean?
To clarify, we mean photorealistic renderings of a product concept. Technical drawings, CAD designs, sketches, and other parts of the design process will continue to be allowed. Seeing the guts of the creative process is important. We love that stuff. However renderings that could be mistaken for finished products are prohibited.
Do the new guidelines mean that Kickstarter will only accept Hardware and Product Design projects with finished products?
Not at all. We simply ask creators to share with backers exactly what's been done so far, show how the product currently works, and explain how it will be completed. In short, we expect creators to show their work. Backers have shown that they're happy to get involved in projects that are in earlier stages when the creator is clear about the remaining work and their ability to complete it.
Do the new guidelines apply beyond Hardware and Product Design projects that are developing new products?
No. The new guidelines only apply to Hardware and Product Design projects that are developing new products. These guidelines do not apply to Design projects like the LowLine and +Pool or Hardware projects like Stompy: The Giant Rideable Walking Robot. Why? They aren't developing new products that backers are expecting in their mailboxes.
How will Kickstarter know whether something is a simulation or rendering?
We may not know. We do only a quick review to make sure a project meets our guidelines. If an obvious simulation or photorealistic rendering is spotted during that review, that project will not be allowed to launch. If a simulation or photorealistic rendering is discovered after a project launches, that project will be canceled. Everyone should continue to use their best judgment when deciding whether or not to back a project.
Kickstarter announced that Hardware and Product Design rewards could only be offered in single quantities. What if my product works best as a pair or as a set of five?
As we noted in the announcement, sensible sets are fine. If your piece of hardware is best offered as a set of five, that's okay, however you couldn't also offer it as a single piece. Creators will have to decide what works best for their project.
Final thoughts?
We created Kickstarter so more creative work could exist in the world, and last week's changes are in service of that mission. We're confident that these updates will lead to an even better Kickstarter. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, and thanks for being a part of it!
Umut Topkara on
If the point is to make sure that the backers do not make decisions uninformed, why not take time to add a curated risk score. This way, the projects will be responsible in providing proper evidence about how far they are in production, and you can help us figure out if they are really on track. For instance, a project which can provide a list of parts, is probably further in the process than one which only has CAD sketches; but that doesn't mean that people wouldn't be interested in backing the project in its infancy. It shouldn't be too hard for you to come up with an acceptable process of evaluation, and hire experts to do it. Heck, we pay a cut to you anyway, why not throw in a better service :-)
Giulio on
Terrible and shortsighted changes. The Kickstarter team clearly has not idea whatsoever of the costs involved in product design and manufacuring. How is a creator supposed to convey to backers what the finished product will look like BEFORE getting funding for expensive molds, etc.?
Please do not say rapid prototyping, because the level of finish and quality is NOWHERE NEAR that of an injection molded finalized product. I agree prototype images should be REQUIRED, but in ADDITION to renderings. Additionally, you could require renderings to be clearly marked as such.
Anything beyond that is utter nonsense.
The multiple item ban makes no sense either.
I honestly expect Kickstarter to backtrack very rapidly once they realize the hardware/design section has become a ghost town... this is purely a PR stunt for the benefit of techcrunch and the other tech blogs.
Chris Brown on
Add me to the list of project starters who think these changes are (mostly) terrible. Adding "risks & rewards" is a great idea. But no renderings? That's completely awful. It makes sense to require project starters to show real hardware/prototypes/something else "real", but renders are how you show your backers what the final product will look like! The whole reason project starters use kickstarter for hardware is that manufacturing is often infeasibly expensive without significant backer support. We can make one-off prototypes with 3D printers, laser cutters, or good old fashioned wood, but they will look *completely* different than, say, an injection molded product manufactured in large quantities, or a professionally CNCed metal model. For electronic projects, prototypes must often use different components - very few people have the ability to use BGAs or other high-density integrated circuits on their home-built boards, for example, and the assembly costs for these boards can be very expensive for a prototyper. You should allow us to show renderings along with real hardware, but not ban renderings all together! I can't emphasize how bad this is.
Slightly less bad is the limit on multiple quantities. Multiple-quantity reward levels allow us to raise more startup money from a single backer. Without this ability, projects that require large tooling costs or other one-time manufacturing setups will die. There simply won't be enough money to fund these projects. Anyone in business knows that one of the hardest parts is acquiring new customers. Once a person has decided to commit money to a project, it's much easier to raise more money by offering high reward levels. It is a *much* harder task to get more backers than it is to raise more money from a smaller quantity of backers.
Please reconsider your new rules. You are going to lose a significant number of hardware projects!!
Todd McMurtrey on
Just adding my voice to the pile.
I like the intent of most of these changes, but I feel the Risks section and disclaimers on any concept art or renders would be just as effective without limiting the creative and inventive nature of people who have a vision.
Gareth M on
The "Risks and Challenges" is a good addition, I've seen a few projects where people seem to think Kickstarter is a "store" and asking where they can get a refund. It might also be useful to make it clear that despite your payment going through Amazon you're not buying from Amazon (and are not covered by their policies) - I've seen some people make that leap.
Prohibiting multiple quantities, is this a good idea? Especially as the rewards scale up on a project, it seems the only way for some rewards to scale upwards is to offer multiples of whatever the reward is if it's small-mid priced/sized.
Prohibiting product renderings/simulations, I can see where Kickstarter are wanting to go with this, but, I think in some cases the only way to demonstrate the boundaries of a project is with a rendering/simulation. If it's presented along with a the physical product to demonstrate where the funds will allow them to go - beyond that of what they have to show then maybe it needs to be allowed.
I do think that the philosophy of "under-promise and over-deliver" is better than the inverse. It is much better to surprise the backers than have them disappointed. As I think it's the initial backers who will carry the momentum of the product from backing through to completion and having the product in their hands and then going forth from there.
Seth Ryan Levy on
As a funder, these new rules make Kickstarter less attractive.
EpicSesh on
We have a project that was submitted BEFORE these new rules and are pending approval. So, does their NEW rule make our project that's PENDING something that can't be done?! We submitted the project before their announcement and now we're left hanging - we've build everything, EVERYTHING around our reward levels which are now, by the NEW rules, something we can't do. Seems to me that projects like ours should be grandfathered.
Eric Valenzuela on
I'm sorry, but the idea that Kickstarter is not a store in any sense is idiotic in my opinion. Investors expect a return on investment- sometimes the projects fail and they lose the money invested, but when they succeed, there is an expected "reward".
Crowdfunding is simply decentralizing the standard VC model. If I pay money up-front to get someone's at-home t-shirt press running, it makes perfect sense for me to expect something in return.
Most of the projects I've seen with multiple-item reward tiers aren't making them cost the same as they would if you were to buy them from the team's Amazon page- you're backing at a higher level, and are simply receiving more of something as a result.
My vitriol may seem strange or misplaced, but I can't help but fear for gaming projects(what I usually back). As many others have stated, it is the prospect of multiple game keys/ items that gets groups (forums, gaming team sponsors, etc.) to back the higher-tiers of projects. Single people aren't getting 25 game keys- forums are, and then giving them out to their members.
Jozeph Forakis on
Dear KICKSTARTER,
Your intentions are in the right place. However, respectfully, your strategy is flawed.
As a professional Industrial Designer with +25 years experience in product design and development, I can assure you (and reinforce the MANY comments above) that disallowing renders and other types of representations of the final intended product is NOT the way to go.
The power of Kickstarter is that EVERYONE can witness, and participate, in the behind-the-scenes-process of product development.
Renderings or other simulations are a fundamental TOOL in this process!
Any Designer will tell you: with any first-time client, a certain amount of education and expectation-management is required.
Kickstarter is new! Many people who pledge are "first-time clients" in effect. They need HELP to understand the RISKS, but ALSO THE POTENTIAL, of the project! Renderings can help with BOTH of these things.
It's ALL of our role to RESPONSIBLY manage expectations in order to help improve the overall quality of the service.
HOWEVER we don't have to eliminate one of the single most powerful tools we have at our disposal.
It would be better to:
a) require the "Risks and Challenges" assessment, as proposed.
b) require clear labeling of renders/simulations when/if the intended final result is represented.
c) require a cv or biography of the Project Team Leader - to help people evaluate the project's potential for success.
ALSO, I would suggest some further pro-activity on the side of Kickstarter:
d) redesign the KICKSTARTER HOME PAGE and PROJECT PAGE TEMPLATE to CLARIFY the RISKS involved!
Your efforts are well appreciated and needed: Yes, Kickstarter is NOT a store! What it IS is very new, and bound to cause some confusion.
Surely it will require some finesse, experimentation and iterative development going forward to understand how to communicate, and deliver, it's maximum potential in an effective way... Indeed: as with the projects themselves, we are ALL living the "product development cycle" of Kickstarter!!!
We don't have to "throw the baby out with the bathwater" to solve this problem.
Iheke Ndukwe on
Bravo Kickstarter. Despite the criticism in the comments I think many of these changes are long overdue. The changes should serve to highlight that "backers" are just that and the *main* reward is helping the project get built.
Risks/Challenges: This is way overdue - some projects have already been flagging these issues to moderate expectation but the addition of this section should really focus creators on evaluating their route to success.
Simulation/Renderings: I think some of the critics have to take a step back and think that under the current rules a creator can have a rendered product perform a simulation of something. Or in other words a fantasy performing a fantasy. Kickstarter is right to stamp this sort of thing out. Under the new rules - a product image is exactly that - what you have. A product description is what that product can do. Creators are still free to dream and backers are still entitled to believe them but those ramblings belong under another heading.
Multiple quantity offerings: I share Kickstarters view here. If you have a fully made and costed product that you're trying to find orders for then perhaps another website will work better for you. If you have a product that is unfinished and uncosted - then it is unreasonable for you to tout multiple quantities for purchase. It's harsh but it makes perfect sense.
David Streever on
When I first read this, my response was one of dismay.
As I read the comments, however, particularly bad experiences, I realized how good these new rules are.
I think most of the people protesting are missing the point: comparisons (for instance) to Nano Cache are inaccurate. As the commentator says, "they're an established machine shop", and they are selling something they've already made. The new prototype rules don't hurt them at all.
While one could argue that the multiple quantities rule does hurt them, I don't think that is as relevant: Kickstarter is not a store. If Nano Cache wants to sell direct to consumers an established product, there are many avenues for that. Kickstarter is not about running a store front, it is about asking investors to invest in a start-up.
These rules are good. There are a million ways to sell products direct to consumers, and Kickstarter is not one of those million solutions.
David Streever on
Eric Jennings: I feel for you, but I think the rule just demands that you be a little more creative in the rewards system.
You can do it!
While offering 10 of something is "easy" for you, that isn't the point--this is about funding innovative, new, high-concept creativity. You do your work a disservice by describing it as an easy automated system without thought.
I'm sure there are cast-offs in your production process--ones that fail--why not offer small boxes of those to higher end donors? Why not offer original sketches and prototypes?
I'm sure there is a wealth of ephemera in your work just as in any other: while you may not see it as exciting, for someone who is invested in your work, it would be.
Be bold, be creative, think outside of the box! Ask for more money if it isn't worth it to you to produce really original rewards. Take a chance! That is why there is kickstarter: if you can't raise the money, no one loses. Start over.
Chris Manchik on
I am ok with this. I usually use the term invest when I talk to people about kick starting something anyways. It bothers me when people treat this as buying a product rather than investing in an idea/prototype/concept.
Todd Galloway on
Everyone will just mention and link to renders and simulations on their own sites anyways, making the rule moot and just an annoyance for both creators and backers.
Jason Desjardins on
I think this policy change, while necessary and generally applauded, is too narrow. I've considered writing some software tools and funding them via Kickstarter but without the ability to demonstrate, via Photoshop, what this might look like, I'd be consigned to describing it, which is ridiculous.
Why not just require that mock-ups be clearly labeled as such?
Robert77 on
1. Risk and Challenges: Great
2. Hardware Project Guidelines: No way!
If you want to transport a message to the backers: communicate to the Backers. Don't limit the projects
Requiring a functional prototype is one thing. Forbidding Renderings of the final Look/Design is a step too much. Because your D.I.Y. project would be done already in that case.
I would like to see the creators to be able to present at any stage of their project not when they are done. Esp. for small batch projects. Look at all the electronic D.I.Y. projects. I am happy to see a rendering of a final or semifinal layout. I don't need them to produce a prototype only to comply to kickstarter rules. Let them do it when they think it is neccessary.
For big projects it might have just been annoying to not use a rending. For smaller projects it is a killer.
3. Only 1 piece backing? Your are not serious.
Functional protoype + Rendering of Design forbidden = Project is already finished. You are more of a store than before!!! You are just not allowed to "buy" in quantities >1.
Paul Tomkinson on
MISTAKES. All three rules.
Chicago Writers Conference on
While I've never backed a technology product, I'm thrilled to see this. I'm sure this came about because of NPR's scrutiny of KS policies (story prompted by backers who gave $$ and received nothing). Proof that, indeed, journalism is a good thing, and needed.
This user's account has been deleted.
Tiffany Ross on
Product renderings are prohibited. Product images must be photos of the prototype as it currently exists.
So if the product currently exists as a drawing you're DISQUALIFIED?
Paul Tomkinson on
Risks and Challenges should be optional, not mandatory. It would allow contributors to assess the reliabilty of a builder whether they choose to include it or not.
There should not be limits on rewards period.
No render rule is just plain silly.
Dave Matney on
I feel like disallowing project renderings is a bad move. Instead, I feel like the developers should be required to label all renderings as such.
Project renderings are to hardware as concept art is to video games. It's a representation of what you hope it will be.
Anthony Thomas on
Even if its not necessary I'll be updating the challenges and risks. Good new feature.
EpicSesh on
I'd say that mock ups, renderings and any display of CONCEPT should be allowed, but be labeled as such. I also think that anyone with a project on Kickstarter should over demonstrate their ability to actually carry out their goals and objectives to build trust and confidence in the buyer/backer. I also think that should a company slip in its delivery date, that if they don't cure the problem in 30 days, they give individuals an option to get their money back. There needs to be some check and balance on the projects to keep things on a level playing field. Backers of these "early stage" companies know there is some risk here. Are there some bad apples out there? Yup. But there are many, many more good ones that are now being punished for the sins of the few.
Jay MacSuperbackeron
I realize there have probablly been multiple projects that have pushed too far with the retail or product idea. But one that come to mind that are likely the reason for this are the Wormworld (second) Kickstarter which is 100% a store mode. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the straw that broke the camel's back.
David Jeske on
Kickstarter - if you are really serious about this, fewer rules, and more obvious changes to your site UI might work better. It is your site seeming like an "order form" that makes the payment seem more like pre-orders, not their product descriptions. Change the buttons to all say "donation to project" and prevent them from offering any quantites of their products in return and things will change much faster than this. Honestly, I'm surprised the current model isn't tax-evasion if they ever do ship anything. Do they pay sales tax on those "pre-order donation sales"?
Steven W Chambers on
When are you going to add new categories, like helping to start a foundation or other businesses?
Todd Galloway on
The more I think about this - these are not solutions, they all have workarounds that creators and backers will figure out but will cause annoyance on both ends.
Renders/Sims will be posted on external sites, annoying for creators and backers and not addressing your issue.
Multiple items will be packed up in sets or fudged some other way behind the scenes like "add $20 to your pledge and tell us in the survey" sorts of things -- which can probably be manually monitored by Kickstarter, but in the end if a creator tells me to give him $20 extra and he gives me an extra product isn't that just between us? Kickstarter can't discern that I haven't just thrown in a charitable extra $20 and not change my pledge level.
Risks section -- this one is a step in the right direction but will still need to be taken with a grain of salt. What's your greatest weakness? Ya know, sometimes I just work *too* hard!
If your goal is truly to make sure people know this is not a store and you are pledging to help fund something that is NOT yet in existence ... then why not just a massive disclaimer on project and pledge pages stating these things? It seems you're really putting a burden on the most active creators and backers to quell some confusion by people who don't read.
Josh Robinson on
Why not require images of the prototype and that IF renderings of the goal product exist have them CLEARLY LABELED as such? Its important to know what a developers vision for a finished product is as well as where it currently is in development...
fluffy on
I agree with many of the commenters here: The "Risks and challenges" section is a good change, but the rest is just rubbish.
Renders are a VERY IMPORTANT part of the prototyping process. Simulations are also very important when it comes to demonstrating how software is going to work - developing a simulation is also a VERY IMPORTANT part of the prototyping process. Every single UI-based application I've worked on in the real software industry has started with a simulation for user acceptance testing. This is a basic tenet of the software industry.
"No multiple items" is very heavy-handed, and also eliminates one of the things I've seen a lot of hardware projects do which is to have distributorship as a reward tier.
You need to help manage backers' expectations, NOT destroy what makes this community so great for product development.
Stephanie Clarkson on
I want renderings, and I want simulations. I want them *clearly* marked as such; ie, I do not want *ads*. But I want to get a feel for how an app, for example, might work in conjunction with hardware, even if the functionality is not there yet. *That is often what I am supporting*. I know where this is coming from; your most recent $1 million plus project, SmartThings, showed things that implied they had fully working prototypes at stages where they did not. They also paired, powerfully, with Instacube, which did not have a working prototype, and I know there were reacently issues with Equisio missing two shipping dates, and showing a non-working mock up. That said, I am an adult, and I can make decisions based on simulations marked clearly as such, and renderings on possibly product (indeed, SmartThings has CHANGED parts of their design based on intelligent input from knowledgeable users and developers who had suggestions about how they wanted to use things. This is *product development*. As investors, we are helping guide products that we want to market. And we do that with descriptions, renderings, mock ups of how user interface will be managed (ie, 'simulations') etc. You are hurting the *investors* more with the removal of that than you think.
Dustin Andrews on
I have to say this is going to make it difficult to use Kickstarter to develop electronics. I am fine with requiring working prototypes. The biggest risk I usually face is that not enough people will want whatever it is to meet the minimum production bar. Kickstarter is great for gauging interest and moving accordingly. For the $10-$20 electronics like Digispark, ExtraCore and Teensy not allowing multiple rewards is sort of a problem. Shipping is expensive. What if a backer lives in another country and wants to get together with some friends for a larger order to save shipping?
I don't have the capital to run off 1,000 copies of all my ideas and try to get them out to people. In fact one of the primary motivations to use Kickstarter is that it provides and audience.
I am going to have to rethink my plans to launch several new products on Kickstarter.
Bob Holben on
Accountability is always welcome, but presenting product development projects to stakeholders without renderings feels like stepping back into the stone ages. Please reconsider this approach. I fear this will stifle all the good that Kickstarter represents.
/CLARK/ on
This Kickstarter corporate response to backer complaints is like making everyone wear knee pads because one kid skins his knee. And what's not been mentioned here is that every Kickstarter category should subscribe to the same rules. Can a playwrite sell multiple tickets to their event? And if a creative fails to deliver the great storybook or movie they pitched with some sort of "rendered" images, are they equally as "deceptive" as the hardware designers using 3D renderings? - a critical, required component of any professional funding pitch BTW. Blanket policies to cover the complaints of a few is a giant error and Kickstarter is pushing themselves onto the pending death trail that killed MySpace.
This policy shift is a clear statement from Kickstarter that they fail to understand what they've really created - an amazing pre-purchase storefront for emerging projects that wouldn't exist without the shared financial risk of early adopters. Risk = reward(s). A simple concept for most.
Henry Snyder on
I think these changes are great.
I see a lot of people complaining because the changes will make it harder for Kickstarter to continue to serve as a low-overhead pre-order service, when that's not what it's supposed to be. (Reward descriptions like "order two now, save 25%" don't help.) Having used both Kickstarter and Indiegogo over the past couple of years, I can personally attest to Kickstarter having a better rep, but one that's suffered recently, as vendors (not artists/creators) are setting rewards up with percentage savings off the MSRP.
At a certain point, you're not "funding creativity," and being "rewarded." You're investing in something for the promise of getting a discounted product in return.
You can make the case that folks should be savvier about what the site is for (funding creativity, rather than a polished production process), but for KS to salvage what's left of their curatorial credibility, these changes are long overdue.
Again, KS is already the leader in this respect, but for it to retain the image of being about creativity rather than commerce, these are great steps.
Josh Holloway on
If Kickstarter is not a store, why are you pushing project creators more toward pre-orders of already existing physical products, rather than embracing the fact that great products start with great ideas?
Chris Cassino on
RE: rendering of components.
So for a game, such as one of several projects that have been successfully funded (e.g., http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coolminiornot/relic-knights) does this mean that for stretch goals as well as the initial contents of a proposed project you CANNOT show art which will be used to create the product with the funding from the KS campaign? You must show the sculpts or models that will be used to make the final game pieces? Similarly for pen and paper role playing games, could initial sketches of the book art be allowed in the campaign or only final art that will be published in the finished product?
Duke Remington on
It seems to me that the "no renderings" rule will turn Kickstarter into MORE of a store.
Hardware projects will need to practically finish their development BEFORE they can even make a video.
Rapid prototyping finishes are not nearly up to the task.
Also, how about different color options with nice finishes?
The developers will actually have to not only finish the product, but also get prototypes in EVERY color they want to sell.
I really hope this "no renderings" rule gets changed to a "renderings must be clearly labelled as such" rule.
Frogdice on
Love the Risks and Challenges section. Great idea.
Love the idea of requiring disclaimers.
As a backer, I *want* to see renderings. I want to see product demonstrations/mockups. That is the only way I can get any idea how they intend the product to function.
Also as a backer, if I want multiple quantities why shouldn't I be able to get them? Should I have to create 10 dummy accounts to back it 10 times? That seems like a really bad hurdle.
If you really want to improve things:
-> get rid of the "celebrity" projects that are fueled on pure reputation and trick people into assuming they have a better chance of happening.
-> get rid of projects that don't really fit the idea of kickstarter. Like Penny Arcade's "pay us a million bucks to remove the ads from our site" campaign.
-> get rid of projects from multi-million dollar funding companies using kickstarter as a money grab/PR move - like the current Project Eternity from multi-million dollar funded game studio Obsidian.
Just some food for thought! :)
corykerr on
"Shhhh, my common sense is tingling!"
While having people think through the risks and challenges is a good idea, if an @#$%& is going to attempt a scam they'll just lie about those too. It is still up to the backers to use their own judgement to discern whether or not someone is full of it.
"Risks and Challenges"
Risk: Bears - There are still bears in this country. They could attack at any moment, delaying production.
My Qualification to Overcome: I have personally killed 3 bears with my bare hands and have hired a team of Bear Hunting Ninjas
Risk: I've never done anything like this before so I have no idea what the challenges are with this project.
My Qualification to Overcome: I'm a moderately good swimmer, punctual and most people like me. I really just want your money...
Brandon on
I have a project going on now (http://kck.st/SesRyD) and I've struggled with the limited quantities. The project is a new type of Christmas Card, so it has the potential to be something people buy in quantity. Originally, I tried to offer a pack of 30 for a super-backer, but I was limited to 10 by Kickstarter. One week after the project started I had people asking for larger quantities. In my case, this new rule limits support of crowd funding.
For renderings, my product is based largely in graphic design so to limit renderings hurts how well we are able to communicate what we are trying to do. In our video and in photos we show the prototype as it is now, but the reason we need Kickstarter funding is to create a printed final version. Like many projects on Kickstarter, without successful funding it will not exist.
As for the Risks and Challenges section, I think it is an excellent addition!
Anne C. Kerns on
At risk of being redundant, I will also add my voice to the crowd. I have never launched a project, but I like to back them, and usually they are products. I like buying multiples if it is something I can get behind so that I can get one for me and one for my husband, for example, or to give as a gift. The "no multiples" rule sucks. I also do not care for the no rendering. Sure, put a disclaimer, but come on. I have experienced disappointment when a project took a really long time to deliver, but at least when it finally did, I got my two items that I had ordered/backed. And I knew full well what I was getting into, so I was not a vocal complainer.
Kirk McGinnis on
If you're supporting a PROJECT then product design mockups and renderings of what the finished product should look like are an absolute necessity.
Changing these rules in order to cater to the few people too incompetent to understand the purpose of Kickstarter is self-defeating.
These policy changes are terrible.
Reegtlaw on
Problem with KS, is that once the "Creator(s)" project is funded the pressure on them is off. a few days later they get the money from Amazon and again no pressure to finish the project. In the mean time all the people that believed in the project are left hanging because the project in now delayed. I'm not implying that manufacturing delay is not an issue here. Just saying that "Creator(s)" feel less pressure to complete the project. Some never even finish. In a way this is a scam. Think about it. I make a presentation on a project that every support like and believe. They "pledge" their money. Once the funding end and a few days later money was transferred to the "Creator(s)" account he or she may just walk away. So what's the repercussion to these "Creator(s)", none. I pledged to a project to this guy a year and a half ago and I'm still waiting for the reward. He barely make any updates and haven't heard from him in months. So I just lost my pledge and everyone who supported him. He walked away with over $100000. What a way to make money here? He totally conned everyone here. I wish I can do the same here but moral conscience will get in the way and knowing it's illegal. But somehow there's no policing here on KS and make "Creator(s)" accountable. I still support KS and like a lot of projects and ideas. I think Transparency is a good start but would love to see more regulations and accountability.
P.S. one solution is for KS to held the fund or distribute fund to "Creator(s)" in phases. Sort of like hiring a contractor for home remodeling. Give 33% at the start of project, another 33% when project moves ahead, and final 33% when project complete. This way the "Creator(s)" can't take the money and run. If the project doesn't complete at a set deadline 2 things can happen, pledgers can vote to extend the deadline or KS issue refund to all pledgers of the left over funds. It protects KS, Creator(s) and pledgers.
Alvin Toro on
Getting people off their chair and on to actually building something tangible is a good thing.
Tiffany Ross on
This is REALLY bad, because for things like the charms I've done to get made, I can NOT get a single item made to show it off. I have to use a digital image. It's impossible to get one made, because the company doesn't make just one. They take full orders only. Under these rules, I can no longer do it unless I get them all made, then post it to Kickstarter and TREAT IT AS A STORE?? Since they were already made!
Keith Turner on
I'm in the middle of making a video for Kickstarter showing how an iPad app I'm developing would function. So I guess this would run afoul of rule #1?
It seems like these new rules contradict the very nature of Kickstarter. You're erecting a catch-22 situation for many creators out there. I need to simulate the operation of an app to raise funding to complete the app. If we can only show the operational app, then the app would already be completed and we wouldn't need to raise funding through Kickstarter.
I think these rules are a rather draconian response to a problem that could be better handled by mandating the use of disclaimers.
Plus, it sounds like you're making these rules because of a minority of people who don't fully understand Kickstarter. So instead of making sure these people understand the risks, you're going to change your site to accommodate them? I think this is a bad idea.
Kirk McGinnis on
Why not simply require that renders be identified as such?
For example: ** Rendering Only - Not Actual Product **
Renderings are KEY to funding any project in all the history of product-making.
Recent posts
- How Kickstarter Creators Are Coping with the Coronavirus
- Kickstarter y el Festival Internacional de Cine de Guanajuato presentan 12 proyectos cinematográficos dirigidos por estudiantes universitarios en México
- Kickstarter and Guanajuato International Film Festival to Feature 12 Student-Led Film Projects in Mexico
- How to Participate in Signs of Change, Kickstarter's Upcoming Open Call
- Mexican Game Designer Héctor Pérez Funded Four Games on Kickstarter—Here Are His Tips for International Campaigns


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In recent years, diseases have ravaged through bat, honeybee and amphibian populations, and now animal experts suspect that shared factors may link the deaths, which are putting many species at risk for extinction.
The latest setback affects bats, given this week's announcement that the deadly fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome has been confirmed in already endangered gray bats. The illness, caused by the fungus Geomyces destructans, has mortality rates reaching up to 100 percent at some sites.
PHOTOS: 'Pinocchio' Frog Among Species Found in 'Lost World'
Simultaneously, Colony Collapse Disorder continues to kill honeybees, while yet another fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has wiped out more than 200 frog species across the world.
"It appears that many species are under an immense amount of stress, allowing opportunistic diseases to take hold," Rob Mies, executive director of the Organization for Bat Conservation, told Discovery News. "Life is far more complex, so a single cause is likely not the only explanation for the bat, bee and frog deaths. There could be five, six or more factors involved."
One is how humans may be helping fungal spread. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, white-nose syndrome can be inadvertently transferred from people to bats.
"Some of the first caves in North America to be affected by white nose syndrome were in very high tourism areas," Mies said. "Somebody could have visited a cave in Europe wearing boots, and then brought back a tiny bit of mud on the boots containing dormant fungus."
He explained that the fungus, which is sensitive to body warmth, does not infect humans and most other animals. Bats experience a lower body temperature while hibernating, when the fungus can set in.
"It may eat into a bat's skin, even putting holes in it," Mies said. "The fungus can grow to a point where it winds up replacing the skin."
NEWS: Deadly, Bat-Killing Epidemic Came From Europe
The amphibian fungus also attacks through the skin, causing an infected frog's skin to become up to 40 times thicker than usual, according to San Francisco State University biologist Vance Vredenburg, who recently conducted a study on the related disease, known as chytrid. Since frogs use their skin to absorb water and vital salts, such sodium and potassium, infection often leads to death.
Other human factors tied to the bat, frog and bee deaths include the use of chemical pesticides that may be absorbed through the skin, climate change, habitat loss and the spread of other health threats, such as viruses and mites.
Helene Marshall of Marshall's Farm Natural Honey told Discovery News that "the virus causing CCD came to us when U.S. beekeepers were importing Australian packaged bees to meet the high pollination demand of the almond growers here in California."
Both bees and bats are critical to agriculture. Bats, like bees, can help to pollinate. They are also a primary predator of agricultural and other insect pests, such as mosquitoes. Frogs additionally consume insect pests.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service now has a national plan for managing white-nose syndrome in bats. It allows for diagnostics, disease management, disease surveillance and more. But Mies points out that for animals such as bats and frogs, antifungals can be "pretty nasty medicines," doing damage of their own and perhaps further damaging ecosystems.
He said that man-made antifungal-treated mines might be created in the future so that bats ready for hibernation can use them. For bees, Marshall has partnered with hotels, businesses and individuals to establish more carefully monitored honeybee hives.
Bees, frogs and bats are usually not poster species for animal conservation, so educating people about their benefits to the environment and economy (via agriculture) is important. Bats are particularly maligned.
"Humans are still killing bats," Mies said. "If one finds its way into your home, please humanely evict it. If possible, you can also put up bat houses, providing much needed safe habitat for them."


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added by sunrise_90
2 new RPattz pics!!
This 罗伯特·帕丁森 照片 might contain 商务套装 and 西装.
posted by twilighteb99
Robert Pattisons Birthday is coming up!!! His b-day is on May 13th. Robert Pattison has been in a ton of movies! On his b-day, if he ever looks at this site, we should wish him a happy birthday. 你 don't have to, just a suggestion. Just letting everyone know. Robert Pattisons full name is Robert Thomas-Pattison. Rob has two older sisters, Lizzy and Victoria. Rob beat 3,000 other people to play the part Edward in Twilight. Robert says that he could fall in 爱情 with Kristin because she's a great girl. Wouldn't it be awesome if they were a couple outside of the movie? To the people who don't, that's fine. Robert has a great personality, and I think he's on of the best actors. Hope 你 enjoyed my article, if 你 didn't that's fine also!!!
added by miss_sylar87
Source: Just Jared
added by _savannah_
Source: http://thinkingofrob.com/


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Look for the True Source Certified Logo!
Not all honey is ethically and transparently sourced. Most imported and domestic honey is from high-quality, legal sources. But some honey brokers and importers illegally circumvent tariffs and quality controls, selling Chinese honey to U.S. companies that is of questionable quality. This threatens the U.S. honey industry by undercutting fair market prices and damaging honey's reputation for quality and safety. Be sure the honey you and your family enjoy is True Source Certified! Read More...
We pledge to adhere to the standards of True Source Certification. We pledge to protect our customers and consumers, as well as the global reputation of honey products, by ensuring to our utmost ability that honey is ethically sourced in a transparent and traceable manner from known beekeepers and brokers; that honey moves through the supply chain in full accordance with U.S. law and without circumvention of trade duties; that it carries truthful labeling as to its source, has been tested to ensure quality, and has been handled in a safe and secure manner from hive to table.
You can make a difference! Whether you're a consumer who loves honey, or a company that helps supply honey or makes products using honey, you can help make sure honey is source-certified. Be a part of the True Source Certified program, or require it when you purchase honey. Click below to learn how!


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RowFax Sample
As a RowFax subscribed member, you will receive an email on Wednesday afternoon (48 times a year) notifying you that your Latest Listings are ready to access on RowFax.com.
Each issue includes approximately 30-50 current recording project listings from major labels, mid-size labels, independent labels and/or producers.
Here is a small sample of the types of recording project listings you will receive in each issue. Please note these are for example only, and are not current recording projects.
(Small Example Only To Show Format- These Listings Are Expired)
Little Big Town/Capitol/ Wayne Kirkpatrick/Early June/City: Nashville, TN/Pitch Preference: CDs/Three songs
Ashley Gearing/Curb/Byron Gallimore/ASAP/City: Nashville, TN/Pitch Preference: CDs/Major priority; need singles; in studio now • CDs to (Some contact info provided with subscription)
Billy Currington/UMG/Carson Chamberlain/Late May/City: Nashville, TN/Pitch Preference: CDs/Great country songs • UMG A&R
Baylie Brown/Universal Records South/Mark Wright, Jay DeMarcus/TBD/City: Nashville, TN/Pitch Preference: CDs/Young, light female songs • Songs to (Some Contact info Provided with Subscription)
Blake Shelton/Warner Bros./Scott Hendricks/May 13/City: Nashville, TN/Pitch Preference: CDs/Contact: Starting to look for five; www.myspace.com/blakeshelton • CDs to Warner Bros. Records
Nikki Britt/Rustic Records, Inc./Jack Schneider/TBD/City: Brentwood, TN/Pitch Preference: CDs/Young, fun, energetic, uptempos; off the wall country; artist has great vocal range; send CDs with typed lyrics; www.rusticrecordsinc.com • CDs to (Contact and address provided with Subscription)
Laurelyn Carter/Studio 19/Larry Roser/Late Fall/City: Nashville, TN/Pitch Preference: CDs-MP3-Links/Hits; website is www.myspace.com/laurelyncarter • CDs to (Contact and address provided with Subscription)
(Small Example Only To Show Format- These Listings Are Expired)
Have additional questions? Email [email protected] or call 615-499-5419.


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Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is a rapidly growing criminal problem. As the baby boom generation grays and life expectancy increases, incidents of physical, emotional and financial abuse against elders are expected to grow unless steps are taken. Detection of abuse, neglect and fraud is critical.
One of District Attorney Jackie Lacey's top priorities is safeguarding seniors from financial crimes. Her mother was the victim of a telephone scam.
She initiated a public education campaign in partnership with the Rotary Club of Los Angeles, in which the District Attorney's Office trains and equips Rotary Club volunteers to educate seniors on how to protect themselves against fraud.
As part of the campaign, the District Attorney and her mother made public service announcements warning elders about the dangers of financial scams. The office also produces twice-monthly Fraud Alerts to warn the public about new and ongoing scams in Los Angeles County. You may view them here.
The office also created a pamphlet, Safeguarding Your Future, filled with tips to help seniors avoid being defrauded.
For these efforts, the District Attorney's Elder Abuse Financial Abuse Outreach campaign was presented in October 2014 with the Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission's Top Ten Award and Plain Language Award.
As part of this campaign, these web pages include important information about the warning signs of possible criminal activity involving financial fraud. There also is important information on physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. To read more about these topics, please click on the links in the text above. Dependent adults also are victims of these crimes.
If you are concerned that a senior is being victimized, please contact your local law enforcement agency and/or the Los Angeles County Elder Abuse Hotline 1-877-4-R-SENIORS (1-877-477-3646). You also may report elder abuse online at this Los Angeles County Adult Protective Services website (https://fw4.harmonyis.net/LACSSLiveintake/).


text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - salary & qualifications Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in salary & qualifications Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Taiwan View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message drewJoined: 27 Jan 2003Posts: 2 Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2003 10:26 pm Post subject: salary & qualifications I am a certified(BA) high school teacher (2 yrs experience) in the US and I have just recieved my ESL endorsement/cerification. Can anyone please tell me if someone with my qualifications typically gets a higher salary in Taiwan then someone without an education degree and ESL certification? Also, how much should I expect to earn, roughly? Thank you Back to top OkamiJoined: 25 Jan 2003Posts: 121Location: Sunny Sanxia Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2003 10:40 am Post subject: They don't discriminate A complete novice can fall off the boat and make more/same than/as you. You'll be able to get the better jobs though as far as pay a lot easier, but you have to find them. I would suggest applying at the international schools as they have a very good reputation and want qulaified people. Most laobans(bosses) don't check your papers unless it's a university. They mostly want a warm body and white face. Ugly but mostly true. Good luck with your search. Okami Back to top eslintaiwan2002Joined: 22 Feb 2003Posts: 10 Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2003 4:28 am Post subject: Drew, You might want to consider private schools as well. The pay seems to be on the higher end of the scale. Unless you want to be dissapointed with educational standards you would want to stay away from the bushibans. You are too qualified for those places and would do better at an international school or a private high school. Good Luck. Back to top ScottSommersJoined: 21 Jan 2003Posts: 82Location: Taiwan Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2003 6:36 am Post subject: Taiwan and Qualifications Taiwan is not a very rewarding experience for teachers who hope their education and TESOL qualifications can translate into higher pay or better conditions. Outside of faculty positions at post-secondary institutions, the market is filled with fraudulant claims of educational attainment. Companies will advertise that they want TESOL-qualiifed people, but will infact settle for anyone who can speak reasonably good English. As one the owner of a bushiban in which I once worked put it, "All my teachers say that they have edgrees, but I think at least half of them are lying." Taiwan can be a great place to live, but professionally, it can be a very frustrating place. Scott Sommers Ming Chuan University [email protected] Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Taiwan All times are GMT Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group Teaching Jobs in China


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Arnold decided to take a bike ride around the city while visiting Edinburgh in Scotland. He seems like he's having a great time, there's only one problem. He's riding the wrong way on the road, leading everyone with him into oncoming traffic.
via @kwr66
What? Were you expecting Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Terminator, to wear a helmet and follow traffic regulations?
via floofer
At least it looks like he had a good time, even if he did stop in the middle of traffic to take this picture:
via @Schwarzenegger
- Reposted by


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Today, Khronos celebrates the 20th anniversary of OpenGL at Siggraph 2012 with two major announcements pertaining to OpenGL accompanied by many others in OpenCL and computer vision. The first major announcement is the release of OpenGL ES 3.0 and the second is the announcement of OpenGL 4.3.
With OpenGL 3.0 they've enhanced the shading language with GLSL ES 3.0 with updated syntax and features to enable better compatibility with desktop OpenGL. They've also added full support for 32-bit integers and floats in shader programs. Additionally, most of the OpenGL ES 2.0 limitations have been removed, giving more freedom to programmers. Khronos has also added extensive new texture functionality with all implementations support 32 textures as well as standard support for 3D textures and texture arrays. They have also added new ways to draw triangles and cloned objects with a single command in order to reduce CPU and GPU overhead.
While on the topic of textures, Khronos has implemented a new texture compression algorithm for both OpenGL ES 3.0 and OpenGL 4.3. As a result of the new texture compression algorithm, compliments of Ericsson, there is less network bandwidth needed in order to download games, smaller application sizes in memory as well as GPU memory bandwidth needed to access textures. Their Adaptive Scalable Texture Compression or ASTC implemented as a core in both OpenGL and OpenGL ES from these versions, here on out. With ETC2 (Ericsson Texture Compression 2) for RGB you are able to do 4bits per pixel, 3-channel with both linear or sRGB color encoding. There is also an EAC algorithm for R or RG.
Khronos has really been putting in quite a bit of effort into building a bigger and bigger bridge between their OpenGL and Open GL ES standards. Based on upon what we're seeing with Khronos' standardizations and extensions like their new KHR extension, they are trying to make it easier for programmers to write programs for both platforms and eventually to merge the two into one or at least to being nearly the same.
With OpenGL 4.3 there are improvements to the fidelity of renders at even faster rates than ever before. They've also enabled compute shaders that allow for OpenGL effects not possible before. Additionally, it enables OpenGL to offload more tasks to the GPU allowing for more advanced game play on the CPU.
OpenGL 4.3's new pipeline functionalities include the ARB_computer_shader introduces a new shader stage and enables advanced processing algorithms that utilize the fundamental parallelism of the GPU to get more done in a faster manner. The ARB_multi_draw_indirect feature allows for many GPU objects to be drawn with one command, similar to what we saw in OpenGL ES 3.0. Another important ARB feature is the ARB_ES3_compatibility which adds features not previously present in OpenGL and also brings the EAC and ETC2 texture compression formats mentioned in the OpenGL ES 3.0 standard as well. Hopefully, this will prevent users having to download 30GB games in the future (we're talking to you Rockstar).
They've also included a compute shader which helps execute general purpose GLSL shaders. The compute shader is complementary to OpenCL, as we also feared that this may be competing with OpenCL. Since the compute shaders are not a fully heterogeneous CPU/GPU framework using full ANSI C, it isn't necessarily a competing standard. The compute shader will also be a standard part of all OpenGL 4.3 implementations which brings the OpenGL standard up to DirectX 11 functionality. The compute shader also enables image processing including Gaussian blurs, among many others. The compute shaders can also be used for physics processing, which is a functionality that OpenCL already offers.
Khronos also announced their new API standards for computer vision and sensors called OpenVL and SteamInput. OpenVL is Khronos' recognition of the fact that there needs to be standardization of computer vision and sensors in order to make the implementation of Augmented Reality easier and smoother across all platforms. Not to mention, easier to program for as well. OpenVL's ability to accelerate vision hardware enables vendors to implement accelerated imaging and vision algorithms while leveraging OpenCV. OpenVL serves as an accelerator for CV libraries like OpenCV rather than a replacement for it. It helps make various hardware vendors' implementations work across hardware platforms and operating systems.
StreamInput's standard is still a ways off, as a stable spec is expected in Spring 2013, however the working group was announced last August. The goal of the StreamInput standard is to push sensor fusion to combine different sensors together in order to improve accuracy and power consumption to reduce the time that they need to be turned on to acquire ample data to generate a result. Some examples of sensor fusion include using an accelerometer combined with a barometric data to sense how many floors have been travelled in an elevator for indoor navigation. Another example would be to combine a gyroscope and accelerometer to create a high-accuracy, high-frequency positional data stream at lower power by running different sensors at different frequencies to use the lower power sensor more and the higher power sensor less frequently. Interesting to see Razer included in this list of participants as well.
An interesting chart showing GPU performance in 20 years, we're not sure how Qualcomm and AMD feel about this table
Overall, this 20th year from OpenGL really looks to be an exciting one and we really can't wait to see all of these features implemented across the computing industry. We are especially excited to see more in mobile from Khronos with all of the added APIs that should help Augmented Reality really take off beyond being a so-called 'pie in the sky' type of technology. We are glad to see a working group like Khronos to be able to work together with the major semiconductor manufacturers in conjunction with handset makers to create industry-wide standards that ultimately help everyone get a better product for the consumer.


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Ascent Spiritile
Product Description
This amazing Spiritile by artist Houston Llew is a stunning masterpiece in glass & copper.
Spiritiles are created with Molten Glass on Copper and are collectibles that capture the Spirit of the Enlightened Moment. 100% American Made. All the raw materials of Spiritiles are made in USA: the glass comes from the Southeast and the copper comes from the Southwest. the imagery is created by hand with colored glass, kiln fired to copper.
Spiritiles bring luminous icons to life and share timeless stories on their golden sides. Spiritiles easily wall hang or stand alone. these wonderful artworks will never fade or tarnish and may be enjoyed in sunny or humid spots where other art may not endure.
Dimensions:5"w x 8 1/2"h x 2"d.
Made For You By...
Houston Llew
Get it just the way you want!
Need it made bigger, smaller, in a different color, or a slightly different shape? Let us help, this is our specialty!Let's customize!
Ready to Get Started?
Complete the form below and click "submit." Our expert staff will review your request, work with the artist and follow-up with you as quickly as possible. There is no cost, and no obligation to proceed with a project at this stage.
Need inspiration? View a sample project.


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Your Bastyr Center nutrition team can address a variety of concerns for adults and children, including:
Are you currently healthy and strong? Nutritional counseling today can help you develop and maintain healthy dietary habits to prevent chronic illness at any age.
Bastyr Center's nutrition teams use a highly personalized approach to diet and health. Your team will learn about your habits and health concerns. Then you'll work together to set nutritional goals. Dietary recommendations will be tailored to your personal needs, but you can expect an emphasis on a whole-food diet.
Worried about navigating the healthy food maze? Your team can also provide personalized shopping guidance at local grocery and health food stores.
Learn more by watching this short video:
No. While many local primary care physicians and other health providers refer patients to Bastyr Center nutrition services, you can make an appointment directly by calling 206.834.4100 or by completing our quick contact form.
Your team will include 2-3 graduate nutrition students and a licensed Bastyr faculty member. All nutrition faculty members are registered dietitians (RDs) with advanced degrees in nutrition. Bastyr Center nutrition teams act as teachers and collaborators. They work within the context of your values and daily life patterns to help you achieve your goals for better living.
Learn more about Team Care at Bastyr Center.


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Photographer captures baby blue whale nursing from it's mum in world first
In an incredible world first, a blue whale calf has been filmed nursing from its mother.
Wildlife film maker Patrick Dykstra who took the footage was just off the south coast of Sri Lanka when he captured this awe-inspiring sight.
He explains, 'We were working on a blue whale research project and we were trying to document various blue whale behaviours when we came across this mother and baby early in the day off the coast of Sri Lanka.'
'We followed this mother and baby blue whale for around 5 or 6 hours and the baby spent most of that time going back and forth underneath the mother, trying to stay either in the protective area or the shade of the mother.'
'To everyone's surprise, after watching them for a long time, the baby moved into position next to the mother and actually turned on it's side and moved back towards the mammary glands of the mother. Then you can see the nursing start.'
'I've spent a huge amount of time with blue whales and I've never seen anything like it.'
What a sight!
Commotion in the ocean
Blue whale calves have a unique way of feeding, as although they rely on their mum for food for the first year of their lives, they are unable to suckle.
The baby will instead let its mother know that it is hungry by nudging her on the belly to get her attention. Then, the mum's nipple will jut out from her mammary glands as she releases milk directly into the baby's mouth.
Although Patrick couldn't be prouder of the amazing footage he captured, he admits that filming this precious moment was far from easy.
He says, 'the hardest thing about filming the whale and her calf in a nursing position like that was that we were out at sea, it was probably 10miles from shore. It was waves and current and swell and any time you have an aerial camera out at sea it's a bit of a risk.'
Although this footage was filmed back in 2015, it has taken until now for Patrick to release it due to a different film project he was working on.
He says, 'It was incredibly rare footage because blue whales are the biggest animal to ever inhabit the planet yet nobody had ever filmed a baby feeding from its mother before.'
'Getting world first footage of the largest animal to ever inhabit the planet doing a behaviour that's never been filmed before was incredibly special.'
Watch the full video above!


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by Amy Lignor
Well…although Seattle may not be bringing any sort of grace to the football fields they play on (no offense is intended here, believe it or not, this just refers to the ridiculous amount of personal penalties); they are doing wonders for their local economy. Fans are excited beyond belief, even though they very much want to put that horrific image of San Francisco smiling out of their minds entirely. Because these fans are beyond enthusiastic, seeing the Lombardi Trophy coming to Seattle (finally) in 2014, they are showing their enthusiasm by purchasing cars!
They are in the news for just about everything, from car purchases this holiday season to creating earthquakes from the screaming, taunting and cheering coming from the stadium to rude Twitter comments. But they have every right to celebrate. The Seattle Seahawks, even though they stumbled a bit late in the year, have done it. They are the ones on top of the heap, so to speak, and they most definitely should enjoy it!
Just like the cheeseheads who frequent the frozen tundra to support and cheer for their Packers (who made a stunning rally and left the Cowboys more than a bit miffed yesterday), the Seahawks have brought elation to the city.
Even when people fault them for being petty; with some announcers even calling them worse than Madden's memorable and extremely angry Oakland Raiders team, Seattle can vent all they want. They did rise to the challenge each and every week to prove that they belonged in the 'cool' crowd.
Burying Eli Manning and the Giants (again, even though the penalties for schoolboy bullying are getting to be more than a bit old), was yet another notch on their belts. We all know that somewhere down deep inside they are just waiting (and hoping) that the NFC Division Championship will be them playing host to the Niners so they can embarrass Kap and his followers as they head off to the Super Bowl.
Why aren't AFC fans nervous about the Seahawks? I say this only because, well…they aren't. You speak with any fan of the Broncos or the Patriots and they basically roll their eyes and laugh at the thought that Seattle could ever fell their teams.
Something to think about. Manning is…Manning. He and his team play in Denver where the air is thin and cold, wintry, harsh weather is basically on tap. The Patriots have Brady. Brady is so used to playing in the winter weather that his breath doesn't even seem to show anymore. And, as it is with Manning, he's, well…Brady.
Between these two AFC giants you are talking about Super Bowl rings and high professionalism. You're also talking about two teams that will not be put out or bothered by any snow that mounts up on game day in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Seattle, on the other hand, has many Division Championships, although the only Conference Championship they ever earned put them in a Super Bowl against Pittsburgh in 2006, who easily came out victorious and joined the Niners and the Cowboys as being only the third franchise in history to win five Super Bowls.
Seattle also should head to the Northeast and practice on a field that boasts six inches and wind chills that will rattle your teeth. Now Seattle isn't a warm state, by any means, we're not talking about Tampa Bay here. But a nor'easter coming in is a whole lot worse than a cold day in Washington state, so they need to be prepared.
First question, of course, is whether or not it will be Brady or Manning who takes the AFC. The way this season has gone, it wouldn't be surprising to see anyone come up and take it. When it comes to the NFC, Seattle still looks like the best chance but, again, the Niners and others making a seriously strong showing this year are just as hungry as the Seahawks.
This should be a heck of a season ending!
Until Next Time, Everybody,


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Artist Releases
ABOUT Exene Cervenka
A true renaissance woman, Exene is a singer, artist and poet whose work traverses virtually every aspect of those disciplines. She is known for her work as singer for the legendary punk band X as well as The Knitters and The Original Sinners.
Best known as the singer for X, one of the leaders of the late-'70s/early-'80s California punk explosion, Exene Cervenka has also issued solo albums, launched several side bands, and penned books. Although Cervenka has been closely associated with California for a long time, she is not originally from the West Coast. Born on February 1, 1956, in Chicago, Christine Cervenka grew up primarily in Tallahassee, FL, before relocating to Santa Monica, CA, during the summer of 1976. Through a local poetry workshop, Cervenka met John Doe, and the seeds of what would eventually become X were planted. With both sharing vocal duties (and Doe doubling on bass), Doe's friend Billy Zoom supplied guitar in a Duane Eddy style and was soon followed by the arrival of drummer D.J. Bonebrake, resulting in the birth of X in 1977.
X the bandWith Cervenka changing the spelling of her first name to Exene, the group led the Hollywood punk movement, but there was much more to their sound than the average punk band -- as country, rockabilly, and Exene's poetic lyrics set them apart from the pack. A string of classic (yet criminally overlooked) releases followed -- 1980's Los Angeles, 1981's Wild Gift, 1982's Under the Big Black Sun, and 1983's More Fun in the New World -- during which time Cervenka and Doe were married. In addition to her X duties, Cervenka appeared as part of the country spin off the Knitters (1985's Poor Little Critter on the Road), and issued (also in 1985) a poetry collaboration with Wanda Coleman entitled Twin Sisters. But as the '80s wore on, Cervenka and Doe's marriage would collapse, as did X after Zoom's exit and a few spotty albums. With X winding down, Cervenka launched a solo career, resulting in 1989's Old Wives' Tales and 1990's Running Sacred.
The KnittersAfter a break early in the decade, Cervenka, Doe, and Bonebrake resuscitated X in the early '90s with a new studio album, 1993's Hey Zeus!, and 1995's acoustic affair, Unclogged. Later in the decade, Zoom signed back on, resulting in a re-formation of the original X lineup (no new studio recordings surfaced, however, just live dates). During this time, Cervenka found the time to launch a new albeit short-lived band, Auntie Christ (in which she also supplied guitar), including X bandmate Bonebrake as well as major X fan Rancid bassist Matt Freeman -- and also issued a third solo release, 1996's Surface to Air Serpents.
The early 21st century saw the formation of another musical side project for Exene, the Original Sinners. Additionally, Cervenka has issued several books, including the titles -Virtual Unreality (through Henry Rollins' 2.13.61 publishing company), -A Beer on Every Page, and -Just Another War, the latter of which was a collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-nominated photojournalist Kenneth Jarecke, in which Exene supplied commentary to Jarecke's photos of the Gulf War. The Knitters resurfaced in 2005 with The Modern Sounds of the Knitters, and the following year Cervenka released the solo album Sev7en.
Greg Prato, All Music Guide
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DescriptionPlay up to three exciting games of tennis against the best players in the world. Can you get all the aces up to the top? Then you will qualify for the final and become the Top Ace!
- The goal of this game is to get all the aces in the top positions.
- Click a card to remove it from the tennis court. You can only remove cards if you have a higher card of the same suite open.
- You have a bag with four slots where you can store cards. To bring back a card from the bag, you need to empty a whole column.


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Irving Outdoor Living Spaces
Enjoy the Irving sunshine all year long by adding a patio to your Irving home. Brinker Construction is a premier patio designer and builder, creating showpieces that families use throughout the year. These patios aren't just great for socializing. They improve a home's value and curb appeal as well.
Irving Custom Outdoor Kitchens
A cramped, hot kitchen isn't much fun. Make your kitchen the best place in your home by moving it outdoors. Brinker Construction has designed fully-functional outdoor kitchens, customized to fit our clients' needs. Choose your materials and appliances, and then we will work on the design together. We can also take care of the electrical wiring, plumbing, and other functional elements of the outdoor kitchen.
Irving Custom Patios
If you can dream it, we can build it. Our designers can build any style of custom patio you can imagine, from a traditional wrap-around deck to a modern customized design. You don't have to go with what you find in a magazine or a book. Tap into your imagination and let us know what you want out of your custom patio. If you can put it into words, we can create a design. Then, we will work together to fine-tune the design until it is exactly what you want out of your patio.
Irving Walkway, Rock Gardens, and Fountains
Your yard is beautiful on its own, but you can enhance the beauty with a walkway, rock garden, or fountain. Brinker Construction can survey your property and help you determine the best place to put a walkway, rock garden, or fountain. Then, you are only limited by your imagination. Let us know what you want out of this project and we will make it happen.
Irving Pergolas & Arbors
If you want to enjoy the outdoors but don't want to be exposed to too much sunlight, you need to get a pergola and arbor. Go with something traditional or have a little bit of fun with this project. Regardless of which option you choose, pergolas and arbors are excellent conversation pieces and are perfect for sitting and enjoying the day.
The Design Process
While some companies leave their customers out of the patio creation process, we think it's more fun (and productive) when we involve our clients. When you choose us as your patio builder, we will involve you every step of the way, ensuring that you get the patio of your dreams. From custom outdoor kitchens to rock gardens, we will work alongside you to build your dream outdoor space.
Getting to Know You
We can't build your dream patio without getting to know you, so we need to have an initial meeting. "Meeting" sounds so formal, though, so let's call this a meet and greet. This is where you can tell us everything that you want from your outdoor space. Don't hold back during this meet and greet.
Have other builders told you that your dreams are too big? We want to hear them.
We also want to learn about your budget and what you expect from us. It's a good idea for everyone to start off on the same page. This meet and greet will ensure that we move forward together, with the same ideas in mind.
Turning Your Vision into Reality
The next time you see us, we will be ready to nail down the specifics. This is when we will go over location, size, and materials. We have found that a lot of clients want to add or remove components during this stage. That is perfectly fine. This is the perfect time to customize the project. Add in a water feature or take out that fire pit. This is your outdoor patio so you need to customize it to your liking.
The Video Tour
It's getting close to the time to build your outdoor patio. You're getting excited, and that excitement is about to reach a fever pitch because we're going to use 3-D software to show you a rendering of the patio. You can take a virtual tour of the patio and make sure it is exactly what you want. It's still not too late to make changes. If something doesn't flow right or if you want to add or remove something, let us know. We can make the changes before we move forward with construction.
Contact us today and schedule a free inspection. Then, we can get started on your next project.


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Ball Stock Hits New 52-Week High (BLL)
Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model
) --
) hit a new 52-week high Friday as it is currently trading at $44.90, above its previous 52-week high of $44.89 with 242,291 shares traded as of 12:40 p.m. ET. Average volume has been 792,100 shares over the past 30 days.
Ball has a market cap of $6.86 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector and consumer non-durables industry. Shares are up 24.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.
Ball Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, supplies metal packaging products for the beverage, food, personal care, and household products industries in the United States and internationally. The company has a P/E ratio of 16.8, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.
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End of life care
Starting to talk about your illness
Open all pages about End of life care
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What is end of life care?
Planning ahead
Your wellbeing
Living with a terminal diagnosis and knowing you're dying can make you feel isolated, even though life is going on around you.
It can feel very difficult to speak about your illness or the fact you're dying, but talking with your loved ones can help. You or your family and friends may even find it a relief to have the subject out in the open, even if you find it upsetting.
Not talking can create worries or distance between you and the people who are important to you, even if you are usually very close. Talking about your illness and death can help you feel closer and more able to deal with the future and your worries together.
Starting the conversation about dying
You might want to talk about any number of things, including your feelings about death, your worries, your fears, your wishes for your future care, your funeral or things you would like to give to people.
You do not have to talk about everything at once. Different situations work for different people – there's no right or wrong way to start talking about dying.
If you find it hard to bring up the topic, some of the following suggestions might help.
Choose a time and a place that you will not be disturbed. You could try saying something like: "It would help me if we could talk about my situation. How do you feel about that?" or "I know it might be difficult, but do you think we should talk about what's going to happen?" Starting with a question may help because it gives the other person a chance to say how they feel.
Listen to what they say. If they change the subject or do not want to talk about it, try saying something like: "OK, we do not have to talk about it now, but I hope we can talk about it another time. It's something I would really like to do."
It's normal for people to get upset or feel emotional when they talk about the death of someone they love. Try not to let this put you off. Getting upset or crying can be a release from any worries or pressure people are feeling. Once this is out, it may help you feel able to discuss things more openly.
Things you might want to say
If you know you're coming to the end of your life, it's important to say the things you would like to the people you care about. This might be your partner, parents, brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren and friends.
You can tell people you love them. You might want to tell them they mean a lot to you or that a disagreement you had does not matter. It might feel very emotional.
If it becomes overwhelming, say so and suggest talking again another time. You could write a letter, make a video or fill a memory box with things that remind you of the times you've shared.
You can also think about dealing with any unfinished emotional business. If there's anyone you feel you need to apologise to, you can say you're sorry. If you've had an argument with someone, you could consider getting back in touch. If the damage from an argument cannot be repaired, try not to worry about it. At least you know you've tried your best to make things right.
If you feel you're not ready to bring up the subject of your death with your loved ones, you might want to discuss it first with someone who is not as close to you, such as a chaplain, doctor, nurse or counsellor.
You can also talk to the Samaritans free of charge for emotional support by phone, email or in person.
Ideas, support and other people's experiences of dying
The Dying Matters website has information on death and dying, including talking about death and dying. There's information for carers and loved ones too.
healthtalk.org has videos and written interviews with people talking about the support they receive. It also has videos of people offering advice to others who are approaching the end of life.
In Dr Kate Granger's blog, she talks openly about her life with terminal cancer. Dr Granger died in 2016.
Page last reviewed: 20/06/2018
Next review due: 20/06/2021


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Finnkino Tennispalatsi
Salomonkatu 15,
Salomonkatu 15,Helsinki 00100
1 person favorited this theater
There are a few Finnkino theaters in Helsinki, with varying numbers of screens. One of them is seen in the photo below.
This one opened in 1999, in a former tennis courts building.
Contributed by Ken McIntyre
Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
kencmcintyre on September 29, 2007 at 10:38 am
The photo caption says Finland's largest movie theater, so 14 screens would probably be the one.
kencmcintyre on January 16, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Here is another photo:
Here is another photo:
hugovk on October 4, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Architect: Helge Lundström
Architect: Helge Lundström
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To match your car lights, you should use LED lights in the front and in the back. For instance if your parking lights are white and headlights are xenon you better get license plate lights to match. We recommend LED license plate lights in the error free variety for Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and other European vehicles.
The LED lights we carry have a 6000K LED output range equivalent to many of the HIDs we carry. With error free lights, you get a CAN-bus controller so European onboard computers won't trip out over the LED power wattage. Most of our products that carry OBC error free controllers are specially made for European vehicles.
Below, the Mercedes Benz C300 has our xenon white error free LED. The W5W LED bulb has side-shine LED that will perfect match some housings. It uses a high power 5050 SMD Cree LED light and is able to generate enormous light output.
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