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In honor of it being National Coffee Day today (thanks T.Jett!), what's your favorite coffee shop? And if you'd like to humor me with other ways to order a soy chai with a shot of espresso I would be delighted.
{Today's Letters}
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
In honor of it being National Coffee Day today (thanks T.Jett!), what's your favorite coffee shop? And if you'd like to humor me with other ways to order a soy chai with a shot of espresso I would be delighted.
23 comments:
- LB said...
I had an iced soy Caramel latte last night atnordigiddies and loved it!
- September 29, 2010 at 7:08 AM
- ZigZagKitty said...
What time do you get up in the morning to post these??? Yikes!! *yawn*
- September 29, 2010 at 7:13 AM
- Han said...
From the corner with a D hat: What's a Foundation Group? Is it like marriage prep for newlyweds hehe. We met with a married couple before we got married called Kev and Wendy they were youth leaders from my old church so they knew us already kinda. Then when we got married we started meeting with our lovelies called Nick and Karen - they are superstars! (Can I declare fist pumps and leg kicks for awesome friends?!)
Coffee Shop - Jaffa Orchard here in Bedford :D except I have a strawberry milkshake and chocolate cake lol.
- September 29, 2010 at 8:00 AM
- czam said...
Two favorite coffee shops in two different cities:
Austin: Mozart's (voted best desserts in Austin, btw)
Waco: Common Grounds
- September 29, 2010 at 8:43 AM
- Lima said...
Two things:
uno) Last night, I did a diversity present for the New Student Orientation class and I asked a question. All I got was silence. Then I said "Buehller" three times. I got some chuckles which eased the tension. Success.
b) My favorite coffee shop here in the Land of Up: The Jumping Bean. Hands down. The Drake's do an amazing job keeping that place off the chain.
Peace, love & Lima.
- September 29, 2010 at 8:54 AM
Favorite Coffee shops in San Francisco:
1. Blue Bottle, the New Orleans iced coffee will change your life.
2. Ritual, sweet tooth latte = amazing.
- September 29, 2010 at 9:34 AM
- Stacy said...
The Roasterie in Brookside - Brooksider Bob (Mint Mocha) with whip. Don't order many coffee drinks, but when I do I splurge.
I think if you visit the same coffee shop(s) frequently you could say, "I'd like a Dirty Chai" and then see if they look at you funny. If they do, you explain and maybe will have to a couple more times, but then they'll know your drink. Or you could make up a new name for it "A Jazz Hands with a Shimmy-Shake Chai, please"...
When I was a Barista, I enjoyed knowing the lingo and putting it to use when someone ordered a Red Eye or a Zebra. Made me feel like I was fully immersed in my job.
- September 29, 2010 at 9:39 AM
- Kayla said...
"Cups" in Fondren, MS is still my favorite coffee shop even though I moved back to my hometown of Atlanta recently. My favorite here,in metro Atlanta, is Sneaky Beans in Marietta.
- September 29, 2010 at 9:58 AM
- Scatterbox said...
During our stint in Raleighwood, it was Helios.
Here in Sacramundo, Old Soul and Temple. Too bad my Land of Sprawl neighborhood means the best-closest coffee shop is in my kitchen. But we have great beans!
- September 29, 2010 at 10:07 AM
- Scatterbox said...
p.s. - Are you aware that today is National Coffee Day?
- September 29, 2010 at 11:19 AM
- sarah richmond said...
local 123 in berzerkly, of course... coava, verve, and flying goat a'plenty! bangin' single origin xeucalvitz from guatemala (roasted by coava) and face melter street level espresso from the verve boys in santa cruz. (insert twinner's happy place right here*)
ps. emo little, i miss you more than dirty chai lattes.
- September 29, 2010 at 11:38 AM
- Shandell said...
I just love the way you write. You already know that, but I wanted to remind you that it makes my day.
Also, my favorite coffee drinks sometimes change with the season, but I always love a good caramel machiatto.
- September 29, 2010 at 12:09 PM
- annie h. said...
this is so hard. in slo, it was for sure sally loo's (best little shop around. great food and homemade baked goods, free refills on coffee...cutest atmosphere). but, then there was also higher groundz and they seriously have some DE-LISH iced coffee for a $1 on fridays.
blue bottle in sf is awesome (as we have discussed).
peet's is right up there, even though it's a chain. i love them and i was customer of the week, so i gotta represent.
- September 29, 2010 at 12:56 PM
- LB said...
Also, Shades of Brown in Tulsa is an awesome coffee shop that sells Oregon chai, displays local art, has an awesome selection of sweets, and the baristas have armpit hair :)
- September 29, 2010 at 2:28 PM
- kelli said...
Sweet Eugene's House of Java in College Station, Texas!
(it's where my husband and I worked, met and got engaged in college...sigh)
As for ordering a "soy chai with a shot" I'd say just leave it at that -it could be worse. Like a venti half-caf one-pump hazelnut non-fat extra shot caramel machiatto with double whipped cream and one of those little stopper thingys for the lid please. I bet someone's ordered that before.
- September 29, 2010 at 8:30 PM
- morgandkim said...
soy chai with a shot eh?? hmmm i might have to try that..
- September 29, 2010 at 9:29 PM
- e.nachtigal said...
In Minneapolis there is a place called Bordertown. If the coffee doesn't put this place on your #1 list, the atmosphere will. It operates in the first floor of a large old house near the University of Minnesota campus. It truly makes you feel right at home!--no pun intended. I am not sure if I would get a "dirty chai" with you, but I would get a chai with a shot of almond!
- September 29, 2010 at 9:41 PM
- Stacy said...
Dirty Chai is my favorite drink!! The problem is though, that I've have THE BEST dirty chai in the world and any other dirty chai pales in comparison. It's at Red Eye Coffee in Tallahassee, FL...I no longer live there so I'm still grieving it. But I always say dirty chai (with soy)and i've never had a barista confused.
- September 30, 2010 at 12:00 AM
- courtney said...
Best coffee shop(s) in Nashville: tie between Crema and Fido. Both must be visited asap.
- September 30, 2010 at 12:19 AM
- Today's Letters said...
lb, nordigiddies in t-minus 8 wks.
zigzag, usually 8, but yesterday we got up at the crack for free pancakes. because they're worth it!
han, group for newly married couples. we help lead them through their first 18 months which is the best time to establish healthy habits in your marriage. we love it!
czam, mozart's is on our list for our next austin trip.
lima, i used to work at games control. the bean was my woobie.
anony (although i'm guessing hailee walsh), blue bottle and ritual are the freakin shiz. we've had them both and love love love. four barrel is also amazing.
stacy, in honor of you i will order my next drink as a dirty chai. if i'm feeling really brave i might say tiger's eye.
kayla, if i'm ever in hotlanta ...
t.jett, you always know the facts. love it.
bubby, your comment made me want to get on my bici and ride all the way to berkeley. twinner misses you.
shandell, thanks for the encouragement. it came at just the right time.
sweet annie, you are my customer of the week.
lb, shades of brown? that is new to us. might have to add that to the list for turkey day.
kelli, i feel like i should first start off with a whooop. second, you got engaged at a coffee shop? you have captured my heart.
morgandkim, lemme know what you think. promise it won't disappoint.
e.natchtigal, tell me you frequent birchwood! and please kiss the cherry and the spoon the next time you see her.
stacy, don't give up! you shall find your best dirty chai because you weren't meant to be soul mates.
court, are you at vandy? if so please hug melissa chaney for me.
- September 30, 2010 at 4:09 PM
- Han said...
That is so awesome! (Being half of a couple who's been married 3.5 years) It's such a massive change of lifestyle that it's soooooo good to have people to help guide you through it. Fist pumps and leg shimmies for you!!!!
- October 1, 2010 at 6:12 AM
- Today's Letters said...
han, we wish we would have had a foundation group when we were newly married. those first two years were the hardest for us. thankfully, we've learned how to communicate better, celebrate one other, and extend grace and forgiveness to each other on a daily basis.
- October 1, 2010 at 8:58 AM
- Heather said...
Dirty Chai! One of the my favorite drinks! Another combo that I have tried.. A Mississip Mud Chai: 3 shots of Espresso, chai tea, and chocolate layered over ice. I didn't sleep for most of the night...
- December 13, 2010 at 8:43 AM


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Teen's surfing earns notice
OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. | Catch 14-year-old Nick Rupp at home on a weekend and he'll probably be somewhere in the neighborhood watching movies at a friend's house and even watching some Nickelodeon.
But if the Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., youth is away, expect him to be flashing his Teqoph-Bill Johnson Surfboard as he conquers waves across the world on his his way to being a pro surfer.
Nick was ranked seventh in the world for young surfers by Surfer Magazine in its May issue under the title "The New Hot 100: A Definitive Guide to the Best Young Surfers in the World."
In the ranking, the magazine said: "The young regular-footer demonstrates great control of speed and fluidity. Nick possesses a natural sense of the ocean, which is evident in his wave selection and positioning."
For Nick, surfing came naturally.
His father, Greg Rupp, would take Nick to the ocean to go fishing. But Nick had more adventurous aspirations. He and friends began on boogie boards. At 8, he asked for a surfboard for Christmas, and Santa obliged. Then, dad would take him to the moderate waves of the Atlantic, give him a push on the longboard and let Nick go.
"I just had fun doing contests and did well in them," he said.
Now the fun has translated into nine regional, divisional and national first-place titles, a four-year streak of making the Eastern Surfing Association's All-Star team, numerous surfer magazine features and ads, and eight national and local sponsorships for clothing, glasses, watches, grip pads, shoes and surfboards.
The hobby also has opened Nick's eyes to the world. He's been to Indonesia, New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and a number of other coastal states across the country.
His ultimate adrenaline rush has been surfing the pipeline reef in Oahu, Hawaii. It's known as the most hollow, biggest barrel on the North Shore.
Nick said he and his family spend about 25 weekends out of the year in Florida, where many of the competitions are held.
"I definitely appreciate it," he said of the traveling he's been able to do at such a young age. And very modest. Nick admits he likes the weekends where he gets to "lay low."
As for his surfer friends, Nick's father, Greg, said many of the surfing families have been in it for years and have had a chance to bond.
"Because surfing is such an independent sport, these kids have a good rapport with one another," Greg Rupp said. "They sort of all pull for one another. Unless they're in the same heat."
Nick's mother, Debbie, recalled when Nick would first compete, people in the surfing circuit would comment on how he was "a natural." But the Rupps are humble and modest people - a trait Nick seems to have acquired.
"We just really still think he has a long way to go, where others say he's advanced beyond his age," she said.
Family life sometimes gets jumbled on weekends, she said, but they've learned to adapt, often spending time traveling in a camper as a family. And now they're traveling with one of the top young surfers in the world.
"It's wonderful, and we're very proud of him," she said.
And his parents aren't afraid to lay down the law about academics.
Nick missed a trip to Puerto Rico recently because his grades were starting to suffer.
Nick is a member of the National Honor Society and carries a grade-point average of between 3.5 and 4.0.
His contract with some of his sponsors include GPA incentives as well.
Nick said if he doesn't become a world champion surfer, he'd like to get into the surf marketing industry for a big clothing company.
His short-term goal is to make the World Championship Tour as a junior pro _ a highly selective team of 45 surfers from across the world, all under 19 years old.
Until then, Nick will do what he says separates him from other surfers, which is maximizing his board speed, working his board vertically through massive waves and mastering aerials - a move where his board exceeds the wave's height and glides back into the wave.
"If you fall, you're going to get worked," he said. "If you make it, you're going to have one of the best waves of your life. That feeling's really good. To overcome that."

subset: commoncrawl


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Category Archives: Electronic
How to find a job after a career hiatus
If you haven't worked a job in a long time or, you took a hiatus from your job then, it could be overwhelming to go back to your field of work. You may find it challenging to find a job to get back on your feet. Of course, we all have our obligations in our lives and we have to bid farewell to other responsibilities, such as, having a career in order to tend to those obligations. Your reasons of leaving your career are absolutely valid, and you can consider getting a job in Singapore (シンガポールで就職) at any time. Let's have a look at the how-to to learn working in Singapore (シンガポールで仕事) after a career hiatus:
Look for a job through job portals
If you have been away from a career for a long time then, there are chances that the job hunting trends might have changed in the long run. GoodJobsCreation (でシンガポールの転職活動に成功を) is your way to get started with finding a job that meets your requirements, expectations, and skill set. You can access the platform or any other job portal and apply for the job opening.
Keep your resume prepared and updated
If you are considering resuming your career after a long hiatus, you should always update your resume and profile to attract better job opportunities. Of course, you are required to submit a resume specific to a job, so you should prepare a CV to fill the slot accordingly.
You can work with professional CV writers or resume makers to update your CV. Also, you should specify the duration of your previous jobs in the resume to avoid any confusion during the shortlisting process.
Be confident
Returning to having a career could be overwhelming and nerve-wracking for some people but, once you are confident in yourself and your skills then, you shouldn't be having troubles with going back to work. Or, you can practice and practice in front a mirror until you fake it.
If you believe that you have lost touch with your professional life then, you should consider attention training workshops or mockups to reevaluate your confidence. It allows you to go down the memory lane, and it gives you the confidence boost to make you ready for an upcoming job interview. Don't forget to relax—if you miss out on one interview—you can always apply for another job in the marketplace.
Keep your documents in one place
When applying for a job after a long break, you should make sure that all of the required documents and paperwork are in check, so you wouldn't have to ransack through your collection to look for your degree's transcript, work permit, and other type of paperwork. You should be 100% prepared to take over your career life.
Computer And Electronics Recycling
Although there has been a recent growing awareness about the importance of caring for our environment, most of our attention is turned toward issues such as alternative fuel sources and global warming. These topics are certainly important and do merit attention, but there are other simple tasks that you can do on a regular basis that will also help to keep our Earth better protected. One of these tasks is to participate in computer and electronics recycling programs.
Why You Should Participate in Computer and Electronics Recycling Programs
There are many reasons for participating in computer and electronics recycling programs. We all know that, in general terms, recycling is beneficial because it reuses materials rather than putting them in landfills or incinerating them. Recycling also reduces pollution and helps save natural resources because materials do not have to be developed from scratch.
When it comes to computer and electronics recycling, however, there are even more benefits. More specifically, failing to recycle computer and electronics equipment unnecessarily releases toxins into our environment.
Looking at Some Frightening Facts
Right now, you may be using a computer to read this article. But, do you know that computers are the number one cause of electronic waste? With all of the different components and with the quick evolution of computer technology, consumers are going through computers rapidly as they try to keep up with the changes.
Unfortunately, many consumers are actually hanging on to their old electronic devices. In fact, according to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, about 75% of electronics that are now obsolete are actually being stored. This means we will be facing some major disposal issues when consumers finally decide to get rid of these devices.
Safely Disposing of Computers and Electronics
When it comes to computer and electronics recycling, you actually have many options available to you. This is partially because of growing environmental concerns, but also because there are numerous laws regarding recycling. In fact, there are over 500 laws in the United States regarding recycling!
Thankfully, you don't have to know all of the details of each of these laws. All you really need to do is find a company that specializes in computer and electronics recycling. If you are a business owner, participating in a computer and electronics recycling program is even more important because failure to properly recycle can cost your business greatly.
Recycling batteries is particularly important simply because we use so many of them and because they contain so many toxic chemicals. Luckily, it is easy to find companies that will accept batteries for recycling. In fact, many retail stores will recycle batteries. These include:
– Best Buy
– Circuit City
– Office Max
– Office Depot
– Radio Shack
Old computers and computer equipment can also be recycled. So, if your equipment is so old that it is no longer useful or if it is so damaged that it cannot be repaired, turn it into a recycling program. With these programs, the equipment will be dismantled and all of the useable parts and materials will be removed. Another option is to donate your computer if it is still usable.
You can generally get computers recycled by handing them over to major manufacturers. These include:
– Acer
– Apple
– Dell
– Epson
– Gateway
– Hewlett Packard
– Lexmark
Many states and counties also have special government programs for computer and electronics recycling. You can contact your local waste management company or local government officials to find out more about these types of programs. These government sponsored recycling programs may be free or you may have to pay a fee in order to use the program.
The Growing Field of Electronics
It is amazing how quickly we have come to depend on computers, the Internet, and developing technology as integral parts of our lives. Millions of Americans read email, view online videos, take online classes, catch up on the news, buy merchandise, file information, and work on their computers every single day.
This has resulted in a wide range of openings in computer careers, changing the employment arena from one that is a service-based, unskilled labor force to one that now produces skilled, technology based workers.
There are numerous well-paying jobs in the electronics and computer field. An Information Systems Manager needs an advanced technology degree, or needs to complete online training classes, with an average salary of over $92,000. The ISM is responsible for managing the bandwidth, desktop tools, software servers, and networks. They are there to ensure that the businesses' computer systems are working as they should. This job is good for born leaders who are at ease with decision making and are informed about the wide array of potential options.
A Database Administrator is an additional high-income electronics computer career, which has the potential to earn up to $85,000 yearly. Typically, database administrators have earned a bachelor's degree, independent certification, and continuous training. Their job is to keep the office computers safe and data available to the workers. A major benefit of this field of computer electronics is the large amount of jobs available.
One of the things people really enjoy about careers in electronics computers is the degree to which it can be a hands-on career. You can do anything from computer chip assembly to computer software experimentation. Both extroverts and introverts have jobs available to them. Employment options exist for talents from artists to engineers. You'll try a wide range of activities from assembling computers, troubleshooting failures, creating networks to designing software, testing applications, and making websites while taking your computer training courses. To prevent workers overseas from taking our jobs, it seems that Americans are more than willing to fill the computers/Internet skills gap.
Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering
There are number of students who are allured by this rewarding career in the Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering field. With Maths and Physics being the required subjects in Class XII, admission in electronics and telecommunication engineering is done on the basis of entrance test, GATE. After completion in the same, one is offered openings in the public sector, defence, manufacturing industries, sales and marketing. Those willing to choose research and development or teaching or consultancy jobs need to pursue postgraduate qualifications. Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering (GATE) is the qualifying test that has to be cleared by those looking for placement in postgraduate degree programmes. A degree in ME/MTech is two year courses and further specializations are offered through post graduate diplomas or research fellowships.
After pursuing 10+2 students must opt for acquiring technician's qualifications through the 3 year diploma courses that are usually offered by the Technology Training Institutions. Then there is an option for studying for membership examinations of professional organizations or those diploma holders can carry out part time degree course for enhancing their qualification. There are numerous universities that are offering B.Sc Electronics course which can be followed by an MSc in the subject. Additionally, there are specialized B.Tech courses that are offered in varied fields such as Electronics & Computer Sc., Electronics & Communication, Electronics & Control, Electronics & Telecommunication, Electronics & Information Electronics & Power, Electronics & Instrumentation, Electronics & Telematics, Electronics & Power, Electronics & Electrical Communication and many more.
Career Avenues for Electrical and Telecommunication Engineering Students- Organization dealing with consumers, aircraft and broadcast electronics, hospital and medical equipment, satellite, computers, marine navigation, audiovisual test and farm machinery offers opportunities for electronic /telecommunication engineers. The union or amalgamation of technology for telephones, computers, and cable, video and broadcast television requires proficient people skilled in various other disciplines. Engineers from computers, electronics telecommunications/communication have opportunities in a wide variety of companies.
Electronic and Telecommunication engineers are usually required in industries where the working environment varied significantly. Research based professions are carried out in laboratories and as far as fabrication is concerned, these are carried out in showroom. Engineers in Defence, Hospitals, and aeronautics and weather labs are subjected to severe working conditions. However, telecommunication engineers are highly in demand in the manufacturing industries and research and services sector. On the other hand, job involves desk work that expands over a lot of technical calculations, design and testing. Additionally, the field work requires hell lot of traveling and can be at times, physically demanding.
Computer and Intellectual Property
Computer technology plays an increasingly important part in modern society. Computers – electronic machines with an ability to store up and/or process data – are called hardware. The expansion of hardware is astonishing: computers are more potent and computer technology enters more areas of life, not only in technological environments as well as, but also in more ordinary surroundings such as domestic appliances, cars, watches and similar products.
A computer cannot function without instructions. These instructions may be embedded into the hardware, for example in ROMs, but most frequently they are created, reproduced as well as distributed in media which are separate from the computer hardware. Computer programs for personal computers are distributed on diskettes or CD-ROMs. Computer programs are created in a programming language which can be understood by people trained in that language. That form of appearance of the program, which can be on the computer screen or printed out on paper, is usually referred to as the source code. Another form of appearance is called object code, where the program is transferred into the digital values 0 and 1. In this form the program is incomprehensible for persons, but it is machine readable, for example from a diskette and in that form it can be used really to organize the operations of the computer.
Typically the computer hardware as well as the program needs to be supplemented by manuals and other support material, prepared by the producer of the program, which give the essential instructions and reference material for more advanced uses of the program. The program plus such reference material and manuals are referred to as computer software.
The investment needed for the formation of computer programs is often very heavy as well as their protection against unauthorized copying and use is of crucial significance. Without such protection producers of computer programs would not be capable to recoup their investment and so the creation and development of this decisive side of computer technology would be jeopardized. In countries which have not yet provided adequate protection, it is often only possible to obtain foreign programs which are not adapted to the specific needs of those countries. It is difficult to secure the financing of the essential translations and local adaptations. Computer viruses tend to be much more extensive in countries with inadequate protection, because they are distributed with pirated software which is not subject to the equal quality control as authorized products.
Wholesale Electronics
Wholesale electronics include selling of high end quality gadgets that you can use or wear anywhere and everywhere. China is the first and the best ever to produce consumer electronics, Bluetooth headset, Home electronics, digital cameras, car audio, computer electronics, MP3 Players, MP4 Players, Spy Cameras, Security Products, Electronic Gadgets, PC accessories and many more.
All products are assuredly brand new and top quality. A wide -selection of consumer electronic products are all carefully selected with quality in mind and best quality control. The goal of the company is to provide trust and satisfaction of the customer thus you are assured of honest and helpful dealings with outstanding service before, during, and after the sales. You can directly access the Chinese electronics market online without the hassle of going directly to China and looking for suppliers.
You will not encounter problems in shipping either; once you order products are sent by couriers, air mails or by bulk freight forwarders. Papers and clearances are being taken care of by the courier companies, simplifying the process for importers.
All products sold come with a 12 month warranty. Whole ale customers and drop shippers are provided with full after-sales services. Warranties apply equally to wholesaler orders and drop shipper single item orders. A three months fix free service is also offered meaning for the first three months after the product is bought and there is something wrong with the quality of the product you can send back and fixed for free.
Wholesale electronics competitive wholesale/drop ship discount prices on all products are usually offered. Attractive bulk pricing is available on inquiry while drop ship customers are given single piece discounts.
Liquidation Electronics
There are certain gifts that are always on Christmas lists. If you know what these gifts are and you can offer the best price on them, you are likely to be able to make a great amount of money this holiday season.
One of these things is electronics. No matter the age of a person in your family, they are likely interested in some type of electronics. For the kids it's video games and toys that are more electronic than toy. For the teens it's music players like iPods and personal DVD devices as well as some more advanced video games. For adults the iPods are still popular as are a number of other electronics from plasma screen TV's to better computer electronics to make their lives easier.
For you, the key is to be able to find these liquidation electronics at a low enough price where you can still sell them cheap and make a great profit. After all, with this year's economic climate, people are being very careful where they spend their money. Many will pass up buying presents for many of the people on their list, unless you can offer them a deal they just can't ignore. That is what you should be able to do with liquidation electronics.
Where to Get Them
Getting liquidation electronics is not that hard. There are a number of liquidation centers across the country that are always selling off pallets of goods to the highest bidder. Many of these pallets are filled with liquidation electronics.
What To Know
It is important to note that not all liquidation electronics are good ones. There are always a number of waste items in liquidation electronics lots. These are items that are pretty much meant to be just parts. Others may be broken and need minor to major repairs.
Find out what you can about any liquidation electronics lot before you make a purchase. If they are all returns and many may be broken you may want to pass on the purchase, as you don't want to be stuck with a number of broken items you can't sell.
If you have some electronics know-how, know your limits. Be aware of what you can fix and what you can't and purchase the liquidation electronics accordingly. If you are able to repair some very cheap liquidation electronics and turn them around and sell them, you have the potential to make a very large profit.
How to Find New Electronics Stores
Do your friends often refer to you as a geek? Do you get excited when you see new gadgets for sale? One thing is for sure, technology is growing at a rapid pace and it seems that new devices are being invented every day. If you are into new products in technology, you will find many new electronics stores to help you.
It seems that we have gone from a society run by industry to one operating almost entirely on technology. Everything in our lives today is run electronically, from our refrigerators to wireless phones and computers. Electronic products change so fast today that they almost seem outdated the moment they are put on the store shelves. In order to promote these new products, there are many new electronics stores that have come on the scene lately to provide sales and customer service to assist the buyers. Here are a few of those stores:
* Fry's Electronics
Carrying everything from computer parts to televisions, radios, electronic science projects and many other products, Fry's has become a headquarters for technology enthusiast who are looking for the newest and best products available.
* Sony Electronics
Originally known as a manufacturer of televisions and radios, Sony repositioned itself into a leader in electronics and new technology. Rebranded as Sony USA, they also carry movies, music, video games and telecommunications devices. Anything that has to do with entertainment is carried by Sony.
* Radio Shack
Begun over 50 years ago as the Tandy company, Radio Shack had been known originally for selling handheld pocket calculators and radio controlled models. It continued to grow and keep pace with technology, becoming a leader in cutting edge technology. Radio Shack continues to be one of the best new electronics stores in the industry.
* Amazon.com
Not only is technology changing, but the way we purchase items is changing as well. Many people prefer to make their purchases online and Amazon.com has positioned itself as one of the leading online stores in the world. Carrying just about anything you can think of, they are thoroughly entrenched in the sale of electronics as well. As society continues to grow more comfortable with buying online, stores like Amazon will become even more popular.
* Best Buy
Featuring a full line of electronics at discounted prices, Best Buy has become a very popular store for those looking to find new technology. Carrying not only the usual electronic devices, but also cameras, electronic guitars, games, toys, appliances and everything else you can imagine. Best Buy is one of the most progressive of the new electronics stores and is beginning to branch out into the Asian markets. They have also come out with a unique division that caters to providing customer service and installation of their products called "The Geek Squad". This has been a very successful campaign and has made Best Buy very popular with the consumer.
Guide to How to Buy Cheap Computer Speakers
Not everyone has the know-how of can be bothered to be all technical when it comes to choosing computer speakers. This guide shows how to sift through the information unnecessary to the average consumer to come to the right decision.
Hopefully you've read my previous entry on what to do before you even start looking for speakers. Narrowing down your choices will make things a lot easier. Having your core needs pre-determined makes the selection process more about fulfilling supplementary criteria, rather than the basic requirements. Furthermore, you don't want to spend your precious money on a set of fancy speakers only to find you don't need all that power. I mean, that's why we're looking for CHEAP computer speakers here aren't we? That said, at this point you would probably start comparison shopping; that is, searching at different online retail outlets for the best deals on the best products based on prices and consumer reviews. This is a fairly extensive process that can be quite time consuming and overwhelming.
The SMART way of looking for your ideal product online only consists of one step: compare reviews and opinions. That's about it. If you're just a casual user, you shouldn't have to know too much technological jargon involving S/N ratios, frequency responses, drivers or even power supply wattages. Think about it, if people feel qualified enough to post a review, chances are they'd already know enough about all these. Even if they're not, you're getting an honest review from a layman just like most of us. Sure, there are bound to be some dissenters who only put extreme scores due to a personal experiences but it's easy to weed these out.
A good way of starting would be to post in an audio or computer-based forum like Audio Forum for opinions, or browse through existing threads. Look through recommendations and search them at review sites like CNET and Test Freaks for professional and user reviews. Narrow your options further, and pick out the ideal one. Of course, this site also does all that, without the hassle of combing through a million other web pages, but it's good to keep your options open.
If you want to be more specific about it, there are other things to look out for when searching online. It is still most efficient to read through reviews when taking these into account, however. Without getting into technical specifics, I'll try to break down what else you should be searching for when browsing through your options:
1. Brand
No one wants to be labeled a brand-whore, but in the case of electronics it is often prudent to go with trustworthy brands. There's no guarantee that they'll be any better than no-name alternatives but in general this is true. Electronic brands build their image over years of high performance, so if it has a good reputation you can be certain it won't be a bad product. Also important is that good brands often offer much better customer support, both in terms of warranties and servicing issues. With electronics, it would be preferable to get at least a year warranty on products in case of faulty wiring or parts, and support centres should be easily contactable. In addition, if it is a well-known brand/model, you can easily post a question online if you have a problem and people would be able to help you more easily as some might have encountered them before and may help in resolving the issue.
Examples of common, established brands for computer speakers are Creative Labs/Creative Technology, Logitech, Altec Lansing, Cyber Acoustics, and JBL.
2. Looks
Some people consider this an excessive superficiality, while other consider it the crux of their choice. If your entire room and/or computer setup is color-coordinated or themed, it might be crucial that your speakers fit in. For better or worse, most speakers are almost always entirely black, perhaps with matte silver accents. In fact it's often the better choice when it comes to cheap speakers, as the really cheap, lousy ones tend to be this off-white, greyish shade that ages into a disgusting yellowish-brown tinge over time. Trust me, black is safe and timeless. Besides the color, some speakers are uniquely shaped, like domes or phalluses or otherwise. If that's your thing, it would probably severely limit your choices but they do exist.
3. Controls/Peripherals
This is a bit more important. Most speakers come with a power switch and volume control, but you may need more utility controls on the speaker set itself. These may include basic EQ adjustments like bass and treble, central/surround volume control, a manual subwoofer control (very important in my opinion) and left/right balance. If you're in a situation where you need to constantly switch between headphones and speakers, it would also be useful to have an audio-out/headphone jack so you don't have to inconveniently reach around behind your PC to unplug your speaker's cables. Many speakers these days also have an audio-in or MP3 jack for your headsets and MP3 players respectively.
4. Audio Quality Testing (optional?)
Now, what I mean here is if you intend to go to retail outlets and test speakers out. While this may seem like a good idea, the fact is most computer/electronics stores that sell computer speakers aren't always the most conducive environments for sampling audio. The speaker positioning is weird, the acoustics are bad, the surroundings are noisy, you can't concentrate and most importantly, it's not a good representation of where the speakers are going to be after you purchase them. Still, it may be good if you're narrowed down to a couple of choices and you just want to decide based on your physical exposures to them.
If you do get the chance to test them out in decent conditions, or if you just want to test your speakers after purchasing, these are what to look out for:
– Firstly, be sure to try them out with different types of audio; this means different genres of music, movies, games etc.
– Make sure there isn't any distortion or noise produced.
– Highs should come out crisp but not annoying. They should not be weak and tinny.
– Mids should be clear, smooth and pronounced. The majority of the sounds produced in music tend to come out in the mids.
– Lows should be tight and punchy, not overly muffled and boomy. If you have a subwoofer, make sure they don't sound too separated from the satellites, and should be the sole providers of the low end rather than involving the satellites. Cheap subwoofers tend to sound muddy and undefined. If you're just using a 2 speaker setup, make sure you can still head the bass clearly as cheap 2.0 speakers most obvsiouly lack in this area; you should feel the lows 'hitting' you in the chest.
– The sounds should meld together without any overpowering elements. Especially important with subwoofers. If they feel a bit off hopefully there is an EQ setting in the speakers or in software that can remedy that.
As I've mentioned and as evident by this somewhat banal list, comparing reviews online really is the definitive way of searching for your best option, especially if you're not into comparing technical specifications and all. It's best not to stick to one site, as one person's opinion might not reflect yours. Compile a number of reviews, both positive and negative, professional and user-generated, and decide which is for you.
Modern Computer and Its Features
There has been a debate as to when or who really invented the very first computer. The answer would be so vague that it truly depends on the person whom to relay the question to. Historians may refer to abacus as the very first computer invented and used by human. This was discovered around 5000 years ago in Asia.
The very first computer with modern use was discovered during the Second World War. This was when a group of engineers and scientist came up with a digital calculator that was originally named Electronic Numerator, Integrator, Analyzer, and Computer at the University of Pennsylvania.
This electronic device has a number of vacuum tubes-18,000 to be exact. The main feature of first invented computer was its capability to sum ten-digit decimal up to 5,000 in just one second. It has a total number of 1,500 crystal diodes. It also had approximately 10,000 capacitors and the parts are fixed with 5 million soldered joints. It was extremely heavy and weighed thirty tons and run over 150 kilowatts of power.
It functioned for a short time after the tube failed to run during the period of shifting temperature. The first invented computer was also able to function better when the engineers and scientists let the computer on for a long time. The tube failure reduced considerably and the rate even improved.
The interesting feature of first invented computer- Electronic Numerator, Integrator, Analyzer, and Computer was its capability of being reprogrammed. This allowed this electronic tool ton also resolve computing problems. It was even used for some government missions and research. At that time, this computing device was considered as an extremely advanced tool that was incomparable to the existing revolutionary calculators. The drawback however is its incapability of storing information which challenged the existing scientists then.


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Hello and welcome at KF Solutions !
Let me introduce myself : my name is Rob Roos ,
I live in the Netherlands, near Rotterdam and I am happily married.
I have for about 18 years of experience in IT , and the latest 12 years I have been specialising in AIX and Linux.
Do you need help with your AIX or Linux installations and configurations ? Call me !
If you need high availability or virtualization for your bare-metal servers ? Call me !
Also , if you need a certified IBM instructor for AIX I can make a plan with you for a tailormade course or a standard IBM course.
With my experience and certificates I am sure we will come to solutions !


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LOCATION ONE| EDEN ROC at CAP CANA
Picture perfect setting for this ideal hotel located just steps from the sand! It started with a dream—a passion to create a five-star boutique hotel experience in the Caribbean. And it was realized in one of the most beautiful places on earth, Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic. At Eden Roc Beach Club , they offer a fashionable and fun setting to enjoy the natural pleasures of sun, sea, sand as well as the more urbane pursuits of fine dining, spa and wellness, and shopping. Accessible only by guests of Eden Roc at Cap Cana hotel and members, the Beach Club provides an intimate setting to connect with loved ones, new friends and yourself. The unique concept for Eden Roc at Cap Cana blends the impeccable standards of the great resorts along the French and Italian Rivieras with the warmth and relaxed charms of the Caribbean. Worth checking out the next time you need to relax and be pampered in the Dominican Republic
LOCATION TWO| CASAS del XVI
We had the pleasure of resting our heads at the beautiful Casas del XVI. Nestled in the heart of the oldest city in the New World, Santo Domingo's Ciudad Colonial, the houses that make up Casas del XVI offer travelers the chance to step back in time to experience the vibrant culture, romantic architecture and stunning monuments born of the Spanish settlers. The area is a mosaic of museums, recondite theaters, ancient monuments, outdoor cafes, delectable restaurants, enchanting nightlife and romantic historic colonial homes. Offering travelers an authentic, friendly, bohemian experience. Check it out the next time you find yourself in Santo Domingo, DR.


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Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.
You will find below information about Nagoya airport. Use the links below to read detailed information about Nagoya airport: location, route maps, live departures and arrivals etc.
Skyscanner allows you to find the cheapest flights to Nagoya airports without having to enter specific dates or even destinations, making it the best place to find cheap flights for your trip to Nagoya airports. Use the links at the side of the page to browse for flight information or use the flight search controls above to start a new search.
Route Map
|Tokyo (TYO) (Japan) airports
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Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.


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Dana works a shitty job in a shitty hotdog wagon. When Criss passes by for a bite to eat he is in no mood for bullshit because he just got fired from his job. After numerous fuck ups and rude comments he demands to speak to the manager. Since the manager isn't available he has no choice but to write up a complaint. When told to stick his complaint up her ass, he does exactly what he's told and sticks his big complaint up her big ass. Collapse
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I was born and raised in the Fraser Valley, near Vancouver, British Columbia, the oldest child of my parents – who would have 9 more children. Both of my parents are Christians, and raised me up in, as Ephesians says, the nurture and admonition of the Lord. One day, when I was five years old, I was playing with some friends when I suddenly began to wonder if I were to go to Heaven or Hell when I died. I talked to my mom about it then and there, and she explained to me how I could get saved. I trusted Jesus Christ as my Saviour there in the basement of my home.
I was fourteen years old when I first felt that God wanted me to preach the gospel – whether as a pastor or as a missionary. Only a couple of years later my family moved to Ontario, close to FaithWay Baptist College of Canada. Two years after I finished high school I began to attend FaithWay in pursuit of a Bachelor of Theology degree, and I graduated with that degree in 2008. I graduated from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta with my Master of Divinity degree in 2017.
In 2009 I became a professor at my alma mater, where I remained full-time until spring 2015. I taught several freshman classes, piano and voice lessons, and I was responsible for the two-year Greek program, which I am still teaching at FaithWay online.
For several years, until 2015, I was a pastoral assistant at Mississauga International Baptist Church, running the music ministry, directing the choir, and preaching and teaching occasionally.
I met my wife, who is a lawyer, while at the church, when she was looking for a place to article once she finished her law degree at Dalhousie. We were married in 2011 at the Halifax waterfront. The Lord blessed us with a son, Jannik, in 2016.
At the end of June 2015 we moved back "home" to Nova Scotia. The Lord opened up a door for me to become the pastor of this church, fulfilling a great desire of mine to be a pastor.
May the Lord bless our church for His glory.


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Following the recent news that Björk, Jeff Mangum, Codeine, Yo La Tengo, Neon Indian, and Other Lives are set to make their way to Spain next June for Primavera Sound 2012, the festival have added a few more bands to the line-up.
Justice, The Afghan Whigs, Mazzy Star, A.A. Bondy, Buffy Sainte-Marie, AraabMUZIK and Grimes will all be present next year.
More bands will be announced in the coming weeks/months, but until then, head over to www.primaverasound.com for ticket info.


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$ 24.99
The Black Wealth Calendar puts wealth-building principles in front of your family every single day of the year. Designed by legendary Finance professor Dr. Boyce Watkins, this calendar is just what your family needs to start a wealth-building culture and legacy.
How the Black Wealth Calendar benefits you:
The Black Wealth Calendar features a wealth-building concept to focus on every month of the year. As a result, your family will see wealth building and black economic empowerment as generational principles, not just trends.
Each month has a specific wealth-building principle associated with it, along with a personal quote from Dr. Boyce Watkins and three wealth-building tips. Start the conversation about wealth-building with those you love by providing this calendar as the gift that lasts a lifetime.
* Place your order today. Allow 2-weeks for delivery. Orders placed by December 11th guaranteed arrival before December 25th.
FOR A FULL YEAR OF WEALTH BUILDING AND FINANCIAL LITERACY GO TO www.MyBlackWealthYear.com to learn more about our 12-month program.


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SOURCE: Reebok
The New Reebok Z Walk For The Athletic Minded Fitness Walker.
The new Z Series technology features a new unique bottom geometry offering a lightweight and natural motion shoe for the active, fitness walker.
The Reebok Z Walk offers maximum ground contact and support for your entire foot as you move through your stride.
The shoe is hyper flexible on the bottom yet breathable on the upper and the bevelled heel and second-density foam provide cushioning upon heel impact.
The Reebok Z Walk is available in both Men's and Women's styles.
Client firstname.lastname@example.com


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NOTE : Every now and then, Paypal seems to have issues accepting payments. If you encounter problems making payments with Paypal, please email me at email@example.com and I'll resolve it immediately.
gears of houdini- 2 parts
training level - beginner
individual parts
taxes as applicable
credit card or paypal
This training is primarily aimed at beginners. Its main purpose is to create fully parametric custom gear and then convert them to Digital Assets.
In the second part of the training we look at how to animate the Gear and also create custom materials for it and finally light and render the Gears.
part 1 - Making a Digital Asset
Content Details - 4 Video Chapters (with Audio)
Duration - 56 mins
Price - $8
Lesson Plan
Gear Basic - We start by creating the basic gear design.
Gear Holes - We create the second type of gear required. We use the basic elements that we created in the previous chapter to make the process faster.
Gear Spokes - We create the third and final gear type required for the project.
Digital Asset - We create custom parameters required to control our Gears and finally convert it to a Digital Asset.
part 2 - Animation, lights and materials
Content Details -4 Video Chapters (with Audio)
Duration - 1 hr 2 mins
Price - $8
Lesson Plan
Animation - Creating a a simple keyframe animation for the gears and then controlling the rotation mathematically.
Lighting - Setting up the lighting and the HDR required for reflections and setting up Mantra.
Plastic Shader- We create a slightly old looking plastic shader using the occlusion node.
Metal Shader - We create a brushed metal shader and again use the occlusion shader to add dirt.
REQUIREMENTS - Houdini 12 and above


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Off-duty Edison employee praised for action at Visalia car accident
Matt Duma, a transmission line foreman for Southern California Edison, was asleep in bed when he heard a loud boom and the electricity went out.
Instinctively, he knew what had happened.
"Someone hit a pole," he said. The time was 10:50 p.m. Monday.
He hopped in his car and went to the scene near Riggin Avenue and Demaree Street.
It's a good thing he did, because he potentially saved a man's life through his quick actions.
The wires were down, a transformer was on the ground, and someone was trapped in a car – but the fire department couldn't rescue him because the wires were electrified, the Visalia Fire Department said.
Duma explained to a Visalia police officer that he worked for the electric company and could get the wires turned off.
It took a little talking because he didn't have identification on him.
"I was still in my pajamas," Duma said. "I said, 'I'm with Edison.' "
He pulled out his cellphone and showed the officer photos from the jobs he'd been on, and the officer waved him on.
At the site of the crash, he called substation operators Bryan Cheney and Brent Chavez at the Rector substation in Visalia and told them which lines were hot, and they activated switches and turned off the power.
That allowed the fire department to rescue the trapped driver, who was unresponsive, and get him to a hospital. He was conscious by the time they got him into the ambulance.
"The actions of the off-duty Edison employee were instrumental to the outcome of the incident," battalion chief Danny Wristen said.
Before the fire department could thank Duma, he went home. He knew he would be called to fix the downed line and replace the pole and had to get ready.
Edison spokesman Brian Thoburn said he got a call from Wristen to say that the firefighters didn't get a chance to get the off-duty employee's name.
"Matt personifies Edison's commitment to emergency response and coordinating with our first-responders," Thoburn said.
Lewis Griswold: 559-441-6104, @fb_LewGriswold


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A Handful of Earth is a historical fantasy novel, currently available in eBook format on Amazon, Kobo, and Sony..
Literally a 2-foot stack of research material went into writing A Handful of Earth. The book includes many specific historical details of the period, such as period clothing, diet, armor, housing, building techniques, population, religion, cultural taboos, contact between different - and often hostile to each other - cultures and how they learned to get along. The book includes Russian and Mongolian mythology and features a very strong protagonist that has both positive qualities and flaws.
About the Book
As the Mongol Horde draws near her tiny Russian principality, a spinster princess Yaroslava fears the worst. Her father is too old and ill to organize the defense. Yet her people would not follow her because she is a woman. The princes from the neighboring city-states and principalities won't come to help because of the old feuds. Worse yet, Yaroslava receives a foretelling that she will betray her people.
Yelnik, the principality's throne town, falls. Most of its defenders perish. Attractive women and craftsmen are taken into slavery. Yaroslava herself becomes a slave, destined to serve the Mongol khan as his concubine. In captivity she faces many enemies. Among them are: a Russian slave with a grudge; a fellow concubine that can kill with the power of the evil eye; her uncle whom Yaroslava mistakenly thinks she can trust.
To survive and regain freedom for herself and the other slaves from Yelnik, she will break a religious taboo against using magic, commit treason and defeat Vodyanoy, an elemental being that wishes to imprison her soul in its river for eternity.
Reviews (Excerpts)
- "[...] It's a saga replete with psychological tension and struggle, and is a top recommendation." - Diane Donovan (Midwest Book Review)
- "An in-depth and detailed fictional story of an intriguing part of history and culture. The story is both captivating and magical. " - Sabotia (Amazon)
- "[...] I would recommend this book to any historical fiction fan or someone who enjoys reading about Russia. I am looking forward to reading other books by this author. " - Anne B. (Amazon)
About the Author
The rest of the time Larisa is a writer of fantasy, paranormal and historical fiction. She is a Reiki therapist, an animal whisperer and a communicator with ancient monuments (from a few thousand years back).
Larisa Walk was born and raised in Siberia, north of the Arctic circle where she grew up among Northern Lights, dilapidated Soviet era apartments and endless snow. Writing has been in her blood since childhood. She lives now in California with her Husband and two formerly homeless cats.
Larisa is working right now on a sequel to A Handful of Earth.
Links to the Author and the Book
Link to Larisa Walk's Website
Link to the Book A Handful of Earth with Excerpt on Amazon


text: The IMD create a three dimensions product by transforming a decorated plastic piece. Starting by printing a flat film, then preformed it and finally get it moulded by a plastic transformer. This technology presents multiples advantages. It makes it possible to preserve the quality and the flexibility of the impression obtained by serigraphy all while giving it the desired form.


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Genre | Puzzle
Developer | [-BipolarDesign+]
Platforms | PC
Website | http://bipolardesign.itch.io/paragon
Paragon is a puzzle game in which the player directs a sphere around levels in order to collect gems and gold. The player can only control the sphere when it is moving along the various rails of the level. The player controls the sphere by launching it in one of the two directions perpendicular to its movement along the rail. Encountering spikes causes the sphere to be destroyed, at which point the player must restart the level. The player beats a level when all gems are collected.


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Hello current comsuners of Marbury & Associates services!
Please feel free to visit this site for current updates on the practice and information about your mental wellness.
E-Counseling & Apple
Are you presently a client with at least 6 completed sessions in office? Do you own an iPad or iPhone? If you meet both criteria you are eligiable for using FaceTime for your counseling sessions. FaceTime can be used for early in the day appointments, appointments on snow days, vacation appointments, and emergency appointments. Ask about it at your next session!


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My name is Kim Carlos Rehn. I'm a graphic designer at the digital agency Creuna in Stockholm. With a recent two year diploma from Berghs School of Communication, and a three year bachelor degree in graphic design at Dalarna University.
The photo above shows a little bit of me and my interests, get to know me and I will give you a bigger picture of me and my work. Give me a call!


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Searle, Rosalind; Den Hartog, Deanne N.; Weibel, Antoinette; Gillespie, Nicole; Six, Frederique; Hatzakis, Tally and Skinner, Denise
|DOI (Digital Object Identifier) Link:
|Google Scholar:
|Look up in Google Scholar
Despite the central role of trust in the organizational sciences, we know little about what makes people trust the organizations they work for. This paper examines the antecedents of employees' trust in their organizations drawing on survey data from over 600 European professional workers and managers. The results revealed direct as well as indirect relationships of both HR practices and procedural justice with trust. The relationships of both HR practices and procedural justice with trust were partially mediated by perceptions of organizational trustworthiness (in terms of perceived ability and trustworthy intentions of the organization). Justice and HR practices were also found to interact such that justice forms a stronger predictor of trust in organizations when HR practices are less developed. In addition employees' dispositional propensity to trust explained significant variance in employee trust in their organization, even when it was controlled in our analysis. The implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.
|Item Type:
|Journal Item
|Copyright Holders:
|2011 Taylor & Francis
|HR practices; propensity to trust; trust; trustworthiness
|Academic Unit/School:
|Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) > Psychology and Counselling > Psychology
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) > Psychology and Counselling
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)
|Item ID:
|Depositing User:
|Rosalind Searle
|Date Deposited:
|05 May 2011 11:27
|Last Modified:
|07 Aug 2019 08:49
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What services do you offer?
Wedding and Event Cinematography, Social Media Videos, Corporate Videos … pretty much anything video!
What is your style of filming a wedding day?
We have a cine-journalistic style which means …
Cine – we do MINIMAL direction in some parts of the day where everyone is just chillin' and waiting for the main events. Don't worry, there won't be acting involved since it's real life anyway!
Journalistic – 95% of the day we will be like ninjas trying to capture your wedding day
Do you travel?
YES. DEFINITELY! TAKE US ANYWHERE! There will be no travel fees for weddings within 70 miles radius of Los Angeles, California.
What camera equipment do you use?
We use Canon Mark III and the like. For sure only cameras that deliver HD quality imagery!
Why is wedding cinematography very costly these days?
Some people think that all we do is point the camera and record the whole day which sounds easy right? But here's kind of what happens behind the scenes:
* We study and get to know our camera like the back of our hand from aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, Kelvin, frame rate etc…
* We know when to be at the right place at the right time since everything is only ONE TAKE. (Can't really make the bride march down the aisle twice right?)
* We invest in high-end gear. To name a few, we have heavy duty tripods, light stands, multiple cameras, bunch of lenses, audio equipment, lights, slider, drone, stabilizer, computer.. .basically we carry A LOT, and I mean A LOT of equipment.
*POST PRODUCTION! After an 8 hour day, we produce an average of 200 gigabytes worth of footage per wedding and that's a lot of gigabytes!! We go thru each clip and find the best moments, listen to all the speeches and ceremony again to find the right tone of music, lay it out in a timeline, research for the right song, lay out the chosen clips in the timeline, lots and lots of trial and errors, fix all of the audio, color correct each clip, play back the video for the 300th time, export and upload!
It's a lot of work but we LOVE IT!
How long will it take for us to receive our films?
For weddings/events:
10-15 weeks
For social media influencers:
7 business days PER VIDEO excluding weekends and holidays. An additional 3 days if you have re-edits. We highly suggest giving us at least 10 working days per video before publishing.
How do you deliver your films?
Everything is delivered online.
For weddings/events:
We deliver thru a personalized online platform. You will have your own private online link that never expires! It like having your own website where you can watch, download and share your wedding videos.
For social media influencers:
We deliver thru dropbox for easy download and access.
How many Cinematographers do you have?
There's a total of 4 pioneer cinematographers in the team but we only take 3 on a wedding day. If you're a social media content creator, it depends but usually 1 videographer is enough.
Who will pick the music?
For weddings/events:
We do for 2 reasons. ONE, we can only use licensed music or else we can get sued! TWO, we try to pick a song that matches the emotion of your wedding day and this takes a lot of research and trial and error.
For social media influencers:
You can pick a song or we can do it for you. There is a separate fee for licensed music. It can range from $50.00 to a few hundreds depending on the song you want.
Do you need us to feed you?
For weddings/events:
Yes and we would be more than grateful otherwise we might faint!
For social media influencers:
If it's an 8 hour long shoot, meals will be greatly appreciated.
I'm ready to book! How do we get started?
1. We require that you book your wedding venue and date first.
2. Contact us for a list of packages.
3. We will then send you a contract and invoice.
4. A 30% retainer is required to complete booking. The remaining balance will be due 14 days before the wedding day.
And you are all set!
What are your rates?
For weddings and event, we start at $4,300
For social media videos, we start at $500/video
Please contact us for a full list of packages.


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The Key To Productivity: Single Tasking12 Comments Posted in Personal Development
Image courtesy of paulworthington
In my previous article, I wrote about multi tasking and how it actually affects our productivity. In this article, I will elaborate on the advantages of single tasking and how it can actually help us get more things done.
Single tasking
Single tasking is a philosophy of doing one thing at a time and this is a philosophy that Leo at Zenhabits practice. This is also my preferred method of doing things as I believe that one thing at a time will help me to get more things done compared to multi tasking.
Why Single task?
Single tasking is just like taking a complex question(multi tasking) meant for an undergraduate and try to rephrase it into a simple(single tasking) enough question that even a 10 year old kid could understand and if one could choose, I believe everyone will prefer simplicity rather than complexity.
Some benefits of single tasking:
1. Speed – Single tasking does not stretch our focus in all direction which result in us to be able to focus on our current job. With better focus, we tend to do things faster, thus we are able to complete it in a shorter amount of time.
2. A simple system – Single tasking is a simple system and one of the best way to implement it is by using a "to do" list system.
3. Quality of work – Single tasking allows us to devote all our resources into a single task which result in a higher quality of work.
How To Implement The Philosophy Of Single Tasking
1. To do list – Using a to do list is a great way to kick start your habit of single tasking. A to do list works in a way that you will need to do one thing at a time and move on to the next task and this run under the same philosophy of single tasking. This system allow you to monitor your progress because you are checking off the tasks that you had completed in the day.
2. Pen and paper – Pen and paper is one of the ways to create your to do list. At the start of your day, just brain dump the tasks that you will need to complete by today and check them off whenever you complete your task.
I personally keep a to do book and it does help me to get things done and keep track of how productive I am for the day by looking at what type and how many tasks I had completed.
3. Online to do list – There is an online application called Now Do This and it is a very simple application which you can use as your to do list.
Now Do This work in a very simple way. All you need is to click the "edit list" and type out each task in a new sentence. Whenever you complete your task, just click the "done" button and keep on doing it until you had completed your entire task.
You can also keep the page at the side of your browser to constantly remind you on what task you need to do today.
Step by Step
**Note** I'm using Mozilla Firefox on Windows Vista
1. Book mark the page Now Do This.
2. Click your "bookmarks" button followed by "organize bookmarks". Search for "Now Do This" bookmark and click once on it.
3. Click the "more" button and check the box, "load bookmark in sidebar"
4. Restart your browser and click the Now Do This bookmark and you should see it as a sidebar in your browser.
Example of side bar
You can also create 2 list or more by adding a @ in front, so that you can toggle between the list such as tasks that you want to do now or later.
Parting Words
Here are some more simple lessons for you before I go. Keep your list short, focus your effort on one thing at a time and complete all your tasks that you had listed. If you can stick to this, this will be one of your best system that you can use to enhance your productivity.
Single Tasker
**P.S** What system did you use to aid you to get things done? Do you use a to do system as well? See you in the comment section. 🙂
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Comment RulesI have a name so do you. Please use your name in the comment section and I hope to connect with you soon. My name is Vincent, so what is your name?
12 Responses to "The Key To Productivity: Single Tasking"
hi vincet
ur to do list is great..
its really useful..
Your idea of taking break after 1 and 1/2 hr works well to recharge for next task….
Thanks a lot….
keep it up Good job
Great article. It's really too bad that everyone tries to multi-task these days. We tend to pride ourselves on it. Unfortunately, it's just not that efficient.
Hello Vincent,
I think the Internet and Multi Tabbed Browsers like Firefox prevents me to do single task at a time!
As a mother to two young kids, I find multi-tasking necessary often enough. But I like the idea of single tasking too!! Single tasking allows me to slow down and be fully absorbed in one activity. I give complete attention to each moment. My mind is nowhere else – just here and now! Great article!!
I find that I do my best work while single tasking. The only thing I need to remember is to take a break! I don't mean a "lets browse facebook/twitter" kind of break. I mean a full disconnect, like going for a walk, getting a glass of water, etc.
Great breakdown of the concept of single tasking. 🙂
Yeah, I agree. I've always used a traditional pen/paper to-do list. I'd be lost without it.
I really don't think there has ever been a time where people live through each day so distracted by different 'things'.
In fact, I think those who work online (particularly bloggers) are some of the most guilty for trying to do too many things at once.
Seconded, thirded, or where ever we are by now! 🙂
I like to think of focus as a PC processor: it can only accept one request for attention at a time (unless you happen to be an oddball with a dual core brain).
You could either run an OS like DOS and give priority to one process. Or, you could run an OS like Windows and give a mixed priority to a number of tasks, all of which have to queue up according to priority. Then, every time you switch focus, you have to go to the the new task manager you have to implement and ask which task deserves attention this time. Sure, the latter is flashy, has variation and feels productive, but which is going to take the least work in the long term?


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First Collodion F*cK Up 2018 :-)
So.. after the brief Van Dyke tour of course wet plate could not be left behind. Checked the chemistry about a week back and was able to shoot a test plate today to see if all worked accordingly. Cranked open those speakers (a working space without music is like coffee without the coffee, impossible!) and cleaned three 4×5″ plates. Decided to shoot outside as I'm currently still rearranging the studio place. Looked to be dry all day and had a nice flower in mind (skulls are so boring, even for testing).
Collodion batch from 2016 so slow but contrasty. Developer from 2017 so should work together just fine. First plate; dark with some highlight spots as I still had some sun (and wind). But no fogging so chemistry fine, plate merely underexposed. Second plate, changed flower, and just dark because it got darker fast. Third plate; looked like rain was coming after all, so made a bit of a hurry and forgot to put back the slide after exposing…Putain! So, aside from shooting wet plate I also got around testing my wonderful extensive vocabulary lol 😉 All works just fine!
Anyway, too lazy for cleaning a fourth, let alone a fifth plate and having gotten what I wanted in a way, I decided to leave it at that. Next step; pick a decent subject and shoot some actual plates!
Building Darkroom No. 7
Yep, it's that time again 😊
Trying to rebuild my darkroom again. Not going as good and fast as I hoped but it's slowly getting there… 😊 Moving can be quite demotivating but I know why I'm doing it..
Interview with Forum Beeldtaal.tv
Dear all,
It has been awhile, and again, a lot has happened.
In short we got a call on the 26th of January that in four weeks we had to leave our beautiful place in Margraten. 4 weeks to move two large working spaces and a full blown living space… And not only did we have to move in these few weeks, but also to find a place in an even shorter amount of time…
One week later we signed the papers for a new place, lovely place, smaller but very beautiful and still place for a darkroom etc.
And now we have moved 🙂
I was asked by Jorgen Polman to do an interview for Forum Beeldtaal which he runs, and this was recorded the same day I took down the working space. Enjoy the video and I will post more soon!
ThinkTank Video Rig 24 meets Black Art Woodcraft Camera
I love to take my camera out in the field, to make collodion images on location. I prefer that over studio images. The only issue that kept me busy of the last few years? How to transport the camera when traveling. Until now I just put the camera in the car, no protection, and dragged it everywhere I needed it to be. I had seen one photo bag that I figured could hold the camera, the TinkTank Logistics Manager, but it was so expensive I never actually tried it.
As some of you know I work in a photo store in Maastricht, Foto Rembrandt (feel free to chime in and say hello if you're nearby ;-). and two weeks ago I went with my colleague to a special 'dealer' day at one of our suppliers. This specific supplier Transcontinenta has, among other brands such as Leica, Gitzo, Lastolite etc, ThinkTank bags. I decided to take my camera to them to find out if they have a bag that would actually fit my camera.
They did! I ended up with the Video Rig 24, one of their largest bags on wheels. It makes it easy to carry the camera around, fits perfectly, along with some small items such as red light, charger, waterhouse stops and of course the glass plates, camera, lens, back and dark cloth. Needless to say I am really happy! All I need is a new car now as the bag hardly fits in the back 😉
Nutty Specks = Nutty Me
For those following me on Facebook might have seen a post on issues with specks on the plates. It took me quite some time to figure out what it is exactly. I have looked at several options. But it really took ages, at least to me, to narrow it down.
Specks, appearing as little black dots, on the plates (see cropped image above). Not immediately, some plates needed a couple of hours, some took days to show. At first I thought of the silver nitrate bath. I had this before and boiling the bath down solved it back then. Not this time..
I rinse my plates, certainly in studio, for over half an hour. Specks.
I started to use freshly mixed fix before each shoot. Specks.
Collodion bottle was steady before using, no shaking. Specks.
Oeff…nutty specks…the thing I did notice was that the fixer bath upon every mix started to look dirtier and dirtier. I bought the Sodium Thiosulphate crystals, I believe, in 2011. 25 kilos at once; better be prepped I figured 🙂 I guess it's prone to deteriorate over time. I decided to filter it, to the max. A lot of small stuff got filtered out, and the fixer turned out to be the problem! After filtering I was left with a clean fixer bath. No specks!
For the filtering I used a normal cotton pad to wipe of make-up. I pressed it firmly into the funnel (see above image), takes ages to filter a liter but it works!
Contrastique Meets Silvercreek!
This carefully hidden project finally saw the light of day and now the light of my blog 🙂
21st of June
I received a call. I hardly ever pick up my phone so I had to return the call. Menno picked up when I did, marketing manager at the B32 group. He said he saw my website and was excited about the collodion imagery. He asked me to have a cup of coffee with him as he wanted to talk about an interesting proposal he had in mind. The 27th of that month we sat down in a bar in Maastricht and he began to tell the story of Silvercreek, a clothing brand under the flag of Open32 / Blue32, with 65 shops in the Netherlands.
They are in the process of putting Silvercreek into the market as a stand-alone brand, like Levi's and G-Star for example, with their dedicated stores. Silvercreek used to be a small mining town in America, now used by artisans who gave it new life after the mines closed. Inspired by this, Silvercreek thought it would be a great idea bring back craftsmanship and let 'New Artisans' tell their story.
So the first season they approached a furniture maker with whom they worked together. The second season they worked together with Evelien van Zonneveld from Werfzeep, who they visually followed in her process of soap-making, wearing clothes by Silvercreek. They also worked together with Frank Abbenhuis from Witloft, who they also followed in his process of apron-making.
In short "New Artisans" are asked to tell their story in front of the camera while wearing Silvercreak clothing. But also to create something in collaboration with Silvercreek. Evelien designed a special soap together with Silvercreek to be sold in their stores. Frank designed a special apron for them.
Back to the coffee… "So…,Menno continued his story, this brings us to the point why I am here. Would you be interested in being our next "New Artisan" for the FallWinter collection of 2016?"
Wow… I remembered him asking if I wanted to sleep a night over it before answering. No need for that, I replied. Of course I want to do this! He had a thing for black-and-white photography and the craftsmanship involved in making the wet plate collodion imagery. The mood in the collodion images fitted their look-book perfectly so I immediately felt a click with their approach. The only thing was that they were in a bit of a hurry as the new collection would hit stores in September. If I were able to plan a date soon where he would get the entire team together to shoot the event… The rest is history 😉
14th of July
9 0'clock in the morning, the bell rang. The make-up artist, Judith Pronk, arrived. It took the rest about half an hour more to gather. The rest of the team was made up by: Renee Ferron (stylist), Gijs Spierings (photographer), Sherman Emers (videographer) and of course Menno himself. At first hair & make-up, then clothing. I will let the images speak for themselves, but it was a great day. Lots of laughing, laughing until the tears rolled down my cheeks. Let's say Judith had some work that day 😉 We shot images while me playing around with some of my cameras, some posed, some not so much. But the most cool part was that I was going to shoot a wet plate, and that they could follow the entire process of making them.
Explaining the process from start to finish took up a lot of time, including cleaning and everything. We first decided to do a portrait of me, the camera handled by Erik (focusing and exposing), while the chemistry and handling of the plate remained with me. We then planned to do a shot of the new jeans in their collection to make the circle round but time simply went too fast. When the clock hit 8 in the evening we all said goodbye and a truly wonderful day came to an end. To be continued.
We all kept in touch, I received all images from the shoot (wow), and Menno and I talked about the jeans some more. We both liked the idea to do an actual proper wet plate exposure of both new jeans models, copper for men, and amber for the ladies. So, it happened. On the 24th of August Menno arrived in my studio again, to shoot the jeans. Fantastic! Fabric looks so dead-gorgeous on wet plate! Everyone was happy. The images are going to be used as the campaign shots for these jeans, which is fantastic! They will be shown in a lot of places, even in bus shelters (sorry for all the exclamation marks haha)!
On top of that shoot, he had another proposal for me; As I was now the female "New Artisan" using old photographic techniques, they figured it would be awesome to put Gijs opposite of me as the male "New Artisan" using modern photographic techniques. And that it would be cool if I were to shoot Gijs for these series. WowWowWow! Never expected that to happen! So, I had to shoot a part digitally, funny as I ended up using a Canon EOS 5ds (I don't like working with Canon AT ALL, but it was okay ;-)) But I was also asked to shoot a wet plate of Gijs, one with one of his cars, and one portrait just like mine.
Images of my shoot:
26th of August
I took of to Veghel where we planned the shoot at the "Koekbouw", an awesome industrial spot there. The even more cool thing about this shoot was that Gijs normally photographs cars, Mercedes for example. And I just happen to love cars so it all came together! He arranged two cars for this shoot and I would follow him while photographing these. One was a Ferrari 348TS, and the other an old Mustang from 1965, both in impeccable condition. Both awesome as hell! Once again a great day! For collodion however, it was quite hard; temperature that day was 31 degrees. Still issues with my fixing bath giving spots, as became clear after the shoot; rinsing capabilities were limited and no KCN anymore for me. So, not a perfect shoot wet plate-wise but awesome nonetheless!
Apart from the story of Gijs and me, there were two more artisans asked for this edition: a couple working together as blacksmiths under the name of Atelier 79. They designed and produced a special coin for Silvercreek which will be in the pockets of the new male jeans when you buy one. This refers to the coin in mine-workers' jeans to identify the deceased. And a cool necklace for the ladies in the shape of a paroquet, which were used in the mines to warn for gas leaks. Great people to have met and I'm looking forward seeing their atelier in person!
Images of Gijs, shot by me and edited by Gijs, the man himself
12th of September
The big national presentation of the FallWinter Collection 2016 🙂 Everyone, every employee in their stores, all who helped, all who modeled, got invited to join the presentation party which was held at the Koekbouw in Veghel. Of course we went too, and it was fantastic beyond words. Menno told me a little of what was going to happen but he kept the best part silent. We got there at around 7 in the evening. Got something to eat and drink, and watched all people walk in Silvercreek clothing, which was a pretty surreal sight on its own.
The jeans on wet plate collodion, 8×10″:
An official opening speech, live music, and a place where all new collections of all brands they represent at Open32, were shown. At a little over 10 we got to the special event that was announced earlier on that evening. It's where they were to introduce their new jeans line in a spectacular kind of way. We were invited by Menno for a little sneak-preview before that moment. Luckily. Because what I saw when we entered that space…it was quite moving. This space is huge, about 100 metres in length, and impressive on its own. It was the same space we used for the shoot a few weeks back. To dress it up properly is quite the challenge. They succeeded. Big time. The space was entirely empty except for 4 HUGE drapes hanging from the ceiling behind each other in the middle of the space. Each drape spanned 5 by 3 metres… and contained my wet plate images! The first was the portrait of myself, the second the amber version of the jeans, the third the portrait of Gijs and the fourth the copper version of the jeans. I was stunned and overwhelmed. I never expected anything like this.
After that private sneak-preview everyone was invited into the hall, and the jeans were presented in a different coolish manner-style. Menno bought an SRV-wagon about a year ago and completely revitalised it, turning it into an actual driving Silvercreek selling point, which contained all the new jeans. Everybody received a special coin upon arriving that evening and with that coin, it became clear that it was to be used as a voucher for a free pair of new jeans for everyone! Cool huh! Everybody jumped the wagon of course 😉
The evening ended with some lovely dancing on beats and strings from the band. And with that this story also comes to an end. For now that is. This story is anything but over so….to be continued 🙂
Above images of the presentation courtesy of Erik Slangen.
Check this link over here —> sc-fw-2016-magazine-3108_lres_spreads for the original pdf of the new Silvercreek Magazine and knock yourself out!
Credits: All images where I am on, unless stated otherwise, copyright by Gijs Spierings Photography.
My Private Little Forest
I love forests, trees, wood and what-else-is-there-not-to-like-about-these-matters. We had some trees cut up in our garden past year and we kept the lumber, for burning it later on. But these branches looked so great I took them into my studio. They're part of a lumber-studies, not sure in what form or series these will fit but I just love them. It's great to be shooting plates again, especially when they work out so nicely, at least to me!
The only thing I am having issues with is the varnishing. Except for a plate or two being 'eaten' by the varnish, I never had any problems with it. And that issue is easily fixable by adding a bit of water.
Now I had issues with the varnish not running over the plates properly, resulting in awkward nasty ridges and parts not covered in one pour. I figured it might be because of too little alcohol so added some more. Eventually it seemed to pour better but the plates dried unevenly. With that I mean streaks turned out matte and others glossy, random, not showing hints as to why. With these last plates I cut back on heating of the varnish and plate which seemed to help quite a bit so for now I'm satisfied. Though not completely as it's still not perfect and that just puzzles me. In the process of ordering a fresh batch of alcohol and spike oil so that I can make a new batch, even tough this one is actually pretty new. TBC.
All images shown are Wet Plate Collodion Black Glass Ambrotypes, either 8×10″ or 10×10″.
So Fresh and so Clean Clean – Part 2
So…After the first experiment with polish-machine-style-plate-cleaning there's always a second, with improvements of course. The first thing I wanted to solve was moving of the plate during polishing. This machine has a disc that rotates at 3200 times per minute = 53,33 times per second… Try that by hand 😆 This puts forth some power on the plate which makes it a little nervous on a flat surface. I already tried solving it by putting some gaffer tape on the table but that was not enough.
Now I decided to put some small boards on two sides of the table, pointing towards the corners thus each other, and letting them stick a little over the surface of the table so that a glass plate could be positioned alongside them. That way I could push the plate towards the corner without having it fall off. It worked a whole lot better but still the plate had the tendency to hoover a little over the table's surface. Than Erik came along and made me a square wooden board on which he put a glass plate. He then put 4 long cocktail sticks along the plate sides and fixed them to the board with gaffer tape. That way the plate was sort of clamped in between the sticks and I could easily polish. I placed that board design along the smaller boards I earlier screwed into the sides of the table so it stayed put on the table and…Tadaaa, problem solved!
I then put the table in the middle of the darkroom and the second problem of spattering the cleaning substance all over the place also got solved. What a glorious evening 🙂 I was able to incredibly lazily clean the plates for a commissioned portrait shoot this Wednesday, awesome!
So Fresh and so Clean Clean – Glass Cleaning Lazy Style!
I love wet plate. In fact, I love everything about wet plate! Except for…cleaning the plates 🙂 So, it might be a bad habit but I look for shortcuts, no concession in outcome of course. I use a dishwasher for the first cleaning cycle. And then you still always have to scrub by hand using the chalk cleaner. Polishing and polishing, overheating etc. You know. That stuff. So, Erik said the other day; might it not be an idea to use a polishing machine for that? Hmmm….
So, I got meself a polishing machine and went for it! Interesting. It works. So, that's good. Start is as usual; pour cleaning solution on plate:
Put polishing machine on plate:
Turn it on:
Right, no image there as I needed both hands to keep this thing under control 🙂
…Do a lot of cleaning afterwards! Ha, that stuff goes everywhere! In a radius of 2,5 metres all was covered in chalk mixture! Quite funny; it works, saves quite a bit of energy (if you leave out the cleaning afterwards) and it's fun: because, well, machines just are. I will find something to fix this as I like it. I hope you did too 😉
Wet Plate Collodion Demo During MABP & Tefaf
(Sorry, Dutch text today)
11:30 uur Ontvangst van de gasten
12:00 uur Presentatie 'Maastrichtse Drukkers'


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In the 1980s, a number of Maori artists began working in clay and expanding the scope of their art. Although some artists who were teachers in the New Zealand Department of Education in the 1960s had explored clay art, the movement began to develop its greatest momentum under Manos Nathan, Hiraina Poulson, Paparangi Reid, Baye Riddell, Wi Taepa and Colleen Waata Urlich.
Nathan, Poulson and Reid introduced their clay art to the New Zealand Crafts Council at a meeting in the mid-1980s. Present were the director and the crafts advisory officer for the Arts Council and myself as director of the Central Regional Arts Council. The pieces were raw and exciting, but they did not conform to the highly developed British and Japanese-influenced pottery style that had evolved in New Zealand. The work failed to excite the crafts adviser - but I knew when I saw the pieces that this was a significant development in the history of Maori art.
Nathan, Riddell, Taepa and Urlich, as exponents and teachers, were the major influences on this Powerful new form of Maori art. Nathan and Riddell were recipients of a Fulbright Award that allowed them to spend several months working with clay artists in New Mexico.
Nathan, Riddell, Taepa and Urlich continue to develop their careers on the international art scene with exhibitions in Australia, the United States, Canada, Britain, Asia and Greece. Their work is featured in several publications on Maori and New Zealand art.
Equally important was the clay art of Shona Rapira Davies, now established as a leading New Zealand and Maori artist. She created large-scale public clay installations and sculptures that endure today as major works of New Zealand art.
Paerau Corneal was the next significant artist to join the main group. Young artists now emerging include Davina Duke, Carla Ruka and Cameron Webster, who have a sensitivity of touch that is of their own generation. Other clay artists are coming from the Toihoukura Maori art school based in Gisborne.
Atsuo Okamoto, the Japanese sculptor, sat on the hill overlooking the sculptors for three days, sketching and making mathematical calculations. By then the Africans were confused by him and the Maori bemused. In 1990, Sir Peter Elworthy, a prominent New Zealander and farmer and his wife, Lady Fiona of Timaru, worked with John Tahuparae and me to put together a sculpture symposium on their farm estate, Craigmore, in south Canterbury province. This conference included several Maori and African sculptors and a Japanese sculptor, and we learned much from each other's distinct approaches to sculpting stone. There was also much joviality, deep discussion and understanding of each other's cultures. The African artists - Matamera, Mukomberanwa, Ndandarika and Takawira - imaged the unknown spirit within the rock and drew it out instinctively, chip by chip. Where they caressed the stone, the Maori artists attacked it with gusto and power tools, roughly establishing the form, then sculpting the detail.
Word was that Okamoto was lazy. On day 4, he strode down from the hill with his plan. Much to the horror of the other sculptors, he mathematically smashed his stone, carved the pieces, then over the next week proceeded to glue them all together again. The result was an Okamoto masterpiece. He had hollowed the rock, placed river stones in the middle of it, glued it together and then carved the outer layers. Okamoto was sponsored by the Japanese government, and he later took Brett Graham to Japan as his assistant. Graham has since become one of New Zealand's foremost sculptors.
In 1982, the first of the contemporary Maori art schools, Tairawhiti Polytechnic, opened in Gisborne under the leadership of Sandy Adsett, Steve Gibbs and Derek Lardelli. These three became the driving force responsible for helping young Maori learn their traditional language, dance and music, as well as for developing the modern skills of painting, sculpture and weaving. Earlier, Ross Hemera and Robert Jahnke had taught a Maori art program at Waiariki Polytechnic in Rotorua. Later, Adsett left the team at Tairawhiti Polytechnic to found Toimairangi School of Maori Visuai Culture in Hastings, one of the many new Maori arts schools forming under Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
Other Maori art schools now include Wananga o Raukawa, whose main tutors are Kohai Grace and Diane Prince; the Wananga o Awanui a Rangi, with tutors Julie Kipa, Rangi Kipa, Wi Taepa, Christina Wirihana and Kura Te Waru Rewiri; Massey University under Professor Robert Jahnke, Shane Cotton and Rachel Rakena, and many Private schools whose teachers are leading Maori weavers, such as master weaver Erenora Puketapu Hetet and her husband, master carver Rangi Hetet.
Shane Cotton, Brett Graham, Michael Parekowhai, Lisa Reihana and Peter Robinson have been leading the third generation of important artists in the contemporary Maori art movement. Strongly intellectual and creative in their approach, they reflect the state of their generation of Maori. A "tidal wave" of young Maori artists is rapidly following in their tracks. They are the graphic designers, filmmakers, new technology artists, fashion
Designers, contemporary weavers, jewellers, performance artists, poets, writers, animators and business entrepreneurs.
MAORI CULTURE since colonization in the 1800s has become more a "way of life" than a bloodline. There are now an estimated 500,000 people of Maori ancestry, and to find a person who is not of mixed blood would be very rare. The continuing ownership and building of tribal houses and the ongoing Practices and teaching of Maori ritual, art, language and history maintain the strength of being Maori. What we look like, how we sound and what we think or define ourselves to be is something for future generations to decide.
"We look into the eyes of our ancestors and then we turn away."