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Tuesday, 26 January 2016
Why the Obsession with Pitti Peacocks distracts from the real party
As this season's men's shows close up and the heat comes on to couture, it seems like as good a time as any to reflect on, um, Pitti.
As a journalist and editor, I've been lucky enough to visit tradeshows and catwalk events across the world, from Sao Paolo to Stockholm, Paris to Berlin. In this way, you always see the best of the event - just the good parts and none of the oily gubbins that goes on behind-the-scenes (even backstage is primped, polished and logo'd and ready for its close-up now).
Seeing a tradeshow, in this case Florence's infamous Pitti, from the perspective of the organisers though is a completely different game. In my Oliver Sweeney capacity, I was brought along with our sales team to rep the stand this year, and a few things struck me that never have before about such events.
Firstly, and it perhaps seems obvious, but the amount of effort, care, elbow-grease and money that goes into even a relatively small stand is enormous. Behind every single installation in the Fortenza da Basso (in which over 1000 brands exhibited), there's a huge team of designers, merchandisers, carpenters and installers who make it happen (not to mention the supply chain of the actual products themselves). Stands are either bespoke to each show or made to be transportable - before working at a brand I hadn't realised the scale of international logistics that are required to make it work.
Did you know, for example, that there are hundreds of vans, trucks and lorries from all over the world that queue around the block for 24 hours before Pitti starts? In order to get everything into the fort, they have only 3-4 access points, and everything has to be taken in and out on wheeled trollies. It's the same for fairs and catwalks the world over - in fact if you go down to Brewer St over the next fortnight you'll see a taster of the organisation coming together for LFW.
As a journalist, like I said, you rush around stands glad-handing friends and meeting new brands, marvelling at product but rarely having the time to appreciate the enormous supply chain that's been leveraged in order to put this stand here and now.
It's similar with the infamous Pitti Peacocks. They no doubt have a role to fulfil, but having manned a stand for 4 days, I can tell you that no-one with a caped jacket or with improbable levels of sprezzatura was there to do any actual work - they merely swished by to hang out on the Brunello Cucinelli stand and look achingly cool. As people come by the stand, you start to get an eye for who is who, the hallmarks of old-school international buyers (usually a business case and a young, pretty interpreter), or younger buyers (all-white kicks and all-navy outfits), or press (horrified facial expressions of how much stuff they have to cover, and a big bag full of press releases they don't really want). The peacocks are to Pitti what catwalk fashion is to the British fashion industry: a pleasant bit of theatre and a pretty distraction from the real business.
And I say this as someone who has worn improbable items to fashion week (my mind sticks on a technicolour overcoat that I borrowed some years ago). As with the courtyard at Somerset House, I've always maintained that the peacocks are essential to the fashion world, showing trends, personalities and fresh ways of being creative with fashion. But seeing inside a show like Pitti exposed the process of the industry which I find so fascinating: it's one of the biggest industries in the world, growing all the time and becoming a globally-recognised language.
It'd often difficult in the relentless cycle of seasons, shows and style to remember that. There's so much more to fashion than the glamour. It's why, when looking at shows like the Chanel Haute Couture show in Paris earlier today, I was thinking that's an unbelievable accomplishment. One that's repeated many times a year. It's always good to draw back and reflect - which is my theory (and excuse) for holding back on any AW16 menswear show comments yet. They're coming, promise.
Posted by Unknown at 9:24 pm No comments:
Labels: behind the scenes, fashion industry, Fashion Week, florence, oliver sweeney, pitti, tradeshows
Monday, 4 January 2016
White Tee Tales #1: The Colette Rave Shirt
Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I've decided to do my annual revival of the blog. Hopefully (hopefully) it'll last longer that last year's attempt. The plan this time is to work on two separate tranches of stuff: first off general fashion comment and wine-addled bollocks that compresses conversations with people in the industry with various bits of reading. Second, a series on t-shirts (weirdly predicted in the last post). Maybe that sounds dull? But anyone that knows me knows I wear - and own - a helluva lot of white T-shirts. I've had some of them for years, some for mere minutes, but each one has a story behind it. As do most people's clothes really - if you think about what you have, when you bought it, why you did, and where it's been with you since then, there's pretty much guaranteed to be a story there somewhere. (If you still think this is dull btw, feel free to stop reading at any time.)
Anyway, I've just had a root through my t-shirt drawers, and dug out what I think is the oldest T there. I bought this one *looks misty-eyed into the past* in roughly 2006, from Liberty. It might have been a decade ago, but they used to have a dedicated T-shirt table (it'd probably be called a 'bar' or something similarly wanky nowadays) in the basement, in the days when the building was still linked to the store that's now Cos on Regent St. It cost me, I believe, about £35 - expensive in its day, but not beyond the realms of possibility - and it's from a label called '2K by Gingham'. Google reveals this to be 'a Japanese brand with custom shirts made in the Us featuring leading designers', bt I'm sure I didn't know that at the time.
Back in '06, I was working at Foyles, and on paydays would pop out in my lunch break and pick up something to wear to go out in. Liberty was always a favourite haunt (and remains so; my Mum has always been obsessed with the fabric department there, and I've always thought the menswear floor was expertly-curated), and this table in particular was a source of some of my favourite pieces back then.
I was drawn in by its homonym comparison of two Colettes*. One was the ridiculously trendy boutique in Paris that I'd discovered for myself while living there during my year abroad at uni; at the time it was famed for having a 'water bar' with 50 types of bottled water; the other was the 18th Century author whose scandalous, scurrilous stories of semi-fictional Parisian haute société fascinated me, and formed a large part of my shelf of reserved books in the fiction department of Foyles. This t-shirt also has the distinctive oblong label (now washed to plain) of American Apparel, whose shirts - back in the day - industrious vendors and t-shirt artists would purchase in bulk, screenprint, and then re-sell (the same as my jazzy WoodWood sweatshirt).
I was very proud of this T. I wore it to raves, parties and festivals for years after that; something about the blissed-out faces, French text and specific references (both of which I loved and still appreciate to this day) made it something of a talking point. I don't recall a specific party I wore it to, but I do remember pairing it with the skinniest jeans ever and taking it to many trendy events in Shoreditch, in the days when one of my best mates worked for a then-nascent party machine/'magazine' called Vice. It could have been the first time I ever fell asleep on a night bus, after drinking an unbelievable amount of free black Sambuca, or that might be another night. the specifics are, unsurprisingly, lost to the mists of time. I do recall accidentally ironing over the transfer after the first wash, smudging the coral screenprint, and being mortified - luckily this later washed out.
It's accompanied me to many, many, many events since then, gradually becoming less of a party shirt and more of an everyday, layering piece. It's still in pretty good nick, aside from a small hole on the upper left chest. I'm still loath to part with it because of the Colette reference - the combination of bawdy literature, ridiculous boutiques and Francophile culture is pretty rarely seen - and even now when someone sees it and gets it, I know we'll get on.
Anyway, that's the oldest white T I have in my drawers right now. As ever, apologies for the quality of the photo - I'm a writer, not a photographer. There's plenty more white tee tales to come.
*Translation - Girl 1: "I love Colette so much!"; Girl 2: "The writer or the shop?"
Anyway, I've just had a root through my t-shirt drawers, and dug out what I think is the oldest T there. I bought this one *looks misty-eyed into the past* in roughly 2006, from Liberty. It might have been a decade ago, but they used to have a dedicated T-shirt table (it'd probably be called a 'bar' or something similarly wanky nowadays) in the basement, in the days when the building was still linked to the store that's now Cos on Regent St. It cost me, I believe, about £35 - expensive in its day, but not beyond the realms of possibility - and it's from a label called '2K by Gingham'. Google reveals this to be 'a Japanese brand with custom shirts made in the Us featuring leading designers', bt I'm sure I didn't know that at the time.
Back in '06, I was working at Foyles, and on paydays would pop out in my lunch break and pick up something to wear to go out in. Liberty was always a favourite haunt (and remains so; my Mum has always been obsessed with the fabric department there, and I've always thought the menswear floor was expertly-curated), and this table in particular was a source of some of my favourite pieces back then.
I was drawn in by its homonym comparison of two Colettes*. One was the ridiculously trendy boutique in Paris that I'd discovered for myself while living there during my year abroad at uni; at the time it was famed for having a 'water bar' with 50 types of bottled water; the other was the 18th Century author whose scandalous, scurrilous stories of semi-fictional Parisian haute société fascinated me, and formed a large part of my shelf of reserved books in the fiction department of Foyles. This t-shirt also has the distinctive oblong label (now washed to plain) of American Apparel, whose shirts - back in the day - industrious vendors and t-shirt artists would purchase in bulk, screenprint, and then re-sell (the same as my jazzy WoodWood sweatshirt).
I was very proud of this T. I wore it to raves, parties and festivals for years after that; something about the blissed-out faces, French text and specific references (both of which I loved and still appreciate to this day) made it something of a talking point. I don't recall a specific party I wore it to, but I do remember pairing it with the skinniest jeans ever and taking it to many trendy events in Shoreditch, in the days when one of my best mates worked for a then-nascent party machine/'magazine' called Vice. It could have been the first time I ever fell asleep on a night bus, after drinking an unbelievable amount of free black Sambuca, or that might be another night. the specifics are, unsurprisingly, lost to the mists of time. I do recall accidentally ironing over the transfer after the first wash, smudging the coral screenprint, and being mortified - luckily this later washed out.
It's accompanied me to many, many, many events since then, gradually becoming less of a party shirt and more of an everyday, layering piece. It's still in pretty good nick, aside from a small hole on the upper left chest. I'm still loath to part with it because of the Colette reference - the combination of bawdy literature, ridiculous boutiques and Francophile culture is pretty rarely seen - and even now when someone sees it and gets it, I know we'll get on.
Anyway, that's the oldest white T I have in my drawers right now. As ever, apologies for the quality of the photo - I'm a writer, not a photographer. There's plenty more white tee tales to come.
*Translation - Girl 1: "I love Colette so much!"; Girl 2: "The writer or the shop?"
Posted by Unknown at 9:46 pm 1 comment:
Labels: 2k by gingham, Japan, Liberty, t shirts, tees, white tee tales
Monday, 16 February 2015
The Staple: Russian Not-so-Standard
I felt like there was a connection between crap high-street T-shirt brands and the way that even top-end fashion houses will do a basic T - basic of course is no reflection of the price, but it's an easy buy-in for most, and while around £50 (yes, and upwards) is expensive for these kind of garments in the high street context, but you get into a brand a fall in love with its aesthetic, manufacturing values and general vibe.
Then I realised (after much mucking about with 'arty' lighting [aka me trying to use a £5.99 argos lamp as a lightbox and failing] and a pile of T-shirts) that I really just wanted to write about Gosha Rubchinskiy.
First a little more preface. I am a T-shirt lover. I have waaaay too many (colour-coded, natch) and a drawer just of white ones. Along with jeans/shirts, nice trainers and a crewneck sweater, I live in Ts, and I try to find interesting ones as much as possible.
As with my weird attempts to dress like a football hooligan from the 1980s, I've no idea where my wanting to dress like a skater boy comes from. I'm not very grungy - obvs. But I do like that California style, the whole Kurt Cobain, baggy jumpers and ripped denim, setting out on your board to do tricks and such. I bet it probably has something to do with me being not very sporty as a kid (aren't all these deep-seated desires rooted in our childhood), but tbh I don't really care - and that means you definitely won't either.
But skate style is something that I've always been drawn towards, which is why Rubchinskiy's aesthetic is so appealing. Working in Russia but showing in Paris, the designer is channeling local skate culture through modern streetwear, simply put. Increasingly interesting in his aesthetic development is this desire to explore a subculture in a country that seems to be careering out of control (cheers Putin, you dick), in many ways paralleling the horrors of late '80s American capitalism, but in a weird, very Russian way.
Look, there's a whole lot more to it than that, but here's what I love about Gosha's pieces. In fact, in pictorial form:
This T-shirt is an acrid yellow, reasonably well-made soft cotton T. Aside from the pretty ridiculous colour, it's a raglan-sleeve. But only from the front. From the back, Rubchinskiy has crafted the entire shoulder of the T with two pieces; one seam stretching from armpit-to-armpit, and one directly vertically from the neck down. The construction does two things: it constantly reminds you that you're wearing something unusual; it gives a sensation of difference, of otherness, and of thought. It also creates a different hang to the garment; it moves from the way you move your back, it's slightly awkward, and isn't entirely comfortable.
This sounds perverse (and possibly pretentious, but I've already used talked about 'otherness', so I might as well steam through) but the way this garment makes you feel means that you're constantly thinking about it as you wear it. Not in a 'how do I look?' way, but a 'what does this mean?' way.
In brief, it challenges the wearer. Much more than you'd expect from a humble t-shirt. With the simple space age graphic, PACCBET (meaning sunrise, or dawn - make of that what you will) on the front, it's one of the oddest Ts I own.
There's something challenging about Rubchinskiy's work, which is possibly why he's supported by the Comme des Garcons/DSM stable; it's conceptual, but not in the way you think. Crucially though - and if you have an inquiring mind - it does make you think. And not many garments do that, right?
Posted by Unknown at 10:02 pm No comments:
Labels: comme des garcons, dover st market, gosha rubchinskiy, luxury, oki-ni, russia, t shirts, tees
Monday, 9 February 2015
The Staple: Well jell of Gazelles
Anyone that knows me knows I am a creature of habit. From my Sunday evening Countryfile and Antiques Roadshow routine to my pretty much unshakeable current wardrobe of crewneck sweatshirts and jeans, I'm not often knocked out of my comfort zone - part of the reason that the Shirt challenge was a bit, ahem, challenging. (That said, I have actually done a few days of shirt-wearing; I'm saving them up for a proper post, promise).
Anyway, I have been rooted in my Vans, Vortex and Converse for, well, pretty much the last decade now. But I've always had dalliances with other footwear. Part of settling into the 30something vibe for me this year was about getting a bit smarter...and I still have to deal with that on the footwear front, despite owning some lovely smart shoes. But for some reason, and this is what I'd like to examine today, for the last six months I've lusted over '90s trainer classics the Adidas Gazelle.
These desires are odd, but when they happen, I'm more than happy to investigate. It's the kind of thing I've probably subconsciously seen in magazines, on shoots, in the street (in fact I think Lou Dalton sent her models down the LCM catwalk in them for SS15); the kind of trigger that you don't realise is building up in your brain until you're in a shoe shop on a day off in December, trying on a pair of trainers because you've decided you definitely need them in your life.
As you will have gathered from reading the blog for any length of time, my approach to a lot of fashion - particularly the stuff I buy - is very driven by my gut reactions. I don't often set out to buy something specific - especially during the sales - and I guess the last few years of working at a magazine has meant that freebies poured through the door and that's always a nice position to be in.
However, with these Gazelles I'm not quite sure what set off the desire. It might be in part a real masculine, Northern thing - Gazelles are of course a key part of the football terrace uniform (along with Stone Island jackets). Maybe I'm trying to cling to some Northernesque roots as I've been down here in LDN for over twelve years. TWELVE YEARS. Christ.
Anyway, maybe it's partly that. Maybe it's a 90s thing - that whole acid house, rave generation, leading into Britpop...they would all have worn Gazelles. If the music's good - the clothes must be right? Look at disco! I remember slopping round Camden in Puma Romas back in my uni days, and Gazelles are just a better Roma, really.
I think it might also be a bit of a reaction to the universal fashion acceptance of Stan Smiths too. I had a pair briefly, but they were so flat and uncomfortable (not to mention now ubiquitous at fashion week), that I got rid of them. There's something very pleasing about Stans' minimal appearance, but a trainer that isn't comfy might as well not be a trainer.
So I picked up a pair of Gazelles from Mr Porter - plumping for the black classics, and they've become my go-to winter shoes, despite being not that grippy, and not that waterproof. They're super-comfy and give a nice, dressed-down feel to my outfits. Which is good for those days when I wear a shirt...maybe I am getting out of my routine? Who knows. Only 2015 will provide the answers.
In the meantime, Gazelles. They're fab.
Monday, 26 January 2015
The Staple: Check, Mate
And so to another coat. Sorry about that - in my defence, it is bloody freezing out there! This one though, I haven't written about before - mostly because I bought it just the other week.
The middle of January (the 20th to be exact, fact fans) heralds my birthday, which for the past few years has meant a sale treat. Last year it was the Christopher Raeburn bomber, and this year I surpassed myself and actually bought myself 2 coats in the sales.
This particular one though, as with so much sale shopping (right?) was an accident. I've been a bit of a fan of Ben Sherman over the last few years, as their range has matured to become a sort of junior Albam (that occasionally goes to a rave, rather than constant dull art openings). They've expanded their offering to include some really great things, that are chock full of detail and very reasonably priced.
So for the last few months, before the Sales and as they progressed, I had my eye on a black watch Tartan parka, osensibly to replace my student/miner chic one. On their website, it looks bloody fabulous - tailored in the right places, smart and just the right thing to chuck on over anything to keep toasty warm. In store though, it was another matter. The cut was all wrong on me, too tight at the neck, and with a proper trad parka fishtail hemline, as well as a boxy hood, that combined to give it a touch too much of Italian exchange student for me. A valuable lesson learned there - buying online can often prove fatal.
But with the purse strings opened by a previous Liberty bargain (of which more soon) and the shopping lust well and truly out, couple with Ben Sherman's bargainous sale markdowns, I was determined to make a purchase. Just not sweatshirts (anyone that knows me knows that I already have waaaaay too many!) So I checked out their coats and found this beauty. It's a little similar to the B Store one I bought a few months back on eBay, but made from a sturdier wool, and cut impeccably, as was pointed out to me by one of the menswear designers at work. This coat has a half-raglan sleeve; so raglan at the back of the shoulder, and straight at the front. this gives it the comfort and informality of a casual coat, but also the sharper shoulder shape of a smarter piece.
Unlike the parka, its pockets are in exactly the right place (hand height, durrrr), and the checked wool is clearly not from a 99p shop at the end of Brick Lane. I've taken to wearing it in a kind of Mod-ish way, with the top button done up and the rest free, creating a great a-line shape. It's rapidly become the go-to coat, despite not being as warm as the parka.
Anyway, a little insight there. I've got a few articles brewing post-LCM (and the rest of the menswear shows; just fired off my Paris report), so I'll try and keep a little more regularly updated. But definitely worth scouring the end of the sale. This jacket was knocked down from £195 to £78. £78! That's the price of a jumper in most places. If you get paid Friday, go and have a scout round those sad-looking sale racks and see what you can turn up; there's plenty left to be found if you look hard enough...
Check, mate indeed.
Monday, 5 January 2015
The Staple: Very Good, Parka
As January dawns, the thoughts of people working in the fashions turn to the upcoming 2-3 months of shows, presentations, catwalks, parties and relentless travel. It's a tough job (no, srsly), and I'm sure there'll be all sorts of thrills and spills across social media and various ritzy locations as the next few months unfurl.
However, January signals two things for most people: 1) it gets very cold and 2) everyone is very poor. Sadly I can't offer any tips on fixing the latter, but for me, every year I return to this jacket for some reason. (aside: January is also my birthday)
I've been in London for, well, this is my 13th year here. So some time. And despite gaining and losing more items of clothing, friends, drinks, colleagues and books, this parka seems to have stuck with me. I bought it as a first year student, living in Max Rayne House on Camden Road (typing those words does indeed take me back). On my walk back from the bus from uni, there was a vintage shop, just by Camden Rd station - now long gone - where I spunked most of my student loan on American college Ts, scratchy cardigans and 1970s kipper ties. And this very parka was a January purchase there.
Why a parka? Well dear readers, I have a confession: I was a noughties indie kid. I went to indie discos across Camden, I loved Trash at the End, I partied at student unions, I was obsessed with the Libertines. It was a fun time. And I must've seen it in NME or read about it in the Face or something, but parkas were cool. I bet Graham Coxon had one. Anyway, I picked this up for about £35, and it was pretty knackered at the time. I wore it relentlessly (with self-ripped and patched bootcut jeans, Puma Roma and a vintage BA flight bag *don't judge, it was 2003*), patched it up, and never quite got around to chucking it out.
Partly because it's so damn warm; it's like wearing a duvet, and it's got those hand-warmy pockets on the chest that are uber-toasty. And partly because, well this is real life. Not sure if you've picked this up from the blog along the way, but I don't go around wearing custom-made Valentino couture, or incredibly rare Miyake samples from 1983. Well, not *that* often anyway.
I've grown to love this parka, there's something refreshingly honest about it - I love the terrible fake fur on the hood, the bobbled hood, the faded orange lining...it's not trying to be ridiculous, and it does its job well. It's the kind of jacket you can pull on over a T to face a cold winter's night, stuff behind a speaker and party til dawn, and then retrieve and wrap yourself up in it, safe in the knowledge that it's done its job. And yes, I have tested that theory - though not enough recently.
Back to January's shows though, and will I wear it to LCM? Probably not. It's practical for cold tube platforms, and like my walking gear at my parents in the Lakes, knows its place. But then, who knows - this parka has been to stranger places before.
(with apologies for the terrible photo - amazingly there is not a photo in existence in the history of Facebook of me actually wearing this. Oh and also, hope some of you get the Thunderbirds ref in the title...)
***UPDATE*** Turns out I've written about this damn parka before. Ah well, enjoy the update and any inconsistencies in the story. The original post is here.
Posted by Unknown at 10:22 pm 1 comment:
Labels: Coat, graham coxon, indie, january, Live Music, London, nostalgia, noughties, parka, uni, Vintage
Monday, 8 December 2014
The Good, The Bargain, and the Hackney
If you've read this 'blog' for more than 5 seconds you'll know that I love a bargain. And while it's true that pretty much everyone in the world loves a bargain, people in fashion definitely love a bargain (and know how to find one) more than most.
Perhaps it's because you do tend to lose a sense of perspective about the true cost of things. You begin to believe that everyone actually buys multiple pairs of £200 jeans, or thinks nothing of dropping on a £700 coat twice a year, or actually pre-orders items from Bond Street stores. As we know from our own actual friends, this really doesn't apply.
Ergo, in fashion, there are a number of accepted, but on-the-DL routes to obtaining your dream wardrobe. You might know someone who knows someone at a PR agency and manage to get gifted, or a discount. You might rigorously shop the sales in high street shops and know which branch of which store is likely to have the exact piece in your size - normally somewhere unexpected like Canary Wharf or Richmond. You might scour eBay for items and get your bidding strategy sharpened up. Or, you might get into the world of sample sales and buy a combination of statement and staple pieces. A warning though, if you have to queue for a sample sale as I was asked to do today, walk away: a queue means that already too many people know about it, and all the best stuff will have gone to that exchange student who got up at 6am with Daddy's credit card to bag all the best stuff. And also, queuing for clothes is so *desperate* darling.
Or, you might (and here's where we come to the title), educate yourself about factory shops and outlets. Bicester Village is one such place, and indeed is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the UK for Chinese visitors. This weekend, I paid another visit to the burgeoning Hackney Fashion Hub, as it's been dubbed, and I came away with mixed feelings.
There's Aquascutum, Pringle, Bally, Anya Hindmarch, and of course Burberry (which was heaving), as well as a brand new Joseph outlet. We went to have a look for a coat for my Dad, which turned out to be an excellent idea since he's slightly larger than average, and those are the sizes that end up in these kind of places. Joseph was exceptionally well-stocked: Lanvin, Trussardi, McQueen, Comme, Dior...all sorts of top quality merch at somewhere between 60 and 80% off. I kept doing this stupid little fashiony gasp when I looked at the labels, deeply irritating my parents with repeated exclamations about 'how AMARZING the prices were for these pieces'. Sorry, Mum & Dad. Anyway, best thing I found was the Junya for Comme suede patchwork jacket that's at the top of this piece. Down from £2100 to £650 (and my size). Sadly I don't have £650, but that's a pretty good saving for a truly statement trans-seasonal piece that'll last for years and become a future classic.
What made me more uneasy is what this means for Hackney. As we know, the irrepressible march of gentrification has claimed a good part of East London and is the reason that I will probably never be able to afford to buy a house in the Capital. It's the reason that crime is down and some of my friends have made £200k on their houses in 2 years. It's the reason that areas that used to be deprived and stab-ridden are now habitable. Gentrification has so many plus and minus points...I'm not going to go into it here. But the new Hackney Fashion Hub is a case in point: transforming a once-no-go area of East London into a hub for designer shopping. The (already-approved) plan involves reclaiming the arches under the overground from light local industry, and demolishing some old terrace houses and a pub to make way for two glass towers and a huge number of retail units.
Yes, this'll surely bring jobs into the area, and trickledown into the local economy, but it's hardly characterful. Having seen the rapid rise of Broadway market from local street just 20 years ago to the yuppie £13-loaf-of-bread promenade that it is now (and playing my own small part in that too), I...well, I don't know. Is this progress? Is it the future? Is it (without wanting to sound *too* Kevin McCloud) better? A relentless rise of these kind of places, that are so blatantly not for locals that it's basically the rule now that anyone who looks vaguely Chinese in Hackney will either be looking for or coming from the Burberry outlet.
It's an integral part of fashion: the global supply chain, and the way things are made that you at least have to be aware of, whatever your opinion on how the wealth is distributed.
But I'm torn. There's no right answer. And the march of progress is tough to deal with. But the one thing is for sure, there is a price to pay for these kind of bargains, wherever you buy them.
Posted by Unknown at 9:06 pm No comments:
Labels: bally, Bargains, comme des garcons, gentrification, hackney, joseph, junya watanabe, London, pringle, Sales
Monday, 24 November 2014
The Staple: A Fresh Challenge
I do not wear shirts. Since being forced to iron them for school some years ago, and then forced to wear them while working at a job I despised in the City, I've been off the collar and cuffs look. Aside from weddings, funerals, posh parties, interviews and the occasional fashion week, they hang forlornly in my wardrobe, complementing the colour-coded system, but never used.
Wearing a tie is just not for me (hence my hilarious attempts to be sartorial in the recent Hackett #10Men1City campaign). I loathe ironing shirts. The air tie (or as one friend once commented many years ago "the emperor's new clothes of styling") thing is just not me. Above all, I am not good with authority (if my last post wasn't clear enough), and kowtowing to the shirted authority is something I have, in my own small way, attempted to rebel against.
However, I also realise that this may sound a little childish. I am lucky enough to own quite a few rather nice shirts from posho places like Prada, Miu Miu, Paul & Joe and Liberty. Somehow I even have a custom-made one from Savile Row's Norton & Sons. Strange for an eschewer of the form.
When I rebooted this blog a couple of months ago, I posted the following onto Facebook: "It's been a while but I'm kinda bringing The Staple back! Ish. Still working out what I might do with it... suggestions/ criticism/ LOLZ welcome".
Brilliantly, one of my friends loves this sort of thing. Catherine Sweeney is a woman I have known since I was about nine years old, and she's a part of my awesome group of nine of us that are still fantastic friends since school. Probably, in fact, my most important friends in the world - even though I don't see them that often. Ms Sweeney though, loves an adventure, and a challenge (and is currently in Kenya, sporadically - and BRILLIANTLY - blogging at Twendevso), so she read this as a challenge. Luckily for me, she didn't really set any parameters, so I'm setting them for myself.
So, I'm going take her up on the challenge, and start wearing shirts again. It might not sound like a big thing to anyone that doesn't know me, but to those that do: when was the last time you saw me in a shirt?! Anyway, I've just counted in my wardrobe, and I have 20 - though the spangly Prada one may have to wait. The aim will be to wear a different shirt every week, and see how it goes. Will I become a committed shirt-wearer, or leave them gladly behind? Will anyone aside from Catherine care?
Don't worry btw, this isn't for charity (I'm more of a believer in giving money regularly to charity); there's no participation required. I'm going to do a thing, and then write about it. Hopefully it'll be vaguely interesting...
A disclaimer: Apologies if you find this deathly dull. I'm sure there's plenty happening on Buzzfeed.
Posted by Unknown at 8:50 pm 2 comments:
Labels: challenge, city, Liberty, Miu Miu, Paul & Joe, Prada, Shirts, white shirt, Work
Tuesday, 18 November 2014
The Staple: Mastering the Dark Arts* (of eBay)
Over the summer, I became a bit of an eBay addict. Nothing too serious, but like most people in fashion, I try and seek out something different to what everyone else is wearing. And like most people in fashion, eBay is my chosen arena for this search.
Now that vintage shops, and even charity shops, are basically the same price as Topman, and the high street's enormous turnover of cheaply-made garments aren't becoming less appealing for anyone looking for interesting clothes, it seems like the forum for buying good quality second-hand clothing at a reasonable price is rather necessary. In the same way that I wouldn't advise anyone buying nice second-hand furniture to buy it at a fancy boutique in any London area with 'Village' in its name, buying top quality vintage fashion in the capital is riddled with issues, namely price and quality.
On the other side, there's a delicious ease to eBay, and a simple naivete to it. Like Twitter, the listings process is a great leveller, equating Balenciaga couture with a pair of old H&M socks, and leaving it to anyone with a bit of nous to truffle out the prizes. And usually it'll be Mr Fury, um furiously, bidding on the couture, so watch out - he's a formidable buyer.
Does it take a bit of time? Well yes. But then so does going to the shops. Also, I can't go to the shops under my duvet, or at 2am. Is there a possibility that you might buy a fake? Well, yes, but like buying a stolen bike on Gumtree, it's pretty obvious once you've looked for more then ten minutes. If you know which labels to look out for then you'll be OK (top tip #1: cult boutiques and smaller labels; if they a massive catwalk show/perfume line/enormous shop on Bond St then you'll be wading through piles of crap). Is it a bit annoying sometimes? Well yes, but that just makes the wins all the sweeter.
But what to buy? It's the same as when that flashing cursor of Google blinks and all of human knowledge is at your fingertips: start with something you know and love. My latest bargain is right there at the top of this post: a pair of Strawberry Thief Liberty print Vans in exactly my size, purchased just the other week, at half the retail price. I tried on the ones they had in Liberty a few weeks ago, but the sizing wasn't quite right, and sixty quid for canvas daps is a bit steep. Cue eBay - these ones are from a few seasons ago, but in this much jollier print, and crucially for me, a UK 10.5. Apparently that's my size, I've been getting it wrong for years.
Anyway, a drunken bid (top tip #2: booze helps all purchases - eBay or not, as we saw from my recent Neil Barrett purchase) secured them for a perfectly reasonable price, and they arrived a few days later. Admittedly the box was knackered, but tbh they've barely been off my feet. Florals for winter - groundbreaking apparently. Just spray them with some sort of protector like the woefully-names but very effective Crep Protect and you'll be AOK.
A warning: like Tinder, eBay is a dangerously addictive way of spending time and money. With an app on your phone, a bit of booze and a few quid in your Paypal account, you can rapidly become obsessed with it. I'm gutted to have missed out on a few items recently (an Aquascutum camel cashmere parka and an Antipodium T back from the days when they did menswear), but this is only fuelling the fire of more purchasing.
There are of course pitfalls to avoid, and ways of scoring that bargain last-minute, but this isn't a blow-by-blow how-to guide. Dive in, make some mistakes and buy something inappropriate, it's *such fun*, I promise.
* why a 'Dark Art', you might ask? Well, eBay is very much the fashion insider's secret, like the Chiswick car boot sale (apparently). Everyone's at it, but no-one talks about it. If someone in fashion tells you they've never used it, eye them suspiciously and quiz them on the names of the staff on the second floor of DSM where that Limited Edition Alaia utility came from, and watch them crumble.
Wednesday, 29 October 2014
The Staple: Stighlorgan and the Brilliant Backpack
Over the summer, I was doing a bit of 'brand consulting' and 'content strategy' for a few different places. You know, the kind of things you can't really describe without sounding like a total wanker. The kind of work that you do at 2pm on a smashed macbook while sipping a flat white in a trendy Hackney coffee shop. Before cycling home.
Yes, it was a cliche filler for sure, but it was also a bit of a confidence-booster. Working freelance isn't all that bad, in fact it can be great (when people 'remember' to pay their invoices). The place that I worked at consistently was Irish accessories brand Stighlorgan.
Run by Yvonne and Christian, the brand is all about taking traditional techniques and materials and giving them a unique spin. Not only that, but the way they put collections together is fascinating: they start with a few outline ideas for the season, then fire these over to one of their mates (a fantastically creative writer named Davin Gaffney), and then he sends back a short piece of writing that is then transmogrified into an entire range. It results in a line of products that are more than just bags and hats; they are the embodiment of the people that run the brand and the way they run it.
On to a bit of product. I've had this Driscoll bag for a good few years now, and in that time it gets more comments that pretty much anything else I own. It's a srsly simple design idea, but difficult to pull off without a sharp eye for detail and a strong knowledge of craft. Harking back to drawstring bags from the '90s (JJB Sports anyone?), it's a classic design, reworked in thick bridle leather with rope shoulder straps and some slick zip pocket details both inside and at the bottom, as well as subtle oversize embossed logo on the front. Over the time I've had it, the leather has softened and taken on a gorgeous patina, and since I started my new job, I've worn this every day. Basically, it's bloody awesome.
It's characteristic of the way Stighlorgan works. While these guys have an eye firmly on commerce, they're also very careful about the way they do things: reworking the entire range every season for example, isn't really necessary, but that's the way they want to do it. I find this approach very appealing, and the designs that Christian comes up with every season are SO on point. He's created the kind of brand that is consistently a few seasons ahead of everyone else. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but incredibly I've not seen anywhere else that's managed a copy of the Driscoll.
Anyway, I appeared at Stighlorgan at the start of the summer, and since then, these two have launched a new season, taken on new clients, moved studios and opened their own standalone retail store in Dalston, with all of the rollercoaster ride that this entails. They are some of the most lovely people I know, and not to sound sycophantic, properly inspiring. They also love a drink, which always helps matters, I find.
Anyway, I'm thrilled to say that the SLG Store is opening tomorrow (Thursday 30th) at 1 Stoke Newington High Street, in a space that's been bespoke-designed by Christian, and built with love over the last few months. Stocking a range of brands alongside their backpacks, it's a beautiful place and sure to become a bit of a destination for discerning shoppers, design lovers, and most importantly of all, prospective new friends, in coming months and years.
Proof, if it were needed, that good things come to great people. Now on with the booze!
A quick postscript: While I did love my old Sandqvist, two things. 1) they're now everywhere (ew), and 2) it broke. None of that with these guys...
(With apologies (um, again) for terrible photo, there are much better ones on the site)
Posted by Unknown at 9:21 pm 3 comments:
Labels: Accessorising, backpack, brilliant, dalston, design, Shopping, stighlorgan
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text: The industry is moving so rapidly that yesterday's big story becomes tomorrow's footnote, and each technological advancement is seemingly leapfrogged instantly. Yet this very nature of change in the industry is the reason that advertisers need to stop and take stock of what is coming next. Consumers are exploring new ways of communicating and gathering information all the time, and marketers want to be a part of that experience, in an engaging and natural manner whenever possible. Here are some of the digital trends that marketers need to be paying attention to (and dancing with) in 2016 and beyond.

subset: commoncrawl


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23 / 63
Amazonian Giant River Otters
They may look like stuffed animals, but the only thing these otters are stuffed with is muscle and brawn. These aren't your little North American River Otter. This giant carnivores yield to no animal. They have even been known to take on caiman!
Napo River, Ecuador
giant ottergiant river otterotterportraitThe AmazonYasuniEcuador


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Salada achieves peak performance in year-end profits
Net profit increases 219%
Salada Foods Jamaica Ltd exceeded profits by 219 per cent year over year, according to audited financial statements posted by the group on the Jamaica Stock Exchange website last week, with profit after tax for the year ended September 30, 2018 reaching $219.2 million in 2018, compared to $68.7 million the year before.
Gross profit rose by $123.8 million to reach $400 million at year end, "buoyed by strong sales performance", a release attached to the statements said.
The company noted that it realised growth both in local sales and export, with the latter far exceeding the results of the former.
"Domestic sales continue to perform well, growing by 16.7 per cent above prior year as we deepen penetration in existing channels and access new one. Sales to the trade through our distribution partner Lasco was $655, 13 per cent above prior year. Export sales also did well, as both the Canadian and Barbadian markets performed, growing year-on-year by 440 per cent and 220 per cent respectively," the directors are quoted saying.
Salada also attributed the growth in sales to the introduction of a new product line as well as marketing initiatives to create traction.
"In May we launched our Mountain Bliss 876 (MB876) brand in keeping with our strategy to engage younger consumers. MB876 featured two SKUs — the Gold, which is a freeze-dried coffee; and the Classic, an agglomerated coffee. Within five months of launch we have gained retail distribution of 70 per cent," the release states.
"The launch of MB876 and other marketing activities pushed selling and promotional expenses up 37.3 per cent or $12.14 million above prior year's $32.76 million," it continues.
At the same time, administrative expenses declined by 43 per cent, falling from $148.9 million to $85 million. Other expenses also dropped to nil this year as the group received a "$34-million write-back against retirement benefits", which was due to a decision taken by Salada to discontinue paying health insurance premiums for former staff members who have retired.
Finance income — comprising interest income and foreign exchange gain — also increased, moving from $9.8 million to $22.2 million year over year. Despite a slight dip in interest income, Salada recorded foreign exchange gain of $15.4 million due to the sale of US dollars.
Total assets for the group jumped from $957.5 million in 2017 to $1,106.7 million for the year under review, a 13.5 per cent increase. This despite finalising the sale of property — land and building — located in Kingston, based on information provided in notes attached to the statement.
However, audit firm KPMG noted a concern relating to the calculation of inventory for the period.
"In view of the group's manufacturing processes and its numerous product lines, the basis of cost calculation is complex and highly dependent of management's estimate. Due to the complexity involved, there is an inherent risk that a material misstatement could arise due to cost of inventory being incorrectly recorded," the report states under key audit matters.
Cash and cash equivalents reduced from $146.3 million in the previous year to $80.9 for the year just ended. Notwithstanding, Salada paid approximately $103.9 million to shareholders in dividend.
Earnings per share increased from 67 cents in 2017 to $2.12.
Despite Salada's performance being historic, the directors note there are challenges currently facing the coffee industry as well as from a "regulatory regime".
"In spite of that, we remain optimistic that our strategies to mitigate the impact to the business will be positively rewarded in the long run," the release ends.
Salada Group is owner of subsidiaries Mountain Peak Food Processors Ltd and Pimora Company Ltd.
Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at http://bit.ly/epaperlive
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To know what is happening in accompany is identifying if there are any problems in the company or not and that should be done once you come to know what about the policy the company. Each and every areas need to be covered. A business case writer hence should be agile as to the happenings in its entire department. If need be one has to speak to all from the workers to the stake holders of the company.
How should one start if he has to be successful business writer?
- The first step that involves business writing is to understand the business policies and identifying the flaw in them. At the same time one must be quick and agile in understanding the what the problem is and what is standing against the policies that the company have set up for itself.
- Secondly once you have clearly understood the hindrances, you should be calling up the decision makes of the company along with the managers and the departmental heads of the company to brainstorm the problems shrouding the company. The stake holders can also be called up so that you cover all the areas that are hampering the production of the company.
- It is a very critical issue as to what should be done to go about in the process of sorting out the problems. You should be able to analyze and implement them so as to change the policies which are no more working and on the basis of the analysis by the business writer one person should be authorized to execute the plans as decided so that it becomes easy for the person to clear out the problems that is persisting in the company which ca ne easily done with the backing that one gets after the completion of BCW Course in Boston
- At the same time certain important things like the strategy planning, the cost analysis as well as the motive, polices and setting the goal should also be addressed.
What next?
- Once the problem is identified and the plan is chalked out what should be done to address the problem, a new policy should be setup so that so that one can sort out all business problems and see to it so that they are successfully implemented.
- Once it is through and before the changes are finally implemented one should make t a point to take the final confirmation from the company owner is taken and also make sure if he has anything to say or wants anything to be added into it.
- The person with BCW Certification has the entire possible efficacy to address the problem and implement the changes that are to be brought into the company.
- He can very well give you the steps to increase the revenue generation of the company. This actually solves the problem the company was undergoing with.
Hence a business case writer should have the qualities understanding the current problem and bringing in the change which would be just right for changing the policies and bringing in the measures which helps in bringing in better revenue for the company.


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Kaos is only a form of insanity
Since: Feb 03, 2005
Are you using the in built sound card, or do you have a dedicated sound card? I used 2.1 and never cae across that error.
For multitracking have you got both tracks armed for recording in their individual control boxes. The wave colours change depending on if they are armed for recording or playback. One should be say green for playback and one reddish for recording. (assuming you are in the multi tracking screen and not edit view)


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Tag: towerdefense
Social Network Defence 2 – Fight the Machines
1.91K Played0 Comments0 Likes
The social network didn't like that you won the last fight. They've prepared a new revolution, and there's no way you can win. Use your mouse to play this game.
Tower Tank Destruction
2.03K Played0 Comments0 Likes
A neighboring country has just declared war and your command center is right on the border! Protect against an onslaught of enemy tanks. Use 8 tower types and 19 upgrades strategically in this non-stop isometric tower...
Bunker Defense: Swarm of the Infected
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Your bunker is in the middle of the battleground and infected enemy mutants will come to destroy you from every angle. Move the mouse to aim your bunker Use your mouse to play this game.


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I want peace of mind!
Just as in the case of serious surgery or medical treatments, you may want an accomplished business lawyer working on an important business legal matter, to give you peace of mind and to ensure that all possible solutions have been considered. WLA Lawyer referral service may see the matter differently from you or your existing counsel. Our advice to you may provide you with additional assurance that your existing lawyer is doing a good job, under the circumstances. On the other hand, WLA Lawyer referral service may have a different view and, if so, we will communicate that clearly and you will be able to consider it.
My lawyer seems overwhelmed.
What you may need is a business law specialist, given the size or complexity of your matter, transaction or litigation. Just as in any other field, sometimes a professional with more specialization can provide much better service. Examples include acquisitions and divestitures, corporate restructurings, exotic ventures, and complicated contract and licensing transactions, as well as large equity and debt financings. Also, WLA Lawyer referral service can offer team services with existing counsel, if that becomes your preference.
My lawyer is not prompt.
Your lawyer may be too busy to handle the matter as promptly as you like. WLA Lawyer referral service may be able to provide options for faster results and meet deadlines.
My lawyer should be fighting harder.
WLA Lawyer referral service will review your matter objectively and give you the view on how your current lawyer is proceeding. Sometimes it is best to fight hard, and sometimes it is best to negotiate reasonably and pleasantly, and there are endless variations to this dance, depending on all of the facts and circumstances and the complexity of the matter. At the core of each transaction and dispute is an ideal negotiation process, and determining that best process is often difficult. In short, that is why lawyers call their profession the "practice" of law, i.e., they are always practicing. Nevertheless, WLA Lawyer referral service will provide you with judgment on the pros and cons of the course chosen by your attorney and on other potential courses.
My lawyer has a conflict of interest.
Generally, a lawyer is obligated to disclose to his or her client any material conflict of interest that could affect the legal advice, and this conflict should be disclosed in writing to you and waived in writing by you. WLA Lawyer referral service can assist you in assessing whether a serious conflict of interest exists and in taking the next steps, if appropriate.
My lawyer is too expensive.
We can help you consider the terms of the retention, review your attorney's bills and then give you our view on the matter and our estimate.


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Family Life classes meet on Wednesday nights. Drop the kids off at 6:15pm for a meal that we serve to them! Adult groups meet from 6:30pm to about 8:10pm. You can sign up for any of the groups by clicking the "launch form" button below.
JC3 University - If you desire an academic-style lesson for discovering more about the Bible, world religions and Christian doctrine, then JC3 University is for you!
Women's Group - Join other ladies in a meaningful time of Bible study, prayer and conversation that is sure to strengthen your faith and friendships!
Financial Peace University - This renowned study by Dave Ramsey is offered each semester on Wednesdays at JC3.
Small Groups - Our groups that need childcare can choose to meet on Wednesday nights. Because we have two hours of KidsWay ministry, groups have time to drop kids off, meet at a home or local restaurant and experience a great time of Bible Study, prayer and friendship.


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At Pennine Business Partners we work with you to understand where you want to take your business. We help you clarify your goals and communicate them effectively to your team, so they are committed and enthusiastic to achieve them. We can help you build and train your management team, and arm them with the skills to manage their own teams effectively.
To give their best, everyone needs to understand their role and how they contribute to the company's success. We will work with you to define job roles and responsibilities, and to set performance objectives that contribute to the overall goals of the business. This is supported by robust performance review processes that encourage and support excellent performance.
We have highlighted the key areas where our support and input can help clients build better businesses:


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Christy Lewis is an award-winning artist based in Wellington, New Zealand who works on exquisite face and body Painting. She is a passionate artist and loves to share her enjoyment of face Painting with the rest of the world.
Lewis transforms children face into everything from wild animals to superheroes. Check out amazing kids face painting works from her portfolio.
Christy Lewis website , via cuded


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The National Institute of Health recently conducted a study which added further confirmation to the understanding that IQ scores and a child's reading specific learning disabilities are unrelated. It has added to the more than two decades of cumulative knowledge regarding learning disabilities in reading. Though this study only serves to confirm what is already widely accepted in the field of learning disabilities, it will help to ensure that all children with specific learning disabilities in reading (like dyslexia) receive the necessary targeted instruction to help them learn to read.
Originally, children who were suspected of having a learning disability were tested to see whether or not their difficulties in reading were compounded by high or low IQ scores which made reading difficult. The discrepancies between IQ scores and reading abilities were then used to determine whether or not that child needed specialized targeted instruction to learn to read. However, this new study proves that IQ scores are unrelated to disabilities in reading. During the study, fMRI scanning techniques were used to measure the students' brain activity while reading, and all the children with dyslexia showed similar brain activity regardless of their IQ scores.
Though the discrepancy test has not been required for federal funding, it is still used by many schools in determining who will receive the necessary instruction for overcoming a reading disability. However, the discrepancy model is clearly neglecting a segment of children who show no discrepancy between their reading ability and their IQ scores, and yet still possess a reading-specific disability which makes it difficult for them to receive this fundamental piece of their education. This study provides further evidence that will ensure that schools are correctly able to identify children with reading disabilities and provide the necessary specialized education to all children who need it.


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IN the 17th Century, Sephardic Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition arrived in Britain from the Iberian peninsula bearing a secret: how to deep fry fish coated in flour. This was the start of the British national dish.
Fried fish warehouses opened to sell the new delicacy to the public - Charles Dickens mentions one in Oliver Twist, which he serialised between 1837 and 1839, where the fish was paired with either bread or baked potatoes.
Meanwhile, in the north of England, gritty, poor industrial towns were deep frying chips of potato...
Who first combined fish with chips is open to debate. London claims that refugee Joseph Malin opened in the East End selling "fried fish in the Jewish fashion" and chips in 1860; the north reckons the pioneering accolade should go to John Lees who opened opposite Mossley market, near Oldham, Lancashire, in 1863.
Perhaps that debate is academic, because, along with improvements in trawling technology, it was the railways - invented, of course, in south Durham - that brought fish and chips to the masses. In the latter half of the 19th Century, ports were connected to cities by railways enabling enormous quantities of fresh fish to be deep fried on a daily basis.
By 1910, there were about 25,000 chippies in the country. That had risen to about 35,000 in 1929, and during the Second World War, Winston Churchill's government ensured the national dish was not rationed - not only were soggy chunky chips very filling but it would have been bad for morale if supplies had been limited.
Today, there are about 10,000 chippies, so we thought we'd tuck in to a packet in The Northern Echo's photo library, wrapped in old newspaper, which is marked "Fish and Chips".
If any of these pictures bring back memories, if you can tell us anything about any of the people featured, or if you have a good fish and chip story to share, please email firstname.lastname@example.com


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Samsung Settles Lawsuit, Will Repair Certain TV Models
Samsung Electronics America (SEA) issued a notice Thursday that it has agreed to offer free repairs to Oklahoma residents who purchased certain LCD, Plasma, and DLP TVs from the company that have malfunctioned due to capacitor issues.
A class-action suit was filed last Oct. 17 by Oklahoma residents Ryan Russell and Philip Bourne on behalf of themselves and other Oklahoma residents who had purchased defective televisions from the company. SEA stated that it "denies the allegations in the lawsuit, but has agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the costs and uncertainty of continued litigation."
The original suit alleges that malfunctioning capacitors caused certain Samsung-branded TVs manufactured between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2008 (see list of models below) to "experience symptoms such as not turning on, a significant delay in turning on, making a clicking sound, cycling on and off, and other similar problems."
The terms of the settlement call on Samsung to conduct service visits to claimants with televisions covered in the suit to determine if they have a capacitor problem. The company has agreed to replace faulty capacitors and in some cases, a television's power board after determining if a claimant's TV is malfunctioning due to problems with those components.
Samsung Electronics America is also prepared to reimburse owners of affected TVs for past repairs and will pay those who no longer possess them $300 if they can prove previous ownership.
SEA said in a statement that "[a]pproximately 1 percent of Samsung televisions sold in the U.S. from 2006 to 2008 have experienced some performance issues" caused by capacitor problems and that it had "voluntarily provided free repairs for U.S. customers with affected televisions" since confirming the problem in early 2010.
Samsung has had some other legal entanglements in the U.S. in recent months.
Samsung and six other Asia-based companies agreed late last year to pay out $553 million as part of an agreement to settle claims in a multi-state lawsuit that they conspired over eight years to fix prices for liquid crystal display (LCD) screens.
A few weeks earlier, class-action lawsuits were filed by smartphone owners in California and Missouri that alleged violations of federal wiretap laws by Samsung, HTC, and mobile software developer Carrier IQ.


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Like most people in Charlesville, a tiny (pop. 77) fishing community in southwestern Nova Scotia, Janice Hines is usually up shortly after sunrise. One morning last week, however, she rose at 3, awakened prematurely by her dog's barking. As she looked out the window, she saw an amazing sight. There, on the road in front of her house, were dozens of men, many of them bearded and wearing turbans. As she watched in astonishment, they began chanting, "Hello, hello. Refugees!" Recalls Hines: "They were well dressed. They had suitcases, attache cases and plastic tote bags. They looked almost like tourists."
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How did you first become interested in anesthesiology?
James DiNardo: I actually started off my medical career thinking I wanted to be a surgeon. I was training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center when, during my surgery residency, I realized I was more interested in the doctors keeping patients alive than the ones performing the actual surgery. That's the beauty of medicine—you can always reinvent yourself!
I further specialized in pediatrics because I liked the challenge. When you're working with kids, you can't have a "one-size-fits-all" approach to anesthesiology. You have to be more creative, more flexible and more cognizant of the individual's needs. Every day is a new experience.
What does a typical work week look like for you?
Every day, members of our team staff four operating rooms, three catheterization labs, an electrophysiology (EP) lab and a cardiac MRI scanner. We also provide anesthesia for echocardiograms, CT scans and minor surgical procedures in the cath lab recovery room. We're everywhere! If you are a child having a cardiac procedure—whether it's a catheterization, an EP study, an echocardiogram, MRI or open-heart surgery—someone from our team is going to be taking care of you. Doug Atkinson, MD, and I also attend in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU).
We are all involved in some sort of research as well. For example, I spend three days a week doing clinical work and two days a week doing research.
How many clinicians are in Cardiac Anesthesiology at Boston Children's?
There are 15 pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists and five CRNAs (nurse anesthetists) in our group. It's such a specialized field that although this may not seem like a huge number, Boston Children's has the largest pediatric cardiac anesthesiology division in the United States. We also have five specially trained nurse practitioners who work with us in the Cardiology Clinic. They can perform 90 percent of the patient intake. Without them, our group could never handle the volume of patients.
You've said that your group is very "process-oriented." What do you mean by that?
Anesthesiologists are the ones working behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly. We need to coordinate around the daily schedules of each procedure unit while catering to each patient's specific needs and preparing for potentially difficult circumstances.
Are you involved with patient care outside of cardiology?
Yes. Whenever a patient with cardiac disease comes here for any procedure, our consult attending for the day provides consultative input to the anesthesiologist from our main OR. It is not uncommon for cardiac patients to need other kinds of interventions, ranging from g-tube placement to scoliosis surgery. In these instances, we collaborate closely with the anesthesiology team, so they understand each patient's unique cardiac physiology.
Can you talk about your division's ongoing research?
Koichi Yuki, MD, is working on an NIH-funded grant to investigate the immunomodulation effects of anesthetic agents.
Barry Kussman, MD, is working with Jane Newburger, MD, on neurodevelopmental outcomes of children who undergo heart surgery, and is very involved in the use of NIRS technology to assess brain oxygenation.
We're also doing some really cutting-edge research on coagulation monitoring in a free- standing, dedicated coagulation lab on 8S. Juan Ibla, MD, Kirsten Odegard, MD, and Ram Emani, MD, from Cardiac Surgery, and I are very involved in these projects. In addition, we have one of the world's leading experts in the field, David Faraoni, MD, from Belgium, here for a two-year research fellowship to work in our lab.


text: Depending on your photography skill level, you will be required to hone your photography basic skills so that in the next two to three weeks you are able to work with our cameras in all of the creative modes. We will be working with exposure bracketing, custom white balance settings and shooting in the camera raw format. Next year's yearbook will mostly be shot using camera raw and its many benefits.


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exploring the beauty and the tedium of parenting
why does this pic almost make me cry? lately, she seems to be getting older by the minute. she has an actual hairstyle- something i only recently started having myself (unless you count the big bangs/crimping phase and even that was not until highschool).pretty pretty girl.
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There is a groundswell of interest these days in adopting blockchain, the technology that can radically improve the security and efficiency of banking, supply chain and other transaction networks and create new opportunities for innovation in new market segments.
Ever since the invention of the relational database, almost every application used on the internet depends on a computer database. Companies trust their third-party cloud-based service providers to store and secure their information and the information of their customers. And collectively, they spend billions of dollars to protect their data from malicious attack. Yet, data leaks and breaches occur regularly raising questions about whether that trust is misplaced.
Unlike traditional cloud-based services that rely on centralized servers, all transactions made using the blockchain network are encrypted and intelligently distributed across computers of the participants. If someone forges or changes data, there are many others that still have the exact same copy of blockchain to protect the authenticity of the information stored in it. It is impossible for anyone to add, update or delete information in the blockchain without permanently recording it across all other participants' machine.
Centralized vs Decentralized Systems (Source)
What's the difference between blockchain and Bitcoin?
In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto published a paper entitled Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System that uses blockchain for transactions. Bitcoin is an unregulated digital currency or cryptocurrency. The paper outlined a payment system that bypasses regulatory controls and simplifies online transactions by getting rid the cost of third-party intermediaries managing and authenticating transactions. The paper does not use the word blockchain, but blockchain is used in the open-source code of bitcoin. Due to the anonymous nature of bitcoin transactions, it's been used for illegal transactions like money laundering and to avoid paying tax. Since Bitcoin was the first application of blockchain, people often use Bitcoin and blockchain interchangeably.
It took a number of years for legitimate businesses to realize that blockchain technology could be adapted for use in other applications, both public and private. All blockchains are decentralized peer-peer networks with append-only ledgers. They are immutable, and replication occurs only through consensus. However, there are important differences between public and private blockchains regarding who is allowed to participate in the network, execute the consensus protocol and maintain the shared ledger.
■ Public blockchain networks are completely open; anyone can join and participate. They require a massive amount of power to resolve proof of work for each transaction and raise privacy problems with transactions.
■ Private blockchain networks are permissioned. Participation requires an invitation to join a private blockchain network. A specific set of teams or otherwise called as peers is designated to endorse the transactions as per the endorsement policies defined by a business network. For eg., atleast 5 out of 7 endorsing peers have to approve the transaction in order to consider the transaction as valid and to add it to the blockchain.
Blockchain for Business
There are three characteristics that distinguish the Bitcoin blockchain from a blockchain designed for business.
■ Assets versus cryptocurrency – Business blockchains deal with tangible assets such as cars, real estate and food, as well as intangible assets such as bonds, private equity and securities.
■ Identity versus anonymity – Businesses have KYC (know your customer) and AML (anti-money laundering) compliance requirements that require them to know who exactly they are dealing with.
■ Selective endorsement versus proof of work – Businesses have designated teams (identified by the business network) to endorse participants and approve transactions while Bitcoin blockchains rely on mining.
Many enterprises and financial services are investing in blockchain technologies for their businesses. The core benefits of a blockchain-powered business network include:
■ Shared ledger – Record of all transactions in the business network that are shared among Each participant has their own copy through replication.
■ Smart contract – Business rules implied by the contract are embedded in the blockchain. The rules are executed along with the transactions.
■ Privacy – The ledger is shared, but it is made permissive, so participants see only appropriate transactions as defined in the access control list. All transactions need to be authenticated, and the transactions are encrypted with public key cryptography.
■ Trust – The ledger is a trusted source of information. A specific team within the business network is authorized to endorse and validate transactions. Authorized transactions are added to the ledger with the appropriate level of confidentiality.
Trade financing takes advantage of blockchain features (Source)
Industries where blockchain technology will play a major role include:
■ Finance – Trade finance, cross-currency payments, mortgages
■ Public sector – Asset registration, citizen identity, medical records, medical supply chain
■ Retail – Supply chain, loyalty programs, information sharing
■ Insurance – Claims processing, risk provenance, asset usage history, claims files
■ Manufacturing – Supply chain (tracking product parts), maintenance tracking
Blockchain for IoT
Applications of the Internet of Things (IoT) are growing fast, almost every device in the home, factories and agriculture sector is expected to be enabled with internet connectivity in the coming years. IoT requires a huge investment in infrastructure to manage the identity, security and availability of the devices to ensure the system runs smoothly.
All the characteristics of a permissioned private blockchain network are well suited for the IoT ecosystem: it's decentralized, security is assured, devices are identified and the record of transactions is immutability. IoT nodes directly communicate and verify the validity of transactions without requiring a centralized authority. The resolution time to validate a transaction is faster with a private blockchain as the user base is smaller compared to a public Bitcoin blockchain network, which typically requires about 10 minutes to mine and resolve a transaction.
Structure of the IoT blockchain network (Source)
There is a lot of development work being done for applying blockchain to IoT networks, specifically to address security issues.
■ IBM has integrated the Watson IoT Platform with Blockchain to help companies create use cases using blockchain and IoT.
■ Chain of Things (CoT) is developing Maru, an integrated blockchain and IoT hardware solution to solve issues with identity, security and interoperability of IoT networks.
■ Telstra has successfully verified real-time tamper detection testing with blockchain. As a result, the company has enabled blockchain with biometric security for its secure smart home offerings.
Of course, there remain challenges to the adoption of blockchain in business. Concerns include the high computationally expensive, high bandwidth requirements for processing a transaction, and the huge storage requirements needed to maintain the ledger of IoT nodes. These are issues that may slow the pace of blockchain adoption in the IoT space. As IoT opportunities grow, device and chip manufacturers are likely to develop innovative ways to address these and other challenges. As they do, blockchain will revolutionize the IoT space.
■ https://developer.ibm.com/courses/all/blockchain-essentials
■ https://venturebeat.com/2016/11/20/how-blockchain-can-change-the-future-of-iot/
■ http://www.zdnet.com/article/telstra-explores-blockchain-biometrics-to-secure-smart-home-iot-devices/


text: An attractive person is well groomed. Be neat, tidy and dressed for the occasion, whatever it may be. When in doubt, dress down. If your appearance says that you care about how you present yourself, it adds to your appeal. This need not necessarily mean expensive clothes or elaborate preparations, just an effort to look […]Read More


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Kanchipuram, one of the seven sacred cities in India was the historical capital of the Pallavas. Apart from the Pallava rulers the Cholas, Vijayanagar Kings, the Muslims and finally the Britisher
Kanchipuram- "Golden City Of Temples" was believed to be the most attractive city of ancient India. This city is one of India's seven sacred cities and is considered the second holiest place
Silk clothing Kanchipuram is famous throughout India for the quality of the silk weaving. You can find wonderful bargains if you shop around
Vaikuntha Perumal Temple was built by the Pallava King Nandivarman Pallavamalla, in the 7th century AD. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple is house to several
Get Detailed information on Kanchipuram Map and Location through
Weather of the temple city of Kanchipuram is pleasant enough. Essentially a tropical climate, the temperature here is stable between 280C and 380C
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The Science is Certainly Not Settled
Click video for full size
Greenbaum gave a brief history of PM2.5 Studies. Parts 1 and 2 last 14
minutes. [SLIDES]
|Next, Mary Ross of EPA gave a
presentation titled "Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate
Mater lasting 15 Minutes. [SLIDES]
|Arden Pope III discussed his study which
was one of the studies in the Tran report. Parts 1 and 2 last 15
minutes. [SLIDES]
study included in the Tran report was by Dan Krewski he talked about
his study for 10 minutes. [SLIDES]
|Aaron Cohen spoke on his project "The Global Burden of Disease from Air Pollution" he spoke on his method of risk assessment. His presentation lasted 20 minutes. It is interesting to note that in his second slide he shows that air pollution is much less risky than things like high blood pressure, tobacco, high cholesterol, diet, poor sanitation and even iron deficiency. Yet the Pope study shows that air pollution is nearly as risky as the items at the top of the list. More on that in later discussion. [SLIDES]
|There was a quick summery by Jonathan Samet on what has been discussed so far.
|Following a brief break, a series of speakers had opposing views to the studies and the methods used to reach conclusions. Dr. James Enstrom spoke first. His presentation spoke to the lack of qualified scientists at CARB. [SLIDES]
|Fred Lipfert discussed PM2.5 particle collection and how the particles differ from place to place. He pointed out that no single source emits PM2.5, but rather PM2.5 particles come from many sources which can not be identified directly. [SLIDES]
|Robert Phalen discussed why using the mass of a particle to determine risk is not a very reliable method. He pointed out that attempting to eliminate a risk entirely can have side effects. For example, he pointed out that regulations to eliminate PM2.5 particles, would hurt the economy in such a way that many people are pushed beneath the poverty level, which is a much greater risk than breathing PM2.5 particles. He concluded that the science is not strong enough to make a connection between PM2.5 and mortality and certainly not strong enough to make regulations that will hurt the economy.
|The last presentation before the panel discussion was by Michael Jerrett. He discussed his study funded by CARB and two others which focused on California. [SLIDES]
questioned Michael Jerrett's conclusions since his results nearly
matched the results of the Enstrom study. Jerrett explained that his
model did not look at total mortality but rather cause specific deaths.
The discussion than turned to whether it was appropriate to eliminate
some of the data and only pick data where the cause of death was
related to pollution.
sited a study that showed that risks at levels of 1.5 to 2 could be the
results of other variables. He also pointed that there are
co-pollutants that are not even measured and this adds to the
uncertainty of the results. Dan Krewski answered.
agreed with Tom's point and pointed out flaws in the HEI study that
have not been addressed. He called the flaws an embarrassment of
PM2.5 study. Both Dan Krewski and Michael Jerrett answered which was
followed by a summary by Jonathan Samet for the audience. He said
the point of the discussion is how does one know which PM2.5 particles
are the actual cause of mortality since PM2.5 is made up of many
different particles.
of the data became the issue for Rodger McClellan. Most of the studies
were based on data owned by the American Cancer Society but ACS will
not release the data to anyone to do their own study. A
discussion on
data access and collection between Rodger and Dan Krewski followed.
|Fred Lipfert
some comments for Dan Krewski about the study underway by one of his
students (the study came up in the discussion between Suresh and Dan
earlier). Fred suggests that unless she is working at local level, her
results are doomed to failure since SO2 is a local pollutant. He
questioned if Michael Jerrett's study might suffer from "Funding Bias".
discussed the problem with focusing to closely on any one cause of
death. In the end he said, everyone dies of something and with so
variables it is impossible to extract any cause from all the noise. In
any given life there are positive factors and negative factors that
contribute to lifespan. One of the most positive factor is that
has a job.
commented that a particular model used for most of these studies is not
adequate yet it us used everywhere. He was supported by Fref Lipfert
who gave specific instances where the model fails.
|Dr. Enstrom
made a
comment in support of Roger McClellan about the availability of data
from the American Cancer Society which is used by HEI. He asked Dr.
Greenbaum of HEI to pressure ACS to make the data available. Dr.
Greenbaum responded that no one has asked for the data, but even if
they did they did not have authority to release that data which is
owned by ACS.
|Arden Pope
commented on the use of the ACS data. He said that since the
participants were aging, follow ups were showing less results.
This is
because as people age, old age becomes more a factor in the cause of
death. He pointed out that even cigarette smoking becomes
less risky once you reach age 50. He admitted that he could not tell
which parts of PM2.5 are the actual cause of the risk but there is risk
associated with PM2.5.
had a remark about relative risk following Arden Pope's comments. He
asked if there is not a better way to present the data instead so that
the model does not become the message. Michael Jerrett responded with
his thoughts on smoking versus air pollution saying there is less
effect on the general population by the high risk of smoking since few
people smoke, on the other hand he said, more people breathe polluted
air and while less risky more people are affected. Rodger said Michael
was missing the point which annoyed Michael. He finished up by
a letter from the American Cancer Society on why the data would not be
Pope's seven minute afternoon presentation concluded that there is not
much difference between various locations studied, and that estimates
from one part of the country hold true all over the country. This
view is not held by all present at the symposium. [SLIDES]
(note the slides for this presentation follow the slides for Arden Popes first presentation)
Lipfert showed that it is important to study the individual
constituents in PM2.5 because PM2.5 composition can vary from place to
place and is dependent of the method by which it is gathered.
Three studies showed inconsistent results using particle mass to
determine risk. [SLIDES]
Samet took a moment to clarify some points in Fred Lipfert's
presentation before starting the panel discussion on the topic "Which
Studies are appropriate to use to estimate PM2.5 Mortality in
McClellan comments on Arden Pope's presentation taking exception to his
view that PM2.5 is the same everywhere. Arden Pope answered that his
point was that people and emissions from traffic are the same across
the country. He admitted that the risk from traffic related pollution
is very small compared to other things but it was traffic pollution on
which his study was focused. He saw an equally small relative
risk across the country and did not understand what components of PM2.5
was causing the slightly elevated risk.
Moolgavkar comments that the earlier presentation by Arden Pope and his
slide that showed, as expected, smoking to be a much greater risk than
PM2.5. However in two studies (Ostro & Miller) PM2.5 is shown
to be a greater risk than smoking and should be discarded because they
clearly show bias. Earlier Michael Jarrett suggested that these
two California specific studies were valid. Arden Pope admitted that he
agreed that some studies showed the PM2.5 risk to be higher than what
they should be.
Enstrom also disagrees with Pope's summery of the California data.
Citing Jarrett's work, the California Teachers Cohort (Ostro) and the
Adventists Study, which were anomalous, were also very small studies.
Other larger studies show overwhelmingly that there is no current risk
from PM2.5 in California. Jonathan Sammet recommended that CARB do a
detailed analysis of the studies.
Hesterberg points out that in one particular study which was acceptable
to Arden Pope, the dose of PM2.5 was too high, the method of exposure
was wrong and the conclusion reached wrong. Arden Pope admitted
that he was not a toxicologist and had to defer to Tom as the
expert. Arden concluded by saying that his point is not that one
study is better than another but rather CARB should not use their own
data alone and should include data from many sources.
Marty responds to Tom Hesterberg about the large number of studies that
show correlation between heart and lung disease and PM pollution.
Tom responds that the dosage is always too high in those studies to
which Melanie referred.
Mcclellan did not want people listening to the presentations and
discussions to think that air pollution in California is the same as
every place else. He showed disappointment with Dan Krewski, Arden Pope
and Jonathan Samet for not admitting that they had read the same
studies that show that pollution in California is very different. Sue
Paulson said that nobody believes that air pollution is the same
everywhere but it has the same effect everywhere. Robert Phalen pointed
out that the fine dust in California makes up much of what is
considered pollution in California.
|Fred Lipfirt commented that CARB needs to study traffic instead of wasting time on constituent studies.
Thurston agreed with Pulson saying that the particles associated with
health issues are from fossil fuel consumption. Roger Mcclellan had a
strong opposing view and maintained his position that California is
different from areas covered by the ACS report.
Samet summarized the preceding round-table discussion and suggested
that while there are plenty of studies that focus on California there
needs to be more investigation by CARB to understand why they do not
all agree.
|"Risk Assessment: Specification of the C-R function for long-term PM2.5 exposure-related mortality and the treatment of uncertainty"
Pekar's presentation "Risk Assessment: Specification of the C-R
function for long-term PM2.5 exposure-related mortality and the
treatment of uncertainty"
Moolgavkar opened his "Risk Assessment: Specification of the C-R
function for long-term PM2.5 exposure-related mortality and the
treatment of uncertainty" presentation by saying if you start your
study with the assumption that PM2.5 is killing people, that is what
you will find. His focus was on the uncertainties in the various
studies that lead researchers to the wrong conclusion about PM2.5. [SLIDES] [TABLE OF RISKS]
|"Risk Assessment: Specification of the
C-R function for long-term PM2.5 exposure-related mortality and the
treatment of uncertainty"
Round-Table Discussion
opening comments by Jonathan Samet, Fred Lipfert commented on the
uncertainty introduced by the selection of the model. Michael Lipsett
followed with more comments, defending the use of models that give
biased results or that used bad data.
Krewski and Michael Jerrett defend their studies despite the fact their
studies show much greater risks than many other studies with larger
groups and more data.
Moolgavkar noted that a paper co-authored by Dan Krewski which shows
that the studies showing much greater risk from PM2.5 show that risk
because of a non-linear concentration/response. He pointed out that for
some reason, that paper is now being ignored.
|Dan Krewski's quick presentation on "Expert Elicitation", a process by which guesswork is passed off as science.
Thurston's presentation: "What studies are appropriate to use to
estimate health impacts of specific sources such as diesel
Hesterberg's presentation: "What studies are appropriate to use to
estimate health impacts of specific sources such as diesel
|"What studies are appropriate to use to estimate health impacts of specific sources such as diesel PM"
Round-Table Discussion
Lipfert comments that conditions in Europe are much different than in
the United States. For example he points out that diesel pipes in
Europe are near the ground unlike in the U.S. where the pipes are up in
the air. In Europe, the houses are not set back like they are
here. The bottom line is that there are a lot of apples and
oranges to sort out before using studies from locations away from here.
|James Enstrom suggested that CARB make changes to the designation of PM2.5 in light of the new information presented.
Mcclellan comments that the regulators must "look to the future" and
not be stuck in the past. There has been so much improvement in
air quality over the past years, but no one has answered the question
"what is considered success".
Moolgavkar forced Arden Pope to admit that he does not understand why
the numbers show active smoking is less dangerous than burning fossil
fuel when it is clearly not so, he was cut off by John Samet.
|Fred Lipfert comments on the 'circular argument' by Arden Pope.
the presentations and discussions, Mary Nichols attempts to explain why
CARB is regulating PM2.5. She spent 8 minutes to say that PM2.5 is
regulated by CARB because it is mandated by the federal EPA rather than
health reasons. She said that since PM2.5 was regulated from all
other sources, diesel was the last place to regulate. She
continued to remark that it is out of CARB's control and that these
regulations are all mandated elsewhere. (see Tom Hesterberg's
comments below which are a response to Mary Nichols' )
following questions were answered or dismissed by Jonathan Samet: Have
any of these studies demonstrated a risk of 2.0 or higher which is the
standard used by federal courts for admissibility? What is a clear
definition of premature mortality? How is the carbon from tire
tread dust separated from the carbon from diesel exhaust? Are sulfates
toxic? Can one death be shown to be the result of diesel particle
emissions in California?
engine technologies improve and particle emissions decline, will health
effects decline into insignificance, and if so when? What
are the different effects between old diesel fuel, upon which the data
in the studies is based, and new diesel of today? Tom Hesterberg,
Dan Greenbaum, Roger McClellen and Melanie Marty comment.
we be monitoring more pollutants and which ones when these data are
used? Robert Phalen, Melanie Marty, Jonathan Samet, Roger McClellan,
George Thurston and Michael Jerrett comment. There was a general
feeling the the current method of monitoring was not sufficient.
Hesterberg comment on Mary Nichols comments. He pointed out that the
new regulations should be delayed because new studies are showing that
the risk is not as great as when the regulations were made. Since most
of the current diesel vehicles will be replaced with in a 10 year
period using the current regulations and the replacement vehicles are
much cleaner, the accelerated replacement in the new regulations are
too much of an economic burden.
do we know the relationship between exposure and risk? Roger
McClellen points out that there is no relationship between the models
and reality.
|A final summery of the PM2.5 symposium was given by Dan Greenbaulm


text:
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Entertainer David Cassidy has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, the Los Angeles City Attorney's office told TMZ.
Cassidy, 63, was stopped Jan 10 after police said they saw him make an illegal right turn.
The former "Partridge Family" star was arrested after he allegedly failed a field sobriety test.
Cassidy has two prior convictions for driving under the influence, TMZ said Wednesday.


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Here are a few of the more innovative and interesting small wind turbines designs I've found at Windpower 2008. For more photos, check out my guest post over at the fabulous green design blog Jetson Green.
Also - a reader asked about temporary wind turbines to put up for special events. I asked around and the general consensus was that there's probably a company out there somewhere that makes them, but it would be very inefficient (cost wise) to go that route.
This turbine is from Dallas-based BroadStar Windsystems (one of the new American turbine designers I found). This AeroCam turbine can be used on top of urban buildings (picture several of them across the top of a stadium, for example) and even in between typical turbines at a rural wind farm. What's more, BroadStar claims that this turbine can achieve $1 per watt installed.
This small turbine is from IR Windpower. They currently manufacture both large and small designs throughout Asia, but they're eying the European and U.S. markets next.
This turbine from KR Windpower stands only about 4-5 feet off the ground. The company is based in Korea, with offices in China and California:
This vertical turbine is from Hi Energy. The poster in the photo shows examples of how the turbine can be used. I couldn't find a website for the company but following the photo is a video of the turbine in action.
And finally, the always attractive SkyStream turbine by Southwest WindPower. This is the model George Bush Sr. installed at his Kennebunkport home:
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Liveblogging from Windpower 2008: Photos of Small Wind Turbines
Posted by Maria Surma Manka at 12:22 PM
Labels: wind turbine, windpower 2008
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See this legally free ebook:
- The Love of Jesus to Penitents, by Henry Edward Cardinal Manning (London: Burns, Oates, and Co., 1872). Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
On the Feast of St. Isabel of France, and in advance of the Feast of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite. For other legally free ebooks, you may access the List of Free eBooks (Arranged by Title) and the List of Free eBooks (Grouped by Subject). Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine!
*N.B.–I had earlier posted Lent, Learning to Love like Jesus, by Fr Sean Finnegan (Catholic Truth Society, 2008) but I learned that the link to the page at the Catholic Truth Society was no longer working. My bad for not checking. So I hope this work of the great Cardinal Manning will be a fitting replacement, and that it will encourage us to devote the Lenten season to repentance, confession, and amendment of life.


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Johnson wants to make Armstrong pay
ST. LOUIS – A little video here, of Erik Johnson's return to St. Louis, at least for the morning skate. Here's a clip of the player nicknamed "Edge" talking about his fondest desire of making Blues GM Doug Armstrong look very, very bad for trading him to Colorado Saturday.
Check for my online story posting soon too, as Chris Stewart took something of a passing shot at the Avs for letting him go too. This could be a great game tonight, for two teams probably not going to the playoffs this year!
Here's a couple more minutes with Johnson:


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[Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to Junia Roberts Osterhout, May 8, 1870]
Description: Letter from John Patterson Osterhout to his wife, Junia Roberts Osterhout. He was writing from the State capitol about his time working there. He wrote of his opinion of the Republican Party and wished his wife and family well.
Date: May 8, 1870
Creator: Osterhout, John Patterson
Partner: Austin College


text:
Amos Tsori Amri aka Amos Mox is a 23 year old young upcoming singer and actor based in Mombasa County –Kisauni Sub-county. He is also a student at Technical University of Mombasa undertaking Bachelor of Arts in Media studies. Amos has been passionate about music since...read more
Choosing the Right Leadership
Through the support of Forum Syd Kenya under the USIPONIHUSISHA NAJIHUSISHA project , Kwacha Afrika engaged the residents of Bengala in Kisauni Sub county in discussing openly on matters pertaining to devolution, county developments, and spaces for youth to...read more
Importance of Registering as a Voter
The importance of registering as a voter is to ensure that right leadership is in place in cultivating a socially empowered society at all times. Kwacha Afrika Play a major role in ensuring that the residents of Mombasa county register as voters and take active role...read more
Importance of Selecting Viable Leaders
Under the Uongozi Bora Community Initiative project ,Kwacha Afrika had a lengthy discussion with the community members of Makumba area in Kisauni Sub-county in sharing the importance of electing viable leaders, upholding constitutionalism and right of citizens...read more
Evaluating Water Services in Junda Ward
Kwacha Afrika engaging diverse groups of Junda residents in focus group discussions on water quality ,water availability and quality of service from MOWASCO. This is part of the series of activities under the Junda community scorecard project which seeks to evaluate...read more