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There are few things better than getting away from the world for a night and enjoying God’s country. Camping is one of the easiest things to do when you want a quick escape. From tent camping to “glamping” and RVing, you don’t need to be an outdoorsman to enjoy a fun night under the stars.
Decatur, Alabama is a great place for camping and outdoor fun. The area offers plenty of campgrounds to choose from, ranging from primitive sites to full-service RV parks. Here are some of the best campgrounds near Decatur: 1. Point Mallard Park Campground Point Mallard Park Campground is located in Decatur, Alabama and offers a variety …
Camping by American State
Camping is all the rage in the U.S., especially in the post-pandemic society and there are a vast amount of sites to choose from. Often people will camp near local attractions to turn a night into an extended weekend trip. For those who love the open road, there are some campgrounds and RV parks better suited for longer term stays. So pack up your car and head out into the wild.
Camping by Country
Pitch a tent in countries all over the earth. America’s northern neighbor is a hugely popular spot in the summer. Canada boasts stunning national parks and natural features to discover. Or head south and combine a 5 day trek to Machu Picchu in Peru with a guided tent camping tour. Europe has campgrounds nearly everywhere for travelers. Every continent is on the menu, even the Far East.
Guide to Camping around the World
“Camping is just being homeless without the change” – Summer Smith – Ricky and Morty. Basically, this isn’t an activity for everybody. No matter how much you think your friend, family or significant other will fall in love with your passion for sleeping in the outdoors, they might not. Alas, there are many ways to camp, and perhaps more luxurious equipment is needed to up it to “glamping”.
There are several different ways one can go camping:
Car camping is the most popular form due to its ease of driving to a location and setting up next to your vehicle. Not only does it save a lot of time with packing and unpacking, but it also gives one piece of mind if certain situations arise like a thunderstorm or a bear wants to come say hi. And you can essentially pack the kitchen sink.
Campgrounds have grown a lot in popularity over the years. Although you take away most of the secluded nature part, the accessibility to and from makes it quite appealing to most. You will often see people at campgrounds who plan on visiting places of interest the following day as the locations of these spots are only miles from civilization.
Nearly all campgrounds require a fee (though you can find free ones) and the biggest perk other than convenient access, are the amenities, usually a picnic table, fire ring and tent pad (clear and soft spot to put your tent), along with parking for your car or traveler trailer/RV. They all have bathrooms, though not all with plumbing, sometimes they are vault toilets (but the latter are sometimes cleaner than the former).
Some have hookups for electric, water and sewer for your RV, and some don’t, sometimes both options are available at the same campground.
Dispersed camping is the other option for car campers. These are free sites often found on national forest or BLM land (Borough of Lan Management) out in the western U.S. It’s much easier to find free campsites out west than on the American eastern coast. And although often more remote than campgrounds, many spots are accessible by 2WD vehicle and provide you with unmatched privacy and space to roam.
Always use existing sites, which are marked by a fire ring made of rocks, and there are usually zero other amenities and facilities, such as a picnic table or toilet (though sometimes you can get lucky and there’s one at a nearby trailhead). RVs and travel trailers can access a good amount of these dispersed campsites, though you’ll be “boondocking” or “dry camping”, meaning there are no hookups for water, electric and sewer.
BYOB water and solar panels and/or strong lithium batteries to keep the party going. Composting toilets are the best option for longterm boondockers, otherwise you’ll only be able to go as long as your black tank (where the poop goes) holds your waste.
Backpacking is another popular form of camping as it allows you to get away from all the other campers and discover your own piece of tranquility. Often you will drive to a location and then hike to your designated area. This form of camping brings you closer to nature and gives a true meaning to being one with nature.
Those go backpacking require lighter camping gear and a minimalist approach. You have to pack out everything you pack in and there’s only so much room in your bag. Sleeping pads are thinner, sleeping bags compress further and cooking equipment is minimal. You’ll likely want to bring a water purifier just in case you run out of on-board H2O.
Canoe/Boat camping is one of the more enjoyable ways to get out into nature. These trips usually go several days while you can enjoy fishing or rafting during the day before setting up shop along the shores at night. Oftentimes, you can arrange these excursions through a local outfitter offering guided tours. They’ll probably even pitch your tent for you.
Common Camping Equipment
At the bare minimum, you’ll need a sleeping bag to stay warm if camping in cooler temps, especially anywhere at higher elevation where it drops significantly at night. Here’s a basic camping checklist to ensure you’re ready for anything:
- Tent or some form of shelter
- Sleep bag
- Sleep pad
- Axe and/or saw for wood cutting
- Food, drinks and plenty of water
- Cooler for said food and beverages
- Basic cooking equipment such as a grill
- Chairs for around the campfire
- Blanket for cool nights outside
- Trash bags
- Toilet paper and paper towels
- Multi Tool like a Swiss army knife
- Firewood if you aren’t in the woods (or aren’t allowed to collect downed wood)
- First aid kit
- Fishing pole
- Several items of clothing for temperature changes
- Water purifier just incase
Latest in Camping
Best Camping Spots in the United States
Be it a cross-country road trip or an adventurous hike; an outdoorsy getaway is worth having in 2022. That comes as no surprise since, after almost over a year of lockdown, we’re all itching to step outdoors. Camping in the United States is the perfect antidote if you’ve been cooped up in your home while staying socially distant. It helps you get close to a diverse amount of nature and wildlife on offer all across America.
So what’s the holdup? Grab your gear, put a pair of hiking boots on, and head off to some of these spots and experience the best camping experiences in America. Whether you’re looking for a serene spot in New York City or an island you can camp on in Florida, a beach getaway in Arizona, or a private hideout in a national park, here’s our roundup of the best camping sites in America that offer something for everyone.
Yosemite Park, California
Camping in California is a different experience altogether. No person is qualified to say they’ve had the true American camping experience without staying in Yosemite National Park at least once. For several years in the past (hopefully many in the future, too), people have enjoyed several camping traditions in this iconic park. For several Americans, Yosemite is one of the most coveted camping locations.
It has several popular campgrounds that can be booked through a reservation system, and the ones that can’t be booked are assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis. They fill up by noon and stay busy between April and September. Other campgrounds like Crane Flat, Tuolumne Meadows, Wawona, and Hodgdon Meadow need reservations throughout the year. On the other hand, showers are only available in Yosemite Valley and housekeeping camp.
White Mountain Forest, New Hampshire
If you’re looking for a rustic camping experience in the North-eastern side of America, the White Mountains can offer the experience you’re looking for. The hiking is rugged in this portion of the Appalachians, but it’s worth your time if you’re up for the challenge. The views from this particular location are spectacular, mainly when leaves start turning into different colors (orange, red, and yellow).
Even though the forest has approximately 24 different campgrounds, the action is mainly at the 8 walk-in park campgrounds in the state’s northern region. A developed campground will require a reservation, and backcountry camping is allowed in some spots, too. Several log lean-tos are on every trail, but using them may require a fee. The forest is open for visiting throughout the year, but hours for the visitor centers may vary.
Zion Park, Utah
Zion National Park is the perfect place for hiking and canyoneering. You can set up your tent after you’re done climbing and wade through the different streams in the park. Several campgrounds are inside the park, while the Watchman Campground is only a quarter-mile away from the park’s south entrance and is open throughout the year. On the other hand, the Southern campground is half a mile away from this entrance.
It is available on a first-come-first-basis between February and November. The Lava Point Campground is free; however, these primitive campsites only have pit toilets and no water. You can pack your tent into your backpack and travel towards the backcountry if you want. Along the West Rim Trail, you’ll find nine campsites.
Denali Park, Alaska
Camping in Alaska is a unique experience. Why is that, you may ask? Well, think about it this way:
Six million acres of land.
Trails for days.
Camping sites don’t get cooler than Denali. The central draw, particularly for mountaineers, is Mount McKinley, which is the tallest peak in North America. However, the park offers several pros for camping novices and veterans apart from this mountain. Most of the trails start by the visitor center and are usually easy to traverse. Some trails start deep inside the park. These are three miles beyond the accessible road. However, before you embark on a journey for any camping trip, you should know that this park isn’t for inexperienced campers.
It’s beautiful, nonetheless. The park has 291 camping sites, and backcountry camping has a free permit. The only campground you can reach by car is Riley Creek, and you’ll have to stay for at least three nights to reduce the traffic inflow. The other two sites in the park are only reachable by bus. When the park is open depends on the weather. Some parts of the park are open throughout the year; however, the park also opens up for private vehicles in the mid of April.
Their summer bus service starts on May 20th, and you may see some road closures in fall and winter. That said, there’s still a lot to do in the park, be it dog mushing or skiing.
Green Mountain Forest, Vermont
The Long Trail in Green Mountain Forest is perhaps one of the most prominent draws. Try to find a campsite close to the hiking portion of the trail. Apart from being breathtaking, the 270-plus mile-long trail is one of the oldest long trails in America. It follows the Green Mountain’s ridge across the border of Massachusetts to Canada.
The forest has five fully developed campgrounds, and there aren’t any dump stations or electrical hookups, so it’s best if you come prepared. You’ll have to stay unplugged throughout your trip, so be ready for some intense social media detoxing. Campground accessibility can vary by season, and some may also require a reservation. Backcountry camping is allowed everywhere around the park; unless specifically posted.
The park can be accessed throughout the year, but the accessibility of the campgrounds can vary from one season to another. However, at least one campground will be accessible throughout the year.
Saranac Lake, New York
Unlike its popular name, Saranac Lake is a village in New York. It was named after the Lower, Middle, and Upper Saranac Lakes. This village is within the boundaries of Lake Placid and Adirondack Park. The corners of the village don’t touch the shores of the three lakes, and there are approximately 85 campgrounds in the area. Some of these can only be accessed by boat.
Crater Lake Park, Oregon
This spot, in particular, has inspired photographers, sightseers, and artists for several centuries. It’s often referred to as the deepest lake in America and one of the cleanest in the world. This park only has two campgrounds towards the southern region, and they’re only open in the summer. The Mazama campground is almost seven miles away from Highway 62, and it has tent sites.
But if you’re looking for a tent-only environment, you can stay at the Lost Creek Campground, which has 16 different sites. However, you’ll have to pick up a permit for backcountry camping from an office if you’re trying to camp in any other location inside the park. That said, in the snowy winters, you won’t be able to camp. We would only recommend backcountry camping between July and September.
Kings Canyon Park, California
It’s impossible not to have fun while standing next to massive sequoias! Just like the several trees that seemingly pierce through the sky in this part of America, this park is epic. Exploring it will give you a new perspective of life. Waking up in the morning while being surrounded by gorgeous scenery will make you feel like you’re in a world that isn’t real. You’ll have fun hiking through the forest as you end your day to set up camp in the scenic outdoors.
The park has 14 campgrounds in Kings Canyon and Sequoia. Most of these are available on a first-come-first-basis, but you can also make reservations up to six months in advance. If you’re trying to camp in a secluded area, you can also try out car camping since it’s what most people do. Just pack your gear and take some of the narrow paths to a secluded piece, or you can also pitch your tent on the Kings River. You can go to the park throughout the day, but the most popular months are August and July.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Camping in Arizona can’t be complete unless you’ve camped inside the Grand Canyon. While visiting the Grand Canyon may be on every person’s bucket list, this shouldn’t discount the natural beauty of this majestic place. Opt for its northern rim if you’re camping in the Grand Canyon. It is far less crowded than the canyon’s southern rim.
Make a reservation through the National Recreation Reservation Service and once that’s done, enjoy your time as you bask in the natural serenity.
Shenandoah Park, Virginia
If you’re from the D.C area, start packing! A stunning getaway is just 75 miles away from you! This park has more than 500 miles worth of trails, some of which can lead to beautiful views of waterfalls, while others may lead you to long walks through the peaceful wilderness. The 8-mile long rigorous climb towards Old Rag Mountain is notorious for knocking the wind out of climbers, but the view from the top is worth all the sweat.
The park has four campgrounds open during summer, fall, and spring. Regardless of the site you’re going to, we would recommend getting a reservation, but some first-come, first-serve spots may be available if you’re lucky. While you’ll need a permit for backcountry camping, it doesn’t require any payment. The park is open throughout the year, but some road portions may be closed during the bad weather. They’re also closed because of hunting season at night (from November to January). However, services for visitors are available from March till November.
Assateague Island, Maryland
Ever considered camping in Maryland?
If you love camping and beaches, this is the spot you should consider. Assateague is an island off the coast of Virginia and Maryland covered in salt marshes, coastal bays, sandy beaches, and forests. The park also has its collection of wild horses, and we bet seeing them will light up your day.
You can enjoy relaxing in the park or hike on a 37-mile long beach during the daytime, and then build your tent close to the crashing waves for comfortable sleep under the night sky. Camping, however, is only permitted on the Maryland portion of the Island. From November 16th to March 14th, the sites are available on a first-come-first-basis. You can also horse camp on two sites in the park, but this will cost you a fee. From March 15th to November 15th, you’ll have to make a reservation. That said, you can also make these reservations 6 months prior.
Backcountry camping is allowed in the park, but you can only access it by water or backpacking. The park is open throughout the year, and the timings of the ranger station and visitors center can vary according to the season. While most of the Island has opened after the lockdown, some parts of it may still be closed.
Hawai’i Volcanoes Park, Hawaii
While the idea of camping around volcanoes may sound crazy, it’s worth considering when you’re camping in Hawaii! There are two famous campgrounds in Hawai’i Volcanoes Park Kulanaokuaiki and Namakanipaio. A lodging company manages the latter and has several drive-in locations. On the other hand, the former is available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Namakanipaio is towards the south of Hilo and is located on Highway 11. O
On the other hand, Kulanaokuaiki’s nine campgrounds are five miles away from the Hilina Pali. At night, you can expect temperatures to range between the 40s and 60s.
Big Bend Park, Texas
While it may be one of the least popular parks in America, Big Bend has several campgrounds. It also has several campgrounds, and one of them is the Chisos campground. This campground is close to the park’s most popular trail. There is also Rio Village, which has 25 complete campsites. Any visitor to the park is limited to only 28 nights in a calendar year.
Sawtooth Forest, Idaho
Deep in the state of Idaho in the Sawtooth National Forest, it has more than 80 campgrounds. Background camping is an option, but to do it, you’ll have to hike on trails or ride on horses to go towards remote locations. Redfish Lake has a lodge and a marina, and the hot springs are also open for the public. There’s also a 43.9°C pool at the Baumgartner Campground.
Arches Park, Utah
Camping in Utah is a fulfilling experience. The Arches Park is four miles north of Moab in the eastern region. Over here, you’ll find more than 2,000 sandstone arches. This is the highest number of arches in a location globally. The Devils campground has more than 50 campgrounds available for reservation, and they are also close to different mountain bike trails and the Dead Horse State Park.
Joshua Tree Park, California
Between May and October, the eight different campgrounds available in Joshua Tree Park tend to fill up quickly (mostly on weekends). However, during the off-season (months between June to September), campsites are much easier to reserve. Like the Ryan Campground, some campgrounds can’t be visited during the summer, but you won’t need any reservations for summertime camping. This campground is also one of those two in the park with a designated horse camp.
Carson Forest, New Mexico
Be it Elephant Rock or Fawn Lake; there are several camping choices when you consider the beauties inside Carson Forest. That said, visitors to the forest can set up camp anywhere, and there’s a 14-day camping limit. The forest has a mixed policy since it allows people to use grazing, resource extraction, or recreation. Not only is the forest home to the Wheeler Peak (the highest peak in New Mexico that stands at 13,161 feet), but it also has several kinds of animals like cougars, elk, and black bears.
Badlands Park, South Dakota
It’s a tough climate to hike through (it’s called Badlands, which seems like a no-brainer), but the views are absolutely brilliant! Tallgrass prairies can be found between breathtaking rock formations, and you should also be on the lookout for all kinds of fossils. This spot has one of the most diverse sets of fossils in North America, which has become one of the most popular hobbies amongst camping enthusiasts. The park is also the ideal spot for stargazing, and it is also popular for hosting an astronomy festival.
However, it doesn’t have water. You won’t need a permit for backcountry camping, but we would recommend registering for it before you go.
Camping in the United States is one of those few activities fit for every group. Be it your colleagues, high school buddies, or your family, enjoying the outdoors won’t cost you a lot of money, and it’ll help you reconnect with Mother Nature on a whole. If you’re interested in finding out more camping locations based on your state, stay tuned!
We have location-specific articles coming out soon that help you study your options in intricate detail.


It’s time to get out your phone bill and read the fine print. A scam called “slamming” continues to plague customers who aren’t diligently reviewing every charge on their bill. As CBS4’s David Sutta reports, senior citizens appear to be especially vulnerable.
For months, Republican congressional candidate Carlos Curbelo refused to release a list of clients he has represented over the years through his public relations and lobbying firm, Capitol Gains.
Long before the events in Ferguson, Missouri created a drum beat for police officers to start wearing body cameras – a few dozen police departments around the country were already experimenting with them.
Just days before the start of the Jewish High Holy Days, detectives believe they have identified “some of the people involved” in Rabbi Joseph Raksin’s murder according to Miami-Dade Police Director JD Patterson.
A Monroe County Grand Jury ruled Wednesday that a group of Key West police officers did nothing wrong during a Thanksgiving Day encounter which left a retired auto worker dead.
The images out of Ferguson, Missouri were alarming as officers resembling soldiers were going head-to-head with protesters. CBS4 has learned the military gear being used by police in Ferguson is being used by police in South Florida.
CBS4 looks into how customers are being deceived into extended contracts through an alarm scam.
Lawmakers have reached a bipartisan deal to start fixing the embattled Department of Veterans Affairs. The deal to improve veterans’ health care would authorize at least $17 billion to fix the health program scandalized by long patient wait times and falsified records covering up delays, the bill’s chief supporters said Monday.
The CBS4 Investigative Unit has uncovered a scam going around South Florida involving alarm company salesmen—they are flat out lying to you to get your business.
Following a CBS4 investigation into pool safety, Miami-Dade County may now pass a law to help prevent electrocution in pools.


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Multiaxis machining can dramatically increase a shop’s competitiveness. Mastercam’s multiaxis machining offers a wide range of multiaxis machining strategies – both basic and advanced. With Mastercam, you have complete control over the three crucial elements of multiaxis machining – Cut Pattern, Tool Axis Control, and Collision Control. Mastercam X5 introduces a unified interface and a streamlined workflow for generating multiaxis toolpaths.
Cut Patterns guide the tool along specified paths. These patterns can be simple 2D and 3D wireframe, solid primitives (for example, box, cylinder, or sphere), or complex multisurface grids.
Mastercam’s Multiaxis machining has many toolpath types to govern the cut pattern including:
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And Mastercam X5 introduces eight new triangular mesh multiaxis toolpaths that support surface, solid, and STL input
Tool Axis Control
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Last Known Status: Active
Latest Psychonaut News
Below is our complete Psychonaut news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
The "Metal Down Under" DVD - a documentary chronicling the history of heavy metal in Australia - has now finally been released and can be ordered at this location. A teaser trailer is available below, and the organizers of the movie comment:
"Since the late 1970’s a thriving underground scene of extreme music has continued to evolve in Australia. Metal Down Under takes a look at the bands, people and events that have shaped this unique slice of Australian history.
"More than just the music, we meet the characters that make metal in Australia what it is today. From promoters, radio hosts and magazine editors, to band members and extreme fans, Metal Down Under introduces you to a world you either didn’t want to know existed, or have been a part of all your life.
"Featuring over 40 exclusive interviews as well as rare archive footage and photographs from Metal for the Brain, Metal for Melbourne, The Big Day Out, SBS, music videos, live concerts and much more.
"Here's the facts! Time and time again our beloved scene has been overshadowed, dismissed and disregarded by many mainstream media / culture and plenty of lethargic Australian heavy music fans too, oh not to forget the rest of the world's ignorance or lack of knowledge. Bleak times? Maybe? But, that has all changed! To find out why? WATCH Metal Down Under! This film reveals the history, the unsung heroes of our scene and why it's never been more important to acknowledge & support Australian Heavy Music wholeheartedly!” More...
Each week in Unearthing the Metal Underground, we'll be putting a few quality underground bands in the spotlight in an attempt to get the word out about them. This week I am checking out Perth’s thrash and thrash-influenced metal scene.
Perched on the arse end of a continent-spanning desert, Perth is the most isolated capital city in the world, and not surprisingly this has led to a very active local metal scene. The bands highlighted today have in common some kind of thrash influence – although how heavily that influence manifests itself in the music varies from band to band.
Enforce has been around in one form or another for over 10 years, releasing in that time three full length albums including the latest, “Biblakil,” in the first half of 2011. But the live show is where this band is at its best, whether supporting an international act (Enforce has opened shows for Behemoth, Obituary and Kreator, to name a few), touring Australia, or playing local gigs.
Although a lot of death metal flavors their sound, Enforce has an undeniably strong thrash influence – just look at frontman Guy Bell’s patch jacket!
Enforce - "As Death Sets In" (Live)
Local supporting bands have been announced for Finntroll's previously announced Australian tour. Perth's Claim the Throne will be part of the entire nationaly tour, with additional support coming from the following bands on these dates:
March 24th @ The Hifi, Brisbane – Dead Letter Opener
March 25th @ Billboard, Melbourne – Obsidieth
March 26th @ The Manning Bar, Sydney – Bane of Isildur
March 28th @ Capitol Theatre, Perth – Psychonaut

domain: entertainment


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Experience Venice's enchanting canals with the Venice Hop-on, Hop-off Eco Boat tour. Navigate the city's waterways in an eco-friendly vessel, offering a convenient and sustainable way to explore. With flexible 24/48 hours Hop-On, Hop-Off options, you can visit iconic landmarks such as St. Mark's Square, and Murano Island at your own pace. Enjoy informative audio commentary onboard, highlighting the city's rich history and cultural heritage. Discover hidden gems along the way, from charming neighbourhoods to picturesque canal views. Whether you're seeking historic sites, artisanal shops, or authentic Venetian cuisine, this eco-boat tour provides an unforgettable and eco-conscious adventure through Venice's timeless beauty.
Some of the major attractions covered:
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USCIRF: India-U.S. bilateral relations have developed into a “global strategic partnership”, amidst the economic rise of New India. The partnership is based on shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues. The vision of Prime Minister Modi on development and good governance has reformed the image of ‘New India’. However, the opportunity to reinvigorate bilateral ties and enhance cooperation between the two nations, is witnessing exponential growth after the anointing of Dr. S. Jaishankar as the Foreign Minister of India.
‘Hindu Phobic’ Left Cabal in USCIRF
The leftist and religious bigots have taken over the intellectual institutions of the world. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is one such institution. The members of the commission have been endorsing ‘Hinduphobic attitude’ for ages.
Nury Turkel, the Chairperson of the Commission sobbingly called India an egregious violator of religious freedom. He expressed his disappointment over the State Department’s failure to recognise India. USCIRF Chair Turkel said, “The State Department’s own reporting includes numerous examples of particularly severe religious freedom violations in India.”
Despite that, India has been excluded owing to the meticulous foreign policy of India under the leadership of Dr. S. Jaishankar. The minister has been quite vocal in putting forth his disappointment after India was included in this list by the Commission. The US administration under President Biden decided to accept the disappointment of the India counterpart. The decision of the US administration illustrates the strong strategic partnership between the two democracies of the world.
Pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), the State Department re-designated 10 countries as “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPCs) list. The countries included are Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The State Department also added Cuba and Nicaragua to its CPC list, both of which previously had not been on the list.
In the 2022 Annual Report in April, USCIRF had recommended the re-designation of the 10 CPC countries, and also recommended inclusion of Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Syria, and Vietnam. The move received strong criticism from Dr. Jaishankar, who admonished the Hinduphobic propaganda against India.
The Minister categorically burst the myth of the left cabal in the west that portrays India in bad light. They create a fake narrative of religious persecutions in India. Therefore, S Jaishankar called the recommendations ‘biased and inaccurate’. He was successful in convincing the US administration that India adopts a very progressive and secular policy in the law enforcement.
The flurry of bilateral and multilateral talks between the Foreign Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary, Anthony Blinken have helped the two democracies develop an “Enduring Global Partnership of the 21st Century”.
The regular exchange of high-level political visits has paved the way for sustained momentum to bilateral cooperation. In addition, the wide-ranging and ever-expanding dialogues between the two leaders have laid the architecture to establish a long-term framework for India-U.S engagement.
Today, the India-U.S. bilateral cooperation has multiplied to various realms of democratic policy, covering ‘trade and investment’, ‘defense and security’ and ‘education, science and technology’ among others. The vibrant people-to-people interaction and support across the political spectrum in both countries nurture the bilateral relationship and have outpaced all other global partnerships.
The success story associated with the strong foreign policy and political deliberation between the two great nations, however, is an outcome of the marvelous and honest approach of the Foreign Minister Dr. Jaishankar in putting forth the interests of India. The Minister has been dressing down the US administration on various counts amidst the global crisis.
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Fair. Heavily worn from use but text is complete and readable, Ex-Library: text is readable but suffers cosmetic damage from library marking and withrawing procedures, Stain to Edge of the Pages. Good Reading Copy!
Acceptable. Former Library book. Library Binding acceptable The item is fairly worn but still readable. Signs of wear include aesthetic issues such as scratches, worn covers, damaged binding. The item may have identifying markings on it or show other signs of previous use. May have page creases, creased spine, bent cover or markings inside. Packed with care, shipped promptly.
Very Good in Very Good jacket. 0590466844 KLT 038929 First ed 1994. Solid and clean hard cover with only slight wear, jacket with slight wear and soiling, we have applied a protective fold-on cover. 145pp. Light dust soiling to top fore edge.
Cover Art. Very Good. No Jacket. Hard Back. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. X-Library with normal flaws.....Rebound Library........The orange hard cover has light shelf wear....Light yellowing pages..............Check out our books on tape....We ship everyday or next day........We are very careful when we list our books, but sometimes something minor may get by.
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domain: library


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By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski | Glendale Star
Glendale Vice Mayor Jamie Aldama said he wants to dispel rumors that the city plans to bulldoze Murphy Park.
Aldama said an initial concept suggested a more modern look, but major changes won’t happen on his watch.
“We’re not losing the park,” said Aldama, who has represented the Ocotillo District since 2014. He is up for reelection this August.
“We’ll always have the park.”
Since late last year, the Glendale City Council has discussed the Downtown Campus Reinvestment Project, which covers city hall, council chambers, an outdoor amphitheater, parking structure, Murphy Park, and two “continuity of operations” spaces at the Bead Museum and the Civic Center Annex.

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This month’s music schedule for Columbus features a handful of local groups sharing the spotlight with other talented Ohio acts and even a couple out of Nashville, Tennessee. With a lot of local musicians sharing love for Music City, U.S.A., it’s a treat to have acts come through our city, show us love and get a good sense of how tight-knit the Columbus music community is. Halloween, as you know, is also at the end of the month, so for now, we’ll be looking at shows earlier in the month to save a special post for the spooky shows later on. Also, with not all of the below shows taking place during the weekend, try to hit up a weekday show to throw off a boring routine you might be stuck in.
Read below to check out six shows that may help you get out of the rut that you may be in from summer being over.
The Quasi Kings & Roots of a Rebellion @ Woodlands Tavern
A local reggae band that has been tearing it up in 2019, The Quasi Kings return to Woodlands Tavern for another energetic performance. Joining them from Nashville, the reggae jam band Roots of a Rebellion connect with The Quasi Kings in what promises to be one of the most dynamic Columbus live shows of the month. Akron band Land of Panda will be providing additional support. If you happen to get to the show early, a free Sublime tribute will be taking place at 7 p.m. featuring members of Columbus bands Devil’s Lettuce and Bummers.
Time: 8 p.m. | Date: Friday, Oct. 4 | Address: 1200 W. 3rd Ave. | Admission: $12
Mistar Anderson Duo @ Strongwater Events
The industrial Strongwater Event space at 401 W. Town St. has become the place to be on Mondays in 2019 for music. The live music series that started earlier this summer will feature Eric Rollin and Andre Walker of hip-hop, soul, funk and jazz group Mistar Anderson to kick off the Strongwater series in October. Known for their unique ways of incorporating greats from the past and ramping them up for modern audiences, Rollin and Walker built the foundation for the genre-breaking local Mistar Anderson. Impeccable rhymes and funky drum licks are just a couple of things that will blow your mind if you haven’t had the chance to catch these local artists yet.
Time: Doors 6:30 p.m. | Date: Monday, Oct. 7 | Address: 401 W. Town St. | Admission: Free
Hebdo @ The Parlour
Earlier this year, Experience Columbus did a Q&A with Joey Hendrickson, the mind behind the new intimate, speakeasy-like venue The Parlor. One of the few shows that are scheduled to take place at The Parlor this month features popular Columbus folk fixture Hebdo. The first artist to ever perform at The Parlor, Hebdo once again will be bringing passionate and engaging storytelling to the stage. Also, North High Brewing will be supplying drinks, free of charge, so your ticket cost goes a long way in supporting the local community.
Time: 7 p.m. | Date: Friday, Oct. 11 | Address: German Village (secret location revealed after ticket purchase) | Admission: $40
Del & the Wave, A Cure for Love, Guest House, The Buffalo Ryders @ The Shrunken Head
The bang-for-your-buck concert on this month’s list is a headline-packed party at The Shrunken Head. At the head of the pack is the dreamy-sounding indie-rock group Del & the Wave, which started out as a project in Connecticut and made its way to the Midwest. Circleville/Columbus group Guest House will also be providing those same dreamlike vibes with their introspective lyrics and guitar melodies. Rounding out the lineup are Ohio acts A Cure for Love and The Buffalo Ryders, so get ready for this Buckeye state throwdown.
Time: 8 p.m. | Date: Saturday, Oct. 12 | Address: 251 W. 5th Ave. | Admission: $8
Souther, Safari Room & Ghost Soul Trio @ Ace of Cups
Ace of Cups is known for attracting big-talent names in and around Columbus, and two of Columbus’ best happen to be sharing the same billing this month. The R&B and blues-driven music of Souther will have you swaying back and forth all while getting lost in the group’s powerful storytelling. On the other end is the experimental indie-pop group Ghost Soul Trio, who have had a big year with the release of their album Too Many Futures. Nashville group Safari Room, friends of Ghost Soul Trio, fit in somewhere in between with their ambient-sounding tunes.
Time: Doors 7:30 p.m. | Date: Thursday, Oct. 17 | Address: 2619 N. High St. | Admission: $7 / $10 DOS
The Cordial Sins In Memory EP Release @ Rumba Cafe
Rounding out this month’s list is another popular Columbus-bred band. The Cordial Sins, who have amassed a following from around the country touring in support of Elvis Depressedly and playing alongside many other major acts, come to Rumba Cafe to celebrate an EP that drew inspiration from the band’s latest tour and being on the road. Joining The Cordial Sins in the celebration are Columbus electro-folk group wyd and the all-over-the-place rock group from Nashville Oginalii, who come around Columbus every now and then.
Time: Doors 9:30 p.m. | Date: Friday, Oct. 25 | Address: 2507 Summit St. | Admission: $8 / under-21 pays additional $2

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Italian cuisine is beloved for its flavorful and diverse dishes, from hearty pasta dishes to light seafood entrees. Along with these mouth-watering dishes, wine is often considered the perfect accompaniment to Italian food. However, for those who don’t consume alcohol, pairing non-alcoholic drinks with Italian cuisine can add depth and complexity to the meal. In this article, we’ll explore some non-alcoholic drinks that go well with Italian food.
The Art of Pairing Non-Alcoholic Drinks with Italian Food
When it comes to Italian cuisine, it’s not just about the food, but also about the drinks. Wine is often the go-to drink, but not everyone wants to consume alcohol. Luckily, there are plenty of non-alcoholic drinks that pair well with Italian food. The key is to find a drink that complements the flavors of the dish, rather than overpowering it. In this article, we will explore some of the best non-alcoholic drinks to pair with Italian food.
Carbonated beverages are a popular choice when it comes to pairing drinks with Italian food. They are refreshing, and their bubbles help to cleanse the palate between bites. Some popular carbonated drinks to consider are:
- Sparkling Water: A simple and classic choice, sparkling water is perfect for those who want a drink that won’t detract from the flavors of their food.
- Soda: For those who want something with a little more flavor, soda is a great option. Try a citrus-flavored soda like lemon or orange to complement the acidity of Italian dishes.
- Tonic Water: Tonic water is a slightly bitter carbonated drink that pairs well with rich and savory Italian dishes. It also makes an excellent mixer for non-alcoholic cocktails.
Juice-based drinks are another popular choice to pair with Italian food. They are sweet, refreshing, and can help to balance out the saltiness of some dishes. Some popular juice-based drinks to consider are:
- Lemonade: A classic summer drink, lemonade is a great choice to pair with Italian food. Its tartness can help to cut through the richness of creamy pasta dishes.
- Iced Tea: Another classic drink, iced tea is perfect for those who want something a little more substantial than water but don’t want anything too sweet. Try a peach or raspberry-flavored iced tea to complement the flavors of Italian dishes.
- Fruit Juice: Fruit juice is a sweet and refreshing drink that pairs well with Italian food. Try a cranberry or pomegranate juice to complement the flavor of tomato-based sauces.
Coffee and Tea
Coffee and tea are both popular drinks in Italy and pair well with Italian food. They are both rich in flavor and can help to balance out the richness of some dishes. Some popular coffee and tea drinks to consider are:
- Espresso: A strong and bold coffee, espresso is perfect for those who want something to wake them up after a heavy meal. It pairs well with chocolate-based desserts.
- Cappuccino: A creamy and frothy coffee, cappuccino is perfect for those who want something a little more substantial than espresso. It pairs well with biscotti or other Italian pastries.
- Herbal Tea: Herbal tea is a great choice for those who want something soothing and relaxing after a meal. Try a chamomile or peppermint tea to aid digestion.
Tips for Pairing Drinks with Italian Food
When it comes to pairing drinks with Italian food, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are some tips to help you make the best choices:
- Consider the Flavor Profile of the Dish: When choosing a drink to pair with Italian food, consider the flavor profile of the dish. For example, if the dish is spicy, you may want to choose a drink that is sweet or acidic to balance out the heat.
- Don’t Overpower the Dish: The drink should complement the dish, not overpower it. Avoid drinks that are too strong or too sweet, as they can detract from the flavors of the food.
- Think about the Occasion: Consider the occasion when choosing a drink to pair with Italian food. For example, if you’re having a casual dinner with friends, you may want to choose a light and refreshing drink. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, you may want to choose something more indulgent.
FAQs: Non-Alcoholic Drinks to Pair with Italian Food
What are some classic Italian non-alcoholic drinks?
Some classic Italian non-alcoholic drinks include San Pellegrino sparkling water, limonata (lemon soda), arancia amara (bitter orange soda), and chinotto (bitter citrus soda). These drinks are refreshing and have bold flavor profiles that can complement spicy or rich Italian dishes.
What non-alcoholic drinks go well with pizza?
Pizza is a classic Italian dish that pairs well with a variety of non-alcoholic drinks such as iced tea, lemonade, soda, and Italian soda. You may also want to try pairing pizza with a light beer or a crisp white wine. The key is to choose a drink that complements the flavors of the pizza, without overpowering them.
Which non-alcoholic drinks are best suited for pasta dishes?
Pasta dishes can be served with a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, including iced tea, sparkling water, and lemonade. A refreshing mint lemonade might also be a perfect accompaniment to a pasta dish. You may also want to try pairing pasta dishes with a light beer or a full-bodied red wine, depending on the flavors of the dish.
What non-alcoholic drinks can be paired with a charcuterie board?
A charcuterie board typically consists of cured meats, cheeses, olives, crackers, and other snacks. To complement these flavors, you might want to try pairing your charcuterie board with a sparkling water, iced tea, or a citrus-based soda like limonata. You could also opt for a grapefruit or blood orange soda, which should add some brightness and acidity to your board.
Are there any non-alcoholic drinks that go well with desserts?
Desserts can be paired with a range of non-alcoholic drinks, such as coffee, tea, milk, or hot chocolate. You could also try pairing desserts with fruit juice smoothies or fresh fruit juice. For something a little bit different, you could even experiment with pairing desserts with sparkling water or Italian soda to cut through the richness of the dessert. Ultimately, the key is to choose a drink that complements the flavors of your dessert without making it too sweet.

domain: food


Hosted by top 5 banking and fintech influencer, Jim Marous, Banking Transformed highlights the challenges facing the banking industry. Featuring some of the top minds in business, this podcast explores how financial institutions can prepare for the future of banking.
Over the past several years, my team at the Digital Banking Report has asked financial institutions globally what their primary objective was. Overwhelmingly, it has been to create better customer experiences.
The problem is that creating a great experience is no longer enough. Consumers are looking for financial advocates and ways to achieve better financial outcomes. They expect their financial partners to use insight available to provide the path for a secure financial future.
I am excited to have Jane Barratt, Chief Advocacy Officer at MX Technologies on the Banking Transformed podcast. Jane will discuss how data and insight can transform banking into emotional relationships that can impact people, organizations, and communities.
This Episode of Banking Transformed is sponsored by FIS
From super apps and crypto to embedded finance and financial inclusion, we’re a long way away from the world of cash and checks. That’s why FIS has reimagined The Global Payments Report. The Global Payments Report makes it easy to understand what your consumers want now – and in the future.
FIS experts talk through the trends transforming payments and what they mean for your business. FIS also gives you an in-depth view of how consumers pay when shopping online and at the point of sale in more than 40 markets, along with the latest insights into real-time payments trends.
Discover how the latest payments technologies could affect your business. Get your report today by visiting fisglobal.com/gpr.
This episode of Banking Transformed is sponsored by mParticle.
mParticle believes that better decisions start with better data. Cleanse, visualize, and connect your customer data from any source or system to any API. Better data, better decisions, better outcomes. Visit mparticle.com for more.
Jim Marous: Hello, and welcome to Banking Transformed. I'm your host, Jim Marous, founder and CEO of the Digital Banking Report and co-publisher The Financial Brand. Over the past several years, my team in the Digital Banking Report has asked financial institutions globally what their primary objective was. Overwhelmingly, it's to create better customer experiences. The problem is that creating a great customer experience is no longer enough. Consumers are looking for financial advocates and ways to achieve financial outcomes that are better than ever before. They expect their financial partners to use insights available to provide a path towards a more secure financial future. I am excited to have Jane Barratt, chief advocacy officer at MX Technologies, on the show today. Jane will discuss the way data and insight can transform banking into an emotional relationship that can impact people, organizations, and communities. So welcome to the show today, Jane. Before we begin, could you share a bit about your background and your role at MX with our audience?
Jane Barratt: Well, first, thank you so much for having me, Jim. It's awesome to be here. My path to FinTech and my current role was a [inaudible 00:01:28] one, as many of ours are. But very relevant to our discussion today, I had a whole career in the marketing world prior to FinTech. So I'd run global agencies and clients working a lot with financial services companies around the world, and had been in the digital space basically since the '90s. I built a FinTech business as a founder that helped people get started investing by using their financial data. I was also a financial educator on the side with LinkedIn Learning. So I've spent a lot of time making the migration from taking money out of people's pockets as a marketer to helping them keep more in their pockets and grow it as a FinTech professional, and that brings me to MX.
Jane Barratt: So it actually is a great way to join a company as a customer first, and I was a customer of MX's for a couple of years. Very much mission-aligned in terms of how we go to market. And I've spent now the last four years driving how we bring the MX mission to life in the marketplace, and that covers everything from working with our customers and our partners on how to leverage data better to working with regulators and policy makers to help people ensure that they can access their data safely and securely, as well as focusing on open banking and open finance collaborations to actually bring that to life.
Jim Marous: It's not the first time we've had MX on the show. We had Brandon and Ryan, the founders of MX, on once before. And a lot of things have changed at MX since then, but culture's always been the centerpiece of what MX is. Can you describe a little bit about the change that has gone on at MX before we get deep into our questions?
Jane Barratt: So I think MX was founded on the vision of empowering the world to be financially strong, and there is a deep resonance, like DNA-level resonance, across the team, across our partners, across our customers, and especially from founders and the executive team, that we believe that financial services has a moral obligation to make the world a better place. And that was something that our recently departed friend Brandon Dewitt talked about a lot. He was such a huge advocate for our mission and the impact that we can all have, and I think that was his genius, is not just setting a mission in stone and walking away from it. But Brandon and Ryan really brought that to life in a way that was just so profound. I mean, we know in the marketplace that it's a reason why many of our customers choose us.
Jane Barratt: It's why we've had such great collaborations with different financial institutions and partners. And I think the strength of our culture and our commitment to our mission really means that we can build on Brandon and Ryan's legacy and vision moving forward. One other thing that they did beyond building out an incredible culture and mission is build a fantastic team. And so the MX executive team, and then all the way across the organization, we have people who are very deeply committed to our mission and this idea that we have a moral obligation to make the world a better place.
Jim Marous: Well, it's interesting, because your mission aligns with most financial institutions' primary objective. When we do research around financial institutions, they say that improve the customer experience is their top mission. And unfortunately, few organizations have committed to what's possible. We talk a good game. We don't implement it very well. Where do you see the biggest performance gap between what we say and what we're doing as financial institutions?
Jane Barratt: So I think the elephant in the room and the gap is often the fact that just as a business... Forget anything else. As a business, financial services is still very much focused on selling products, getting more deposits, increasing share of wallet. This is the old school way that the business has grown. We do not and have not yet competed on outcomes. You've got a bank side by side with another bank. Am I going to have a meaningfully different outcome by choosing A over B? Right now, that's no. And I think a little bit around the performance gap is that the idea of customer experience kind of went into UX/reducing friction. Do I really care as a consumer that my payment goes faster? Do I? Is that a meaningfully different outcome to me? But we've focused on things that have been more, again, user experience and customer experience that is meaningful metrics to an organization. Because maybe they will choose my card because it works better than another one, but it doesn't actually make a difference to the end customer, and a huge part of that is just this idea of opacity versus transparency.
Jane Barratt: Opacity has kind of been fundamental to the success of financial services industry. It's going on behind the scenes, and not enough Americans, or frankly humans anywhere, have access to the entirety of their financial picture, even today, with all of the amazing technology we have. And so that not knowing what's going on with your money fundamentally impacts not just your customer experience. It's like, "Okay, now I've got a mental load that I have to figure out between my bank, my credit union, my payment provider, my mortgage provider, my insurance provider. Where am I?" Of course it's going to have a negative outcome for you, because it's mental load, it's time, and you're going to miss things. We're human, and we're busy.
Jim Marous: Essentially, the banking industry has benefited, I guess you could say, from the fact that consumers didn't expect months from financial institutions. They were all virtually the same. They were very transactional-oriented. They were very commoditized in what they did. If you shut your eyes, you wouldn't even know if you went in one branch or another, unless the colors are different. How has the pandemic opened the eyes of the consumer as to what is possible through the use of data and technology and insights to create not better experiences as much as better and deeper engagements?
Jane Barratt: Yeah. I think you're right in terms of... Expectations were pretty low. But if you think of even just going outside of financial services, once you've changed your behavior in a way... I've got a streaming movie from Netflix. You're not going to get in your car and drive to Blockbuster. Once the expectations change, they change pretty fundamentally and permanently. And so one thing that the pandemic definitely accelerated was this taking your physicality out of the equation. I used to go to the bank because I felt better about whatever it was, depositing a check, or things that were just ingrained behavior. And whether that was generational or behavioral, all of a sudden you have a massive amount of people that had never deeply engaged in a purely digital way with their money before. And I always like to kind of say that we talk about financial data, but your data is your money.
Jane Barratt: Your money isn't a pile somewhere. It actually is the physical representation of your money, not some abstracted view. I think that's where the pandemic accelerated, was "Oh, my money is ones and zeros. My money is in apps now, okay." So that was sort of step one. And having this experience where people can... We've all seen it, in just terms of rapid adoption of FinTech apps where the average person now has three to four FinTech apps. This is not advanced some sort of millennial or Gen Z, "Oh, they're doing all their things on their phones." Everybody is. So that is one huge piece of just the pandemic response. And frankly, the expectations did go off. I can move money seamlessly now.
Jim Marous: Oh, exactly. I wrote an article for The Financial Brand on the importance of building an emotional brand in banking, which is kind of a... Not a novel concept, but it's not being done, kind of like what Nike has done. Is this level of connection possible if a financial institution leverages the data, insights, and technology at their disposable today to actually differentiate their brand emotionally from other brands around the community?
Jane Barratt: So I'm going to give an emphatic "Hell yeah, it's possible." Is it being done? Not really. You had Jennifer Tescher on your podcast a few weeks ago, and I loved her sort of comparison of, "I went into Warby Parker, and everything was amazing. And then I went to the bank with my daughter, and it was like, 'Oh God.' Everything was bad." And it's not quite that black and white, that it's always bad, but that was a very good analog for... The emotional piece just isn't there in the way it was with her. Again, glass is a commodity. How did Warby Parker do it? It's not just possible, it's crucial for remaining competitive now. But also, how are these institutions going to be multi-generational businesses if you don't have an emotional connection, when the cost and the ease of switching now is so much lower?
Jane Barratt: It's way easier to add more, switch on over. So this idea of putting customers in that driving seat and having them actually getting transparency into their outcomes, into what's going on with them... You can't get a better emotional connection than saying, "I helped you and your family this year. I helped you and your family save more, reduced your cost of borrowing. You spent less time doing your banking so you could spend more time with your family." I will love you forever if you can tell me that.
Jim Marous: Well, it's interesting. You mentioned Netflix earlier, and watching TV, which is what you're doing, never felt like a very personal experience. You pick what you wanted to watch, you'd watch, and it'd be done. And you never thought that even the commercials were personalized to you. In fact, you'd try to skip through them. But personalization really is a key to this equation, especially in financial services that in the past have been transactional. But the transactional part of financial services is becoming less and less of a part of what banking really is becoming. I use my mobile app. My transaction may be processed through bank A, but it's being processed through Apple Pay, which I have an emotional connection with. I have an emotional connection to Netflix and Hulu. You've talked in the past about data as a currency, and you mentioned just a second ago as well. Are we headed towards a time where there's going to be really a value transfer of how are you as a financial institution going to be using my data for my better experience, and more importantly, my better engagement that I know you're working on my behalf?
Jane Barratt: Yeah. And I think going back to your early question, there's a value transfer going on right now, but it's going from the consumers to the institution. That's not bidirectional. And so just fundamentally changing that and using personalization to do it. And again, this is such a huge shift organizationally, strategically from just how companies are investing. Again, my background in marketing, I know exactly when I'm being talked to and profiled as a middle-aged mom, and it drives me insane. It's like, "Have you looked at any broader picture about me versus just the fact that I have children?" And the answer is usually no. So this idea of, "If I can leverage my own data to improve outcomes for myself, make choices for myself that A, is taking my data out of the ecosystem..." And again, I am not the typical consumer.
Jane Barratt: I know way too much, but the fact that data exhaust is still a thing out there and there's a ton of companies making money on your data should be cause for protests in the street. It really should. It's not just like, "Oh, it's being used to target better ads." No, it can be, as we've seen, fundamentally undermine democracy. This data is incredibly powerful. So this is where things like open finance are so important, because it's not just about an ecosystem. It's about enabling these sort of bidirectional exchanges where value truly can be brought to life. And we are seeing it already around just what might be conceived as niche-use cases now like, let's say, rewards points. Right now, rewards points are kind of hard to spend, but if you bring that into my financial picture overall and let me leverage it in a way that I leverage my money, awesome. Again, I'll love you forever.
Jim Marous: Well, it's interesting, because from the very beginning of MX, I remember being at a meeting of yours... Gosh, it's probably now six years ago. When the head of marketing of your organization had just joined the company, I went to one of your events, and we went around the circle of the heavy users and said, "How are you using MX data?" And almost to a last person, almost every person was using the data you were providing not really to provide great experiences for their customers or members, but using it to create really insightful reports. We're now moving to a point where you don't have a choice. You have to use data insight and empower people around you for better innovation, better customer experiences, and really deploying it in a way that's felt by the consumer. How are you seeing the data that you are providing from the institutions now being used better to create better engagement, maybe better stories, and most importantly, maybe better innovations on behalf of the consumer? What are you seeing out there?
Jane Barratt: So we're seeing a much broader use case, both use cases and then almost less reliance on the size of institution or the type of institution. The data may be the same. It may be verification, but who's using data verification for what use case in a way that, again, is empowering that end customer? And so it's everything from customers like ours, like FormFree, that enable amazingly fast, in the name of the company, form-free mortgage applications. If you do not have to go through a pile of paper this thick and go through your... I still do have a standing filing cabinet here, and scan things. And if you can enable people... And I think with FormFree, we reduced the time that it took for people to apply for their mortgages and their... Or just in terms of collecting their data in an aggregate form by 89%. That is huge. So that may not seem like a huge innovation, but it is, because it has fundamentally changed that experience of mortgage application, let's just say.
Jane Barratt: So it may be based on time, it may be things like bringing in alternate data sources for credit scoring. Just what is out there, and what are people permissioning to bring in? And then at the more meat and potato side of things is just providing transparency and allowing people to use their digital money management tools, but layering insights on top. Insights and advice that used to be up to you. Here's a pie chart, good luck. And now it's like, "Actually, your life insurance premium is due next month. Make sure that money's transferred over." Things that can be a lot more anticipatory. And frankly, that's the tracks that we're building, and that's where the train is going in terms of self-driving money. I know Jennifer referenced this as well. This is the work that we're doing now to enable way more... Not frictionless in terms of faster payments, but actual frictionless in terms of the way that you have to manage your financial life.
Jim Marous: With that in mind, if you work with clients and you see how you're advocating for the consumer across the board, are you seeing more financial institutions now really hoping that MX takes them all the way to the water? In other words, a lot of times you thought, "If I give them the data, I give them the tools, they'll use them correctly." But these organizations, their time is so valuable right now. They're just trying. They're running. [inaudible 00:18:30] running, just keeping up. Do you find yourselves building solutions that are almost turnkey, where you're almost thinking on behalf of the financial institution, "How can we make it so we empower the consumer better? How can we make it where we're actually..." What I call the GPS of financial services for the consumer, helping them with predicting what their next step should be. Are you finding that the role of MX has changed over the last three to four years, actually having to go, I'll use a American football analogy, further down the field on behalf of your financial institution partners to try to make it so that they can break through to the consumer?
Jane Barratt: 100%. And I think again, you know our origin story. We started in personal financial management, moved into data enhancement and data cleansing, and now have really been focusing on just making sure that access, that connectivity piece is in place so people can actually access safely and securely their financial data. But that whole pyramid together is absolutely how you take customers to the water, or take our partners all the way there. A great example of that has been in our work in the open finance space. Again, we've partnered with all of the largest institutions that have APIs. They're up and running. We've deleted credentials. We have enabled token-based data exchange for the vast majority of anyone that comes through our platform. What we then saw is when you go outside the largest institutions is a massive gap, even into the super regionals, regionals, big credit unions.
Jane Barratt: And that, for us, was not okay. We can't wait until the bifurcation of the industry is going to be a have and have-nots. Is it lightning fast and secure? Is it old school and scrape-based? So we actually built out a toolkit called MXaccess, which institutions can use to build their own open finance APIs. And we would connect to that like any other partner would, but this is the sort of thing in terms of... I love that bringing people to the water, because it's like... There is a lot of work to be done to transform old legacy systems, and embedding these APIs that the institution can own and really build their own future on is a way for us to accelerate that. And even things like helping our customers update their risk models.
Jane Barratt: What data can you use to update risk models? That's huge. And then revenue streams and profit models. There is so much going on, and I think the ROI from collaboration... There was a World FinTech Report out recently. The ROI from collaboration, I think banks put it about 6%. We don't think we're really getting much return at all in terms of where we had hoped collaboration could come from. But so much of that is that you have to spend so much money on infrastructure just to make a connection work, and we've been for some reason okay with saddled legacy systems for too long.
Jim Marous: Well, it's interesting. I remember now it's... God, three years ago, two years ago, whatever it is now. We lose time. But where solution providers... For me, with solution providers at The Financial Brand forum to basically say, "Okay, how can we help organizations do what we need them to do, even if they don't fix their back office? In other words, how can we use the legacy back office system to work better than we ever thought we'd have to make them work on their behalf?" So when you're working with finance institutions, what you provide and what other service providers provide in many different ways always seems like, "Oh my gosh, this a no-brainer," but not everybody implements it, and even those that implement it don't take it the full way. What stands in the way, from your perspective, of why organizations don't embrace the opportunities you're talking about, or have a challenge in actually making it all put together and go forward?
Jane Barratt: So I'll answer on two levels. I mean, our biggest competition always is stasis. Something isn't broken. Let's just keep on doing other stuff and layering things on top. And so the way that institutions make money is pretty foolproof. Take money in, borrow it out, keep the flow. And that has been... Why would we break that until there is a legitimate... And there absolutely is a groundswell of legitimate competitors at the floor that need to be taken seriously. I would say the second piece around this... And like I said, having been in the digital world since the '90s, I'd spent at least a decade advocating for digital literacy against a lot of resistance and stasis. And it's like, "I don't care what someone had for breakfast. Social media's not important." It's like, "Front door to the world people, but okay."
Jane Barratt: So what we're seeing now is this sense of data is kind of where digital was, in that it belongs over. It's the chief data officer, and the data's organized. It's everywhere. And this is not true empirically, but there is themes across the business that embracing data means dashboards or a data lake, or "Isn't that our cloud service's job," or versus, "This fundamentally can change how our business works." And that feels like one of the biggest things standing in the way, is just the opportunity isn't necessarily there. But having said that, we've seen amazing innovation. My friend Josh Rowland, Lead Bank in Kansas City, a small community bank, implemented very strategically API-embedded finance for their local FinTech community, and he did this years ago. And so the innovation is happening there, but it tends to be, let's just say, more human-driven versus strategy and industry-driven.
Jim Marous: Yeah, it's interesting you mentioned it, but success, financial success... And we just had an interview with a major financial institution, and their numbers are the best they've ever been. So that makes change difficult, because why break it if it's not broken? Or why fix it if it's not broken? The reality is it gets down to legacy leadership. And I've had many engagements with your team, and it always comes down to if the top doesn't believe that it has to be fixed, it won't get fixed. And the challenge now is every change that happens now happens in quarters, not in years, or months, not in quarters, and it's happening faster than ever before. So you're only one innovative organization away from losing an account. And Ron Shevlin wrote an article for Forbes this week around the fact that Chime and PayPal and Square and other FinTech organizations now are getting a lion's share of new accounts, but there are more people than ever considering these their primary financial institution.
Jim Marous: Now, the challenge is that the legacy financial institutions aren't seeing closing of accounts, so they don't see any difference.
Jane Barratt: So a lot of-
Jim Marous: But they don't ask their consumers, "By the way, where else do you do your banking?" Or, as your firm does, they don't track the transfers between one institution to another organization to say, "Geez, Jim's doing transfers to Acorns seven times a week of different amounts. Is he more aligned and loyal to Acorns than he is to X, Y, Z bank? Or is he more committed to PayPal because they will continually give him solutions in the marketplace, while his legacy bank is going to take three to four weeks to get it implemented?" It's very interesting how it's going right now. So Jane, the extension of using data and insight for building a great emotional connection in banking is to actually participate in open banking platforms. How do you see the future of embedded financial experiences?
Jane Barratt: So I think, again, so much of the industry has been built around, "I am the primary provider. I am the place as an institution where someone's paycheck goes, so I'm good. I don't need to know anything else. I've won this customer. I'm just going to sell them more things." The idea about an open banking platform is that people's data should be able to move freely, securely, with permission, and the ability to revoke it in a way that is going to improve their outcome. So you have your car loan with Ally, and you have your business banking with PayPal, and you've got your primary institution, your local credit union, but you are six or seven different Jims. An open banking platform recognizes one Jim. We get that, as long as you permissioned it.
Jane Barratt: You have said, "Okay, credit union, here I am. Here's the seven Jims. That's me, but can you make this easier for me?" And that emotional connection... Financial institutions, and frankly even legacy FinTechs who have been around now long enough to be considered legacy institutions, have a huge advantage in terms of trust. So trust is the bedrock on which the whole industry has always been built on since the days of the Medici. So now, how do we take that trust and allow people to exist in multiple places, securely connected in a way that works best for them? So the future of these experiences really comes down to the shift from being always human-directed, "I have to press a button to make the payment. I have to remember to pay my life insurance premium," to more anticipatory: self-driving car, self-driving wallet.
Jane Barratt: You need to have the trust to get behind a Tesla, and that it's not going to kill you as you drive down the highway, and that is a huge lift that is 100% data-driven. You have to know who you are, what you've permissioned, and what's going to work for you in order to enable that trust for these embedded financial experiences in the future. We always underestimate how quickly change is going to happen, but I believe this is within three to five years that we're going to have more of these self-driving experiences that are based on embedded finance that are predicated on an open banking infrastructure working.
Jim Marous: And are we maybe moving just as quickly towards something beyond open banking? So almost an open experience that goes beyond banking and really takes into account what I care about in my life, what I care about in my business, what I care about in my family? Because the reality is if you build the transactions, you're going to know more about me and what really makes a difference. Our environmental concern is of high interest to me. Our social issues and our equality and equity, more importantly. You're going to be able to see this through the transactions, but it's more than just open banking. And this provides also some new revenue opportunities, which gets out of financial institutions only based in the revenue model on the financial relationship, doesn't it?
Jane Barratt: 100%. So again, the more that you can empower... You say that you care about environmental concerns. Okay, so let's just say you don't already bank with [Andrei 00:30:12] at Aspiration, but you have expectations of your own institution that steer me away from companies that are over-indexing on climate harm, for example. We can do it now. We can do top-of-wallet optimization based on geolocation in apps. It's not happening, but it absolutely could. Oh, you just drove into X, Y, Z gas station. Actually, the one next door has a better environmental impact. That is trust-building. It is meaningful to you, and it is a huge differentiator. If one institution does it and your other doesn't, guess where you're going to lean towards for the next time? So that is a very niche use of data just based on your one description, but they're the sort of things...
Jane Barratt: And then extending that out now to how is that a revenue opportunity. And we always seem to go straight into, "Well, embedded finance will be a new revenue opportunity, because it can make any business a financial business." That is 100% true, but there's still well more beyond that as to what it means, and going back to things like... Is there going to be a value exchange on a data perspective? Can I A, save money as a human, and B, can there still be revenue streams into different sorts of companies? And we believe that we're only seeing probably 20% of the use cases around embedded finance and open banking now, and they are going to come at us thick and fast. But if you think of just the vision of the banks who drove things like Uber Money, who could have seen... Basically, Uber is a financial services company with ride sharing attached. They do car loans, they process-
Jim Marous: Starbucks is a financial institution that sells coffee, yeah.
Jane Barratt: Exactly. So it's easy to see these things in hindsight, and they're two big brands that we all know and love, but these changes are happening real time now across the board.
Jim Marous: It's interesting, too. We're just starting, and we keep on referencing all these things, and you realize how far from where we need to be we are. But the good news is we're moving quicker than we ever have, and it's going to get faster and faster. And part of that is also using alternative data sources, because the use of alternative data sources, everything from rent and utility payments to other sources of data that build a better picture of the human, allows you to reach more people that have been underserved in the past. And I know your organization has been at the forefront of this. You've been at the forefront of it as an individual when you're working with governmental units and other organizations, as Jennifer has, and saying, "How can we allow organizations or enable organizations to work with a broader array of consumers based on things other than a credit bureau?"
Jim Marous: I mean, I went through this with my son and buying his first car. He's more responsible with money than I am, and I got to cosign for him just to get him a credit? And you go, "This is easy compared to anything from immigrants to people that have very thin data files." Where do you see this going, the alternative data and new data sources as part of this whole equation?
Jane Barratt: And obviously, financial access, financial inclusion, financial outcomes are a core part of our whole business and vision, and this is a fundamental feature of an open finance regime. So if you think of an analogy, hard-to-score small businesses, they've been able to use cash flow-based underwriting to be able to get lending done or secured for their business. That can and should be true for underserved consumers as well. Have you paid your rent on time? Can we see your utility bills? You may be thin file or no file with the credit agencies, but you've got a whole financial life out there in ways that can be validated through secure data exchange that can ensure that a better picture of you is being presented.
Jane Barratt: And I can say this as an immigrant, but I've lived and worked in six different countries, and getting my head around the US credit business, I was like... I wanted to buy a car when I got here, and it was like, "Well, you should borrow money to buy it." I was like, "Wait, what?" Oh, you need to take out a store credit card. I was like, "Why?" And so many of the things that were fundamental to my core beliefs of financial health had to be thrown out the window, because the system was so predicated on just your ability to secure the credit, but then not actually spend it. Bizarre. So there is a long way to go.
Jim Marous: We interviewed the founder of Nova Credit. It was just very interesting to see they're making a whole business out of transferring credit bureau reports from different countries to enable people to do something that we take for granted. But it doesn't matter how long you've been here. If you haven't built a US credit bureau, which by the way takes a credit bureau to build, which is kind of insane by that whole concept, and if you're not a heavy credit user to begin with, it comes at you at the worst possible time.
Jane Barratt: Always. I mean, this is not a small problem. I think the Fed said it's about 46 million people in the US. So there's a huge almost 20% of the whole population that is underserved, underbanked, or unbanked. This is a big problem to solve.
Jim Marous: So Jane, to wrap up today's podcast, which I really appreciate your participation in, what is the greatest opportunity in the banking industry today in the next two years? I got to take it away now, because too much stuff happens in such a quick time. And I keep on telling our listeners, "Don't start making annual plans. You got to make quarterly plans and monthly plans to get things done, because there's so much to do." But what do you see as the biggest opportunity in the really short to moderate-term?
Jane Barratt: So the biggest opportunity is this fundamental wholesale shift from "Let's just keep on selling products and focusing on share of wallets and our deposit number" to "How do we actually improve outcomes for our customers?" And it is clearly longer than a quarter or two away, but if you're starting with that as a vision, knowing that, "Okay, we want to be that partner of choice for self-driving money. We want to be the one that knows all seven Jims..." And then that starts with, right now, implementing open banking and open finance, and sort of be a data portability view of things that, again, is a huge shift from "The data belongs to me." Which when you sign up for a bank account, you are signing over those ownership rights of your data to that institution.
Jane Barratt: If you can fundamentally shift that, it has this massive trickle-down effect on, "Oh, wow. There are new business cases. Oh, there are alternative data sources. Oh, we can build trust and build our brand and build emotional experiences, and all the things that we've been talking about." And that, honestly, from the early days of the internet, is such a huge opportunity, a wholesale shift from commodity to a value-added partner. And that's what I'm excited about. That's what gets me up in the morning every day. It's what drives MX. We all have a very big job to do, big moral obligation to improve outcomes for humans and make the world better, and we tend to get caught up in things like cloud infrastructure [inaudible 00:38:02]. Yeah, but cloud won't change the strategy, and it won't change the vision, change the execution. So that's where we think the biggest opportunity is, just letting the data go free and letting the market really start to up-level competition.
Jim Marous: You said it so well. If you don't set your destination as better financial outcomes as opposed to more efficiency or some of the legacy ideas we have out there, you will never get there. Or you at least won't know how to get there, and you won't know when you get there. So my analogy is always the GPS system, but you got to set that destination, and you got to be committed to it. And again, it stops at the very top of the organization saying... Once you have the top saying, "This is what we're going to do," you're more apt to get there. If it's simply, "Oh, we got to use data and analytics more efficiently," you go, "Ah, that's not a mission. That's a job. That's a task."
Jane Barratt: A tactic, yeah.
Jim Marous: Jane, thank you so much for being on the show today. It's been too long. I miss you and your team. It's been a while now. It seems like time goes so quickly without seeing people that it's great to see you again.
Jane Barratt: It's great to see you. I very much appreciate being on the show today, and all the best to you, Jim.
Jim Marous: Thanks for listening to Banking Transformed, rated as a top five banking podcast and the winner of three international awards for podcast excellence. If you enjoyed today's interview, please give our show a five-star rating on your preferred podcast platform. Also, be sure to catch my recent articles on The Financial Brand and the research we're doing for the Digital Banking Report. This has been a production of Evergreen Podcasts. A special thank you to our producer Leah Longbrake, audio engineer Sean Rule-Hoffman, and video producer Will Pritts. I'm your host, Jim Marous. Until next time, remember that in a world of commodity banking brands, you can only differentiate your brand by partnering for better financial outcomes.


text: Ten years ago I gave birth to my fourth child Ada. Shortly after she was born I learned she had Down Syndrome. She also had multiple holes in her heart that would require surgery. My entire world came tumbling down. I had no idea what having a child with Down Syndrome would mean for me or my family. What would become of her? The unknown scared me. After a prolonged hospital stay we were able to bring her home. Home to where I had three other children. My toddler at the time was struggling. He was exhibiting signs of autism. I was at at a loss with him. I had taken him to multiple doctors and therapists to try and find help. Now, I had a daughter that required a lot of care too. To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement. Between feedings, pumping, and taking him to appointments, I was exhausted. I was exhausted emotionally, spiritually and physically. Ada was hospitalized multiple times. I even had to perform CPR on her at one point due to RSV. The first year of her life was spent at Primary Children’s Hospital. I cried a lot. I was torn between sitting at the bedside of my daughter and being home with my other children who needed my attention as well. I felt every emotion possible. I was mad, tired, frustrated, depressed, and experienced self doubt. There were days I did not feel like I could go on. This was all too much for me to handle. I found myself slipping. How could God do this to me? I was mad at Him and my circumstances. I stopped praying. Luckily, I have wonderful family who helped me find myself again. I had not ran prior to starting my family and realized I had really let myself go. My sister began running with me. This was the first time in over a year I did something for myself. I loved it and I hated it all at the same time. But, it was the spark I needed to save me. Quickly, the miles turned from 2, to 5, to running my first half marathon. My half marathons turned into full marathons and later a triathlon. Fitness saved my life and continues to save me still. It gave me the courage to return to church, courage to feel worthy to pray, courage to wake up everyday and fight for my family. As my strength grew so did my confidence. The time I spend exercising helps me be a better parent. Being a mom of children with special needs is a constant battle. You never arrive at your destination. Goals are continually set, reset and reassessed. I am not perfect. There are days I still feel like I don’t measure up, that I am not enough. But, with the help of my family, fitness and Savior, I have found what gives me “Brilliant Confidence.” When my body is strong, then my mind will follow. I am grateful for Down Syndrome. I do not know what I would do without Ada and the lessons she brought with her. She sets her own pace and reaches her milestones on her own time. She has taught me to never give up. As I learn to be patient with myself, I continue to grow and overcome challenges. Life is hard, but anything is possible. She amazes me at all that she can do. Her abilities far outweigh my expectations and she always exceeds them. I only hope I can live up to hers. And this is “My Brilliant Confidence” story. By: Jodi Wimmer Everyone has a story. We at PMD Beauty want to know your #mybrilliantconfidence story. No matter what you are going through, someone out there has already experienced it or is experiencing it and can relate to you perfectly. We invite all to share your #mybrilliantconfidence story. You have the ability to be a positive influence in the lives of others. To share your #mybrilliantconfidence story and be featured on our IG and blog, please email us at: [email protected] and use #mybrilliantconfidence in the subject line.

domain: literature


text:
Postcard, The eruption in 2010 in Eyjafjallajjökull, multiview
Text on back of card: Views from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption which began beneath the Eyjafjallajökull glacier in the south of Iceland on April 14th, 2010. At the beginning of the eruption meltwater flooded the immediate area and washed away parts of the main road. Magma coming into contact with glacial ice caused the chilled lava to form glass particles that were ejected into the upper atmosphere. These particles and the extent and height of the ash plume halted air travel for many days. At later phases of the eruption ejecta the size of cars were propelled hundreds of meters into the air. Previous eruptions in Eyjafjallajökull have occurred in 920, 1612, and from 1821-1823.
Size: 148 mm /5,8 in.

domain: geography