text:
Furniture is component of our everyday lives, it is unavoidable. It can bring style and luxury to a property, and it can be moulded by us – whether or not you want little ones, outdoor or even entertainment furniture, you continuously have the possibility to uncover what you want stylistically and in sensible terms. It is possible to craft a desirable appear in any room of a residence – so what ever style, colour, finish, size, or feature is required you can uncover it in our range.
It goes without saying that this combination of kit comes at a price. It does save me a fantastic deal of time and permits me to commit most of my mental energy on style and details – and design and information are factors why someone commissions a piece of custom furniture. But even if you are just creating for yourself, there is one thing elegant about functioning with tools that do their jobs effectively and make your time in the shop profitable and rewarding.
Sherry, your secretary is stunning! I also enjoy old furniture and just about every little thing I own is used. In my location there are numerous excellent shops – two upscale consignment shops and a private thrift retailer run by individuals who do house clean-outs. I have noticed that Victorian furniture can be had at bargain prices these days. I consider young men and women just never want it and older folks are obtaining rid of stuff.
The lightweight and dry partition walls have an STC of about 33 without having any insulation. Adding insulation like rockwool in the wall cavity would improve the STC to amongst 45 – 50. Hence, in contrast to brick or concrete walls exactly where the STC is restricted to the option of material, the dry partition walls have the ability to enhance on the sound transmission loss by escalating the space and insulation among the boards to yield an STC of as high as 63.
Then 1 day, as I was dreaming about turning my kitchen into a farmhouse kitchen with painted cabinets, an notion occurred to me: Why not produce a pantry?! I had this narrow space beside the laundry space door that was too tiny for cabinets. The wall was offset from the dining area side of the beam (deeper on the kitchen side) producing a 'nook' of sorts. It was about four inches on the kitchen side and only about two inches on the dining area side. On the other side of the room where the other log beam is, it is about 6 inches on both sides. So, I decided this was the location for a pantry and I would 'build' the beam out to match the other side and make an indention about 8 inches. The side of the pantry toward the laundry space door sticks out into the room but it is not adequate to be intrusive.
These are some genuinely creative suggestions for self sufficiency, Brie. I believe I may possibly have attempted a few of these over the years, like raising birds, for instance. You happen to be truly pondering outside of the box with the spinning your personal yarn idea.


text:
The hitter
120×90 cm
Olio su tela
Masin Mauro (Treviso – Italy)
School education:
⁃ Diploma at technical institute geometri Einaudi in Montebelluna
⁃ attended for three years the University of Padova Faculty of Physics.
Artistic training completely self-taught.
⁃ Collective exhibition "Mostra d'arte" at the polifunzionale di Vidor 17-23 May 2010.
⁃ Publication of one artwork in the catalog of 1° Effetto arte award.
⁃ Personal exhibition at the "primavera del prosecco", polifunzionale di Vidor 25 February-11 March 2012.
⁃ Collective exhibition "Piero Della Valentina" 2012 Cordignano.
⁃ Collective exhibition "Confronti" Ca' dei Carraresi, Treviso 15-23 June 2013
⁃ Collective exhibition "Figuratively speaking", New York, 7-27 February 2014
⁃ Collective exhibition "Artistic confessions", Elbschloss Residenz, Hamburg April 12-Mai 7 2014
⁃ Collective exhibition "Spectrum Miami" at Euart Panorama Europa stand, 3-7 December 2014, Miami.
⁃ Collective exhibition "Biennale di Palermo" 11-25 January 2015, Palermo.
⁃ Collective exhibition "Premio Guglielmo II" 21-29 March 2015, galleria civiva Giuseppe Sciortino, Monreale.
⁃ First place in the selections for "ARTPROTAGONIST 2015" November 14-December 27 2015, Villa Contarini, Piazzola sul Brenta, Padova.
⁃ One of the selected artists in the 32nd Chelsea international fine art competition; 19-30 August 2017, New York.
– One of the selected artists in the BIANCOSCURO ART CONTEST 2017 with the artwork
Strongly influenced by the works of Edward Hopper, Italian artist Masin Mauro has created a stylized realism laced with elements of noir. In recent years, Mauro has pushed back against the idea of "art as a casual thing supported by speeches," urging a return to the pursuit of aesthetic beauty. His figures are indeed beautiful, often caught in wistful moments, unaware of the voyeurs before them. Though he calls another continent home, the conversation continues between Mauro and his idol. "The culture of Veneto has inevitably influenced me," he says, "but I feel American in art."
Agorà Gallery (New York)
The art of Mauro Masin, an Italian self-taught painter, is perhaps more "real" than what we would expect from the ultimate realistic art. The sensibility of Masin, in fact, is such that it is able to make the simplicity sharply true, sometimes even more true than the realism itself.
There is no pretense in his representations, nor in his sensibility, which reaches clearly and directly into the eye of the beholder.
Masin tends to label his work with the term "realism", and after all, it could not be otherwise; However his realism seems to be so well done, that it is hard not to see some features of our personal life in the images the painter portrays: it is a realism of a silent stationary and timeless world.
As Masin himself claims, his painting follows the taste of the American Edward Hopper, especially for the light choice. The light in his painting is expressed by a penetrating chiaroscuro that makes Masin's pictorial talent highly sophisticated. In his work taste, talent, colors' harmony and artistic sensibility are blended together; it is a work of choices, rather than creations, it is a silence work, which has no interpretation key.
Masin's pictures speak for themselves, his aim explains itself and at the same time concludes itself in the women faces he use to portray, into light and darkness in which his attention focuses on.
The painter's presence is invisible: he seems to intent to leave alone his landscapes and his figures, just in the way they are in real life; he seems to appreciate the world that, at the same time, he wants not to be involved in, he seems to love women as beings, while at the same time being completely unrelated to them.
Martina Biz
Vote for this artwork! Please click Facebook like, Twitter, Pinterest and Google plus
Vota questa opera! Clicca Mi piace su Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest e Google plus

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|This is me with the same Bianchi Specialissima I have today. Note that fenders and the heavier load than I carried on the Mountain Loops - I am growing up. Note also that I was riding in jeans, I used to do that. I still have the jersey in this picture (which is wool and was very comfortable), but there is no chance I can get into it (I've tried). The bandana on my head (still no helmet) was my minor excursion into radical symbolism, a symbol that managed to upset a number of people, my future father in law included.
As best I can tell, the last major bicycle tour I rode in California was my ride to the Great Western Bike Rally in 1969. If my aging memory is to be trusted, I continued to train with the Berkeley Wheelmen in 1970 and 1971. In 1971, I moved from California to Boston to attend graduate school. Some time in 1972 or shortly thereafter, I biked from Boston to Montreal, about 350 miles, with two companions. One was a roommate and close friend, identified hereafter as "D", and the other a friend of his who I had not previously met and whose name cannot recall, identified hereafter as "Y" (because I have already used "X").
|"D", my good friend and roommate.
I can't completely remember how or why this trip came together. The one part I remember was that the choice of our destination was determined by my infatuation with a young woman, a fellow grad student, who was from Montreal and was home at the time visiting her parents. If that inspired the trip or only influenced its destination, I have no recollection.
|"Y", "D"'s friend.
This trip took place in the 1970s, a decade that Grant Pederson argues was dramatically more bicycle oriented than the 1960s. As it happens, that didn't affect my perception of the tour much; as far as I was concerned, this tour might have been titled: "Mountain Loop - Eastern Edition." That said, the impact of the 70s vs the 60s might have been that this trip happened at all. In the 1960s, I did all the riding I did because, over the years, I had assembled a circle of like-minded friends with whom to ride - the Modesto Roadmen. By the 1970s, it had become possible to put together an ad hoc group of cyclotourists from among my acquaintances.
|Scenery along the way.
I wish I could remember how we selected our route (or what route we selected.) I remember going through New Hampshire for part of the ride. I don't even remember how long it took us. I can distinctly remember two campsites along the way, one rather posh one in New Hampshire, and one in Quebec which featured a disco that kept us up all night, so I assume we were on the road for at least three or four days.
|Our campsite
The above picture shows one of our campsites. Unlike the Mountain Loop, we stayed in legal campgrounds at least some of the time, and we carried tents. I also remember "feasting" on Hamburger Helper, which means we brought cooking gear.
|A bit of yard art encountered along the way.
|"D" and "Y", in street clothes, standing in front of the Youth Hostel in Montreal, where we stayed. Note the CYH emblem in the window just above "Y"'s head.


text:
Mei Hua Zhuang (Plum Blossom Poles) – Kung Fu Training Tool
This page provides details for Kung Fu training tool known as "Mei Hua Zhuang" or "Plum Blossom Poles". This training system consists of large poles (similar to telephone poles) sunk into the ground. Students will then practice their martial arts techniques (i.e. stances) by stepping from the top of one pole to another pole. This training technique improves balance, footwork, leg strength, coordination. etc.
While some Chinese martial arts schools use poles high off the ground, others have short posts in order to reduce potential injuries if students fall. Most students start with low poles that are close to the ground and then progress to higher and higher poles. This training technique is known by different Mandarin and Cantonese names including Mui Fa Jong (Plum Flower Posts). Moreover, this training tool is known as "Plum Blossom" because the poles or posts were often set out in the shape of a plum tree's blossom.
This training tool is not used extensively in the West. However, it is a significant training component of some Kung Fu styles in China. Moreover, you are likely to have seen this tool in countless old Kung Fu movies where opponents are battling each other on top of what looks like a field of telephone poles.
For other traditional training tools, please visit the Martial Arts Training Equipment section.
Picture of Plum Blossom Pole Training
Video of Plum Blossom Pole Training
- Kung Fu Tea, Traditional Training Equipment in the Chinese Martial Arts, http://chinesemartialstudies.com/2012/08/24/traditional-training-equipment-in-the-chinese-martial-arts-part-ii-attack-of-the-wooden-dummies/, Added – 09/23/14
- Plum Publications, The Plum Flower Piles: Watch Your Step, http://www.plumpub.com/kaimen/2011/the-plum-flower-piles-watch-your-step/, Added – 09/23/14
- Black & White Picture of Plum Blossom Pole Training courtesy of Plum Publications, http://www.plumpub.com/kaimen/, Added – 10/11/14
- Color Picture of Plum Blossom Pole Training courtesy of Wudang Kung Fu Bucuresti, https://www.facebook.com/wdkf.ro, Added – 04/21/15


text:
Kate & Kole
A pair of perfect round studs. There are two sizes available 3mm and 6mm.
Add a Singles sphere to completely transform this look.
All earrings come with matching back.
Your earrings will be made to order. We hope to get your earrings to you as soon as possible, but during busy periods it can take up to three weeks. We thank you for your order and appreciate your patience. For an update on your order please contact us.


text:
Previous Rule (240) | Waiting and parking (238 to 252) | Next Rule (242)
You MUST NOT park in parking spaces reserved for specific users, such as Blue Badge holders, residents or motorcycles, unless entitled to do so.
Laws CSDPA sect 21 & RTRA sects 5 & 8
There are no annotations yet for this rule.
In order to contribute your own annotation, you need to log in with one of these sources:


text:
|BG-Map Links up to GPS at the University of Delaware
A direct link between BG-Map and GPS has been created at the University of Delaware, in Newark, Delaware, USA.
GPS is the Global Positioning System, a network of satellites orbiting the earth. Using GPS and sophisticated electronic equipment, it is possible to fix exact positions with an accuracy of a fraction of a meter. At the University of Delaware, GPS and BG-Map will be used to map the positions of trees and plants in the botanic gardens.
At right: John Frett of the University of Delaware uses GPS to map a tree location.
Determining plant locations is simple. A portable GPS receiver and antenna is carried from plant to plant. The GPS receiver contacts several orbiting satellites and uses the received data to determine each plant's location. The location data is stored in a portable data collector. At the end of a surveying session, the data collector is returned to the plant records office, where the data is uploaded to a PC for use by BG-Map.
Using the combination of GPS and BG-Map, it is hoped that human resources can be maximized, allowing the plant collections to be accurately mapped with a minimum of time and labor.
Past BG-Map Feature Articles
- BG-Map Adds Custom Symbols 3/11/98
- BG-Map Goes Underground 1/22/98
Revised April 13, 1998
Copyright © 1998 Glicksman Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.


text:
Recent Posts
- Destiny Is Your Density: The SBB Show's podcast 60 October 11, 2016
- The Barley Bunch: The SBB Show's podcast 59 September 13, 2016
- Lonely, Oh So Lonely: The SBB Show's podcast 58.5 August 26, 2016
- Parental Advisory: The SBB Show's podcast 58 July 26, 2016
- Mr. Roboto: The SBB Show's podcast 57 July 9, 2016
We're on the Interwebs!
Tag Archives: videogames
The Ever-Rising Video Game Backlog
So back in December 2015, I set up a New Year's goal to not buy a video game unless I was going to play it immediately. To help with this, I unsubscribed from countless emails to remove temptations. As of … Continue reading
Posted in Articles / Features, Video Game Tagged 360, Console Platforms, game, microsoft, Microsoft Windows, nintendo, pc, PC Gaming, playstation, PS3, reviews, sony, Video game, video games, videogames, wii, Windows, xbox, xbox 1, xbox 360, xbox one Leave a comment
Video Game Review: Shadow of Mordor
Video Game: Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor Developer(s): Monolith Productions Publisher(s): Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Platform(s): Microsoft Windows (PC), Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 Genre(s): Action role-playing Game Mode(s): Single-Player ESRB Rating: Mature; Blood and Gore, Intense … Continue reading
Posted in Review, Video Game Review Tagged 360, Console Platforms, don't use, game, game review, Games, gaming, lord of the rings, lotr, microsoft, Microsoft Windows, mordor, pc, PC Gaming, playstation, playstation 3, playstation 4, PS3, PS4, review, reviews, sony, the hobitt, Video game, video game review, videogames, Windows, xbox, xbox 1, xbox 360, xbox one Leave a comment


text:
This is Sabrina, a sweet girl from Austria who produced her first selfshot Shit DVD for Xmodels!!
Yep, this film was a shocker in 2010 unblievable scenes of young girls shitting in the streets. this movie is forbidden for sale in vienna!
These girls dont hide themselves while shitting, they do it in front of people!!!!
Jody a girl from Austria produces MEGA TURDS...
All american girls in this movie, they shit turd after turd, cause they love to eat fastfood!!
Susanne a young girl from Poland shits at home and sends the videos to guys on the internet....
In Wintertime its the best time to shit in the snow, cause you can see the turd so good in the white ice...
Its summertime and sweet girls are shitting outdoors!
That wonderful brown skin, those lovely blonde girls, that walk through the summer fields and do a big poop on their ways... a fantastic movie..


text:
Faith and Empire
Christianity has had a complex historical relationship with Empire; at one time resisting it and at other times co-opting it. Indeed, Empire has come to be associated with America's role in the world, and to some extant even culturally here at home. Yet, like the faithful rebels of Star Wars fame, there are those who resist. What does a faith that resists empire look like?
sermon by Rev. Dr. Joshua Snyder, read by Karen Davis


text:
Your body is your temple and we would all do well to remember. Along with our bodies the state of our mind and spirit are also just as important.` Caroline Sumlin does a great job of breaking down these 3 components.
"In college, I was barely eating. I skipped meals to make time for all of my activities, and when I did eat, I only ate cereal, ramen noodles, and fries from the dollar menu at fast-food restaurants. Talk about nutritious! However, I realized that I wanted to be energized to do work for God's Kingdom, but the way I was fueling my body was leaving me tired, weak, and lethargic. It was time for a diet change.", Sumlin says.(Source: Urban Faith , Caroline Sumlin)
"I recommend writing down areas in your life that you can see as mind clutter. For me, it's social media, my busy schedule, and a constant need for perfectionism. Once you figure out what your areas are, write down ways to clear your mind from these things."
"Finally, it is important to feed your spirit. It is the spirit of The Lord that lives inside of you. It is the spirit that God intricately created that makes you, YOU. It is your relationship with the Holy Spirit. Feeding this area of your temple is so important." To see the entire article and to get Caroline Sumlin's full perspective on the temple of the mind , body and spirit. https://urbanfaith.com/2017/02/feeding-temple-body-mind-spirit.html/


text:
Berlin, 21.01.2016
So there were we, a Mexican family on holidays in the island of Crete in Greece. On that week, we would be waking up quite early because we would be visiting different parts of the island thus, before coming to the apartment we´ve stopped to buy some food for breakfast in a supermarket and some beer for the night.
When I woke up next morning, my sister had already made coffee. She told me to prepare the table because we were having "Greek eggs" for breakfast. I was wondering if "Greek eggs" actually exists. In Mexico, we do have "Huevos a la Mexicana" (Eggs Mexican style) which is essentially scrambled eggs with chile serrano (green serrano peppers), white onion and tomato, these are the colours of the Mexican flag so no wonder why we call it Mexican eggs. This recipe is an easy but tasty breakfast-invention which was born in Sweden while she was an exchange student in the city of Malmö. She named it Greek Omelette just because of the feta cheese, which at that times were not so known in Mexico.


text:
A 1,200cc motorcycle has been stolen in Crawley.
A police statement said the black Suzuki was stolen from Hunter Road, Southgate, between 3pm and 6pm on Saturday, September 19.
Crawley Police appealed for witnesses. Call 101 quoting 0799.
* Don't miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.
Here are four ways you can be sure you'll be amongst the first to know what's going on.
1) Make our website your homepage at www.crawleyobserver.co.uk
2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver
3) Follow us on Twitter @Crawley_Obby
4) Register with us by clicking on 'sign in' (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.
And do share with your family and friends - so they don't miss out!
The Crawley Observer - always the first with your local news.
Be part of it.


text:
Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
1. Cancer- I've lost people very dear and close to me because of cancer. Friends and my mother. I fear losing anyone else close to me because if cancer, and I fear getting cancer... I've seen the burden it places on the soul.
2. Flying- I had a bad experience in 2009 on a flight from SLC to ATL. it scarred me for life. I still fly allllll the time, but it isn't fun. I mainly just fear take off and landing. I don't think watching the show LOST helped lol!
3. Spiders- idk where this fear came from, prob because everyone I know has this fear. Literally a spider was in my shower one time (it was a brown recluse) I jumped out soaked and naked and ran around the house crying, then proceeded to call my husband freaking out, still naked lol!
Everyone should do this :) comment your fears or share them on a FB comment.


text:
Nick Hogan is an American reality celebrity and actor. He is mostly known as the son of one of the legendary WWE superstars, Hulk Hogan. Nick is also an actor, and he has a very keen interest in motorsport. Nicholas Allan Bollea is his actual name. He has also appeared on the reality show, Hogan Knows Best. Nick is also famous for his car controversy in 2007 and starred in various reality shows. He has a very energetic personality and natural acting skills. Let's have a close look at Nick Hogan's net worth in 2019.
Early Life
Nick Hogan was born on 27 July 1990 in California, United States. HIs father, Hulk Hogan is one of the greatest and famous WWE legends in the world. His mother, Linda is also an American actress and a well-known TV celebrity. His sister, Brooke Hogan is a professional wrestler, actress, and singer.
In 2011, Nick Hogan married Breana Tiesi, and she was also learned pro-wrestling.
In 2006, Nick Hogan earned a Formula D competition license from the only professional drifting series in North America, Formula Drift. On 12 May 2007, he participated in one of their competitions. He was performing superbly in racing. Nick had also competed in the NOPI drift series. At Denver NOPI drift series of 2007, he ranked at 7th position. He also successfully achieved the 3rd place at the Pittsburgh race event.
Due to some successful race events and his drifting style attracted brands to sponsor him. He signed to Dodge but his contract with Dodge came to end after just two months after his car accident.
He has also appeared in Masterminds (2012), Remainder (2005) and Kill Katie Malone in the year 2010.
On 26 August 2007, Nick involved in a car accident. He was driving his father's yellow colored Toyota Supra. At that time he was just 17 years old. He was actually driving under the influence of excessive alcohol and as a result crashed into a tree. He was in a prison for five months from 9 May 2008 to 21 October 2008.
Awards and Achievements
As an actor, he appeared in a number of films. If you talk about his acting skills then they are perfect as well as outstanding. In his racing career, he also got very much success. He is most popular for his father's reality show, Hogan Knows Best and his sister's show, Brooke Knows Best. He is currently trying to make a career in wrestling.
Net Worth of Nick Hogan
The net worth of the Nick Hogan is $1 million. The reason behind having such huge net worth his acting career and also his racing career. He tried his best in racing and achieved a great in that. In acting, he influenced a large number of people due to his unique and extraordinary style. He is a multi-talented iconic star and thus created a superb life for himself.
Nick Hogan has been in limelight for many years. As a son of Hulk Hogan, he just created an energetic and superb career. Due to his hard work, he is now living a wealthy and healthy life. He has a net worth of $1 million and living a calm life.


text:
LEVIATHAN – Early Demo The First Sublevel Of Suicide Out In December
November 17, 2017, 2 years ago
Ascension Monuments Media has announced the first of several new releases from acclaimed black metal output Leviathan, dubbed The First Sublevel Of Suicide and due out Dec. 1.
Featuring roughly 40 minutes of ferocious, abrasive and manically depressing negativity, The First Sublevel Of Suicide was entirely recorded by multi-instrumentalist Wrest on a four-track analog recorder between 2002 and 2003 to serve as demos for Leviathan's 2003 full-length debut, The Tenth Sublevel Of Suicide. This is the first time that the full demo has been made available straight from Wrest's vaults. The First Sublevel of Suicide is mastered by Ken Sorceron (Abigail Williams / ex-Lord Mantis).
"V tracks mixed directly from the withered cassette tapes from a failing analog IV track cassette recording device... the initial conjurings of where the entity, The Xth Sub-Level of Suicide's spirit lies..." – Wrest
Preorders are available at Bandcamp.
"Scenic Solitude & Leprosy"
"The Bitter Emblem Of Dissolve"
"He Whom The Shadows Move Towards"
"Mine Molten Armor"
"The Idiot Sun"


text:
The annual Divine Service of Remembrance has been held at Christchurch Carrickfergus.
Among those in attendance were representatives of the Ulster Defence Regiment CGC Association, Royal British Legion and TS Warrior Sea Cadets. Carrickfergus.
Pastor Sam Grant, who has been the chaplain for the UDR and the RBL in Carrickfergus, was presented with a commemoration medal by Stephen Weir, chairman of the Ulster Defence Regiment CGC Association, for his continuous long service.
Mr Weir also told the congregation about the new Ulster Defence Regiment Memorial that has been purchased by the people of Carrickfergus and their friends from around the world. It will replace the old cairn in the Garden of Remembrance at a later date as the stone has only arrived into the country, he explained.
The president of the Ulster Defence Regiment CGC Association, Margaret Howes and treasurer, Joan Button read the Roll of Honour followed by RBL President, George Horner who relayed the significance of the poppy.


text:
The Direct to Video Connoisseur
I'm a huge fan of action, horror, sci-fi, and comedy, especially of the Direct to Video variety. In this blog I review some of my favorites and not so favorites, and encourage people to comment and add to the discussion. If you click on an image, it will take you to that post's image page, which includes many more pics from the film and other goodies I couldn't fit in the actual review. For announcements and updates, don't forget to Follow us on Twitter and Like our Facebook page. If you're the director, producer, distributor, etc. of a low-budget feature length film and you'd like to send me a copy to review, you can contact me at dtvconnoisseur[at]yahoo.com. I'd love to check out what you got.
Hi everyone, it's been a while since I checked the page, and I wanted to make a few announcements.
First and foremost, it appears a dubious site has claimed the old url, meaning any link in any review that goes to the old mattmovieguy url is corrupt. I'm in the process of trying to remove them all, but it's a lot! It's best not to click on any link without hovering over it first to make sure it doesn't have mattmovieguy in the url.
Second, it appears since my last trip to the blog, Photobucket has decided to charge for third party hosting, meaning none of my images are appearing anymore. That's simply an aesthetic issue, but still annoying.
Thank you all for your patience, and again, hopefully this will all be fixed soon.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Terminal Justice aka Cybertech PD (1995)
I really don't know where I first came across this. I was probably drunk and fooling around on Netflix, and added it to my queue because the cover had Lorenzo Lamas, then was shocked when it showed up on my doorstep, wondering when in the hell I could've put that one in. Then it was like "well, since I have it, I might as well watch it."
Terminal Justice aka Cybertech PD has Lorenzo Lamas rocking blue contacts in the year 2008. If that doesn't sound ridiculous enough, this so-called future we just lived through last year has virtual reality sex as it's big thing. Sorry Wii, you just weren't cool enough. Anyway, this one chick is a great virtual reality sex star, and Chris Sarandon wants her blood so he can clone her. The only thing better than Virtual reality sex, is sex with a clone. Lamas isn't a fan of Sarandon anyway, and when he and this sex star fall in love, he's all about protecting her and bringing him down.
Wow. Why? How long was it? Really, not three hours? This movie was hardcore. I knew it when I saw Lamas' eyes. Why would you do that? He looks like a moron with blue contacts. And did the people who made it stop to consider for one second what 1982 was like compared to 1995? Yeah, there were some great advancements in technology, but enough to make them think that from 1995 to 2008 we'd invent something that acts like the holodeck on Star Trek? Or that our entertainment industry would change so drastically that it would fail to resemble the one that existed before? If this had been silly enough, I would've ignored all that, but I just couldn't get past Lamas' eyes.
And with that, this film also surpasses Succubus: Hell Bent as Lamas' worst. In that one, he was barely in the film for more than five minutes, which was why I rank it so poorly. This one he was in plenty, but he was never really in it with those blue contacts. The idea was supposed to be he had his eyes removed by some baddies in the Russian Cartel Wars (they never show that, which is good), and they're replaced by cybernetic ones that act like cameras and can see things in infrared and whatnot. Again, technology we picked up from 1995 to 2008. Right. What a waste of Lamas this was. His only great moment came when he had flashbacks to his time in the war, where he'd freak out on this drug called Hellraiser. That was hilarious.
It is a weird thing to be 8 years beyond the year 2000, considering before it there was this idea that the world was going to be so different after it. It was like the difference between 1999 and 2000 was a hundred years. Okay, so maybe most of us didn't really think that, and were much more pragmatic, but plenty of sci-fi film makers did. It looks so ridiculous now. I mean, I'm not expecting them to have predicted the iPod, but a little more creativity beyond simply Virtual Reality sex isn't too much to ask. I also don't understand why they put these false constraints on themselves with futures that aren't that far in the future. Bump it up thirty years, and it'll be at least a little more believable.
I couldn't decide whether to devote this paragraph to Kari Wuher or Peter Coyote, both DTV movie veterans that both star in this film. I took a different route, choosing to talk instead about Tod Thaley, who plays Lamas' partner after his first one dies. This guy wasn't too bad of an actor, and from what I could tell, he usually plays Native Americans, while in this movie he played an Japanese American. Of course, when I say not too bad of an actor, remember that it's in the context of a mid-90s Lorenzo Lamas sci-fi actioner.
Finally, I cannot in good conscious discuss this film without mentioning the hilarious remote control helicopter with a gun that chased Lamas because it was trained to track his pheromones. How this scene wasn't cut the moment after it was shot is beyond me. It was so ridiculous. This was almost as funny as Freddy's hand running around in Wes Craven's A New Nightmare. And then Lamas sprays himself in Lysol to mask his scent. Good thinking. He's a resourceful hero. Too bad he didn't have a more resourceful agent, huh?
Stay as far away as you can from this. I mean it. It hurt. It's got Lamas in it. So what? He's got blue eyes which make him look silly. After that this sack-of-asscrack has nothing going for it. If you need a Lamas fix, rent Renegade on DVD.
For more info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114648/
Posted by Direct to Video Connoisseur at 5:35 PM
Labels: action, Lorenzo Lamas, Peter Coyote, sci-fi
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Lady Blonde says: "If you want to make your event memorable for your guests, you need to Captiv8 them."
The Barley Mow Business Centre, 10 Barley Mow Passage, London W4 4PH
Call 0870 803 5506
Visit website
Filed under: A party organiser
Location: Chiswick
Captiv8 take pride in creating unforgettable events that will be talked about long after the party is over. working with individuals through to large corporations. Whether you want an intimate dinner for 30, or a cocktail party for 1000 guests, they would be delighted to meet with you to discuss your requirements.
Become a Member
Membership of Lady Blonde is by invitation only and is designed exclusively for the most discerning but fun-loving Londoners. Member perks include:
- Free gifts when you join
- Exclusive deals available at all the best venues, and with all the best companies
- A Personalised Calender to match your tastes and interests
- Priority bookings and a hotline for recommendations
Register your interestFind out more
Become a member
Join today to receive one of many exclusive offers
You may also like
Look no further if you want an all-singing, all-dancing, impressive beau-na fide party.
With access to many of London trendiest hotspots, organising a party through Organise will do wonders for your street cred.
Lady Blonde Special Dates and Holidays


text:
St. John Chrysostom School expects students
to perform to the best of their ability.
Teachers are expected to evaluate student
progress on a regular basis. Students will
be given quizzes or tests regularly. After
the test is graded, it will be sent home for
the parent to review and sign. Parent
signature indicates that the parent is aware
of the student's progress. If a parent does
not receive quizzes or tests to sign, the
parent should contact the teacher.
Homework is an essential part of the
instructional program and reinforces
learning. It serves as a means for
clarifying and reviewing material learned in
class, for providing motivation and
opportunity for individual growth, and for
creating experiences of in-depth study and
supplementary reading.
The time allotments for homework
(written and study) are as
Grades Pre-K & K
15 minutes
Grades 1 & 2
30 minutes
Grades 3 & 4
45 minutes
Grades 5 & 6
90 minutes
Grades 7 & 8
120 minutes
Students are required to complete all
homework and it is expected that parents or
guardians sign the completed homework, and
check all work completed on a daily basis.
Grades and Grading
Report cards are distributed four times a
year for Grades 1 to 8. Pre-K and
Kindergarten report cards are distributed
twice a year. The report card is a link
between the school and the home.
Academic Achievement
The first part of the Archdiocesan Report
Card is used to mark the student's
achievement in academic subjects.
The achievement mark is based
upon the demonstration of
mastery of material covered in
class such as:
class work
daily quizzes
unit tests
comprehensive examinations and
special projects
The June grade on the report card is an
average of the four previous record card
grades. This grade will be recorded on the
student's permanent record card.
Numerical marks are recorded on report
cards for Grades 1 – 8
Passing is any mark 70% or above for
Grades 1 – 8
The conduct/effort mark is
placed under Character Development as a
"Conduct Grade". This mark indicates that
the student
1) follows class and school
2) shows care in the use of personal
3) treats teachers with respect,
4) treats other students with respect,
5) exercises self-control,
6) listens attentively,
7) uses technology appropriately.


text:
Most of our city administrators work a four day week. City hall is closed on Fridays.
Monday is a holiday.
City council meets on Tuesday at 8 AM.
If you want to talk to a city representative or the mayor about an agenda item you are just out of luck.
The official reason for not working on Fridays was that the city hall building that they destroyed was expensive to run and they could save money by closing on Fridays.
Now city functions are spread among several buildings but they continue to close on Fridays.
We deserve better


text:
This is a new series of poetry it will be complete with photographs of the garden as well as paintings. The premise of this collection is the idea of a garden, it has been the escape that I needed during darker times and it is symbolic of how I see life. There are many regular plants that I plant every year and they all have some sort of symbolic significance. The reason I started gardening in the first place was to attract wildlife, than it was to learn for the subjects in my painting and finally it was for peace and calm. Nature has always been a significant part of my creativity and this is the culmination of the experiences that surround a gardener soothed and haunted by nature.
I will create a final post and most likely a self published book the near future when it is complete.
Bird song 1
I love the sound of the wren
It sings
Excited swirls of notes from high to low
And back
Barely seen
The streaming tones
Through deep green leaves
But still
The mourning dove
Keeps me still
Keeps me remembering
The sadness
The end of summer
Calm and pensive
It doesn't sing
It hums
Much like the cicada
Much like the breath of a late summer day
But I seek out the wren
I seek out its beautiful sound
in hope that it will…sing again
An Absence
I was feeling absence beneath the shadows
Of trees
I was barely a presence
Among the dragonflies
And flies
I was barely flesh, barely bone
Amidst the primevial moment
Where the garden became
Its' tender
Out of my reach
The dying leaves
The starving thirsting
Bend and meet the ground
I can't save them
I can barely walk
In the stagnant heat
And all my expectations
Seem like rain
In late August heat
The gardener
With hands so hopeful
Now watch the harvest
Despite his careful tending
Wilting buds
And rotten plums
The flies take everything
Nothing goes to waste
But I was hoping, perhaps ideally
Hopes that I might not hang on that perilous steel,
The thorn
Borrowed from the fence row
He cleans the field
Death is all around us
In the grasses
Beneath the clouds
Hope that I might never go to waste
The long steel ropes
Across the field
Keeps my eyes to the ground
Quiet among the things that do not speak
Keep us close to the ground
And never make a sound
Keep us tight to the thorn
Devoured by this oppressive summer day
Exhausted the breath
The embrace of a silver thorn
Hope that I might not be a casualty
That my life should mean something more…
Passionvine in Bloom
The passionvine entwines
The fence
Hope it reminds me
Why I'm here
The perilous stamens
The sweet mystique
A flower that barely blooms
But can not hide its fragrance
Hope that autumn is coming soon
Sleep silent in the ground
Roots remembering its beauty
Waiting for the next summer day
That it might once again
Be seen
That way
Cassia Alata
The candlestick plant
A light but no flame
Rise out of the ground
To fall again
When the ground is frozen
Leaving seeds
Just memories
To barter in the spring
So much work to grow these amazing spires
Rise and meet the heat of a summer day
No reluctance
For suffering
No penance beneath the stagnant air
No water
No special attention
Look next summer when there's nothing left to save
The seed will find its way
A candle in the darkness
A beautiful yellow light,
its only flame


text:
It's the holiday season, and the last thing I'm going to do is give you a list of 20 things you need to do to be less stressed. Realistically, I know that would ultimately cause you more stress because you wouldn't be able to squeeze them all in! I'm also not going to suggest you do anything that's going to require that you go to a class, get special food, sit for hours in meditation or anything that needs to be added to your already full plate!
3 ways to lower your stress hormones using only your mind
If you have a mind, and if you have thoughts, you can lower your stress. So why would you want to lower your stress and the main stress hormones in the first place?
Cortisol is the primary hormone that is released when you are under stress. It is a good thing to have when you need to fight or run away from a lion, but the problem is that for must of us, we never switch out of the chronically stressed mode. The bottom line about this is that it wreaks havoc on the health of our bodies, brains, and spirits and causes nothing but trouble.
Cortisol is the hormone that governs your hunger cravings, digestion, blood pressure, sleep/wake patterns, physical activity and capacity to cope with stress. This is all described in more depth by Sara Gottfried, MD in her book, "The Hormone Cure". Recognizing what cortisol regulates it's not surprising that when it's out of whack, lot's of problems are created. We all know that feeling stressed, and everything that goes along with it is no picnic.
You do have a choice to do something about it! The 3 things I'm going to describe are all proven ways to lower your stress hormone, cortisol, and leave you feeling more peaceful and less frazzled. They also happen to be 3 of my go-to mind tools to deal with stress throughout the day and don't require any time.
The 1st power tool is the BREATH to regulate the stress response. The Breath is the trigger that switches you from the stress response back into balance where you feel better, your brain works well and your body is functioning well. When we're stressed, our breathing gets shallow and rapid.
Taking a few breathing breaks throughout the day, to become aware of our breath and focus on long, slow, deep breaths lowers our stress. It's hard to believe that something so simple could be so powerful, but it is. To do it, focus on breathing in fully, expanding your chest as you inhale for the count of 4, holding it at the top for 1-2 seconds and then exhaling fully through your nose for the count of 4. You can adjust this number to whatever feels comfortable. Repeat this several times and then carry on with your day. You can do this anywhere, anytime!
The second power tool is living in a state of GRATITUDE where you're consciously reminding yourself to say, "thank you". Did you realize that when you focus on what you're grateful for, even in the middle of a crisis, you are able to lower your cortisol?
Practice reviewing what you're grateful for first thing in the morning, at least once throughout the day, and then again when you're going to sleep at night. Imagine the difference between waking up in the morning and thinking about what a lousy day you're going to have as compared to focusing on the things you're grateful for, like a warm bed, a comfy pillow, the smell of coffee, the sunrise. The key is to not just think about it, but also feel the gratitude. What you focus on expands and you will draw into your life, even more, things to be grateful for, while at the same time lowering your stress hormones.
The 3rd power tool is the practice of FORGIVENESS. Sara Gottfried MD, in her book, The Hormone Cure, explains how "harboring resentment ages you and raises your cortisol." In my previous post, Forgiveness is All About Me I described how you can repeat 4 simple statements whenever you're feeling irritated, judgmental, angry or resentful. You don't need to set time aside, you just silently repeat the mantra in the moment, and what follows is amazing. A friend of mine talked about the road rage he experiences towards people in traffic and has found the mantra really powerful at shifting his energy and ultimately lowering his stress levels. At the end of the day, we're the ones that suffer the consequences when we don't forgive while the other person goes about their life.
Practice conscious breathing, gratitude, and forgiveness on a daily basis and you have the ingredients for a healthier and happier, body, mind and soul.


text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69689570356631348042018-08-28T09:47:41.590+02:00Wile E. Coyote's blogIf you want to spy my life, be my guest!Wile E. Coyotehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-79219686153465109632014-12-26T11:39:00.000+01:002014-12-26T11:41:13.192+01:00At final...
...end of not so happy year is coming. I hope next year will be better...
Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-14957160118684062612013-11-20T13:39:00.001+01:002013-11-20T13:39:57.409+01:00Uh-oh...
...I think I should write something here...
Wile E. Coyotehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-33778470866461182172013-01-30T09:09:00.000+01:002013-01-30T09:10:34.184+01:00Some thoughts about Internet...
Fact, that Internet made whole world a global village, is known to everybody. Today I want to share some happenings on Facebook.

I made Facebook account several years ago, because I needed it for job I did in that time. I was website webmaster at that time. I needed pictures to put them on website, so I made FB account and linked it with customer. Simply and usual thing, like many people do.

Now I'm not on this job, but FB account remained. But, funny things became to happen: many people I knew sent me friendship requests. There were people I haven't seen and I haven't heard nothing for 30 years and more! And people say that FB is big loose of time. Partially I agree, but in some cases, it might be useful... :)

World really became global village...
Wile E. Coyotehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-726842598672380082012-09-13T16:30:00.001+02:002012-09-13T16:30:10.606+02:00Mwahahahaha!!!
I didn't post here two years!!! Very strange, and very funny! It seems that nothing important happened in my life. No, secret answer is totally different. I just forgot this blog...
Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-59658106397237887292010-07-09T22:35:00.001+02:002010-07-09T22:35:37.408+02:00I was on surgery interventionCouple months ago huge hernia appeared on my groin. I had problem and pain during walking. I went to doctor and he sent me to hospital. Intervention was on monday, and yesterday I went out of hospital. Now any physical activity is forbidden to me, and I'll have more time to have fun...

That's it, as much as older you are, you have more medical problems...Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-25186011956023608552010-04-01T11:53:00.001+02:002010-04-01T13:18:52.492+02:00Inferno in my appartmentMe and my family were very close to death in the night between Saturday and Sunday. We had fire in the apartment, but luckily got alive.

Like almost every evening, at the midnight we started dishwasher, laundry washer and went to sleep (from the midnight electricity is much cheaper than during the day and all people are doing that). About 1.00 strange smell woke me up. I got off the bed and went to see what's going on. I saw smoke in ante room. I opened kitchen door and see flames from the kitchen. I quickly closed door, woke up wife and son and told to them to get out of the appartment. Then I jumped to fuse box and cut off the electricity. I opened all windows except kitchen window, because it was inaccessible because of fire and smoke. I was so excited, so I forgot to call firefighters and I called police instead to report fire, but they sent firefighters, and they came very quickly. In the meantime, fire spent all oxygen in the kitchen and fire stopped, so they not needed to use hoses and water, they only opened kitchen window to let smoke out. Result of fire was destroyed dishwasher (it was totally burned, all plastic parts were melted), burned kitchen sink and kitchen door, and all in the kitchen was covered with soot. I had to buy new sink and remove all paint from walls, ceiling, kitchen door and kitchen window and repaint them again. I even had to remove soot between ceramic tiles (I used sandpaper).

Firefighters told me that fire started from dishwasher and that we were so lucky because I wasn't able to open kitchen window. In that case, fire would expand to all counters, they could use water to extinguish fire and damage could be much bigger. Of course, it was a big luck that smoke woke me up, otherwise we could be suffocated and dead.

We still have big mess in the appartment. We washed all counters, dining table and chairs (we have kitchen and dining room in one room), stove and refrigerator (I almost had to dismantle them to clean all from inside), and we have a bunch of dishes covered with soot (and we must to wash them by hand, because now we don't have dishwasher). Whole kitchen has smoke smell and now I only have to hope that will stale with time.Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-35097409169965904292010-03-24T18:54:00.001+01:002010-03-24T18:54:53.392+01:00Very funny thing......is that spambot tried to spam in post about spambots. LOL!Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-16491121164719251232010-03-24T09:36:00.002+01:002010-03-24T09:36:50.538+01:00More working in appartment...Few mor works in appartment are over. Just a little bit, and all will be finished... :)Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-49292714130949585792010-02-07T15:03:00.002+01:002010-02-07T15:04:26.578+01:00Stupid spambots! >:(I have spambots which are spamming post from 2008!!! At the end I deleted that post because I had two spam attacks on it...Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-43527484429945091512010-01-28T15:22:00.002+01:002010-01-28T15:24:16.799+01:00Happy birthday (again!) :)It seems I blog only when it's my birthday, LOL! But here comes another... Now I don't tell you which in row, LOL!!! Stay tuned...Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-65895342798868891902010-01-20T11:18:00.002+01:002010-01-28T15:21:44.829+01:00Happy hollidays!!! :)Well, new year came and hollidays are over. I haven't posted here for a long time, now let's see what new year will bring. I hope good things will come in future...Wile E. Coyotehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-85276630112479241512009-03-05T10:09:00.002+01:002009-03-05T10:11:09.443+01:00New train models...I went to train models market (it's held once a month in Belgrade) and bought some model trains. :) Now I allmost completed all what I need to build scenic layout. Just waiting nice weather to start...Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-72519066554318214032009-01-28T22:39:00.001+01:002009-01-28T22:40:27.433+01:00Happy birthday to me... :)40th... I entered in fifth decade... Nobody is old if not feels old... I'll by as present for me some model trains. :)Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-41562855798579305872009-01-07T21:26:00.001+01:002009-01-07T21:29:10.754+01:00Hollidays!!! :)New year, and today it's Christmass... Nice mood is bigger due to fact that this is first Chrismass in our own appartment... There was a little bit of snow, so whole atmosphere was nice...Wile E. Coyotehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-1792028315000179042008-12-03T12:38:00.002+01:002008-12-03T12:41:08.414+01:00I moved, I moved... :)))Finally, all works (or, TBH, most of works) are done, and we moved to our own appartment!!! :) Few more little things left to be done, but we should live in our place... Now we are surrounded with bunch of boxes and bags, there will be needed time to unpack, but nobody will rush us now... :)Wile E. Coyotehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-1768790772983992572008-10-22T13:56:00.001+02:002008-10-22T14:02:33.803+02:00At final......I finished all procedures for taking loan for buying appartment!!! :) Next step is to renew it, and then to move, but big step is done... :)Wile E. Coyotehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-91577423552726576232008-08-25T13:00:00.002+02:002008-08-25T13:02:40.653+02:00I was pushed to 3d world......and to finish aircraft set for TTD I paused long time ago! Now I'll try to make models in 3d and then render them to make graphics... Some I've got allready, so expect new GRF in future... :)Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-33309775160245581792008-08-14T12:37:00.002+02:002008-08-15T09:00:12.419+02:00Awful heat again... :(Where to hide from allmost 40 degrees heat? :(Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-7477746872011244672008-08-06T13:49:00.002+02:002008-08-06T13:51:58.324+02:00Life is better when it's not hot :)What a nice day today! Light wind is blowing, and life is much better... Yesterday was awful, it was hot and moisture in air was enormous... I finished bunch of job, and now I'm sitting in office, listening good music and waiting to go home... :)Wile E. Coyotehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-88181520815532665892008-07-30T12:26:00.002+02:002008-07-30T12:29:30.035+02:00Time to add something new here...I can't believe I forgot to add news to blog for such a long time! Total madness!!! I must update this blog more...Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-22549663824733651482007-01-29T14:18:00.000+01:002007-01-29T14:22:12.826+01:00My birthday!January 27th. St. Sava. My birthday! Now I'm 38. Time flies...

I got some presents (some cosmetics, some money, I'll buy some new clothes) and had good time. I had two cakes: pineapple cake, and my favourite - dobos cake!

Slowly, but surely, I'm going to end of 4th decade. Strange...Wile E. Coyotehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-1946738801936696362007-01-12T16:05:00.000+01:002007-01-12T16:08:59.441+01:00Again (Finally!)Something weird happened, I couldn't log into Blogger, but it seems all is OK now (or I hope so...)

So, here is my Christmass blog which I couldn't post succesfully till today:

Merry Christmass for all who celebrates it today!!!

There are two days when I am in special mood, Christmass is coming!
We had festal lunch, all with fish (altough I don't like fish too much!). In evening we burned Christmass oak branch and watched very nice fireworks. We went to nephew, he's now 18 (and, then, he's adult now!), and he's big TTD fan.

I bought for Christmass HP Photosmart E427 digital camera, 6,0 mpix, 5x zoom, with 1 GB memory card, batteries and charger for only 150 EUR.

Looking forward to New Year, which comes on January 14th...Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-64725565586923875312006-12-11T11:29:00.000+01:002006-12-11T11:32:12.338+01:00I was very busy...... and that state continues! I wasn't at home allmost whole weekend, walking and visiting family and friends, today I'm going to visit too, tomorrow I must drive car to mechanic, at next weekeng we go to wedding... no time to work for TTD at all!Wile E. Coyotehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-17422101837511729902006-11-29T10:45:00.000+01:002006-11-29T10:50:59.376+01:00Again in BelgradeYesterday I was on terrain in Krusevac. It was so scarry to see fog during allmost whole journey... somewhere you've seen only few meters of road! Brr... Thanx God, all past OK.
This morning I watched volleyball match. We lose against Poland, but we qualified to semifinal. Hope this time we'll win medal! Last time we took unlucky 4th place.
Now I'm in office (as usual in this time of day)... Luckily not so much job. Looking forward to go home and take a rest.Wile E. Coyotehttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968957035663134804.post-43654236274483602572006-11-27T10:13:00.000+01:002006-11-27T10:18:41.845+01:00Weekend is past......and I'm back at work now. I had good weekend: watching volleyball, playing football, walking, good recreation, and started to code French set (I was in beeter mood for coding than drawing, and did good job). Now, let's go to new working victories!Wile E. Coyotehttp://firstname.lastname@example.com


text: Land Lubber Cutlass Published on June 7, 2011November 1, 2014 by AAAPirate Blacksmith You can see the PriceSmith and Jolly Roger etch. Less visible is the subtable lightening etch that covers most of it's large blade. The horseshoe probably came from my grandfathers ol' horse RoyalBoy. A fine horse. –Greg Share this:TwitterFacebookPinterestTumblrRedditLinkedInLike this:Like Loading... Related


text:
There has recently been more activity which encourages business startups among military transitioners.
Two weeks ago, we posted information and perspective on The Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Act. Authors of the bill are attempting to pass legislation which would allow veterans to use benefits from their Post-9/11 G.I. Bill as collateral to start-up a business.
I have weighed in on this initiative previously saying, "I like the support for veterans and intent the bill provides, but execution should come from the private – or business – sector, not a government agency."
Business startup activity in the transition sector of the military is a fascinating topic that I would like to continue covering. It is a subject that is relevant for the global economy and is not limited exclusively to the U.S. A few years ago there was a very good book written by Dan Senor and Saul Singer on Israel's miraculous growth into the global economy called Start-Up Nation. The centerpiece of Israel's success was how they effectively transitioned military officers into entrepreneurial ventures. I wrote a series of posts at the time about the book, which you can review here.
Given my interest in this area and its relevance among military transitioners today, I promise to shed more light on the topic from time to time. Today, I would like to start with an important question, "When is the right time to start a business?"
According to research The Guardian reviewed for an article, the average ages to start a company are 47 years old in the UK and 40 years old in the United States.
Here are summaries – by decade – the report provides as reasons why the 40s are prime time for launching a startup:
> 20s – Decade is characterized by uncertainty and debt; lack of experience makes startups risky.
> 30s – An era of commitment to careers, children and mortgages.
> 40s – A time when you have financial security and business experience. You know what you want in your life and career, and what things you excel at doing. You also understand your shortfalls, which allows you to delegate effectively. You have learned from mistakes and established great networks, which build upon the reputation
you've earned from working in an industry. Networks will help you open doors to operational resources and capital. Finally, you enough energy and passion to persist and succeed.
Please understand that these are simply guidelines for the right time to start a business. Obviously, there are exceptions and other attributes which can determine when someone becomes an entrepreneur. See 12 Facts About Entrepreneurs That Will Likely Surprise You.
The takeaway here is for veterans to continue being self-directed in all areas of starting up a business. This includes, but is by no means limited to the right time to start a company. Also, veterans should not "buy foolishly into" government initiatives and support without gathering unbiased data and intel to make a decision. This is because our government and its agencies seem to be ignoring real facts about startups from sources such as Forbes who estimate that 80-90% of all small businesses fail. Furthermore, access to government funding and SBA agency involvement will in no way insure success in startup business for veterans. If you're serious about starting a business you should be optimistic but take these realities and sensibilities into account.
Please stay connected and refer other military to my blog as I will try to cover more facts and important aspects of start-up businesses for veterans in future posts.


text:
By Peter Damerow
The writer of this ebook is affiliated with the heart for improvement and Socialization of the Max Planck Institute for Human improvement and Ed ucation in Berlin and heads its software on tradition and cognition which de votes its labors to the reconstruction of clinical options via background in a point of view of what should be referred to as "historical epistemology." he's additionally a member of a similar learn workforce within the newly based Max Planck Institute for the heritage of technology in Berlin. might be this double association throws a few gentle at the scope of Damerow's medical pursuits. In any occasion it's going to clarify why representatives of either those associations take part an attempt to introduce Peter Damerow's writings to an English talking audi ence. Damerow's scholarship levels throughout extensively various components together with philosophy and historical past of technological know-how, psychology, and schooling. between his fields of craftsmanship are the emergence of writing, early Babylonian mathe matics, the historical past of mathematics, the connection among natural and utilized arithmetic, the idea and strategies of arithmetic guideline, the tran sition from preclassical to classical mechanics, and the heritage and conception of relativity.
Read or Download Abstraction and Representation: Essays on the Cultural Evolution of Thinking PDF
Best epistemology books
Information and Knowledge: A Constructive Type-theoretical Approach
This publication develops a philosophical and logical interpretation of the concept that of knowledge in the formal constitution of confident style concept (CTT), in a fashion concurrent with a various variety of up to date views at the philosophy of data. It provides a newly formulated and conceptually constructed presentation of the matter of Analyticity, and a brand new fascinating viewpoint at the confident interpretation of data methods.
Gadamer and Ricoeur: Critical Horizons for Contemporary Hermeneutics
Hans-Georg Gadamer and Paul Ricoeur have been of an important hermeneutical philosophers of the 20 th century. Gadamer single-handedly revived hermeneutics as a philosophical box together with his many essays and his masterpiece, fact and technique. Ricoeur famously mediated the Gadamer-Habermas debate and complex his personal hermeneutical philosophy via a few books addressing social idea, faith, psychoanalysis and political philosophy.
Ludwig Wittgenstein--a cultural point of view : philosophy in the darkness of this time
Within the preface to his "Philosophical Investigations" Ludwig Wittgenstein expresses pessimism concerning the tradition of his time and doubts as to if his principles will be understood in one of these time: 'I lead them to public with uncertain emotions. it's not most unlikely that it may fall to the lot of this paintings, in its poverty and within the darkness of this time, to convey mild into one mind or one other - yet, after all, it isn't likely'.
- Language, Thought, and Other Biological Categories
- Aquinas's theory of perception: an analytic reconstruction
- Ontology, Conceptualization and Epistemology for Information Systems, Software Engineering and Service Science: 4th International Workshop, ONTOSE 2010, held at CAiSE 2010, Hammamet, Tunisia, June 7-8, 2010, Revised Selected Papers
- The Essential Galileo
- Handbook of Epistemology
- The Facts of Causation (International Library of Philosophy)
Additional info for Abstraction and Representation: Essays on the Cultural Evolution of Thinking
Sample text
The transition of the logic of being to the logic of essence is, however, not characterized by the addition of thought to intuition; being determines itself as essence. The process of determining changes itself by means of itself. " This, therefore, represents a theory of the transition to thought and its logical forms similar to Piaget's theory in which thought-based on the biological theory of development-is understood as the highest developmental stage of differentiating forms of self-regulation.
Accordingly, Hegel does not identify the immediacy with its sensori-material origin and mediation with sensori-material activity. For that reason there is no comparable formulation in his logic except in comments and explanatory passages. However, leaving aside this specific difference of the formulation I chose with regard to Hegel's argumentation, it still does not do justice to Hegel's concept ofreflection in another respect. With the pair of concepts undifferentiated versus differentiated applied to the sensory givens and mediating activity the process of development is captured only externally and the decisive moment of self-determination in the development of being into essence is omitted.
It goes without saying that this contradiction itself is reflected in consciousness. According to the Piagetian theory, too, the sensory given and mediating action must, in this sense, be understood as both differentiated and undifferentiated in consciousness at the developmental level of sensorimotor intelligence. External reflection on the thinking of the child can perceive them as differentiated and realize that, in this thinking, they are undifferentiated in terms of logical categories. Piaget describes this contradictory situation of consciousness as a situation of the repression of facts for logical reasons: "In the first place, the part of an action the subject retains in his conceptualization of it, or in other words what he centers on and overestimates, is what he was able to assimilate and to understand from the beginning ....


text:
Can A Shed Add Value To Your Home?
For someone wanting to add value to your home, doing it by adding a shed is a great idea. With a shed, you can add the extra storage you need for your gardening and lawn equipment or you can use it to house your holiday decorations. There are much more uses for a shed, but does it add value to your home?
- By having your home valued, you may not come to know the worth of your shed. However, if you have a well-built shed by using proper plans, it can increase the value of your estate.
- If you're building an outdoor shed with an eye to increasing its value, ensure that you build a big and a good quality outdoor shed which will also give you a higher interest and a better price from a serious buyer.
- The added value a shed brings to a home depends on several elements, one being the condition of the outdoor shed. If you want to put up a shed in your yard, your best bet is a plastic shed, chiefly because of the durability aspect of plastic and the fact that they require little or no maintenance. And, you can have your shed up and run in virtually no time at all: Just buy it and set it up wherever in your yard you want it. It neither requires any assembly nor construction.
- An outdoor shed can also increase your home's value if it is professional-looking and blends with the landscaping of your home.
- All potential home buyers, whether male or female, could do with some extra space for storage–whether they store garden equipment, a boat or any other stuff.
- By having extra storage, doesn't necessarily increase the value of your home, but it certainly boosts its marketability because of the convenience that a shed provides. Because of this convenience factor, you can also mark up your selling price of the house just a bit more.
- You can also build a storage shed with the sole intention of renting it out as a standalone home.
- Again, to increase the value of your estate, it's best to have a wooden shed because this is the highest in value. Don't have a metal shed, but definitely, have it painted in colors that complement those of your home so they look like they belong together.
Factors of a shed that can decrease your property's value:
- A dilapidated shed, on the other hand, will detract from your home's true value.
- If you have several sheds that aren't symmetrical or don't look as if they belong in your home, they will only take away from the value of your home. So, ensure that your shed(s) stay in good condition and serve a specific purpose. If you have broken windows or chipped paint, attend to it immediately. By maintaining it well, you can add years to it and value to your overall property.
Benefits: Having a shed on your property can give you extra storage space, allow you to set up a workshop space, or even a gym and help you be organized with supplies that you might need. The benefits of a shed are numerous, so go out and build one for yourself.
Author Bio: Manisha Kumar is a blogger and editor of thebasicwoodworking.com. She has been a writer for more than twelve years now and also has the passion for golf.


text:
Tuberous begonias (Begonia Tuberhybrida Hybrids) are among the most spectacular of all begonias but they are also the most difficult to grow. But, if you don't mind a challenge (these plants are definitely hobbyist plants), the results can be very rewarding.
Tuberous begonias are usually grown in pots, but there are also hanging basket varieties. These come from the original South American species but tend to be much easier to grow than other forms as they require less training (they are naturally pendulous) and are more tolerant of unsatisfactory conditions (including heat and humidity). These can be used as patio or fernery plants.
Plants can be grown either from seed or from tubers but in Australia are mainly grown from tubers. Planting a tuber of a named variety will guarantee that you will grow the same variety.
Begonias originated as rainforest plants in South America where they are now considered endangered in the wild. The name 'begonia' was given to this genus to honour Michel Begon (1638-1710), an amateur French botanist who collected begonias from Santo Domingo while stationed there with the French navy. Tuberous begonias were discovered later by an Englishman, Richard Pearce, in 1864.
Best climate
Tuberous begonias prefer a mild summer climate and are totally intolerant of high temperatures or very high humidity levels. The ideal conditions for tuberous begonias are areas where evening temperatures do not fall below 15°C and where day temperatures are less than 27°C (on average).
The best areas in Australia to grow tuberous begonias are Tasmania, south-eastern Australia (for example Ballarat in Victoria, where we filmed), the mild coastal areas of southern New South Wales, and cooler elevated areas such as the Blue Mountains.
Avid hobbyists have been known to attempt to grow tuberous begonias in areas such as Perth, Sydney and even Brisbane but these plants are a definite challenge in these warm climates.
Growing conditions
Begonias can be grown in a sheltered shadehouse, on a veranda, in a sun room, or on a window ledge. They are not glasshouse plants (although they are grown this way at Ballarat) as glasshouses become too hot in summer. In Ballarat summer cooling is needed in the begonia glasshouses.
Tuberous begonias grow best in partial shade or filtered sunlight. Exposure to excessive sunlight can result in burnt flowers and leaves. Too much shade results in foliage that is very lush with few flowers.
Growers recommend shade when the sun exceeds 50,000 lux. As full summer sun in Australia is 110,000 lux this means 50% shadecloth would be required in most areas. Normal interior light levels measure around 500 lux.
To assess the light levels at your place you need a camera with a light meter. With the camera set on 200 ASA and the shutter speed set at 1/125th second adjust the aperture (f-stop) as if you are taking a picture. You will get the following readings. With this system, a reading of F8 will give the best light levels to grow tuberous begonias.
- F2.8 = 3200 lux
- F4 = 6400 lux
- F5.6 = 12,500 lux
- F8 = 50,000 lux
- F16 = 100,000 lux
Size and types
Tuberous begonias grow to about 30cm (12″) tall but some varieties may reach 60cm (2′). Tuberous begonias are divided into 13 groups based on flower type or habit. They are usually described as singles, doubles, single frilled, daffodil-flowered, camellia-flowered, fimbriata etc based on the shape of the flower.
Flowers and colours
Flower heads consist of one large male flower in the centre and two smaller female flowers at the sides. Some flowers are very large (the size of a dinner plate). The smaller female flowers can detract from the male flower and, unless seed is to be collected, the female flowers can be removed to enhance the male. The males have double flowers and the females a single row of petals. One way of identifying begonias is by the unique sexual arrangement, and the other characteristic is the winged seed pod at the back of the female flower.
A huge range of colours are available including white, cream, yellow, pink, red, orange, scarlet and crimson. There are also bicoloured flowers. There are no blue-flowered tuberous begonias. Some flowers are fragrant.
Flowering is stimulated by daylength. Tuberous begonias will flower when the daylength exceeds 12 hours a day. This means plants will flower from mid December until late April. Most growers delay flowering for at least a month by removing buds. This encourages later but larger flowers. The optimum flowering period is from mid January to late March.
How to grow
By mid winter begonias are dormant. Between mid winter and early spring is the time to repot or plant tuberous begonias.
- Planting: Tubers should be planted concave side up. Choose a pot appropriate to the size of the tuber. Generally this will be a 10cm (4″) pot. The rule of thumb is that you should be able to fit two fingers between the pot and the tuber. Bury the tuber well down in the pot with a generous covering of soil (bury at twice the thickness of the tuber). It is essential to cover the tuber as roots develop from the top and sides. Always use an Australian Standard potting mix. Add some slow-release fertiliser such as Osmocote (3-4 month for flowering plants). Alternatively, water at each watering with a liquid feed applied at full strength.
- Repotting: Hobbyist begonia growers repot their plants when they are around 15cm (6″) high (usually in mid December). The small plants are moved up in to a 15cm (6″) pot. A final repotting is done in late January, just before flowering. Depending on the vigour of the plant a 20cm or 25cm (8″ or 10″) pot is used. Reapply slow release fertiliser at this time.
- Staking: Staking is required as the plant develops to support the flower head. Specially developed stakes, for example extendable wire props, are available from specialist begonia nurseries (listed below).
- Cuttings: The tuber will get bigger from year to year. At four or five years of age the tuber will loose its vigour. It can be kept by taking cuttings, which will strike readily in spring forming a new tuber the following year.
- Watering: Tuberous begonias do not like wet feet. Plants should be saturated and then rewatered when the mix is dry to the touch (probably once a week). Avoid wetting the leaves or flowers when watering.
- Dormancy: By the end of autumn the plant is declining. Experienced growers recommend removing all growing tips in mid April and gradually withdrawing water as day and night temperatures drop below 15°C. At this stage the plant is entering its dormant period. The leaves will yellow and drop. It is important to clean up the mess of fallen leaves and stems to reduce the chance of fungal disease. By late June or mid July the plant is fully dormant and the potting soil very dry. Remove the tuber from its pot, shake off soil and allow to dry out on paper. The tuber is stored in dry mix in a dark cupboard until it is replanted after about eight weeks (usually in early September). The tuber should be stored at around 15°C and must not be exposed to frost.
- Basket types: Naturally pendulous forms are best grown in hanging baskets. These are grown in the same way as the pot forms but as each tuber is slightly smaller three tubers are needed to fill a 20cm (8″) basket. No staking is required.
Tubers will rot if they are too wet prior to planting. Keep them in an airy cool place over winter (do not expose to frost). Plants can also rot if over-watered. Powdery mildew (a white powder that forms on the leaves) can be caused by bad ventilation. Improve the air circulation or spray with Bayleton as a preventative measure.
The following varieties are recommended by an experienced grower as being easy to grow and good for beginners:
- Allan Langdon – red
- Bernat Klein – white
- Can Can – yellow with red edge
- Ninette – pale pink
- Sea Coral – apricot
The following varieties were filmed as part of Evan Hines' begonia collection in Ballarat:
- Elaine Tartellin – rose pink
- Scarbelle – small, bright, scarlet pendulous flowers
- Roy Hartley – mid-soft pink
- Sugar Candy – pink
An easier form of tuberous begonia are the so-called 'Nonstops', F1 hybrids which can be grown as bedding or patio plants. Nonstops are a cross between the multiflora type of tuberous begonia and some larger-flowered forms.
These plants are commercially available although not widely grown. Your nursery should be able to order plants for you (enquire at your nursery in June for spring planting as June is the optimum time to plant Nonstop seeds).
Nonstops are planted in the garden in late spring (November) in rich, well-drained soil which contains plenty of well rotted organic matter (such as compost). They will grow in warmer areas (for example Sydney) if given protection from hot afternoon sun. As with normal tuberous begonias the Nonstops are dormant in winter. At this time the tubers can be lifted, checked and replanted. If grown for a bedding display, the bed could be planted out with polyanthus in winter while the begonias are dormant.
Cost and availability
Tuberous begonias can be purchased in flower from your local nursery or florist for around $25 in flower. They can also be purchased from the following specialist nurseries (tubers are posted out each winter around August):
- Begonia City Nursery, Wendoree, VIC, 3355. Phone: (03) 5339 2055. Named flowering plants around $20; Nonstop tubers start at $3.95.
- Willsmores Begonia Farm, PO Box 280, Myponga, SA, 5202. Phone: (08) 8558 6217. Seedlings start around $4.50 each, the named tubers vary in price for each variety. Write or phone for a mail order catalogue. This nursery has named more than 24 Australian hybrids.
Further information
For more information on begonias contact the Begonia Society in your state.
The NSW Begonia Society
c/- Mrs Jean Whitten
15 Carlo Close
Kincumber 2251
Phone: (02) 4369 2967
The Queensland Begonia Society
c/- Peter Henderson
79 Chuter Street
Stafford 4053
Phone: (07) 3359 4319
The South Australian Begonia Society
c/- Myrnie Jennings
4 Kinnaird Crescent
Highbury 5089
Phone: (08) 8264 6490
The Victorian Begonia Society
c/- Mr Phil Wright
74 Railway Place
Macedon 3440
Phone: (03) 5426 1298
The Begonia Society of Western Australia
c/- Lyla Kilpatrick
Lot 17 Marri Park Drive
Casuarina 6167
Phone: (08) 9439 3173
Further reading
- Growing Begonias by Peter G. Sharp (Kangaroo Press), rrp $19.95. ISBN 0-86417-933
- Both tthe following books are out of print but may be found at your local library).
- Growing Begonias by Eric Catterall (Timber Press, USA). Although an English book, it has good details and illustrations and is a useful reference.
- Know Your Begonias by Jack Krempin (1994). This book is well illustrated and can be used as a guide for identifying varieties.


text:
Posts Tagged 'Avery Dennison'
Wrap King steps down from his throne
Nick Caminiti, the reigning 'King of the Wrap World', will not contest this year's Wrap Like a King competition. Entries are now open for the vehicle wrapping championship with a total prize pool of more than US$30,000 (AU$40,470).
Caminiti from Melbourne's Exotic Graphix, who won the last two competitions in a row, is yielding the crown to new contenders so he can focus on his business at home and put his best foot forward with his next entry. "With where we're at right now, it'd be a huge commitment for us," he said. "We want to put a plan in place for when we do it next time to really make sure we better ourselves, and not just jump in at the last minute. I'm excited to see what everyone else brings to the table."
He encourages Australian vehicle wrappers to enter what he describes as a great competition. "It was perfect for our business and our team. You have the freedom to explore new ideas that you wouldn't get to explore in day-to-day jobs."
Sponsored by Avery Dennison, the Wrap Like a King competition brings together wrappers from all over the world, including Australia and New Zealand since 2016. According to Jordan Leach, business manager at Avery Dennison, Caminiti's example has been great for showing off what local wrappers can do. "Australia and New Zealand have blown away the competition since the region was added to Wrap Like A King two years ago and we can't wait to see even more astonishing creativity this year," he said. "We look forward to once again demonstrating this region's commitment to innovation on a global scale."
More details are available at the Wrap Like a King website.
Reducing label waste is worth it, says L'Oreal
Label materials supplier Avery Dennison has teamed up with beauty company L'Oreal and waste management firm Wasteflex in an effort to eliminate liner waste from L'Oreal's production chain.
Currently, close to 300 million square metres of liner enters unsustainable landfills in Oceania each year, mostly made up of PET film, glassine paper, and polypropylene products. Avery Dennison's liner recycling program diverts glassine paper from landfills and turns it into new products, which, according to Anil K. Sharma, vice president and general manager for label and graphic materials at Avery Dennison, supports the company's sustainability goals. "As a materials science innovator committed to making a meaningful difference, we see sustainability as both a responsibility and an opportunity to lead. With our liner recycling program, brands now have a solution that will enable them to reduce the environmental impact from discarded label liner waste," said Sharma.
Avery Dennison undertook a similar initiative with Coca-Cola in the UK in 2015, turning waste PET label liner from Smart Water bottles into recycled plastic products. According to Marcel Cote, strategic marketing director, Avery Dennison, programs like these are good for customers as well as the company itself. "As the pioneer of the pressure-sensitive label industry, Avery Dennison has always focused on helping customers and brand owners achieve their goals by delivering label materials that can elevate brands, improve productivity and help products become more sustainable," he said. "With the launch of our Avery Dennison Liner Recycling Service, we can offer a sustainable solution to divert glassine paper liner from landfills and into recycled paper products."
Spandex wrap workshop at Brad Jones Racing
Spandex Asia-Pacific, in partnership with Avery Dennison, is hosting an advanced vehicle wrapping workshop at the Albury, NSW headquarters of V8 Supercar specialists Brad Jones Racing (BJR).
"Nothing compares to the look of a fully wrapped V8 Supercar," said Spandex marketing manager Nathan Barclay, "so this is a great place to learn advanced skills in vehicle wrapping such as surface preparation, overlaminating, compound curves and deep recesses. We may not be wrapping actual V8 Supercars but the inspiration is there."
To qualify for attending the advanced Spandex-Avery Dennison course, delegates must have completed the introductory vehicle application techniques course; or have their wrapping skills otherwise verified.
Brad Jones hit the racing spotlight in the 1990s with five successive Championship wins in the AUSCAR series, followed by another when AUSCAR joined the international NASCAR circuit.
He capped of his championship wins with two Australian Super Touring gongs driving the legendary Audi Quattro. He retired from competitive driving in 2009 and now concentrates on managing his three Holden team cars, Team BOC, Lockwood Racing and Wilson Security Racing, with his brother Kim and other family members.
The Spandex – Avery Dennison Advanced Vehicle wrapping course takes place in Albury, NSW on September 10th from 8:30am to 4pm. The cost is $225, reducing to $205 for each additional employee from the same company. Refreshments are provided.
An Intermediate vehicle application techniques course also takes place this week on Thursday 15th August at Sandown Raceway, Melbourne and there are still a few places left for latecomers.
Bookings for both courses can be made by calling Spandex Freecall number 1800 683 311 or email to email@example.com.
For more information and other upcoming events, click here to visit the Print21 Calendar.
A cool wrap for Spandex winners
Spandex is lending a little bit of 'cool' to its Avery Dennison product range after shipping the first five custom-wrapped fridges to winners of a joint Spandex-Avery Dennison promotion.
The designs reflect a diverse range of emotions from retro to patriotic, with every fridge unique. The first five winners were announced in June, with five more to be announced towards the end of July.
"The odds of winning one of these custom-wrapped fridges must be very good, " says Nathan Barclay, Spandex marketing manager. " We are giving away five every month up until September and all that is required is a purchase of any Avery Dennison product. If the order is over $300 in value, two entries are awarded; it couldn't be simpler and there is still time for July's draw entrants!"
In what must be the 'coolest' supplier promotion of 2013, winners receive a 240 litre Westinghouse refrigerator, hand-wrapped in stunning graphics using Avery Dennison materials.
If you wan to enter the competition, click here.
Spandex teams up with Avery Dennison for free vehicle wrapping courses
Spandex Asia Pacific is running 'bolt-on' training courses at selected TAFE Institutes, in conjunction with Avery Dennison, to teach signwriting and graphic arts students the art of vehicle wrapping.
The first 2013 course takes place this week at Orange College of TAFE and draws students from Dubbo, Parkes, Cowra, Canberra and Bathurst. It forms part of the students' Certificate III in Signcraft and also touched on large wall and window graphics.
Wayne Stewart (pictured), signage teacher at Orange College said "This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to work alongside professionals in the art of vehicle wrapping using a vinyl film, which is a growing trend in signage."
The next course scheduled is at Hunter Institute of TAFE, Newcastle in October, with further free TAFE courses planned.
"Vehicle wrapping, whether total or partial, is a booming industry but there is a shortage of sufficiently skilled applicators," says Alex McClelland, Spandex managing director and vice-president for Asia-Pacific. "In supporting TAFE training, Spandex and our material supply partner Avery Dennison, would like to demonstrate our commitment to increasing the pool of skilled labour and also give the students an extra skill to use in the job market. There is no cost to either the TAFE College or the students; we are doing this to support the industry's future."
Spandex Asia-Pacific has branches in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. www.spandex.com.au
Avery Dennison hosts workshops in NZ and Queensland
Avery Dennison will be running two workshops in New Zealand during August and also in Queensland later this year to help broaden the signage and wrap application skills of newcomers to the industry and refresh the skills of those who are not so wet behind the ears.
The company will run its essential application techniques workshop in Christchurch on 29 August, and its advanced vehicle application workshop on 30 August. The workshops will be held in Riccarton, Christchurch. Additionally, the courses will also be run in Banyo, Queensland, on 31 October and 1 November.
While the essential application techniques workshop has been designed for newcomers to the industry, Avery Dennison says the course will even be beneficial to apprentices and experienced print workers who want to refresh their skills. Attendees will be taught about different application processes and how to choose the best products and materials for a job, among many other things
The essential application techniques workshop focuses predominantly on practical training, complimented with a concise theory session, with every workshop being lead by an Avery product and application specialist.
The workshop is designed to give attendees the understanding of different applications including window, wall and an introduction to vehicle graphics, and a thorough comprehension of its alignment with graphic materials available.
The advanced vehicle application workshops is designed to ensure that attendees understand all of the variables involved with vehicle application, and have the confidence to provide customers with a sound and professional product.
The workshop is predominantly hands on training, and will provide knowledge for making the application process quicker and easier, while pointing out the critical areas of importance in this specialised field.
Both courses are full-day events, with the essential application technique workshop being held on 29 August, and the advanced vehicle application workshop on 30 August in Christchurch. For details, click here.


text:
Welcome, Mr. President
Entertaining a commander-in-chief
President Barack Obama greets the Archer family during a fundraiser at the home of Mikal and Tammy Watts.
Photo By Alexis Velasquez
Preparing your home for a neighborly get-together is one thing. Preparing it for the president of the United States? That's on a whole other level. Just ask Mikal Watts, a San Antonio attorney and active member of the Democratic Party who hosted President Barack Obama at his home July 17 as part of his campaign tour.
"I've held a lot of fundraisers at my home, but in terms of preparation, this was different than anything I've ever seen," says Watts, whose good friend Christian Archer, of Adelante Strategy Group, organized the event's logistics. "Secret Service was there for about a week beforehand. They actually had the builder of the property there and were looking at air ducts. They had dogs, snipers and agents everywhere; they shut down the street. It makes you pretty confident in their ability to protect the president."
Watts, who lives in a Mediterranean-style home in the upscale Dominion community, discovered he would be hosting the president in late March. He says he was chosen because of his successful track record in fundraising—he's held large benefits for San Antonio Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Mayor Julián Castro and even John Edwards, when he was a presidential candidate. Watts was also a member of the president's National Finance Committee when he ran for office in 2008.
Dignitaries including U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Gilbert Hinojosa, head of the Texas Democratic Party attended, along with other San Antonio notables like former Spur Sean Elliot and actress Eva Longoria.
Guests reportedly shelled out a cool $35,800 each in order to attend the exclusive event, which was held in Watts' state-of-the-art gymnasium located immediately adjacent to the house. "Because of the president's love of basketball, we figured he'd like to do it in there," Watts says.
The fundraiser started with a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and ended around 3 p.m. after an hour-long Q-and-A session. Watts says the afternoon was exciting for the 75 VIPs, as well as a few lucky others. Watts' wife Tammy, his mother Sandra, who is a Corpus Christi judge, and his children Taylor, Hailey and Brandon all got to meet and take pictures with President Obama.
He maintains that he was most impressed by how organized all the president's men (and women) were in creating a safe yet enjoyable event.
"The Presidential Advance team had the schedule planned down to the minute," he says. "It was an honor having him in my house."


text:
Creative Sonoma has been working for the past year as a member of the Arts Education Alliance (AEA) to bring attention to the importance of arts education in our schools.
November 2016
The Arts Education Alliance is a collaborative venture with representatives from the Sonoma County Office of Education, several school districts across the county, arts teachers, administrators and arts organizations. After many meetings and much research, AEA determined that its most important initiative would be to launch an assessment of the state of arts education in the K-12 schools in Sonoma County. The group believes that the only way to embark on real change for the future is to understand the current state of affairs.
Our early planning work led us to the successful efforts of our neighbors in Napa County who completed an assessment and master plan for the Napa Unified School District this past year. The principals involved in Napa have generously provided us all of their tools and reports which we are revising to meet the specific needs of our county.
Another boost to our efforts came with the launch this month of an interactive website featuring data on all arts education activities, in grades 6-12, across the State of California. The database is searchable at a very detailed level for Sonoma County, including searching individual schools and the arts classes offered by grade. This work was produced by CreateCA, a statewide arts education coalition and is available at http://www.createca.dreamhosters.com/artsed-dataproject/. Building on what data is already available will help our Sonoma effort focus in filling in the gaps, in particular for grades K-5.
We will be launching the assessment after the first of the year and hope to have preliminary findings completed by late Spring 2017. If you are interested in participating in this work, please send an email to email@example.com. Watch for more updates on this work at creativesonoma.org.
This project has been generously supported by the Community Foundation of Sonoma County and the California Arts Council.
Photo: Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, One City Arts Summer Program 2016