fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Covid Isolation Rules in the UK — stupid or genius?
By: Petrus A-G
Tags: Quarantine, Stupid Or Smart, Covid 19, Isolation, Boring

Since last Wednesday, I’ve been in Covid-19 self-isolation. In addition to the country being in lockdown, there is truly nothing to do. So, I have turned back here to write about my experience at this time.

I am still at school, so I have been continuing to see people despite the nation-wide lockdown. But, I came into close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid. And so, I was sent home in case I had caught the virus. I was informed that I would have to isolate for a minimum of two weeks. Now that sounds sensible enough, I may have the virus so I have to isolate. But, I asked the simple question of getting tested; as it would speed up the process as if it was negative I could return to school. I was then informed that receiving a test would not be possible unless I developed serious symptoms. Now, I was quite astounded at this. I’m don’t want to be too biased here but; wouldn’t you’ve thought that a test would be given to me so that I could return to my work as quickly as possible? The nurse told me that if I were to get a test then all of my close contacts would have to isolate in case they had caught it. But I just think that whether I have a test or not is not going to affect if my close contacts have caught Covid from me.

I may be an asymptomatic patient or display very mild symptoms that would not encourage me to get a test. My close contacts could be spreading the virus right now and don’t even know it.

But I also do see that having to make more people quarantine than needed is extremely irritating and non-time efficient. As I am not currently displaying any signs of Covid, it is highly unlikely that my close contacts do have the virus, unless I am asymptomatic. Also, a domino would happen if close contact isolation were to happen. Then logically, all of my close contacts, close contacts would need to isolate, then their close contacts etc etc etc. And by the end of it, the entire school would be shut down.

Well, what do you think? I may be writing some more during this incredibly boring period of time, so watch out for some other posts!

Thanks for reading,

Petrus
I Had a Walk Last Night
By: Danial Amari
Tags: Danial Amari, Quarantine Essay, Coronavirus, Isolation, Flaneur

I had a walk last night, just around the house, no place far. It might seem funny, but I have the ability to recognize the whole mood of the avenues right after I step out of the apartment door. I use lights and check their brightness, I guess.

I rambled toward the main street, keeping hands in the jacket’s pocket and breathing like a choking bird behind the mask. Right in front, there was a closed opening door of a big store, and under the pouring rain, I gazed at the passing cars, abandoning my sight with a constant and slow, like a mournful hearse.

People looked liked soldiers under the most massive attack, hidden inside their portable trenches, moving fast and angry. These days, each person is a shadow passing by the others. You can’t catch their faces anymore.

I arrived at the main street, looking at the surroundings for a moment. I saw more passing and stable lights. Neon lamps were more blinding than ever. I could see death, crossing the street shoulder to shoulder with me.

After finding an empty walking line, I decided to listen to some music. I chose “The Songs for a Dead Pilot” by Low and tried to look at things the way I do all the time. Because of reading Dostoevsky all day long, I pictured myself as a spiteful man drowning in anger, hate, and revenge. I person who does not mean any harm, and that is why he tortures himself; a fly among the crowds, an unexpected guest to a gathering which he didn’t want to come. Each person seemed suspiciously mysterious. I fantasized about them when they are alone, crawling in their ignorance and dancing with their pains. I felt myself far from any human attachment. I could see in their fogged eyes that I am a threat to their well-being, and actually, they were scary to me too.

While walking pointlessly among the deserted allies, I scared a cat away. Without any intention. When I looked into its eyes, it seemed to me as the truthfully fear I have seen in a long time. It was honestly scared and, had no reason to hide it. It stared at me while covering its fragile little body under a tree and, I felt dead guilty. I walked away and didn’t look back. Although, I was pondering over the fact that these cats do not need to be scared of us anymore. They can walk past us while keeping their heads up and look at us with a sense of shame and humiliation. They can gather around, embrace each other, even fight fearlessly for a piece of meat. They can be different, act different, or scare of diverse things. Do they know, or even need to know, who others might steal your individuality?

I walked to my gathering place with my comrades. The cafe was closed, and the iron bars were well attached. The wooden sign of the cafe was touring apart. Each drop of the rain was hitting the sign brutally with all of its power. I lingered there a while, then found myself on the way home. I thought about the future along the walk. I didn’t look at others anymore.
Social distancing is worsening our ability to agree
By: Julien Tate-Smith
Tags: Empathy, Covid 19, Lockdown, Isolation, Social Media

Thursday 21 January 2021

Covid isolation has pushed us further apart, both physically and politically. Unable to mix with others, it’s easy to imagine that everyone is facing the same challenges. But that’s not the case, and we’re quickly losing our empathy.

Credit: Edward Howell / Unsplash

Paper rounds were once a familiar sight. Every morning, children would get up at the crack of dawn to deliver the daily newspaper to local residents. People would start their day with a coffee and their favourite paper. The same newspaper every day.

Nowadays, our reliance on printed news has subsided. But the pattern with which we chose our news sources has not. People still prefer news that fits their views. And this has intensified with social media whose models carefully select posts that are more likely to retain our attention. Unsurprisingly these often happen to be things we agree with. The result is more anger and frustration directed towards points of view that differ to our own, simply because we are less accustomed to dealing with differing perspectives online.

A similar concept has crept into our physical lives. 2020 saw people isolate into social bubbles, protecting themselves from viral infections but also from alternative outlooks. As we have sought to limit our outside interactions, we’ve also replaced our banter in bars, chats in queues and brief exchanges on commutes with limited but intense conversations with close friends and family. Our bubbles have given us an excuse to do away with unneeded interactions with strangers and ignore the disproportionate social impact of lockdowns.

Like any bubble, our isolated social groups will eventually burst open. The pandemic has hit people to very different extents, but the reality of just how much we’ve drifted apart from one another will only really be comprehensible when we finally leave our homes. As cumbersome as 2020 was, past challenges have not disappeared. Climate change, racism and income inequality will demand deep consideration for other people’s circumstances.

Key elections are on the way in Germany and France. But with everyone’s heads buried in their socially distanced sandpits, we’re running the risk of being shocked, once again, by overwhelming conservative nationalism that brought us Trump and Brexit.

It’s time to open our eyes. We’re not yet able to re-explore the strange and different, but let’s make sure it doesn’t scare us when we can.
The Language of Loss & the Language of Gain
Tags: Business Agility, Project Management, Agile Methodology, Software Development, Agile

Recorded By Dave Prior

When we try to explain Agile, many of us begin by trying to describe some of the characteristics of how we approach work. We often talk about things like:

Limiting work in process

Delivering smaller increments of work

Reducing team size and empowering the teams to become cross-functional and self-organizing

These are all things that, from an Agile point of view, are good because they help us to focus on the most important things, optimize flow, localize decision making, and deliver the most important thing at a higher level of quality.

But, for those who are not familiar with our approach, what they may hear is

I can’t have all the things I want

The things I do get will be smaller

I no longer have control of the people and how they work

A lot of this comes down to the words we use to convey the message.

This week’s episode of SoundNotes is a discussion centered around the Language of Loss and the Language of Gain. During the podcast, you’ll hear LeadingAgile Founder and CEO Mike Cottmeyer, Senior Consultant Andrew Young, and Dave Prior as they dig into the different levels of this topic. Together, the three of us will discuss how we can raise our awareness and shift the conversation to focus on what Agile gives, as opposed to what Agile takes.

Links

Whitepaper: https://www.leadingagile.com/whitepaper/

The Trust and Influence Loop Podcast: https://www.leadingagile.com/podcast/trust-influence-loop-mike-cottmeyer/

Contacting Mike Cottmeyer

If you’d like to contact Mike you can reach him at:

Contacting Andrew Young

Contacting Dave Prior

If you’d like to contact Dave you can reach him at:

If you have a question you’d like to submit for an upcoming podcast, please send them to dave.prior@leadingagile.com

And if you’re interested in taking one of our upcoming Certified ScrumMaster or Certified Scrum Product Owner classes, you can find all the details at https://www.leadingagile.com/our-gear/training/
What I talk about, when I talk about riding my bike
By: Thomas Steinthal
Tags: Boredom, Effectiveness, Cycling

My best friend has two wheels. Instead of lying, charging, next to my bed it is hanging majestically and colourful on a hook in the other end of my room. I do also have a smartphone; a Samsung Galaxy something smart. Black with a slightly incised screen which emits an annoying amount of light if you look at in the dark.

Every morning the three of us go to work together — together with the bike, I’m responsible for getting us there, some mornings fast, others slow. My phone is in my backpack.

Together we pass car drivers caught in the morning traffic jams, who scrolls annoyed through the news feed of the day on their smart phones with a half-eaten piece of bread in the other hand — often trying to squeeze in on the other side of the traffic lights if they can. Imagine what would happen if they didn’t make it in time…

In a fast developing world, the need for a free space is of crucial importance for me — and I think for most people. Constantly aware of our social networking and jobs through the internet, we are the generation who is the less bored of all time. Think about it. When is the last time you remembered staring out the window not knowing what to do for a longer time?

Some find boredom a negative thing, something ineffective. But let’s consider: Vacation and free space is ineffective as well. Or?

I find a close connection between boredom and free space. I can’t say I love boredom but it gives me time to reflect and relax. And it gives me a free space.

I find my free space on my bike. Whether it is commuting to work, training towards the coming season or racing national championships, I love the way I can use my intuition and creative senses: Making an attack on the last descent, social networking on long winter rides or simply just looking for potholes in the tarmac to train my bunny-hop skills.

To ride more for me does not necessarily mean that I have increase the amount of hours on the bike, but I find it inspiring the ‘more’ I get from riding. The nourishing feeling of arriving at work after the ride, the happiness of spending time together with friends or the relief of finishing a bike race in a good position.

Even though I feel the most ‘effective’ while being at work, the best ideas always pop up when I’m on the bike — and I find it a little ironic to the ‘effectiveness culture’ of today that these ideas always vanish the very same moment I open my computer or smart phone to find unanswered mails, chats and notifications.

Which brings me back to my morning commutes: I’m not saying that the biking give me philosophical skills on the level of Platon or Sokrates, but it gives me a small time of boredom where I don’t have the opportunity to check my Messenger-chats or mailbox. On the bike I can immerse into the day that has passed or the day that wait tomorrow. Or maybe simply into the fact that the leaves on the trees soon will return with warmer weather.
Monika Sattler — 1st Women to cycle the Vuelta a España — 3,058km with 49,337m of climbing!
By: Sarah Williams
Tags: Climbing, Podcast, Women, Cycling, Challenge

Monika made history in 2018 when she became the first woman to ride the entire 3,058km route of the Vuelta a España. Which is know as one of cycling’s toughest grand tours.

Monika started riding every morning at 6 am hours before the men started, she rode the full 21 stages which included a staggering 49,337m of climbing! This was all done in the blistering Spanish heat.

Her mission was to prove her own RAD (Real, Adventurous, Daring) Method and to inspire other women to live a more adventurous life!

During this podcast Monika shares more about her journey, studying over in America, not knowing if she was making the right decisions, trying to become a professional cyclist and realising it wasn’t for her. Monika is super passionate and positive about living an adventurous life! She goes after her goals with unbelievable focus — whether it is writing a book in 5 weeks or moving on a whim to a country she doesn’t speak the language of with just her bike and one nights accommodation booked.

Listen the play button below to listen!!

Click here if you can’t see the link below.

Show notes
Life Goes On: Like a bicycle
By: Nishant Malik
Tags: Bts, Cycling, Lockdown, Pandemic, India

A day came by when the world stopped without any warning. I was initially happy about the pandemic as there was a lockdown all over the country. There was no school, no tuitions and I had a lot of leisure time to play games, watch movies and eat all day. First two to three weeks were fun but when the lockdown was extended, I became concerned as I ran out of movies and dramas. Number of cases were increasing and the death toll was rising. Then we started with online classes. At first the classes seemed fun but as time rolled by, I noticed that there were many disadvantages to the online classes as well. Bored from the monotonous routine of my life I started riding my bicycle which was gathering dust in the garage.

Schools were closed due to lockdown

Cycling made me feel rejuvenated and healthy. I used to go riding in the morning when the roads were empty and I was all alone. It was an extraordinary feeling. I cycled to Rajghat and sat on a bench there looking at the beautiful green park with birds chirping and wind blowing. There were no cars, no people and hence less pollution and more fresh air. For that one hour I would forget about the pandemic and all the chaos going on in the world and concentrate on the beauty of it.

Cycling : The best exercise

Cycling relaxed my mind so that I could start every day on a good note. Life is all about balance, we can’t always be hard on ourselves for getting work done. Sometimes it’s perfectly ok, and absolutely necessary, to shut down, kick back, and do nothing. This pandemic showed us the importance of having hobbies and spending time with our loved ones. Though we were connected with our friend and relatives virtually but it can never be replaced by physical meetings. In the end we should all try to remember that whatever happens life goes on and we have to move on.
Esports, Gamification & Virtual Reality
By: David Nathan
Tags: Esports, Virtual Reality, Sports, Cycling, Zwift

Esports, Gamification and Virtual Reality

Yesterday I went for a 26km cycle through the streets of London with my father 🚲

There was no traffic and the weather was perfect ☀️🛣

We felt the burn on the uphills and on the downhills we cruised 🥵 🚀

We used each other’s slipstream for energy saving and we motivated each other throughout the ride 🚴🏽‍♂️🚴🏽‍♂️💨

But here’s the catch: My dad was at home in Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦 and I was in my apartment in London 🇬🇧. Indoor trainers combined with VR software (Zwift) is one incredible way to exercise, socialize and compete 🏆

The simulation is real. Your weight and power are used to determine the speed on the route depending on the gradient of road and the indoor-trainer modulates the resistance accordingly ⚙️🕹

Esports is a hot topic not only for gaming but for other areas where massive innovation is coming and the traditional sports and entertainment industry will be changing dramatically as a result. Ride on, play on and watch on this space 🚴🏽‍♂️🎮
Keeping Tabs
By: Sierra Club Seattle
Tags: Driving, Cycling, Activism, Environment, Seattle

Links and other updates from Sierra Club Seattle Group

Articles

Talking Headways Podcast: How We’ve Subsidized Driving (and What To Do About It) (Streetsblog)

When an employer cashes out the free parking or a apartment building unbundles the parking, that you get somewhere between a 10 and 30 percent reduction in car travel or car or automobile ownership — typically 20% percent of car traffic is the result of this current practice of providing free parking to employees.

These Pacific Northwest cyclists are trying to make the sport more accessible for everyone (Seattle Times)

And in the wake of this bike boom, said Kiesler, “there should be space for everyone to be on the road.” With a program called We Bikes — formerly called She Bikes, it was renamed to be more inclusive — Cascade is working to make that space, counterbalancing sexism by fostering community for women and nonbinary riders.

Abolitionist Library Workers Want Library Access for All. That Begins with Getting Cops Out. (In These Times)

Public libraries have, in many places, become a last refuge for people without other access to basic resources — a place to use a computer, read and write, rest. Addressing the needs of these patrons — who may be experiencing homelessness, for example, or navigating drug abuse problems — requires training for the library staff, not the heavy hand of the law.

Report spotlights unsung mobility experts in WA: People with disabilities (KUOW)

The report’s authors interviewed 125 people with disabilities in Washington State who get around without a car. They concluded, “It’s not an exaggeration to say almost everyone we interviewed expressed a sense that their mobility needs are afterthoughts and that they are substantially left out of the processes that shape transportation systems.”

Events

August 31: Change Powered by People: Sierra Club August Training Series

Does your Senator Tweet? A training on online activism and social media advocacy: Since we’re already spending many hours a day on our computers — why not use this platform to quickly reach out to your members of congress, too! Join us for a workshop to learn how to use your online platforms to get the attention of your members of congress and have an impact.

September 1: WA State: ACT For Infrastructure!
Bikes + Gears: Lezyne Stuff Caddy (Review)
By: Mnl Moves
Tags: Cycling

We get to test this week a nice bottle holder from Lezyne, which turns out to be more than just a bottle holder — the Lezyne Stuff Caddy.

The Lezyne Stuff Caddy allows you to bring along on your bike commutes a bottle holder like the one that I use, a 20 oz 592 ml Klean Kanteen insulated bottle. And items other than a bottle.

It has three velcro straps that help to easily and securely mount the Stuff Caddy to any part of your bike, e.g., handlebars, frame, fork, etc.

It has reflective linings that gives you added visibility while pedalling.

The Stuff Caddy likewise has an integrated draw cord to tightly hold your bottle, in this case.

And the design gives you flexibility to put in different sizes of bottles, for instance.

Overall, it is one solid bike gear that will surely help in your bike commute. And it works for folding bikes because you can quickly mount and take off the Stuff Caddy from the bike when you need to.

#MNLRides #Lezyne #BikeGears #ActiveTransport #CyclingIsTransport #UrbanMobility #BetterByBicycle #MNLMoves
RATING OF THE BEST AND HIGHEST QUALITY ALL SEASON TIRES
By: Patricia Chan
Tags: All Season Tires, Cycling

All-season tires have become an excellent solution for those who want to save extra money and not bother with an extra pair of rubber. They were invented in the 50s as a great alternative to winter tires in mild climates. Today, manufacturers are increasingly creating such products, but what are the best all-season tires?

WHAT IS THEIR FEATURE

This type of rubber has gained great popularity in European countries, because it allows you not to switch to winter tires in the cold season. This significantly saves finances. The main difference between such products is their pattern. It is not so “tough” as in winter tires. Its features allow you to effectively remove water from under the wheels and withstand drifts on a frozen road. Also, these tires produce much less noise while riding.

Nevertheless, car owners disagree on whether to buy all-season tires. Many consider them unsuitable for the characteristics of our climate and cold winters. As you know, these tires consist of soft rubber, which reduces grip. But many manufacturers care about quality and try to create a truly universal rubber, so it makes sense to do a test of all-season tires.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Best tires for subaru outback not only a guarantee of a comfortable trip, but also a guarantee of personal safety. The Michelin Premier A / S model from the well-known company Michelin Premier A / S appeared in 2015. It provides tight grip on any type of coating and enhances overall vehicle handling. Even in a snowy plain, such tires show excellent results. When creating the product, experimental materials were used that improve the strength of the tires.

THE BEST AMONG ANALOGUES

Among the high price category, General Altimax RT43 can be distinguished. Fairly good grip performance is complemented by an anti-erase system, which is so often required in a similar rubber. Such all-season tires in winter can last longer in the specifics of our climate.

The leader in the clutch class is Michelin Pilot Sport A / S 3. Such tires are able to withstand the sticking of wet snow to improve control over the car. In the summer, the lamellas on the tires close up, which improves the maneuverability of the machine.

Tires Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS consist of materials perfectly selected by the manufacturer. They are able to withstand cold and hot temperatures, even in our open spaces. Such tires have high rigidity, which retains its characteristics even with prolonged use. But, despite the features of all-season tires, this model makes a lot of noise.

When you need tires that provide long-term use, Michelin Defender is the leader. You don’t have to think which tires are better, because this product provides a comfortable ride of more than 145 thousand kilometers. This is achieved by IntelliSipe technology, which places additional slats on the wheel and enhances the rigidity of the rubber.
Troubleshooting Garmin GPS Not Detected In Garmin Express Issue
Tags: Cycling, Garmin Map Updates, Garmin Gps Support

Garmin GPS device not getting perceived’ is likely the most widely recognized issue a Garmin device holder may have. There can be heaps of explanations behind it, and you can without much of a stretch resolve any such issue inside minutes.

Garmin applicants may go over these Garmin Express connection issues:

Garmin Express not demonstrating your device

Garmin Express Freezes during startup

Garmin Express Freezes

Garmin Express Freezes during the update

Here are some investigating advances you can pursue to resolve issues related with Garmin Express solidifying and device detection.

On the off chance that your Garmin Express application isn’t reacting after you interface your Garmin GPS device with the computer, you can pursue these focuses to determine this issue:

Above all else, make sure that you are using the most recent programming form in your Garmin GPS device. A more seasoned programming variant in Garmin GPS may have an obsolete connection program so it might need to get distinguished when you interface it in your computer.

Watch that you have introduced the Garmin Express program effectively and all the program documents are spared in the C Disk in your framework.

Make sure you are using your USB cable which you got with your device. If you don’t have the first USB, get one from the closest Garmin store. Using a USB that didnt come with your device will decrease the device usefulness and will create issues in connection with the computer.

Make sure you are not interfacing your device in an extra USB port centre point. Continuously associate the USB cable in the essential port given for the information trade connections. The additional USB ports should just be utilized for power charging.

Make sure that the USB cable you are using isn’t damaged or broken. A damaged cord may not be identified in the Garmin Express.

Watch that you have associated the device appropriately, and the connection is secure.

It has been found in certain devices that Garmin Express doesn’t work with low batteries, so make sure you have enough battery level in your framework.

Attempt power cycling your computer. Close every one of the applications, shut them down then restart it and check if the issue is settled.
Hitting the Glass Wall. Racing on the new Velodrome in Milton…
By: Mark Buckaway
Tags: Cycling, Velodrome, Crash, Cyclingmemories, Bike Race

The race was the Men’s Scratch Qualifier. A scratch race has a set number of laps to complete and the first one across the finish line wins the race. It’s the simplest race on the track. The top 12 riders from this first heat would make it into the final. Combined with another group of 12 riders from another heat, 24 riders would join together to make the final.

The race was about 30 laps and rather uneventful….until about four laps to go. I had been on the front for a lap, and pull off to roll back into the draft of the pack. Keep in mind, this velodrome in Milton was new, and some racers either were new or had not been racing for some time. Coming into the finishing straight, it happened. The rider above me never shoulder checked and was coming down on me. I had no where to go. I backed up slightly, slowing down a bit in the process…but it wasn’t enough. At about 40km/h, I was pushed into another rider’s back wheel. My front wheel connected hard…but with my hands on the bars in the drops, there wasn’t much give. My front wheel hit the other riders back wheel and “flicked” from a hard left and back to a hard right. It was a hard enough “flick” that it knocked the other rider, into which my front wheel connected, clear down the track into the cote. In a split second, I found myself heading directly towards the glass wall that surrounded the infield of the track because of the sudden “flick” of the bars.

I thought that if I continued on this trajectory, my bike would come to a dead stop and send me flying over the glass wall, down about 3 meters and who knows how far into the infield. I decided at that moment, it would be safer to ditch the bike, and avoid the infield. I leaned the bike over figuring I would slide down the cote. The front wheel connected with the glass wall, and sent it flying upwards with the bike still attached to me by the pedals. You can see the mark the tire left on the glass in the above photo. After my knee hit the wall, I was sent down the cote and stopped in front of the finish line.
Rail Trails at the 2021 Frontier: The Newburyport Area Coastal Trail System
By: Juliana Cherston
Tags: PhD, Cycling, Boston, Bicycles, Travel

Intro to my new Rail Trails at the Frontier Series

During the week, I am a PhD student in science and engineering. A crucial aspect of my job is to cultivate comfort at the frontier of knowledge. An experiment might be stubborn for months on end, and it’s not clear whether there’s just a faulty cable somewhere or whether the entire premise is flawed. How can I practice joy, play, and wonder in these moments, even when deadlines and expectations are piled on top? For me, bike exploration is basically a physical arena to practice the same psychological process that I strive to nurture in the laboratory. Isolated on routes that sometimes defy modern maps, there is a freedom and playfulness that emerges in face of the unknown. It’s an intensity of sensory experience steeped in the cultivation of self trust. Maybe I’ll miss the last train, but I trust that there will be a bus. And if there is not a bus, I trust that I’ll find a place to stay overnight. and if I can’t find a place to stay, I trust that a friend will pick me up. And if I’m far from friends, well, a summer night in the wild might even be thrilling. This sort of thought process, when treated as more of a physical experience of self-trust, is for me the antidote to anxiety whether in the lab or on the roads.

On that note — here’s the first entry: my Newburyport trip journal!
Using Your Apple Watch As A Heart Rate Monitor With NordicTrack S22i
By: Tyler Marcus
Tags: Cycling, Heart Rate Monitor, Heart Rate Sensor, Nordic Track, Apple Watch

Using Your Apple Watch As A Heart Rate Monitor With NordicTrack S22i Tyler Marcus Mar 18·2 min read

NordicTrack s22i with ECHO for Apple Watch.

If you’re anything like me in that you check your Activity Rings more than you check the time each day — you’re probably also exceptionally dissatisfied in Apple Watch’s inability to be used as a viable heart rate monitor with any gym equipment (excluding Peloton Bike + cycling workouts using GymKit). So, when I purchased my NordicTrack s22i, I set out on a mission to avoid having to buy a totally new wearable device & having to run a totally separate workout on the watch while doing my ride.

After considerable research (Reddit + Quora) and conducting dedicated focus groups (asking family + friends), I think I’ve found one — ECHO heart rate app. Developed by a mobile phone/Apple Watch tech company called PK Fitness, ECHO’s technology bypasses the bike/watch connectivity limitations by using your iPhone’s bluetooth to broadcast your heart rate from your watch to your bike screen.

The app is completely free for 20 minute sessions and is $14.99 for unlimited minutes. Compared to how much I’ve paid in the past for heart rate straps and arm bands — this cost was definitely worth it. The connection process is super easy as well — I’ve outlined each step for you below!

HOW TO CONNECT:

Download ECHO on your phone and watch. Make sure you enable Health & Bluetooth permissions when prompted. Select the iFit workout you’d like to do on your NordicTrack screen. When you finish the warmup (or skip past it), select ‘Tap to start’ on ECHO (heart rate cannot be read during the warmup). The app should read, ‘Waiting to connect’ which signals it’s broadcasting a bluetooth signal for the NordicTrack to pick up. After a few seconds (can take up to 40 according to their FAQ), you’ll see your heart rate pop up on your phone, watch and broadcasted onto the iFit screen — aka connection success!

P.S. They recently added zones in ECHO that correspond to the NordicTrack zone colors, so make sure to set your max heart rate in ECHO to match the max heart rate set on your NordicTrack and enable ‘HR Zones’ in Settings. Enjoy!
Script Analysis: “I’m Your Woman” — Part 4: Themes
By: Scott Myers
Tags: Film, Screenwriting, Screenplay, Movies, Cinema

Read the script for this gripping crime drama featuring a head-turning performance by ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ star Rachel Brosnahan.

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this bi-weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule:

Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Tuesday: Plot

Wednesday: Characters

Thursday: Themes

Friday: Dialogue

Saturday: Takeaways

Today: Themes

I have this theory about theme. In two parts. First, a principle: Theme = Meaning. What does the story mean? Second, while there is almost always a Central Theme, there are multiple other Sub-Themes at play in a story. Therefore the question: What does a story mean takes on several layers of meaning?

Time to ponder themes in I’m Your Woman. You may download a PDF of the script — free and legal — here.

Written by Julia Hart, Jordan Horowitz, directed by Julia Hart.

Plot Summary: In this 1970s set crime drama, a woman is forced to go on the run after her husband betrays his partners, sending she and her baby on a dangerous journey.

Writing Exercise: Explore the themes in I’m Your Woman. What is its Central Theme? What are some of the related Sub-Themes?

Tomorrow we shift our focus to the script’s dialogue.

Major kudos to Priya Gopal for doing this week’s scene-by-scene breakdown.

To download a PDF of the breakdown for I’m Your Woman, go here.

For Part 1, to read the Scene-By-Scene Breakdown discussion, go here.

For Part 2, to read the Plot discussion, go here.

For Part 3, to read the Character discussion, go here.

To access over 90 analyses of previous movie scripts we have read and discussed at Go Into The Story, go here.

I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this week’s script: I’m Your Woman.
Update: 2020–2021 Award Season Screenplay Downloads — 1 New Script, 24 Total
By: Scott Myers
Tags: Film, Screenwriting, Screenplay, Movies, Cinema

It’s that time of year again when studios and production companies make available PDFs of movie scripts for award season.

As in years past, I will be tracking the year’s movie scripts as links become available.

Current total of 2020 scripts for download: 24. Newly added script (1): Prom.

Antebellum (Lionsgate)

Borat: Subsequent Movie Film (Amazon Studios)

The Climb (Sony Classics)

Da 5 Bloods (via Deadline Hollywood)

Emma (Focus Features)

The Father (Sony Classics)

Herself (Amazon Studios)

I Carry You With Me (Sony Classics)

I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Netflix)

I’m Your Woman (Amazon Studios)

Judah and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros.)

Kajillionaire (Focus Features)

The King Of Staten Island (Universal Pictures)

The Little Things (Warner Bros.)

Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Focus Features)

On the Rocks (A24)

One Night In Miami (Amazon Studios)

Palm Springs (Amazon Studios)

The Personal History of David Copperfield (Fox Searchlight)

Prom (Netflix)

Saint Frances (Oscilloscope)

Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios)

Tenet (Warner Bros.)

The Trial Of The Chicago 7 (DreamWorks Pictures)

You should download the scripts ASAP because these links have a way of disappearing.

To access 100+ movie scripts made available by studios and production companies since 2009, go here.

Reading movie screenplays is absolutely critical to your development as a screenwriter. Along with watching movies and writing pages, it is a fundamental practice you should put into place. Make it a goal to read at least one movie script per week.

Where can you go to get access to many of the top movie scripts from 2020? Right here!

THESE SCRIPTS ARE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!

NOTE: Our annual Go Into The Story Script Read and Analysis series begins this month. If a 2020 movie script becomes available and you would like to read it and provide a scene-by-scene breakdown, let me know. This is a great tradition and provides a major benefit to the online screenwriting community.

Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis Series

Movie Script Scene-By-Scene Breakdowns

Here is the current slate of volunteers:

Antebellum / Rose Banks

I’m Your Woman / Priya Gopal

Sound of Metal / Laura Bolton

Thanks to everyone who participates in this annual project! Please email me your scene-by-scene breakdowns: GITSblog@gmail.com.
Post Traumatic Script Disorder
By: Anthonioni Scalepini
Tags: Screenplay, Screenwriting, Writing, Script

I will never be pregnant. That seems to go without saying as I am a man. The idea of comparing the writing of a screenplay to a pregnancy seems at best inappropriate and at worst just plain gross. Even the idea of saying writers get a version of postpartum depression after they finish a screenplay is doing a huge disservice to the many, many women that actually go through this ordeal every day, sometimes on their own without anyone to help them. I say all of this because I’m going to talk about the feelings I get after I finish a screenplay, and while none of them are on the same level as what I’ve described above, there is undoubtedly a hollow feeling once you write “FADE TO BLACK” at the end of a script.

Last Friday on March 6, 2020, I submitted a screenplay to the Nicholl’s Fellowship, a screenwriting competition that is according to the industry the capo di tutti capi of screenwriting competitions. It’s not the $35,000.00 for the top 5 scripts (although that helps) but the prestige that comes with even playing in even the semi-finals. It’s the chance to get representation, to get your screenwriting foot in the door and jump-start your career. This will be the sixth script I’ve submitted to the Nicholl’s Fellowship, with every script doing just a bit better than the last. Will this be the year I break through? I don’t know (and won’t know till about July), but I do know this is the best way to get in. The script I submitted last Friday had been along time coming. I had originally got the idea 5 years ago, and had spent all of 2019 developing it into the draft I submitted. 5 years on one script. Sure I did rewrites in 2019 on other projects, but from the seed of an idea being planted to that idea blooming into a full-fledged screenplay, 5 years of my life had come and gone. Think about if you were in a relationship for that long, and then one day it was just over (now that I think about it, the relationship comparison is probably better than the pregnancy one). The feelings you have in that moment at the end, of loneliness, of emptiness and being lost — those are all the feelings I have when I finish a script. And it doesn’t get any easier 7 scripts in.

Then there is the overwhelming feeling of what’s next. What’s the next mountain that I have to climb, only to get to the top and feel the loneliness again. I know what you’re thinking. Just quit. Trust me, if I could, I would. The problem is I have more stories to tell. And it would be a disservice to me to not get these stories out. Maybe that’s my burden. I always like the idea that I’m flawed. I like the idea that I am fighting an uphill battle. It’s motivating to feel like there is something dark within me that will only get out if I put it down on the page. This is probably strange to say, but I feel like it’s my truth to be a part of the downtrodden. Of course, I know there are people in way more downtrodden circumstances than I, however, the feeling I’m battling myself keeps me going. Is this too dark? Probably. It is real though so that’s all that matters to me.
Script Analysis: “Avengers: Endgame” — Part 3: Characters
By: Scott Myers
Tags: Film, Screenwriting, Filmmaking, Screenplay, Movies

Read and analyze the script for the hit Marvel superhero movie.

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this bi-weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule:

Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Tuesday: Plot

Wednesday: Characters

Thursday: Themes

Friday: Dialogue

Saturday: Takeaways

Today: Characters.

Characters are the players in our stories. They participate in scenes, move the plot forward through action and dialogue, influence each other, evolve and change. Each has their own distinct backstory, personality, world view, and voice. When a writer does their best, digging deep into their characters, tapping into their souls, the players in our stories magically lift up off the printed page and come to life in a reader’s imagination.

But there’s this: In a screenplay, characters exist for a reason. Hence my principle: Character = Function. Writers can shade and shape a story’s character in limitless ways. But if you dig down deep enough, you can find each character’s narrative function, and that can become a lens through which you develop the players in your stories.

Same thing with script and movie analysis: Look at each character and think about why they exist and what their function is.

Today we discuss the characters in the script for Avengers: Endgame. You can download the script here.

A list of the key players:

Tony Stark (Ironman)

Clint Barton (Hawkeye)

Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel)

Steve Rogers (Captain America)

Nat (Black Widow)

Bruce Banner (Hulk)

Rhodey (War Machine)

Scott Lang (Ant-Man)

Thor

Gamora

Rocket

Nebula

Thanos

Morgan

Pepper

I’ve probably missed a few, so many characters in this movie.

Screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely.

Plot Summary: After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’s actions and undo the chaos to the universe, no matter what consequences may be in store, and no matter who they face…

Writing Exercise: Think about each character. What’s their function?

Major kudos to Alexis Howell-Jones for doing this week’s scene-by-scene breakdown.

To download a PDF of the breakdown for Avengers: Endgame, click here.

For Part 1, to read the Scene-By-Scene Breakdown discussion, go here.

For Part 2, to read the Plot discussion, go here.

To access over 70 analyses of previous movie scripts we have read and discussed at Go Into The Story, go here.

I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this week’s script: Avengers: Endgame.
Page One: “The Martian” (2015)
By: Scott Myers
Tags: Film, Screenwriting, Filmmaking, Screenplay, Movies

Screenplay by Drew Goddard, based on the novel by Andy Weir

The movie version of the opening:

Huh. Bold sluglines. I thought was a “no-no.” More notable is this:

The “storm warning” — the key event which jump-starts the plotline and causes Watney to be left behind — happens on P. 3. In other words, the script gets the story moving right away.

This is an example something we see often in contemporary movies: Drop the audience into the action as soon as possible. Pick up exposition, setup, backstory, and character elements on the run during and after the Big Event.

You may download the screenplay here.

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.

You may follow the daily conversation on Twitter as I cross-post there: @GoIntoTheStory.
The Business of Screenwriting: Everything You Wanted to Know About Specs
By: Scott Myers
Tags: Hollywood, Screenwriting, Writing, Screenplay, Business

Links to all twenty articles in the series.

The spec script is the passport for a screenwriter trying to break into the Hollywood film and television business. Since it is so important, here is a twenty-part series which covers just about everything you need to know about spec scripts.

In Part 1, we looked at the genesis of the spec script in Hollywood from 1900–1942.

In Part 2, we covered the emergence of the spec script market from 1942–1990.

In Part 3: Boom, Bust, Back Again, But Now…?[1990–2019]

In Part 4, we surveyed the buyers, both major studios and financiers.

In Part 5, we examined the screenwriter-rep relationship in terms of developing a spec script.

In Part 6, we explored rolling out a new writer’s spec script.

In Part 7, we delved into the subject of attaching producers.

In Part 8, we considered the value of attaching talent.

In Part 9, we learned about reps wanting to “own all the tickets.”

In Part 10, we dug into how reps generate buzz for a spec script.

In Part 11, we looked at the practice of slipping a script to someone.

In Part 12, we acknowledged the role that serendipity can play in the process.

In Part 13, we discussed the strategy of targeting specific buyers.

In Part 14, we drilled down into the strategy of going wide.

In Part 15, we indulged in the ultimate fantasy of a bidding war.

In Part 16, we got a first-hand account of a preemptive purchase.

In Part 17, we went down one creative choice to write what they’re buying.

In Part 18, we pondered another choice to sell them your dream.

In Part 19, we mulled over the value of a spec script… even if it doesn’t sell.

In Part 20, we reveled in the value of a spec script… if it does sell…

The Business of Screenwriting is a weekly series of Go Into The Story aricles based upon my experiences as a complete Hollywood outsider who sold a spec script for a lot of money, parlayed that into a screenwriting career during which time I’ve made some good choices, some okay decisions, and some really stupid ones. Hopefully you’ll be the wiser for what you learn here.

For more Business of Screenwriting articles, go here.
2018 Spec Script Deals Analysis: Agents & Managers
By: Scott Myers
Tags: Hollywood, Screenwriting, Writing, Screenplay, Business

We continue our week-long analysis of spec script deals in 2018. Today: Agents and Managers.

Nora Ephron

Note: A majority of projects were repped by both an agency and a manager / management company, so the total numbers of reps listed will be significantly higher than the number of scripts sold.

The numbers in parentheses mark 2017 totals.

Agencies

CAA — 8 (7)

WME — 6 (6)

Verve — 6 (4)

ICM Partners — 4 (6)

UTA — 4 (7)

APA — 3 (4)

Gersh — 2 (7)

Paradigm — 1 (11)

The Agency — 1 (0)

Management

3 Arts Entertainment — 3 (0)

Aperture Entertainment — 2 (0)

Circle of Confusion — 2 (1)

Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment — 2 (4)

Syndicate Entertainment — 2 (0)

Artists First — 1 (0)

Bellevue Productions — 1 (2)

Brillstein Entertainment Partners — 1 (0)

Grandview — 1 (3)

Industry Entertainment — 1 (3)

Jon Kanak — 1 (0)

Kersey Management — 1 (0)

Madhouse Entertainment — 1 (1)

Management 360 — 1 (1)

MXN — 1 (0)

The Muraviov Company — 1 (0)

Oasis Media Group — 1 (0)

Realm Management — 1 (1)

Zero Gravity Management — 1 (3)

You should familiarize yourself with these players, study the type of projects they sell. This can help when targeting inquiries for representation.

Tomorrow: The big money spec script sales of 2018.

2018 Spec Script Deal List

2018 Spec Script Deals Analysis: Genres

2018 Spec Script Sales Analysis: Buyers