text:
Photo Credit: lovelihood via Compfight cc
The countdown has begun. Valentine's Day is right around the corner and you are determined to make the day special. Dinner and a movie sounds like a solid idea, but all of the good restaurant reservations have been snagged. Not to worry. We have nine last minute Valentine's date ideas that are sure to impress.
Nothing says true love like a little healthy competition. If you're looking for a ridiculously good time, look no further than your local bowling alley. We dare you not to laugh as you lace up some goofy bowling shoes and nail your first gutter ball. Create a silly wager for the loser and make sure to keep it fun.
Pottery Painting
We know what you are thinking, but hear us out. A paint-it-yourself art studio is a great way to spend some quality time together as a couple. And there are plenty of pottery options outside of tea cups and kitten statues. We're partial to cereal bowls or coffee mugs in our favorite team's colors. The best part? You'll walk away with not only great memories but also a fantastic memento.
Photo Credit: hermitsmoores via Compfight cc
Lets face it, Valentine's Day can get expensive. Between the gifts, the flowers, and the fancy dinners, February 14 can put quite the dent in your wallet. Instead, throw on your favorite walking shoes and head out into the great outdoors. Scenic hikes make for a unique date idea that you are sure to remember. Whether you live in the city, a quiet neighborhood or the middle of nowhere, there are plenty of places for you and your Valentine to explore. Protip: Pack a picnic to enjoy in a quiet spot.
Tasting Room
From your local winery or craft beer brewery, to vodka and whisky distilleries, tasting rooms are everywhere these days. Even Starbucks offers a coffee tasting room.Take your love out to sample a few beverages where you'll learn about the process, the perfect food pairings and their drink of choice. Knowing their favorite wine or beer is also a great way to score points on future occasions.
Miniature Golf
Grab some knickerbockers and brush up on those CaddyShack references. It's time to hit the links. Well, mini golf that is. Spend some quality time outdoors with your loved one and try to beat their score with this classic date idea. Make some bets before you play to keep things interesting. For a throwback experience, look for a place that has mini-golf, batting cages and go-carts to create a triathlon of events for your day.
How about getting lost in the world of culture for a few hours? The only planning required is picking the museum. Remember to keep it light and fun. Enjoy some romance under the stars at a planetarium, trade opinions at the modern art museum or marvel over the latest science exhibit. No matter your preference you'll get to take a leisurely stroll hand-in-hand with unique backdrops.
Maybe some heart pumping action is more your speed. Feed your inner instincts and boost your adrenaline with a couple rounds of paintball. It's fun. It's energizing. And who wouldn't love the opportunity to blast your significant other with red paint, without any ill consequences? There are tons of paintball fields around the US with all of the equipment you will need. Check out PBNationfor the closest field to you.
Game Night
Who says you have go out to have a good time? Try a game night with a twist. Instead of playing Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit for the 100th time, break out the old video game system. Anything that starts with SEGA or Nintendo will do. If your's hasn't stood the test of time, play them on your computer.Visit old friends like Mario, Sonic and Pacman. Throw in a pizza for dinner and spend the night showing your partner why you made them your player 2!
Kitchen Showdown
Still have your heart set on dinner? How about a little kitchen showdown? Prepare two baskets with some of your Valentine's all-time favorite ingredients. Throw in at least one "challenge" ingredient to test your skills. Spend an hour cooking and vote on the best meal. But the real prize? Having fun in the kitchen together.
Widget Administration not found.
There are multiple root elements. Line 18, position 2. (C:\Inetpub\vhosts\probuiltsteel.com\httpdocs\admin\web.config line 18)X
©2019 ProBuilt Steel Buildings. All rights reserved.


text:
Google has a showcase of interesting placemark collections which you see when you download Google Earth. One of the collections. which has not yet appeared here, is Turnhere.com. They have a simple collection of placemarks showing the locations of videos which tell a story about different towns around the US. I like the short, professionally produced, videos which show candid interviews of people who live in these mostly rural towns and their views of why they like the town. One of my favorite videos is of the Yo-Yo museum in northern California. Just a chance to do a little sightseeing. Check it out!
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Abandoned by her teenage runaway mother in London, Rosie Garland, as she was eventually named, was raised by adopted parents in rural Devon. Although brought up in a loving home, the countryside idyll of the West Country never quite satisfied the essence of this "cuckoo in the nest" and, as soon as the independence of adulthood gave her the opportunity, she left behind village life to explore her emergent unconventional identity.
Moving to Leeds, joining a Goth band and coming out, Rosie finally found her feet, and voice, as singer and performer fronting Sisters of Mercy label-mates The March Violets from 1981. However, although the Violets gained critical recognition during Rosie's tenure as front-woman (alongside front-man Simon Denbigh) she suddenly disappeared from the line-up and the public eye in 1984.
The reason for her sudden departure paints a bleak picture of England in the early 80s. On the one hand, like so many others that didn't fit into Thatcherite social norms, she had become increasingly disillusioned by the oppression of a steadfastly Conservative Britain. However, it was when a friend became a victim of the Yorkshire Ripper that she felt she could no longer remain in a country that, at the time, had little to offer but despair and oppression.
In preparation for shooting her portrait Rachel spoke at length to Rosie starting with how her youth, her time spent in Africa and her complex sexual identity contributed to her transformation into her hyper-lascivious alter ego Rosie Lugosie the Lesbian Vampire Queen and found out why she chose to base herself in Manchester when she finally felt she could return to the UK in 1986.
You can listen to the first part of their discussion here or jump to part 2.
See all of the interviews here.


text:
Congratulations to Andy Barrie, former CBC broadcaster, on being awarded the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honour. This CBC story says that Barrie "left the U.S. and moved to Canada during the Vietnam War". But if you listen to this interview, you will hear how Barry "left" and "moved": he had volunteered for the war in Vietnam, then deserted, and fled to Canada.
Andy Barrie is a war resister, and was a deserter. (Do you hear that, Jason Kenney? Andy volunteered and deserted, and he was still allowed to stay.) Andy has been a longtime and active supporter of the War Resisters Support Campaign and of our current group of resisters to the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Thank you, Andy Barrie, for being in Canada, and for choosing peace.
andy barrie, war resister, awarded order of canada
Posted by laura k at 12/31/2012 09:00:00 AM
Labels: canadian culture, history, war resisters
4 comments:
- boyd reimer said...
Thanks for setting the record straight.
Hopefully all who read this will also help to spread the news and set the record straight in the New Year.
Then it will be a Happier New Year.
Happy New Year
- Tuesday, January 01, 2013 11:18:00 AM
- laura k said...
Thanks, Boyd! :)
- Wednesday, January 02, 2013 4:51:00 AM
- John F said...
I guess we have confirmation that the Order of Canada is not controlled by the PMO. Go war resisters!
- Wednesday, January 02, 2013 8:55:00 AM
- laura k said...
Ha, good point! Also explains why, in the new citizenship guide, the Order of Canada gets very little mention and Canada's highest honour is a military honour, the Victoria Cross.
- Wednesday, January 02, 2013 9:44:00 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Remember the sixties and early seventies when bead curtains were popular with the flower children? Bead curtains are really making a big comeback, and are more intricate and extremely beautiful than ever before. They are being used in many different ways to spruce up a tired room or apartment.
Faceted Bead Art is an internet site that offers this type of curtain. They offer many beautiful and unique patterns to make your own Privacy Curtains out of beads. These can be used as window treatments or to divide a room in your home. The styles include a rainbow, dolphins, vine and floral pattern, the American flag, stripes, and many other designs.
Blacklight dot com, has curtains made of shapes and beads that glow when a black light is being used. This is a very unique and unusual way to decorate a bedroom for a teenager or a preteen. While curtains made of beads have been around for quite some time, and the use of a black light has been popular with the younger crowd for a while, it is unusual to see them both together.
Oriental trading's online store, has an eight strand, beaded mini disc curtain. It isn't clear how wide the curtain is but it appears to be an attractive curtain. This site has many unusual and unique products that are suitable for gift giving, at a reasonable price.
Picture of Privacy Curtains is awesome for your furniture design idea at home. The image Resolution 1600 x 1063 px and the image size only 584 kb. Our Readers select this photos as favourite in Curtain Category.
Sponsored Link:


text:
Sending your elderly parent to an adult day care facility can give them a chance to socially interact with others and allow you to get a much needed break. However, in order to select the day care center that best suits your parents, it's important to find out more about the following topics before signing them up.
What Levels of Ability are Served?
Your parent may be able to get around on their own and have full control of their mental faculties today, but as the years go on, they may start to have additional health issues that change those things. It's a good idea to find out what kind of adults go to the day care center to determine whether your parent will be able to go to the facility if their health should change.
How Many Staff Interact with the Adults?
It is important to find out how many staff members are on hand to interact with and help the adults at the day care center. This will let you know how much attention your parent will receive.
What Kind of Medical Staff is Present?
It is a good idea to find out how many health care providers is with the adults at the day care center on an hourly basis. Is there a nurse in the facility at all times? Are there certified nursing aides on hand? Is a doctor easily reached? Having professionals at the facility can help set your mind at ease about your parent as they are away from you for hours on end. That can also help them to feel better about being among those they don't know very well; knowing their health will be cared for may help them relax in the new place.
Are There Outings?
One thing that might set one facility apart from others is that it provides trips to the movies, beach, museum and other locations. This will provide something for your parent to look forward to.
Can We Start Slow?
While you may be interested in finding a good day care facility for your parent, they may be less than enthusiastic about the idea. It might help them to ease into the schedule at a facility by only attending an hour here and there.
Use the information here to help you find the best adult day care center for your aging parent. Talk with activity coordinators at different facilities (such as one from Independent Days Adult Care Center, Inc.) to learn what each place can offer your loved one.
During my first pregnancy, I spent a lot of time pushing pillows behind my back trying to find comfort. As the size of the baby grew, so did my discomfort. By the time she was born, I was more than ready to give birth. When I found out I was pregnant again, I was determined that I would not suffer through the same discomforts. I started researching ways to ease the symptoms of pregnancy, including back pain. I created this blog to help other expectant moms find remedies to deal with those symptoms that can be emotionally and physically draining.


text:
Virginia Beach, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1371
Erected 2008 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KV 15-a.)
Marker series. This marker is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps marker series.
Location. 36° 55.091′ N, 76° 3.201′ W. Marker is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Shore Drive (U.S. 60) and Virginia Route 347. This marker is located within the park itself on the campground site in front of the park Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2500 Shore Dr, Virginia Beach VA 23451, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. First Landing State Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Seashore State Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Land Ho! (about 300 feet away); Chesapeake Indians (approx. 1.4 miles away); Meeting of Three Commanders (approx. 1.6 miles away); First Landing (approx. 2.3 miles away); François Joseph Paul de Grasse (approx. 2½ miles away); Battle of the Capes 1781 (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia Beach.
Categories. • African Americans • Environment •
More. Search the internet for Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1371.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2018. This page originally submitted on June 13, 2008, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,174 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 13, 2008, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. 2. submitted on October 13, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 3, 4. submitted on June 16, 2008, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
Editor's want-list for this marker. More photos of the Seashore State Park • Photos of the unveiling held June 14, 2008 • Can you help?


text:
- Home
- About
- Membership
- Events
- Education
- Advocacy
- Resources
- Members Only
Lobby Day
What is Lobby Day?
MLTA Lobby Day gives our members an effective way to let members of the General Assembly know MLTA's positions through personal meetings, ideally with constituents. Lobby Day is a premier event that unites MLTA members with Maryland lawmakers to advance policies that affect Maryland property rights. MLTA Lobby Day discusses public policies regarding important topics such as title insurance, disclosure, mortgages, and taxes. We will identify Participants' Senators and Delegates, and try to set up a 10-15 minute appointment to discuss relevant issues with those representatives. In 2019, we will meet on February 6, at 8 am, at the Historic Inns of Annapolis; 16 Church Circle; Annapolis, MD 21401.
Why Should You Participate?
Lobbying provides elected and appointed officials with the information they need to make the best decisions for their constituencies. The information and education you can provide may be critical to the decisions that legislators make on issues that concern the title industry. Legislators respond to constituents and to personal contacts.
Why now?
In 2017, we opposed SB 76, an effort to rename the Land Records Improvement Fund to the State Judiciary Technology Fund, and we were in favor of a bill that would do away with the requirement for an attorney certificate of preparation on deeds of trust. Plus, one never knows what may occur in any session, and we want to be prepared to deal in an effective manner with any issues that arise. A possibility would be anything that may arise out of the Select Portfolio case (Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. v. Saddlebrook West Utility, LLC, et al., (Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, No. 1911, September Term, 2013), August 31, 2016), which will be argued in the Court of Appeals on March 6, 2017. We want the members of the General Assembly to know who MLTA is and what we stand for, and the way to do that is to introduce ourselves. Going forward, in 2019, it is incumbent upon our industry to keep our faces in front of decision-makers.
What do I need to do?
Sign up! It's never too early. We will have talking points prepared for all participants and will provide some tips on approaching legislators. We will meet in Annapolis in the morning. We provide lunch for all participants who desire to stay to debrief after the meetings with legislators.
Submit questions to [email protected]
Register Online for Lobby Day
Mon Dec 9, 2019In-Person Pre-Licensing Class
Category: Live Event


text:
In the final and easily most combative portion of Matt Lauer's three-part exclusive interview with Karl Rove, the Today co-anchor assaulted the former White House advisor, on Tuesday's Today, with accusatory charges on the run-up to the war in Iraq to the handling of Hurricane Katrina, to his role in the CIA leak scandal. The most volatile moments came during the Iraq and Katrina topics where Lauer's line of questioning began with reading a harsh line from a Rove critic, usually one of his media colleagues from the Washington Post, to Rove, as seen in the following heated exchanges from the March 9 Today show: [audio available here]
MATT LAUER: The book only comes out today. Already the critics have gotten a hold of it. And some are saying this is 500 pages of you rewriting history, that this is putting the best possible spin on some very controversial episodes. Dana Milbank, who wrote about the Bush White House for the Washington Post writes "That business about President George Bush misleading the nation about Iraq? Didn't happen."
[On screen graphic: "That business about President George W. Bush misleading the nation about Iraq? Didn't happen....Condoning torture? Wrong!...Rove had two-and-a-half years to reflect on what turned Bush into the least popular president in modern history. Yet Bush's Brain is still in the war room."]
KARL ROVE: Well let's stop right there.
LAUER: Go ahead.
ROVE: Let's stop right there. He said one sentence. I devote an entire chapter to showing that Bush did not lie about Iraq. In fact, I quote Democrats. There were 110 Democrats who voted for the Iraq war resolution. 67 of those Democrats, including John Kerry, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, on the floor of the Congress said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. So, he may be able to dismiss it in one snarky line, but I have, I have, I have the facts in here.
LAUER: What you write in the book is that the President, President Bush, would not have invaded Iraq if he had known there were no weapons of mass destruction. And what you write is-
ROVE: Yeah.
LAUER: "Would the Iraq war have occurred without WMD? I doubt it. Congress was very unlikely to have supported the use-of-force resolution without the threat of WMD." But since the war Karl, you know so many people have come forward saying there was intelligence, there was intelligence pointing that Saddam did have weapons of mass destruction, but there was also intelligence pointing in the other direction and there were voices of dissent, and those voices were ignored so the President could make his case.
ROVE: Look the intelligence was worldwide agreed that he had WMD. That he had ignored 14 resolutions following his surrender after Kuwait to account for his WMD. He had spent 12 years stiffing the international community. We now know because of two international reports by two international weapons inspectors, Kay and Doefler, that he was diverted tens of millions of dollars a year to Oil for, from the Oil for Food program to keep together the necessary dual-use-
LAUER: But agreement was not worldwide. Here's from, from Bob Woodward's book State of Denial. He writes in October of 2002, the top intelligence officer, Major General James "Spider" Marks, in charge of looking for WMD in Iraq looked at a list of 946 WMD sites and found quote, "He couldn't find with confidence there were any weapons of mass destruction or stockpiles at a single site."
ROVE: Well, that's one, but there were many intelligence...
LAUER: But you said it was worldwide. There was disagreement!
ROVE: There was, there was a consensus. It doesn't imply that everybody agreed, but it implies that the vas-, the preponderance of evidence and the majority of agreement was that there were WMD. And look, this is a bipartisan agreement. It was Al Gore and Bill Clinton, as well as Republicans who said he had WMD. And look...
LAUER: Even former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a memo in 2002 wrote, quote, "President Bush had made up his mind to take military action even if the timing was not yet decided, but the case was thin."
ROVE: Well, he agreed with the decision. And again, the British intelligence also believed that he had WMD. In fact, again, it's a worldwide consensus. You can go back and try and rewrite history, but at that moment, we as a nation were faced with the belief that he had WMD, that he was a threat to the stability of the region, and in the aftermath of 9/11, the calculus changed, and it was, I repeat, a bipartisan agreement.
LAUER: Did, was President, you say the President didn't-
ROVE: And so if the President lied, if President Bush lied then President Clinton lied and Senator Clinton lied, Senator Kerry lied, Senator, Senator Edwards lied, Senator Kerry, Senator Kennedy lied.
LAUER: Did the President share all of the information with the American public, all the intelligence, all he dissenting voices? Because if you go back to your assertion that Congress wouldn't have voted for the use-of-force resolution without the threat of WMD, you don't have to be too big a cynic to say, well of course they beat the drums about WMD.
ROVE: Well, this will be surprising to you. The President was restrained. The President said, "I don't, you know, if there are things that we don't have confidence in, we're not gonna say 'em." In fact, you know, Secretary Powell, for example, went out to the CIA to review the evidence for several days, literally 24 hours a day, talking to the experts, reviewing the evidence to come to his own conclusion. The President encouraged that kind of review. We made the information available to Congress. Congress had access to that intelligence as well.
LAUER: You write in the book that the biggest, one of the biggest mistakes you think you made was not staying on the offensive against the critics of President Bush after this thing started to fall apart. So, the mistake wasn't saying, "Hey, we made a mistake, we got bad intelligence or we acted on the wrong intelligence," you were worried more about the political damage to the President?
ROVE: No what I was worried about was this, and let's be clear about what it was in the book that I talked about, and that is that in July of 2003, on one day, Senator Ted Kennedy goes out and says Bush lied about WMD. This is a man who two days after the vote -- which he voted against the Iraq war resolution -- nonetheless, went out and made a speech saying Iraq has WMD, there are other ways besides war that we can use to constrain that. The same day, Senator Tom Daschle, leader of the Senate Democrats, went out and said the President is misleading the American people. The next day, Senator John Kerry and Senator John Edwards in separate appearances say the President misled the American people, and was lying about WMD. They're joined by Jane Harman. When you have five major Democrats in two days pick up the same line, which they know is incorrect, that Bush lied about WMD, it was a political attack aimed at the heart of the administration and we should have responded more than we did.
LAUER: Let me move on because we've got a lot to cover. Hurricane Katrina, by all accounts, the federal response, the federal government's response in the first couple of days, few days after Hurricane Katrina was a disaster, and there was that picture, Karl, of the President looking out the window of Air Force One, looking down at the flooded region, and, and it made him look terribly out of touch-
ROVE: Disconnected, disconnected.
LAUER: -with the tragedy on the ground. From the book, you write quote, "I am one of the people responsible for that mistake." When did you realize that PR-wise and image-wise for the President, it was a disaster?
ROVE: Well, I knew it was, I knew it was, look, let's put it in context. The President of the United States, if he had dropped into New Orleans that morning, would have discombobulated recovery efforts. They would have had to close the air space. We would have, there would have been, you know rather then, rather then a cargo plane coming in with, with rescue people it would have been President Bush.
LAUER: But that picture almost would have been, was worse than no picture.
ROVE: Well we should, we should have gone to Baton Rouge, which is where the governor was and where the emergency disaster center was, and that's where we should have gone.
LAUER: You also write in the book "We did not have the ability to get realtime information so did not realize the initial reports we were getting were wrong." This is the President of the United States.
ROVE: Sure.
LAUER: Did anyone at the White House turn on the TV? We had realtime information.
ROVE: Well you know what? The media did not have realtime information. For example, the media led people to believe that there were snipers. So, as a result, rescue personnel refused to go into some of the, some of the, some of the-
LAUER: But we showed the suffering though at some of these places.
ROVE: Let me finish, you showed, you know what? And that's the point is, is that you, for example, you didn't know about the suffering at the convention center until the government did, but the government should have known about it earlier. And that's one of the big reforms to come out of Katrina is that the federal government's now aimed at getting realtime information and not depending, as it has in past emergencies, for the state and local people to provide the information about what's going on, on the ground.
LAUER: Dan Bartlett said Katrina was quote politically "It was the final nail in the coffin." Do you agree with that?
ROVE: I'm not sure I agree it was a nail in a coffin, because I don't believe the Bush administration was by any means dead.


text:
SAER captivates audiences with a mesmerizing vocal performance; his heart stopping falsetto and sophisticated melodies deliver spirited lyrics with zeal and sensitivity in equal measure. Performing a blend of experimental-pop and electronica, UK based singer, songwriter and producer SAER is forging a name through live performances, musical collaborations and set to feature on new releases later this year. An emotive singer with a distinctive voice, SAER's song writing embraces curiosity and vulnerabilities in human nature; understanding our weaknesses and how we navigate the challenges of modern life.
SAER recently debuted his single 'Shadows' produced by David Ezra, his follow-up single 'Break' will be available in April 2019. The release will also feature a spellbinding rendition of Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill'.
"Music can act as a time-stamp in life, the possibility of creating something that helps people through trouble or remember a joyful moment really inspires me."
SAER is a multi-instrumentalist that moves effortlessly between stormy electronica soundscapes and minimalist, heartfelt laments. Influenced by the likes of Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake and Imogen Heap, with rousing piano with soaring vocals, SAER conjures a contemporary sound that is both unique and intriguing.
"Hauntingly beautiful" BBC Music Introducing in the West Midlands.
'Break' was self-produced and recorded in the artist's garden studio, where SAER describes himself as a creative obsessive. Experimenting with layers, musical objects and frenetic instrumentation, the result is a gloriously spacious electronic production that blends beats and atmospheric piano chords, which allow Simon's heart-stopping falsetto to soar and exhilarate.
Say hi to SAER here firstname.lastname@example.com
For bookings and business enquiries please contact firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Landscaping Company benefit from The Edge
February 9, 2018
CTC Training & Assessment Ltd have worked with Sharp Paving Ltd to complete three of their team leaders on their Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Work Supervision with some units funded via The Edge, allowing them to obtain their Gold Supervisor CSCS Card.
John Roberts, Managing Director of Sharp Paving said, "The funding is directly responsible for supporting us with this required training. Without it we would not have been successful with our recent tender and we will be more successful in the future when bidding for larger commercial contracts. CTC have been very thorough and professional throughout and supported us to obtain this funding and achieve our qualifications."


text:
What are the most important traits of today's successful leaders?
Managerial Research Methods & Design
Concordia University
Spring 2010
The rapid wealth of top money managers and financiers has spurred my curiosity to understand the world of investment. Especially the world of investment banking, which seems to be a different world of its own, has received not only sharp criticism lately,but applause as well. So, a keen inclination toward studying investment banking will all its beauties and ugliness took birth. Moreover the success and failure of leaders have sharpened our curiosity to mainly understand what characterizes a great leader. In a sense, the question that inspired this mini literature review is: What are the most important traits of today's successful leaders?According to our research, two general themes among many others have been repeatedly identified and will be the main composite of this paper. In this instance the fist focus will be vision. This section will detail what vision encompassed and its significance for a leader. Secondly, the function of a leader will be expounded upon. This part embodied the different abilities and skills of a leader.Researchers have studied leadership from a variety of perspective. Finding this unique set of skills that scientifically can prove or disprove a person as a prospective leader is still difficult. Nonetheless a couple a determining factors have spurred during the years and compel researchers to precisely identify them as a necessity toward greatness.
Leaders are visionaries, there areconcerned about substance. Throughout a careful consideration of the overall picture of the organization, they maintain the organizational purpose and create hope for a better future. Visionary leaders are people creating new ideas, new policies, and new methodologies. They changed the core metabolism of the organization. They are seen as architect. They develop a good sense of calculativeimagination. All leaders have the capacity to create a compelling vision, one that takes people to a new place and the ability to translate that vision into reality. (Bennis, 1990, p. 46). Despite the leader being the keeper of the dream, he/she has to have the abilities to translate that vision into reality which means, clearly develop the necessary mechanism to put this vision into work. So the firstresponsibility of a leader is to define reality (Depree, 1989). Reality in the sense of the achievable and the motivation toward the unachievable.
Leaders who are able to master change do so because they can define a clear vision and, as important, they can show people how to achieve it. Anything less is wishful thinking. Robert Fritz defines this process as creative tension (Senge, 1990), andsays it comes from seeing clearly where one wants to be and then telling the truth about where one is at present. The difference between where one wants to be and current reality generates a natural tension. Such tension can be resolved by raising reality toward your vision or by lowering your vision toward reality. Even if people understand reality, even a reality of desperation, change might notoccur. To change the way we work, we must believe the change will bring something better. It is the leader's responsibility to create this picture of what can be and in the process to create tension. A good vision not only has worthy goals, but also challenges and stretches everyone in the organization. People are speaking the same language; they have the same kinds of informal expectations for oneanother, a more common ground
In addition, vision can be subdivided into four components: organization, future, personal, and strategic. Organizational vision requires a complete picture of a system's apparatus as well as a comprehension of their interrelationships. Future vision is a comprehensive picture of how an organization will look at some point in the future, including how it will be...
Veuillez vous inscrire pour avoir accès au document.


text:
NDO/VNA – The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reviewed the bloc's achievement recorded over the past 50 years and put forth major development orientations for the ASEAN Community in the times ahead.
The ministers are gathering at the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM 50) that opened in Manila, the Philippines, on August 5.
The ministers shared their view that the greatest attainment ASEAN has gained is the building of a favourable condition for peace and stability, helping bring nations in the region closer to create collective strength as well as a dialogue culture and cooperation for their growth.
They assessed the materialisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and master plans on politics-security, economy, culture and social affairs.
In an effort to practically benefit ASEAN citizens, the ministers consented to promote programmes on economic development cooperation and narrow development gaps, increase connectivity, especially through the implementation of the third phase of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) and aims to ensure social welfare.
Applauding the initiative to combine the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 with the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the officials considered this one of the priorities and agreed to roll out a roadmap to boost the reciprocation of the two documents.
Regarding ASEAN's external affairs, they extoled strides made in relations between the group and its partners and appreciated contributions of the partners to the formation of the ASEAN Community. They, therefore, agreed to deepen the partnerships in a more pragmatic fashion.
Solidarity and unity have helped ASEAN overcome various difficulties and challenges, they stated, stressing the need to carry on with such values to reap more success and further grow.
ASEAN should display its common stance on regional issues in order to contribute to peace, stability and development in the region, the FMs stated, agreeing to promote the formation of a law-based regional structure on the basis of current ASEAN-led forums and mechanisms.
They expressed common concern over traditional and non-traditional challenges facing regional security, including the increase of terrorism and piracy, and the situation in the Korean Peninsula and the East Sea.
Mentioning the East Sea issue, the participating countries shared viewpoints on maintaining peace, stability, navigation and aviation security and safety in the East Sea.
He listed stagnant intra-bloc trade, negative impacts of the anti-globalisation movement and the slow application of outcomes of the fourth industrial revolution as challenges to the group.
Against the background, the official suggested upholding efficiency of the ASEAN Community through the effectuation of measures and policies aiming to facilitate the development of all enterprises of all sizes, and combining initiatives in ASEAN cooperation with those of ASEAN partners.
He also stressed the need to enhance education and training, establish a network of agencies and institutes for scientific and technological research, and accelerate the materialisation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration, particularly in the areas of education and training.
At the same time, efforts should be made to fast-track the reform of administrative procedures and operation of the ASEAN apparatus, set common standards for ASEAN meetings and intensify the role of the common coordination mechanism in instructing inter-sectoral issues, he stated.
He also reiterated Vietnam's consistent stance on the significance of peace, stability, navigation and aviation security in the East Sea to regional peace and stability.
Disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and respect for legal and diplomatic processes, he stated, stressing the need for concerned parties to back efforts to build trust and prevent conflicts.
He noted that developing a suitable approach to the East Sea issue constitutes ASEAN's practical contribution to long-term peace and stability in the region and also proves its competence, efficiency and central role in regional and international matters.
On the topic of non-traditional security challenges, Minh pointed out adverse impacts of terrorism and piracy on security and social order in the region.
He also added that Vietnam will work together with other ASEAN members to strengthen comprehensive cooperation within regional mechanisms and frameworks in order to cope with the problems.
- Orient thank football community for Edinburgh support
- New Rolls-Royce science education centre to open in Derby
- New Ederney community centre one step closer
- What sites could be developed?
- John Swinney opens community-built Primary School
- Lewis community project offers chance to remember loved ones
- Community bus service is launched
- Embleton reveals Orient close to new signing
- Orient and Hearts to take part in joint-commemoration
- Ex-Orient defender Clark opens up in new blog


text:
GreenWheel Wants to Make Going Electric Easy for Bikes
Photo via Discovery News, credit MIT Media Lab
How great would it be if you could just swap out the wheels on your pedal-powered bike and - Voila! - it's an electric bike? Well, you might not have to wait too long for that to be a reality.MIT scientists are working on a bike wheel that would allow you to swap out your regular old boring bike wheels for an electricity-generating wheel.
Called GreenWheel, the system is designed so that all the important components - power generation, storage and propulsion - are all encompassed within the wheel. And it can last as long as 8 years or 40,000 miles.
From the outside, the GreenWheel has the radius of a small dinner plate and is about 2 inches thick. Inside the aluminum frame sits the three major GreenWheel components: an electric generator, batteries and an electric motor.
Something so small, durable, and able to be retrofitted to existing bikes could mean an inexpensive option for people looking into electric bikes.
More details about how it works and what knowledge it takes to install it is available at Discovery News.
Via Discovery News
More on Cool Electric Bikes:
The $350 Electric Commuter Bike
CES 2009: Schwinn's Tailwind Bike Uses Exclusive Toshiba Battery Tech (Video)
Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge
Go Farther, Faster on Sanyo's Electric Hybrid Bicycle


text:
Business Listing Search Results
Search results in category Shopping
in Arts & Entertainment, Sports & Recreations, Shopping
Remember all the great coin-op video and pinball arcade games you played as a kid? So do we. We specialize in providing the original, full size video arcade games for sale
4334 San Fernando Rd Glendale, California 91204
t: view phone818-246-2255
f: view fax818-246-2256
Advertisers Do you want to advertise with us?


text:
Product Description
Paleo Crunch Raw Cacao 47g
*100% organic dates, cacao, almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, vanilla, Himalayan salt
Loving Earth Dark Chocolate 70% 30g
*Raw cacao beans, evaporated coconut nectar
Absolute Organic Roasted Cashew Nuts 100g
*organic cashew nuts, salt
Totally Pure Fruits Pear Freeze Dried 25g
*Australian Bio-Dynamic Pear
Totally Pure Fruits Apple Freeze Dried 25g
*Australian Bio-Dynamic Apple
Absolute Organic Potato Chips 45g
*organic potatoes, organic vegetable oil, salt.
Wild Fox Wine Piccolo Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 187ml
*raw organic and preservative free wine
Absolute Organic Fruit & Nut Mix 100g
*organic cashews, organic almonds, organic fried sultanas, organic macadamia nuts.
Please note:
Seasonal organic produce is included within this hamper, consequently from time to time some products may not be available, and similar products of the same value may be substituted.


text:
Company Vertical Adventures Morocco,Todgha gorges
"Hannah chez les grands" one new easy multi-pitch route in "Paroi du levant" area.
The route is at the center of the cliff
L1: 5.10b - 40 m Relay on the right
L2: 5.10a/b - 35 m
L3: 5.8 - 50m
L4: 5.9 - 40m
L5: 5.9 - 40m
L6: 5.10a/b - 50m
L7: 5.10a/b - 35m
L8: 5.10a/b - 20 m
Very well bolted with wafer of diam 10.
You need 12 quickdraws.
2 possibilities :
Walking: See the descent of this area
Abseil in the route.
This route is on the center in the "la paroi du levant"
Area located outside of the gorges, this is the first large cliff that you can see on the left and after Tizgui the last village, 400m before the entrance of the gorges. There is a very big Arabic inscription with stones painted in white at its base.
For approach, take the path above the Berber museum in the old village of Tizgui and under the red and white pylon during 10 min. about, then look at the cliff by following the best paths 10 min yet .
Or since the gorges from the sector "plage Mansour" follow the cliff about 20 min.
Opened and bolted by Julio Soares of "Aventures verticales Maroc" on September 2016


text:
Neuropathic pain or neuralgia is nerve pain that can make you miserable. When you have regular pain, like pain from an injury or pain from arthritis, nerves only conduct the pain signals up to your brain.
For All Types of Nerve Pain
This #1 Bestseller has everything You need with large clearly labeled buttons that are easy to use and read.
It has a variety of settings so that You can find the correct setting that You need for Your Pain.
4.3 stars with over 4,500 reviews
Electrical Stimulation
There are many different kinds of electrical stimulation that TENS units use and these affect the nerves and the pain signal in different ways.
The engineers get involved in all kinds of technical jargon about "wave forms" and "pulse width" that they see on the electrical meters but what really matters is how it feels and if it works or not.
Portable TENS Relief
This small and easy to use unit is lightweight, portable and rechargeable for using on the go.
It has 4 electrode pads that all connect to just one lead wire so it is easy to manage the single wire under your clothes.
Without all of the extra lead wires it is even simpler to use in public.
Still Provides Great Relief
It has 8 preprogrammed modes and dual output design for treating 2 separate areas simultaneously.
Rechargeable lithium battery lasts up to 10 hours between charges.
Simple to Use
Large LCD screen with backlit display is easy to read and use. 20 levels of intensity that is easy to adjust with "+" and "-" buttons.
This unit gives you exactly what
you need, when you need it, and
where you need it.
Pain from the Nerve Itself
When you have neuropathic pain, this is pain that is coming from the nerve. The nerve is not conducting the pain signal. The nerve is causing the pain signal.
It is like the nerve itself is short circuited and causing the problem.
Effective Treatments for Neuralgia
The most effective treatments for neuralgia involve things that affect the nerves.
TENS units can be very effective for nerve pain because the electrical stimulation interrupts the pain signal to your brain.
Professional grade TENS 7000
Easy to use portable unit. This is a complete kit with lead wires and electrode patches, 9volt battery, TENS Manual and carrying case.
Adjustable settings with 5 modes of operation: Burst, Normal, Modulation, Strength Duration 1 and Strength Duration 2. Automatically times and records sessions.
Nearly 3,500 users
give this durable unit 4.5 stars.
Finding the Best TENS Unit
The best TENS unit to use for pain will have a selection of different modes that you can use because pain is a moving target, especially nerve pain.
Use the different settings to find what works best for You!!
The different settings will give you different levels of penetration and different kinds of effects on the nerves.
This will give you different options so that you can find what works best for you and your particular situation.
Everyone is different and
there is no "one size fits all".
You also need a way to adjust the intensity, so that you can make the electrical stimulation that you feel stronger or weaker.
It is not always the strongest stimulation that you can tolerate that works the best for blocking the pain.
Effective Treatment
Scientific studies have shown that TENS therapy is effective for the treatment of chronic pain.
It will also increase blood flow, reduce swelling and speed healing of acute injuries.
Medications Specifically for Nerve Pain
Some of the best treatments for neuralgia involve medications that you can apply directly to the skin so that they will penetrate directly into the nerve.
Some of these have an anti inflammatory effect that stops nerve pain by blocking inflammation.
Nerves are Sensitive
Nerves are sensitive structures. Inflammation from any source can cause a chemical irritation of the nerves leading to nerve pain.
Inflammation can come from sore muscles, arthritic joints or any type of injury.
Check These Comments
4.3 stars with 129 Reviews
This easy to use roll on nerve pain medicine is fast acting and effective.It is recommended for use on its own or in conjunction with braces, splints, gloves, ultrasound treatment, physical therapy & massage.
It is all natural, high quality, paraben free and never tested on animals. Doctor recommended and proven to actually work without any harmful side effects. Anti-inflammatory, rich, moisturizing, non-greasy, stainless, deep penetrating formula.
Has a cooling and soothing effect for fast pain relief. Unconditional 100% Money Back Guarantee.
Click here now to see for yourself! Proudly made in the USA.
Neuropathic and/or Nociceptive
And, it is not always evenly divided 50% of one and 50% of the other.
Some conditions, like shingles or trigeminal neuralgia, will cause a higher percentage of nerve pain.
2 Types of Pain
While other situations, like an injury or arthritis, will generate pain from the pain receptors.
So, what you need is more than one type of treatment to relieve both types of pain. Or, one type of treatment that will relieve both neuropathic and nociceptive pain.
Calms Hyperactive
Irritated Nerves.
Contains Archangelica Root Extract,Beeswax, Benzoic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Palmitate, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil,Dehydroacetic Acid, Emu Oil and other all natural ingredients.
Effective for Shingles,
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
All Types of Nerve Pain.
Effective Nerve Pain Medicine
All natural ingredients to stop the burning stinging pain of neuralgia and neuropathy.
Also with strong Anti-inflammatory medicinal plant extracts. Fast acting topical application with a 1-year guarantee.
Multiple Types of Pain
Often the pain that you feel may be multiple types of pain.
Pain from the pain receptors is called nociceptive pain. This could be pain from an injury or arthritis or many other common causes of pain.
Neuropathic and/or Nociceptive
Pain from the nerves is neuropathic pain or neuralgia. This is often why many treatments only help "a little bit".
It is because they only affect one type of pain when the pain that most people experience is usually some combination of neuropathic pain and nociceptive pain.
Manuka Honey and Cehami
Quickly relieve the burning stinging pain of Shingles. Developed and formulated specifically for nerve pain.
This all organic preparation is loaded with New Zealand Manuka Honey which several studies have shown to effectively eliminate the shingles virus.
All Natural and Organic
Made with natural and organic ingredients like organic Aloe Vera Barbadensis, Coconut oil, Blue Green Algae, vitamins, minerals.
It also contains Cehami, which a botanical extract from a member of the Daisy family that is found in the Australian outback.
Cehami is a natural anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. It soothes irritated nerve membranes.
4.3 stars with over 400 reviews.
People love this stuff!!
Topical treatments that you apply directly to the painful area will often have anti-inflammatory ingredients to reduce painful inflammation but it also reduces the neuropathic component of what you are feeling by reducing the irritation to the nerves.
As I said, nerves are sensitive structures that are susceptible injuries that will cause nerve pain.
Things like chemical irritation from inflammation, pressure from swelling, stretching from exercising, viruses like shingles and many others can all cause nerve pain that requires a special treatment directed specifically at the nerve.
Interrupt or Block the Pain Signal
Please read the reviews.
This stuff is amazing. It works for pains that other treatments have not touched. It is natural, safe and effective with no known side effects or drug interactions.
The active ingredient is capsaicin, a known and proven pain reliever.
Stimulate the Skin
Some scientists think that the sensation you feel when you apply capsaicin or stimulate the skin with accupressure, it blocks the nerve pain of things like shingles and carpal tunnel syndrome.
It can also work for arthritis pain but arthritis pain is a nociceptive pain(pain from the pain receptors) but the same theory applies.
Some people think that accupressure and capsaicin are more effective for neuralgia.
Natural Stone Therapy
This mat has real jade stones that create far-infrared heat and negative ions to reduce pain and promote relaxation.
Easy to operate Smart Digital Controller with temperature, time, automatic shut-off and memory function. It allows you to relax and drift off into a pleasant deep sleep.
110 or 220 volt AC
Solid but flexible construction allows you to lay on it or wrap it around the painful area or limb.
The Ultimate in
Deep Heat Relaxation
The Gateway Theory of Pain
The Gateway Theory of Pain states that you can only feel one pain at a time.
That is why you rub your hand after slamming it in the car door.
Interrupt the Pain Signal
The sensation of rubbing interrupts the pain signal. You feel the rubbing and not the pain from your hand.
This is one of the theories that tries to explain why TENS units work.
Beware the Imitators
Accupressure has been used for thousands of years to promote relaxation.
This mat and neck roll have over 6,000 accupressure points that vitalize the skin and stimulate the release of endorphins for fast effective relief of pain.
It Really is Like Magic
Like magic it induces a state of relaxation that reduces your blood pressure while improving your mood and circulation. All without risk of side effects or drug interactions.
4.6 stars with over 2,000 reviews
It is a #1 Bestseller
The Magic of Endorphins
Another theory contends that things like capsaicin and accupressure mats relieve pain by stimulating the release of endorphins.
Endorphins are those magic little molecules that relieve pain and give marathon runners the "runner's high".
The "Runner's High"
Endorphins are released by your central nervous system and by your pituitary when you exercise, laugh and have sex.
Other things that stimulate your endorphin production include eating chocolate, eating spicy foods and listening to certain types of music.
Similar to Morphine
These molecules activate the same receptors as morphine. They relieve pain and cause a mild euphoria.
Studies have shown that stimulating your skin, such as with accupressure mats or by applying capsaicin ointment can also release endorphins to relieve pain.


text:
Word on the street is that Karl Lagerfeld offered to design Keira Knightley's wedding dress.
See what it's like to see the world through Karl Lagerfeld's eyes.
Check out the 12 things that Karl Lagerfeld can't live without from his favorite pens, white hair powder and his infamous high-collar shirts.
Karl and Choupette – cutest photo ever.
Is Choupette taking the spotlight off of Karl Lagerfeld? Vogue UK
Much ado about Karlisms – you probably already heard it – Karl Lagerfeld is impressed with Victoria Beckham's size zero physique but not so much with Pippa Middleton's face.
Karl Lagerfeld sees himself as a cartoon – and other Karlisms in his interview with The Independent.
Here's a peek at the KARL by Karl Lagerfeld fall campaign.
Karl Lagerfeld shot a glamorous editorial for Harper's Bazaar inspired by stylish ladies Mona Bismarck and Millicent Rogers.


text:
Here we are at No. 1 in The Baltimore Sun's countdown of the Top 5 high school football teams and it's likely no surprise to anyone.
Gilman takes the top spot coming off its 10th Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship since 1998. The Greyhounds should again have the area's top defense as they prepare to fight off their most likely challengers, Calvert Hall and McDonogh, for the A Conference crown.
Now that the Top 5 have been revealed, you can see the entire Top 15 poll as well as the top players to watch in Friday's football preview in The Baltimore Sun and on baltimoresun.com.
To have a look at the other teams ranked in the top five, click on their names: No. 2 Calvert Hall, No. 3 River Hill, No. 4 McDonogh and No. 5 Dunbar.
1. Gilman
Coach: Biff Poggi
Last season: 10-1, No. 1.
Postseason: MIAA A Conference champion
Key players: LB-TE Micah Kiser, Sr.; DL-TE Henry Poggi, Sr.; QB Shane Cockerille, Sr.; LB-RB Miles Norris, Sr.; LB-RB Wyatt Dickerson, Sr.; WR-DB Matt Tilley, Sr.; DB-WR Troy Vincent Jr., Jr.; DE-TE Melvin Keihn, Jr.
Outlook: In a huge turnover season after nearly every big-name player graduated, the Greyhounds lost the most talent -- including Offensive Player of the Year Cyrus Jones Jr. (Alabama) and Defensive Player of the Year Kenneth Goins (Maryland) -- but they also return the most.
Two All-Metro players, Kiser (Virginia) and Poggi (Michigan), lead a defense that should remain the area's best while Cockerille (Maryland) leads an offense that will have to find its identity without Jones, who scored the game winners in both victories last season over No. 2 Calvert Hall, including the 34-32 overtime victory in the first-ever A Conference title game.
For the last two years, the Greyhounds' roster has included many Division I players but it also had that one individual who could change a game. Now, they have to rely on everybody.
"We don't have a Darius [Jennings] or a Cyrus," Biff Poggi said, "but what we do have is probably the most really good players we've ever had on the team or very close to it, so we're going to be a different team but we're going to be a very good one."
The Greyhounds, who graduated 15 players but return 31, swept their A Conference competition last season and lost only to Good Counsel, 26-21, after beating the Falcons in 2010. In preseason, Gilman is ranked No. 2 in Maryland behind Good Counsel, their opponent on the road Friday night, and the Greyhounds were No. 16 in USA Today's preseason Super 25.
In their season opener, the Greyhounds struggled early and lost 35-14 to Ohio powerhouse Archbishop Moeller in Cincinnati Sunday. They trailed 28-0 at the half before Cockerille, playing behind an experienced offensive line, rallied them with pair of rushing touchdowns that closed the gap to 28-14 in the third quarter.
The Greyhounds face one of the toughest opening stretches in the country with Moeller, Good Counsel and next week's opponent, 2011 national No. 1 Don Bosco Prep from New Jersey at the 9/11 Patriot Classic at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. That led one recruiting website, Scout.com, to label their schedule "the Bermuda Triangle."
Whether the Greyhounds escape "the Bermuda Triangle" with a win or not, such an ambitious early schedule will certainly have them -- especially a handful of underclassmen who could play key roles -- battle tested for A Conference competition.
Here we are at No. 1 in The Baltimore Sun's countdown of the Top 5 high school football teams and it's likely no surprise to anyone.


text:
"Sunday in the park with George" is a musical play by Stephen Sondheim based on the life of George Seurat.
A very clever friend of mine was directing the play and asked if I would be interested in collaborating with the group and hold a mini exhibition in the foyer of the theatre.
Naturally I said yes – then panicked – then created two new works for this fantasic opportunity.
I ended up with about 6 pieces on display – these were the two new ones.. again playing with colour for something different.


text:
Ciara McDonnell on how a window becomes a wonderland
THE annual unveiling of the Christmas windows at Brown Thomas might herald the beginning of the festive season, but their production starts way back at the beginning of the year.
Creative director of Brown Thomas, John Redmond, says the process of bringing such an elaborate production to life is a 12-month process. "We start planning and brainstorming, at least in broad brushstroke terms the previous December," he explains. "Next comes the sketching, researching, and sourcing phase. Then once summer arrives the team works full-time to ensure the displays will be built and decorations are handcrafted and finished in time for Christmas.
"In October we go into complete lockdown for two weeks, which is when the magic truly begins."
When it comes to Christmas, Brown Thomas goes all out, and that means scouring the globe for the right props and pieces for the Christmas windows. "Christmas is the one time of the year when Brown Thomas dedicates the windows to pageantry," Redmond says. "The windows are not focused around product, instead it's all about fantasy and the magic of Christmas. Each window has been hand-built and takes approximately one week to construct. Brown Thomas is one of the only retailers in the world to work 'free-hand', meaning none of the team follow guidelines, but hand-craft and finish all decorations."
This year, the Brown Thomas Cork Christmas window is a full-scale collaboration of Brown Thomas staff old and new.
The decision to scale back to the simple pleasure of story telling provided the core inspiration for Redmond and his creative team.
"This year, our windows are about fairytales and enchanted stories, with a stylish Brown Thomas twist. We have teamed up with Irish children's author Ciara Molloy Tan, a former member of the Brown Thomas creative team, to write the story, which is then told across each of the windows divided by scenes." The windows tell the tale of Siún and her little brother Ruairi, who are transported to a magical land, complete with woodland creatures and powder puff fairies.
"They are treated to a Christmas feast in a giant banquet hall, with mulled wine and mince pies, just before Santa arrives to deliver his toys. The Brown Thomas steam train arrives, Santa and the children hop aboard, then it's time to fly home and wake up from their dream."
Display artist Hilda Hennessy, who along with her team is responsible for the installation of the Christmas windows, heads the team at Brown Thomas Cork. Hennessey says that this year's concept is one of her all-time favourites.
"The idea of a 'Store of Wonders' celebrates the art of children's story telling. The concept of children literally getting lost in a story is magical to me — an enchanted fairytale with a Brown Thomas twist."
Children are at the forefront of this year's display, and along with a giant steam train, fairies, and sweet shops there is a secret story displayed at child-height at the bottom of each window, so small people can glean some of the magic at their own level.
The installation of the scenes within the Christmas windows takes two weeks to complete, says Redmond, starting with the ceiling grids. These grids alone can take almost five days to complete.
"Each piece of foliage is hand- woven through the grids at various heights to give the illusion of height and space in the window. As we decorate and build every single element of the window, it takes almost 10 hours per day to achieve the level of decoration we require. And that's just the ceiling. Then the team covers floorboards, installs props, decorates and fills each space, and last but not least dresses and completes the mannequins."
The mannequins are hand-painted and extremely delicate, so placing them within limited window space can prove one of the trickiest parts of the window installation. "The styling team will then spends hours dressing the mannequins before adding the perfect accessories, jewellery, shoes, bags, gloves, and wigs to complete each window."
Hilda Hennessey has worked with Brown Thomas for almost two decades and says he thrill of Christmas never gets old for her.
"I think our grand building on Patrick Street has one of the finest facades of any of the great retail buildings in any European city," she says. "It is a beautiful building at any time of the year, but when you stand back, especially at night, and look at it dressed in all its Christmas finery, with metres of greenery, thousands of fairy lights and fantastical window displays, it is truly magical."
The highlight for Hilda is watching the customers react to her creations. "I love watching family and friends gathering at the Christmas windows, smiling and spending time to take in all the details and you can tell that in that moment they are lost in the fantasy. That is an amazing feeling."
As purveyors of fantasy, Redmond and his team aim to awaken the child within customers each year, something Redmond says is informed by his own childhood. "I always remember being brought to see the Christmas windows at Brown Thomas," he recalls. "There is a picture at home my Dad took of me and my family looking into the Christmas window. Now when planning Christmas windows, I think of that magic as a child looking at the windows and of that family life. "Christmas is a time for children and family." The team hopes visitors to the store will lose themselves in the fantasy they have spent the last 12 months creating.
Redmond adds: "We try to create memories for people, and especially the children who will visit our windows. My favourite part is when the windows have opened and I can quietly observe all the smiling faces of customers and passers-by as they go from window to window."
© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved