I welcome you all to the second meeting of the Social Security Committee. I can also remind everyone to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the sound system. We have no apologies received, we are all here today, which is great. I am going to agenda item 1, which is taking item 4 in private. If I could just explain to perhaps the new members of the committee the reason why we do take certain items in private. This particular item relates to contents of research, possible candidates for research and finances for the research, and it is normal practice to take this particular item in private. I would ask the committee's indulgence item number 4 if we would take it in private. Item 2, the Social Security Work Programme. I would like to welcome Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Equalities, who is here to give evidence for the committee. Accompanied officials are Stephen Kerr, Social Security Director and Dan McVey, Deputy Director of Social Security Policy and Delivery Division in the Scottish Government. I thank the cabinet secretary for the joint correspondence that has been received by the committee and for appearing here today. I know that you have a very busy schedule. For members, I would like to highlight two members of the committee. The cabinet secretary is available today at this committee until 9.45. If we have some quick questions and answers, we will get everyone in to be able to answer either one or two questions. As I know that, Cabinet Secretary, you are leaving this committee to appear before the Equal Opportunities Committee. You have said that you would like to make an opening statement, so I will hand it over to you. Thank you, convener, and good morning, colleagues. It will be a brief opening statement to allow as much time as possible for questions as the convener says. I will believe in the committee to go straight to the Equal Opportunities Committee this morning. I am particularly pleased that my portfolio area allows a real opportunity to take a focused approach between social security communities and equalities. I very much see our vision of social security as helping to support strong, sustainable communities and as something that is there for all of us when we need it. Our new powers over social security will have a part to play in helping to create a genuine equality of opportunity for people who need our support most. Before I start, convener, I want to recognise the work of the welfare reform committee, that work that took place in the last parliamentary session. The evidence-gathering sessions of that committee put in place for people directly impacted by welfare reforms was sometimes very harlin, but always very valuable and thought-provoking. I am pleased to see that the name of the committee has been changed to social security, language matters and that is an important sign that we are listening to those who feel stigmatised by some of the worst strivers and shirkers rhetoric. I want to briefly update on progress on timescales. I am quite clear that the most important thing is to take the time to get this right. This will be one of the most complex and difficult policy and delivery operations that the Scottish Government has ever taken forward. The range of benefits to be devolved and the work required to take forward a social security agency is substantial.  On working with the UK Government, you will now have received the read-out of the recent meeting of the joint ministerial working group on welfare. It was a constructive meeting and progress was made on a number of issues. I am particularly pleased that work can commence to progress a number of powers in the Scotland Act next month. Over the summer, I will be launching a consultation on the work that is needed to take forward the first social security bill. It will be a very wide-ranging consultation, touching on important policy choices, looking for views on how best to deliver our benefits, as well as asking for views on issues ranging from information advice and to residency. I am keen to hear from all those who have an interest in those areas. I am very happy to hear any ideas that members have about how to support that very important consultation. Alongside the consultation, we will also be taking our next steps on the work that is needed to deliver the Scottish Social Security Agency. The next phase in that work will be taking forward some of the practical considerations, including some of the financial, legal and logistical requirements. I know that the committee will be aware that the Scottish Government has already set out a range of measures that we believe will build a fairer social security system. I believe that those measures will have a real impact on improving people's lives and the length and breadth of Scotland, but, for brevity, I will not repeat those commitments that are detailed in our manifesto and offer some opportunity to debate in Parliament already. I want to finish by saying that I believe that social security is an investment to support people. I appreciate that you will rightly question my policy and delivery, but I hope that we can build a consensus, and we have an opportunity to do things differently. I value the role of parliamentarians and, in particular, the work that will be undertaken by the committee as we proceed on the journey together. I look forward to working with the committee very closely in the weeks and months and years ahead. You mentioned timescales, and we know that May 2017 is the Government's proposal for the Scottish Parliament to introduce a bill. The implementation dates will be decided between yourself and the joint ministerial group in welfare. You mentioned launching the consultation during the summer months. Do you have any actual timescales for any delivery or expect a timetable for any delivery dealing with the various elements of the new powers that are coming to the Scottish Parliament? That is what we are working towards. The timetable for delivery, convener, rightly points out that the vehicle for deciding timescales and progress and approach is the joint ministerial working group. It is a joint programme of work between the Scottish Government and the UK Government. It is important to stress that the transfer of powers is the first step and will be working hard on a range of workable solutions in this period of transition. We have obviously seen from the note of the joint ministerial working group that Tronsch 1 of the powers will be commenced in the Secretary of State of Scotland. We will do that via an order before the UK Parliament rises. My officials will be working very closely with the DWP and the UK Government in terms of when the Tronsch 2 powers are transferred. I suppose that, in essence, there are three broad planks to this work. There is the commencement of the powers, there is the legislation and indeed we will introduce that bill to Parliament in the first year of this Parliament, so it is a year-one bill. Then we have to have the delivery mechanism and that is in and around the agency. It is very much a process. The consultation will commence around August and will last for three months. It is not a consultation that will go on forever because we have a parliamentary timetable that we are working towards. I thank the cabinet secretary for her opening statement. I would like to expressly associate myself with her remarks about the importance of language and rhetoric. Some of the language that has been used by others that she rightly condemns is not the sort of language that I will be using. I would also like to associate myself with her remarks about the importance of understanding the cabinet secretary's brief as being communities and social security and equality. Those are not three different silos but are very closely related to one another. I wonder if I could ask a couple of detailed questions about the extremely helpful note that the cabinet secretary has provided the committee with about this month's meeting of the joint ministerial working group. The first question that I had convener was about the difference between what is called tranche 1 and tranche 2. In paragraph 9, we are told that tranche 1 comprises 11 sections of the relevant part of the Scotland act and that tranche 2 is the other two sections. Can the cabinet secretary tell us which sections are in tranche 1? The note does not tell us which provisions are in which tranche. tranche 2 is section 22 and section 23. In essence, I think of tranche 2 as the existing and on-going benefits, so that is the responsibility for disability, industrial injuries, carers benefits. Section 23 is benefits for maternity, funeral and heating spaces. That is very helpful. Thank you very much. Second question, if I may, is on the same paper. This is actually just one question, cabinet secretary. Last two paragraphs refer to papers that are going to be prepared for future meetings with the joint ministerial working group, a paper on flexibilities in universal credit and a paper on employability plans. Are those likely to be confidential papers to the joint ministerial working group or are those likely to be papers that we might be able to have sight of in due course? I cannot give a very specific answer to that just now, because the papers have not been prepared. Members will appreciate that we want to share as much information as possible. If we are able to share papers, we of course would want to do that. I am conscious that, in and around a massive organisation like the DWP, there can indeed be sensitivities and commercial sensitivities. The purpose of the joint ministerial working group, while we have very clear commitments about notifying members and committee when it meets and communicating outcomes, is a space for ministers to work together as ministers, and, hopefully, to iron out any issues that we may have. It is important that we have that space, so I would want to share as much as possible. I note in the terms of reference for the joint ministerial working group that there is an agreement to ensure a smooth transition of the new responsibilities to the Scottish Government. If you had any comments on the transfer and any complexities involved in that, for example, the quality of the data that the DWP holds in the relevant areas or anything around the smooth transition and delivery? It is all complex. I am not going to make any bones about that. The transfer of some benefits will be more complex than others. If I have a point, for example, the most complex area will be around DLA and PIP. We will indeed need to share information. We will be very reliant on information, facts and figures, stats and data from the DWP. Indeed, both Governments will be wanting to test that and to test the reliability of that as we proceed. There is a genuine willingness on both sides. The first meeting of the joint ministerial group in terms of this Parliament was very positive. Ministers are very much on the same page. Our officials have been working very well with the DWP so far. That answers the question in the general terms that I was looking for. On the data specifically, is there anything that DWP has commented so far on the quality of the data? Are you confident in what is being provided and will that help in the smooth transition process? I am encouraged by the tone of the discussions that I have had with both DWP staff and ministers, but I have yet to see large chunks of data and that has yet to be tested. I am conscious that the DWP is a very large organisation that is going through a period of substantial change. The new state pension is proceeding with the roll-out of PIP and universal credit. We obviously have analysts in the Scottish Government that it is the area of expertise to test the robustness of data. Is there anything that you would like to add to that? When you mentioned the term data, I think of something very specific about people's personal information, where they live, postcode information and so on. You might be asking a broader question, though, about the material that DWP holds to allow us to do our work, if that is the question that you are asking and keen to hear about. We are quite pleased with the flow of information that we have had to put in place protocols between the DWP and the Scottish Government so that the information can move, so that there are MOUs and we have secure areas in our systems in the Government to hold the information. We have protocols in place for how that information is treated and shared within the Scottish Government. In terms of the work that we are doing, I am quite happy that we are getting the information to be able to start to do the detailed planning that the cabinet secretary has referred to. I thank the cabinet secretary for the paper from my joint ministerial working group, minister. I have a question about timetable and implementation dates. Will tranche 1 and 2, will the commencement for those powers be completed before the Government introduces the bill next May? Will that mean that the commencement for providing benefits? Will there be any disparity in timetables there or are you looking to commence delivery at one fixed date after the introduction of a bill? It is really important to distinguish between commencement and delivery of the powers. The legal commencement of powers is the first stage in a process and is some distance away from actually delivering new benefits or existing benefits. It is fair to say that the Government and the Parliament will hold legislative competence for a while before we have the responsibility for delivering. We need to have the mechanisms and the delivery process and our agency up and running. We will have legal responsibility sometime before we are in a position to deliver. I think that we are already on record, convener, saying that we are not going for a big bang approach here. We are not going to come to a particular point in time, a particular date in history and switch on the lights. Our calculations and work to date would show that that would increase the risk and what we are about is reducing the risk as far as possible. That is why it is important to think of this as overall a period of transition and the benefits and delivery of benefits will come on stream in a phased and planned way. I can appreciate that and I think that that is sensible. Are you able to give an addictive timeline of which benefits you expect to come online first or a programme of delivery? I mean, we certainly have some thinking around that. I mean, I would be hesitant to give you a hierarchy or an order, but I think that it is fair to say that some benefits like perhaps the new jobs grant or funeral payments or talking up carers allowance may be easier to implement than some of the issues around DLA and PIP. We will want to come to a timetable and a plan and an order, but I am hesitant to go through each one, one by one and attach a timeline because we are not at that stage yet, but it is something that we would want to bring to committee so that it can be discussed and indeed tested. However, that is very much a phased approach. We are not going for the big bang reaching a date in history and switching on the lights one. There are a number of members who want to come in. Mr Adams is in the back of Mr Griffin's question and then I think that it is Mr Linters. Okay, thank you, convener. Good morning, cabinet secretary. One of the things that I was going to ask is that you said that it is not like the big bang, the big switch on, the lights get things sorted. Is it not the case that you are effectively some of the benefits that you are inheriting are coming from what, from the so-called Tory welfare reform, which is a bit of a broken system if I be so blunt? We have to make sure that we get these right, especially with DLA and PIP. We are dealing with a lot of vulnerable adults, vulnerable people who are looking towards us to finally get this on the right track. Is it not the case that it is important that we are not so much talking about timelines but that we are getting the system to work properly for these people? I understand why timelines are important to people. I understand why people will want to very much press the Government on our plans and timelines. We certainly have a clear commitment that the agency has to be introduced and up and running over the lifetime of this Parliament. Of course, we have manifesto commitments, so there is a broad five-year programme of activity that we want to pursue over the next five years, but, of course, the absolute priority is getting this right, because people rely on getting their benefits. We need to ensure that they get the right amount of money on the right time. We cannot compromise on that. Through the Scotland Act, we will get 15 per cent of social security spend in Scotland. We are taking out powers and benefits from a system that has evolved since post-war period. It is fair to say that it has evolved in quite a piecemeal fashion over the last 50, 60 years. We are going to take that out, but we have to ensure, particularly in terms of passported benefits, that what we take out is plumbed in so that 15 per cent that we get is plumbed in and connected to the remaining 85 per cent. That is particularly complex, and we will proceed with caution and care, but all politicians are ambitious and impatient. We want those powers because we want to do things differently, but that has to be temperate with getting it right, because failure is not an option. That is one of the things that with only 15 per cent of the actual powers and having to work with a system that is already there. It is quite challenging, but one of the other aspects that I would ask is that one of the biggest things that I get coming through my door all the time is the MSP, and you will probably be the same Cabinet Secretary as the benefits sanctions. That is one of the things that we cannot touch from correct there, but that is one of the issues that is having a dramatic effect in our communities where people are getting their benefits sanctioned and I have got some tragic stories of a young man that gets sanctioned because he went to Aberdeen for a job interview and didn't turn up, and everybody could tell very similar stories. Is it not just a case of that that makes it even more challenging for you, as the fact that you have 15 per cent of the actual sum total and you are trying to work within that system? We have to make sure that the real issues that we are dealing with on a daily basis are issues such as sanctions, such as that young man that I was talking about that is coming in. What can we do to actually change our benefits in the sanctions side of things? You can create other benefits, but I believe that you are not allowed to do that. No, we do not have any powers over sanctions and that has been repeated on a number of occasions. I suppose what I want to do as I proceed is that this area is riddled with politics. We will have our differences of opinions between the Scottish Government and the UK Government, between political parties and parliamentarians, and I would have wanted more social security and welfare powers, but it is also important that I focus on what we have. I try to disentangle the politics, and there will be lots of politics in this as we progress, whether it is debates and discussions in chamber or outwith this place, but I have to focus on the powers that are coming our way and on making those work, and you are correct that we do not have powers over sanctions. Cabinet Secretary, you mentioned strong communities in the opening remarks, and I welcome that approach to those matters. I am sure that you will agree with me that voluntary organisations can play a large part in strong communities. Following on from that, two questions, one a more general question and the second, perhaps more specific. First of all, what are the plans to bring in voluntary organisations into the consultation process with regard to implementing those new reforms as to how voluntary organisations can complement the social security benefits system that the Government provides and work with the system? Absolutely. I do not want to go off too much in a tangent, but in my previous portfolios, I have responsibilities for skills and employability programmes. Of course, the whole issue of employability is taken forward by Jamie Hepburn and Keith Brown, but I just want to reflect that some of the best employability programmes have been those that have been very person-centred and have been run by the voluntary sector. There is a real role for the voluntary sector, and we have to keep them as part of our thinking about the way ahead. The voluntary sector and social enterprise are crucial in our consultation process in relation to the bill itself, but the broader issues around the provision of social security in Scotland and I am confident that they will not be shy in participating in the consultation process, and that has to be welcomed. Following on from that, you talk about the provision and then the implementation. One of the issues that has been raised with me and by constituents in Edinburgh and Lothian is the mechanics of how it all fits together and how it all works. Are you going to look at the reform of DWP structures as these operate in Scotland as part of this process? If I can give an example, what has been raised with me by local volunteer organisations is the following. Some of the people that work with volunteer for or indeed benefit from the services of volunteer organisations are people who claim benefits of one sort or another. Sometimes, those can be complex for a lot of the individuals seeking to claim those, and they receive assistance from people who run voluntary organisations. However, the difficulty that sometimes arises is that, on the DWP side, the lack of a single point of contact, so a person whom the head of a volunteer organisation or the person employed by the volunteer organisation who assists with those applications deals with, they find that they are coming to a DWP office and having to deal with different individuals who may not be up to speed on the particular issues that arise in relation to the applications made. Is that something that will be looked at in terms of the structuring and approach to dealing with claimants or, indeed, where they can be assisted by those in volunteer organisations who understand their needs? Of course, I am not assuming any responsibility for the DWP. The DWP, even when the new powers are operational, will continue to have a big presence in Scotland because it will have responsibility for the other 85 per cent in terms of its reforms and its structures. That is currently, as you would expect, taken forward by Stephen Crabb, the Secretary of State for DWP Work and Pensions. I am meeting him next week. Next week will be the third time that I have spoken to him. I suppose that my discussions with David Mundell, I am sure, will not mind me sharing this. We are conscious that we will have different agencies and different services and that we need them to be working together on the ground. There has been some work done in Scotland in terms of the co-location of Scottish Schools agencies with DWP, but that has been quite small-scale in terms of my engagement. This is an example with local housing associations. They have worked very closely with the local authority in their area and I have had a local authority member of staff working in their offices around things such as discretionary housing, payments and bedroom tax and have found that very useful. We will have to explore opportunities, perhaps for things such as co-location, because we do not want people passed from pillar to post. As we assume responsibility for 15 per cent, we still have to ensure that that is streamlined with other services that we are responsible for and that it fits with services that we are not responsible for. In the point that Mr Lindhurst raises about lack of flexibility, I am conscious that for carers they feel that some of the criteria and regulations around carers allowance makes it very difficult for them to work or indeed to study. We have a working group on disability issues and we are looking at some of that to inform our thinking as we go forward. I am sorry, but we are running out of time. We have another three-speaking world people who want to ask questions. Ruth Maguire I would like to ask a little more about the consultation. I welcome that the third and voluntary sector are going to be involved. I wonder whether we will have an opportunity to go out into our communities and speak directly to people who require benefits and follow on on what the opportunities are for co-production and the actual design of benefits. Before I answer Ms Maguire's question, there is always a willingness on my behalf to engage with members outwith committee through correspondence or meetings. We will have an open door as much as possible. I do not want Mr Lindhurst to feel that he has been thwarted. The point that Ms Maguire makes is crucially important. Our consultation document with the best will in the world is not going to be a light brief document. We will work very hard and we are in the throes of that just now to ensure that it is accessible as possible. We will definitely, and we are planning this already, have a series of engagement events. I very much encourage members to think about how they engage with their own communities and local organisations. You are right that a lot of the consultation will have to be done face-to-face and to speak to people who have lived experience of the benefits system. I am conscious that there will be people who have literacy difficulties, there will be people who are not necessarily going to sit down and respond to the many questions in a consultation document, hence the importance of charities in the third sector, who will have that insight into community life and that lived experience of individuals. However, as ministers, myself and Ms Freeman, we are absolutely determined to have as much face-to-face contact with people who experience the system. Do you want to come back in again? Is that the point about co-production? No, absolutely. There are many partners in this, so in terms of people with that lived experience, we have already said that we will want to have user panels. I am not sure that is the right name, I am not quite comfortable with that, but we will just call it a working title. We will be wanting to have that on-going engagement, where people who have used services are constantly feeding in. We have got partners in local governments, we have got the voluntary in the third sector. We have to recognise that the Government cannot do this alone, there is no monopoly on wisdom or insight, so that ethos of partnership and co-production is very much what one will take forward. Thank you, cabinet secretary. I am sure that the members here will be happy to feed in as well from the committee, and I am sure that you will be looking forward to that. Alison Johnstone, then it is. Thank you, convener. My apologies for missing the cabinet secretary's initial remarks. I welcome your open door offer and appreciate that. I think that it is fair to say that probably if we were starting with a blank canvas, there are lots of opportunities to do things differently. We are obviously constrained by the limitations of what has been devolved, and we can make big changes to things like assessment procedures that won't necessarily cost us any more money, but I just want to focus on the issue of the people who could be recipients who aren't at the moment because of the complexities of the system. In many cases, it is just another barrier for people who are already experiencing pretty difficult times. I think that that co-location point is well made, because you will be aware, and I am sure that the convener will, too, if the healthier, wealthier children scheme in Glasgow where midwives and health visitors were helping families to fill out forms and, on average, they increased what they received by over £3,000 in a year. I wonder what sort of focus there will be in the consultation and so on to increase the accessibility that you spoke about and to make sure that those who can or do receive what they are entitled to. I think that it is a very good point, convener. We know that, based on the information that we have today, the take-up rate of some benefits is particularly low, and a prime example of that would be funeral payments. I think that the terms and allowances have quite a comparatively low take-up rate as well. We have a clear manifesto commitment over and above our commitments to, for new benefits, an increase in carers allowance. We have a very clear commitment around working to improve take-up rates. A lot of the work on advice and information and income maximisation is very important in that area. That is why we are consulting not just on the nuts and bolts of what legislation will look like. I am very conscious that, in those straight and financial times, we do not want to have a duplication of efforts. We all live with the need for public service reform in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. However, I am conscious that, in terms of the evidence that I have read, we need services at various entry points to be aware of what people are entitled to and to be able to advise people of what they are entitled to. That is counterintuitive to streamlining processes. We can sometimes have a bit of lazy thinking around one-stop shops, important though they are, because we do not want folk past from pillar to post, but we have to think about how the public sector, over the peace, is the opportunities for our health service to be doing more to advise women of their rights when we introduce our best start allowance. People will be familiar with our plans in and around the baby box, so we need to be joining up all the dots. That is fair to say. Thank you. Good morning Cabinet Secretary. I do not think that it is complex. Is it really? I mean, it just sounds hugely complex. I was interested to ask you if, given the complexity, unfortunately there is the potential for a lot to go wrong. You have to think about that. I think that it is George Adam that looks to us. We really cannot have a transitional period where benefit claimants get disadvantaged by the transitional arrangements. I wondered if you thought that there was maybe need to put something in the bill to account for that in some way, to give some powers to the agency, if you like, or the pre-arrangements for the agency to ensure that claimants do not lose out. On the back of that, have you done any forward planning on any gaps and expertise that you might need to run a new agency and could assist with transitional arrangements? I will ask Stephen to come in in a minute. The powers and functions of the agency is going to be a crucial part of the legislation. As a crucial part of our consultation, although not the only part. I mean, we are conscious that this is, for all of us, unchartered territory, and that there will indeed be gaps and expertise and knowledge, and we need to have the humility that when we come across that to own it and rectify it. That is why that working relationship between the Scottish Government and the UK Government is tapping into the talents and expertise of the third sector. Indeed, people who have used the services are important as well. I will ask Stephen to add a bit more detail to that. Making sure that people do not lose out is hardwired into the approach that we take. If you look at the UK Government approach, it has been to change, and it has been around testing, trialling and piloting change before it is introduced. You will all have views on whether it is the right change and whether the change has actually worked. However, that is the approach that we would take as well, as the cabinet secretary says. When the switch is flicked, we have strong certainty that the system is going to work and that it will talk to the UK Government system and that people, when they go to the cash machine and put their card in, get the money out. If I can share a personal story—I mean, I have a personal commitment to this as well. My mother is a DLA recipient, so I need to make sure that she is not affected by the changes that are going on as well. Absolutely. I will get it large. I do not mind it being in the record. She will expect it to be in the record, I dare say. In terms of skills and expertise, that is part of my key responsibility to build the capacity and to build the new organisation in the form of the agency. Being part of the UK Government civil service or the UK civil service is helpful in that regard because we fish in a wide talent pool. I have just recruited a programme director to take forward the work that has a 20-year experience in the UK Government, leading large and complex programmes of change over multibillion pound spending levels. We are looking hard at making sure that the appointments that we put in place give the whole programme the biggest chance of success. We expect to be coming as a team to talk to the committee from time to time about how that works. Practically absolutely on time in 9.45, just a couple of seconds to go. Thank you very much, cabinet secretary, and your team also. It is going to be a very interesting committee, as has been said as well. It is very complex, but we look forward to meeting with you again and feeding in to any of the programmes and consultations that are coming about. Thank you very much. I look forward to the next committee meeting and the evidence. Thank you, convener. Just to end on the note of saying that my door is always open formally or informally. We want to have as much engagement with all members of the Scottish Parliament and we want to have an in-depth engagement as we go forward in this joint venture together. Agenda item 3 is witnesses' expenses. Just to note, perhaps once again for any new MSPs or people who are unfamiliar with the situation in witnesses' expenses, the expenses are for travel or accommodation and people coming down to give evidence. The norm in the committees is that when any expenses come forward, the convener would be the person who would either say yes or nay. I would open it up to the committee if they would like to continue on that vein or whether they would prefer the committee to make the decision whether they say the expenses or the convener is the one that goes to… That was the word that I was looking for, delegate. Thank you very much, Alice. Is that agreed, then? Yes, ma'am. Okay, thank you. Agenda item 4 is the research proposal, which will be in private. Members of the public, I think, have all left. Sound is off.


For this special segment at Red Hat Summit, I'm pleased to welcome to the program from Permabit. We have Tom Cook who's the president and CEO of the company, and Louis Emerson, who's the vice president of product. Gentlemen, thanks so much for joining me. Thanks for having us today, Stu. All right, so Tom, first of all, Permabit, give us the update on the company. Yeah, so we've been historically a provider of data reduction technologies to OEMs. So the major storage vendors have been big customers of ours for years and years. And today, we're really pleased to be introducing here at Red Hat Summit 16, VDO 6, which is a product that's tailor made for the Linux environments and Linux platform, Linux Storage Stack, to support data efficiency and data reduction in the platform. We're hugely excited about it because of all the energy that's behind hybrid cloud, it's the perfect product for that. All right, so Louis is the VP of products. Bring us inside, what was the catalyst for this product and what led to the announcement? Sure, so VDO 6 is a whole new concept for us around data reduction for the Linux Storage Stack. It's the only modular data reduction available on Linux. All of the other solutions out there are complete storage solutions that have data reduction in them. We allow a different approach. And what's really cool is you can use our data reduction with all of the Linux components. You can use it with CIF, you can use it with Gluster, you can use it with KVM, with Direct Attach Storage, with LIO, with NAS, File Shares, NFS, CIFs. It all just works because we're a module that sits at the block layer. And it's easily installed as an RPM on Red Hat. We've introduced a new product with this release called VDO Optimizer. And VDO Optimizer is a file system plugin that works with VDO to provide our higher levels of data reduction for backup and archive use cases. So we're offering essentially the only product out there that's optimized for data reduction, not just for primary storage, but for backup and archive as well, all in one package. Okay, great. So we've seen Linux proliferation everywhere, especially Red Hat, it's not just on-prem, it's living in public cloud environments. Announcements for Red Hat's been making a lot around containers. So does this product then span everywhere Linux goes? Yes, and in fact, while our initial release is on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, of course we'll be supporting other Linux distributions as well. We're obviously at Red Hat Summit, we're excited. If you think about it, it really impacts positively rel, the storage products, SAP and Gluster, containers, virtualization, and OpenStack environments as well. So it's a huge value proposition. I mean, what can't you like about at least forex data savings so that you can save on the infrastructure and hardware investment? It's really a positive step for the Linux marketplace. Yeah, Tom, I'm wondering if you could comment. The storage industry is an odd beast. We're seeing a lot of industry consolidation, but at the same time, it's always been heavily fragmented. So as a storage software company, how do you maintain kind of your independence and still fit into the overall discussion? It's a really great question because this is the product that we're talking about today and we're introducing that now, service providers and enterprises can utilize that's been vetted very fully by a lot of large companies. We've been the vendor of choice in the data reduction area for companies like IBM, EMC, HDS, NetApp, NEC, and Oracle. And so now we have a chance to bring this directly to companies that are building out their own clouds and really getting the advantage of this through Linux. So what's not to love? Open source along with the best data reduction in the business. And we think that's a huge value proposition. All right, so, Lewis, can you talk to us? Is some of the benefits of the product, any financial things that you can share, any early customers? Sure. Well, I mean, the most telling proposition about this product is really, you know, comes from that four to one data reduction that Tom spoke to. And if you think about, you know, not just storage savings, but data center costs, and you consider for a second that the typical data center cost is $3,000 per square foot to build out a data center. And you then think about what four to one data reduction would save the industry in data center buildout. You quickly reach a number of $1.5 trillion between 2020 and 2020. That's five billion square feet of saved data center space because storage consumes 30% of a data center today. That's a huge number. And because of that, we've got wins already. In the telco space, major APAC win with a telco provider, major win with government agency as well, and we're moving into financial services and telco providers very aggressively here. So the value proposition is really compelling with people that are building out extremely large data centers.  It's like, oh, all those storage efficiency things, they want to sell more capacity because that's what they make their money on. But I'd say it's over the last five years that most of the storage companies, they understand. They have to, things like deduping compression and all the other things to reduce the cost. If they don't do it, somebody else is going to force that. So what differentiates what you're doing compared to the other storage? Yes, they have come along and they started to build that out. Well, the reality is if you're building a cloud and you're concerned about brand, then you're doing it wrong. Okay, there's a lot of margin that's left there and that's why there's a great opportunity to fill that with Linux. First of all, really superior and excellent technology that's caught up and beating many of the proprietary vendors. But they've done something that's very specific to each of their stacks in general. And they've lagged behind on performance, scalability, and they need almost a supercomputer on board on some of their systems. Now, because our system is so efficient and so footprint can operate on such a small footprint, we can operate truly on any platform. So that means the combination of white box proliferation, Linux and Red Hat supported software availability and software defined environments really brings a whole new universe of efficiency to the marketplace. I think for the first time, the entire ecosystem around open source and hybrid cloud is aligned for efficiency. And that's something in the proprietary world that has always been a little bit, there's always been a little bit of tension on that. And I think, overall, the proprietary vendors would love to maintain 55% gross margins and growth businesses. But when we look at the infrastructure space, Red Hat continues to grow at an extraordinary rate. High teams, while the other named infrastructure players are starting to have a lot of challenges. So it's a new world out there. We're really pleased to be part of it here. Okay, great. So can you speak to the go to market of this?  Are there certain OEMs that are announced or what's the best way that they can find the products? Really great question. So we've been an arms provider to big companies that have their own sales force. So this means a little bit of an adjustment for us. And it's because we are approached by companies saying we're building out a cloud, hybrid cloud, can you help us? So we're now working with a select group of systems integrators and companies that do development and are building clouds for people. What we're seeing with a lot of companies that are moving from proprietary to now open source-based hybrid clouds, they're doing it with help. They're doing it with consulting help. They're doing it with people who are architecting, helping them architect. And then people like Red Hat that are supporting their environments. They're not going naked in the environment. It's a very complex set of technologies that are building out. And so we're really happy to be part of that. So we've got go-to-market with Red Hat right now. We've got go-to-market with the systems integrators that are starting to adopt this and build Linux practices for hybrid cloud. And we're really excited about that too. So in the next coming weeks, we'll have some announcements about the partners that we're coming to market with. And it's really a leverage model so that we can get out there and be part of the specification from the beginning. We believe there's a land grab that's going on right now in the hybrid cloud market space. It's really important to win today because by 2020 or 2017 to 2020, depending on the analysts that you talked to, most people believe 80 plus percent of the marketplace will be moving to the hybrid cloud. So it's very important to win those customers today so you're part of that movement over the next five year period. All right, well, Tom and Lewis, thank you so much. Congratulations on the product launch. And appreciate the update on Permabit. Thanks, you've been watching theCUBE.


Abstract atomic layer deposition, ALD, is a key technique for the continued scaling of semiconductor devices, which increasingly relies on scalable processes for interface manipulation of structured surfaces on the atomic level. To address this challenge, a new approach was developed using trimethyl aluminum in combination with remote hydrogen plasma to transform silicon dioxide, SiO2, into alumina. This process enabled the formation of ultra-thin allox layers in selected regions defined by lithography, with lateral allox slash SiO2 interfaces having a step height of 0.3 nanometers and a surface potential step of up to 0.4V. Additionally, the introduction of fixed negative charges of 9 by 1012 cm2 enabled modulation of the surface band bending, which is relevant to the field effect passivation of silicon and low impedance charge transfer across contact interfaces. This article was authored by Alex Henning, Johannes D. Bartel, Lucas Walls, and others. We are article.tv, links in the description below.


Tuffle some out of assessment, my experience and observation. As an EFL teacher, I have come to realize that the social environment, age, perception and more, play a vital role in teaching English. This was evident as I taught the kindergarten section of the school. It required more efforts because of their language background e. Non-English speaking country. So, the effective method of knowledge transfer to this group of kids must be interactive, demonstrative and fun-based. English and Focus Recent studies have shown that there is an increasing demand for learning English in preschool all over the world. However, in this part, some parents have become skeptical about sending their kids to learn a foreign language especially at a young age, three-five, thinking that they are imposing too much pressure on their kids. But there are absolutely no negative effects associated with learning a second language at a young age because children of this age have strong potential in acquiring an infinite number of new information. I have been teaching the English language for the past five years. And my experience teaching it to the kindergarten was challenging, immersive and fun. I made sure that early or quick learners were consistently engaged and involved in different kinds of learning activities to sustain their attention. And I did a follow-up on slow learners to enable them to catch up. Activity and Methodology Language Skills I learned through this course and my personal experience that vocabulary building is an important device in learning a language. This was incorporated into my teaching method. The rule in teaching vocabulary states that a learner's receptive vocabulary is much larger than his, her productive vocabulary. This is to say that, they can usually understand more words than they can actively use. I evaluated my class understanding of English through greetings, introducing myself and asking them to do the same. Games, Games are engaging activities that enhance learning. I employed this method in teaching the English language. Some of the games we played were Mime and Action. I did this by saying the words aloud to them when they ask in their native language, for things like drinking water or going to the bathroom. And as kids love to imitate, it took no time for everyone in the class to start using these simple requests and understand classroom language. Recently in my class, we were learning about our houses, rooms, what is inside each room and the use of the items there. After talking about our houses and showing different kinds of houses, flat, villa, countryside houses, etc. and asking questions like do you have a big or small house? Then I started showing random pictures of items we see in our houses. And I asked them to guess the names of the items I'm showing and in which room can they see it. Afterward, I showed them a picture of a house with rooms and items inside each room. We dedicated a day for each room to learn the vocabulary with ease. After a couple minutes of drilling, we started to form a game out of the lesson. The game was about me showing them a room, saying the name and asking about the use of the items they see as I'll explain in the example below. Interactive Dialogue Teacher, this is a bathroom, what is it? Students, bathroom Teacher, what do we use the bathroom for? Do we sleep in the bathroom? Students, naoo, usually. Teacher, do we eat in the bathroom? Students, naoo Teacher, do we go we in the bathroom? Imitating how we go to the toilet. Students, yes. Later I add actions too, so the kids can interact physically as well as in the example below. I'll point to the sink and say, what do we use the sink for? And start imitating a hand and face Washington then point to the shower and ask, what do we use the shower for? And start imitating having a shower and so on. It didn't take long till the kids got it and started to react to it. We sometimes did it as a whole class and as individuals, where kids get to ask each other about the use of certain items in a room. Do you want to teach English to ESL students abroad? Speak with an ITTT advisor today to put together your personal plan for teaching English abroad. Send us an email or call us toll free at 1-800-490-0531 to speak with an ITTT advisor today.


Good morning everyone. Welcome back to another vlog. Dom leaves tonight Can't you even care to know I will literally you can't turn your boss. I'm like you look so sad That's for other no You're so Dom is being a drama queen these days Hmm Hmm, I don't agree with that statement, but what I do agree with This is hidden different We got an almond of course like just how you like it. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Ah, yes Ah, yes, so you guys are new here subscribe welcome to another vlog of it's Wednesday morning Dom Lee it's fine She'll be back, but it's gonna be really boring around here for a good amount of time Yeah, I'd like actually trying to fill my time completely until oh Yeah, well, it's gonna be a little bit I'm gone for a bit Why I'm gonna be gone for a little bit like Yeah, what are you trying to say? No, I'm your friend, you know You have to be safe job without me I probably won't but We're working so good morning everyone and twerking welcome to the vlog Fitz's little barkboxes came in if you're wondering why Fitz only got one and Cocoa didn't it it's because they end up sharing all these toys and they both like bigger toys So this is very exciting. Oh, it's not sponsored by the way like I said It's not sponsored. I've worked with them in the past and I think I might have a link I'll put it down below. I might have a good discount for you, but look at this theme This Cocoa look guys. This is so cute. Let me open this up. Oh my gosh.  You guys are so lucky They don't look that excited right now, but the toys they play with the most are always their barkbox toys We have the Christmas one. Oh, there we go. Okay. Let's take your tags off. Aren't these so cute? Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, dude. Goodbye you guys Goodbye vlog until next time whenever that'll be Everyone we made it to Bishop arts. We have my little brother Seth here He's my stepbrother get lots of confusion on that Probably because I literally never clarify, but we made it to Bishop arts to I I don't know It's very sad. We just needed to go to tribal one more time before Dom leaves. I'm like tearing up at this point I actually am Are you really? No, I'm really sad. Yes in Dom I don't know Dom and I deal with emotions very differently like I shut off Not really always I deal with my emotions Possibility yeah, no, I think you're fine It's like if it's something like a goodbye or something like that I don't show a lot of emotion, but I'm really sad about it But you know what I'm saying It's very shocking to me. Okay. That's dumb. You were literally so why do you think that? Why it's because I'm very late. Yeah, we just do things differently just like this Because I also like know when I want to deal with my emotion when I don't yeah, and you will this is great I'm gonna get a truck for filming. I mean great lighting. If we want to choose you to like carpool karaoke. Oh my god. Oh Yes, we're gonna be using your truck. I can't believe you're so many cars. We're keeping it in the family though That's the thing. I know amazing. Do you imagine it or I'm going amazing Is this mask on guys if you're in Texas you better be wearing your mask I don't even want to talk about it at all. I want to have a good day.  Here's the good morning. It's OJ grapefruit espresso It sounds gross. It's so good and Seth is gonna try it How do you feel very good, right? It is good, but did you expect it to be horrible? Yes, and it was really good. Well, there we go guys. Here. We are Dom is having food and be a gun No one is surprised. It's a serious condition that she has all the time Fruit parfait looks so good Guys I just you can't even see it It's fun the most beautiful boots in the entire world falling on Bishop. My god We're just walking around, but wow, so I'm giving Seth tips on going on a date Not that he has any dates in the foreseeable future But I said you should take her to parody so right here next door and pouring in pies You say like hey, I know this pie shop that everyone in Dallas knows so maybe we don't say it like that And then I think that you win. What do you think? Great idea? Great idea? You're welcome I'm giving you all this advice. It's it's free too. It's what you are Hashtag blessed You're so blessed guys. I'm not gonna die Okay, you want to be kind and Bishop arts which actually someone already told me to go to I may not be kind go easy Why did I say that it's so cute? And I got some drinks I got a CBD drink because I'm very anxious for some reason and then I got the Kenya forks spritz Which I love normal Kenya for so I haven't had a spritz. It's actually crazy if you were like a mocktail kind of gal Hi guys. Happy Thursday new podcast episode went up this morning with Jessica Kent We talked about prison life prison reform getting her daughter back working with the cartel. It's a really good episode I actually like love her. I think she's just the greatest person ever So that's up. Go listen today. I was just on my computer when I got coffee this morning I just been working FaceTime Molly for a bit now. I have therapy This is I said this before but this has been a slower week And I just don't do well with slow weeks if I'm not in the mood to have a slow week You know what I mean, like I kind of prefer to be like back-to-back with things How do you guys feel instead of like a normal pace? Maybe that's not a good thing and probably isn't anyways. I'm going to therapy then I'm going to get Botox I've gotten it once before going to do that. Um, Michelle and I are actually filming for the living room today That's pretty much all my agenda. So we're about to head out listening to country. Just having the best day It's also really nice all okay set up signing a coffee this morning and it was just so peaceful I felt so relaxed. Yeah, that's just what's been up. Also. I actually really I think I've talked about this in a vlog But my new Dr. Amen book. I'm really excited. I haven't been reading like the past week I have not read as much as I normally do I need to get back to that. Maybe I'll read a lot today. I don't know. We'll see okay. Well It's time to go. I'm going to therapy. I probably will vlog after and take you guys with me as I get Botox I'm going to Starbucks out of therapy. It's such a great day guys. Let's try your plaza You I actually love it over here Got a refreshing tea. It looks so good. My god, but I got this package from art list like first off How exciting also so kind I'm actually probably gonna change into this tonight. It's really soft It's a perfect chocolate brown set. I'm actually crying like so nice. Oh my god Okay, I'll link it below. I'm back to being Martha Stewart tonight. I'm gonna make some dinner I love like a brown rice pasta with some of my favorite pasta sauce right here And then I just bake some eggplant and then put cheese on it It's really good. If you're like super healthy, you can do vegan cheese But it's actually like the best dinner ever. It sounds so basic. It is really basic, but it's really good I'm gonna have a really cozy night in I think tonight. I have all the candles going okay I just mean dinner. I'm actually gonna try one of these drinks. They got sent to me in the mail I'll let you guys know how I like them I'm gonna take a nice bath and then read tonight because I haven't really done that the past Friday morning guys I'm about to do a workout with daylight I'm using the karaoke mic to set my phone up, but I'm doing your bars Instagram live my cute workout set I'll link below Whatever I forgot what these are called. Everyone's wearing them. I have them in black, too. They are the best leggings I got these in a medium. I got this in a medium. I should have gone to size small, but very comfy I finished the workout feeling good. I'm gonna go shower I'm gonna do a little chitchat get ready with me and then also show you guys how I've been using my Dyson I have been loving the Dyson lately. Sorry. I've not been that great at vlogging I've just been kind of all over the place and honestly just like not very focused this week I've been like really out of it, but I'm gonna take you guys there so we can go upstairs in a sec I am worried about new top, but needs to be tired better, but I just can't deal with it I realized that I actually can't fully get ready because I got no touch yesterday You're not supposed to wear makeup for 24 hours after so I'm gonna show you guys my like no makeup Look and do my hair. I'm using the luxe unfiltered Lotion I put this on after I shower. It's not on center to really get I also love the summer Friday stuff But I thought I would answer some questions.  It's so nice out It's hot by the way, I love from it when out there's these jeans are literally warmer at $11 I'm gonna slightly blow my hair out just so it looks better It takes me like literally no time at all and pull up some questions. Don't mind me I first one. I think I'm in love with my ex's potential and parentheses. That's why we stay in contact steps What I can't say tips on letting go Yeah, so potential it's just that it's just potential and I think I have done this as well It's really really easy to do this. It's like everyone has experience with this at the end of the day potential is just that it's just potential There's a difference between so I'm having a lot of like potential and burn to grow But we all have her to grow but as far as like oh, he has a lot of potential if you're dating him for his potential His potential doesn't actually exist. And I think Practically speaking like in times that you would be talking to him or doing something with him or whatever like start Having hobbies on your own favorite sunscreen as always Just really think that like potential literally doesn't exist something I saw he says it patterns over that gel ironically I think noticing their patterns and who they actually are today rather than making up this like imaginary person that they are That's also in a way like not fair to them because you're putting these expectations on them that like they probably can't even like do You know what I mean setting boundaries with friends as a whole I think I'm a really big boundaries person. I talk about this a lot I think especially when you fit around all the people who've been friends as they were like eight years old sometimes it's really easy to like not have boundaries especially with like Dating and like them to not have boundaries who you're seeing it's things like that like Yes, that's definitely a problem But I think you can never go wrong just communicating and be like hey like this is actually just between us So this is just my thing another thing too. I actually have an entire podcast I'm still going up on this was Harry Cole. She's the psychotherapist in New York And if she was like, you know setting boundaries doesn't necessarily have to have to be like a conversation It can be like over time kind of the slow Removal you're not at their beckoning call the time you're not always answering you're not available 24-7 That's not immature. That's not immature. It's just like realistically what happens is over time you are You say a lot more with your actions and behaviors and you can do with your words So I think that that was also like really good advice. It's hard. It's really tough But it's definitely like needed unfortunately That was my work to a good bronzer aren't I just so lucky thoughts on dating apps. I think they're fine. Oh Why a bronzer all over my floor? I think they're fine. It's not my thing Because mainly because I'm lazy and I also it's a really hard for me to give any boy attention at all in general So I think I'm just like not it's not like Made out for me But I think it's I think it's great and like I love my friends around I love going on their things I think I'm actually just maybe like to I don't know the word lazy. Honestly, I think that's really what it is um, I Look much prefer to meet someone through mutual friends Updates on your dating life and are you going to share that? I am dating like I've Been I haven't yeah, but I'm like doing it, but I don't think that um, I don't know I don't know like what I don't know. I really have no idea how that will work out guys So this is why I need to drink coffee before I like talk to the camera because I'm just not awake Also, this bronzer right here that's bronzer. I remember when I saw my store makeup I feel like bronzer is fine, right? I like mascara because it's not the liquid I don't know. They're part about being in a relationship. They're part about being single Okay, I personally like love being single So there's a lot of things but I think overall in a relationship like I think the like team aspect when you're like with someone You always have someone that's nice Um Just like always has someone to go to I think and like they just like you do like your life with them essentially as far as being single The like selfish freedom you have to we're like you can just do whatever you want Whatever you want not that you can't do that a relationship But like as a relationship is going you typically start to like think for two and you're just never gonna have that amount of freedom again So I think that would probably be my favorite thing about being single also No, you know what it is in all seriousness. It's that I can read so much. I'm not kidding. That's really what it is Okay, I might answer some more later, but for right now. I'm actually gonna show you guys how I've been using my Dyson air app. It's really really simple. So these arrows. There's so many different attachments And also to answer any questions. Yes, I feel I think it's worth it It takes me like three minutes to do my hair and you guys will see it It looks like I like went to the salon, but I want the arrows pointing away from your face I can see that legitimately took me two minutes. My hair is done. It looks like I actually really tried so That's that okay. I don't have a good hairspray. Do you guys have a good hairspray rack?  So I just kind of do this because I don't want to like pull the loose out This side looks so much better than the other side, but it is what it is, you know putting this stuff away. I'm gonna go to Lunch it's actually so nice out this week So on top of me just being like severely distracted and like not paying attention to like anything in my life It's also nice outside, which makes me just want to be outside like 24-7. It feels like beautiful I'm gonna go in this little wall, you know. Alright, this is my outfit. This tank is urban outfitters. These jeans are legit Walmart It's actually crazy. They were $11 my favorite revolved shoes, and then I'm just gonna wear my chocolate brown Happy Saturday everyone. I'm currently cleaning my house. I'm doing laundry did dishes Organizing all that stuff. I'm actually about to self tan. I'm not gonna use this, but I did get this in PR yesterday I wanted to show you because Isla Paradise is one of my favorite self tanner brands. It sounds like a brand deal It's not this is PR, but I'm gonna take you guys through and show you what products and stuff I use when I self tan in like a second. I'm excited I'll keep you guys posted probably on Instagram stories when I use this it's self tanning butter I normally like their mousse. They have a really good mitt as well Says it develops in four to six hours gives you a golden glow But what I love about Isla Paradise is its color correcting too. I just self-tanned I use the tanologist express tan in medium the self tan mousse. I've been really liking this I alternate between a few different brands on a day to day My fave is lux unfiltered if I'm just trying to get a gradual tan But because I wanted to be tan for tonight. I needed to do this one. So that's my phone. Don't worry So it really just depends on like how fast I want the tan to show up Before that when I'm in the shower, I always use this body wash, which is the best body wash. I'll have it linked below It's very hydrating. It's capari. I find it really hard to find a body wash. It's actually moisturizing This one does the job. I've been using ocean salt to exfoliate. I like it I don't have like an all-time fave exfoliator. Please let me know what you guys think I should get That's just an OG and I was at Lush. So I'm loving that and then I also use my mitt This is just a random isle of paradise mitt. I have so many different ones. I just use it So it's like really messed up right now The secret is using a brush to go over your hands elbows knees and ankles if you apply the tanner with this brush It goes on and like there's no lines or anything which I love So that's like my number one trick. I just have this randomly on my house I have no idea where this brush is even from but that's what I do I probably self tan around like twice a week Sometimes less sometimes not actually never really more than twice, but love it. These are really good I also love isle of paradise. I love st. Tropez Yeah, it's really depends isn't just what I have right now and I'm a big fan. All right. I self tan I got to get my brows done. I've needed to get them done for so long and putting it off I'm gonna go to the benefit bra bar. I'm just wearing sweats. I need to clean this mirror But these are my uncomfortable by Mayfair sweats I legit wear these shoes every day I'm gonna get them at every color from revolve and then just a tank top it feels so good outside guys I know I normally love gloomy weather, but I think I'm back into like, you know warm beautiful days Like, you know the rest of the world feels so good I've been driving around and just listening to music and it's just like the best feeling ever going to get my brows Done really bad right now. So I need to get that taken care of so got my brows done They look so much better. I picked up two new lip products. I just always get new lip products I haven't tried this that it cosmetics pillow lips solid serum serum I'm so sorry everyone. There's certain things that I say that I know it's wrong and I just can't stop saying it Okay, I'm giving you a nice review. Honestly with most This is weird with most lip products. I end up they end up like growing on me like the Dior one that I love That one grew on me. Oh Yeah, no, I like this. It's very like moisturizing Okay, I like this one I'll give you guys updates throughout lip injection. I haven't had one in forever and I haven't had the colored one So I wanted to try it out this stuff like Burns and stings your lips and it honestly makes you look like you have lip injection So they did a great job with it.  I'm really in just the absolute best mood. All right guys It is I think it's like almost yes 315 right now I am getting ready for the day finally had a really great nice walk with Alyssa I'm going to Lila's and then I have plans Dyson era has actually just changed my life I mean, I know I've had it for a while But I think every time I use a different attachment feels like I have a whole new hair tool 10 out of 10 so worth the money the Dyson back there is really bothering me another Dyson product Of course, but I love that also just what I've been doing for makeup lately I really like this new look if you guys want to trial. Let me know I'm wearing my robe Just a cozy afternoon.  That's how I feel this week. I just feel like it's not I don't know how to describe it Does anyone else know how to describe this? All right, this is my outfit for the afternoon I'm just wearing this cute little top and just growing this cute top. I just got from urban I love these jeans are princess Polly. They're actually my favorite jeans and they're only like $60. The only thing is um They kind of stretch a little bit. I wish that they're a little bit more fitted around the waist final look I want to do an entire video. So this is basically been this vlog anyways of like getting ready every week Just what I'm wearing show you the makeup they use like do like a like a It's like an outfit of the week video, but with looks not a full makeup tutorial either I don't know how I would make that happen, but let me know. I'm just wearing my fun cute little Favorite bag. Um, I'm gonna take the dogs outside. I need to turn some water is probably what I need to do This weather is just really putting me in the absolute best mood. All right guys. It's Sunday. I'm wearing Alice sweats Princess Polly tank top sneakers. I'm really cozy. It's actually kind of warm outside It's like in the 60s and I'm just convinced that I'm gonna lay out today. Like I won't get a tan I wouldn't get a tan anyways. I'm very Irish, but I think that's my plan. I'm gonna make it work Um, I need to go to Trader Joe's which is such a mess on a Sunday. I don't know why there's gonna be a Line, what am I gonna do? I've got to figure that one out, but also I Got these in the mail They're so cute Montreux Sundays good. This is a weekly agenda and this is the daily agenda So I'm actually really excited. You can follow along at at Montreux Sundays I just like love Kelsey and I think this stuff is gonna be great So today is more of a like getting my life together Sort of day. I've just been very absent from the vlog I'm really sorry, but don't worry. It's gonna be really good actually Molly is here this week. It's her birthday So we've got a big week coming up. I have a busy week this past week. Also. I just we already talked about this Love okay, so I'm gonna do my dishes. I've been listening to country non-stop. I'm the happiest I've been in my whole life. I think um, yeah Today I use these Love really do love them. I also like that they're flat and like visual I can see them really easily Visual person, you know I'm video planning comment below what videos you guys want to see I'm gonna order my groceries because the trader Joe's line is like an hour long right now So I'm gonna have this delivered gonna make spicy basilie tonight. My sister's coming over. It's gonna be fun I haven't really been reading at all. So I think I'm gonna go up on the rooftop and just read I really want to edit and work right now, but it's Sunday and I'm just trying to not do that So that's the plan I have not worn a bathing suit and so long because it's been you know, it was snowing here like a week ago grabbing the necessities my Kindle My hydro fast why am I not even remembering I put on a swimsuit. I have a high on I'm going to the rooftop. I'm gonna lay out. Let's see how long I last. It's not hot out, but I'm thinking in direct sunlight. I can handle it. You know, I need better like outdoor towels I don't want to say pool towels because you know, there's no pool. I mean there was last summer Who remembers I need better ones. So that's all my list of things to do This has just been the most relaxing afternoon ever I finished my book. I read literally 80% of it didn't like it, but I just felt like I needed to finish it And I just feel so relaxed my groceries have arrived So I'm about to go downstairs to do a grocery haul, but I just I feel absolutely incredible All right. I'm doing a grocery haul really quickly. We have fusilli tomato paste my favorite pasta sauce ever It's so good lemon, bananas, broccoli, basil shallot, parmesan salmon Malk which I like the other one butter, but that's probably just what they had heavy whipping cream unsalted butter my favorite Dairy-free yogurt. It's so good I need a little bit of oil and then last but not least We have ginger beer. So that's it. I'm gonna take a shower. Actually I got the cutest set sent to me today from Rob doll. You guys will see it with these shorts And then this like over first hoodie, but you know when it's like shorts and hoodie weather That's the best and that's like today. So I'm gonna put that on As far as when the friendship is over You thought it was gonna last a lifetime and that's just not the reality of where you're at I think it's really important to just honestly spend that time on yourself. I think it's really similar to A actual like romantic relationship breakup I think maybe just channel that energy focus more on yourself and then also like put yourself out there and make new friends I think in order To have a friend you have to be a friend and how often do we complain about having no friends when We haven't reached out or made any sort of effort to make a friend have a friend be a friend And then we sit there in our little self pity party that you know, it's just Extremely unnecessary. I will leave you with this. This is one thing I always say to myself There are no relationships in my life that I no longer have that I wish that I did And that doesn't mean that I don't miss certain people or Certain things didn't hurt. It's just After you allow like time to kind of come in you'll realize why maybe that friendship wasn't for you anymore


So you might be wondering as a developer why why do I need to learn how to talk content? I'm code. I'm design. I'm you know, I'm building the websites. I don't need to worry about what goes on them That's my clients problem Unfortunately as you may have found out it's usually your problem as well I'm friends with a lot of developers and designers and I hear about their woes of the clients on a daily basis So I developed this talk to kind of give you guys a little help on what you need to do To maybe soothe those burns of pain when you have a client that's like, oh, yeah, I just I need a website and it's like Well, what's gonna be on it?  How many times have you had a project go over your estimates of time or you know pain? Involved because the client has no idea what they want for content How many times have you had to go back and redo? Significant amounts of work because your client changed their content at the last minute. Can I see some hands how many times that happened? Yeah, like all of you I Work for a content development company and that's our job to figure that out for your client You know they come to us and they say yeah, we want content for our website Well, we're the ones who do the work of doing the keyword research and doing the topic research and doing the audience research You shouldn't have to do that for your client. You're in the business of developing their website not their content So this doesn't have to be your reality. There are ways to get around this So an example a friend of mine was developing a site and during the mock-up phase of the design He did a basic wireframe the homepage layout something you know and He's like I need an approval of this wireframe of your homepage before we can proceed I don't want to build this out and have you go. Oh, no, I don't like that. That's why we wireframe So he came up with something like this standard boxes Laura Mipsum just to give them my idea of what would what it would look like Eventually when he built it out Swear to God the cunt the client said What all those boxes and numbers mean and what's what's that nonsense text? Not everyone is gonna know what Laura Mipsum is and not everyone's gonna understand what you know image size of boxes are okay, so Yeah so the solution he came upon was to utilize a Program called Phil Murray a custom placeholder script that puts images of Bill Murray and standard image sizes on your site mock-up Okay, so so now we've got some images, right? Okay. This looks more like an actual website. We're good, right? It was great. It was quirky. It was easy to do and the clients.  I Don't remember what a site was about but obviously it would not be Bill Murray So yes, and the spiral of depression with this project goes deeper Custom placeholders whether it be Bill Murray or kittens and believe me there are dozens of them out there They just don't cut it when it comes to identifying the content types and spaces and sizes Or even getting your clients to understand what content is And that's where we have our first problem here The blank slate paralyzes clients and I thank my friend Karina for giving me that quote They don't first of all the word content It's a word that they don't Understand You know we as developers and designers and content creators we understand what that word means it means your images your text Your videos whatever They hear content and it doesn't make sense. It's jargon. So you end to break it down into the actual things you need One of the things we do when we take on a new client for content production is we have been filled in an on-boarding questionnaire Talking about what their clientele is or who they're trying to reach their audience age ranges anything that they know 90% of the time this comes in half filled maybe not filled at all We kind of have to do a lot of guesswork, but eventually we get around it But that's us.  How much of this do they already have developed? Asked for their access to their existing assets or someone in charge of producing those assets a lot of the times I worked for primarily lawyers and a lot of the times they have a marketing person So we grabbed them real quick and we're like hey where your logos where your image files of your staff Where you're building pictures a you know content that you've already written do you have any white papers? Do you have any case analysis? You know stuff like that get that as soon as you can because that at least gives you an idea of what they already have and What they might be producing later on after you build the site So you might get answers like this from your clients.  Oh, it's not and what about I'm not sure yet I'll finish it out when you want to figure that out the site Well, what if they want, you know a nice picture gallery you didn't build that into their blog part So now you've got to go back and redo your work or what if you design it for videos and then I'm like Oh, well, we talked to the video production company and their estimates were way too high So we're not gonna do videos. Well now you've just wasted your whole time building on a video, you know viewer for them You want an answer like this. I want a full image background that stays when you scroll down I'm gonna be using a lot of pictures in my blogs and posting at least once a week So, you know, you want to big out a nice very easily organized blog role and I might have logo later But not right now so you know that they might have assets in the future So that at least gives you a little bit of work to you know stuff to work with Offer some assistance one of the Tactics I've seen is that you can provide some basic relevant filler content and encourage them to make it their own Some of the designers that I work with they're also bloggers on their own So they'll write in like some basic home page stuff with the limited amount of knowledge They know about their clientele and say hey look This is what is the kind of stuff you should have on your home page But I suggest that you go in and make it your own and put your own message on there that at least Kick starts them to think about okay. What do I really want my website to say? Another thing you can do is work with a creator friend and have them make some samples for that client I have a lot of my developer friends come to me and say hey Could you just like work up some dummy content for them and show them kind of what they should be doing? Or you know a designer. Hey, can you give them some mock-ups of different logo ideas? So at least just get the juices flowing and get them thinking and this sort of mentality To help them get inspired if you've been a developer for any length of time You know your job ends up being a whole lot more than code I've heard for stories of my friends who end up acting like business coaches Helping their clients develop a business model while building their site If that's not above and beyond I don't know what is you don't really have to do that You're in the job of building their website not telling them how to run their business One of the things that I find is helpful is to find sites with similar goals or uses in your portfolio So if they're building a website that sells funky pairs of socks show them other websites that sell socks or similar items And show them how they do it, you know If any of you are friends of Mailchimp, they started their own web store a little while ago Freddiedon company and one of the first things they sold were socks and I thought they had a very good Selling strategy for that. So find sites that you see that are successful and show them to your client and say, you know This is kind of the path you should walk Let's help make this you uniquely and not, you know, just be a carbon copy because sometimes you'll get the client That says yes, I want exactly that and no, no, no, no, that's not cool Show them some sites that you think have great visuals or write a good block of text Not everyone is a poet online. You'll see some websites with horribly boring copy or horribly jargon filled copy as a legal writer my job is to remove that jargon and put it in layman's terms and When you find a website that just talks really well or has a very interesting way to Display information like a huge long blog post. I've seen some very creative layouts and I wish I had links to them, but Give them homework You can say hey look I want you to at least Give a shot at writing this and you know, I have a creator friend I'll have them look over it and give you some pointers things like that at the very least it doesn't take a lot of effort to at least help get your client inspired and The more inspiration they get hopefully the more forthcoming They'll be with the answers that you need about how to finish building their website So at the end of all this you should at least be coaching your client along the way to Give them the tools they need to get started so that you can get the tools you need to get started on their project And if you're like me you probably have cats all over your desk that are impeding your work But you don't need your client also impeding your work So I think both of us are coming up to do questions now that is the link to all these slides. It should be live by now You


This is a greenhouse and this is a yoga studio and this is me I can't even touch my toes and that is why we are gonna build a yoga studio in our greenhouse in our own backyard Well, I'd be able to touch my toes after this Probably not there's more to building a yoga studio in a greenhouse than just not being able to touch my toes Let me tell you a little story My friends play this game called the bag game where a brown paper bag keeps getting smaller and smaller And you need to pick it up with your mouth sound silly, but it's fun. Well, I think I've never actually participated in it Even as a child I got exempt from sitting cross-legged on the carpet at school because my hips just can't pretty sad, right? So from now and until this video comes out I am going to commit to doing yoga every single day in hopes that I'm going to be able to touch my toes and improve my Flexibility. This is our cabin in the woods when we moved here. It looked like this There are challenges and successes each week as we renovate this 15 acres into our dream homestead Let's begin. Come on better clap. Let's begin. Love it. Hi first We need to remove this pond. We need a lot more space and after realizing how this greenhouse works in our climate We have learned we do not need it icky wicky pond. Look at that icky wicky stinky pond Oh my goodness The purpose of the pond is to store thermal energy Sunlight warms the water during the day and at night when the temperature drops excess heat is released from the pond Into the air the first reason why I believe we don't need the pond is because we live in Nova Scotia near the ocean And there's so much moisture and humidity in this province ask anyone who lives here The second reason is is because we have supplemental heat and lastly we ran water to the greenhouse So we have a hose in here and we are gonna be setting up irrigation. We're gonna make the dome Multi-purpose we're gonna have an amazing hangout and yoga studio in here, and I can't wait to show you what we do Do it it's gonna transform It's like 10 degrees outside, and it's 28 in here. It is so hot It's nearly tropical We definitely did the right location because the sun is heating this place We are crushing it the pond is nearly gone It took us a full day to build it and only half an hour to 40 minutes to get it out so Feeling good about it. It's a beautiful space It's gonna be amazing, and I can't wait to show you what we're gonna do with it in just a few minutes Now we need to build our garden bed walls. Okay, let's go get some lumber Welcome to the lumber yard What have we got here? We got some milk, but even if we don't have that same thickness We can use like those thin boards. That's what I'm thinking. Why not, right? Why not? You love the mulch What are you doing? What are you doing? We built a wall All this space for activity. Look at that. You're gonna have a dance party right here. Oh my gosh We're not building a yoga studio. We're building a dancing pad dance dance revolution Make sure you're really good at that game.   I'm getting crystal sick Yeah, you haven't figured it out. What do you have on the end of that line? Whoa Have you ever fished before? I Used to go to Derby's, baby. You definitely didn't participate. You were in the stance. I was definitely at the concession stand Eat, no, the hot dogs. Oh my gosh, we should have a fire today and have roasted dogs Um, so now I don't eat the whole pack on Crystal and I like I don't know if every day We both ate a full pack of hot dogs each Together at the fire. It was funny. No battery Crystal, this is why I said I don't like going back and forth and this is What better way to measure then with a yoga mat She took a post No, a yoga pose Also like how on-demand was that? Not gonna lie y'all we designed this deck last year. We plan to build it be for the winter LOL so ambitious as we make our measurements and prepare the base of the deck We can't wait to transform this space. This greenhouse will not only extend the growing season But will also be a warm oasis to retreat to okay Because this is a unique looking deck as we're building it in this geodesic dome Obviously, we're gonna have a lot of measurements and a lot of cuts because we need to build the base of the deck And we're building it out of two by eight pressure-treated wood as we wanted to feel like we were stepping up into this space Also just keeps it nice and clean. I mean for two minutes until we wear our boots on here Let's be in real. I'm very happy I've been dreaming of this greenhouse makeover all winter like Justin said We've had these materials sitting in the garage for so long. It's gonna be so nice when this is oh my gosh I'm gonna send too much time in here. Honestly. I'm gonna touch my toes.  Oh someone brought the chair Well, no works getting done now, and I'm already enjoying eating on the deck. We're pulling it all the snacks right now dangerous We've now cut all of our joists, which are gonna lay this way We're just gonna put those in with framing nails as it is a floating deck I'm not gonna use joist hangers in this because I don't think it's necessary at all Let's start by putting one piece down Leveling it with the material we have because we will need some and then we'll keep going and if we have too much Then we'll start to take it out this type of deck building is actually super super fun Because it's on the ground. It's super easy. You just it's a floating deck. I just said that yeah It's like whichever gonna build it's like super simple design the project I've had the most fun building would have been the deck build last year and it was even snowing and hailing and sunny and rainy No But it was my favorite time So we're gonna have a lot of fun building this and I think we are in need of a yoga sesh All the way out here in the woods being so sick. We need some AG one I wish I was healthy right now being sick is not fun not fun, but at least I know I'm getting on my 75 vitamins minerals nutrients and Whole food source ingredients cuz to be honest I do not feel like eating food right now Never why and because you're getting sick and this is bringing me back to health Thank you AG one for sponsoring this week's video and all you need to do is add eight ounces of water into here one scoop Shake it up and what bam you are insured for the day We have been drinking AG one for years three years And I couldn't recommend it more to anyone. It is seriously life in a bottle And for those who are wondering it is subtly sweet. It is delicious prove it tastes good I didn't make any sort of face. No, that's slump you get into around the afternoon the one that happens right now But not anymore You can combat it with AG one. It truly increases our energy levels so much Thank you AG one for getting me through this day And if you would like to combat your energy levels We have left you a link in the description scroll down click it and you will get five free travel packs and a year Supply worth of a vitamin D dropper with your first purchase. There's nothing better. It's the best combo anyone strong deck We are flying at putting all the joists on every 16 inches Dingle bangle bongo. What's going to be tricky is all of these angles our deck is going to have in it Last joy little level level We are going to waste I Don't know if I can say it wasting time, but we are going to spend a lot of time Figuring out the angles to only add this much extra space the great debate of what we should do I personally want to just build a rectangle deck with long decking boards And then I want to build extra planting beds on the side Imagine just doing yoga. Well, first of all, imagine just doing yoga in a greenhouse. That is absolutely like wow But then imagine doing yoga and peppermint just or eucalyptus or lavender Literally at your nose when you are doing Child's pose. I don't know. I'm kind of into it, but I'm not sure if the partner in crime is into it. Oh, oh my gosh Almost just died I stepped on that thing it went in my face. You got to watch that bag. Oh That was close. Okay, biggie. What do you think? Rectangle deck. I don't know how to figure So rectangle deck She's the boss or she says yes, I'm gonna be have a girl rectangle dick We might have to I don't even think it's that great of a debate. I think you're on my side now You weren't earlier on my side. You were like no way me you're cutting angles more food though crystal remember gardening Remember garden. I know lavender Think about that child's pose. Yeah, that's plenty of space downward dog We've added these supports so that way the Joyce don't bevel I can be my government. We've added these supports with a Joyce. I have a radio voice right now. Don't I? You're now listening to This is like a high traffic area for Yo stars very happy with the decision with all my deck building knowledge, which is I've built one deck I've realized you can never over construct a deck. You can only under construct one boogie's getting sick now in this boogie's battery. Oh, wow One good thing about this project is still disaster, but look it's really bad But we are making a pathway now small wins at the van wives household small wins and it's decking time Whoo on the first decking board We're gonna go with a nice angle You're gonna see it and you don't want it to look like trash Having our own yoga studio in the greenhouse is going to give us our favorite type of yoga Which is hot yoga as you can see I'm sweating right now doors open and it's 30 degrees in here So imagine if we keep the door shut.  It's leaving me speechless to be honest I am so happy to have it. That's what we meant by we're gonna bring the board as far as we can not this piece of wood Let's not think similar.  You're good. Hey, okay Last piece. Jenga Oh, I colored on it. That's okay.  I've done so many thumbs up in this video. I should probably give us one more. I'll give you two Four Quite the bad you made is eating the mulch. That's so nice That's a nice spot girl You like it here. Wow, you really make beds anywhere you go. Look how perfect it is Look at this Right around that looks so comfortable. I would sleep there wizard Yeah, girl crushing it Welcome As we finished filling our new garden beds topped off with manure and a quick test of the dance floor We are nearing the completion of the greenhouse transformation and one step closer to our own yoga studio This deck has transformed the greenhouse It's exactly what I dreamt of and more really because of the garden beds, too It's extra growing space. I never want to leave when I come in here and now We have a place to hang out here when we come in. That's more than a seat We can use it like Jocelyn said to work out and just to lounge and read a book and it'll be very very nice space to use I love it. I love it a lot. This is just the start of deck building this summer. I'd say it's a perfect one to start with Look how nice it is. It's so beautiful. I wish you could all smell it too Nothing says summer like a duck and Cheers everyone Cheers, it's summer, baby One thing led to another and sitting down turned into lying down and well we fell asleep That was until we woke up to a lick in the face All right, I woke up if you're an observant person You'll notice that there's a few different things in this greenhouse like Plug electricity box plug and that's because we have been busy the last couple of days So we're going to catch you up right now on all the changes that have happened Our electrician Adam arrived to replace our faulty battery Allowing us to make use of all of our battery banks We then installed power outlets in the greenhouse and now our electrical system is complete this yoga studio and greenhouse I'm gonna think of a name for it. So for now We're just gonna Well, you know, it's five o'clock Well, not only has it caught up with Jasmine, but me too We're having chef who tonight and my energy is completely dropping chef. Woo. Woo So good.   I think we built a sleep deck not a yoga deck The energizer bunnies ran out of battery Just kidding getting charged up right now by the we definitely we definitely did it, but It's just Sometimes your body says slow down. It's kind of ironic that we're Planting all this good food that helps like heal you and nourish your body And we're like building a yoga deck for like self-care and to stretch and Increase flexibility and help our muscles our focus I'm just so happy we got it done, too No, but I'm good for the irony that we're sick and like doing all this stuff in the space is true It's just reminding us to be like Please slow down girls your bodies need you to slow down now. We just got so hyped that the Sun was out I think we were we went so hard. Oh my gosh. You're so right. I didn't even think about that We went so hard.  Yeah, so now you're in for a treat. Anyway, we'll just take it slow right now and Keep closing your eyes and then ten minutes Maybe we'll get back up After a day of rest to recover our sick bodies We continue to care for ourselves through movement and with a warm and vibrant greenhouse. We roll out our mats for the first time Not gonna lie. I've been a little embarrassed on my lack of flexibility This is how much I can cross my legs Like they don't go down. It is very painful even to sit here in my hips and everything I'm pretty close. You are pretty close, but it hurts like and I don't think it should I can touch for like one second But I want to be able to like touch, you know day one Look at her legs compared to mine around as we engage in the dance of movement our muscles stretch Elongate and regain their vitality we connect to our bodies and our breath and in this very moment We are where our feet are we are present with ourselves and each other One day of yoga became two and two days became seven every day. We show up to our mats We reconnect with ourselves care for our bodies and we inch closer to our goal This greenhouse is a special sanctuary for us the presence of greenery and the warmth of the Sun makes for the perfect Noasis to stretch and care for ourselves and maybe even touch our toes But the real question can I play the bad game looks like I got to keep practicing a little pretzel