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Jacksonville�s Keegan McNamara knows it�s lose and go home � or win and advance.
Jacksonville�s Keegan McNamara knows it�s lose and go home � or win and advance.
And that�s what motivates the senior defensive end to play well for the Cardinals, who visit North Forsyth tonight in the second round of the NCHSAA 3-A football playoffs.
McNamara simply doesn�t want Jacksonville�s season to end just yet.
�I have to turn it up even more,� McNamara said. �I�m going to push myself as hard as I can.�
The 18-year-old McNamara certainly did his part in helping Jacksonville defeat West Craven 14-0 last week in the opening round.
McNamara recorded two sacks, two quarterback hurries and three tackles for loss as the fifth-seeded Cardinals (9-3) avenged a 27-7 home loss to the No. 12 Eagles (7-5) in the regular season.
�Keegan was able to get off his blocks real well,� JHS coach Beau Williams said. �He played real well.�
And now McNamara wants to have a similar effort tonight against No. 4 North Forsyth (7-5). He realizes if Jacksonville is to win, the Cardinals� defense will need to again perform well, and that includes him.
�I have to keep giving it all I got,� McNamara said. �I will fight to the end.�
Williams said McNamara has played well throughout the season but that he�s stepped up his game in the last month.
At 5-foot-8, 175 pounds, McNamara isn�t the biggest defender compared to some of his teammates, particularly 300-pound noseguard Alva Muldrow. In fact, McNamara may go unnoticed, given the defense has been led by Muldrow, end Mike Whittington and linebacker Christian Heisey, among others.
But McNamara helps the Cardinals get the job done.
He has enough size to push past blockers and enough quickness to get around them. McNamara did these things last week. But more importantly, McNamara just gets after it in the trenches, which allows him to make plays.
�He�s not a big guy, stature-wise, but he�s put together well, and technique-wise he�s always solid for us,� Williams said. �He�s a high-motor guy who never quits and keeps running. He will need to have another game like he did last week for us to be successful. He needs to get off the ball and get pressure.�
Now for the panel
After going 5-1 last week to move to 72-17 overall, I am now in sole possession of first place in The Daily News high school football forecasting panel.
Second is WCTI-TV 12 sports anchor Brian North (4-2 last week) at 71-18, followed by JDN sports page designer Mike Boaz (5-1) and Halifax Media regional desk chief Richard Clark (4-2) at 70-19.
Next is JDN sports editor Rick Scoppe (4-2) at 67-22 while Kinston Free Press editor Bryan Hanks (5-1) is last at 65-24.
This week�s games
Jacksonville at North Forsyth
Boaz boasts: JHS 14-10
Clark cites: NF 28-14
Hanks honks: JHS 34-28
Miller mentions: JHS 14-7
North notes: JHS 9-7
Scoppe says: JHS 17-14
Hertford at Northside
Boaz boasts: NS 24-7
Clark cites: NS 40-14
Hanks honks: NS 48-13
Miller mentions: NS 33-14
North notes: NS 28-21
Scoppe says: NS 34-10
East Bladen at Southwest
Boaz boasts: SWO 20-7
Clark cites: SWO 21-20
Hanks honks: SWO 37-20
Miller mentions: SWO 20-13
North notes: SWO 17-14
Scoppe says: SWO 21-10
North Duplin at Lejeune
Boaz boasts: Lej 28-24
Clark cites: Lej 30-7
Hanks honks: Lej 49-0
Miller mentions: Lej 27-20
North notes: Lej 32-27
Scoppe says: Lej 38-27
Prep sports writer Chris Miller can be contacted via email at email@example.com or by calling 910-219-8472.


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December 9, 2017 – June 17, 2018
Works by Annu Palakunnathu Matthew's series To Majority Minority will be shared at the exhibition (un)expected families at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
(un)expected families
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Your Custom Text Here
Works by Annu Palakunnathu Matthew's series To Majority Minority will be shared at the exhibition (un)expected families at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
(un)expected families
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Miyako Ishiuchi's photographs are included in this massive exhibition featuring over 30 artists and art media on the varying depictions of age and aging.
Aging Pride
Belvedere Museum (Lower)
Nandita Raman's series on India's disappearing cinema house culture will be on view at the George Eastman Museum.
There will be an Artist Talk and Tour with Nandita Raman and Curatorial Assistant William Green.
Friday, November 10, 2017, 12 p.m.
ARTIST TALK AND GALLERY TOUR (link)
Cinema Play House
George Eastman Museum
Rochester, NY 14607
A selection from Matthew's Memories of India series is on view.
SFO Museum at the San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco, CA
Osamu James Nakagawa's work will be on view at A Shared Eelegy at the Grunwald Gallery, Indiana University. A 112-page book accompanying the exhibition will be published and distributed through Indiana University Press.
A Shared Elegy presents the work of four photographers connected by family ties. Osamu James Nakagawa and his uncle, Takayuki Ogawa, and Elijah Gowin and his father, Emmet Gowin, present unique but overlapping visions recording family histories.
A Shared Elegy
Grunwald Gallery, Indiana University
Atul Bhalla's photographs from his exploratory walks along the waterways of India will be featured in the group exhibition, Unfiltered at The Benton.
Unfiltered: An Exhibition About Water
The William Benton Museum of Art
245 Glenbrook Road, Storrs, CT
Works by Atul Bhalla and Beatrice Pediconi (alongisde various other artists) will be featured in A Preview to Desolation curated by Premjish.
A Preview to Desolation
Italian Embassy Cultural Centre New DelhiChanakyapuri, New Delhi
Serena Chopra's portraits of people- victims, witnesses, survivors on both sides- whose lives were affected by the events of 1947 are on view at The Partition Museum. The museum opened August 17, 2017 in Amritsar, Punjab.Read More
Pamela Singh was interviewed by Edward Siddons for the Guardian's Best Photograph series.
"Pamela Singh's best photograph – a woman dying in India's City of Widows"Read More
Curated by Gayatri Singha, Part Narratives showing at the Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Mumbai features the work of sepiaEYE artists Annu Palakunnathu Matthew, Atul Bhalla and Nandita Raman.
Part Narratives
Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum,
Veer Mata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan (Rani Baug)
Lucid Dreams and Distant Visions: South Asian Art in the Diaspora, curated by Jaishri Abichandani, will feature Matthew's Anirudh, a multimedia piece from her 2006 series, The Virtual Immigrant.
Lucid Dreams and Distant Visions: South Asian Art in the Diaspora
Asia Society
725 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Sunil Gupta will be leading a walk and discussion of works on display in the exhibition Sixty Years at the Tate Britain that crucially addressed race, gender, homosexuality and AIDS in the 1980s.
Tour: Sunil Gupta: Ten Years On and Other Stories
Tate Britain
A selection from Charan Singh's portrait series Kothis, Hijras, Giriyas and Others is on view at Clifford Chance. The photographs document homosexual Indian sub-cultures. The series title comes from the indigenous terms used by queer working class and transgendered men, often forced into sex work, to define their different and particular sexual identities. In Indian society, where class and caste are still major forces, these three groups are among some of the most marginalized.
Charan Singh: Kothis, Hijras, Giriyas and Others
Clifford Chance
31 W 52nd St.,
New York, NY 10019
As part of the South Asia Institute's 2016-17 Colloquium Series, Vivan Sundaram will present recent installations in a conversation with Andreas Huyssens, Villard Professor of German and Comparative Literature.
This event is open and free to the public.
Wednesday, May 10, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
A Conversation with Vivan Sundaram and Andreas Huyssens, Villard Professor of German and Comparative Literature
2016-17 Colloquium Series
South Asia Institute, Columbia University
Knox Hall, Room 208
606 West 122nd Street, between Broadway and Claremont
New York, NY
Meanings of Failed Action: Insurrection 1946 is a monumental installation intended as a work of public art to explore, dissect, and examine the "failure" of the Royal Indian Navy's six-day insurrection against the colonial government. Within Sundaram's ship-like steel and aluminum object is a performance space that plays a sound work by British artist David Chapman. Visitors can read newspaper reports, telegrams from the Empire, and books on the Insurrection from various view points and distances— compiled and conceptualized by Ashish Rajadhyaksha with Valentina Vitalli. This is a continuation of Sundaram's "history projects" in which he uses historical events ("unresolved histories") to explore their impact and the alternate futures they could have created.
Vivan Sundaram and Ashish Rajadhyaksha
Meanings of Failed Action: Insurrection 1946 LINK
Coomarswamy Hall
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS)
Bhalla's photographic installation is featured in Kailash Cartographies, at The New School's Aronson Gallery. An exhibition of artists from India, China, Nepal, and the US, Kailash Cartographiesexplores conceptions of sacred geographies: holy spaces, pilgrimages, and intersections with secular, personal, and political spaces and borders.
"Atul Bhalla's photographic installation, titled Contemplating Drowning also considers the tragic pollution of the Bagmati river, but through the figure of Shiva, who is thought to create and destroy the universe in the blink of the eye. Bhalla juxtaposes the brass monkeys from the Golden Temple in Kathmandu with images of oil lamps, that appear like spirits which may be snuffed out by the river, photographed here at dusk."
Kailash Cartographies LINK
Arnold and Sheila Aronson Galleries
66 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10003
The esteemed photography festival, FOTOFEST, has announced that the lead curator for its 2018 Biennial will be SepiaEYE artist Sunil Gupta. Gupta is an excellent choice given the Biennial's theme: INDIAContemporary Photography and New Media Art.
As a large, multilingual subcontinent, India has always relied on images to maintain a cohesive whole across myriad subcultures, regions, castes and languages. The introduction of photomechanical imaging in the nineteenth century enabled the rapid reproduction and dissemination of both spiritual and scientific ideals. Photography for most of its history was too expensive and technical and was left in the hands of 'experts' — until the birth of digital technologies and the arrival of the mobile phone, which has given more than 800 million people in India the power to make their own photographs and moving images. This exhibition will address the legacy of the last twenty years, a period when photography and moving image media have been consistently included within critical exhibitions of fine art. –Sunil Gupta
We can't wait to see what he and co-curator Steven Evans select.
10 March – 22 April 2018
Read Article (PDF)
Houston, Texas USA
Tate Britain has rehung their contemporary section, Sixty Years of their "Walk through British Art," and two works by Sunil Gupta are now on view. Untitled from the series, Reflections of the Black Experience, 1986 and Ian and Julian, from the series Ten Years On, 1986.
On view through February 2018
Sixty Years LINK
Tate Britain, London
Vivan Sundaram's photo installation, Terraoptics reviewed in the January 23rd issues of The Hindu and The New Indian Express. Terraoptics (14 Dec 2016 – 10 Feb 2017) will be on view at Gallery Sutra, Fort Kochi.
Look for Terraoptics at sepiaEYE opening May 9th, 2017.
23 January 2017
"Pot-shards speak history" LINK
Read Article (PDF)
"Capturing Earth's Incandescence" LINK
Read Article (PDF)
Read More
sepiaEYE artists Annu Palakunnathu Matthew, Atul Bhalla, and Nandita Raman are amongst a dozen artists in a wonderful multi-disciplinary show curated by Gayatri Sinha. Part Narratives will be on view through January 21, 2017 at Bikaner House, New Delhi.
7 – 21 January 2017
Part Narratives
Curated by Gayatri Sinha
Bikaner House, New Delhi

subset: commoncrawl


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Since 1971, Cornerstone has been putting lives on a firm foundation through prayer, proclamation, praise and recreation.
A brief History
Cornerstone traces its origin to a church plant of the Congaree Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) in 1971, and established as McGregor Presbyterian Church in the Irmo area of South Carolina. Rev. Bill Solomon was called as the first pastor. The congregation grew rapidly as people came to know the Lord and lives were changed.
In 1981, remaining firm in their belief in the inerrancy and authority of the entire scripture, and upon recommendation of the Session, the congregation of McGregor Presbyterian voted overwhelmingly to leave the PCUS and to join the Presbyterian Church in America(PCA). The following year the members began meeting at Irmo Middle School, and took the name of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. Three years later, in 1985, Cornerstone moved to its current facility on Bush River Road.
During this time Cornerstone embarked on three major initiatives: Woods Edge; Sports, Outreach, Arts and Recreation (SOAR); and a second campus. Each of these initiatives reflected the spirit of the church, drew heavily on the considerable resources of the congregation, and expanded the outreach of the church. Providing the labor and most of the materials, our church families spent countless weeks constructing Woods Edge, built primarily for the youth and expanded to other ministries. Many were surprised that the Cornerstone community could construct a 4,500 square foot facility at a fraction of the estimated cost, without added debt.
Soon afterwards, a similar camaraderie was evident as members gathered to grade and develop the soccer and baseball fields for SOAR. This program continues to minister to as many as 600 participants per season, including families from multiple churches and unchurched families. Each season is capped by a SOAR Fest celebration, which draws upwards of 1,000 guests.
The third initiative was the plant of a second campus. Seeing the need to reach residents of the rapidly developing northwest corner of greater Columbia, Cornerstone established a second campus, meeting at Dutch Fork High School. This led to the particularization of the second campus as a separate church, which became Grace Point Presbyterian Church.
To accept the call for another church plant, Rev. Solomon resigned in 1987. After David Bryan's brief pastorate, the congregation called Rick Perrin as senior pastor (1991-2009). Following the pastorates of Jeff Brunsink (2011-2013) and Rob Korn (2014-2016), the congregation voted to extend a call to Rev. Joshua M. Knott to be Cornerstone's Senior Pastor in June 2017. Pastor Knott began his ministry in August of 2017 and plans to build on Cornerstone's legacy of focus on prayer, preaching, community outreach, evangelism, and worship.
The Lord has Blessed
51 acres of land along the Saluda River cultivated for members and guests
Host to SOAR Leagues
Inter-generational Congregation
Thriving Choir & Children's Choir
Best of Contemporary and Traditional Worship
Mother church to Grace Point PCA
Host to disaster relief teams in the continuing recovery from the 2015 flood
Active Elders and Deacons
Expository preaching through books of the Bible
Sending and supporting church for over 50 local, national and international Missionaries and Agencies


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Your Fundriver support package includes unlimited access to a team of endowment accounting experts for assistance with using Fundriver and troubleshooting software issues. Prior to reaching out to our Client Experience team, we recommend checking out our extensive Knowledge Base, which includes step-by-step instructions for completing most standard Fundriver tasks, as well as information on endowment accounting best practices. There is also a video library at your disposal (link located on your Fundriver HOME page) for training webinars on many Fundriver topics.
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5Essentials Survey
The 5Essentials Survey is a perception survey created by the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research. The 5Essentials Survey is completed by Early Childhood through 12th grade teachers and 6th through 12th grade students. All Valley View parents are also invited to complete the survey. The information collected through the 5Essentials Survey is analyzed in order to generate a 5Essentials Report for each school. The 5Essentials Report includes a breakdown of teacher and student responses, providing all Valley View stakeholders with one measure of each school's culture. For additional information about the 5Essentials Survey please visit: https://illinois.5-essentials.org/The 5Essentials Survey will be administered between November 16, 2017 and January 18, 2018.


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Topro Troja Rollator
Need it quickly? Next day delivery available.
Questions? Call freephone 0800 279 8889
Product Code: 8149
Ex Tax: £215.00
This product is tax exemptible for disability
Topro Troja Rollator
The Topro Troja Rollator is an extremely high quality walking aid that has been designed and manufactured in Norway. It is lightweight and easily manoeuvrable, and is simplicity itself when making alterations to the handle height.
Being very easy to fold, the Troja can be easily stored or transported, making it ideal if going out by car or public transport. A spacious net basket allows various items to be carried, whether in the home or when out.
The strong seat allows the user to sit and rest (please see maximim user weight on the specification chart). Fitted beside the rear wheels are kerb lifters, for assisting climbing small steps or kerbs.
An optional backrest is available for security when using the seat.
Small Classic Rollator - Silver:
Size: 65cm (25") x 61cm (24")
Seat height: 62 cm (24")
Size when folded: 74cm (29") x 24cm (9.5") x 66cm (26")
Weight: 7.1 kg (15lb oz)
Max User Weight: 19.5 stone (125kg)
Recommended User Height: 135-170cm (4ft 5" - 5ft 7")
Medium Classic Rollator - Black:
Size: 65cm (25") x 61cm (24")
Seat Height: 62 cm (24")
Size when folded: 80cm (31.5") x 24cm (9.5") x 66cm (26")
Weight: 7.4 kg (16lb 3oz)
Max User Weight: 23.15 stone (150kg)
Recommended User Height: 150-200cm (4ft 11" - 6ft 6.75")
Write a review
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Good news people!!
Now, OurCraftPlace has LOTS of new stocks like inks and papers!!
Please, feel free to make an appt with us for viewing as it's too much to update in our website www.ourcraftplace.com but we'll try to update it as soon as possible!!
Meanwhile, please bear with it and email firstname.lastname@example.com to make an appt for viewing the lot of papers and inks!!
Thank you very much!!
Have a very good Chinese New Year people 😀


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Got holes in my new jeans for you.
I got a map this week I have just put it up on my wall. I will be marking places I want to visit. I am also making to do lists. The next two weeks I will be really busy finishing college work. I actually should start right away, if you like this simple outfit you can hype it on Lookbook :) Good night zz xx
Marcadores: Outfit
7 comments:
Love the look casual but trendy at the same time and casual plus noone can ever go wrong with wearing jeans and a good pair of sneakers xoReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 22, 2011 at 7:43 PM
Cool fucking outfit! By the way, rad blog.ReplyDelete
You should visit Sweden!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 23, 2011 at 4:44 AM
love it <3ReplyDelete
Love you, truly.ReplyDelete
I love your blog :----)))ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 29, 2011 at 1:34 AM
cute title. I recently did the same thing. I'm marking off places as I visit them xReplyDelete
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A report has called for the Government to address the age of compulsory primary school admissions, stating that unclear rules in England mean that some parents are being forced to enrol children in school at age four in order for their child to access seven years of primary education.
The report, published today, followed a meeting between the campaign group Flexible School Admissions for Summer Born Children and the Department for Education last week.
Currently, the compulsory school age in England is the term following a child's fifth birthday. However, Reception is defined as an "entry class" suitable for children under five, meaning many summer-born children are starting school at age four.
Under the current system, the report claims, parents have one of two options for summer-born children; either enrol a child in school at age four, to make sure they have access to the full seven years of primary education, or wait to enrol the child at the compulsory starting age, therefore only accessing six years of primary education.
The latter option, it is argued, could also mean parents risk missing out on places available at a preferred school due to children progressing from Reception classes
The Flexible School Admissions for Summer Born Children campaign group suggests that children born in the summer may not necessarily be ready for the challenges presented by school, a belief supported by leading academics who wrote to the Telegraph in September calling for a reassessment of national policies on early education.
The report is calling for the Government to clarify the school admissions code and to make it easier for parents to send their child to school at age five in one of two years; Reception or Year 1.
Research published last year by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that summer-born children get consistently lower results and are also more likely to leave education at 16, adding to evidence that these children suffer educational disadvantage because they are less physically and emotionally ready for school, compared to their classmates.
Report author Pauline Hull said: "We want flexibility for all summer-borns. The ones that are ready for school can start early and those that are not then start at compulsory school age – age five."
A DfE spokesperson said: "We have changed the School Admissions Code so that it is more flexible for parents of summer-born children, making it easier for them to defer their child's entry.
"Parents should also have the flexibility for their children to attend part time until they reach their fifth birthday or request their child enters reception class, rather than Year 1, following their fifth birthday."
"Schools and councils must make this clear in their own admissions arrangements – and we have recently published guidance to reiterate these responsibilities.
"We are working closely with school admission authorities to make sure that they are acting within the rules and we will not hesitate to intervene where this is not the case."
At a Commons debate this September, Elizabeth Truss, Education Minister said: "It should be the parents who are the primary decision-makers when it comes to deciding which route is most appropriate for their child and which environment will enable their child to thrive.
"We are absolutely clear that parents should be able to say to a school, 'We want our child, who is aged five, to enter reception', if they feel that that is in the best interests of their child."


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On my last visit to Kentucky, I made a point to visit a few of the distilleries that had popped up in the last few years. It had been a few years since I had gone on a distillery tour (there are only so many distilleries that are worth touring) so I figured that they time had come to visit a couple newbies.
Upon entering the Angel's Envy distillery, you are greeted at a desk, checked into your tour and invited to wander the gift shop until your tour starts. It really is a lovely gift shop with exposed brick, honey color wood, and black ironwork. There is a story about why the elevator in the back has the name Vermont American above it. Apparently parts of this building used to be a Vermont American plant.
Fun fact, my father worked for a Vermont American plant in northern Wisconsin making drill bits for many years before the plant was shut down and the jobs moved elsewhere.
The tour starts by taking the elevator under the Vermont American sign up to the cooking and fermentation area. The exposed brick of original factory is still a major design element, accented by the wood and metalwork from the gift shop.
The fermenters are closed fermenters, though they will open one up for you to look in.
If you turn around while they are describing the cooking and fermentation process, you get a nice look at their column still. More on that area later.
The mashbill for Angel's Envy is (very coincidentally, wink wink) the same as Old Forester and Woodford Reserve. I guess it makes sense that it would be since Angel's Envy was founded by the former Master Distiller of Old Forester, Lincoln Henderson. It was what he liked, knew, and reportedly the whiskey he bought to make the sourced version of Angel's Envy that is currently for sale (aged stock from this distillery won't be ready for a while).
After going through the cooking and fermentation area, we were taken to the still room. If you aren't looking at the still, you will see a nice view of the Downtown Louisville skyline from the window.
The still area is dominated by the copper "Spirit Safe" style display. It was designed to be in the shape of an Angel's Envy bottle and if all the computers go down, you could crack that thing open along the seam and stick a hydrometer in if need be.
After the still area, we made our way over to the barrel filling area. This is one of the tanks that hold the new make as it comes off the still. I liked the phrase stenciled on it. I feel like that would make a good tee shirt for me.
As you walk out of the barrel filling area, you will notice the barrels waiting to be filled. They do not have an aging area on site, so these will be trucked to another location to age after they are filled.
Here the tour steps a little out of order on the process. The bottling line is between the filling and dumping areas. It wasn't being run very fast while I was there. Sounds like that might be a usual thing for them.
Of course, the thing that makes Angel's Envy what it is, is the barrel finishing that the bourbon goes through before bottling. The aged bourbon is brought to the facility and put into barrels that had previously been used to age port wine. In this stage, they leave it for a relatively short period of time (think months not years) stacked on pallets. This step is done on site.
I love being able to see barrels being dumped. I'm not sure why but it always gives me a little thrill. We were lucky enough to catch them dumping some just as we left the barrel finishing area.
And of course the tour ended with a tasting. They only taste the standard Angel's envy release. But they give you a generous pour (for a tour) before inviting you to put a message into a tube in their wall, buy a cocktail in the on-site cocktail lounge or wander around the tasting area.
The tasting area is dominated by a very large split log table. Two tables were carved from this one log that had been ripped down the center. It was an impressive sight. The tasting room followed the same honey wood and black metal work as the rest of the distillery. It was beautifully done.
I was super impressed with the Angel's Envy tour. They were very transparent about both the sourced whiskey they are currently bottling as well as the stuff they are making now. I felt extremely welcome on the tour. It was entertaining and beautiful. All in all, I'd recommend this one.
BourbonGuy.com accepts no advertising. It is solely supported by the sale of the hand-made products I sell at the BourbonGuy Gifts Etsy store. If you'd like to support BourbonGuy.com, please visit BourbonGuyGifts.com. Thanks!


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The idea to do this blog really came from Ryan. For a while, I had talked about creating a Web site… a way for me to finally get some of my music out there that I have been sheltering for so long, a way to make me accountable to the music and to myself. But, after reading a few friends blogs and being inspired by the boldness of their words, I decided blogging was something I wanted to do.
I have journaled for years, it is perhaps the single most thing that has kept me sane (despite my relatively blessed and comfortable life). And so the idea of opening my journal and sharing it with whomever (family, facebook friends, passersby) seemed to violate the very sacred space that is a journal and the freeness that comes with it. Even now, I have backspaced too many times to count, just knowing that other people will read this. When I journal, it's just me and a pen, there is no erasing, and, sure, things get scratched out… but I always make sure that, no matter what, I can always read what I originally wrote. I will continue to journal and have my sacred space, but this is different.
One thing that I've learned about myself, after watching friendships begin and, not so much end, but rather taper-off over a couple periods of my life (high school, college, post-college), is that I always regret not letting people in enough. I'm always so worried about making sure I come off exactly the right way, or I worry that I might make someone uncomfortable, so I shy away from exposing my true self (my love, my hate, my passions, my faults). I've risked not letting people to get to know me to spare myself from a couple of uncomfortable moments.
Down With Me is the title of one of my first songs. It wasn't the first song I ever wrote but it was the first one I finished. It's a song I wrote in college about a guy wanting to get to know a girl better and the girl warning him that she's not who he thinks she is on the inside. I feel like I've lived this way for much of my adult life. I feel like I am a different person "on the inside" than I present to most people, most days.
This blog is about turning 25. This blog is about Maria Kosut becoming Maria Gall. And, this blog is about making sense of life through music. I hope you will come down with me, and stay.


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A reader asked SPK this question – "You have recommended Sing Holdings. But what about Wee Hur Holdings Ltd? Wee Hur is also the developer (partner with Sing Holdings) and main contractor of Parc Botannia."
A very valid question. Let SPK answer this question below:
1. The impact of Parc Botannia's profit to Wee Hur will not be as significant as it will be to Sing Holdings
Wee Hur is also a SGX-listed company and it is also a partner (together with Sing Holdings) in the development of Parc Botannia. However, Wee Hur holds only a minority stake of 30% in the project. Based on SPK's estimates in the earlier post, Wee Hur's share of profit from Parc Botannia would work out to be around S$44 mil to S$52 mil.
But let's not forget that Wee Hur is also the main contractor for Parc Botannia. Assuming that the construction contract is valued at S$155 mil and Wee Hur makes a profit margin of 13% (base on its past construction margin) from the contract, then Wee Hur would probably make an additional profit of S$20 mil from the construction job. Hence, total profit that Wee Hur could potentially derive from Parc Botannia is estimated to be around S$64 mil to S$72 mil.
Looks decent, isn't it? But if we compare this potential profit against Wee Hur's current book value of S$345 mil, this potential profit from Parc Botannia can only lift Wee Hur's book value by 19%~21%, to S$409 mil~S$417mil.
In contrast, the impact of Sing Holdings' potential profit (from Parc Botannia) to its book value is more significant. We have mentioned previously that Sing Holdings book value could potentially jump 40% to 47% because of Parc Botannia. This is also due to Sing Holdings' smaller book value base as compared to Wee Hur.
2. Wee Hur's core business is in the risky construction business
Wee Hur's construction arm contributed the bulk of the company's revenue and profit in the last financial year. SPK is not an expert in construction but based on reports and observations, the construction industry has already become a cut-throat business, with the entry of low-cost China construction companies. In addition, exposure to raw material price fluctuation could add another layer of risk to the construction companies. With their thin margins, there is little buffer or room for error and an increase in costs could result in losses to the construction company.
Recently, news reports also mentioned that the construction sector continued to be hard-hit by sluggish demand and delayed payments, with little relief in sight.
Considering the lack of upside and yet the higher risk involved in Wee Hur's business, it would seem that Sing Holdings might be a better choice to invest in, isn't it?
The information and opinion contained in this blog posting above is based solely on the personal analysis of Singapore Property Kaki ("SPK") and is for general information purposes only. SPK assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of this blog posting. In no event shall SPK be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the content in this blog posting. SPK reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modification to the contents at any time without prior notice.
Happy reading!


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As an account security measure, you will need to grant access to this browser by entering the special code. You will find it in your e-mail inbox at
AVG Internet Security 2017 EU Key (2 Year / 1 Device)
AVG Internet Security 2017 EU Key (2 Year / 1 Device)
|PC / Mac / Android
|Release Date:
Product Description
|This is a restricted product and it can be used ONLY in Europe.
|This product is a 2-year licence key for 1 device (PC, Mac, Android).
Advanced antivirus - computer, web & e-mail protection.
Real-time protection helps keep your computer free of viruses, spyware, rootkits, Trojans, and other nasty malware. It also blocks unsafe links, downloads, and email attachments, and lets you quickly scan removable USB and DVD drives, too.
And the best bit? It updates your security automatically and has advanced artificial intelligence and real-time analysis to help stop even the newest threats from reaching you.
Hacker Attack Protection - Keep hackers away. AVG Enhanced Firewall effortlessly bounces criminals and snoops who try and sneak onto your PC to steal your private files, photos, and passwords.
Private Data Protection - For your eyes only. Encrypt and hide your most private photos and files, or permanently shred the stuff you choose. So, even if your PC gets into other hands, you can prevent family, friends, and of course thieves from seeing what's yours.
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System Requirements
- PC: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP SP3
- Mac: OSX 10.8 Mountain Lion or above
- Android: Android 2.2 or above
If you have any problems regarding activation, please contact us:


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October 2, 2015 at 11:57 #19915
For anyone interested I have found that the App ShowWatcher allows you to control your LightwaveRF setup. You can have up to 32 separate commands configured. It is a paid app as I was unable to find any free variants. It seems to be aimed at controlling Alcorm McBridge systems but allows simple UDP transmission to the LWRF link. Also as this sends the command from your paired apple device you don't get a separate option to register your apple watch
Setup was real easy, I just added my WiFi links IP address into the receiver option in the app. Added the port, then edited the commands to include my commands such as:-
"100, !R1D1F1" The quotes are important for the app to send the string.
Just a heads up in case anyone else was looking for this functionality, its basic until homekit integration comes along.October 2, 2015 at 12:05 #19916October 3, 2015 at 14:44 #19919GerardwrParticipant
Good find, but it's a bit pricey $10.
From the same developer I also saw the App "UDP Remote" (not for Watch) with 8 buttons that can hold an UDP command. Just $1.October 3, 2015 at 19:05 #19920
I know, all my other methods have been FREE.. I utilise the LW app and irule on all of my iOS and Android devices around the house. This was the only app I could find to integrate my Apple Watch. I couldn't stand not having a device I couldn't use for my setup. Sad I knowOctober 7, 2015 at 20:06 #19945MrR1gbyParticipant
i have just got this app but don't know what to do with it at allOctober 7, 2015 at 21:42 #19946mmcnameeParticipant
iControl web works as long as you have a Webserver (raspberry pi) or something to fire commands at the link from.
iControl Web by Sebastian Bub Software Distribution
UI is built up from configuration file, which takes a bit of learning, but it's great and fast once setup.February 12, 2016 at 14:55 #21085jaymslkParticipant
Could you explain how the ShowWatcher (receiver codes) are recognised and setup as code per receiver, please? a 101 type setup guide would be great, if you could assist.March 2, 2016 at 15:32 #21203SeanParticipant
Following jaymslk post above on 12 February, can you post how you have set this up please, with screenshots from your iphone please.
I have downloaded the Showwatcher app and assigned the IP address of the LightwaveRF Link, using port 9760, but it doesn't seem to be transmitting to the wifi link. (Commands time out)
Just need to know how to configure the commands ….
I know that you have to use line numbers, and commands similar to "100, !R1D1F1″ but I;m afraid the rest baffles me !
Newbie with Lightwave RFJanuary 17, 2018 at 13:40 #24884mattpantParticipant
Sorry – I'm a newbie at this- and looking at this tread for a friend who want's to control their Lightwave RF via an Apple Watch – is there a list of commands somewhere that is used to setup the system?
What exactly does the "100, !R1D1F1″ do ???
I notice this thread is quite old now too – are there any other APPS people recommend to control the system with an Apple Watch?
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Bar carts have always been a chic and stylish way to store booze. In the 50's, 60's and 70's everyone had cocktail parties in their home, unlike the recent past where it became more popular to meet at a restaurant or bar. In recent months however, I have noticed an increasing trend and rising popularity in the request for bar carts. With the economy kicking the bucket and more people spending time at home, parties with friends and neighbors is once again in vogue. Here are some tips from Tara Guerard, one of the South's leading event designers, on stocking the perfect five-o'clock bar.
Pics courtesy of domino magazine, restoration hardware, and southern accents. Updated tips on a well stocked bar..


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SNRE's own Professor Laura Lopez-Hoffman has received this year's U.S. Forest Service Excellence in Research Application Award along with fellow researchers Darius Semmens, and Jay Diffendorfer (School of Natural Resources and Environment, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona, USGS, Denver Federal Center).
This collaboration of researchers are being recognized for the production of an innovative research study on the value associated with migratory species and wilderness. The research itself focuses heavily on what is referred to as "supporting services." While the protection of wilderness attributes is known to support flora, fauna and natural processes, the actual efforts to calculate the magnitude of these benefits is almost nonexistent. Quantifying the spatial subsidies one location provides to, or receives, from others may become much more common in a future globalized world. This team describes not only a process to calculate these migratory values, but also points out important data needs in order to do this. This research is an outstanding example of current research to assist managers in developing decision support tools and communicating tradeoffs to a diverse set of stakeholders.


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Access Bedford is leading the way for Bedford Borough by organising a Deaf Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference on World Mental Health Day.
40 per cent of deaf children and 50 per cent of deaf adults will experience mental health problems during their life compared to 25 per cent of hearing children or adults.
On October 10, the event will bring together professionals from across Bedford and England to identify ways to work together to improve services for deaf residents.
Services locally do not provide a deaf community members with access to counselling in their own language, with individuals having to go through an interpreter to talk to their counsellor about personal challenges or areas for support.
Access Bedford wants to see Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and others around England to join with deaf centred services like BSL Healthy Minds who provide counselling and support in sign language.
BSL Healthy Minds delivered a mental health awareness course in Kempton at Project 229 on Saturday for local Deaf community members, communicators and interpreters.
NHS recovery rates for hearing counselling is 44 per cent - but for deaf members who receive counselling in sign language it is 75 per cent.
The Deaf Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference will take place in Bedford at the Salvation Army Hall and presentations on the day will cover daf access to health services, domestic abuse services, mental health provision and provide a chance to look at what could be done differently in Bedford Borough.
Information about the conference and free ticket booking can be found here.


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By Staff and wire reports
Posted Jul. 18, 2016 at 11:12 AM
Updated Jul 18, 2016 at 12:15 PM
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — All tickets to five free public tours of the so-called "Superman Building" were quickly claimed Monday morning, the company that owns the building said this morning.
The company, High Rock, said it will try to schedule more dates for the tours.
The tours of Rhode Island's tallest building will include views of downtown and beyond from the 25th floor. The building has been vacant for three years. High Rock has been pushing to get public money to help pay to redevelop it.
Two of the tours are timed to allow views of the lighting of WaterFire at sunset, and another is timed to allow participants to attend an outdoor showing of the original "Superman" movie at the end of the tour.


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Friday's jobs report out of the Bureau for Labor Statistics skyrocketed past expectations, adding 280,000 jobs.
Despite a small uptick in the unemployment rate, there was mainly good news, with hourly wages increasing, and more people joining the labor market.
Sectors such as hospitality, retail and healthcare led the way with solid job gains.
The only bad news in the report, then, was from the mining industry.
The BLS reported the mining and logging industry shed 18,000 jobs in May, the third straight month in which it declined.
In total, mining has lost 68,000 in 2015.It was one of only two industries that had negative growth, the information sector lost 2,000 jobs but still has increased overall this year. Much of the decline can be attributed to the oil and gas industry, whose drilling operations fall into this sector.
The largest chunk of the losses was from support activities for the rigs, where there were 17,000 jobs fewer in May.
With crude oil prices declining, many companies have chosen to close some rigs and increase outputs in order to cut costs. According to numbers from Baker Hughes today, 7 more oil and gas rigs in the US were shut down in May, bringing the net rig count for the past 12 months to -992 in the US.
While prices may be recovering slightly, the consistency of high global supply and the efficiencies put in place by producers in the US may mean that these jobs have not hit rock bottom.
Get the latest Oil WTI price here.


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Patient Education
About Oral Cancer – Early Detection Can Make a World of Difference
Most people are surprised to learn that one American dies every hour from oral cancer; a death rate that has remained virtually unchanged for more than 40 years. In fact, recent statistics published by the American Cancer Society indicate that while the incidence and death rates for cancers overall has decreased, the incidence of oral cancer has increased by 5.5% and the death rate has increased by 1.5%.
Statistics, Facts and Famous Victims — The Deadly Statistics
- Every hour of every day, one American dies of oral cancer.
- he mortality rate associated with oral cancer has not improved significantly in the last 40 years. In fact, recent statistics published by the American Cancer Society indicate that while the incidence and death rates for cancers overall has decreased, the incidence for oral cancer has increased by 5.5% and the death rate has increased by 1.5%.
- The death rate in the Unites States for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkin's disease, cancer of the brain, liver, testes, kidney or ovarian cancer.
- More than 30,000 Americans will receive an oral cancer diagnosis this year. In five years, less than 57% will still be alive.
- 8,000 Americans will die each year of oral cancer.
Oral cancer is far too often detected in late stage development — the primary reason for the high death rate. Oral cancer can have potentially disfiguring effects on patients, seriously compromising their quality of life. Early detection of abnormalities can make a large difference in life expectancy; oral cancer is 90% curable when found early. Unfortunately, 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages, and 43% of those diagnosed will die within five years.
Oral Cancer Risk by Patient Profile
As is the case with most cancers, age is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. Approximately 90% of oral cancer victims are age 40 and older, recent studies indicate that increasingly, patients younger than age 40 are being diagnosed with oral cancer. Though tobacco and alcohol use are the primary lifestyle risk factors that contribute to the development of oral cancer, 27% of oral cancer victims do not use tobacco or alcohol, and have no lifestyle risk factors. Oral cancer affects men more than women, 2:1, but oral cancer in women is on the rise nationwide.
The Oral Cancer Foundation Homepage
Additional Resources and Links for Information on Oral Cancer
Increased Risk:
Patients age 40 and older with no lifestyle risk factors, or
Patients age 18-39 with lifestyle risk factors
High Risk:
Patients age 40 and older with lifestyle risk factors or patients with a history of oral cancer
Risk Factors:
Lifestyle risk factors for oral cancer include: Tobacco use (any type, any age, within 10 years)
Alcohol consumption of at least 1 drink per day (3 ounces of hard liquor, 4 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer)
Other Risk Factors:
Immune deficiencies such as HIV & AIDS
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV 16/18)
Famous Victims:
Oral cancer has touched the lives of many people; however some of the better known oral cancer victims may surprise you.
- Babe Ruth
- Sigmund Freud
- Jack Klugman
- Aaron Spelling
- Alan King
- Humphrey Bogart
- Lana Turner
- Eddie Van Halen
- Rod Stewart
- Bill Blass
- Burl Ives
- Sammy Davis, Jr.
- John Prine
- Jim Thorpe
- Mary Wells
- George Harrison


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The support of individuals, corporations, and philanthropic foundations allows us to continue our mission of planting, protecting, and promoting the Houston region's ever-changing and verdant landscape.
Please support Trees For Houston by making a gift today. Your generosity enables us to continue to fulfill our mission of improving the quality of life of all Houstonians by enhancing and expanding our urban forest.
You may give a gift online or by mail to P.O. Box 270477, Houston, Texas 77277. If you have questions about donating toward a specific fund or project, please contact Randi Koenig at email@example.com.
planned giving
A planned gift is any gift – current or deferred – made with forethought about the benefits to the charitable organization and the financial implications of the donor. If you choose to include Trees For Houston in your estate plans, you will ensure a healthy and beautiful Houston for future generations.
Throughout the years, we have benefited from the generosity of philanthropic organizations, the energy of dedicated board members, the support of public agencies and the sweat equity of innumerable volunteer tree-planters. This tradition continues today with projects ranging from planting major thoroughfares, donating trees grown at our tree farms to various non-profits, reforestation projects and school plantings. We hope you will consider making a gift to Trees For Houston to keep this tradition alive for years to come.
Examples of planned gifts include:
Bequest in a will
Charitable remainder trust
Gift of securities
Life insurance


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Thailand: Find Your Journey
In the summer of 2016 we teamed up with New York based agency Curate Directive to create a VR campaign for the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The goal of the campaign was to create a virtual reality experience that would transport users across the incredible and diverse landscape of Thailand. This campaign would end up being one of our most ambitious projects and one of the most incredible adventures our team has ever taken.
creative APPROACH
In approaching the creative for the project we wanted to go deeper than just another tourism video full of resorts and beautiful beaches. We wanted to connect with viewers on a deeper level and leave them feeling enriched by the experience. To do this we decided to explore the idea of travel and it's deep roots in the human experience. We wanted to delve into the reasons that we're driven to travel and explore, and how those things can change us and allow us to grow.
To accomplish this we decided to make use of a cinematic voice over that accompanies the viewer along their journey through the campaign's main brand film. Throughout the writing process we were constantly doing research on the locations and imagery that we wanted to use in the brand film and how we could connect these visuals conceptually to the ideas we were exploring.
Research and Development
One of our biggest goals for this campaign was to put the viewer into a number of unique perspectives to capture the natural beauty and culture of Thailand in new and different way. To achieve this we pushed the envelope of what could be done with 360 cameras and in the process ended up developing and creating a number of custom camera rigs and mounting systems.
3 GoPro Entaniya Rig w/ Entaniya 220 lenses
The 3 Camera rig built by Entaniya was our main camera for this shoot as it was one of the smallest and simplest rigs we brought with us. Everything needed for recording is self contained in camera and operation is very straightforward. It is also easy to swap batteries and all of the buttons are accessible. Most of the time we powered this an external battery via usb tether but it was nice to be able to use internal batteries if needed. The rig also locks around the lenses so their is less chance of bumping the focus loose. This is also the rig we chose to fly on our drone because it was the lightest we had and we needed to counterweight the drone camera on our Ronin-mx gimbal. Most of the time we shot this rig at 4k 30fps on each camera for a 5.8k 30fps final stitch. We also shot 2.7k 60fps on each camera for a 4k 60fps final stitch that allowed us to capture some of our scenes in slow motion.
3 GoPro Modulus Back-Bone Rig w/ Entaniya 220 lenses
Modified by Perception Squared
This 3 camera rig allowed us to place the lenses slightly closer to the nodal point and it stitched slightly better than the 3 camera Entaniya Rig. This rig also allowed us to configure the camera bodies in a way that we could attach the GoPro LCD touch bacpac to the backs of the cameras. This made operation and monitoring much easier for our static shots. The modulus setup also allows you to lock the lenses in with locking screws which makes bumping focus nearly impossible and made us confident in the shots we were getting. We shot this rig at 4k 30fps on each camera for a 5.8k 30fps final stitch.
Custom 2x Sony A6300's Back to back rig w/ iZugar 220 MFT lenses
Built by Perception Squared
This 2 camera rig allowed us to capture scenes in the Khao Laung cave with much better lowlight quality than the GoPro rigs. We had originally planned to use this rig more throughout the shoot but after building it we found that it didn't stitch as easily as the GoPro rigs we had so we used it sparingly, mostly for low light shots and scenes with high dynamic range. We had to create a custom preset in Autopano Video pro for the iZugar lenses as they were pre-production models and did not have a stitching template available yet. We believe this system will stitch much easier once there are presets for the lens distortion. The a6300's have great image quality and the clear image zoom allows you to get the maximum resolution out of the new MFT wide angle lenses that are being released by various lens companies. We shot this rig at 4k 30fps on each camera for a 4.6k 30fps final stitch.
Custom 2x GoPro Underwater Housing w/220 Entaniya Lenses
Build by Perception Squared
We built a 2 camera underwater housing for 2x GoPro Hero4 black cameras modified with Entaniya 220 Lenses. We had never seen a back to back solution done underwater. We considered using a Gear360 with water housing but the quality was not up to our standards. We did some extensive testing in pools to perfect the rig before traveling and make sure it was water tight. We shot this rig at 2.7k 30fps on each camera for a 4k 30fps final stitch.
3rd Person Sail Video Rig
We wanted to capture the perspective of our traveler in this piece but doing straight POV shots has a lot of inherent problems in 360. Using a 3rd person body rig from Sail Video Systems was the perfect solution. This allowed us to get a 3rd person perspective on our main character. It also gave us semi stable footage that allowed for easy rig painting. We were also able to do a montage of matching camera angles near the end of the film that adds some nice stylistic flare to the piece during its climax. The system was very stable and was a perfect pairing with the small and light Entaniya camera rig. We did additional stabilization to these shots with SynthEyes in post.
We have tested a lot of different cameras for VR and we always come back to using modified GoPros because they pack a lot of image quality into a small body and pair great with the high quality Entaniya wide angle optics. We are currently looking into Hero5, Blackmagic, and Sony designs for our next rigs.
360 Aerials
One particular element we put a lot of work into in this campaign was the 360 aerial cinematography. When perfectly executed, aerial photography in VR gives the viewer the feeling over flying high above the world in a very cool and dynamic way.
We did a lot of research on the existing solutions for 360 aerials and what we found was that there were very few productions that had done it before. The biggest problem we found with the existing 360 aerial footage was that it was very shaky. We designed a solution with a Ronin-Mx Gimbal mounted on a DJI M600 Hexacopter. This solution tilted the gimbal at a 90 degree angle and mounted the camera on a 3 foot steel pole that extended out the bottom of the hexacopter. This was then counter weighted with a custom rig past the rotation point of the gimbal to allow the gimbal to be balanced properly. (Tip for counterweights: Use lead fishing weights)
This process took a very long time and a lot of troubleshooting to get perfect but the shots we got were well worth the extra effort.
The shoot
After weeks of preparation and testing we finally set out on our 10 day journey to capture the beauty of Thailand in VR. The trip was a whirlwind of places and adventures. These were some of the highlights.
The first leg of our shoot took place in and around the city of Bangkok. Bangkok is a massive and incredibly diverse city bursting with energy. While we were there we shot in a bustling marketplace in the center of the city, inside of a Tuk Tuk outside the Thai Royal Palace, on a longtail boat traveling down the Chao Phrayan river, and inside the gorgeous Wat Rakang temple.
While staying in Bangkok we took a roadtrip up north to explore the ruins of Ayutthaya. Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya was the capital city of Siam and one of the world's largest and most impressive cities until it was sacked and burned to the ground by the Burmese army in 1767. It was never rebuilt and the ruins of the city now stand as an artifact of the Thai history. We shot at a number of different locations throughout Ayutthaya. One of the most memorable was the iconic Buddha head entwined in tree roots. The head was broken off of a statue during the Burmese destruction of the city and landed in the roots of a young tree. Over the next 250 years the roots of the tree grew around the head of the statue creating one of Thailand's most memorable and poignant images. Shooting this head in VR proved to be quite a challenge as it is almost constantly surrounded by long lines of tourists excited to take a photo in front of the famous site. It ended up taking us almost an hour of waiting and the help of one of the park rangers to manage to clear the area enough to get the shot.
Khao Luang Cave
Our last adventure before leaving Bangkok took us Southwest down Phetchaburi where we visited the incredible Khao Luang Cave. Upon arriving we were immediately surrounded by a gang of wild monkeys looking for a handout. After fending off the monkeys with some loud stomping and yelling, we unloaded our camera gear and made our way up the hill towards the entrance of the cave. At the top we found an old, non-descript stone gate which led to a massive, winding stone staircase that took us down into the heart of the cave. We felt like we stepped into an Indiana Jones film. It's difficult to put into words how beautiful Khao Luang Cave is from inside. The sunlight shoots down into the cave from openings in the top and it creates these spectacular shafts of light through the smoke from the incense burning around the shrines. It was truly one of the most spectacular places any of us had ever been.
Chiang Mai
After packing up from our hotel in Bangkok, our team then flew to Chiang Mai, the largest city in Thailand's lush, northern province. Chiang Mai is a much more rural part of Thailand with a very different pace and feel to it.
Our first filming location, and one of the most remarkable stops on our entire journey was the Patara Elephant Farm. Nestled in the lush rainforest of Doi Inthanon National Park, the Patara Elephant Farm provides a safe home for abused and neglected elephants while also working to increase elephant population and educate the public to the challenges that elephants face through allowing visitors to spend time with the elephants and help care for them. When we arrived we were immediately greeted by the team of trainers who work with the elephants and introduced to Boonyen, who would be the main elephant we'd be shooting with. Boonyen was amazingly well trained and gentle around people. Over the course of our time there we shot with almost 15 different elephants, and had the chance to meet a 10 day old baby elephant and her mother and and brother. It was a day that none of us will ever forget.
After our time in Chiang Mai we got on another flight and headed Southwest down to the coastal city of Phuket. This area of Thailand is usually a tropical paradise, however we happened to be shooting at the tail end of monsoon season which would prove challenging.
For the opening shot of the brand film, we had been planning an aerial shot going over one of the Limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay. This shot was one of our main goals while staying in Phuket, and it would prove to be one of the most difficult and nerve racking of the entire shoot. To get the shot we took a motorboat out into Phang Nga Bay where we searched for the right spot to shoot and the right spot to launch our drone. After settling on a spot on Hong island we set up our drone and then, as it often does in monsoon season, it started to rain. After waiting out the rain for a while we finally got a clearing and we decided to launch. The wind had picked up and made it very difficult to get even a large, powerful drone like our M600 to make it across to the island we wanted to shoot. After two attempts which yielded less than stable results because of the high winds, we decided to give it one more shot before the rain came back again. This third run ended up being the opening shot of the brand film, and one of the best shots of the entire campaign. Our drone pilot Jesse Nelson (@Nelsonaerial) breathed a big sigh of relief when the M600 finally touched down from that final flight. The conditions had been terrible, and it had been really difficult, but finally, we had the shot we needed.
The final stop on our trip was a tree house villa overlooking Kamala Beach inside of "Keemala", a luxury resort with an elegant, natural style. We had planned this location to be where we shot the final two shots of the brand film. Unfortunately, the day we had scheduled to shoot there ended up being a massive rain storm all day making shooting those two final shots pretty much impossible. After talking it over with our local production manager we decided to change our flight times back to Bangkok the next day in order to see if we could get another chance at the final shots in the morning. It was still raining in the morning when we left for Keemala, but after waiting for a little while in one of the villas, the clouds suddenly broke, and the sun came out. We managed to get both of our final two shots that morning and make it to the airport just in time to catch our flight back to Bangkok. We were finally wrapped.
Post Production
Post production for VR is much more involved than it is for traditional films. We start by organizing and stitching all the camera feeds in Autopano Video Pro and Autopano Giga. This is where all of the individual camera feeds are combined to make a single 360 equirectangular video.
Once we have those feeds stitched we move to editing the film. Mettle's VR plugins for Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects greatly simplify the editing process for VR. While editing in Premiere Mettle allows us to view the shot in a headset in 360. Allowing us to see the shot as the end user will see it. We are also able to rotate, pan and roll the shots to make adjustments to the eye trace of the edit without having to open the files again in Autopano.
Once the edit is locked we then have to take each shot into After Effects and use Mettle's Skybox Converter plugin to make a cube map image of each shot and use that to paint out the tripod and drone with an undistorted image. That cube map image then gets reconverted to equirectangular and then sent back to Premiere for final mastering and color correction.
We also did some stabilization to our drone shots and the shots we did with the Sail Video rig with the 3D tracking and stabilization tools in SynthEyes. This software essentially allows you to create a 3D map of the camera path and apply that stabilization information to the 360 degree ball. It then rolls and tilts the shot to perfectly stabilize it and lock your horizon. This process was intensive but made it so that our viewers won't sick from unwanted camera motion.
After everything was mastered it was sent to the client for loading on GearVR headsets and uploaded to Facebook 360 and Youtube 360 for social media release. Curate Directive also created custom Amazing Thailand VR goggles to give away at events.
Finished Films
You can view the final Brand film and social media teasers below.


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Easy, breezy. Whatever your guest count, whatever the season, we will make sure that beauty and comfort rule the day.
Some of our standard rentals include: chairs, tables, heaters, teak market umbrellas, tents, wine barrel cocktail tables, 50' strand cafe lights, shepherds hooks with lanterns, candles, Mexican blankets, and easy-to-use audio including an ipod docking station with speakers and microphone.


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After most media accounts failed to report the whole story surrounding Hickman Principal Dr. Tracey Conrad's decree forbidding Ryan Ferguson to set foot on the school campus during the school day, it seems important to present the facts. Read the blog post that started it all HERE.
The district bosses are doing some serious backpedaling, mounting a public relations assault that attempts to present the entire incident as a big misunderstanding. Big boss Superintendent Belcher even went so far as to accuse Keep Columbia Free of posting "an erroneous report."
Belcher said he was surprised and disappointed when a local blog posted an erroneous report saying Conrad banned Ferguson from the school. He said that led to many "negative, hateful emails to some of our staffers."
Well, Superintendent Belcher, this community is not surprised, but certainly disappointed that you chose to use your public pulpit to accuse Keep Columbia Free of spreading false information. I guess it is easier to deny mistakes and berate the work of the citizen journalist instead of simply admitting that your staff made a glaring mistake.
The good news is that most people don't buy the explanation that Mr. Ferguson "wasn't really 'banned,' we just told him he couldn't come."
So, what does it mean to be banned? The Oxford Dictionary defines "ban" as:
Ban: Officially or legally prohibit: officially exclude (someone) from a place
For instance, The City of Columbia has banned smoking in all businesses during business hours. Smokers must go outside and smoke on the sidewalk. In the same way, Dr. Conrad has banned Ryan Ferguson from visiting Hickman during normal school hours. The interview with the school paper must be done outside the school boundaries, perhaps at the neighboring McDonald's.
It is clear that Ryan Ferguson was "banned" from Hickman High School. The district is attempting to say he was only banned from the school during class hours. If this were the case, why did Dr. Conrad suggest the interview be conducted as McDonald's? Even if Mr. Ferguson was only prohibited from visiting during school hours, he was BANNED during those hours. That is not an erroneous claim. If anyone is making erroneous claims, it is Chris Belcher and his administration.
Here is the timeline of Keep Columbia Free's involvement:
Wednesday 11.20.2013, evening: A Keep Columbia Free volunteer was approached by a Hickman student who was upset at being told the interview with Ryan Ferguson had been cancelled by the school principal. The student said that Dr. Conrad had said that too many students believed he was guilty and his presence at Hickman would be a class disruption. The student said that when Ryan's Mother, Leslie Ferguson, was told that Ryan was not welcome on the Hickman campus, she said that if her son could not come, she did not feel comfortable visiting the school.
Wednesday 11.20.2013, 9:30-9:45PM: A Keep Columbia Free volunteer sent emails to several Hickman teachers and Dr. Conrad requesting comment and verification of the student's story.
Thursday 11.21.2013, 9:34AM: A reply from a Hickman teacher was received verifying the story told by the student. The teacher declined to make a comment about the story and referred KCF to Dr. Conrad for comment.
Thursday 11.21.2013, mid-afternoon: Keep Columbia Free decided to go ahead with the story after receiving no response from Dr. Conrad explaining her decision.
Thursday 11.21.2013: The story began to receive viral attention via social networking sites, garnering over 1200 "likes" in the first few hours, and fielding nearly 8000 page views by midnight. Keep Columbia Free alerted the local media about the growing story.
Friday 11.22.2013: The viral spread of the blog intensified with the post receiving nearly 19,000 visitors in a 24 hour period – over 26,000 hits since originally posted. The post received over 4000 "likes" and was shared via Facebook and Twitter several thousand times. Radley Balko of the Huffington Post tweeted the blog to his followers as did Ryan Ferguson's attorney, Kathleen Zellner. All day, call and email floods targeting CPS were being spontaneously planned by Ferguson supporters across the country. Unfortunately, some of these calls and emails were reportedly hateful and borderline threatening. Keep Columbia Free does not condone hateful and/or threatening calls or emails to any person or group.
Friday 11.22.2013, late-morning: After receiving a flood of calls and emails denouncing Dr. Conrad's decision and receiving a protest letter from the student staff of the school newspaper, Superintendent Belcher, his staff, and School Board Member Helen Wade meet with the newspaper staff and reach a compromise stating that Ryan Ferguson can visit the school before and/or after regular school hours.
The Local Media:
What we at Keep Columbia Free found quite amazing was the markedly lackluster reporting done by the local main-stream media. After Keep Columbia Free uncovered, researched, blogged, and tipped off the local MSM to the story, the role that we citizen journalists played was summarily ignored. Traditional journalists should be able to work peacefully, hand in hand, with citizen journalists, not against them.
Click HERE for the KOMU story that indicates the outrage came from thin air.
The Missourian also ignored the role of the citizen journalist. Read their account HERE
The Tribune's original story HERE makes no mention of the blog, but the followup story HERE contains at least a backhanded jab at the blog from Superintendent Belcher.
The Complaint:
There are a few unanswered questions surrounding the original complaint(s) that prompted Dr. Conrad to ban Ryan from the school. Some of the media accounts linked above indicate that Dr. Conrad fielded complaints personally. The rather lengthy Missourian article makes it clear that the complaints were fielded by John White, the district's safety and security director.
Conrad said she learned of the interview Wednesday afternoon when John White, the district's director of safety and security, told her about parents objecting to Ryan Ferguson's presence on campus.
White told her that parents contacted him to say they wouldn't send their children to school Thursday if Ryan Ferguson were there.
Conrad said she expressed her concerns to the journalism teacher at Hickman. Later Wednesday night, Conrad talked with a student in the journalism class on the phone and further explained her reasoning.
This passage indicates a few interesting things.
First, Dr. Conrad didn't know about the interview as of Wednesday morning. This would indicate that the plan to interview Ryan was not common knowledge around the school. This means that there was little likelihood of some sort of major disruption.
Second, Dr. Conrad found out about the complaints fielded by White on Wednesday morning and called off the interview by early Wednesday evening. This brings into question the notion that Dr. Conrad was overrun with concerned parents and students – enough to reasonably indicate that there would be a disruption if Ryan visited the campus.
Third, the complaints were fielded by Security Chief John White. White is a former officer of the Columbia Police Department, an agency with a great deal of time and emotion invested in the prosecution of Ryan Ferguson. Is there any formal record of these complaints?
Another source inside the Columbia Public Schools administration contacted Keep Columbia Free with some information regarding the source of the complaints which prompted the ban. Apparently the family of slain Tribune sports editor Kent Heitholt was the source of the original complaint. This begs the question – How did the Heitholt family find out about the interview before Dr. Conrad?
As more information comes in, we will share it here. Stay tuned.