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Numerous column inches have been devoted to the 'watershed' recently, particularly around the publication of Reg Bailey's report on children.
To some, like Mark Lawson, the onset of technology which increasingly allows us to choose when and how we watch something has rendered the watershed meaningless, with those trying to uphold standards fighting a losing battle. To others, the current regulation is too liberal or Ofcom's application of it 'toothless'. Some hard facts might help inform this debate.
Despite the explosion of choice – including catch-up TV and PVRs – more people are watching more hours of linear television than ever before, an average of four hours per day – up from 3.6 hours. That's people sitting down and turning on the telly. However unfashionable it may be, the TV schedule is alive and kicking.
Twice a year, every year, we ask parents and the wider general public what they think about standards on TV. Pretty consistently about one in 10 people want tougher standards, while around one in 20 want something more permissive. But the vast majority — 72 per cent in our latest survey — think it is about right.
Almost everyone (93 per cent) understands the watershed and 74 per cent think 9pm is the right time. If you just ask parents, that number is 76 per cent. Since 2003, Ofcom has taken action on more than 300 occasions when broadcasters have failed to adequately protect children. These include two recent cases where inappropriate music videos — including Rihanna's S&M — were screened early in the afternoon.
The question underlying Mark Lawson's G2 article last week was: if you can find the same video online in seconds, why do we bother enforcing standards? First, to protect children from seeing harmful content. Second, to set expectations for all viewers, including parents, about what kinds of content can be found by using proxies like the 'watershed'. Finally, to keep the most inappropriate content, such as BBFC Rated R18 hardcore porn, off TV screens altogether and to ensure that other strong content is restricted from general viewing though parental controls.
Undoubtedly the online world makes addressing these kinds of issues more challenging. So far behaviours and expectations online and in front of the television have been very different. New Ofcom research that we'll present to the UK Council for Child Internet Safety Summit this week, reveals that only around half of young teenagers online say they know basic techniques for staying safe on the internet. One in 10 aged eight to 15 say they have seen something worrying or offensive online. That online world is colliding with traditional TV in a living room near you soon courtesy of a range of internet-connected TV devices.
The future debate about protecting audiences is going to depend on what kind of protection we as a society are trying to achieve. Stopping responsible content providers from showing material unsuitable for young children is normally a matter of guidance backed by the possibility of enforcement. Preventing a determined teenager from accessing adult material is another matter altogether. Stopping broadcasters from ever causing offence would also change the nature of television entirely. Should pre-watershed dramas avoid dealing with difficult issues or avoid comedy or pop music? As Reg Bailey notes, "clearly television cannot be indifferent to popular culture".
Bailey also insists that his recommendations need to be seen in the round. No one tool, be it what Bailey dubbed our "helpful" X Factor decision, greater online security or shielding magazine covers will entirely protect children. Nor should this be seen as a debate in which it's all down solely to parents or businesses or regulators to solve. There's a balance to be struck.
So where does that leave the humble TV watershed? The bottom line is, so long as parliament continues to value standards regulation we will enforce those standards. Even as we enter an even more complex converged market, the power of traditional television and viewer expectations endure. It is one tool, not the answer to all ills.
But nor do we think the time has come when technology has removed the watershed's relevance.
Broadcasting codes have always sought to reflect the standards generally accepted by the public at any given time. Broadcasters may need to be given guidance when they are in danger of misjudging those standards, as our decision on The X Factor shows. Such decisions will always be judgments with which some will disagree.
We believe they continue to play an important role in maintaining public confidence in television provided they are rooted in a strong base of evidence about the protection the public wants.
An edited version of this article appeared in the Response section of MediaGuardian on 13 June


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District 9 Director Neill Blomkamp Hits The Streets Of Toronto With A Clone
If you were a movie fan back in 2001, there's a good chance you took note of the phenomenon that was BMW Films' The Hire. Fresh off the surprise success of Croupier, Clive Owen starred in this series of eight BMW-themed shorts directed by major action directors (John Frankenheimer, Tony Scott, John Woo), artful auteurs (Wong Kar-wai, Ang Lee), and a trio of then-rising stars who have gone on to enjoy massive acclaim and/or commercial success (Joe Carnahan, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Guy Ritchie). While these shorts were launched online several years before YouTube, they received an astounding 100 million views, giving BMW precisely the kind of glossy exposure it was looking for.
15 years since the launch of that series, BMW Films is back with The Escape, a new short starring Owen (who reprises his role as The Driver), Jon Bernthal, Dakota Fanning, and Vera Farmiga. In keeping with BMW's tradition for working with major filmmakers, they've enlisted the services of Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium, Chappie), taking advantage of the delays that Alien: Covenant has imposed on the director's upcoming Alien sequel.
Filmed on the streets of Toronto, The Escape is basically a 14-minute commercial for the BMW 5 Series sedan, but it also tells a story that should be of particular interest to Orphan Black fans. The Driver's latest customer is Lily/Number Five (Fanning), an escaped clone fleeing from authorities on the road and in the air. To find out where it goes from there, check out The Escape below.

subset: commoncrawl


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Roman Gods and Goddesses Names List
The Romans have a vast number of gods and goddesses with each of them responsible for one element or the other. Some of these gods and goddesses also got married to one another. In fact, some of the goddesses became deities by virtue of their weddings to other gods. The Romans and the Greeks have several gods in common. As you will see in the course of this write-up, some of the gods recognized and worshiped in the ancient Roman Empire were also recognized and worshiped in Greece; such gods having recognition in Rome and Greece are called Greco-Roman gods and goddesses. In this write-up, you will learn about some of the very popular gods and goddesses in ancient Rome of roman mythology.
Jupiter is one of the most popular roman gods. He is also known as Jove and venerated in the Imperial cult of ancient Rome polytheistic religion. He abode in Rome during his lifetime and his symbols include oak tree, eagle and lightning bolt. He has several children, some of whom are highlighted below:
- Mars
- Invidia
- Vulcan
- Bacchus
- Minerva
- Venus
- Hercules
- Dike
- Bellona among several others.
His parents were Saturn and Ops. His siblings in the Roman tradition were Vesta, Juno, and Ceres, while his siblings in the Greco-Roman tradition are Neptune and Pluto. Jupiter is considered to have the same power rating as Zeus. He is considered as the god of the sky and thunder. Additionally, he is seen as the king of every god in ancient Roman religion. He was the dominant god until Christianity took over.
Some said he originated as a sky god and his symbol, the eagle, is supreme to every other bird of the sky. In ancient time, the eagle was also used as the symbol of the Roman army.
Neptune lived in the sea, and he is commemorated via some festivals, like Lectiseternium and Neptunalia. His parents were Saturn and Ops, and his siblings were Jupiter, Vesta, Pluto, Ceres, and Juno. He is equivalent to the Greek god, Poseidon.
He is considered as the god of the sea and freshwater. His brothers were the ones presiding over the heavenly realms, the underworld, and the earthly world. The name of his wife was Salacia. His depictions in Roman mosaics are influenced by Hellenistic convections, and he is thought first to have an association with freshwater before the sea. In Rome, he is being worshiped as the god of horses, and he is seen as the patron of horse-racing in which he is referred o as Neptunus Equester.
There is a measure of dispute and confusion in his etymology. His name was derived from Nupus by Varro, the ancient grammarian and Nupus stand for covering. His name also translates to the marriage of Heaven and Earth. He was first recognized in 399 BC in the lectisternium. Since he is considered as the god of fresh water, he is then the god of rivers, lakes, and springs. He was thus labeled because several inscriptions about him showed him in the proximity of those places while he was alive. Furthermore, Neptune is similar in power to Nechtan, the Irish god.
The symbol of Mars is spear and shield, referred to as the spear of Mars. His parents were Jupiter and Juno, while his siblings were Vulcan, Bacchus, Minerva, Diana, Hercules, Bellona and many more. He is equivalent to Ares, the Greek god.
He was the god of war in ancient Roman myth and religion. He was equally the god of agricultural guardian; war and agriculture were combination characteristics of ancient Rome. He was second to Jupiter in importance and was considered as the most prominent of the military gods. He was commemorated by the Roman military in ancient times and most of the festivals to commemorate him were held in March and October; October is the beginning of the military campaign and the end of the farming season in ancient Rome.
Furthermore, Mars has some recognition in ancient Greek mythology and religion in which he was identified with Ares; Ares' myths were reinterpreted in several Roman art and literature. Be that as it may, the dignity and characters of the Roman Mars differ from that of the Greek Mars.
Mars was considered as the child of Jupiter and Juno, as hinted earlier. However, he was considered as the son of Juno alone according to a version of his birth made public by Ovid.
Apollo was considered as the god of knowledge, light, sun, medicine, plague, archery, oracles, art, poetry and music. He abode in Mount Olympus. He is symbolized by bow and arrow, swan, raven, python, laurel wreath, and Lyre.
His children are Orpheus, Aristaeus, Troilus, and Asclepius. His parents, on the other hand, are Zeus and Leto. Apollo has several siblings, and some of them are highlighted below:
- Artemis
- Moirai
- Aeacus
- Muses
- Angelos
- Litae
- Aphrodite
- Horae
- Ares
- Graces
- Athena
- And so on
The Greek mythology also recognized Apollo, which made him a Greco-Roman god.
Apollo is among the most complex Olympian deities. Additionally, he is the god of poetry, plague, and prophecy. He is a twin, with his twin sister being the chaste huntress called Artemis. He was also the patron of Delphi and an oracular god. He was associated with healing and medicine. Both the Greek and Romans considered him to be the god of light.
His birthplace was Mount Cynthus located on the island of Delos. He was seen as a protector and founder; he was involved in protecting homes and roads. He was also worshiped all across the Roman Empire. His popularity equally extended to Celtic lands, where he was seen as the sun god.
You have learned about some of the gods and goddesses of ancient Rome, as well as the roles they played. Many of these gods are still being worshiped these days, but the acts of worship are not as frequent, common or elaborate today. This indicates that such worships are becoming extinct gradually.


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Business Travel Tips
- Tips 1-4
- Tips 5-8
In this global and increasingly fast-paced business world, traveling for work is a way of life for many. Making the most out of your time on the road is often a top priority, but the trick is making sure this doesn't come at the expense of security. Checking your e-mail while waiting for your plane to board, fine-tuning a business proposal during the flight, and browsing online in a hotel café are popular ways to spend time during business traveland crooks know this. Fortunately, there are tools you can use and steps you can take to help keep your information and hardware safe.
1. Use Security Software
While this may seem like common sense to most, installing security software is often overlooked, yet is a necessary step to protect the data on your equipment. While most wireless networks have some level of security, the more protection you have on your device, the better. Even a basic password can help protect your information if your device is lost or stolen. For more advanced solutions, consider multi-layered security. Antivirus and antispyware software combined with firewalls will decrease the likelihood that a hacker or identity thief will be able to access your information. You should also update your Web browsers and other software frequently.
2. Keep it Simple
Take only what you need on your next trip. When setting up your mobile office, determine the hardware, software and programs you need before you leave. Cater your hardware and software programs to your own personal needs and work patterns, while also ensuring that a minimal amount of information can fall into the wrong hands. Make sure you know the latest security rules. I always carry my laptop with me, but if faced with a situation where I couldn't carry my device on to the plane, I'm not sure I'd take it with me at all. Since you can't lock checked bags, I'd be reluctant to check a device as valuable to me as my laptop with my luggage. Instead, I'd make sure my destination location or hotel provides a business center that would allow me to stay in touch while I'm away. I've also got a smaller pull-out section of my briefcase in which I keep my computer, so that in the event that I'm on a commuter flight with limited storage, I can leave my briefcase plane-side while still carrying on a smaller case with my laptop.
3. Protect Yourself
Back up your data. In case your laptop or smart phone is stolen or misplaced, put essential files on a flash drive or CD before you leave. Another option is to use paper to save important information. Printing out your list of important contacts is a great way to back up your electronic device.
To foil nosy neighbors, use a privacy screen filter, such as those made by 3M, which make it impossible to view a laptop screen from an angle.
4. Hotspots Can Put You in the Hot Seat
Wireless hotspots are not as secure as you may think. Software programs called packet sniffers can allow people to look at wireless transactions in the vicinity and capture the information being transmitted between the laptop and wireless access point. These programs are typically used to capture passwords, credit card numbers and bank account information, and hackers can find and download them for free on the Internet. While checking e-mails in the airport hotspot may not be that risky, remember to wait until you're in a more secure place to enter financial information.
Using a virtual private network (VPN) to connect to your office can make using public hotspots safer because your information is encrypted as it travels. This makes the information appear as gibberish to anyone trying to intercept it. A VPN provides additional data protection on common Internet-based transactions through virtually any terminal or network. If your company does not offer a VPN for employees working away from the office, there are services you can subscribe to for a minimal monthly fee, and some providers even offer daily or weekly packages for infrequent travelers.Tips 5-8>>


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Moving documentation to Talk page because it affected the template's behavior:
This template is used for displaying general information about applications available for Openmoko systems.
{{ApplicationBox| Name=[[Minimo]]| Description=Minimo is a Mozilla based web browser.| Screenshot=Browser-minimo.png| Homepage=http://www.ginguppin.de/files/minimo.tar.bz2| TestedOn=Om 2008.8| PackageName=minimo }}
Add this template to bottom of application pages inside a
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Minimo is a Mozilla based web browser. It features full AJAX support and other goodies. It is listed as an alternative to the standard Webkit based browser.


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Happy Valentines Day
I hope you all have love and joy in your lives as I do. My wish for everyone of you is to cherish the one you love in your own special way. For those who are waiting to find that special someone, my wish is that you do find your true love.And we all know that being in love or falling in love is one of those heady and special times in our lives. Really what is our life with out love in it.Valentines day doesn't have to be about romantic love alone, its about the celebration of love in your life, be it a family member, a child or a friend.
Here are 6 ways to celebrate love on valentines day, everyday of your lives :
1.Take a moment – Our everyday lives are busy, chaotic and can get so monotonous that we don't stop to ask our partners if they are alright. This seems to happen with so many couples especially when they have been together for awhile. I'm guilty of doing this. Because some days I'm so busy with the routine of everyday life and that of my child that I forget to ask my husband how his day was. Therefore its more important than ever to take a moment and think about your partner. Spend some quality time with your loved one everyday. Say a kind word to him or her through the day. Love and relationships need investment and connection everyday,
2. Make time for each other – Stop and sit down to share a cup of coffee, a meal, a joke or a story.Take a walk together. Share your pictures of interesting happenings of your day. If you have children share their photographs with your partner when you capture a special moment and the other has missed it.Time doesn't happen unless you plan or prioritize it.
3. Have at least one activity that you do together – Make some of your less painful domestic chores easier by doing it together. Like gardening, cooking or even playtime with your toddler.It can be watching a TV show that you both like (rare in my household) Also have a movie night at home once a week with popcorn and more. Do the grocery shopping together or the school run. Doing things together helps bring people together.
4. Catch up Alone – How often do you also spend time with each other alone ? If you already do that's great but if you don't start now. Some couples have no idea what to say to each other if they aren't surrounded by their families,kids or friends. First of all plan regular date nights.Get a sitter for your kids if you have to,get dressed up and head out.If the regular drinks and dinner doesn't work for you,go bowling or catch a movie.Watch a play or a music concert. Getaway during the day for a quick lunch from the office. Sometimes when I've taken my child to a class while waiting for her to finish I try and catch up for a quick coffee with my husband at the cafe around the corner. It doesn't always have to be the same.Be spontaneous.Change it up to keep it fresh.
5. Do something thoughtful everyday – A friend's partner makes sure there is enough money in her purse everyday. Before she leaves he makes sure to check and put in some cash into her wallet. She never has to rush to the ATM.My husband makes me my morning tea everyday. Another friend always makes her boyfriend's favorite food for any special occasion. Often its the little things that endear you more to your partner. Do something thoughtful everyday for your loved ones. It can be simple things like putting away his tools. Making sure he eats healthy. Getting his morning coffee.Sending an affectionate message or making sure he takes his vitamins. Just a thoughtful little act,goes a long way.
6.Celebrate all the big and small occasions. This is important. Even in the bleakest times and toughest days celebrate those important birthdays and anniversaries.Celebrate all the wins and successes. It doesn't have to be a blow out party every time,see how you can make it unique and memorable. Celebrate,share successes and tough times alike. Make memories,invest in your relationships.Take lots of pictures and laugh a lot together. And yes celebrate Valentines Day!


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And In The End, The Love You Take
We close King Lear today. I've stories to relate and haven't the time to write them all now, but if Cal Shakes keeps this link open, I'll attempt to answer questions and tell those stories at a later date. Deal?
We had our last evening show last night on a clear, cold night with coyotes punctuating Lear's mad scenes. It seeming the perfect night for him somehow, I watched for the Great Owl that haunts the Theatre grounds, but never saw him.
We are all bone-weary from the strain on our voices and bodies that the cold and heat placed on us all. I am frankly very glad to lay the production to rest and would venture to guess that ALL of us feel much the same from spotlight operator to leading actor--we're just all dinged up.
And many of us are in rehearsals in the day now and/or working part to full time; I started rehearsals for Mousetrap at Center Rep in Walnut Creek as soon as we opened, Delia Macdougal had a thoroughly viscous cold and then went into rehearsals for Sex at Aurora Theatre playing the lead, Andy Murray is rehearsing a show at BRT, and Anthony Fusco working at ACT in Rainmaker.
I'd like to extend my gratitude to the entire cast and crew; a truly heroic group of performers and technicians whose focus, dedication and spirit along with their tremendous amount of skill and talent kept this production afloat. Thank you all, and thank you for keeping me afloat.
Have a great closing show,
deepest Regards,
Jim Carpenter


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Before he made the world "Say It," singer, songwriter, rapper and producer extraordinaire Tory Lanez was known as one of the greatest hook men in hip hop. Lanez's own impressive collection of mixtapes were kept under the radar for years, but he's always received much applause for his features with artists like YG, and French Montana to name a few.
Today we hear his unique voice again on Meek Mill's new single "Lord Knows." Together the pair alternate between flow and harmony over a choir intense like instrumental. It's safe to say that Lanez is just getting warmed up, as Mill seems to be refocusing on what's important; the music. The Track is Meek Mill's second single off of his new album "Dreams Worth More Than Money."
Catch the visual for the track here and let us know what you think in the comment section below!


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Little pink booties
Sale price $20.00 Regular price
Little pink booties in wool and cashmere with lovely lace bow.
80% wool and 20% cashmere
Made in Portugal
Use wool programme up to 30°C & wool detergent. Do not tumble dry. Do not dry clean. Dry flat. Reshape whilst damp. Cool iron inside out.


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If this is posted too soon. Moderator will take proper actions.
Starts off with Magneto and Polaris discussing humans and Magneto states that the one good thing humans taught them was: Society. They are sitting in front of that huge tree with the pod eggs.
I really like Polaris disdain for humans. She is a good balance of her father and the X-Men influence.
Next page had Storm and Xavier entering the tree/egg pod area. So now all four of them are waiting for the arrival of something.
It ends up being Tempus, Proteus, Hope, Elixer, Goldballs.
Loved LOVED seeing lesser known characters. Wish we had this sprinkled throughout the entire series.
For an X-Men seminal moment it really is the Xavier/Magneto show.
Anyways finally some new faces. And people are either going to abhor, like, or tolerate what is being given to us with these five.
Fabio Medina's power evolved from just 'ploink' balls to eggs.
Which Proteus warps into viable eggs.
Injected with the DNA of a mutant
With the touch of Elixir's life giving abilities
And Tempus time abilities speeds up the process.
And the most important is that Hope is the unifier that makes them all sync to make it possible. She gets their powers to work at their peak and in unison.
What I loved most about this scene is we got to see characters that haven't been given any spotlight recently.
I hope X-editorial gets more on board with sprinkling lesser known characters in from time to time.
Also fyi as this is happening on panel for us Magento is explaining it to Polaris. So that the readers understand what's going on.
And this harkens back to first issue.
The X-Men that died on the mission are all back now.
People that are complaining that they are just Pod People may have some leverage BUT Polaris basically calls that out. And that's when we find out that Cerebro captured the essence, the anima, of any mutant. Which can now make them as they once were but in their prime optimal form.
This is the part people are going to have issues with. And honestly all they have to do is get rid of one of the 5 and resurrections will not be so easy.
There is this crazy scene where the resurrected mutants are presented to like a ton of mutants.
Reminded me of that Matrix Morpheus speech scene in the caves and then they have a big all sexy orgy rave. You'll know it when you see it.
She introduces each one to show us that its the ones we know. I liked Jean and Monets part the most:
Jean "Oh…I'm the only "me" that ever was, Ororo"
Monet "no touching"
Cuts to Magneto and Xavier talking about how there is much work to do. They are content and happy for the day. But the vote is upon them.
FYI Synch and Mimic are brought up in the wordy sections
So resurrections are happening on a weekly basis. I hope they do something about being depowered by the pretender. Bring back my Wind Dancer Venezuelan Goddess
The vote goes in the mutants favor. They have themselves a mutant nation.
Professor X seems to think that Emma Frost had something to do it with it. And they kind of leave it up in the air but kind of don't.
So i'll let others speak on that. But I was hoping that mutants wouldn't need to use telepathy. But humans also suck in this universe so there's that.
Ends with a splash page of a the baddies coming to Krakoa. Xavier saying that all mutants are welcome.
And Apoclypse at the head of the incoming group. Stating that yes they all will be abiding by Krakoan laws.
And that he always wanted mutant dominance and look at what they all accomplished.
I see Random, Lady Mastermind, Exodus, Selene, Mister Sinister, Marrow, Cargill etc….
Love that last page…
If you are us, then be with us…
There are alot of little things that go on that I may not have covered but just read it.


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Take charge of your life.
Life Coaching enhances student life Beacon College by helping students build skills in a variety of areas, including:
- Transition to college and adult life
- Socialization, relationship building and roommate issues
- Study and behavioral skills, time management
- Daily living issues like cooking, laundry, personal hygiene, sleep issues, grocery shopping, healthy lifestyles, money management and housekeeping
Life Coaches work with individuals on a regular basis to address issues of mutual interest or need. They also offer groups and workshops on any of the skill areas listed above in response to student need or by request.
The coaching process includes several steps proven to empower individuals in creating richer, more satisfying lives:
- Set goals that motivate you to develop your desired skills
- Create action steps that get you where you want to be.
- Build a structure with your life coach for holding yourself accountable.
- Brainstorm and plan for obstacles and challenges.
- Celebrate your accomplishments and reflect on your progress.


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Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday said he disagreed that the party's recently concluded review of its China policy was unimpressive and conservative and called on Beijing to win over Taiwanese with encouragement and "observation from a distance."
Addressing the DPP's China policy review for the first time since it was announced on Thursday, Su yesterday reaffirmed that the party considers Taiwan to be a sovereign and independent country during an interview with Radio Taiwan International, a state-funded station, which has a mainly Chinese audience.
The policy review concluded that the resolution on Taiwan's future in 1999 — which defined Taiwan as a sovereign country while acknowledging the Republic of China as the nation's formal title — has been accepted by the majority of the public and would remain the DPP's core value and position.
While observers described the review as a "cliche [and] without new ideas" and some party members proposed freezing the Taiwan independence clause to allow the party to better engage with China, the chairman insisted that the DPP's China policy was the right path.
In the DPP's historical process, the Taiwan independence clause is "a chapter in the past" as the nation "is already a sovereign and independent... There is no need to freeze or abolish anything," he said.
"If you are a man, you do not have to tell people that you are a man every day," Su said as a way of explaining his view. "Is it strange to negate what you did when you were 13 or 20 years old?"
Cross-strait relations have become important and complex, so it would be fantasy to approach the relationship with a simple term, such as the so-called "1992 consensus," he said in response to questions over whether the DPP would come up with an innovative term to beat out the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and facilitate better ties with Beijing.
Su said the relationship should be like "a seagull on the beach."
"A man on a beach should learn how to watch a seagull and appreciate its beauty from a distance. If he tried to catch it, it would fly away," Su said, adding that China should not stand in Taiwan's way if it was serious about winning over Taiwanese hearts.
If China refrained from oppressing the nation's international space and respected it in bilateral engagements, this would create a "China plus one" situation, meaning that both sides could coexist in the international community, Su said.
The senior politician said Beijing should be wary of "hearing only those things it wants to hear" and setting preconditions over any bilateral engagements.
Looking back at the party's loss in the presidential election in 2012, Su said that while a sincere and complete review was necessary, he suspected that the DPP's China policy was not the most important factor in the loss.


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Virtual Tours and How To Use Them Correctly
When I shoot real estate in Atlanta agents often request a virtual tour. I always suggest doing a full-motion video tour instead but virtual tours are still popular and they are less expensive than video tours. A virtual tour is an online slideshow often provided with background music and some property info.
Here are 6 observations I made in regards to virtual tours and things you need to be aware of when using virtual tours:
1) Quality. If you use crappy photos, you will have crappy tours. The quality is often reduced even further because some brokerages use automated virtual tour providers who pull the photos from MLS where they've already been reduced in size and quality.
2) Number of photos. If you are using an automated tour, all your clients will see is a slideshow of photos they have already seen. Offer value to your clients, edit your tours separately and add more high-quality photos to it.
3) Music is cheesy. It take only a couple minutes to login to your tour and change the music, don't go for preset cheesy tracks. Some providers will allow you to upload your own song.
4) Load time. I've only found a handful of VT providers where photos load quickly and with good resolution. Most of the tours will be turned off before they load by the potential buyer.
5) Your listings go to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia and other outlets. Check at least these 3, make sure your virtual tour link shows up. Your virtual tour will not upload to Realtor.com automatically. VT vendor has to be approved by PicturePath and Realtor.com and they have to upload manually. Some big vendors who might have a contract with your broker are able to upload them from MLS to Realtor.com immediately but remember, login to your tour and upload high-rez photos. If your broker has such agreement with a vendor and you decide to use your own, the broker's vendor's tour will have priority and will show up on Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia – you have to make sure you place your own link on MLS and then update it on Realtor.com.
6) You can plug it in (embed it) VT tour vendors provide with HTML code of the tour, so you can copy/paste it on your blog easily. A little harder with social media, though. You can post a link on Facebook, for example, but it will open a new window when you click on it. It won't play directly on your Facebook wall, like YouTube videos do. Facebook doesn't like when people leave their site, so I can bet you that your exposure will be limited. Much better to post a photo or a video. Fortunately you can convert a virtual tour into a video format and host it on YouTube or Vimeo, though quality of images will be reduced.
If you stay aware of these details about virtual tours – you will get the most out of them. If you need a virtual tour provider or a real estate photographer in Atlanta and Metro Area, text/call me at (727) 418-9016 and I'll be glad to work with you.


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Professionele IP-camera's Productshop
Professionele IP-camera's Toepassingen & Oplossingen
Professionele IP-camera's Live Viewing Software
Installatie & Ondersteuning
People Counter is a cost-efficient and scalable video analytics application
for people counting. This business-improving application, installed on a
network camera, enables accurate monitoring and analysis of customer flows.
It is ideal for e.g. quick evaluation of marketing efforts, improving staff
and store planning, or evaluating conversion rate if combined with
point-of-sale data.


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The February 2009 issue of the California State Bar Journal reports that in the declining economy, revenues of the state IOLTA fund have tanked, plunging from a high of $22.4 million in 1990 to a current $11.5 million, with a projected low of $3.0 million by the end of 2009. What's IOLTA, you ask? It's a gimmick ginned up by the organized bar, intended to fund do-gooder litigation on behalf of the poor without having to pay for it. Neat, eh? Actually, not so neat. As we need not explain, money does not grow on trees – it has to come from somebody's pocket. And if you are a lawyer, whose pocket can you pick most conveniently? Your clients' of course. That way, you get the credit for organized do-gooderism, while your clients . . . Wait a minute! If you just do it that way, those clients would complain, wouldn't they? So how do you solve that little problem?
Enter the government with a legal scheme that makes three-card Monte look like a game of bridge, and makes it all possible, while giving the appearance of generating something from nothing, so the plucked clients can't complain.
In the olden days, if you put your money in a bank checking account, you got no interest on it. But more recently the law authorized the creation of what is called NOW accounts – we are not sure what that acronym stands for, except that it sure isn't the National Organization of Women. But we digress.
Anyway, a NOW account is a checking account that pays interest. The gimmick is that under the regulations that govern such accounts, Joe Sixpack can open one but businesses can't. And lawyers are in business, so their checking trust accounts in which they keep their clients' money can't earn interest as a matter of law. But mirable dictu, under IOLTA regulations they can, except that this interest goes to a bar-operated charitable outfit that uses it for do-gooder litigation. Bingo!
Mind you, neither we nor any moral person we know of can properly complain when people – whether lawyers or their clients – decide to dip into their own pockets and voluntarily contribute a few shekels to so worthy a charitable activity. But that is not what's afoot here. For one thing, this activity is dependent on the lawyers dipping into their clients' not their own money.
In Phillips v. Washington Legal Foundation, 524 U.S. 156 (1998) the Supreme Court so held – interest generated by the principal belongs to whoever owns the principal, and that applies to IOLTA accounts. Now what? Is that the end of the story? One would think that it is, that the interest, having been generated by the clients' money, belongs to them. But if that's what you think, you just don't understand human creativity when it comes to getting one's mitts on other people's money.
In a later case confusingly named Washington Legal Foundation v. Legal Foundation of Washington, 538 U.S. 216 (2003), the Supreme Court dropped the other shoe and held that private property or not, where small individual amounts are involved, it is legal to have the banks pay the interest on lawyers' trust accounts as if they were NOW accounts, but instead of paying it to its rightful owners, pay it to the bar's organized charitable foundations for their do-gooder operations. Since the cost of calculating and processing the interest on small or very short-term deposits on an individual basis is so small, held the court, the cost of handling can exceed their total. Therefore their rightful owners (the clients) do not lose anything even though its diversion to the bar's charitable organizations is indeed a taking. But this is a taking, said the court, that is for a public use, so it's OK, and payment of just compensation is not required because the clients are owed no net payments and have not suffered any net loss because if sought to be paid to them, the interest would be consumed by the cost of the transaction.
All that sounds straightforward, but since there is no such thing as a free lunch, something must be wrong with it. Yes? Yes, indeed. If IOLTA accounts produce a net cash flow in the millions to the bar's do-gooder organizations – as they do – then obviously they would likewise produce such a cash flow to the clients whose money, after all, is the principal on which the interest is earned. And if the banks' calculation and payment of the interest is OK when the money goes to the charitable organizations, why wouldn't it be OK if it went to the clients or to charities of the clients' choice? Are the individual amounts small? Maybe. But we see class-actions all the time in which the courts require payment of similarly small amounts to large numbers of wronged parties. It seems to us that using modern computer techniques that net cash flow can just as well be calculated and diverted in accordance with the clients' not their lawyers' wishes. So if the clients want to spend that money – their money — on funding a charitable activity of their choice, that would be fine. But in our book, making them contribute money for causes they may be individually opposed to, isn't.
Finally, adding insult to injury, the IOLTA rule does not apply to large clients' deposits. So if General Conglomerates, Inc. sends its lawyers a gazillion dollars to cover expenses in pending litigation, the lawyers are free to put it in a savings trust account, with the entire earned interest being credited to the client. But if Joe Sixpack advances his lawyer a couple of grand for expenses, the (admittedly small) interest on that goes to the bar's charitable organizations, while the bar leaders preen in public about what great philanthropists they are. What's wrong with this picture?
Be all that as it may, it now appears that in the declining economy a dramatic shrinkage of IOLTA funds is afoot, and we will see in short order if leaders of the bar who gave us this system will dip into their own pockets to keep so worthy an activity of their creation going on their own, not their clients' nickel. Any bets?
Stay tuned.


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Cambridgeshire County Council uses YouTube to encourage new councillors
Article from Dave Briggs blog looking at how Cambridgeshire County Council is using YouTube to encourage new councillors. The videos are of the leaders of the three main political groups on the Council saying why it is important for people to become involved in local government, but only the videos of the Labour and Lib Dems was available at the time of viewing (14th March 2009). The third, I assume from the Conservatives, had been "withdrawn by the user". Anyone in Cambridgeshire know why that could be? Anything to with "County council set to consider code of conduct allegations against five councillors" in The Cambs Times http://tinyurl.com/ac69nm
UK Local Councils on Youtube
This list of UK local councils on Youtube from LizAzyan Research is a table giving information on UK local council YouTube channels found on 10th February 2009. Information includes the channel name, date joined, number of subscribers, number of videos and the video title with the highest views.
YouTube – Google Privacy Channel
Google has created a Privacy Channel on YouTube (YouTube – Broadcast Yourself ) where it has 23 videos on how to protect your Privacy on some of the Google services and products. Whatever you think about Google's attitude to privacy these are viewing as they do provide useful tips and information on how to change your personal settings and protect your privacy. Thanks to Phil Bradley for the heads up on this one.


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Episode Cheats Hack Passes & Gems Generator
One of the most attractive and amazing interactive game Episode has millions of fans. Some of them may be needed a little help while playing. Game hacks and tricks are good option for this game. Episode hack can easily generate free game passes and germs as well. The game currency is important while playing. So why Episode cheats can help to get better game results.
The Episode cheats are one of the most popular thing that game fans are looking for. If you are one of them this article could be interesting for you. The Episode game has become very popular because it has amazing interactive stories to offer. The amount of game stories is incredible huge. The Episode game has thousands of stories and every day this quantity increases. The player can choose one of lots of game stories and play it on any device. In the other words the player creates his own story and chooses what become next! It sounds very amazing, do you agree? Various of game characters can be chosen. Lots of interesting game stories are waiting to be played! The Episode game can easily make every gamer to take an interest in it.
The Episode hack can be used on various devices. If you have android or ios smartphone, or tablet you can freely you this trick. All game cheats are created to help players to increase their game performance. If gamer wants to save his time and play game faster the game hacks definitely can help to do it. The episode cheats were made to give additional game gems and passes. Game germs can be used to open new game stories. Also it can unlock new game outfits. If you have enough game germs the game will definitely become much more attractive! The amount of game germs that can be generated by Episode hack is limitless. This trick is useful almost for every Episode game fan. It has user friendly design and works well with no troubles. The Episode cheats usually are updated daily. It makes this trick to work faster and more effective.
Do you know about episode passes? If you play this game so you may be noticed the game passes are the another important game currency. The passes can be given by competing daily tasks. Every player can get it by playing game. But if you want to have more passes quickly? What you should to do then? The right option is to use Episode hack that easily generates game passes. The using of this cheat can save your time with no doubt.
It is never too late to start using Episode cheats. The players who have already used this trick were very pleased by this hack. Believe me or not I think that this Episode hack is one of the best. If you play this game day by day the game tricks can solve many game problems that you may be faced with. Do you want to get more game advantages? Well this game trick can easily do it. How about the new characters and stories? Would you like to try it as soon as possible? The Episode hack can do it either! It will generate as many game germs and passes as you want. So the extra game currency will provide the opportunity to you to unlock many game features and task. Let's do it!


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While we can't and don't endorse specific apps, below are just a few examples of government, citizen, and business tools that: use open government data from the United States; are accessible, vetted, and available; and are, for the majority, free and do not require registration to use. Submit Education application suggestions at Contact Education and see more examples of applications made with open government data at Data.gov/applications.
EyeNote® is a free mobile device application to identify denominations of Federal Reserve Notes (U.S. paper currency) as an aid for the blind or visually impaired.
What is IDEAL Currency Identifier? It is a U.S. currency identification application for individuals who are blind and everyone else!
A mobile application of selected NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) Results.
Identify tree species from photographs of their leaves.
View millions of images, videos, and journals from the Smithsonian.
Open Government Data Used:
Museums Universe Data File 2014 Q3
Search for Private Schools
The data for this search tool comes directly from the 30,000 plus private schools that responded to the 2003-2004 Private School Universe Survey (PSS) conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Open Government Data Used:
Search for Public Schools
Use the Search For Public Schools locator to retrieve information on all U.S. public schools.
Open Government Data Used:
Condition of Public School Facilities 2012-13
Search for Public Libraries
Find a public library near you.
Open Government Data Used:
College Affordability and Transparency Center
The College Affordability and Transparency Center was designed by the U.S. Department of Education to meet requirements in the Higher Education Opportunity Act and to provide better information to student and parent consumers about college costs. It serves as a central point to several tools that allow users to compare colleges tuition and fees, net price, and other characteristics.
Open Government Data Used: Department of Education – National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
Search for Public School Districts
Use the Search For Public School Districts locator to retrieve information on all U.S. public school districts.
Open Government Data Used:
Condition of Public School Facilities 2012-2013


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400 million members & 30 million authentic reviews
One-stop multilingual service & hassle-free travel
Over 1,200,000 hotels in more than 200 countries & flights to over 5,000 cities
The city of Changsha was home to a number of historical figures such as Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang, who once studied at Yuelu Academy and saved the Qing Empire. At Yuelu Mountain, you'll find the burial sites of the generals Huang Xing and Cai E. Hunan TV in also based in Changsha. From "Super Girl", which made Li Yuchun and Zhang Liangying famous, to "Happy Camp" and "Divas Hit the Road", it has provided countless entertaining programs. Changsha' airport has thus become a place to encounter many celebrities.
The Yuelu Mountain on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River and the Yuelu Academy in the mountains are undoubtedly the most famous landmarks in Changsha. They are must visit places for travelers to Changsha. In recent years, Orange Island in the Xiangjiang River has also become quite popular. The statue of young Mao Zedong in the Orange Island Park is a popular place for tourists to take pictures. Taiping Street in the downtown area, Huogong Palace, Tianxin Pavilion and Kaifu Temple on Pozi Street are all well-known attractions. The Hunan Museum houses the famous corpse of Mawangdui. The former residences of famous figures in the suburbs and the suburban counties surrounding Changsha are well-preserved, such as the former residence of Liu Shaoqi in Huaminglou Town of Ningxiang County, the former residence of Yang Kaihui in Changsha County, and the former residence of Hu Yaobang in Liuyang City. They are not as visited as some of the other attractions due to their distance from the urban areas.
Autumn is the best season to visit Changsha and it's also the most popular time for tourists due to the comfortable temperature. In late autumn, you can enjoy the beautiful red leaves on Yuelu Mountain, or visit Orange Island. Changsha is very hot in the summer, and the temperatures generally start to get warm and humid around the time of the Dragon Boat Festival. Both spring and winter are also good times to visit. Spring in Changsha begins in mid-February. In the winter of late November, the average temperature is around 5°C. Sometimes it will snow, and you can see ice on the mountains.
As a prosperous provincial capital, hotels in Changsha range from five-star hotels to ordinary ones. High-end hotels in Changsha are mostly located near Wuyi Road. Xiangjiang River divides the urban area of Changsha into two parts, Hexi and Hedong. Hexi area includes Yuelu Mountain, Hunan University, and other colleges. Hedong area is the city center of Changsha. The bustling commercial areas, major attractions, and airports are all located in Hexi. The traffic is convenient and it is very lively. It is also a great area for shopping.


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BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:wwuh.org | October 08 2012- October 15 2012 PRODID:-//strange bird labs//Drupal iCal API//EN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20191206T154824Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20121009T040000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20121009T070000Z UID:http://wwuh.org/00655-out-here-and-beyond-pat-metheny URL;VALUE=URI:http://wwuh.org/00655-out-here-and-beyond-pat-metheny SUMMARY:Out Here and Beyond - Pat Metheny DESCRIPTION:
The Pat Metheny Unity Band is performing in CT twice this week\: at the Ridgefield Playhouse on Thursday and at UConn'\;s Jorgensen Arts Center on Thursday\, October 11.
The renowned jazz guitarist will discuss his current tour and band with Chuck Obuchowski on WWUH Tuesday\, October 9 at 10 a.m.\, during Tuesday Morning Jazz - "\;Out Here &\; Beyond."\;END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20191206T154824Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20121009T070000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20121009T073000Z UID:http://wwuh.org/00656-new-world-notes-bummer-election URL;VALUE=URI:http://wwuh.org/00656-new-world-notes-bummer-election SUMMARY:New World Notes - A Bummer of an Election DESCRIPTION:
This week on \;New World Notes\: radio program #241\, October 9\, from 12\:00 to 12\:30 p.m.\, host Kenneth Dowst looks (askance?) at the presidential election.


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We're seeing a lot of .zip file attachment spam at the moment, so here's a quick method to send those mails straight to your junk folder. I prefer this method instead of rejecting, as sometimes people really do need to send us zips!
For Exchange2010 Hub Transports:
Traditionally I guess you'd use a filter on an Edge Transport server, but If you're running Exchange 2010 as a HUB/MAILBOX server and don't have an Edge Transport role (like us) there is a way:
- Expand EMC to Organisation->Hub Transport
- Go to Transport Rules
- Right Click , select 'Add new transport rule'
- Name the rule something like "Mark zip files as spam"
- Conditions: Select "when any attachment file name matches text patterns"
type in ".zip" as the pattern
- Actions: Select "set the spam confidence level to value"
type in "7" as the level.
And that's it!


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Dog May Point to Concern for Friendship
Dog May Point to Concern for Friendship
Dear Cynthia:
In my dream, I find my dog in the backyard, dead, with ants and bugs all over it. One eye is sunken into the socket. My first thought was to make sure that my kids don't see the dog like this. Then I began to brush the ants off to move the dog and he starts to come alive, the more I brush off the bugs the more animated he becomes until he is 100% fine. ~ Michael
Dear Michael:
Many people don't want to remember their dreams because of the uncomfortable images they contain, but dreams often use strong visual scenes to make an impression and, once understood, the meaning is often less gruesome. Your backyard refers to something close to you, something going on in your personal life or frame of reference. Since dogs are known as man's best friend, a dead dog may symbolize the death of the relationship between you and a best friend.
You want to protect your children from the emotional pain of seeing a dead animal in this condition. Bugs, including ants, can represent things that annoy or bother us. Here they and the sunken eye seem to represent the fact that this situation has been over or dead for a while. The eye, since it's no longer functional, indicates that there are things that are not being seen. When you remove the annoying things that bug you, you restore life to your friend and therefore your friendship.
Ask yourself: Where in my life is something dear to me ending or dying? What has been bugging me lately? What would I like to protect my children from seeing or being affected by? What could I clean up that could restore life to something I thought was over? Is there something that I have not been seeing correctly? Am I holding on, trying to restore life to something that seems well beyond help? What am I trying to change the appearance of?
It seems as though your subconscious mind is communicating that there is something in your life that you believe is over, which, in fact you can bring back to life if you wish!
If the dream is referring to your marriage, for example, it is advising you to accept the little things that bug you about your partner, or talk about them together to see if he or she is willing to work on making changes. If you can stop feeling bugged by accepting that these are just simply characteristics of your partner, not meant to bother you personally there is real hope to keep the relationship alive. You may feel that your kids have sensed a bit of the trouble and you'd really prefer to shelter them from any emotional reactions. Make an effort to see the whole picture accurately and you can resurrect the situation.
Send your dreams to email@example.com
Here are some additional links:
Huffington Post
Dogs are man's best friend thanks to


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Performance Monitor
Monitoring the SMOS retrieval processors for land products. Here you can check for latest product version (reprocessing + operational) and performances of the processors. The informations are updated daily
L1 and L2 performance monitoring
L3 CATDS -Multi orbit – performance monitoring
Example plots:
Processor version product
click here for complete Processing configurations figures
Processor performances
Brightness temperature processor performances
The plots show the counts for software errors instrument errors and calibration errors
Soil moisture operational processor performances
zoom using mouse wheel or double click
Click here for more interactive plots
Performance plots
The following plots show the number and percentage of successful retrievals over soil cover for different levels (richness) of retrievals. The richness of retrieval depend on type of model and level of optical thickness.
Click here to check for complete processing performances plots
Comments (1)
[...] TeamDo you speak SMOS ?ToolsDocsDataProducts version [...]


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Restique is a 2008 CWHBA mare. She went premium at her mare inspection and ended up National High Score mare the year of her inspection. She has super gaits, and a fantastic model. This mare turns heads wherever she goes. She has plenty of talent for dressage, but also impresses hunter judges and won a very competitive hunter under saddle class for 3 year olds at the Fieldstone Breeder show.
Restique is by Redwine out of our super producing mare Unique by Gribaldi. Her maternal Grandsire is Burggraaf.
2015 Special Edition, bay colt by Special D
2016 Special Effects, black filly by Special D
2017 Harmony, bay filly by His Querido winner of the Foal Futurity
2018 Gelding by Franklin (Ampere/Ferro)
2019 Colt by Franklin (Ampere/Ferro)
2020 Expected for by His Querido
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGhjg4noq9U Basic Dressage Training as a 4 yr old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8xtNCXgWFQ Cup Qualifier, Hunter under saddle class for 3 yr olds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XL239rqEWE First Time Freejumping – 2 yr old.


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Raphael & 北斎
15, August 2017 § Leave a comment
Raphael's Drawings: at the Ashmolean & Hokusai: Beyond the Great Wave
At the end of the session this last spring John and I traveled to England to spend a few days in Oxford. We went to see a show of Raphael's drawings at the Ashmolean, a collection of over hundred and twenty of his original works of art. Drawing exhibitions are far and few between and I was particularly anxious to see this one because Raphael's draftsmanship is extraordinary and difficult to find and see in person.
It has been said that drawing, within the visual arts, holds the position of being closest to pure thought. (Elderfield) In this sense the drawings allow us to see inside Raphael's mind as he composed images which would evolve into paintings, frescoes and tapestries. His exploratory line and his imaginative thought process are clearly on view in these works. You feel him working through ideas, expressing emotion with a variety of poses and exploring specific narratives. His drawings are derived from models, imagination, and sometimes from memory. What struck me most was the delicacy and fineness of his workmanship, the exquisite details and the accuracy of his line, his potent understanding of how light describes form. I learned that he often used a stylus to sketch out the preliminary form on the paper before beginning the drawing. This was called a blind line because it did not leave a mark. The drawing was then refined with either metal-point, red chalk, or charcoal. Exploring the spiraling tensions and revealing a staggering knowledge of anatomy he amplified the composition with interlocking negative space and groupings of figures. He was able to reveal the emotional quality of the figures with a minimum of information, sometimes showing only the back of a head or a gesture of the hand to communicate the mood. With rhythm, geometry, and poetry of line his drawings become a testament to the human form as an expression of life force.
On the way back to Athens we stopped in London and were lucky enough to see the exhibition "Hokusai: Beyond the Great Wave" at the British Museum. This artist's encyclopedic knowledge of nature is on show with many drawings done with ink and brush, woodblock and illustrated books. Again I was struck by the detail and careful renderings, the delicacy of his work. I think it was Ruskin who said that in fine art there must be something "fine" and I thought once again, looking at Hokusai, that perhaps this is something we're missing in much of contemporary art. It seems that the muscular, the shocking and the mundane have more value to us than careful observation and recording of form which is so lovingly revealed in these masterworks. Although the artists lived two and a half centuries apart and on two different continents, although they depict two different cultures, there are common elements to their work. Both artists express the inexpressible through the twisting forms of human anatomy, pushing to discover at some level our common humanity and our extraordinary capacity to endure. Meticulous, patient observation combined with imagination and the desire to reveal truth is the binding principle that brings these two artists forward into our world with enduring quality.
Jane Morris Pack
Εγκύκλιο Παιδεία • Liberal Arts
3, February 2017 § 2 Comments
"When we ask about the relationship of a liberal education to citizenship, we are asking a question with a long history in the Western philosophical tradition. We are drawing on Socrates' concept of 'the examined life,' on Aristotle's notions of reflective citizenship, and above all on Greek and Roman Stoic notions of an education that is 'liberal' in that it liberates the mind from bondage of habit and custom, producing people who can function with sensitivity and alertness as citizens of the whole world." –Martha Nussbaum, Cultivating Humanity: A Classical Defense of Reform in Liberal Education, 1998
Seven Liberal Arts: Francesco Pesellino: 1422-1457 Florence
While hoping to find a way to take a much needed sabbatical many years ago I made some phone calls in search for a person to take over my job for a semester. I talked to a woman who taught at a well known academy in the States, someone who I felt could teach drawing and painting simultaneously as I had been doing for years at the Aegean Center. I gave her the outline of the program; a three month course, in Greece, teaching 20 hours a week, covering the gamut from printmaking to oil painting. She brushed aside my inquiry but not because she felt the weight of long hours of teaching, or because the responsibilities were onerous, but because she would need to teach drawing and painting concurrently. She said that a student needed a full year of basic drawing, followed by a full year of figure drawing before they should be allowed to touch a brush. When I explained that being a single semester abroad program prevented us from spreading out the curriculum in this way she dumbfounded me with her response. "Well"' she said, "I consider myself a fascist when it comes to art instruction". I thanked her for her time and promptly hung up.
In relating this story to students I often wondered whether the fascist intent was sanctioned by her academy or if it was just her own perverse mindset. I have unfortunately seen and heard of teachers who felt their method was uniquely correct and had no tolerance for other viewpoints. In art classes the slavish adherence to what is fashionable and a blindness to tradition can narrow students responses. As teachers we must all ensure that our students learn the basic skills that will serve them in future no matter which direction the art world takes. I am deeply committed to obtaining and practicing these skills, but to be a self proclaimed fascist in order to attain that objective is repugnant. Recently I contemplated her response again and thought about it in context to the current political climate. It still horrifies me and I still fight against the dictates that her statement implies.
The Liberal Arts were conceived to educate citizens who could uphold the highest ideals of the Greek and Roman cultures. Rhetoric, grammar, logic comprised the trivium and to these were added the quadrivium of arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. Over the course of the centuries a liberal arts education has come to means something broader but it still indicates a course of study which seeks to inculcate a student to uphold the fundamental underpinning of a democratic society. The arts, especially the visual arts, play a role in embedding memory, culture and history into the minds of citizens. The museum plays its part as well as the galleries, publications and criticism. The arts aspire to imagination, forward thinking, to uphold aesthetic ideals and keep sensitivity alert. This perhaps is why the first thing many dictators do is imprison the artists and poets. But art can also be fashioned into propaganda and can in itself become weighted down with rules and dictates. And apparently teaching art can become fascistic as well.
If we are to remain an open society we need to teach the creative process and embody it as well in our teaching. I try to foster a creative environment in the studio along with emphasizing the discipline that learning an art form demands. Strangely, many art students do not feel creative. The striving to make something of merit often stifles the urge to begin. Creativity requires a certain amount of mess, of boredom, of play and practice in order to perform its magical alchemy. Rigid hierarchical formulae do not help to promote its appearance. We cannot be creative if we are being taught that conforming is the most important requirement. This is why so many students feel that being creative is a rare gift rather than a natural outcome of their nature, too many years spent in graded, monitored, tested classrooms can kill off the ability to create. Often beginning students are intensely creative before fear and compliance knock them back into simply performing for others.
I stay in my job with pleasure, it keeps me involved in my passions and engaged with young clever minds. I teach drawing and painting but I also feel my job is to awaken students to their own nascent creativity. To engage in the creative process is to grow as a person and as a citizen of the world. Within the beautiful environment of the Center with its multicultural milieu, with imaginative and intellectual activities and trusting relationships the creative is allowed to emerge. :Jane Morris Pack
"Those persons, whom nature has endowed with genius and virtue, should be rendered by liberal education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens; and . . . they should be called to that charge without regard to wealth, birth or other accidental condition or circumstance." –Thomas Jefferson, 1779
Half Way
29, October 2016 § Leave a comment
Clearing Storm at the end of a brilliant day
As the last days of October come in with clouds and cold winds, we have arrived at our half term break. Some of the students will be travelling, but the majority of the group are choosing to stay in Paros to work in the studios and the digital lab. It has been a busy and event filled semester. After returning from Italy we introduced the landscape of our lovely island with several hikes, the first was a walk above Lefkes to the inner valley beyond the windmills. There among the olive trees John read an entry from his journal from the time he lived on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. It never fails to move his audience and this time there was a deep quiet as he finished. His words touched us all.
John reading from his journal under the olive trees
Last weekend we sailed around Antiparos with Captain Tasso and had a meal at Zombos, a restaurant at the southern end of the island facing Despotico. We had just strolled about the new excavations of the ancient temple, getting a glimpse into the working of the restorers who are rebuilding the facade of the temple. The winds came up as we finished our meal and Captain Tasso felt we needed to start back to avoid the oncoming storm. It caught up with us anyway and we all got wet, but the students sang and huddle together and we were rewarded with a full rainbow as we turned the corner toward Paros and home.
A few days ago Dimitra Skandalis gave a guest lecture on her work just before she returned to her new home in San Francisco. She shared her ideas and her passions with students and brought along some samples of the work she does with seaweed. She is a former student who is originally from Paros. Her exhibition at the school this summer was her first solo show here on the island.
Now with a much needed break to consolidate information and clarify goals, the students will come back to finish the semester work and prepare to display their efforts for the final exhibition in the first week of December.
Cliffs of volcanic detritus on the backside of Antiparos.
Enjoying the Rain…Hoddies!
:Thanks, Ken Shiozawa, for the photos and being Student Extraordinaire
REBIRTH IN ITALY: a student post
13, October 2016 § 2 Comments
by: Aanchal Sethi
An advertising professional based in Dubai, Aanchal Sethi is currently taking a sabbatical to attend the Aegean Center's fall semester. Here is a post from Aanchal's own blog, reposted here in full with Aanchal's permission.
The Villa
I stand in the corner of the dining room with a champagne glass in hand listening intently to the toast Jane is making. My eyes, trying to hide the tears that are developing look deeply into the bubbles that surround the rim of the class. My heart, open and full, speaks to the smile that forms on my lips. For the first time in years, I am present in a moment created by someone else that reflects everything I feel.
In the past few weeks, I have been asked several times to explain how my sabbatical is coming along. People expect long and detailed answers and all I can give them is a simple – 'it's going great' reply. I haven't found a descriptive word to describe this experience.
All I can say is this.
From drawing straight lines to understanding the depth and reason behind Bellini's Madonna and Child to letting myself free in theater and seeing shapes between objects – in the past one month, I have learned how to learn. It is bewildering what being a child again can do to you, when the fear of not knowing is taken over by the wonder of discovery.
I have sat in the same squares of Tuscan towns where I sat a few years ago with a gelato in hand and realized that places don't change, people and circumstances do. And perhaps that is why we move on.
I have broken out of my comfort zone and surrounded myself with youth to relish the truth that age is in the mind. I have felt blessed when young women have told me that my life is a goal for them for that is the one thing I usually take for granted.
Feeling like a tiny speck in the grandness of the universe and adorned by the power of art, I have shed tears of gratitude in a man-made wonder.
I took this sabbatical to discard the entrenched feeling of stagnation that has been reigning over me for a few years. Trapped in the corporate world, I have been a slave to my monthly salary that never leaves me content. My growth, often restricted by my own inhibitions to try new things, has stunted year after year of my so called adult life.
My thoughts are interrupted as Jane toasts to our individual renaissance in Italy and that is when it hits me. The one word I have been looking for to describe this journey.
Here's looking forward to what Greece has to bring and looking at the world from a new set of eyes and wonder!
Tour Through Italy and Return to Greece
10, October 2016 § 2 Comments
By: Jun-Pierre Shiozawa
The past month the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts marked the 28th year of its Italy program. The new group of students arrived in early September at the Villa Rospigliosi, the Aegean Center's home in Italy. Up in the hills overlooking the Tuscan city of Pistoia, the students became accustomed to life at the Villa; classes throughout the day including drawing, photography, writing and theatre, and sharing prepared meals by the Villa chefs, who have been with the Center since the very first years.
The bulk of the Italy program involves touring the great centers of the Italian Renaissance, including Florence, Siena, Venice, Pisa, Pistoia, Rome and for the first time ever for the Aegean Center, Bologna.
In Florence, the Center was able to visit the newly reopened Museum of the Works of the Duomo featuring a new layout which recreates the facade of the Cathedral with original sculptures set in niches. We toured through the great churches and museums of Florence including the Bargello and the Uffizi. As always, the Brancacci Chapel in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine was a highlight of the tours in Florence. Inside the chapel the group was able to enjoy thirty minutes to themselves to study and admire the great fresco masterpieces of Massacio and Masolino.
On one rainy day, our bus brought us through the Tuscan hills to Siena, where we were fortunately greeted with clearer skies and sunshine. The Cathedral of Siena was less crowded than usual and we were able to admire its incredible array of sculpture and decor, its fascinating floors and the colorful Piccolimini library.
During our second week in Italy, the Aegean Center visited Venice for three days. Upon arriving, art history professor Jeffrey Carson led the tour through the Piazza San Marco and up in to the Basilica of San Marco to see the original bronze horses, taken from the hippodrome of Constantinople. The next day the Aegean Center toured the great painting museum of Venice, the Accademia and found some of our old favorites, works by Giovanni Bellini, Giorgione, and Titian.
After returning to Venice we continued our tours through Tuscany with a visit to Pisa where we enjoyed a bright sunny day in the "Piazza dei Mirocoli," (the Plaza of Miracles) with its beautiful marble faced buildings: the Cathedral of Pisa, its baptistery, the Campo Santo and of course, the Leaning Tower. In the baptistery, Studio Arts professor Jane Pack described the innovative work of Nicola Pisano's pulpit and we were able to hear the incredible acoustics of the baptistery interior as one of the guards made a call in to its dome which echoed with his own response.
The Aegean Center visited Bologna for the first time as well. The home of the oldest university in the world, Bologna welcomed us in its rich array of historical and religious centers, including the Basilicas of San Petronio and San Domenico. Although we were unable to see Giambologna's Fountain of Neptune (under restoration) and Raphael's Ectasy of St. Cecilia (currently on loan for the Pushkin Museum's "Raphael. The Poetry of the Image" exhibition) we were taken by the austere beauty of the medieval and premedieval church complex of Santo Stefano and the energy of the city itself.
The Aegean Center students enjoyed our last meal at the Villa Rospigiliosi and thanked the Villa chefs with a thank you card and applause. Saying farewell to the Villa is always bittersweet, a mixture of sadness and excited anticipation with what lays ahead: Rome and finally Greece!
In Rome, director John Pack led the students through a winding tour of Rome's downtown. John took the students through its famous piazzas, complete with stops for Granita di Cafe in front of the Pantheon and a trip up the Capitoline hill to view over the ancient Roman forum. The next day Jane led the group through the magical Palazzo Massimo to see its treasures including the bronze Pugilist, the dying Niobid and the lovely garden frescoes from the Villa Livia. Finally on our last day in Rome the Aegean Center woke up at the crack of dawn to visit the Vatican museum and where we had the Sistine Chapel all to ourselves, entering before any other group. We all gasped at Michelangelo's achievements, awestruck and moved.
Rome marked the final leg of the Aegean Center's Italian tour and the students then departed for Athens. There, under the characteristically bright Greek sunlight, art history Jeffrey Carson led the students up to the Acropolis to see the monument to the magnificence of the Ancient Athenians: The Parthenon. That night, one of the students, Aria Higgins, invited the entire Aegean Center to dine at her family restaurant, Mama Roux. The last day of touring before the students' arrival in Paros was at the greatest museum of ancient Greek antiquities in the world, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
Now the students have all arrived in Paros, to settle in and prepare for the classes ahead. We are all excited to see what else will be accomplished with this close knit, energetic and talented group of students.
Thank you very much to Bruno-Ken Shiozawa for the use of his photographs for this post
Dimitra Skandali
25, August 2016 § Leave a comment
By: Jane Pack
Dimitra Skandali is showing recent work at The Aegean Center this summer in her first show since she was a student here many years ago. She is from Paros but now lives and works in San Francisco. She has participated in many international exhibitions. Her website can be viewed here: http://www.dimitraskandali.com/
I imagine this story. Dimitra is walking the shore near San Francisco when a bit of drifted seaweed caught in the sea foam pulls her mind toward Paros. In this expansive space she feels herself to be part of a larger whole. She has come to America to attend graduate school but certainly whatever California offers it isn't the peaceful calm of Paros in winter. She may have felt alone and displaced for some time after arriving, before the schedule of classes and studios acquired a rhythm to dull the ache for home. I imagine this story because my experience was similar when I left America for a life in Paros over 25 years ago. I too looked for small reminders of the familiar while delighting in the extravagance of the new. Our journeys echo one another's although we switched places, our paths overlapping for just enough time to recognise each other as fellow travellers.
When one is in a new environment, in a different country from one's birth, the everyday small occurrences are the ones which pull you up sharply and make you feel an alien, the choice of breakfast foods or the way people queue or don't. It often comes to perceived differences in manners, knowing when to shake hands or when to exchange kisses. But feeling outside a community can be an advantage as well. We feel immune to social forces, stand outside of society's demands. In Paros I feel freedom from the small defeats that my parents and teachers may have inadvertently put on me. Whether they implied that a goal was beyond my social standing or that a neighbour might look askance. But in Paros I am excluded from this social weight. I am not Greek so the rules don't apply. I believe that Dimitra's success may hinge on a similar impulse. Standing outside the game one sees the rules more clearly. She has taken the best that American education has to offer and she has run with it. Her successes and her show record attest to the conviction that hard work and dedication give results. She has often spoken to me about how much more difficult that same progress would be for her here in her own country.
Dimitra's work speaks of transitions and patterns, juxtapositions which trigger new thoughts. Her use of natural materials echo the smells and sounds of the sea, of the Aegean, of the Pacific. The rooms full of seaweed invite us to feel the ocean swells but also admire the handiwork of traditional crafts in the in the crocheted strands. Delicacy and energy, it is this combination which strikes us.
Dimitra was my student over 20 years ago. She has since long surpassed my mentoring and has made a name for herself in the international art world. Her return to the Aegean Center for this exhibition coincides with the 50th anniversary of the school. I can't think of a more fitting tribute to our mission than to have this exhibition by a Parian, a former student and who has gone on to succeed in America and beyond. What I experienced coming to Greece and the similar feelings that Dimitra has translated into her art epitomize the education we provide at the Aegean Center. The strength of the experience at the Center comes from a combination of dedicated teachers and the disorienting effects of living in an unfamiliar environment. The mind opens up, the habitual patterns are broken and the teacher has only to ask the questions which lead the student on to new ground. The subsequent shift in consciousness helps us to see within ourselves and tap into the creative spirit.


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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
So tired.... I am not sleeping well and it is due to sweat. I can't figure out why the hell I am so hot and then freezing to death while sleeping. It is irritating me. Anyway, my bestest friend came to town with her three year old and ten month old twins. We got to hang for a little bit before the troops started their meltdowns, mine included. I did feel a little bit weird about answering questions about my kids sleeping and breaking out my homemade baby food. Guilty for some reason. I will have to contemplate my navel over that one. Going to sleep now, so tired and am hoping for a temperature free night!
Posted by HappyRachael at 8:38 PM No comments:
Sunday, February 15, 2009
I wish I could say today was a great day, but it really wasn't. My children are driving me crazy. I think that Lilly has been possessed by the not behaving devil, and James is being his normal not happy self. We did manage to make it to church today where I prayed and worshiped and asked that God cleanse me of negative and allow me to surround myself with what is great about my life. How lucky am I? I have healthy children, a WONDERFUL husband who has a job and a significant amount of smiles each day. Our friend, who has a dying brother just found out his dad has prostate cancer. What do I have to bitch about today? NOTHING!
Posted by HappyRachael at 6:21 PM No comments:
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day
A rainy, yet sunshiny day. Weird, but looking forward to seeing a rainbow. Cooking, cooking and more cooking is the call of the day. Loving it. Making bread for Annie, a crumble cake for desert and pork loin for all of us to eat dinner before we head out to Bill Cosby, Live in Oakland. Jeff offered to take me to Chipotle, but I passed on that one. He is such a funny guy! To the absolutely no one out there that reads this, Happy Valentine's Day and love and blessings!
Posted by HappyRachael at 9:29 AM No comments:
Friday, February 13, 2009
What a day...
Sitting by the fire, listening to Pandora Radio, and waiting for James Raz to wake up from a late nap. Life is pretty damn good. Except that Lilly just told me that she loved me so much except for the fact that I had a hair growing out of the mole on my neck. Um, well that's just lovely. I keep waiting for age to stop landing on my face, but I guess I am destined to age not so gracefully. I have tried, tried and tried to take care of these wrinkles, to no avail. Wisdom is waiting in the wings, right?
Going to see Bill Cosby tomorrow for Valentine's day. I am very excited. It was my Christmas present from Jeff. Should be fun, interesting, but fun. He reminds me of my dad. Consistently funny, somewhat clueless on purpose and smarter than he allows anyone to think he is.
Raining here. Beautiful as long as I am inside. Having a great afternoon.
Going to see Bill Cosby tomorrow for Valentine's day. I am very excited. It was my Christmas present from Jeff. Should be fun, interesting, but fun. He reminds me of my dad. Consistently funny, somewhat clueless on purpose and smarter than he allows anyone to think he is.
Raining here. Beautiful as long as I am inside. Having a great afternoon.
Posted by HappyRachael at 4:33 PM No comments:
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
I wake up every morning and pray. I know, I do. I am thankful for my husband, my children, my family and even my dog. Tomorrow I plan on being extra thankful for my mom and dad. Tonight they brought home my daughter, with a new full size horse toy and energy that knew no bounds. She waxed philosophical on how much fun she has at Grandma and Opa's and how she can't wait to go back to see them. I think, often, how my life, at least as an adult over 35 has never been better. This is all because of my parents. My husband, bless him, has put up with my shit and loved me and given me beautiful children. My parents, however, continued to love me through all my nonsense and craziness and at times when I wasn't worth loving. They did. My dad saved me more times than I can count and he always looked at me with his wisdom and knew what I was doing and STILL loved me. My daugther's, and soon to be my son's, life is owed to my dad's love and my mother's support. I am lucky, blessed and honored. I hope that in my father's afterlife he is given a special place for being such a wonderful father. My mother already has a reservation next to her own mom.
Posted by HappyRachael at 7:22 PM No comments:
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Since I can't manage to keep up with blogging about my family, I am going to start keeping track of my new favorite hobby: cooking. I have become obsessed. So today, I Mandoo courstesy of citymama. Banana Pudding Pie, Homemade Hummus and a boule of country bread. This is all fun! I love to cook these days. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts.
Posted by HappyRachael at 7:10 PM No comments:
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A budget plan introduced by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul RyanPaul Davis RyanHouse Ethics Committee informs Duncan Hunter he can no longer vote after guilty plea Duncan Hunter pleads guilty after changing plea Trump campaign steps up attacks on Biden MORE (R-Wis.) would add more to the deficit over 10 years than if Congress kept the status quo, undermining claims of its fiscal impact.
Ryan's blueprint, "The Path to Prosperity," would add $3.127 trillion to the deficit during the decade spanning 2013 to 2022, according to a table on page 88 of the plan.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated in its March 2012 projections that if "current laws generally remain unchanged," the federal government would incur deficits totaling $2.887 trillion from 2013 to 2022.
In other words, Congress would save more money over the next decade if it allowed current law to continue than if it adopted Ryan's budget. The CBO baseline, however, assumes several developments that congressional insiders consider highly unlikely, such as expiration of the Bush-era tax rates and the implementation of scheduled cuts to doctors' Medicare reimbursements.
A spokesman for the House Budget Committee did not immediately return a request for comment.
This comparison will likely rankle conservatives who want deeper spending cuts to balance the federal budget within the next 10 years.
Members of the Senate Tea Party Caucus earlier this month announced a plan to balance the budget in five years; it cut spending by nearly $11 trillion compared to President Obama's budget request.
Ryan's plan would cut $5.3 trillion in spending over the next decade compared to Obama's budget. It would overhaul the tax code by replacing the current six individual tax brackets with a top bracket of 25 percent and a lower bracket of 10 percent. It would reduce federal tax revenue by $4 trillion over the next 10 years.
Ryan's budget would save considerably more money than if Congress maintained its most likely policy course. If Congress were to extend the expiring tax rates set under former President George W. Bush, index the Alternative Minimum Tax to inflation and freeze scheduled cuts to doctors' Medicare payments, federal deficits would total $10.731 trillion, according to CBO's alternative fiscal scenario.
— Erik Wasson contributed reporting.