Tuesday, August 18, 2015

August TRI News

St. Peter's Basilica in the distance at 435 feet tall is the tallest building in Rome, In fact there are skyscrapers in Rome, but they are on the outskirts of the ancient city and none taller. The closest is the 30 story Torre Eurosky on the southern edge of Rome which is 394 feet tall. As with many Italian cities, the height of buildings is stringently regulated making for a realistic stroll back in time which is magical. This picture was taken from the Palentine Hills near Circus Maximus and the Coliseum. Friend me on Facebook, look at my blogs, or look me up on Flickr.

In This Issue

August 2015

ITALIA

Welcome to News from trif.com! First time readers, I am glad you're here! Returning readers, welcome back!

Greetings and welcome to our Newsletter! This month is all about Italy. Just a precursor to the book I hope to have completed by end-of-year. I want to share the many photos I have taken of places, people and things throughout the country and beyond. Each month our headline photo will be something new and different. We hope you enjoy. Keep in mind, we don't want to waste your time. Articles will contain generally less than 250 words. Please have a look and give us your feedback. By all means, forward to a friend using the link at the bottom of the Newsletter. Thanks. Questions? Send me an email!

 

Welcome to Italy

In Italy, the Church is central to life and the Piazza is central to community. In Rome, there are more churches and Basilica's than can be seen in a year let alone a week, roughly 900. One of the largest is the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore or Basilica of St. Mary Major. 300 feet long, 260 feet wide and 246 feet high. Major, because it is the largest of the twenty-five churches dedicated to Mary. It is one of only four major Basilica's in Rome and is used by the Pope when he presides over the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. Pope Francis visited here on his first full day as pontiff.

It was built in 431 AD. The 36 marble pillars supporting the central part of the church are even older as they were taken from another Roman building. The 5th century mosaics found in the interior are some of the oldest representations of Mary. The interior of the Basilica remains largely as it did in the 5th century even though it did suffer damage in the earthquake of 1348.

This is the stained glass window with the inscription Excelsia Filia Sion (Exalted Daughter of Zion). It is at the rear of the Basilica and lights the interior with an ambiance over shadowed by the clear high windows on the side of the Basilica.

 

Technology solutions are a part of doing business just like sales and marketing, It is an important component in servicing customers, managing costs and controlling operations. Our capabilities bridge database design and development, Internet services, network and computer sales and support, document imaging, bar code scanning, corporate communications, fax and email programs, mobile applications, cloud computing and help desk services. Interested in taking a step forward with technology? Looking to take advantage of the latest advances? Or just want to take advantage of your new computer?

Email me at rmj@trif.com The first consultation is always without charge.

History of the Ages

In 1575, just emerging from the dark ages, art was something really fantastic to behold, especially in fountains. It still is. It had a fierce undercurrent of darkness. This fountain is in the Piazza della Rotonda just outside the Pantheon. It is called Fontana del Pantheon and it was designed by Giacomo Della Porta in 1575 and sculpted by Leonardo Sormani.

The pigeons love all the nooks and crannies around these fountains and certainly add their own patina but the characters depicted were out of this world to be sure. Interestingly, it was designed without knowing where it would be installed.

More interesting is the fact that there is an 18 foot obelisk at the top of the sculpture which was added in 1711 (relocated from a different location in Rome). It originated at the Temple of Ra in Heliopolis, Egypt. Built by and for Ramesses II some 3,200 years ago and brought to Rome by Roman Emperor Domitian. Domitian was assassinated in 96 AD.

It is one of eight ancient obelisks in Rome which the Romans carried on cargo ships (called obelisk ships) down the Nile to Alexandria and then across the Mediterranean Sea. Some weighed as much as 330 tons (Vatican Obelisk).

Obelisks were adopted by the Christians and crosses were added to the tops of all obelisks in Rome along with new carvings and bases.

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Specializing in deploying

Capaccio

Capaccio, officially known as Capaccio Paestum, is a town in south western Italy in the province of Salerno south of Naples (Napoli). It is a mountain surrounded by a valley leading to the sea. The hill rises to about 3,000 feet and provides near perfect conditions for hang gliding as the heat from the valley and the ocean breezes can keep those daring enough in the air for a long time. Have a look at the countryside of Capaccio in this short video of a hang glider.

Traveling the roads in and around Capaccio is as interesting and fun as it gets and immediately fills you with that endearing quality of the area. Whether you are twisting and turning up in the hills or down the coast roads, the sites are a feast for the eyes. Stop at most any small restaurant and prepare to eat some of the best locally prepared fresh food you will ever have the pleasure of enjoying and a feast for your palette.

If it is History you are looking for, you are also in one of the best places in the world. Capaccio Paestum has some of the oldest structures in the world with temples dating back to the 6th century BC. It is actually a Greek city taken over by the Romans in the 3rd Century BC. Unbelievably, the Greek temples which were lost for a millennium to forests and malarial swamps between the 9th and 18th centuries still stand.

If it is pure beauty you need. simply perch yourself on the hillside and watch the sun set over the Amalfi Coast. To see the color of the valley and sky change as the sun disappears behind the mountains of Amalfi and Sorrento is a site you will long to see again and again. Better yet, enjoy dinner on the country house patio of Borgo La Pietraia and your soul will be transformed. It is a memory that will be eternally written in your book of life.

 

Social

Nuts and Bolts

Solid State Drives (SSD) are now a viable option for your desktops and laptops. Do not underestimate the time savings of having your primary C: drive a solid state rather than standard disk drives. Just imagine your computer will boot up in less than half the time. Programs will run almost three times faster. Files will be copied nearly eight times faster. All we are waiting for now is the prices of 1 TB and 2 TB solid state drives to drop a bit more. If you are buying a new computer, make sure the primary drive is solid state.

 

Robert McKay Jones
TRI
9 Waushacum Avenue
Sterling, Massachusetts 01564

Direct Line:
978-422-4324
rmj@trif.com

 


Copyright ©2015 TRI
All Rights Reserved
All Photographs Copyright ©2015 by Robert McKay Jones unless otherwise credited
Artists Sketch by Bruce Davidson
This document is provided for informational purposes only.
The information contained in this document represents the views of Robert McKay Jones and Transportation Resources, Inc.
All information provided in this document is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied.
The reader assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document.
Permission to use the words in this document for commercial purposes usually is granted. However, commercial use requires advance authorization.

Forward email


This email was sent to robertmckayjones.stager52@blogger.com by rmj@trif.com |  

Transportation Resources, Inc. | 9 Waushacum Avenue | Post Office Box 452 | Sterling | MA | 01564

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

July TRI News

This is a photo I took when vacationing near Sanibel Island. This is looking out over the Bay towards the Gulf of Mexico. I have come to understand that sunrise and sunset photos have become routine and ordinary, but I still marvel at how beautiful that magic moment can be when the sun transitions between sky and horizon. I never tire of the view or capturing the moment. Friend me on Facebook, look at my blogs, or look me up on Flickr.

In This Issue

July 2015

iPhone Macro Photography

University Wealth

Newsletter

Welcome to News from trif.com! First time readers, I am glad you're here! Returning readers, welcome back!

Greetings and welcome to our Newsletter! I want to share the many photos I have taken of places, people and things throughout the country and beyond. Each month our headline photo will be something new and different. The caption will present a small explanation. We hope you enjoy. Keep in mind, we don't want to waste your time. Articles will contain generally less than 250 words. Please have a look and give us your feedback. By all means, forward to a friend using the link at the bottom of the Newsletter. Thanks. Questions? Send me an email!

iPhone Macro Photography

The camera of the iPhone 6 Plus is quite remarkable all by itself. Add a Macro lens and it becomes quite astonishing. This is a photo I took of a water droplet on a leaf using my iPhone with the addition of a Macro clip on lens. You can purchase these for an incredible $6.99 through Amazon and it will also come with a fish eye lens as well. You can combine them or use them separately.

I found these from following different photographers on Flickr. Here are some amazing images taken with the iPhone 6. All these photos were taken by Shona, an iPhone photographer from Scotland just outside of Edinburgh in East Lothian. Some of these photo's are incredible. Check out OUCH for sure!

Spider; Ouch; Flower; Flower; Flower; Ant; Beetles; Bug; Spider; Lady Bug

There are more than 800,000 photo's taken with the iPhone on Flickr. To find iPhone Macro photo's, click this link. As you may know, I take photographs every day. I post the one I like the best on my blog at www.robertmckayjones.net. Even when I am in Italy, I will be updating this blog, so have a peek or like me on Facebook.

Technology solutions are a part of doing business just like sales and marketing, It is an important component in servicing customers, managing costs and controlling operations. Our capabilities bridge database design and development, Internet services, network and computer sales and support, document imaging, bar code scanning, corporate communications, fax and email programs, mobile applications, cloud computing and help desk services. Interested in taking a step forward with technology? Looking to take advantage of the latest advances? Or just want to take advantage of your new computer?

Email me at rmj@trif.com The first consultation is always without charge.

Wealth and Universities

I found this amazing and thought it prudent to share. I knew that Universities had pretty extensive coffers, but I had no idea it was this immense. According to my rough calculations, at a 4-year rate of roughly a quarter of a million dollars, Harvard can afford to provide 200,000 students with a free education. One wonders whether Harvard really utilizes the more than 5,000 acres of property it owns. To be fair, Harvard does provide more than 160 million in financial aid per year.

You will find more statistics at Statista

TRI is a

Specializing in deploying

Newsletter

As most of you know, I am away traveling the back roads of Italy. I suspect I am having a wonderful time having just spent a week in Rome and am now spending time in Capaccio. See you in a couple weeks! I prepared this newsletter far in advance of my trip. Who needs the stress days before leaving on an extended trip. I started writing it in May and finished it at the end of June scheduling it in advance for publication on July 15th.

You might wonder why I have, without fail, month after month, published this newsletter since 2009. I do it because it works. It is all about timing. Sometimes the timing of an article will just hit the right person at the right time to generate a call or an email. Sometimes the subject resonates with someone which generates a call or an email. Sometimes circumstances change and its a reminder which generates a call or en email. Sometimes readers just like to learn about new things. Sometimes it helps. It always tells the world, we are here if you need us.

I tell you this, because you might consider doing the same thing. I think it makes a difference.

I use Adobe Dreamweaver to create the HTML content and publish to our web site where I have archives back to 2011. I then push to Constant Contact (after converting my CSS to in line styles) but there are many other options, Mail Chimp, Boomerang or GetResponse.

Think about it and let me know if you need some assistance.

Social

Nuts and Bolts

Windows Explorer is probably the most elusive application for many users. Here are a few tips to make your life a little less stressful. When in Windows Explorer go to Tools - Folder Options and under Navigation pane, select Show all folders and Automatically expand to current folder. This will give you a clearer view of your folder structure. Use your Favorites! Just dragging any often used folder to your Favorites heading will create a link to that folder. Lastly, use the Search tool more effectively. Examples: Files modified on a specific date: datemodified:05/25/15; Files of a specific kind: System.Kind: Picture; Filename contains: System.FileName:~="pro"; Use And, Or and <>: System.Kind: <>Picture and datemodified:05/25/15

Robert McKay Jones
TRI
9 Waushacum Avenue
Sterling, Massachusetts 01564

Direct Line:
978-422-4324
rmj@trif.com


Copyright ©2015 TRI
All Rights Reserved
All Photographs Copyright ©2015 by Robert McKay Jones unless otherwise credited
Artists Sketch by Bruce Davidson
This document is provided for informational purposes only.
The information contained in this document represents the views of Robert McKay Jones and Transportation Resources, Inc.
All information provided in this document is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied.
The reader assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document.
Permission to use the words in this document for commercial purposes usually is granted. However, commercial use requires advance authorization.

Forward email


This email was sent to robertmckayjones.stager52@blogger.com by rmj@trif.com |  

Transportation Resources, Inc. | 9 Waushacum Avenue | Post Office Box 452 | Sterling | MA | 01564

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

June TRI News

I get starved for moving or reflecting water in winter and need a fix in spring that seems to last a couple of months. During the day, this little cove is secluded and very quiet. The fishermen don't get here until the afternoon. They launch their row boats, canoes or electric fishing boats and head out to kick back and relax and maybe catch dinner. Massachusetts DCR owns most of the shore line, so it is pristine as it was when the Indians fished here in the early 18th century. Friend me on Facebook, look at my blogs, or look me up on Flickr.

In This Issue

June 2015

The New Surface

Windows 10

Heading to Italy

Welcome to News from trif.com! First time readers, I am glad you're here! Returning readers, welcome back!

Greetings and welcome to our Newsletter! I want to share the many photos I have taken of places, people and things throughout the country and beyond. Each month our headline photo will be something new and different. The caption will present a small explanation. We hope you enjoy. Keep in mind, we don't want to waste your time. Articles will contain generally less than 250 words. Please have a look and give us your feedback. By all means, forward to a friend using the link at the bottom of the Newsletter. Thanks. Questions? Send me an email!

Surface is Going Mobile

The Microsoft Surface has never been a real competitor to the iPad because it didn't have cellular. This is about to change. Microsoft is linking up with T-Mobile. Granted, not the best provider of cellular service, but still, it is a 4G LTE network.

The map at left shows the 4G coverage and it isn't too bad unless you happen to live in Barre, Hubbardston or Petersham.

The new Surface is thinner, lighter and less expensive than its predecessor starting at $499. The only version that deserves attention is the one packed with 4gb of RAM and 128gb storage plus 4g for $699.

It will come off the line running Windows 8.1 but will include a free upgrade to Windows 10. This may be a contender for the iPad.

Let it be known that we have two Surface Pro 3's for sale. Original cost $1,099. Will sell for $450 each. Each comes with keyboard.

Technology solutions are a part of doing business just like sales and marketing, It is an important component in servicing customers, managing costs and controlling operations. Our capabilities bridge database design and development, Internet services, network and computer sales and support, document imaging, bar code scanning, corporate communications, fax and email programs, mobile applications, cloud computing and help desk services. Interested in taking a step forward with technology? Looking to take advantage of the latest advances? Or just want to take advantage of your new computer?

Email me at rmj@trif.com The first consultation is always without charge.

Windows 10

Windows 10 is purported to be coming this summer (target July). It actually looks very slick for both Windows 7 users and Windows 8 users. if they can deliver what they Here is what's new, according to Microsoft:

Cortana. Not to be confused with Cortona, a medieval town in Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy, Cortana is a personal digital assistant backed by the power of Bing, customized to you and connected to your keyboard, speaker and microphone. Windows Phone users might be acquainted with Cortona. It is said to be one of the better things about the phone. What is a personal assistant? Cortona will help you remember things. It will keep track of things that interest you. It will learn about you the more you use it. Cortana responds to the voice command, "Hey Cortana".

Microsoft Edge (code name Project Spartan) is the new browser replacing Microsoft Internet Explorer. Features of Edge include:

  • Ability to write on a web page using your tablet pen allowing you to annotate a web page.
  • Cortana is integrated with Edge so you can highlight a word or phrase and ask Cortana for more information.
  • Contains a reading list which you can bring to the front for clean reading.
  • Provides a HUB which is like a dashboard to enhance your personal Internet experience.
  • A cleaner look and feel to make it more user friendly.

Start Menu is back. It is a combination of the traditional Windows 7 start menu plus the Windows 8 tile view menu. You will also find Cortana "Ask me anything" prompt when you click Start or hit the Windows key.

Task View icon is a new icon in the start bar which will display running tasks

XBox Integration will allow you to play or stream XBox Apps

Photo App has been improved

PDF support is integrated into Windows. No need for Adobe Reader.

HoloLens will be Microsoft's first take of implementing a holographic display.

Skype for Business is integrated into Windows 10

OneNote is integrated with Windows 10

Microsoft is promising to make this a very user friendly release with a greater use of Universal Windows App's that look the same on phone, tablet or PC.

TRI is a

Specializing in deploying

Heading to Italy

I am heading to Italy with my wife for three-weeks in July. It will be a self-imposed photographic expedition which will includes Rome, Tuscany, Cappaccio, Siena, Florence, Pisa and cities and towns we do not yet know. We will be a week in Rome with a tour group, and then we are off on our own and left to our own devices. Lodging is set, but where we visit remains open, flexible and at this point unknown.

I will be producing a photographic journal of the places we visit and the people we meet. I have plans of producing a book later this year which will be a composite of the best photographs and journal entries. I have been practicing this process since January 1st with my photographic blog where I take pictures every day and select one picture each day and publish it with text. Those who follow me on Facebook see my posting's every day.

So why do I tell you about this? Because I am open to receiving advice, counsel and tips. This will be our first trip to Europe and if you have words of wisdom, please share them with me.

I should tell you that I used Microsoft OneNote to keep track of my itinerary,all my research including maps, routes, words and phrases, city information, do-not-miss list, train schedules, tours, restaurant listings and more, all within a folder in OneNote which I can review on my computer, iPhone or iPad.

Social

Nuts and Bolts

Office 365 Subscribers may not know that they have a powerful organization tool available to them in OneNote. It's great! I have written about it before because I continue to use it for business as well as personal objectives. Do you multi task? Do you have many projects going at the same time. Do you take notes in a meeting? Do you copy screen shots from a web site? Do you save PDF's for future reading? Do you want to save a YouTube video to play back later? It makes sense that Windows 10 will integrate OneNote into the Operating System.

Robert McKay Jones
TRI
9 Waushacum Avenue
Sterling, Massachusetts 01564

978-422-7770
rmj@trif.com


Copyright ©2015 TRI
All Rights Reserved
All Photographs Copyright ©2015 by Robert McKay Jones unless otherwise credited
Artists Sketch by Bruce Davidson
This document is provided for informational purposes only.
The information contained in this document represents the views of Robert McKay Jones and Transportation Resources, Inc.
All information provided in this document is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied.
The reader assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document.
Permission to use the words in this document for commercial purposes usually is granted. However, commercial use requires advance authorization.

Forward email


This email was sent to robertmckayjones.stager52@blogger.com by rmj@trif.com |  

Transportation Resources, Inc. | 9 Waushacum Avenue | Post Office Box 452 | Sterling | MA | 01564