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Last month I called for a bloody big new forest in New Zealand: 1.3 million hectares by my reckon. Could be more, could be less – but this is the right ballpark for a meaningful reduction to our net greenhouse gas emissions.
The report, Our Forest Future, prompted plenty of discussion, but one issue stood out: a lot of New Zealanders have had a gutsful of Pinus radiata.
I’ll save the pros and cons of radiata for another day. Here I’ll discuss some alternatives; specifically, the potential for native trees as commercial forests. Because by bringing new native forest into the mix – for commercial planting as well as conservation planting – we can plan for a forest future that New Zealanders might actually want.
Common opinion will tell you that natives grow too slowly to be profitable. But the reality is more complicated.
Wallwork is involved in a project called “Our Forests, Our Future”, led by Tane’s Tree Trust. The intention is to get a better handle on the economic potential of native forest, not only for timber but also for environmental benefits.
You might wonder: how can anyone do field trials on trees when they take so long to grow? Won’t it take decades to get results?
The Northland Totara Working Group, established in 2005, looks at totara that self-regenerated on farmland. As long as landowners left the seedlings to grow to maturity, these decades-old trees can serve as approximations for how totara would grow if planted deliberately. Since 2007, the Working Group has pruned and thinned these forest plots, to see how they respond to best forestry practice.
Our commercial forests are currently 90 per cent Pinus radiata. Bergin says: “With radiata, you’re dealing with a high volume, low value, commodity; so, you’ve got to grow that on an industrial scale.” He’s worked alongside Māori landowners in Northland managing large pine plantations, mostly shipped to China as cheap unprocessed logs. He says “they’re getting a peppercorn rental; they’re on steep difficult country with poor soils; they’re hardly making anything out of it after trucking costs – so it’s marginal even for radiata.” He says there’s a real hunger for alternatives.
Forestry research centre Scion is also engaged in indigenous forest research. One recent study found that kauri, along with mānuka, made positive economic returns in six areas around Northland (see graph below). Indeed, in four of the six areas, the investment case for kauri was superior to, or comparable to, Pinus radiata, both pruned and structural-grade.
The study estimated the land expectation values (LEVs) for different kinds of forest, then calculated incomes by factoring in costs of planting, harvesting, transport, and annuity. The areas where radiata performed best—South Hokianga, Central Taitokerau, and South Kaipara—were all areas where markets were closest and transport costs low. But, averaging across them, the income for kauri was estimated to be 4.7 times higher than structural-grade radiata pine over a 60-year period.
Land expectation values (8% discount rate) of Pinus radiata (prune and structural grade) alongside native species. Source: Scion, 2014.
So, if native trees aren’t such a bad investment, why aren’t we growing them?
For decades, native forestry has been held back because reliable information is all-too-rare and unreliable information is all-too-common.
When Steward studied kauri for his Masters degree at University of Canterbury, he found far higher rates of productivity than anyone expected, occasionally getting close to Pinus radiata on optimal sites. Since then he’s helped to develop the Kauri Calculator, an online tool for landowners which predicts future production and income for kauri.
Misinformation goes back as far as early European settlement. Under the Waste Lands Act of 1854, native forests were defined as precisely that – as “waste lands” – and treated accordingly. The common view was that one blade of grass was worth more than two trees.
Not everyone went along with this. By the late 1800s, says Steward, “various folk were starting to question how we were managing our forests and our native timber resources.” At the time, we were not only cutting down ancient forests to export timber overseas, we were also starting to import foreign timber to meet local demand. Yet New Zealand chose to undertake large-scale planting of exotic pine throughout the 1920s to boost domestic supply. In 1919, forester Sir David Hutchins observed: “for reasons which have never been satisfactorily explained, it has been thought to replace the valuable native forest of New Zealand by artificial plantations of exotics – a quite unusual proceeding in forestry”.
Some early field trials for natives – although showing promise – were sidelined in this rush to plant exotics. Later trials were conducted on public land, often at high altitude or on land recently clear-felled. Unsurprisingly, these sub-optimal sites produced sub-optimal results. Some historical data, Steward says, no one knows its origins, nor therefore its reliability.
A 17-year-old kauri stand near Tauranga with stems of 34 centimetres diameter at breast height. Recent density analysis of this stand indicates growth rate is not affecting wood density. Source: Steward et al., 2014. Republished with permission of Greg Steward.
Meanwhile, Pinus radiata has benefited from decades of government and industry research. Landowners can easily estimate their return-on-investment for radiata, as well as carbon sequestration rates. Selective breeding has also made it a “super-species”, fast growing and resilient to disease. While there’s no reason that native trees couldn’t also be optimised through selective breeding, that work hasn’t yet been done.
To put it bluntly, New Zealand forestry is suffering from a bad case of “path dependency”. In other words, our decisions in the present are constrained by decisions from the past. The historical dominance of Pinus radiata makes its continued dominance a foregone conclusion.
It’s this hurdle that Wallwork, Bergin and others hope to overcome with the “Our Forest, Our Future” project.
But that transition will require effort. To break the path-dependency of Pinus radiata, there needs to be more research, which means more research funding. It’ll also require market development, particularly educating New Zealanders to choose sustainably grown native timbers, rather than import foreign timbers which aren’t always sustainably harvested. It’ll require industrial-scale nurseries and economies of scale to bring down the price of establishment. Finally, where local rules prohibit the felling of all native trees, even those that were planted deliberately, we’ll need to find regulatory solutions that enable sustainable native forestry without endangering conservation efforts.
Evidence shows that natives, on average, don’t grow as quickly as Pinus radiata, and so sequester carbon more slowly.
Granted, there’s room to improve the growth rates of natives through selective breeding. There’s also room to be smarter about which trees go where: the right native tree on the right site with the right aftercare will likely defy many people’s expectations. Wallwork tells me that mānuka on the East Coast can compete with radiata in terms of sequestration. But this will likely only narrow the gap between the early growth rates of natives and exotics like radiata and eucalyptus, not close the gap entirely.
Predicted carbon sequestration rates on average sites. Source: Tāne’s Tree Trust, 2014.
Yet there are other things to consider.
A lot of what forests sequester isn’t in the wood, but in the biomass below the ground or on the forest floor. Kauri forest has one of the highest biomass carbon densities in the world. Although this below-ground biomass is excluded from conventional carbon accounting, from a climate perspective, it’s still carbon that’s locked out of the atmosphere.
Another issue is resilience. For example, kauri, once established, is highly resistant to drought, indeed even has a competitive advantage in dry conditions (that’s why kauri often clusters on ridgelines). It is also, like totara, a sturdy tree that isn’t susceptible to wind throw. So, if global warming means more droughts and more violent storms for New Zealand – which is what the Royal Society predicts – then there’s good reason to plan more diverse forests, rather than gamble on a monoculture that’s uniformly vulnerable to the same hazards.
There’s also questions over long-term strategy for permanent forests. Bergin notes that, although some exotics have a growth advantage in early decades, this diminishes over successive decades because the growth of radiata eventually plateaus at around fifty years. Once we’ve reached, say, one-hundred years, though, we’re talking about mature native and exotic forests that are storing comparable volumes of carbon. But the native forests may well be more sustainable over the long run, because of their intrinsic value and more diverse income opportunities. Wallwork notes that, when carbon forestry was first floated, all sorts of ridiculous plans were hatched for densely spaced forests of radiata, unthinned and unpruned, which would have aged into hazardous and unmanageable forests with little value beyond their stored carbon. Such forests, as you can imagine, would be first in line for land use conversion.
Our forest future doesn’t need to be a future of Pinus radiata alone. There are alternatives on the table. And that’s just as well, because as long as landowners have a choice over what they plant, then many landowners won’t want to plant radiata pine (at least not without handsome incentives). Given that the majority of land available for future forest is privately owned, climate policy needs to take seriously the preferences of people, whether its their aesthetic preferences, cultural values like kaitiakitanga, or concerns over biodiversity and wilding pines. A native tree in the ground will always sequester more carbon than a fast-growing exotic that never gets planted at all. This is why, in the Our Forest Future report, I called for a principle of “appropriate diversification”.
Fortunately, native trees are not only a feasible option, they’re sometimes the more profitable option, especially when landowners pick the right tree for the right site. That doesn’t mean we should only plant native trees with commercial purposes in mind. Native tree planting for conservation projects, for habitat restoration, for permanent forest sinks, and for riparian planting should be a part of the picture too – the bigger the better. But anyone who relies on their land as their principal source of income needs to make ends meet. Native planted forests – sensibly managed – can strike a balance between favourable economic returns and favourable environmental outcomes.
And if that isn’t green growth, then I don’t know what is.
Andy – NZ has not sold off its native timber – 24% of NZ is still in Native Forest (largely DOC controlled). The rules that protect our Native trees simply make it difficult to produce native timber. Radiata was planted specifically to replace NZ’s native timber.
It is somewhat ironic that the largest native planting project on the Kapiti Coast is being undertaken as part of the work on the new coastal highway. Lots more native planting will take place as part of the Transmission Gully project. So this shows that when there is a will and some money attached to this large scale plantings can take place. On the Kapiti Coast lots of smaller scale planting is taking place on various restoration sites – mainly undertaken by older members of the community. But wouldn’t it be great if we could figure out a way to fund larger scale planting – that would also employ younger people struggling to find work. There are plenty of sites on the coast including regional parks. Maybe a carbon tax with the money going to such a scheme?
Cheers for your thoughts Paul. The great thing about the commercial native forestry discussed in the article above is that, in the right circumstances, it’s just a good solid long-term investment. You only need to find long-term investors, because it’ll turn a decent profit. The restoration planting you’re talking about does need to be funded, though. A carbon tax is definitely one option. For forest of the right scale, the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative is another option, which almost functions like tax-and-transfer (albeit with uncertainties around price). I reckon there’s other options out there too – hopefully something for another article!!
Near the town centre of Upper Hutt there is a woodlot of totara which look to me to be of millable size, though of course they can grow much bigger. They were planted in memory of Norman Kirk after he died.
About 30 years ago I last looked at Turner’s Cottage, a 19th century pioneer’s hut at Rai Valley. At that stage the unpainted hand-hewn totara cladding looked well-weathered, but still apparently sound.
In Nydia Bay in Pelorus Sound 30 years ago there were totara (possibly matai) logs in the water. On historical conservation grounds DoC required these unrotted logs from early logging days to be left. This led me to wonder if totara cladding could be preserved for a very long period with regular doses of salt water. With long applicators one might not need to use scaffolding. The walls might look awful but 7.4Mj per square metre of embodied energy of water-based paint would be saved.
Another great article David. NZ should be negotiating for underground biomass to be included in carbon trading schemes, not just for forestry but for all forms of farming. Sequestration via tree planting and biological farming represents a major economic opportunity for NZ and probably the only short term global opportunity to stay under 1.5 degrees.
This is brilliant work. You are a veritable one-man royal commission on indigenous forestry—the royal commission I had hoped might magically appear when I published Next Year’s Centennial Past Time for 2nd Royal Commission on Forestry, in 1012.
Cheers Cimino – great article. Thanks for sharing! A commission on forest – or perhaps even land use more generally – would be a welcome initiative. What I do know is that the Institute for Forestry is currently undertaking a Forest Policy Project, which draws on the wisdom and expertise of folk around the country. So that’s something to look forward to. There’s such a need for strategic long-term thinking in this space – but it sounds like I don’t need to convince you of that!
Most kind David. I am a very recent student of forestry, brought about by the dire need for reforestation of the Mahurangi catchment to address its greatly elevated sediment accumulation rate. A quest for more cost-effect plants and establishment methods led me to Dr David Bergin, and the incomparable Jaap van Dorsser—a very deserved Queens Medal there, if there ever was!
Excellent articles, particularly the comprehensive and inclusive perspective. Are you aware that the NZ Institute of Foresters is promoting a NZ Forest Policy?
There is a lot in what you say that I want to endorse, particularly your comments on radiate; it will grow virtually anywhere. By comparison most trees, exotic and native, are very site specific and so require in depth knowledge and experience in assessing site characteristics and the needs of the various species. NZ has some wonderful farm foresters who, as primarily land managers, think in terms of the relationships between various land uses and not simply uses in isolation one of the other. Their question is “what can trees and woody vegetation generally contribute to the overall resilience and viability of the land I manage?” This is the question a forest policy needs to address. And we might need to accept the costs of putting vegetation back where its presence benefits us all by providing valuable ‘ecological services’. As you say, forests provide far more than wood. A forest policy needs to address the role of forests in sustainable land management and not just the role of forests in supplying industry.
Thanks Clive – yes I am aware of NZIF’s national policy project – I’m really looking forward to seeing what they come up with. I’d also like to see the Government reconsider its decision to not be involved in this process, given that implementation of a national policy will necessarily involve regulatory change, whether to the ETS, the RMA, the Forests Act, or whatever else. Cheers.
Clive, I recall bring on the multi-interest NZ Forest Policy group for govt about 26 years ago. A lot of work was done. What became of it?
It is interesting to note that the very large and efficient American Hardwood industry (which exports large volumes of prime, slow-growing timber) gets its raw material from thousands of small privately owned woodland lots. When surveyed on why they grew the trees, owners put financial returns as third priority, behind such criteria as aesthetics and amenity! There is no reason why we can’t do the same. We do not have to always ‘think big’ and only consider large scale mono-crop plantations, which are so vulnerable and ugly. If the Americans can make such a successful industry out of it so can we.
Cheers David – I couldn’t agree more. It would be a strange model of psychology that sees us making decisions *solely* on profit maximisation. Of course, financial considerations are crucial for landowners to ensure that they don’t bankrupt themselves. But beyond that bottom line, there’s all sorts of trade-offs to make with other values: aesthetic, cultural, or prudential. And why not make more nuanced choices when landowners – or their grandchildren – have to live with them! This is one way to force a distinction between profit-maximisation and utility-maximisation, where the former is only about cash in the hand and the latter is about well-being more broadly. I reckon green growth makes most sense when it aligns with the latter (and actually it’s only fairly recently that mainstream economics started confusing the two).
Here is a real life example of trying to get a local native re-afforestation project underway. Perkins farm on the south end of the Kapiti Coast was bought by NZTA as part of the Transmission Gully Motorway project. It is around 400 hectares. Much of it is steep and erosion prone. Fencing is in poor condition. It would be ideal if around 200 hectares was left to revert back to native forest – with a bit of help along the way. Local restoration group Nga Ururoa did a report on re-afforestation – various agencies such as DoC, Kapiti Coast District Council or Greater Wellington Regional Council dont want any additional land -so how does one get the land into an ownership structure that suits this purpose and fund such a project?
Given that approximately 20% of the surviving Kauri in New Zealand are presently dying or already dead from Kauri Die-back Disease, it seems highly improbable that Kauri will represent the future for timber growing in this country!
Unless a solution is found, and quickly, it is highly possible that the death rate will extend to 100% of our remaining Kauri. Hardly the basis for a healthy timber industry – first we need to solved this extremely devastating disease, otherwise all discussion about Kauri is entirely theoretical.
There are no major Kauri districts that are now free of this disease, The Coromandel was thought to be clear but two forests have been found with the disease in the past year.
Northland, Waitakeres, and Great Barrier Island all have substantial areas where the disease is rampant, with no solutions evident. This is killing trees of all ages.
First that all tree species have potential diseases, including Pinus radiata. See here There’s even a disease called red needle cast, which belongs to the same family (Phytophthora) as kauri dieback, and has resulted in serious losses on some sites. So the potential for disease is a factor in all commercial forestry, not only kauri, and foresters simply have to weigh up their odds.
Secondly it’s in the nature of genetics that some trees will be more resistant to kauri dieback than others. This lays the foundation for selective breeding of trees that are less likely to die from the disease. There are precedents for this in fighting other Phytophthora diseases, such as selective breeding of the Port Orford Cedar. It’ll be crucial, therefore, to grow any commercial kauri from trees that appear to be resilient against the disease, which would also expand the “genetic bank” of resistant kauri for conservation planting also. What’s missing is further research – and research funding – into these possibilities.
Thirdly and relatedly, it’s in the nature of research funding these days that funds are more likely to be available if there’s an economic incentive involved, like commercial prospects. I’m not saying that that’s a great state of affairs: I think there should be more research funding available to conservation causes. It’s also not entirely true in this case: Government already funds research on kauri dieback, although there’s always the question of whether they’re investing enough. But the point is that the existence of a strong case for economic opportunities could make more research funding available to pursue solutions like selective breeding.
One area you haven’t covered in your article is how to address the risk for someone who has planted a crop of native trees with an expectation that they will harvest them, that they can’t. There is considerable fear among some would-be “alternative species” foresters that they will get to harvest time only to find that they have accidentally created a Significant Natural Area or the like. This problem has already arisen for the riparian setbacks that plantation foresters create. These grow native species, and some district plans then regard them as SNAs, for which no damage – no matter no harvesting is allowed.
It reflects the dichotomous approach to forests and forestry in NZ.
Exotic production = industrial forest = OK to chop it down.
Native trees = precious = don’t touch.
a planted area with an intent that it stays as is.
Maclaren, Piers. ‘Environmental Effects of Planted Forests in New Zealand: The Implications of Continued Afforestation of Pasture.’ FRI Bulletin, no. 198 (1996).
I am very impressed with your ethos behind your research and the pathway you have chosen to best utilise your expertise. This is in line with my own values with ensuring that everyone and industry can gain from sustainable investment, options and practice as an educational tool forward for all nations peoples and our planet. Starting with small steps such as yours (not demeaning your work at all, more in context to the current global situation), I vision a rapidly growing green system of carbon credit advantages and money in many more pockets.
Thanks for your thoughts Jewel – and you’re quite right, these are only small steps in a massive project, as well as only one dimension in what needs to be a multi-dimensional response to climate change. All best, David.


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As social media continues to pervade every aspect of our lives, we are beginning to see how it affects the workplace in varied and sometimes unpredictable ways. Imagine this scenario.
You have an employee that, despite several warnings and your active coaching, continues to underperform. Consequently, you terminate the employee, explaining that his performance is entirely unsatisfactory. The employee then files a discrimination lawsuit with the EEOC. In your Position Statement you assert that the employee was a poor performer, attaching as support his unfavorable performance reviews and some of your “feedback” emails. The employee responds by attaching a LinkedIn “recommendation” from a Director in another department dated only one week before the employee’s termination extolling the employee’s skills, work ethic and job performance. The employee then asserts that because the recommender is in management, her recommendation performance assessment is an official company record, rendering your defense pretextual and not credible. The EEOC agrees.
Far‐fetched? Not exactly. I have seen this issue come up in my own practice, and as the total number of unique LinkedIn users continues to grow (it currently has 467 million users), the issue will likely continue to arise in the future. So what is an employer to do?
The solution is quite simple to articulate, although perhaps hard to implement. Most employers already have policies prohibiting employees from providing references on former employees. Employers should consider amending those policies to further prohibit any employee having managerial or supervisory authority from providing ‐‐ outside of the company’s formal performance review process ‐‐ recommendations, references or performance assessments for current employees. This would include on social media platforms like LinkedIn. We would happy to assist you in reviewing and drafting compliant policies.

industry_corpus2: Law & Justice


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For those who believe corporation tax can be avoided by simply registering a company abroad, it's time to think again.
The government doesn't have a problem with trusts in principle, but there are some areas of taxation it believes are worth a closer look.
In the rush to tax year end, Tony Wickenden says it's worth remembering that it's now when advisers are really demonstrating their value.
Tony Wickenden outlines the areas where advisers and planners should consider brushing up their technical knowledge.
Tony Wickenden discusses how family investment companies offer an alternative means of estate planning "with control".
Wealth is set to be transferred across the generations in a big way. Tony Wickenden discusses the crucial role advisers can play here.
Tony Wickenden talks through the first part of the Office of Tax Simplification's review of inheritance tax, and how the system could be improved.
Tony Wickenden talks through some of the small yet important tax changes outlined in the recent Budget that planners need to be aware of.
Tony Wickenden sets out the main ways to invest tax efficiently outside of pensions.
Tony’s consultancy work encompasses the design and implementation of technical tax, legal and marketing solutions and strategies for product providers and advisers in the insurance, investment and pensions markets.

industry_corpus2: Finance & Economics


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Since I've started on my Beachbody journey, I've enjoyed exploring new ways to cook foods. We've always been pretty clean eaters but I'm now making a big effort to create new ways for everyone to easily enjoy healthy meals. I am getting ready to start the 21 Day Fix Challenge with an awesome group of challengers! It's a program designed to help you get the results you want in just 21 days through working out, controlling your portions and drinking Shakeology. I've been drinking Shakeology for 2 months now, and have LOVED it! This stuff is no joke.
So this summer there was a 21 Day Fix recipe contest and people were encouraged to create clean and healthy frozen desserts. I couldn't decide what to do so while throwing around ideas with my family, my cousin decided that Oatmeal Raisin would be good, so that's what I decided on. I still have a long list of ideas that I will be making to share too!
1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a mixing bowls and stir until combined.
2. Pour into ice cream maker using manufacture's directions.
3. 5 minutes before frozen yogurt is done, add raisins and granola.
4. Turn off machine and move frozen yogurt to a freezer container.
5. Serve immediately for soft serve, or place in freezer for 1-2 hours for a more solid yogurt.
It's imperative that you serve this frozen yogurt in cute jars and adorable wooden spoons. I'm serious. It tastes more...fun that way.
This stuff is so addicting. You'd think the raisins would be frozen solid, but they are in fact perfectly cold and chewy, so you keep digging for more. And more.
And more. The raisins are so addicting. Sorry, did I already say that?
You can see the little ones coming after the frozen yogurt in the background. I had to move fast before it was too late. Of course I gave them a healthy serving of this frozen yogurt completely guilt-free and they devoured it!

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


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Summary: I know the DS version is more recent and includes more gameplay elements, but I want the better sound quality for Yocchin. I’ve played through Heisuke/Yocchin’s route, but after that I think I’ll just watch the anime if I ever have any more “interest” in the other routes. XD; Someone who likes the seiyuu enough would definitely find it worth playing those other routes though.
Summary: You know the drill by now. Seems they’re adding quite a few features to the gameplay this round that I can perhaps put some expectations on. At least enough for famitsu to give it a 40/40.

industry_corpus2: Gaming


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Video Producer/Director: @Mr_OneNine For media & videography services, call/text 225-366-8805 or email Str8UpEntMusic@gmail.com.
Is Your Bass Boat Actually Covered? Insurance Issues You Need To Know Before Its Too Late!

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


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He is mellow and gets along with all the other cats and the New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare Society shelter.
He is looking for a home to call his own.
Tucker does need special food called C/D.
For more information on adopting Tucker, call the shelter at (203) 746-2925.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


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Thrall ISD phone service, for incoming and outgoing calls, is not working, as of 9:00 am, Thursday, April 18. Frontier has been contacted. Please contact cell phone 512-365-4264 (Middle School Office) for any needs at any campus. Thanks for your patience!
Student Holidays: April 19 and 22!
Easter holidays for TISD students and staff are Friday, April 19 and Monday, April 22. School begins again for students on Tuesday, April 23 at 8:00 a.m.
April Menus for all campuses are available here and under the Parents section of this and the Campus websites. Yum!
Elementary Book Fair was Fabulous!

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


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I’m such a sucker for Christmas and that is not a secret! I had my tree up and decorated since late November and I started watching festive movies… I’m ashamed to even tell you since when. It’s very hard for me to accept that it is over and we have 360+ days to go before we celebrate it again so… I have to take action!
Well, in order to make Christmas last longer, you gotta do what you gotta do. You need to start early and keep the spirit alive for as long as you can. In my case, that means mid January because thanks to the Old Calendar, my husband celebrates the Serbian Xmas (7th Jan) and rings in the New Year on (13th Jan) and I get to keep my tree up longer. Hooray!
But if you don’t have a Serbian husband and want to avoid those weird looks from your neighbors and friends because you have your tree up until February, you can choose to watch some lovely Christmas themed movies all year long!
Love Actually – Who doesn’t love a little Christmas drama to make our own families seem normal? Some say it’s overrated but never to my face… well. Try me.
The Holiday – A lovely story for grown ups, especially those who relate to travel, with a nice cast.
The Polar Express – Animated movies are my favorite and when they involve trains, elves and Santa himself count me very in!
A Christmas Carol – My all time favorite, the story by Charles Dickens, we all grew to love, but this time – with Jim Carrey. Even if, again, I find the original much better.
Home Alone (all of them) – The fun classic that everyone loves. You know it’s Christmas when the radio starts playing Wham and the TV starts airing Home Alone for days!
Miracle on 34th Street – There are two versions and the answer is simple: Go for the vintage one. This heartwarming story will make you remember what it was like to believe in something.
Bad Santa – Like every decent comedy, this one will make you laugh and has a nice underlying message.
It’s a Wonderful Life – One of the best and one that we can all ponder about – what would life be like if you didn’t exist? Spreading joyful tears since 1946. A must see for Christmas suckers like me.
You can also celebrate everything that Christmas is about no matter what month or season it is: love, joy, honesty, friendship, and family. Christmas is inside of us all and as a hopeless romantic; I choose to live in Christmas fever all year long.


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Above: A photographic tour of the enormous apple cider press at the Hubbell homestead. Click on the slideshow to open the the tour in a separate window. Photos by Julia Reischel.
It’s a good year for apples in the Catskills. Call it the silver lining of all that rain.
All over the mountains, on the roadsides and up in the hills, wild apple trees that usually don’t make much fruit have decided to make this year a banner year. Fallen apples litter sidewalks and trails. To grab a perfectly edible snack off a branch, all you have to do is reach and grab.
Apples destined for the cider press at the Hubbell homestead. Photo by Julia Reischel.
“This is the first year in probably five years that there have been any wild apples up here,” says Bob Hubbell, the 77-year-old cider master at Hubbell Companies, a multi-generational family business in the hamlet of Kelly Corners in Delaware County.
Hubbell says it’s been a busy few weeks.
Commercial apple orchards are also doing well, according to Jim Allen, the President of the New York Apple Association. A wet spring and the flooding the region saw this fall may have played a role in the bumper crop.
Size isn’t everything, though. Allen says that this year’s weather conditions also made for sweet apples.
So what do you do with your apples? You can always gather them and eat them. Or you can make cider.
Bob Hubbell loads apples onto a conveyor belt on the top flood of his cider press barn. Photo by Julia Reischel. At Bob Hubbell’s, you can watch a 93-year-old one-horsepower Fairbanks engine power a tremendous chain of flywheels and wooden conveyor belts and chutes and iron gears to press 64 bushels of apples at once. The whole contraption, which was built in the 1860s, fills three stories of a red barn in the back of the Hubbell homestead property on Rte. 30 in the town of Middletown.
I followed the smell of apple juice and visited the press in action last Saturday. Just as I arrived, a truck of apples was being loaded into a conveyor belt on the top floor of the press barn. The apples rise up into a machine that crushes them, and the resulting pulp -- skins and seeds and all -- sludges down a chute into the room below, where the empty rack and cloth press is waiting.
A team of two men spread the pulp onto a cloth laid out on a rack. When the cloth is full, they tuck the edges snugly over the pulp and place a new rack on top. They slather, tuck and stack a few more layers, and then move the whole sandwich under the looming vise-like press itself.
Hubbell’s press looks like a huge cast-iron car jack sitting atop a wooden rack. Fully extended, the press exerts about 150 tons of force. A single pressing can yield 250 gallons of juice, all of which sluices down into a trough that leads to a pipe in a floor.
Tasting the cider from the Hubbell's cider press. Photo by Julia Reischel.
When the press is loaded, Bob Hubbell pulls a lever and gears began to turn. The press began to squeeze, and within a minute juice runs out through the cloth and into the trough. The room, full of apple-pressing clients, gets loud and boisterous as everyone grabs a cup and dips into the trough to taste the new juice.
Hubbell, in the meantime, keeps a sharp eye on an orange lever quivering at the top of the press. When it rises to a certain height, the press has reaached its maximum pressure: close to 150 tons. At the right moment, Hubbell turns the press off again, and everyone troops down yet another flight of stairs.
On the ground floor of the barn, two plastic cisterns collect the cider. Each is rigged with something that looks for all the world like an antique gasoline pump. (Hubbell says that it’s manufactured specially for cider.) Out come containers of all shapes and sizes, and Hubbell begins decanting.
According to one of the clients pressing apples the day I was there, the batch of apples I saw yielded about 2.5 gallons per bushel. As I left, I walked past a row of freshly-filled gallons and half-gallons. Some of it was bound for the freezer, to be thawed in six months when our abundance of apples is only a memory.
Renting the Hubbell press costs $40/hour and requries a four-bushel minimum of apples. To contact Bob Hubbell for an appointment, call 845-586-4777.
A pair of energetic visitors turns the crank at Woodchuck Lodge to apply pressure on the crushed apples to produce cold tart cider. Photo by Diane Galusha.
You don’t have to have a three-story cider-press to get your own cider. Other, smaller cider presses are run by hand. On October 2 at Woodchuck Lodge in Roxbury, the ancestral home of the eminent nature writer John Burroughs, a hand-cranked apple press was in service to make cider out of the Burroughs apples growing in the nearby orchard. Diane Galusha, a local writer who works at the Catskill Watershed Corporation, was on hand to take photos.
The Stekketes family watches John McDaniel run the apple press at Woodchuck Lodge in Roxbury Sunday. Looking on is Bill Birns, tour guide for the day at John Burroughs’ summer home. Photo by Diane Galusha. In Shandaken this past weekend, another hand-cranked press was the center of another gathering. Henry E. Needham had donated it to be the centerpiece of a fundraiser thrown by the Shandaken Democratic Committee. Needham's press managed to produce some tasty cider, according to event organizer and candidate for town supervisor Kathy Nolan. But cider-making has its hazards: as the cider-makers increased the pressure on the press, one of its supporting wooden legs gave up the ghost, ending the day’s pressing early.
If you want to try your hand at making your own cider, you don’t even need a press. If you have a food processor or a blender, you can be in business, according to this article from Cornell Cooperative Extension.
If you’re concerned about bacteria, pick the fruit off the trees and avoid apples that have already fallen. (They’re more likely to have been stepped on or worse.) Avoid rotten apples for obvious reasons.


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Jorge Diaz-Lanchas & Carlos Llano & Jose Luis Zofio, 2019. "A trade hierarchy of cities based on transport cost thresholds," JRC Working Papers on Territorial Modelling and Analysis 2019-02, Joint Research Centre (Seville site).
Balk, B.M. & Barbero, J. & Zofío, J.L., 2018. "A Total Factor Productivity Toolbox for MATLAB," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2018-004-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Balk, B.M. & Zofío, J.L., 2018. "The Many Decompositions of Total Factor Productivity Change," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2018-003-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Aparicio, Juan & Zofío, José L., 2017. "Revisiting the Decomposition of Cost Efficiency for Non-homothetic Technologies: A Directional Distance Function Approach," Efficiency Series Papers 2017/01, University of Oviedo, Department of Economics, Oviedo Efficiency Group (OEG).
Juan Aparicio & José L. Zofío, 2017. "Revisiting the decomposition of cost efficiency for non-homothetic technologies: a directional distance function approach," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 133-146, December.
Orea, Luis & Zofío, José L., 2017. "A primer on the theory and practice of efficiency and productivity analysis," Efficiency Series Papers 2017/05, University of Oviedo, Department of Economics, Oviedo Efficiency Group (OEG).
Balk, B.M. & de Koster, M.B.M. & Kaps, C. & Zofío, J.L., 2017. "An Evaluation of Cross-Efficiency Methods, Applied to Measuring Warehouse Performance," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2017-015-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Álvarez, Inmaculada C. & Barbero, Javier & Zofío, José L., 2016. "A spatial autoregressive panel model to analyze road network spillovers on production," Efficiency Series Papers 2016/02, University of Oviedo, Department of Economics, Oviedo Efficiency Group (OEG).
Álvarez, Inmaculada C. & Barbero, Javier & Zofío, José L., 2016. "A spatial autoregressive panel model to analyze road network spillovers on production," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 83-92.
Juan Aparicio & Javier Barbero & Magdalena Kapelko & Jesus T. Pastor & Jose L. Zofio, 2016. "Environmental Productivity Change in World Air Emissions: A new Malmquist-Luenberger Index Approach," JRC Working Papers JRC104083, Joint Research Centre (Seville site).
Álvarez, Inmaculada & Barbero, Javier & Zofío, Jose Luis, 2016. "A Data Envelopment Analysis Toolbox for MATLAB," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2016/03, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Barbero, Javier & Behrens, Kristian & Zofio, Jose L., 2015. "Industry location and wages: The role of market size and accessibility in trading networks," CEPR Discussion Papers 10411, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
Barbero, Javier & Behrens, Kristian & Zofío, José L., 2018. "Industry location and wages: The role of market size and accessibility in trading networks," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 1-24.
Aparicio, Juan & Borras, Fernando & Pastor, Jesús T. & Zofio, Jose Luis, 2015. "Loss Distance Functions and Profit Function: General Duality Results," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2015/06, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Álvarez, Inmaculada C. & Barbero, Javier & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés & Zofio, Jose L., 2015. "Does institutional quality matter for trade? Institutional conditions in a sectoral trade framework," CEPR Discussion Papers 10876, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
Álvarez, Inmaculada C. & Barbero, Javier & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés & Zofío, José L., 2018. "Does Institutional Quality Matter for Trade? Institutional Conditions in a Sectoral Trade Framework," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 72-87.
Inmaculada C. Alvarez & Javier Barbero & Andres Rodriguez-Pose & Jose L. Zofio, 2017. "Does institutional quality matter for trade? Institutional conditions in a sectoral trade framework," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1729, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Nov 2017.
Álvarez, Inmaculada C. & Barbero, Javier & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés & Zofío, José L., 2018. "Does institutional quality matter for trade? Institutional conditions in a sectoral trade framework," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 85637, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
Aparicio, Juan & Pastor, Jesús & Zofío, José Luis, 2014. "Is the directional distance function a complete generalization of the Farrell approach?," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2014/05, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Aparicio, Juan & Pastor, Jesús & Zofío, José Luis, 2013. "On the inconsistency of the Malmquist-Luenberger index," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2013/01, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Aparicio, Juan & Pastor, Jesus T. & Zofio, Jose L., 2013. "On the inconsistency of the Malmquist–Luenberger index," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 229(3), pages 738-742.
Álvarez, Inmaculada & Barbero, Javier & Zofío, José Luis, 2013. "A Panel Data Toolbox for MATLAB," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2013/05, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Álvarez, Inmaculada C. & Barbero, Javier & Zofío, José L., 2017. "A Panel Data Toolbox for MATLAB," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 76(i06).
Aparicio, Juan & Pastor, Jesús & Zofío, José Luis, 2013. "How to properly decompose economic efficiency using technical and allocative criteria with non-homothetic DEA technologies," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2013/11, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Aparicio, Juan & Pastor, Jesus T. & Zofio, Jose L., 2015. "How to properly decompose economic efficiency using technical and allocative criteria with non-homothetic DEA technologies," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 240(3), pages 882-891.
Diaz-Lanchas, Jorge & Llano, Carlos & Zofío, José Luis, 2013. "Trade margins, transport cost thresholds and market areas: Municipal freight flows and urban hierarchy," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2013/10, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Barbero, Javier & Zofío, José Luis, 2012. "The multiregional core-periphery model: The role of the spatial topology," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2012/12, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Zofío, José Luis & Condeço-Melhorado, Ana M. & Maroto-Sánchez, Andrés & Gutiérrez, Javier, 2011. "Decomposing generalized transport costs using index numbers: A geographical analysis of economic and infrastructure fundamentals," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2011/06, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Zofío, José Luis & Pastor, Jesús & Aparicio, Juan, 2010. "The Directional Profit Efficiency Measure: On Why Profit Inefficiency is either Technical or Allocative," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2010/09, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Jose Zofio & Jesus Pastor & Juan Aparicio, 2013. "The directional profit efficiency measure: on why profit inefficiency is either technical or allocative," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 257-266, December.
Prieto, Ángel & Zofío, José Luis & Álvarez, Inmaculada, 2010. "Urban patterns, population density and optimal city dimension: The case of public infrastructure," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2010/08, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Jiménez, Fernando & Zabala Iturriagagoitia, Jon Mikel & Zofío, José Luis, 2010. "Who leads research productivity change? Guidelines for R&D policy-makers," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2010/07, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Jiménez-Sáez, Fernando & Zabala, Jon Mikel & Zofío, José L., 2010. "Who leads Research Productivity Change? Guidelines for R&D policy makers," Papers in Innovation Studies 2010/10, Lund University, CIRCLE - Center for Innovation, Research and Competences in the Learning Economy.
Arguedas, Carmen & Camacho, Eva & Zofío, José Luis, 2009. "Environmental Policy Instruments: Technology Adoption Incentives with Imperfect Compliance," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2009/03, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Carmen Arguedas & Eva Camacho & José Zofío, 2010. "Environmental Policy Instruments: Technology Adoption Incentives with Imperfect Compliance," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 47(2), pages 261-274, October.
Álvarez, Inmaculada & Prieto, Angel & Zofío, José Luis, 2008. "Economías de aglomeración y cooperación económica a las inversiones en infraestructura básica de las entidades locales," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2008/04, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Paramio, Juan Luis & Zofío, José Luis, 2008. "The Evolution of the Labor Market and Leisure Industries in Spain: Quality of Life versus Standard of Living," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2008/06, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Juan L. Paramio & José L. Zofío, 2008. "Labor Market Duality and Leisure Industries in Spain," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 67(4), pages 683-717, October.
Cuesta, Rafael A. & Knox, C.A. & Zofío, José Luis, 2007. "Environmental Efficiency Measurement with Translog Distance Functions: A Parametric Approach," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2007/02, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Cuesta, Rafael A. & Lovell, C.A. Knox & Zofío, José L., 2009. "Environmental efficiency measurement with translog distance functions: A parametric approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(8-9), pages 2232-2242, June.
Jiménez, Fernando & Zabala Iturriagagoitia, Jon Mikel & Zofío, José Luis, 2007. "Efficiency in Public Research Centers: Evaluating the Spanish Food Technology Program," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2007/04, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Zofío, José Luis, 2006. "Malmquist Productivity Index Decompositions: A Unifying Framework," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2006/12, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
Jose Zofio, 2007. "Malmquist productivity index decompositions: a unifying framework," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(18), pages 2371-2387.
Zofío, José Luis & Prieto, Angel, 2005. "Return to Dollar, Generalized Distance Function and the Fisher Productivity Index," Working Papers in Economic Theory 2005/01, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History).
José Zofío & Angel Prieto, 2006. "Return to Dollar, Generalized Distance Function and the Fisher Productivity Index," Spanish Economic Review, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 8(2), pages 113-138, June.
Cuesta, Rafael A. & Zofío, Jose L., 2003. "Graph Efficiency and Parametric Distance Function with an Application to Spanish Savings Banks," Efficiency Series Papers 2003/01, University of Oviedo, Department of Economics, Oviedo Efficiency Group (OEG).
Nuria Gallego & José L. Zofío, 2018. "Trade Openness, Transport Networks and the Spatial Location of Economic Activity," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 205-236, March.
Charles Edquist & Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia & Javier Barbero & Jose Luis Zofío, 2018. "On the meaning of innovation performance: Is the synthetic indicator of the Innovation Union Scoreboard flawed?," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 27(3), pages 196-211.
Aparicio, Juan & Pastor, Jesús T. & Vidal, Fernando & Zofío, José L., 2017. "Evaluating productive performance: A new approach based on the product-mix problem consistent with Data Envelopment Analysis," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 134-144.
Pastor, Jesus T. & Zofio, Jose L., 2017. "Can Farrell's allocative efficiency be generalized by the directional distance function approach?Author-Name: Aparicio, Juan," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 257(1), pages 345-351.
Inmaculada C. Álvarez-Ayuso & Ana M. Condeço-Melhorado & Javier Gutiérrez & Jose L. Zofío, 2016. "Integrating Network Analysis with the Production Function Approach to Study the Spillover Effects of Transport Infrastructure," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(6), pages 996-1015, June.
Javier Barbero & José L. Zofío, 2016. "The Multiregional Core-periphery Model: The Role of the Spatial Topology," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 469-496, June.
Maroto, Andrés & Zofío, José Luis, 2016. "Accessibility gains and road transport infrastructure in Spain: A productivity approach based on the Malmquist index," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 143-152.
Ángel M. Prieto & José L. Zofío & Inmaculada Álvarez, 2015. "Cost economies, urban patterns and population density: The case of public infrastructure for basic utilities," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(4), pages 795-816, November.
Maroto, Andrés & Zofío , José Luis, 2015. "Nueva metodología para la descomposición de los costes generalizados del transporte de mercancías por carretera usando la teoría económica de los números índice," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 33, pages 123-134.
Zofío, Jose L. & Condeço-Melhorado, Ana M. & Maroto-Sánchez, Andrés & Gutiérrez, Javier, 2014. "Generalized transport costs and index numbers: A geographical analysis of economic and infrastructure fundamentals," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 141-157.
Inmaculada C. Ã lvarez & Ã ngel M. Prieto & JosÃ© L. ZofÃo, 2014. "Cost Efficiency, Urban Patterns and Population Density When Providing Public Infrastructure: A Stochastic Frontier Approach," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(6), pages 1235-1258, June.
Fernando Jiménez-Sáez & Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia & Jose Luis Zofío, 2013. "Who leads research productivity growth? Guidelines for R&D policy-makers," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 94(1), pages 273-303, January.
Juan Antonio Vicente Vírseda & Francisco Javier Parra Rodríguez & José Luis Zofío Prieto, 2012. "Efectos macroeconómicos de un aumento de la demanda de bienes y servicios de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación en España: la cuenta satélite de las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicac," Cuadernos de Economía - Spanish Journal of Economics and Finance, Asociación Cuadernos de Economía, vol. 35(99), pages 182-197, Diciembre.
Jiménez-Sáez, Fernando & Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, Jon Mikel & Zofío, José L. & Castro-Martínez, Elena, 2011. "Evaluating research efficiency within National R&D Programmes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 230-241, March.
Angel Prieto & José L. Zofio & Inmaculada Alvarez, 2009. "Economías de escala, densidad y alcance en la provisión pública de infraestructura básica municipal," Hacienda Pública Española, IEF, vol. 190(3), pages 59-94, September.
Jose L. Zofio & Angel M. Prieto, 2007. "Measuring Productive Efficiency in Input-Output Models by Means of Data Envelopment Analysis," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(4), pages 519-537.
Prieto, Angel M. & Zofio, Jose L., 2007. "Network DEA efficiency in input-output models: With an application to OECD countries," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 178(1), pages 292-304, April.
Rafael Cuesta & José Zofío, 2005. "Hyperbolic Efficiency and Parametric Distance Functions: With Application to Spanish Savings Banks," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 31-48, September.
Ángel M. Prieto & José L. Zofío, 2004. "Stock splits: Modelización de la gestión ambiental preventiva mediante estándares," Investigaciones Economicas, Fundación SEPI, vol. 28(1), pages 43-66, January.
María García & Yolanda Fernández & José Zofío, 2003. "The Economic Dimension of the Culture and Leisure Industry in Spain: National, Sectoral and Regional Analysis," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 27(1), pages 9-30, February.
Jose Zofio & C. A. Knox Lovell, 2001. "Graph efficiency and productivity measures: an application to US agriculture," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(11), pages 1433-1442.
Zofio, Jose L. & Prieto, Angel M., 2001. "Environmental efficiency and regulatory standards: the case of CO2 emissions from OECD industries," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 63-83, January.
Angel Prieto & José ZofIo, 2001. "Evaluating Effectiveness in Public Provision of Infrastructure and Equipment: The Case of Spanish Municipalities," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 41-58, January.
Revista de Economia Aplicada, Universidad de Zaragoza, Departamento de Estructura Economica y Economia Publica.
Cuadernos de Economía - Spanish Journal of Economics and Finance, Asociación Cuadernos de Economía.
NEP is an announcement service for new working papers, with a weekly report in each of many fields. This author has had 31 papers announced in NEP. These are the fields, ordered by number of announcements, along with their dates. If the author is listed in the directory of specialists for this field, a link is also provided.
(Jose Luis Zofio) should log into the RePEc Author Service.

industry_corpus2: Transportation


text:
What if we just bang some accident benefit on catchbasin armour and alarm it a day?
Been years, catchbasin armour is still jank. Would be accurate if non-raid catchbasin armour (since that's already good) was just accustomed its tier-20 in accident benefit (ie. T85 catchbasin armour = aforementioned stats as now but T65 accident benefit on top of that RS gold).
Still gives appliance to adeptness armour, but lets catchbasin armour be added favourable in some added scenarios.
Relatively simple to add, too. Maybe bang a decreased-effectiveness raids reset/damage accession instead? Just accord it something?
There is something to be said if it comes to the trade-offs of armour. Adeptness armour has no downsides, really. It's able of tanking with able arresting rotations, deals a lot of damage, and it's not difficult to bandy apparatus with keybinds.
That accepting said, catchbasin armour abnegating accident bonuses, and hybrid's arresting amends is too acrid for what they action (which is not much). Would added accident bonuses to catchbasin help?
Probably not aback catchbasin roles can be done absolutely in adeptness armour (bar Telos). It wouldn't change how players alternate with corresponding roles, even with acto's set aftereffect because the meta is get acceptable and dps as a tank.
While I don't anticipate the association would acceptable the change, I anticipate that all arresting abilities should calibration their capability according to the accident abridgement from your accessories loadout, and how abounding pieces of catchbasin armour is equipped. That's why the added accident abridgement from catchbasin armour doesn't amount too abundant - arresting abilities added than accomplish up for it.
That's just one change that should be done, in my opinion. There needs to be added incentives to catchbasin in catchbasin armour that will be cogent abundant to change the meta.
Or even calibration arresting adeptness cooldowns to armour rating. So T90 catchbasin will let you get that added immort at Telos 100% of the time, or let you get accelerated Resonances for added tankyness.
Can body new administration about anyone accepting admission to cooldowns of that speed. And like you said, calibration their capability to your absolute armour appraisement in accession to absorber bank for some of them.


text: The following are articles I’ve written as part of this blog. They aren’t necessarily recipes, but mostly just my thoughts on things as I’ve worked them out. Maybe you’ll find something interesting.

industry_corpus2: Others


text:
Welcome to the messaging user guide, we will be covering the basic steps to setup your messages including some more advanced information on features within the different activities.
Ready to inspire your supporters to take action? Every communication is a chance to connect with supporters and reach your goals. Targeted, personalized messages will help you reach your campaign goals, activate supporters, and show appreciation for all that your community does every single day.
Email -- Create and send an email to your entire list or one or more segments of your list.
Social Post -- Create and post directly to your organization's Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Tumblr accounts.
Email Series -- Create an automated series of communications to move your supporters along a path of engagement. You can use automation to find, reach, activate, and engage your supporters. Learn more about automation here.
Autorespoders -- Create automated confirmation messages that are sent after a supporter completes an action online, including making a donation, signing a petition, sending a targeting letter, or signing up for your list. Autoresponder emails can (and should) be more than a transaction receipt. Instead, use them to continue the conversation with supporters after they take an action, or ask them to stay engaged by taking another action right away.
Each message will follow the same basic workflow where you first give it an internal reference name, then design the form or compose your message, and then publish or send.
In order to post messages to your social networks, you will need to link those accounts to your Salsa account.
To navigate to the Activities Dashboard, select Messaging from the left column.
The Messaging Dashboard allows you to see some overview information of all of your messages and create message. It also provides some key metrics about your different messages such as number of messages published and total number of emails opened.
To create a new message click the Create a Message button in the upper right hand corner and choose which type you want.
Total Number of Subscribers displays the total number of supporters that are set to receive email from your organization. This number will not include supporters who have unsubscribed from your list.
Total Number of Messages Published is the total number of Emails, Social Posts, Email Series and Autoresponders that have been published.
Total Number of Emails Opened is the number of emails that have been opened by your supporters. This number will not include emails sent but not opened by supporters.
At the bottom of the dashboard is a list of all of the messages started. You can see the status of each one and you can also click the name of any of the messages to go directly into viewing/editing it.

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


text:
We offer trustworthy Basque to Gujarati translation services and are available 24/7. the time difference doesn't matter for us and you can contact our translators leaving in Madrid or Argentina. We have the contacts of nativespeaking translators who can make your text appealing and comprehensive.
The type of your English to Chinese translation will depend on the topic of your text.Our translator services in Basque to Gujarati will help you take the right decision and make your text stand out. We also offer Chinese to English translation services so don't hesitate to turn for our assistance.
Finding a professional Arabic translator is not an easy task. And the worst part is that you can't be sure of the final result. We offer highquality translator services in Basque to Gujarati with the possibility of choosing a translator online. You can pick the one you think fits best to cope with your order. Our company can help you to develop your ecommerce business abroad and succeed with marketing launches. Using machine translation of free online tools can't deliver the same accuracy a real professional has. And in case you work within a travelling industry, our company can become your personal assistant in solving translation problems as well.
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text:
lobbyists and lobbying firms, and editorials all in one place.
Hint: Have you seen The Bench? That's where we look at future elections.

industry_corpus2: Politics & Administration


text:
This year marks 70 years since the 1949 Act of Parliament which established the family of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty that we know and love. This was the result of decades of dedicated struggle, including mass protests, national campaigns and political lobbying. It means that today our most beautiful countryside enjoys the highest level of protection, and can continue to offer space for nature, and tranquillity and recreation for all of us.
Today, 22 March, we’re joining the Campaign for National Parks, the Youth Hostel Association and other organisations, to mark this incredible achievement with a special 70th anniversary walk at Castleton in the Peak District, at the head of the Hope Valley.
When in 1948, a 20-year long campaign for the establishment of National Parks threatened to peter out without a victory, Tom Stephenson, the Ramblers’ Association (as it then was) secretary, organised a three-day walking trip along the Pennine Way for prominent members of the Labour Government. The trek, and ensuring publicity, helped stiffen the resolve of the Chancellor Hugh Dalton, and the National Parks and Countryside Bill was introduced to parliament in March 1949.
The campaigners who fought to establish the parks came together to create one of the seminal environmental achievements of the past 100 years, an achievement which millions of people love and appreciate today. Today we come together again to celebrate the achievements of these campaigners, and to celebrate the beauty and wonder of the best landscapes England has to offer.
It’s also an opportunity to reaffirm the founding principles of our National Parks, and the work that needs to be done to make them accessible for everyone, and to ensure they are enhanced, improved and protected for the next 70 years and beyond.
This means that a large proportion of England’s population are missing out on all the benefits of these incredible landscapes. By increasing the provision of affordable and sustainable transport options to and around these places it would not only create a countryside for all, but also help to combat isolation among communities within National Parks and AONBs.
Spending time outdoors boosts self-esteem and mental and physical health: it is for the nation’s health and happiness that we have to expand access.
Whilst they do enjoy strong protection, our National Parks also face considerable threats from development: fracking at their borders and within them, roadbuilding and housing development. We have to be vigilant and strengthen these protections so we can pass this great natural gift on to future generations.
Despite the challenges that they face, our National Parks are an incredible achievement. They attract over 100 million visitors a year, continue to inspire artists and culture, and allow people from all over the UK and beyond to connect with their incredible natural beauty, tranquillity and recreation opportunities. It’s hard to imagine what the English countryside would look like without the protections afforded to places such as Exmoor, the Peak District, and the South Downs.
Establishing our National Parks was a difficult task, and was never a given. Today we’re celebrating the drive and vision of the campaigners that fought for them, and renew our pledge to protecting and improving their legacy for future generations.
Let's celebrate the drive and vision of the campaigners that fought for our National Parks, and renew our pledge to protect and improve their legacy for future generations.

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


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Interested in Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience? Admissions officers are waiting to hear from you!
Arizona State University at the Tempe campus / Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience is located in Tempe, AZ, in an urban setting.


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Fluttering Butterflies: New library loot!
When I Was Joe by Keren David - I can't really remember how this book first popped up on my radar, but it did and I started reading Keren David's blog and I was really happy to see this book on the shelves today. It sounds like a thrilling read. And longer than I expected it to be..
Beautiful Dead: Summer by Eden Maguire - Ah, I just keep coming back to this series. They have such pretty covers too. Third book in the series about pretty zombies. It makes giggle a little bit just thinking about it. But once I start reading it, I'll get sucked in again.
Strange angels by Lili St. Crow - I've seen reviews of this one around. The shininess of the cover sort of appeals to me, even if the basic premise doesn't immediately grab me. I will try it anyway!
Fallen by Lauren Kate - It's funny how other people getting excited about books makes me want to read them. News of an ARC of the sequel to Fallen has been spotted on a few blogs and yes, I like to feel included. Before the book came out I was a little excited to read this one, until some mixed reviews starting showing up. In any case, I thought I'd better read this one, make up my mind about it.
The Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti - I keep hearing Deb Caletti's name around. Someone recommended a different book of hers to me, said they weren't that impressed with this one, but it's all they had at the library. So I took it. Anyone else read anything by Deb Caletti?
Killing God by Kevin Brooks - This book and Kevin Brooks was recommended to me by a friend. I feel like it's going to be really gritty and kind of horrible to read, but I shall give it it's chance. I felt the same way about The Road of the Dead, but it was also really beautiful at the same time.
And finally, we have Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynn Jones - I haven't read many books by Diana Wynn Jones, but the ones that I have I really loved. And this one has a pretty cover! And a lot of the books I picked up seem a little dark. With zombies and violent attacks and all. I felt like I needed to tip the balance a little bit.
And that's all! What great books have you picked up lately? Have you read any of these books?
Looks like an excellent stack! I've been meaning to read Strange Angels for a while, but it keeps slipping my mind. I also really like the cover of Beautiful Dead - must be the UK version, cause the one in the US didn't grab me.
Good loot. I read Fallen and it wasn't bad. I didn't realize the second book was out already.
Lots of good loot! Fallen's on my tbr list too.
All of this loot looks really good!
I hope you enjoy Fallen more than me. I found it took a long while to get going.
I like the sound of the Beautiful Dead series.
I dont know how I missed this post on Friday. Great set of books. I adored Summer and the story of the Beautiful Dead is really hotting up.

industry_corpus2: Literature & Emotions


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Forearm supports attach to the front edge of the desk or bench. They support the forearm which relaxes the arm, shoulder and neck muscles. Two types are commonly used - fixed or adjustable.
Forearm supports attach to the front edge of the desk or bench. They support the forearm which relaxes the arm, shoulder and neck muscles.
Two types are commonly used – fixed or adjustable.


text: DESCRIPTION Advent calendar CARD (with postal envelope) illustrated with Santa's studio and plenty of glitter. 24 mini doors to open in the approach to Christmas. This card is Royal Mail standard Letter size.


text: In a study of adults over 50, a fiveweek supplement of choline halved memory lapse. This mineral aids the absorption and use of good fats, vital for cell membranes, and helps the transmission of signals across nerve endings in the brain�s networks. Add meat, nuts, and eggs into your diet daily.

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


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As Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast. Risk Managers are activating their response plans to be ready to address business impact if affected by this storm and to commence business interruption claims presentation and adjustment for any covered losses.
58% of RIMS Member respondents who have been through a claim say that “difficulty quantifying loss” was the biggest challenge faced.
If this storm, or any peril for that matter, impacts your business, the road to a complete financial recovery through an insurance claim may be a long and arduous process. For example, as indicated by the statistics above, a business interruption loss will run its own course and take time to settle leaving many risk managers feeling that much of the process is outside their control. This is not the case. The risk manager’s involvement and influence, especially at the beginning of a loss, is critical. It can ensure the ideal foundation of a claim adjustment is set properly and lead to a more successful recovery.
Document all the damage. Photograph and video footage of the loss are key to memorializing the damages. At some point, these documents will help you settle potential disagreements on items such as scope and pricing. Be sure to include pictures of any identifying information such as serial numbers of damaged equipment. The use of drone photography to capture hard to access damages via an aerial inspection has become a more frequent tactic.
Take decisive action to mitigate the loss and initiate your recovery. After the damage has been memorialized, it is important to focus on decisions that get your business up and running as quickly as possible. Sometimes there is confusion on whether or not to act to mitigate the loss prior to the first adjuster site inspection. While, you don’t need to ask permission from your adjuster before you act, it does help to keep him or her in the loop as you move to mitigate your loss. More often than not, any decision made to mitigate a loss as a prudent business person is considered favorably by the insurance community. Be decisive.
Survey the damage with your adjuster. When you do have a date set for the adjuster to view the damage, make every effort to be there in person. Often risk managers rely on facility staff for this inspection. Being there sets the tone and working relationship for the entire adjustment process. In a large area wide disaster, adjusters are typically spread thin and likely do not have unlimited time to spend at your loss. Be prepared to walk the adjuster through the loss and focus them on your business operations. Explain your recovery efforts and your timeline to document the loss.
Provide a preliminary loss estimate / order of magnitude. As your adjuster begins to review the parameters of your loss, he or she will look to recommend a loss reserve to the insurer(s) for accounting purposes. Prepare a short summary identifying all areas of your loss with associated estimated costs. For example, if there is building damage, obtain estimates for repair to demonstrate the ultimate costs. If claim items are too early to quantify, such as business interruption, include the item as “to be determined” or “TBD.” This will help the adjuster consider the worst case scenario including potential future claim items as he or she sets the reserve.
Request partial payments. Remember that the claim doesn’t have to be paid only at the end of the process. The adjuster is able to release funds as items are agreed to and supported. As you are able to prove damages through the adjustment process ask for partial payments. This will help you to maintain cash flow for your business during the recovery.
These are the types of events where Risk Managers shine. Those who step up and lead the process will be able to keep their businesses moving forward without any significant delay or disruption.


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Virtual Reality (VR) has been touted as the next big thing many times before, but never really taken off. This could be another one of those times, but it does seem now as if technology, and crucially the affordability of that technology, is going to enable VR to start to realize it’s potential.
The levels of investment in VR around the industry shows that most of the major players are taking it very seriously. Facebook spent $2 billion to buy Oculus back in 2014, Samsung and Google already have consumer headsets, as do HTC with their promising Vive. Google have also established a standard minimum specification for mobile VR on Android as part of the Daydream platform. Microsoft have so far been heavily focused on Augmented Reality solutions. Apple have been relatively quiet but you can be sure that they have research teams analyzing the technology and it's potential behind closed doors. The key products at the moment are all for users to consume VR content, headsets to provide an immersive experience of a virtual world created by a developer. A new team at Facebook are now trying to solve the next step, namely how to enable consumers to create their own virtual experience. Enabling users to easily generate their own content would push forward not just hardware and software sales, but also the social media sharing and engagement.
The dedicated Facebook team is said to have tripled in size since it’s inception in late 2015, based on the experience of developers who joined Microsoft including Rick Szeliski and Matt Uyttendaele. They have already implemented the ability for users to view 360-degree photos within Facebook as one of their first projects. Creating those photos at the moment still requires dedicated software to stitch together a number of still images, or dedicated 360-degree cameras that are unlikely to become mainstream unless they either become more affordable or are somehow incorporated into phones. Gaming and niche applications such as real estate sales are usually considered at the forefront on the arguments for VR. Gaming will surely have a key role to play, but what if consumers could more easily create and share interactive 360-degree still images and video? Then it might well be social media that pushes VR forward as a mainstream format.


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A couple of UK-bred techno tracks for your Saturday morning from returnees Unit51 and Kamus.
Unit51 is an Enlgish producer currently living in the Pyrenees. Flight of Hectate is the track. This is a superbly twisting psychedelic space acid track. That mix of magical and release from earthly bounds explains the title (I had to look it up). Hectate is an ancient Greek goddess known in modern times for being Goddess of Witches. She is thought to be a prehistoric or primordial goddess that dates back to pre-Grecian times and might have originated with the Anatolians. She was thought of as a shapeshifting goddess of sorts . Hecate was and is also known for taking the form of an Owl. This track is a perfect representation of that.
The track starts slowly as if rising from out in the dark. There’s an unearthly space techno sound that also harks back to some of Hardkiss’ more psychedelic moments. It’s a primitive trance-like track whose repeated refrains offer a complete lock in to the track. The acid sounds twist around never settling, always pushing. Fabulous track.
Next a return from Scotland’s Kamus (Cammy Gallagher), who appeared here only a few days ago with his world music influenced techno. This time the title track to his I Get It Man, I Play Violin EP on Eyeangle Records. This is a more lo-fi confection than last time. Has more of a leftfield bent. This takes a bit of acid infused forward beats and offers a fantastically thunderous piece with more than a little shade of 90s heroes Transglobal Underground in the accompanying vocal sample. Righteous music.
~ by acidted on February 9, 2019.


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When Hurricane Irma roared into Florida last month Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn says his city was braced for the worst.
It had been nearly a century since Tampa had taken a major hit from a hurricane. But Buckhorn now believed the city’s luck had run out. He expected the storm surge from Irma would inundate parts of Tampa and that properties, including his own home, would be damaged or destroyed.
Storm surge flooding, in his estimate, more so than powerful winds or heavy rain, posed the gravest risks to Tampa, a city of about 377,000 residents, located on a bay that shares its name. “That’s the killer,” Buckhorn said of the flooding.
In the end, the storm took a path that spared Tampa from the worst of its wrath.
Buckhorn, during a call with reporters this past week, expressed confidence about how his city prepared for the hurricane. “We practice hard all year round, and have for probably 10 years,” he said, describing the city's emergency response efforts.
The mayor said his city also seeks to continually update its emergency management plans with lessons learned locally and from other places around the U.S.
That said, Buckhorn recognized there were shortfalls with the overall response to Irma in Florida and with the ability of the state’s infrastructure to withstand powerful storms.
He said the state’s electrical grid was not as hardened as it needed to be.
And he noted some facilities for senior citizens were poorly equipped for the hurricane. “People died as a result of that,” he said.
Buckhorn is just one of the local government officials taking stock of storm response and recovery efforts in the wake of a several destructive hurricanes that have hit the U.S. in recent months. Another is Amanda Edwards, a city council member in Houston, a city that was swamped by catastrophic flooding in late August during Hurricane Harvey.
Edwards, who joined Buckhorn on this past week’s call, said that Houston’s local 9-1-1 system was bombarded with thousands of phone calls once heavy rains and flooding began. “9-1-1 was overwhelmed,” she said. This, according to Edwards, is one of the factors that led community members to band together and provide help to fellow residents amid the natural disaster.
The councilwoman acknowledged that tough days are ahead for Houston.
“The rebuilding of lives is what is most challenging,” she said.
Recovery efforts in the city promise to be not only challenging, but expensive.
Edwards pointed out that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover 90 percent of debris-removal costs. “But when you have a quarter-billion dollars of debris to remove, that’s a really hefty price tag in terms of what that city portion is,” she said. The state, after some political wrangling, will provide Houston with $50 million to help further defray those costs.
Edwards said her recent focus has been on reaching out to constituents who are disabled, elderly and poor to see that they get aid. She said some people in these vulnerable groups are living in homes that need to be gutted and refurbished as they await FEMA assistance.
Edwards anticipates difficult choices for residents and policy makers in Houston as the city seeks to recover and rebuild. One area where she expects debate is over what future development will look like.
Cathleen Kelly, a senior fellow for energy and environment at the Center for American Progress, a liberal advocacy group, said the recent hurricanes that have hit the U.S. are an indication that the nation needs to prepare for a “new normal” when it comes to extreme weather.
And this, according to Kelly, means rethinking design, building and planning standards. “Taxpayers cannot continue to afford to pay repeatedly to rebuild communities, using business as usual land use practices and outdated guidelines, especially in flood prone areas,” she said.
Buckhorn stressed the importance of infrastructure investment. He said that Tampa had imposed a special assessment to help pay for maintenance and upgrades for its stormwater system and that over 50,000 tons of material gumming-up pipes had already been removed.
The mayor said President Trump’s promised, but still forthcoming, infrastructure package could help American cities on this front.

industry_corpus2: Real Estate & Construction


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Do you wish to discuss a canine related item you saw in the news? Here is the place to do it.
Animal Rescue Or Tv Ratings Grab?


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All UK players are looking for a new casino to join and we are here to offer them all the best options in the industry. We're going to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of joining such a platform, if and how it works on mobile devices and what promotions they come with. You will find out more about their fairness and how secure your personal information will be and you'll be presented with the top-rated new casinos that were just launched.
The impressive number of new UK casinos 2019 came with might seem overwhelming for some gamers but it's only the beginning. Gambling enthusiasts now gravitate towards online casinos and they want to see more and better platforms. As a result, all types of websites were created to suit the needs and wants of every British gambler.
In December 2018, statistics published by the Gambling Commission showed that the online sector of gambling had a 3% increase from March 2017. The online slots alone had a Gross Gaming Yield (GGY) of £2 billion from April 2017 to March 2018. This category increased by 19.3% from the previous year. This adds to the total remote sector GGY of £5.4 billion, which is the biggest in the entire industry.
Considering that 41% of all casino operators have their head office in the UK, we can easily say that the Brits really have a taste for gambling activities but not just any activities. 54.6% of all Albion players choose the casino section and enjoy slot machines (69.1%) along with Roulette and card games (14.5%).
The increasing number of players drawn to this sector of online gambling determined the younger platforms to try and offer more in order to attract customers and earn their loyalty. Therefore, on such a website, you have the chance to have a truly unique experience. The latest technologies and HD graphics, innovative features and special loyalty programmes are only a few benefits of joining one of the platforms below.
There are many reasons to go for a fresh platform but they’re not perfect either. Just as the already established ones, these also have both good and bad aspects. We think you should know everything about them before you make your choice, so you know what you're getting yourself into.
Flexible and rewarding VIP programme – VIP programmes are very important for both old customers and newcomers of a gaming platform. However, many established ones only offer these to existing players after a certain number of bets made or a certain amount of money wagered. The new online casinos make every customer part of the VIP programme, giving them the starting level and the opportunity to climb to the top ones a lot faster. In addition, there are extra perks and even special real-life events you can get invited to. Some of these loyalty schemes were created to resemble a game so you will have even more fun as you level up.
Dedicated mobile app – many of the newest platforms not only offer a mobile-friendly user interface but they also come with dedicated mobile apps. All the games they come with are fully optimized for mobile play regardless of the operating system you use.
Few software providers – if you are looking for certain games or simply for a vast collection of titles from the best providers, you might not be in luck. The newly launched operators might come with in-house games and products created by a few well-known developers, but will probably not have the biggest game collection you’ve seen.
Our newest online casino list contains only the best names in the industry. We made sure to test and verify each and every one of them in order for you to be able to enjoy a great experience without a single worry.
All the platforms below are fully licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. This means that your personal information and money will be safe at all times. Also, all the games you gain access to are fair and fully optimized for both mobile and desktop play.
The new Microgaming casinos UK has in store for you come with unique gameplays, impressive graphics and so many different themes it will be hard to decide which one to play first. If you want to try something completely different, we offer a selection of the best new NetEnt casinos for you to join. Basically, the top operators are waiting for you to pick them, create an account and start having fun. Check the list below and make your choice!
Thanks to the HTML5 technology, you now have the opportunity to play your favourite games on your mobile phone or tablet. The new online casinos you can find here have either a mobile version of their website or a mobile app that can be found on both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
Not only you can play a wide variety of classic and modern-looking slot machines created by the top software providers, but you can also play card games and Roulette. If you enjoy playing against real opponents, we have good news for you: you gain access to the Live Casino section on your phone or tablet. You are able to communicate with the croupier via the in-game chat and have the complete land-based casino experience wherever you are.
These incredible new mobile casino sites know what you need and they make sure you get that and more. They load very fast and if you decide to download an app, it won't take up much of your storage space. The graphics are impressive and the entire user interface is designed to fit on your screen, no matter if we are talking about a tablet or a medium-sized phone. You won't experience any delay as long as your Internet connection is strong.
In addition to this, some of these new online casinos might even offer special promotions available only to mobile users. If you decide to become one of them, you will be able to enjoy some perks just for gambling on your portable device.
New mobile casino sites are here to steal the spotlight and keep you entertained whenever you're not able or willing to sit down at your computer. Whether you gamble laying comfortably on your sofa or while traveling around the country, they work the same and you'll have lots of fun.
As casino games enthusiasts, we know that bonuses are really important when it comes to picking a new online casino. If that’s what you were looking for, you’ve definitely come to the right place.
The new slot sites you can find below come with generous Welcome Packages that you, as a fresh player, will surely enjoy. They will kick-start your adventure and give you the chance to discover the platform. Once you enjoy this, the fun continues with reload offers, cashbacks and more.
Most of the times, benefits are bigger on new slot sites as they try to become more popular and build customer loyalty. That means that they will be offering the most to please their customers and that is what makes them the perfect choice – they give more for less.
Customer Feedback – check out the feedback from other customers on review websites or forums. If many of them gave poor feedback on a certain platform, it might be wiser to avoid it.
Take a look at our list of new gambling sites in UK and make your choice! Enjoy the latest games and top-quality services and you will surely come back for more. Create an account and have fun wherever you are using the mobile app!
Toptally is the best casino when it comes to promotions. They are quite amazing and you can use them on any of your favourite games. You are invited to take a bite out of this juicy deal of a 100% bonus up to £200 on your first payment. To spice things up even more, you will also be credited with 20 spins to use as you desire.
Visit Toptally casino by selecting this offer, register an account in 2 easy steps, and deposit for the first time more than £10. Afterwards, you just need to claim the deal and start enjoying your time!
Third Deposit: 40 Extra Spins.
Grant that, for the first bonus you must deposit higher than £10, for the second and third one you must make a payment of more than £20. The bonus and winnings from spins must be wagered 35 times before cashing out. For more detailed information, read the Toptally casino bonus rules.
Get this offer and let the fun begin!


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Please complete the portrait agreement & model release to schedule your graduating senior portrait session.
For Consideration herein acknowledged as received, and by signing this release I hereby give Cat Mayer Studio and/or Assigns my permission to license the Content and to use the Content in any Media for any purpose (except defamatory) which may include, among others: studio web site and blog, advertising, promotion, marketing and packaging for any product or service. I agree that the Content may be combined with other images, text, graphics, film, audio, audiovisual works; and may be cropped, altered or modified.
I agree that I have no rights to the Content, and all rights to the Content belong to the Cat Mayer Studio as the creator of the work. I acknowledge and agree that I have no further right to additional consideration or accounting, and that I will make no further claim for any reason to Cat Mayer Studio and/or Assigns. I acknowledge and agree that this release is binding upon my heirs and assigns. I agree that this release is irrevocable, worldwide and perpetual, and will be governed by the laws (excluding the law of conflicts) of the country/state from the following list that is nearest to the address of the Model (or Parent) given opposite: Colorado, United States of America.
It is agreed that my personal information will not be made publicly available but may only be used directly in relation to the licensing of the Content where necessary (e.g. to defend claims, protect rights or notify trade unions) and may be retained as long as necessary to fulfill this purpose, including by being shared with sub-licensees / assignees of Cat Mayer Studio and transferred to countries with differing data protection and privacy laws where it may be stored, accessed and used. I represent and warrant that I am at least 18 years of age and have the full legal capacity to execute this release on behalf of myself and other persons listed below.
“ASSIGNS” means a person or any company to whom Cat Mayer Studio has assigned or licensed rights under this release as well as the licensees of any such person or company.
“CONSIDERATION” means $1 or something else of value I have received in exchange for the rights granted by me in this release.
“CONTENT” means all photographs, film, audio, or other recording, still or moving, taken of me as part of the Shoot. “MEDIA” means all media including digital, electronic, print, television, film, radio and other media now known or to be invented.
“MODEL” means me and includes my appearance, likeness and voice.
“PARENT” means the parent and/or legal guardian of the Model. Parent and Model are referred to together as “I” and “me” in this release, as the context dictates.
“CAT MAYER STUDIO” means photographer, illustrator, filmmaker or cinematographer, or any other person or entity photographing or recording me.
“SHOOT” means the photographic, portrait, film or recording session described in this form.
As the creator of the work, I retain the copyright to all photographs. Any photographs purchased digitally will be accompanied by a usage release for my clients' personal (not for-profit) uses. Occasionally I run advertising in magazines or billboards, and I ALWAYS seek out permission from my clients on an individual basis to use their photographs for these uses.
All images are copyrighted by the photographer, Cat Mayer Studio. It is illegal to scan, copy, or reproduce work in any way, unless license for personal use is granted [with purchase of digital photographs on thumb drive]. Illegal scanning, copying or reproduction is punishable by law.
If you are not feeling well, please contact me to reschedule. I want you to be looking and feeling your best for your session!
All orders are placed through your private online gallery, or we can meet for an in-person ordering session.
Session fee is due at the portrait session. Session fee is determined by number of outfit changes and/or locations.
Cat Mayer Studio accepts cash, checks and credit cards. Checks should be made payable to Cat Mayer Studio.
All session images are archived and kept on file for one year. After one year, any un-ordered images are stored off-site and no longer guaranteed.
Your final print order will be ready to pick up at the studio 4-6 weeks after your order is placed. When orders are ready, we will email you to pick them up at your convenience. Orders can be shipped directly to you for an additional shipping charge.
All images originally shown during your ordering session are minimally retouched, and all ordered prints will be completely retouched.
Cat Mayer Studio reserves the right to reproduce images for displays, portfolio, publications, website, photo contests, etc.
The best times for portraits are right at sunrise, or about two hours before sunset.
Favorite locations for graduating seniors are an exclusive private estate in north area, downtown, your home, and Colorado National Monument hiking trails.
Any Special Plans or Meaningful Objects?
Please list anything special you would like to incorporate into your session.
Please list anything about which you are sensitive or would like Cat to know before the session.
Please check all the items that are important to you.


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> SteamPunk and Beads>Beads and Mechanisms>Watch Mechanisms>SteamPunk real GEARS - MEGAPACK 250 gr.
With this product, you earn 50 loyalty point(s). 50 point(s) = 1,25 €.
Specially selected Steampunk BIG Gears, Cogs and Wheels - WATCH PARTS sourced to provide the parts our customers want most, this consists of a wide range of watch parts, most of them gears or cogs.
These lots are for 250grams of mixed watch parts, suitable for steampunk project or arts and crafts and jewelery making or parts for watchmaker or watch repairer.
Please look at 1€ coin for a guide many parts in each lot will be small. our parts will be very simular but not identical to the photo and an average lot should contain over 10000000 parts.
The Size of most of the pieces between 5mm - 12mm. Photo gives an example of exactly 250 grams so you can judge the amount of parts you will get.
This set include a plastic box to protect them.