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Musher Medicine: Sled Dogs Lead the Way to Health
- nutrition
- purebreeds
- science
- sledding
The desperate situation caught the attention of Alaskan dog sledders. Within days, sledders organized 20 dog-sled teams, 200 dogs in all, and made plans to carry the serum over 700 miles, forging through -62-degree temperatures, three-foot-high snow drifts, and life-threatening blizzards. Each sledding team would carry the serum part of the way, meeting at a designated check point to hand it off to the next team.
On February 2, Gunaar Kaasen rescued Nome, delivering 300,000 units of serum.
This story became known as "The Great Serum Run." It is legendary in Alaska. It also captured the imagination of Americans in the lower 48 states. In 1973, commemorating the The Great Serum Run, an annual race, the Iditarod, was established. At 1,100 miles and up to 20 days long, the Iditarod includes some trails covered by the original 1925 sledders (known as mushers).
Sledding Evolves
Much has changed since 1925. In that original, life-saving race, sleds were made of wood, with steel runners. The dogs ran "barefoot." Today, sleds are constructed of super-lightweight metals, with low-friction polymer runners. Sled dogs wear "booties" to protect their feet from freezing. Temperatures still plunge to -40 degrees, and the dogs often race through blizzard-like condition.
In the Great Serum Run, and in the early Iditarod races, dogs were harnessed up fairly quickly, and off they went into the wild. Today, each dog receives thorough health checks in the months leading up to the race. Veterinarians are on hand during the race for any medical needs. Before the race starts, all dogs are screened with an ECG to check their hearts, and a complete chemistry panel is done to confirm that that they are fit.
Researchers Discover Sledding
Just as the story of the Great Serum Run captured the popular imagination, the Iditarod caught the attention of scientists. What is it, some scientists wonder, that gives sled dogs the stamina to race with high energy and enthusiasm for 1,100 miles, in such harsh conditions? An increasing number of researchers have begun to travel to Alaska, to see what they can learn from sled dogs -- to improve sledding, and to provide insights into all dogs, even those who do not race.
Stomach Problems: Common in All Dogs
Michael Davis, DVM, a researcher at Oklahoma State University, grew up in Texas, where he knew nothing about sledding. He was interested in cold-weather-induced asthma, a condition human and canine athletes share. Davis wanted to see if sled dogs suffer damage from asthma-like conditions. It did not take long to realize that asthma is not a concern of sled dogs. But by the end of that study, Davis had become curious about sledding. He asked mushers to name the most common ailment. The answer that invariably came back was gastrointestinal (GI) problems. Davis, like most veterinarians, had known for years that GI problems are one of the most prevalent issues in all dogs. Why, he wondered, did sled dogs have a higher-than-normal number of GI problems? Davis looked more closely at sled dogs. "It turned out that the problem was much worse than anyone originally thought," he explained. He had found his next, and biggest, research project.
Stuart Nelson, DVM, is the chief veterinarian for the Iditarod. His job is to understand the health of all racing dogs and encourage research of the most common problems. "Sled dogs suffer from a high number of gastric ulcers, which happens to also be true of human endurance athletes. We've been looking at the best preventive measures for getting rid of this problem."
Nelson and Davis have focused, for now, on using standard, non-prescription medications, the same ones people use for stomach problems. Their challenge is to find which work best, and what the correct dosage should be. As Nelson explains, "Many of these medicines require dogs to limit how much they eat, which conflicts with the need of these dogs to consume tremendous amounts of food every day."
In recent years, they have found a combination of medications that reduces the number of gastric ulcers. Davis says the most important finding in his gastric ulcer work is how exercise affects all dogs. "When we first did this, we thought the problem would only be serious for dogs running 10 days straight. But we found that ulcers occur in dogs that exercise hard for just a single day."
Explaining the relevance to all dogs, Nelson says, "When you get into performance, whether it's sledding, hunting, agility, or any intense physical activity, there will be a connection here."
Another finding with wider significance is that gastric ulcers, while serious, remain invisible. "The Iditarod racers show no outward signs of having ulcers," Davis explains. "Field-trial dogs, agility dogs, or dogs who spend a selected period of time exercising, who don't show any signs of ulcers, may also be suffering from this."
Davis would like veterinarians to test working dogs more regularly for ulcers, which involves looking into a dog's esophagus with a special scope. "Working dogs are really tough," he says. "They won't show signs of illness or weakness, because they want to keep working."
Nelson is happy that the prevalence of gastric ulcers has been reduced. But he wants to do more. He and others will have to look beyond medications and figure out basic biological causes. "We think antioxidants might have a lot of benefit against ulcers," he reports. "If we could figure this out, we'd see wide-ranging application far beyond sledding."
Sled Dogs Help Improve What All Dogs Eat
One of the most immediate ways that sledding has provided knowledge benefiting all dogs is in nutrition. It seems natural that pet-food companies would be interested in looking at Iditarod dogs to test which nutrients provide the best fuel in extreme racing conditions. Albert Townshend, DVM, ran a successful veterinary practice in Maryland for 33 years. In 1991, he volunteered as a field veterinarian for the Iditarod. He was so impressed by the dogs' stamina and the dedication of the mushers that he decided to devote his energy to understanding canine nutrition through sledding. He sold his veterinary practice and became a staff veterinarian for Eagle Pack Pet Food, which develops dog foods for high-energy sports.
What Townshend and Eagle Pack sought to understand was, "How do you get enough food into a dog's stomach to provide energy for racing all day at top speed? These dogs consume about 12,000 calories a day during races. The diet needed to be energy-dense, but also highly digestible." He had to account not only for the dietary needs, but also the GI problems.
For 20 years, Eagle Pack has provided food for several Iditarod teams, analyzing their findings and tweaking ingredients to get the right formula. Townshend says the company's discoveries are relevant to all dogs who exert themselves, including ones who do rescue work, herding, police work, and hunting, as well as those who compete in agility and rally.
High-Altitude Discoveries
Jeff King has won the Iditarod four times. He moved to Alaska at the age of 19, and is now a full-time Iditarod trainer. Straddling the line between musher and researcher, King developed an elaborate facility to study his team as they prepare for the race. "At some point, I started thinking, 'we don't know the whole story. I want to go deeper, I want to understand and tweak each little factor.' I pick a specific area – nutrition, equipment, training schedules, calorie absorption." He has looked at genetics briefly, but, as he puts it, "I trust Mother Nature to have figured that out."
On those nights when King's dogs showed signs of fatigue from practice, he had an unscientific therapy. "I'm the first musher to have an indoor Jacuzzi for my dogs. It helps me when I'm sore, so I figured it would help the dogs."
The subject of fatigue soon became King's main focus as he took his inquiries far beyond the hot tub. In a building, which he calls "the barn," King created a system that mimics atmospheric conditions of 9,000-foot elevations. With a large mural of Mt. McKinley on the wall, he and his dogs sleep in the high-altitude chamber. "For two months, we set up controls. One group slept in the chamber, the other was out. We monitored the dogs' physiology."
King had a hunch that high altitude is beneficial, but even he was surprised at the results. "We took blood samples in a controlled program of exercise. We looked at red blood cell count and lactic acid. Not only did the dogs who rested at high-altitude have dramatically less lactic acid, but what they produced was flushed out of their systems way quicker than ones who weren't. They also had way higher red blood counts." Lactic acid builds up in the muscles of dogs and humans during exertion, creating fatigue. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen through our bodies.
The dogs do not train in the barn, King explains. They only rest there. "That calibrates the brain, trains it to recognize available oxygen levels, which tunes the whole body to utilize oxygen more efficiently." King says his dogs compete far better now, with less stiffness and soreness.
King understands that most people cannot put their dogs in high-altitude rooms. But what is relevant, he says, is that reducing lactic acid and increasing red blood count means dogs can perform better and more comfortably in any high-energy situation.
Future Promise
Emboldened by success, researchers want to look more closely at other health issues in the near future, focusing on Iditarod racers as a way to better understand all dogs.
Immune-System Paradox
Although the reasons are still unknown, sled dogs have a worse-than-average immune system. Davis believes a lot can be gained by studying this. "Sled dogs have under-built immune system, with fewer antibodies, and yet they don't have the infectious diseases you'd expect. Either what they have is incredibly efficient, or the way we measure immune systems is wrong." He intends to find the answer, perhaps gaining a better general understanding of canine infectious diseases.
Townshend sees the immune system paradox as a challenge for pet-food companies. It has long been theorized that beneficial bacteria in a dog's stomach aid the immune system. Eagle pack, and other companies, developed a line of foods known as "probiotics," which contain these beneficial bacteria. "The goal is to make it so each time the dogs eat they get inoculated with friendly bacteria," Townshend explains. "This should optimize their immune systems and help them digest better."
It is still an open question how sled dogs function better on weaker immune systems, and whether probiotics have long-term benefits. Putting together findings of researchers like Dr. Davis, along with pet-food companies' efforts, there is hope that sledders will provide answers.
Calling all Canine Couch Potatoes
Davis has recently been investigating basic metabolism, and how the canine body burns fat. When he looked at sled dogs, he saw some curious details. "We already know sled dogs burn an enormous amount of fat. But the way their cells efficiently burn fat is very unique. If we can figure out how these dogs throw the fat-burning switch, we could better understand obesity. Because sled dogs are so extreme, they are great to look at. This same thing is probably going on in other dogs, but it's too subtle. With sled dogs, it really stands out."
Davis observes that retired sled dogs, long after they have stopped racing, remain in excellent shape. "They are in the same kennels, eating the same foods. But they don't become obese. Why is that? Are they inherently resistant to obesity?" He wants to design a study that compares sled dogs with each other, and to other dogs, to figure this out.
High-Tech Ice Dreams
Nelson has immediate plans for improving the way we understand the health of sled dogs. "We're currently developing a system to save that ECG and chemistry panel data to create an ongoing record of all the dogs. We'll be able to go back through the years and do retrospective comparisons on the dogs' conditions."
Davis also says that improved technology can enhance research. "We're looking at ways to modify existing cardiac machines, so they can operate in extremely low temperatures without breaking. We just installed a large treadmill in Alaska where we run and monitor 16 dogs at once. This was a modification of treadmills built for US Olympic teams."
Nelson has even bigger hopes for human ingenuity. "I foresee a day when sleds have an instrument panel. All the dogs would be monitored and mushers could see the data as they race." This valuable real-time information could be collected and analyzed to better understand what allows these dogs to thrive in such extreme conditions, revealing some basic biology that would be useful in understanding all dogs. To make it happen, Nelson invites more researchers to take a closer look at the wealth of information available through the Iditarod. "Anyone out there who wants to do more, please contact me. I'm open, and I'm more than happy to speak with them."


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Updated Jan 25th 2022<\/strong>: As of this date Google has announced that FLoC is no more. In its place is the Google Topics API<\/a>. You can read the full API readme here<\/a>, but in short...<\/em><\/p>\r\n
--<\/p>\r\n
It seems cliché to write about the death of cookies<\/a> these days. It's all we ever seem to talk about. <\/p>\r\n
Then again, it will bring about an all-encompassing seismic change to the way that advertising is bought, programmatically.<\/p>\r\n
But there's also no need to panic.
<\/p>\r\n
The incoming changes will affect your programmatic activity beyond the end of this year. Below, we go into more depth about what that looks like, and offer some direction to help you navigate the seemingly endless content and varying advice that is out there. <\/p>\r\n
And don't worry, the irony of writing yet another blog post on the subject isn't lost on us.
<\/p>\r\n
Again, Please Don't Panic<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
But do take it seriously. <\/p>\r\n
The departure from third-party cookies is fundamentally a good thing for the programmatic industry. The word 'death' always seemed a bit too dramatic anyway.<\/p>\r\n
We need to think of this industry change as a fit-for-purpose Darwinian evolution into the digital-first world, rather than an unavoidable meteor heading for the LUMAscape<\/a> that will bring about the mass extinction of DSPs and ad networks. <\/p>\r\n
 <\/p>\r\n
What Will Change for Programmatic?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
Without wanting to sound like a eulogy, cookies have been the backbone of the programmatic industry since their inception. We have a lot to be thankful for, but it also means that lots will change, the four most important areas being...<\/p>\r\n
Frequency Capping<\/strong> – the ability to target users across a range of sites and targeting strategies will be difficult. <\/p>\r\n
Audience Targeting<\/strong> – anything not based on logged-in user data will essentially become worthless. Even those audience lists based on logged-in user data will only work in walled gardens, as it currently stands. <\/p>\r\n
Retargeting<\/strong> – if you're not using consented first-party data through a DMP or on a customer match basis, forget about it. <\/p>\r\n
Measurement <\/strong>– programmatic advertising plays an important role in the customer journey but proving its value will become even harder as the ability to track post-view activity vanishes. <\/p>\r\n
What Solutions Are Being Put in Place?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
Solutions are in motion, but we just have to have a bit of patience. <\/p>\r\n
Being candid, no clear path or single solution that will enable us to do the type of programmatic buying that we're used to has yet emerged. <\/p>\r\n
Several solutions will likely arise over the next two years that will enable us to optimise like the good old days. There may be some new industry buzzwords, which you might've recently heard of: <\/p>\r\n
Firstly, Privacy Sandbox<\/a> – this is not a solution itself, it's more a Google-owned initiative of around 30 potential new tech solutions that aims to remedy the targeting, tracking, and measurement hangover left in the wake of the removal of cookies. <\/p>\r\n
You've probably heard or come across FLEDGE<\/a> and FLoC<\/a> from this initiative. In a nutshell, FLoC<\/strong> provides privacy by placing your browsing behaviours in a group of users with the same interests. <\/p>\r\n
FLEDGE<\/strong> uses the individual user's browser to store any audience data, meaning the auction happens in the browsers rather than on a third-party exchange. These are still in development and have run into a spot of bother with GDPR and competition regulation<\/a>. <\/p>\r\n
Secondly, Project Rearc,<\/a> which is short for "Rearchitect", was established last year by our good friends at the IAB<\/a>. This project has a broader scope of looking at wider frameworks and accountability standards with privacy at the centre. <\/p>\r\n
One of the most promising solutions arising from this working group is UID 2.0<\/a> from theTradeDesk. This is an open-source solution available for free and built on hashed and encrypted email addresses. <\/p>\r\n
This aims to replace cookies by mapping users to IDs across multiple touchpoints and then profiling this out for measurement and frequency capping using AI and probabilistic data. <\/p>\r\n
All solutions aim to address the issues around audience targeting, measurement, and frequency capping, my advice would be to watch this space closely. <\/p>\r\n
What Should I Do? <\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
Unfortunately, there's no definite workaround. Not yet at least. Even though Google has extended the life of the cookie across Chrome until 2023<\/a>, don't get complacent. <\/p>\r\n
There are things you can do right now to better prepare yourself for the brave new world. <\/p>\r\n
1. Invest in Your First-Party Data<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Take this seriously, and start looking into this now. <\/p>\r\n
Look into DMP solutions, figure out how you can legally<\/em> integrate it into your advertising platforms, be creative with how you collect it and keep it up to date. <\/p>\r\n
2. Figure Out What's Working<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Look at your own campaigns and activity. Audit where you're seeing good performance. Look at the things we don't need cookies for - time of day, domain, context, location. <\/p>\r\n
3. Creative Optimisation <\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Over the years we've optimised the audience targeting to the Nth degree. Be honest, how much have you invested in finding out what creative message is working best? Look at well-structured and fair creative testing as a way of improving your performance. <\/p>\r\n
4. Test, Test, Test <\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Be brave with new media owner cookie-less solutions. If you never try them, then you'll never know. Be prepared to accept that something might not work – at the end of the day you've still learned something. <\/p>\r\n
Also remember that performance does not necessarily have to be better than a cookie solution – if your campaign has the same impact as when you used cookies, then count that as a success. <\/p>\r\n
5. Keep Yourself Educated <\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Keep an ear to the ground on user-enabled developments. Reach out to the core media owners you use and ask them what "ID" solutions they are planning. It's unlikely they'll have a concrete answer for you now, but they will then keep you up to date as the year goes on. <\/p>\r\n
6. Learn How Dependent You Are <\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Audit which media owners, ad networks, platforms and DSPs you are currently using to see how dependent they are on third-party cookies – you'll then know where you are most vulnerable to third-party cookie demise.
<\/p>\r\n
 <\/p>\r\n
Final Thoughts<\/strong> <\/h2>\r\n
Consumers have become savvier about their data privacy, and as advertisers, we need to be tuned into this cultural shift. It's now time to change direction and provide better advertising experiences. <\/p>\r\n
If we do that, impactful results will follow. But you need to start investigating this now – fail to prepare, prepare to fail. <\/p>

subset: commoncrawl


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pp. 510-511
The Presidency of Harry S. Truman, Donald R. McCoy
The American Presidency: Origins and Development, 1776-1990, Sidney M. Milkis and Michael Nelson Reviewed by Alonzo L. Hamby
An American Democrat: A Reevaluation of the Personality of Harry S. Truman, Alonzo L. Hamby
The Neoconservatives: The Men who are Changing America's Politics, Peter Steinfels Reviewed by Alonzo L. Hamby
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With neither an ideological nor a partisan bias, PSQ looks at facts and analyzes data objectively to help readers understand what is really going on in national and world affairs.


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Tom Owens Cigar Smoker Fundraiser
Cigar Smoker Fundraiser to benefit the
Tom Owens Memorial Scholarship Fund
Thursday, January 5, 2017
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Atomic Cowboy in The Grove!
If you are paying by check please make check payable to:
The Tom Owens Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Venue: Atomic Cowboy
January 5, 2017
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm


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Nomad up the Road – Restaurant Review
This well-liked Surry Hills eatery has a great go-with-a-group appeal, a vibe that has carried over from the temporarily closed fire-damaged Nomad (down the road and around the corner).
But the banquet menu (a suite of mostly vegetable-focused dishes) is aimed at all comers, from couples to crowds. Chef Jacqui Challinor has a way with Middle Eastern flavours, with a Med/ Italian note here and there. So a velvety ring of cannellini bean hummus comes puddled with cumin burnt butter; eggplant chunks are pinged with pomegranate and nutty olive seeds (from inside olive pits); and battered zucchini flowers are dredged with parma snow and truffled honey.
Pickled peppers bring welcome acidity to chermoula-spiced spatchcock with whipped labne. The former Longrain site is light and airy with a semi-open kitchen. Well worth the walk up the road.
85 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9280 3395; open Monday-Saturday for lunch and dinner.


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With the end of the year approaching and my manga goal close to doubled, I decided on a whim to throw myself into the next 鬼滅の刃 spinoff novel and finish it up over the next few weeks. My initial plan was to read a certain number of pages per day and finish just in time, but I happened to notice that there were only six chapters, the goal suddenly became "one chapter per day". It seemed like an insane pace at first but I actually managed it, bringing my new record to six days; a big improvement over my previous record (11 days) and more than twice as fast as the previous book in this series (14).
Unfortunately, I didn't really find that 片羽の蝶 lived up to my expectations based on しあわせの花. It had its moments — the chapter about Mitsuri did a good job of capturing her character and relationship with Iguro — but most of the stories were basically just fluff. Even the first (titular) chapter, which features Shinobu and Kanae as children immediately after the events which lead them to join the slayer corps, does practically nothing in terms of fleshing out characters or events, which is terribly disappointing since I would love to hear more about Kanae (and since she obviously won't show up in the main series, there's no chance of stepping on the main author's toes).
I enjoyed this book but probably wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it. With the main manga series now fully complete, hopefully any further spinoff material will be a little less restrictive.


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"Doctor Who" is the accepted moniker of an immortal, time-traveling alien who, oddly enough, appears quite human.
With his handy time-traveling machine (that resembles something quite ordinary), Doctor Who – and a lucky/unlucky human companion — traverse the timestream to right extraordinary wrongs.
A staple of British science fiction, the good Doctor's televised adventures started in 1963, ended in 1989, and came back with a howling vengeance in 2005.
If a fan of the erratic, tenacious Time Lord lands on your gift list, you're probably overwhelmed by the sheer volume of collectible Doctor Who doodads.
Not exactly sure what to procure? Quite confused by all the aliens, a time-traveling call box, and a rotating cast representing a singular Doctor?
Then check out our handy Doctor Who Gift List. It might not explain a time paradox, but it should direct you promptly to the perfect present.
Your House Is Bigger on the Inside
Fill a sizable tesseract with Doctor Who home décor and household items.
Doctor Who Tardis Large Throw Blanket
Doctor Who Throw Blanket
Doctor Who 17oz Tardis Mug
Doctor Who Tardis Ceramic Teapot
Police Public Call Box Tea Infuser
Doctor Who Ice Cubes Tray
Doctor Who Silicone Spatula Set
Doctor Who Movie-Inspired Characters Canvas Wall Art
Dr. Who-Inspired "Time Lord/Souffle' Girl" KitchenAid Stand Mixer Decal Kit
Buenas TARDIS Coffee Mug
Doctor Who TARDIS Blanket
Doctor Who TARDIS Print on Antique Dictionary
TARDIS Flowerpot
Caffeinate, Caffeinate Coffee Mug
Doctor Who TARDIS Tea Light Candle Holder
Doctor Who Ceramic Coffee Mug – TARDIS and Rainbow 13th Dr. Design
Doctor Who Gear and Accessories
Travel the timestream with helpful gear, stylish accessories, and a surprisingly handy screwdriver.
Doctor Who Tardis Wooden Jewelry Box
Doctor Who Small Tote Bag: I Am TARDIS
Doctor Who Tardis Backpack
Doctor Who The Thirteenth Doctor Sonic Screwdriver
Doctor Who 12th Doctor Sonic Screwdriver With Sound
Doctor Who Gallifrey Bronze Necklace Quartz Pocket Watch Gift Set
Doctor Who TARDIS Police Box Juniors Mini Brief Handbag
Timeless Doctor Who Clothing and Apparel
Time-trekking apparel for aspiring, not-quite-immortal Time Lords
Doctor Who Tardis Infinity Scarf
Doctor Who Adult Unisex Lucky 13 T-Shirt
Ripple Junction Doctor Who Call Box Window Adult Zip Hoodie
Doctor Who Tardis Union Jack Glow Adult T-Shirt
Doctor Who Women's K9 Slippers
Doctor Who Tardis Adult Slippers
Doctor Who TARDIS Police Call Box Fringed Knit Scarf
Doctor Who TARDIS Knit Pom Beanie
Revisit the Past by Rewatching Doctor Who
Doctor Who: The Complete Twelfth Series
Doctor Who: The Complete David Tennant Collection (Blu-ray)
Doctor Who: The Matt Smith Years (Blu-ray)
Doctor Who Toys, Games, and Collectibles
Reenact time-displacing adventures, apply eternal intelligence to beloved board games, or display the Doctor's sculpted likeness with these Doctor Who toys, figures, games, and collectibles.
Dr. Who Dalek Emperor & Dalek Drone Figure Set
Seven20 Doctor Who Hide 5″ Action Figure Set
Doctor Who Remote Controlled Inflatable Dalek
Standing over two-feet tall, this remote-controlled Dalek says terrifying Dalek things (like "EXTERMINATE!!") and makes terrifying Dalek sounds (from it's terrifying-sounding Death Ray). Looking to annihilate inferior species roaming the kitchen? Then activate this remote-controlled Dalek and maintain absolute control through absolute terror.
Seven20 Doctor Who the Tenth Doctor 5″ Action Figure
BIG Chief Studios 1/6 12″ Fourth Doctor Action Figure
There are action figures that kind of/sort of resemble their subject, and then there's this eerily accurate work of action figure art. Based on the Fourth Doctor (played by beloved actor Tom Baker), this extremely limited figure features an exquisite character sculpting and accurately tailored apparel.
Doctor Who Mega Cyberman Figure
Doctor Who 50th Anniversary TARDIS Monitor Mate Bobble Head
Doctor Who LEGO
Doctor Who Funko POP!
Doctor Who Monopoly
Doctor Who Clue Board Game
Doctor Who Trivial Pursuit
Doctor Who Chess Set
Doctor Who Christmas Decorations and Ornaments
Decorate the TARDIS, the tree, and your repurposed Cyberman coat rack with Doctor Who holiday décor.
Doctor Who 2.25″ Dalek 4-Piece Ornament Gift Set
Doctor Who Tardis String Lights
Reading Is Time Well Spent
Lose yourself in amazing Doctor Who books and archaic, handheld reading materials.
Doctor Who Dalek Combat Manual
"Know your enemy." This in an important phrase, especially if your enemy is a race of hateful mutants encased in murderous machines. If you want to beat the Daleks, we suggest heeding the aforementioned phrase, and then purchasing this book. And you should do it rather soon-ish, considering their commitment to absolute annihilation.
Doctor Who: The Official Cookbook
Doctor Who Tardis Journal
Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairy Tales
Doctor Who: Character Encyclopedia
Doctor Who Coloring Book
Buying Presents in the Present
You finally got that Doctor Who doohickie your friend has been rambling on about. Is our loud and proud Whovian gear granting them wide, arbitrary grins as they go about their day? Are they quietly asking phone booths to traverse the timestream, or calling the neighbor's canine "K-9?" If so, that means your gift was a hit, and you should probably return here, in the future, to recreate your friend's happiness in the past. Yup.


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Due to staffing shortages, The Museum and Showroom are closed. Please place orders online.
Due to staffing shortages, The Museum and Showroom are closed.Please place orders online.
ZLW-299TL Turnlatch Mortise Lock 2 5/8" Backset in Polished Brass
ZLW-DK299TL Turnlatch Lock 2 5/8" Backset in Antique Brass Finish
ZLW-N299TL Turnlatch Lock 2 5/8" Backset Nickel Plated
Our Victorian design faceplate has been lost wax cast to preserve all the details of the original. It comes in three finishes: polished brass, darkened "antique" brass, or nickel plated for a silver tone. Use the drop down menu to select your finish.You'll love the richness of the faceplate!
NOTE: Photo shows ZLW-299RC, our skeleton key mortise. This part number is for matching faceplate TURNLATCH hardware.
Order a turnlatch from our terrific latch selection , such as L-30A, L-210TL, or L-196TL. Or, you can select a door plate that has the turnlatch included! Look for door plates that end in TL, such as L-24TL , our Rococo style Victorian door plate.
If you'd like to have a matching Victorian door that uses a skeleton key, please see ZLW-299RC .
For a lockset with a 2 1/4" backset, please look at ZLW-400TL .
This Victorian design lock has a lock body measurement of 3 3/4" tall, 3 3/16" deep, and 5/8" thick. The faceplate measures 1" wide by 6" tall and is 3/16" thick. The backset is 2 5/8", and the distance from the center of the doorknob receiver to the turnlatch receiver is 2 1/2".
Vintage Hardware & Lighting ~ 2000 W Sims Way ~ Port Townsend, WA 98368 ~ 360-379-9030
Vintage Hardware, Vintage Lighting, and Vintage Hardware and Lighting are Registered Trademarks. - All rights reserved.
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We reserve the right to change or modify policies, prices, sizes, and/or designs at anytime, without prior notification.


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Kosher is the Hebrew term used to refer to foods permitted according to Jewish dietary laws. These laws are based on various verses in the Five Books of Moses (Torah), which are interpreted and expounded upon in great detail in the Talmud and Jewish legal codes.
The only reason that the Torah gives for the prohibition against eating foods that are not kosher is that there is spiritual impurity associated with it. This impurity only effects Jews (don't ask me how exactly that works), which is why there is absolutely nothing wrong with a non Jew eating non kosher food.
There's absolutely nothing unhealthy or physically harmful about non kosher food. The reason why God commanded the Jewish people to eat Kosher has nothing to do with the physical quality or nutritional value of any particular food. In fact, the same exact animal can be considered either kosher or non kosher depending solely on how it is slaughtered. So clearly there's nothing intrinsically harmful or deficient in a non kosher animal, at least not in the physical realm (Jewish mysticism has much to say on the spiritual harm caused to Jews by eating non kosher).
Myth Buster – Kosher food has nothing to do with a rabbi blessing it. The food is either Kosher or not, regardless of any blessings, spells or incantations.
What foods are Kosher?
All food that grows from the ground (including underwater) is Kosher.
That includes all fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, as long as they are raw and unprocessed. Once they are cooked or processed, their kosher status is no longer guaranteed. In other words, you can walk down the produce isle in any supermarket and fill your cart with any fresh fruits and veggies you desire.
However, if the produce has been cooked, or if the salad has been cut and dressed before packaging, then you cannot be sure that it is Kosher, since you don't know exactly how it was prepared (we'll get to utensils later). In other words, while the underlying produce is Kosher, the processing can make it non Kosher.
Fish that have scales and fins are Kosher.
These 2 criteria are clearly stated in the Torah. All other water creatures that do not have BOTH scales and fins of the water are not Kosher. Examples of kosher fish include carp, salmon, whitefish and tuna. Non Kosher seafood includes shark, squid, lobster, shrimp, clams, and oysters.
Again, once a Kosher fish is cooked or processed, its Kosher status is no longer guaranteed (since non Kosher ingredients might have been used).Fish do not have to be killed in any special way to be considered Kosher (unlike animals).
Animals that have split hoofs and chew their cud are potentially Kosher
These 2 criteria are also clearly stated in the Torah. I say potentially because in order to be fit for consumption, the animal must be slaughtered and prepared according to strict regulations (which are way beyond the scope of this, or pretty much any, article you'll find on the internet).
For example, if you shoot a Kosher animal, or if it's killed in any other way or even if it simply dies of old age, it becomes non-kosher. Examples of Kosher animals are cows, goats, lamb, deer, and buffalo. Non-kosher animals include camels, horses, dogs, cats, bears, elephants, lions, and of course, pig.The milk from a kosher animal is kosher. Therefore, cow's milk is kosher, but camel's milk is not.
Kosher Birds need to be specified.
The Torah provides no physical signs that indicate whether a bird is Kosher. Instead, it offers a long list of species of birds that are kosher, but most cannot be positively identified by the experts. Birds of prey are considered to be non Kosher.
Kosher birds include chicken, turkey, goose, duck, and quail. These birds must be slaughtered and prepared in the prescribed manner to be fit for kosher consumption. Shooting a bird, or death by natural causes, renders a "Kosher" bird non Kosher.
Insects – Kosher or not?
All insects are non Kosher, except for 4 species of locust are listed in the Torah as Kosher. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the tradition as to their exact identity has been lost for the most part.
Milk and Meat
In the last section we learned that all plant life and certain animals are Kosher. We learned that a cow is Kosher (if slaughtered and prepared properly) and that the milk of a cow is Kosher. But cooking or eating Kosher meat with Kosher milk is non Kosher. In fact the combination is prohibited in the Torah 3 separate times. The actual verse says (in 3 separate places), "Do not cook a goat in the milk of its mother". The sages of the Talmud interpret the Torah prohibition to mean that you cannot cook or eat (or derive any benefit from) meat and milk together.
Thousands of pages have been written regarding the details of this prohibition, and you're encouraged to explore them if you are interested in the practical applications of the law. But the simple application to general Kosher practice is that any mixing of milk and meat renders the mixture non Kosher.
The classic example of this prohibition is a cheeseburger. A more nuanced example would be the use of animal based gelatin in a candy containing milk chocolate or lard in the baking of a cheesecake. The most common example is probably the use of butter in meat recipes.
So even if you're positive that the meat being cooked is Kosher, you also need to certain that it is not being mixed or brought into any contact with a dairy product.
Kosher Utensils
Kosher law also prohibits using utensils that have come into contact with non Kosher food. Doing so will render the Kosher food non Kosher. Therefore, a pot or pan or oven that was used to cook non Kosher food can not be used to cook Kosher food. Again, there are lots of intricate details in the laws relating to this topic which we can't cover here.
The bottom line is that Kosher food must be cooked and served in Kosher utensils in order to remain Kosher.
Wine and Alchohol
Alcohol made from grain or other plant based substances is Kosher, just like any other drink. Judaism has no taboo against drinking alcohol, as long as you don't take it too far and lose control over your actions or senses (unless it's on Purim). The only potential problem with alcohol being Kosher is if wine (or grapes) is one of the ingredients.
According to the Torah, there are nothing intrinsically non Kosher about wine, since it's made from grapes (and sometimes sugar). But the Sages of the Talmud insisted that wine be made and handled exclusively by Jews in order to be Kosher. They prohibited wine produced or handled by gentiles for 2 reasons:
- Wine was used in idol worship, and they prohibited deriving benefit from anything used for idolatry. The reason for this was probably to dissuade Jews from getting involved in idolatrous practice, in any way or form.
- Wine was, and still is, a social drink — and the Sages did not want Jews to socialize with gentiles because doing so could lead to intermarriage and assimilation.
While the first reason doesn't really apply anymore in modern times, when idolatrous worship is almost non existent, the second reason does still apply. In any case, the Rabbinic prohibition remains in force. Therefore, in order to be Kosher, wine must be produced by Jews, from harvesting the grapes to sealing the bottles. The wine must also be opened and poured by Jews. The exception to this rule is if the wine if pasteurized (mevushal), in which case it may be handled (but not produced) by non Jews.
Kosher: Separation and Holiness
As I mentioned at the start of this article, there is no physical or practical reason offered by the Torah to explain the reason for refraining from non Kosher foods. It is a purely spiritual concept that only applies to Jews. The Torah does, however, equate eating Kosher with being holy (again, this concept applies only Jews. Non Jews have other paths to attain holiness).
What does Kosher have to do with holiness?
The concept of Kedusha (holiness) is based on the concept of separation from the non holy or mundane. We separate from sin and things that are sinful, and doing so makes us a holy. Similarly, the practice of "separating" from certain foods creates a state of holiness in the person. It makes us a holy not because there's anything intrinsically bad about the animal, but because we are following the command of God instead of our own desires and instincts.


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Milan's ice cream parlors open in August
Per aprire l'articolo su Google Maps, clicca qui. It is the last month of summer, and the thermometer is about to explode. If you feel trapped between the architecture...
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Artscapes Landscape Design and Construction built 60 foot long serpentine retaining wall to create useable space from this gently sloping back yard. The make over included: a large new patios, featuring a large gas fire pit, a custom BBQ. Another patio was created an additional area used for reading and relaxing.
Artscapes Landscape Design and Construction specializes in beautiful landscape design, installation, and maintenance in Belmont and throughout the Peninsula. Think of Artscapes for all your landscaping needs.


text: Home Industry Energy Disharmony At OPEC The lack of an unanimous agreement over oil production levels casts a shadow over OPEC's future. by Eithne Treanor June 28, 2011 It was far from business-as-usual at OPEC's 159th meeting in Vienna in June. Early rumours from the Saudi Arabia camp all pointed to a definite increase in production and the conference began in an optimistic mood with the market expecting more oil. The international media carried the message loud and clear and markets reacted favourably to the downside. So the world reacted with shock when the OPEC president and acting Minister of Petroleum from Iran announced that the ministers were unable to reach a decision. "The most important issue is the production ceiling," he said. "No-one really opposed the production increase but it was the timing and the amount of the increase that was discussed." The uncertain state of the global economy was top of the agenda, as was the need to replace missing barrels due to the unrest in Libya. The OPEC Secretary General, Abdalla Salem el-Badri assured the market there was no danger of a shortage of oil, but said a unanimous decision was not possible. "OPEC is not in crisis," he said and emphasised there was plenty of spare capacity and enough oil on the market despite this situation. "We debated very thoroughly, we have many points of view but, unfortunately, we were unable to reach a consensus to change production." This surprise announcement caught the market off guard and the oil price rose in afternoon trading. Analysts might not have welcomed this situation, but some could appreciate the dilemma OPEC faced. "There were definitely some tensions," said Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics, "but everyone has to do business and countries have different views on what the future of demand looks like." El-Badri also emphasised there was plenty of spare capacity available, more than four million barrels and said "the object was to increase the production in the third and fourth quarter," where OPEC data sees a rise in demand. He added that it was "the uncertainty of the world GDP growth, global inflation, unemployment, sovereign debt and manufacturing decline that made the decision very difficult." Sean Evers, managing partner of the Gulf Intelligence, based in Dubai, said OPEC usually managed to find consensus at meetings and said it was interesting that this time, "they chose to emphasise there was disagreement." He added that it was also important they clearly signalled to the market that "there were some members who wanted to increase the quota and Saudi Arabia, particularly, wanted to increase quotas." While the oil price shot up temporarily after the meeting, it has since calmed down with WTI trading below $100 a barrel and Brent Crude still around $111 a barrel. Speaking in London in June El-Badri stressed that $100 oil was "not harming the global economy." Many OPEC ministers hope the situation will be solved with behind-the- scenes dialogue in the coming months. According to El-Badri, the OPEC members can handle this disagreement amicably, additional oil needed on the market will be met by individual members and Saudi Arabia has made it clear they will take the lead. An extraordinary meeting can be called later in the year if need be but, for now, the next scheduled meeting of the OPEC conference will be in early December in Vienna. Industry watchers and analystshope it will be business as usual at OPEC's 160th conference. 0 Comments Share Tweet Share Share


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Retired - A Kiss at Sunset Wrap Bracelet/Necklace
Designer: Julie Bean
Skill Level: Beginner
The colors of a beautiful sunset shine in this versatile piece of jewelry. Wear it as a wrapped bracelet or convert it to a necklace. The Miyuki Berry Beads add depth and sparkle to this classically strung design.


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What leaders can learn from Christmas songs
Like finding a silver coin in a Christmas pudding, festive tunes reveal valuable lessons for leaders and managers. Let's pick out the smarts from the schmaltz in our top five Christmas songs.
1. 'Santa Baby'
Even Santa would struggle with this wish list. First Eartha Kitt (1953), later Madonna (1987) then Ariana Grande (2013) asked for a 'sable' '54 convertible' and a deed to a platinum mine. The lesson we take from this festive tune is don't ask too much from your team, especially at this time of year. A recent study found that 77% of employees experience burnout from stress, with unrealistic deadlines and working long hours near the top of the list. [1] But the main reason for burnout is lack of recognition. So, now's the perfect time to show how much you value your team and all their hard work. Maybe Secret Santa choccies on their desks? You'll find more, cocoa-free ways to energise your team in your toolkit.
2. 'Do You Hear What I Hear?'
You probably know the Bing Crosby version from the '60s. Or maybe Whitney Houston's 80s power ballad? How about Home Free's cover from a few years back. Anyone?
'Do You Hear What I Hear?' has been recorded by hundreds of artists and sold tens of millions of copies around the world. [2] Written by husband and wife team Noël Regney and Gloria Baker, this nativity story was reportedly a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. [3]
Stopping WWIII with a jingle is a big ask. But this tune also teaches us to hear out colleagues and see things from their perspective. That'll help you make better decisions, and studies show listening to music makes employees more relaxed, self-aware and willing to cooperate. [4] Asking people to show work they're proud of is a great way to get your team talking.
3. 'Christmas Wrapping'
Patty Donahue is certainly feeling the festive burnout when she sings, "But all this year's been a busy blur, don't think I have the energy, to add to my already mad rush."
'Christmas Wrapping' (1981) by The Waitresses is about ditching Christmas parties and pressies to take some well-deserved me-time. And the end of the year is the ideal time to stop and reflect. As the Open University says, "Reflecting helps you to develop your skills and review their effectiveness, rather than just carry on doing things as you have always done them. It's about questioning, in a positive way, what you do and why you do it and then deciding whether there is a better, or more efficient, way of doing it in the future." [5]
It can be as easy as taking time out at the end of the day to reflect. A recent study revealed employees who spent 15 minutes at the end of the day reflecting about lessons learned performed 23% better after 10 days than those who didn't. [6]
4. 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'
After watching TV reports of Ethiopia's famine in the 1980s, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure formed a supergroup to raise money for charity. And it worked. Recorded in one day, 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' charted number one in the UK chart for five weeks sold 3.8 million copies and raised £8 million for charity. [7] With Phil Collins on drums and the likes of Bono, Boy George and Jody Watley belting out lyrics, this Christmas song shows the power of collaboration – and what you can achieve when a diverse group of people come together.
It doesn't just pay to be diverse in the music industry. A recent McKinsey study shows the link between diversity and financial performance. It reveals that companies with greater gender diversity on their executive teams are 21% more likely to enjoy above-average profitability. Those with ethnic and cultural diversity are 33% more likely to outperform. [8]
Creating a diverse and inclusive culture at your workplace can start as simple as going for a coffee with a colleague from different age or background to you. The success of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' sparked an American version in 1985. Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, 'We Are the World' raised over $63 million for humanitarian aid in Africa. [9] But the UK original had Bananarama.
5. 'Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy'
Talking of diversity, you can't get more different than a festive mashup from David Bowie and Bing Crosby.
The scripted dialogue between the pair is a little cringeworthy, but the song kind of works. Recorded in 1977 for Bing Crosby's TV show, Bowie sings new lyrics over Bing's rendition of 'Little Drummer Boy'. Released in 1982, the tune became one of Bowie's best-sellers, with over 400,000 sales in the UK alone. [10]
Bowie was renowned for doing the unexpected. In The Dance of the Possible: A Better Way to Understand How to Work with Ideas, author Scott Berkun argues that all new ideas are made up of old ideas. [11] And that you can patch in parts of other ideas to find new solutions. (Like new lyrics tacked onto a classic Christmas tune.) What's more, Berkun argues that great ideas look weird at first. (Cue Bowie strolling into Bing's mansion.)
Stuck on a project? Try looking at how different sectors and industries approach a problem. Then pinch their ideas.
Did we miss any? What's your favourite Christmas song and what can it teach us?
[1] Jen Fisher, 'Workplace burnout Survey'. Available at https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/burnout-survey.html (accessed 11 December 2018)
[2] Margalit Fox, 'Gloria Shayne Baker, Composer and Lyricist, Dies at 84'. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/arts/11baker.html?ref=arts (accessed 11 December 2018).
[3] Ibid.
[4] Guy Itzchakov and Avi Kluger ''The Power of Listening in Helping People Change' (2018). Available at: https://hbr.org/2018/05/the-power-of-listening-in-helping-people-change (accessed 11 December 2018).
[5] Open University, 'Self Reflection'' (2018). Available at: http://www.open.ac.uk/choose/unison/develop/my-skills/self-reflection (accessed 11 December 2018).
[6] Jenifer Porter, 'Why You Should Make Time for Self-Reflection (Even If You Hate Doing It)' (2018). Available at: https://hbr.org/2017/03/why-you-should-make-time-for-self-reflection-even-if-you-hate-doing-it (accessed 11 December 2017).
[7] This Day in Music. Available at: http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/pages/do_they_know_its_christmas (accessed 11 December 2018).
[8] Vivian Hunt, 'Delivering Through Diversity'. (2018). Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/delivering-through-diversity (accessed 11 December 2018).
[9] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World (accessed 11 December 2018).
[10] Wikipedia, 'Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy' Available
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A short read but decades in it's telling
Opening line: "I have always loved my wife"
Wow, this was one of those short sneaky books that you devour in a day and then can't stop thinking about. At about 130 pages SUNRISE ON KUSATSU HARBOUR has a huge story to tell and with about 200 more pages it would have made for an epic read. As it stands though it felt rushed and important events that I would love to have read about in greater detail were glazed over. However the narration style almost dictates this as it's the retelling of a story from a third person and the underlying message does still manage to shine thorough.
Sunrise is a frightening, tragic and haunting story of star crossed lovers. Encompassing love and hate, revenge and prejudice but most of all forgiveness. It's a small book with a big message and a twist at the end that will really leave you wondering. I also think that this book would make for a fantastic movie, regardless I'm just glad I found it.
We begin with a man finding a video tape at a garage sale. Instead of the tape containing the movie he was expecting it instead shows the confession of an older Japanese man. And so our story begins with the writer of this tale telling us Meiko's story via the video diary. Taking us back to Japan during the 2nd world war where we watch a young couple fall in love and make plans for a promising future together. One fateful day our hero Meiko is called to serve in the army, he pledges his undying love to his girlfriend Tori on Kusatsu beach, vowing to always be true to her and return and get married as soon as Japan wins the war. Meiko then leaves his peaceful village in Hiroshima to help create biological weapons for the war effort.
So, now that we know where they are, we all know what's coming next and it was very interesting to see life from the other side of the war. On the day the US drops the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Tori is in Kusatsu harbour, missing her man. The blast knocks her from the beach and into the ocean saving her life. However everyone and everything else she has ever known is now gone. Deciding that she must try to find Meiko, Tori then travels many hundred miles to where he is stationed in Nagasaki only to learn that just the day before Meiko went AWOL and is now trying to find her back in Hiroshima.
That is when the 2nd bomb drops on Nagasaki, leaving Tori alive but horribly burned and disfigured. She is hospitalized for a long time. Meanwhile Meiko has of course not been able to find his true love and can only assume that she is dead. When the Emperor of Japan surrenders Meiko makes his plans for revenge, sailing out of Kusatsu harbour on a boat bound for America. Little does he know that the figure watching from Kusatsu beach is his Tori. As I said this a star crossed lover's story and our couple cross paths many times before finally meeting again far away and under unusual and fateful circumstances. For such a short read this book is decades in it's telling with Meiko paying a huge cost for his revenge. Not easily forgotten.


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(Image: Jared Rodriguez / t r u t h o u t;
A good friend noted recently how little we hear of Iraq and Afghanistan in the news anymore, and further noted the deafening silence regarding those ongoing wars from what he described as "dishwater left-leaning political activists" whose disengagement from the issue, according to him, makes them full of something I can't repeat in print. That bogus disengagement, he asserts, stems from the fact that Obama is in office now, so everything must be OK. It isn't, of course, but it is hard to miss the fact that we haven't heard much about the wars, or the protesters, since a couple of Januarys ago.
It's hard to argue against his point, and worse, the sense of being made of dishwater myself is difficult to avoid. I've written about the deadly messes in Iraq and Afghanistan several times in the last year or so, but it is nothing compared to the focus I had on those two conflicts going back to 2002. Back then, and until 2009, I wrote three books on those two wars, discussed them in detail in this space on a weekly basis, joined political campaigns based solely on the candidate's stance on those conflicts, and went to dozens of public protests all over the country.
Why did my coverage of these conflicts get dialed back? There are several reasons, most of which sound like excuses. Obama's new administration brought forth a torrent of issues that also deserved coverage - the Sotomayor nomination, the retirement of Justice Stevens, the rescue of Detroit's auto industry, health care reform, and the eruption of right-wing insanity both in Congress and out in the streets, to name only a few - but in the end, my own attention has most definitely wandered from two wars that deserve much more attention.
Other reporters, like Truthout's own Dahr Jamail have certainly not stepped back from covering these conflicts. Jamail, who went to Iraq to see and report what was happening from the ground, has consistently reminded us that the mayhem and bloodshed continue unabated. In an article from last month, he noted:
It is highly unlikely that the US government will allow a truly sovereign Iraq, unfettered by US troops either within its borders or monitoring it from abroad, anytime soon. The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the Iraqi and US governments indicate an ongoing US presence past both the August 2010 deadline to remove all combat troops, and the 2011 deadline to remove the remaining troops.
According to all variations of the SOFA the US uses to provide a legal mandate for its nearly 1,000 bases across the planet, technically, no US base in any foreign country is "permanent." Thus, the US bases in Japan, South Korea and Germany that have existed for decades are not "permanent." Technically. Most analysts agree that the US plans to maintain at least five "enduring" bases in Iraq.
You don't see stuff like that in "mainstream" news reporting, but it is a fact nonetheless.


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Everything You Need to Know About the CoD: Black Ops 4 'Mystery Box' Edition
Treyarch has announced a Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 'Mystery Box' Edition for the most dedicated of fans.
Set to release on October 12, 2018, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 has already been announced in a collection of different 'editions' that all contain different perks and other accessories.
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However, none compare to the 'Mystery Box' edition which was announced on July 19 at San Diego Comic-Con during the Activision 'Zombies' Panel, and includes a variety of content for players to enjoy.
As the name suggests, the Mystery Box Edition will mainly include content from the 'Zombies' Universe, such as an actual 'Mystery Box,' Character Figurines, a collectible steelbook, and much more.
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A full list of all the additions can be found below.
The Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Mystery Box Edition Includes:
- CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 4 GAME – Black Ops is back! Featuring gritty, grounded Multiplayer combat, the biggest Zombies offering ever with three full undead adventures at launch, and Blackout, where the universe of Black Ops comes to life in a massive battle royale experience.
- COLLECTIBLE ZOMBIES MYSTERY BOX – Inspired by the in-game Zombies Mystery Box, this collectible box features an eerie skeleton exterior along with frightening sounds and lighting.
- ZOMBIES HEROES FiGPiNS™ – Get the exclusive set of our new Zombies Heroes FiGPiNs featuring Scarlett Rhodes, Bruno Delacroix, Diego Necalli, and Stanton Shaw from Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
- 10 ANNIVERSARY ZOMBIES PUZZLE – This 1,000-piece puzzle features unique art celebrating 10 years of Treyarch Zombies history.
- DARK HORSE ZOMBIES COMIC ISSUE #1 – This first issue of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Zombies Dark Horse Comic comes with an exclusive cover only for the Mystery Box Edition. The comic series will unveil details about our Zombies Heroes' backstories.
- ZOMBIES LITHOGRAPHS – These three collectible lithographs commemorate Voyage of Despair, IX, and Blood of the Dead, three Zombies Experiences in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
- POPSOCKET™ – With its intimidating skull logo, this limited-edition Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 PopSocket is the perfect way to show off your Black Ops
- COLLECTIBLE STEELBOOK™– Limited edition SteelBook game case featuring unique art.
- LIMITED EDITION SPECIALIST ICON PATCHES – Call of Duty: Black Ops 4reintroduces the fan-favorite Multiplayer Specialists, each with their own unique weapon, equipment, and icons. This set of collectible patches is inspired by each of the 10 Specialists' in-game icons.
- BLACK OPS PASS*– The Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Black Ops Pass includes Classified,a bonus Zombies experience, available at Launch, 4 additional all-new Zombies experiences, 12 Multiplayer maps, and 4 exclusive Blackout characters.
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More information on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 'Mystery Box' Edition can be found on the official Activision Blog.


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The District A office is hosting a town hall for those impacted by the explosion at Watson Grinding & Manufacturing:
Today, January 29, 2020
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Recovery Center)
4703 East Shadowdale Drive
Houston, Texas 77041
This is your opportunity to get assistance, ask questions, and meet with:
- The American Red Cross
- Mental Health America – Private rooms will be available for counseling
- Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM)
- Catholic Charities
- Brenda and John Duncan YMCA
- Houston Volunteer Lawyers
- Lone Star Legal Aid
- Various City Departments
- Elected officials/representatives
Dinner will be provided by Chick-fil-A (290 and Hollister location) for those impacted by the explosion. First come, first served until it runs out.
This meeting is for those impacted by the explosion. While no one will be turned away, please be respectful of those who are going through this difficult time. If you were not impacted by the explosion and you have a question, you do have the option of contacting our office instead of coming to the meeting.


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Lawmakers gave final passage to a major overhaul of Kentucky's outdated unemployment insurance system in Frankfort. House Bill 4, sponsored by Representative Russell Webber, reforms Kentucky's unemployment insurance system while supporting re-employment, job training, and economic growth.
The state Senate made slight changes to the bill last week and sent it back to the House for final approval. The House voted to concur with the Senate's changes in a 58-36 vote.
House Bill 4 makes several critical changes to Kentucky's unemployment insurance system:
- Ties the number of weeks an individual can receive benefits to economic conditions.
- Provides an upskill provision to allow claimants to receive up to five additional weeks of benefits if the claimant is enrolled in pursuing higher education or training certifications.
- Strengthens Kentucky's work search requirements for benefit claimants
- Makes unemployment insurance taxes fairer for small businesses and new employers.
- Establishes a "work-share" provision that gives employers an alternative to lay-offs.
Historically in Kentucky, individuals spend long periods of time on unemployment than elsewhere in the nation. In addition, Kentucky has one of the lowest employment-to-population ratios in the nation. This is despite the fact that the Commonwealth has an estimated 150,000 open jobs.
As demonstrated by other states that have reformed their unemployment systems – such as North Carolina and Georgia— the reforms implemented by House Bill 4 can lead to shorter periods of benefit duration and quicker transitions to re-employment for laid-off workers. This can improve employment rates, help small businesses, and ensure the solvency of Kentucky's UI trust fund. The trust fund is funded solely by taxes on employers and is used to pay out benefits to laid-off workers.
House Bill 4 now heads to the governor's office.
Click here for more Kentucky business news.


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Martin Garrix's collaboration Ocean with American GRAMMY-nominated R&B singer Khalid has been another huge hit for the formidable producer, with over 140 million streams on Spotify and YouTube alone. Now come not one, but two remix packages to bring even more aspects to this stunning track.
Ocean's sweet future pop sounds definitely deserved some dancefloor action, and Garrix himself teams up with Cesqeaux for a perfect lead remix on this first package that takes the song into explosive new territory. Endlessly inventive, it mashes up slo-mo 4/4 electro hyperactivity with cinematic sounds in perfect harmony.
Further remixes on the first pack come from a hugely diverse range of STMPD RCRDS artists, with Bart B More, Cazztek, Todd Helder, Silque, DubVision and Goja serving up everything from bubbling house to epic big room sounds along the way. You can check out all the remixes below!


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Welcome to Menorca: wild and preserved nature, endemic cultures, exceptional architectural heritage, white sand beaches, crystal clear water.
Menorca is the most laid-back and tranquil of Spain's popular Balearic Islands — less clubby than Ibiza, less touristed than neighboring Mallorca. Authentic towns filled with locals and Spanish, unreal beaches, nature, active adventures, and wonderful little restaurants make this a paradise for those lucky enough to holiday on this "hidden gem"! After several weeks of hotel hopping throughout Spain, we ended our Spanish adventure by settling into villa life with friends and family, and this was the perfect complement to an immersive holiday.
The exceptionally private Binigaus Nou is a delightful and authentic Menorca villa with beautiful spacious bedrooms, terrific entertaining areas, and a gorgeous pool. The villa has a desirable location on an undisturbed UNESCO protected biosphere reserve, boasting sea views and its own direct access to one of the most seductive beaches on the island.
The village of Migjorn Gran is just outside the long private drive and has great restaurants, a market, and other conveniences for villa renters and is centrally located between several of Menorca's must-see towns – Mahon, Fornells, and Ciutadella.
Most of our meals were spent al fresco with perfect temperatures and gentle breezes, day and night.
While the kitchen is perfect for guests who would like to cook, we loved having the services of the delightful Chef Manu who was not only the sweetest person, but he spoiled us with beautiful salads, Menorca specialties, and desserts for several wonderful lunches and dinners. Having a chef means everyone can be on vacation at the villa! Menorca food thrives on fresh local products from the land and sea – lobster stew, roasted chicken and fish, asparagus, peppers, and fruits are all gorgeous!
Villa Life
Villa life for our two families was pretty blissful, and our favorite days may have simply been hanging out at home!
The estate itself has an endless number of trails for walking and cycling, great for hard core hikers and cyclists. Horse riders can venture onto the Camino de Cavalls, a 200 km trail around Menorca that actually crosses through the Southern edge of the estate where the villa is located.
This is a paradise for active adventurers and those seeking some of the most beautiful beaches in the Med!
Right from the villa, we hiked up to explore the impressive 80 foot tall cave, walking the same steps as so many other cultures who have made up 100's of years of Menorca's rich history.
There are more beaches in Menorca alone, than on the rest of the Balearic islands combined. The beach and seaside restaurants of Santo Tomas are a wonderful walk right from Villa Binigaus Nou.
And my favorite beach activity – bellying up to a beach restaurant with fresh seafood and crisp local wines!
Boating is a must while in Menorca and it is the ultimate way to see the beauty of the shoreline and sea on the two very different Southern and Northern coasts. Here in the South, we cruised along the crystal blue waters, gently gliding into the various "calas" (small bays) that make up the Southern coastline of Menorca.
In contrast, our day navigating the northern part of Menorca, the topography was mountainous and rural with a landscape characterized by a rugged, craggy coastline with natural harbors, red sand beaches, secret caves, and sandy coves.
Our captain, in between navigating the boat and taking his own plunges into the Med, whipped up a lovely paella for our lunch!
4X4 Safari
Menorca is so much more than gorgeous beaches and turquoise waters. Explore the island with an outstanding local expert guide on a 4×4 Jeep safari.
Menorca is remarkable – 300 year old Bronze Age monuments, the Roman empires strategic settlements, culture from the British rule of Menorca, private farms offering their local production of cheese and wine – it's all part of the process of falling in love with Menorca.
The incredible Menorcan coastline is best explored by Kayak!
On the far western end of Menorca sits Ciutadella, the island's ancient capital! This beautiful port city's historic quarter, called Es Born, is surrounded by medieval streets filled with palaces, churches, and fortresses, adorable shops, and superb seafood restaurants. Tonight our group headed out to celebrate Gil's birthday!
Evidence of life in Ciutadella dates back to 2000 B.C. and traces its history under Arabic and Christian rule. Today, the charming medieval streets of Ciutadella are best explored on foot, so plan to spend at least a half day here!
We enjoyed a magical dinner at S'Amarador!
Good night, Menorca. A week here was not nearly enough! This is the type of place you can come for a week and easily stay for a month or more. Menorca is approachable, interesting, relaxing and truly authentic! Finding a place like this today is not easy so tuck this information away and only share it with those that will truly appreciate its charms!
For those that prefer to explore the island and stay in wonderful small hotels, I can not say more about the Fontenille group of unique former homes that have been converted into boutique hotels – one with nature, active, sustainable with a focus on wine and gastronomy. In Menorca they operate two wonderful hotels – Santa Ponsa and below, Torre Vella: The decor is refined with white sheers, driftwood, local stone, and weaving give it a bohemian chic spirit.
All holidays must come to an end. I feel that travel is being respected on a higher level and those that have the privilege to go, are realizing how privileged of an experience it is. Stay longer, dig deeper, go off the beaten path, and by all means finish a long trip with an extended villa stay where you can really live a while!


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2022 Update
Our Main Stage Lobby is 90% complete! We still need flooring and furniture and furniture.
We do not anticipate our Dinner Stage being usable until 2023. As you can see in the images above, we are still in demo-mode. Since we are working witht the Texas Historical Commisison, there are a lot of steps that need to be taken behind the scenes before work can begin.
The last year and half have been rough and financially devastating for Backdoor Theatre. Imagine your business losing income for over a year. We are beyond grateful and thankful for our community, who has stepped up and given, but the work is not over yet.
Looking to give? You can donate by clicking here.
July 18, 2020 - The Flood
Backdoor Theatre has been our community's premier nonprofit theatre for the past 50 years . Like many art institutions, we were forced to close our doors in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the hopes of safely reopening in the fall of 2020.
Catastrophically, on July 18, 2020, a water main burst and flooded our theatre's Dinner Stage and Main Stage Lobby at the rate of 80 gallons per minute. In under an hour, our beloved dinner stage and main stage lobby were submerged under a staggering five feet of water. The immediate outpouring of community support was incredible between volunteer cleanup days, news coverage, and financial contributions. Unfortunately, the damage to the dinner theatre and main stage lobby was very extensive. Our current timeline estimate that we will not be back in full operation until 2023.
Our current estimate for rebuild is $350,000+. If you would like to donate, you can give here. If you are interested in volunteering at future workdays, please sign up here.
Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.


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By Kim Atienza
ARECENT episode on our Sunday TV show, "Matanglawin," featured the brilliant mind of Kyxz Mendiola who invented a flying car called "Gravity X." Gravity X has 12 propellers and 16 Li-Po batteries which is controlled using a joystick.
It also has a GPS and stabilizer. It can go from 65 to 70km per hour and can be maneuvered as of now for 15 minutes.
Kyxz first started experimenting with drones to observe how it works until he did a test run for Gravity X in July 2017.
Kyxz' background may be filmmaking and dancing only, but that doesn't limit him to vision out Gravity X as the transportation of the future. He considers it safe, reliable, and eco-friendly.
In another segment, we took note of how Filipinos can be so creative. Shoe collector Yux Torre is one of them.
Yux's shoe aren't ordinary shoes. They are miniature sneakers made by Yux herself.
Yux started making mini-sneakers back in 2010. It all started when she was fascinated to buy a pair of shoes but her size was unfortunately unavailable. She then thought of making a pair of her own but a smaller version of it instead.
As of now, she already owns 5,000 pairs of mini sneakers.
It usually takes her about 20 minutes to make a pair of Nike Air Jordan 1. However, it took her five hours to make her Nike Air Jordan 4 because of its details.
Though Yux has been a collector of mini-sneakers, Jordy Geller from USA holds the most number of sneakers with 2,388 pairs which are all brand new.
TRIVIA PA MORE (Various Sources): Most diamonds are at least 3 billion years old.
On average, most people have fewer friends than their friends do, which is called "friendship paradox"
The English word 'boondocks' is actually a Filipino loan word. Tagalog word for 'mountain' is 'bundok.'
Send your questions on anything and everything to Kuya Kim through my Twitter account @kuyakim_atienza using #AlaminKayKuyaKim.
Ating tuklasin ang mga bagay-bagay na di niyo pa alam. Walang 'di susuungin, lahat aalamin. Ito po si Kuya Kim, Matanglawin, only here in TEMPO.


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Disruption from the Inside-Out: Innovation in the Restaurant Industry
by Makaela Reinke
Opening the door to the highly acclaimed fine-dining restaurant Eastern Standard is akin to drawing back the curtain of a Broadway musical: the lights are dimmed, the music starts, and your attention is captivated by the beautiful set before you. Your spirit is soothed by the muted ruby reds and royal purples that greet you, and deep shadows cast by glamorous chandeliers further erase the memories of a tiring day. The long, granite-topped bar harkens back to days of elegance, while the modern, stunning hosts, servers, and sommeliers are experts in their performance as cast and crew guiding you through a truly sensual experience. The meal is an indulgence to your taste buds, the wine an illumination to your tongue, and the entire experience restorative to the soul. You leave the restaurant reluctantly as the candles burn low, already planning your return.
Like many of the finer things in life, such as a classic car, an Old-Master painting, or a moving jazz performance, the fine dining experience has changed little in the past century. A certain degree of expectation accompanies one's conception of "fine dining," and this expectation differentiates fine dining from merely "going out for dinner." This expectation does not merely include food quality or preparation; it does not demand a specific setting or menu, wine list or top-shelf bottle of Scotch. Rather, the expectation is more an overall quality of experience, and interestingly enough, it is the apparent unchanging nature of both "fine dining" and "eating out" that is noteworthy and puzzling. Eating out looks much like it always has, even amidst today's storms of disruptive and breakthrough models. How is it that while so much of our world changes, the business of eating has essentially stayed the same? Has the restaurant industry been affected by disruptive models at all?
Disruption capitalizes on improving the efficiency of existing systems as seen with the success in other branches of the hospitality industry: transportation (Uber) and lodging (Airbnb). Uber and Airbnb have achieved remarkable success because their systems capitalize on independence and convenience for the traveler. In both models the customer does not need to rely on a system operated by another party (hotels, hostels, taxis, etc.) but instead can be the captains of their own fate by calling their Uber and booking their dream stay without third-party fees. Even more conveniently, these innovative models are utilized through the use of smart technology and online interactions. The restaurant, however, cannot exist online, and the successful restaurant is as much experiential as it is product-based. Any adaptation of the restaurant model (pre-ordering, tablets on tables, etc.) have not lasted very long as they tarnish the very essence of a dining experience. A true meal in any self-respecting restaurant is tech-free, engaging, authentic, and sensory.
This leaves quite the challenge for any entrepreneur looking to introduce innovative, disruptive models into the restaurant world without tainting the sanctity of the experience. The reality, however, is that perhaps the front-of-house model does not need innovation. Instead, it may be the back-of-house that could benefit from some disruptive thinking. Eli Feldman, a 2001 SHA alum, recognized this early on. A former restaurateur himself, Eli is very familiar with the operations and service philosophy that restaurants hold so dear. This however, is what gave him the idea for his start-up platform, Clothbound.
Clothbound is an online platform that connects potential employees with restaurants. Similar to monster.com, it provides a convenient, simple job board specifically for the restaurant industry. Finding reliable, talented staff takes up more time and effort than most employers would like to admit. With a current nation-wide turnover rate for 66% (according to the U.S. Labor Department) this time and effort amounts to an enormous monetary and time cost for restaurants that need to re-hire over half of their staff each year, essentially causing a bottle-neck in the employment process and productivity. Clothbound looks to lower this rate by helping employers find potential staff by searching 'tags' of skill sets, personality traits, and employment history allowing them to filter through candidates more easily. In short, Clothbound is innovating the current human resource model for restaurants. Throughout all of this process however, Eli and his team have continued to recognize the importance of the human component of the restaurant industry. Clothbound does not replace a human's job. It connects the right person to the right job so that they can help the restaurant become more efficient in providing a personal experience to the customer.
Restaurants thrive because of their human component. They are living art, culinary museums that only exist when people provide a product through thoughtful service. This is why other 'disruptive' technologies have not seen success in the market: they try to remove the human element through the use of iPads at tables or ordering kiosks. But these sorts of models will only achieve initial success in fast-casual settings when the customer is looking to receive food quickly. For those looking for the authentic dining experience, technology will not interfere with that any time soon. Clothbound's model though, which disrupts the system behind the scenes, is beginning to make its mark. Zagat most recently recognized Kelly Daigle, co-founder of Clothbound, in their 30 under 30 list of Boston's finest, acknowledging her innovative thinking and impact on the market. Clothbound's technological platform is bringing the restaurant network to a digital space, effectively bringing together the two networks of employers and their potential staff.
This means that restaurants can now become more selective in regard to their hiring practices. With access to more qualified staff who will also be a better fit in the company, restaurants will see additional benefits emerge over time: devoted staff, higher levels of customer service, higher restaurant reviews, and lower turnover rates, which increase the bottom line. The employment process now becomes more sustainable as labor costs decrease and the staff become more efficient, eventually reaching a higher level of service. These employees, already a 'best fit' for the company, are more likely to receive promotions and positions within the company. Now we have the introduction of a skilled workforce in this hospitality sector, many of whom are already graduates with hospitality degrees.
Danny Meyer, CEO of the Union Square Hospitality Group and New York City restaurant Entrepreneur recognizes this shift in the service industry. He has just recently put all of his servers onto salary, announcing that none of them will accept tips. To him, their expertise deserves not only a higher living wage but also secure full-time employment. "There's not a more important stakeholder to get right than our staff" he said in an interview with New York Eater. By moving his staff to salary positions, Meyer is recognizing his staff as a skilled workforce with his own disruptive behind-the-scenes model. This has introduced hot debate over sustainable business production and increased minimum wage, neither of which will disappear any time soon. The issue of inadequate wages for these over-qualified employees is gaining attention, which in itself may give momentum to another disruptive movement as employees demand a living wage for their top-quality service. But with a revenue increase of 4.2% in the fine-dining industry in the past year, supporting skilled workers has become vitally important as restaurants compete to become the best of their markets.
And as restaurants bring in more qualified staff to their businesses, there is the interesting domino-effect that now provides an opportunity to re-approach the culture of each restaurant. Restaurants are now taking a proactive approach to fostering new work culture for the staff they have brought to the company. Many restaurants are now implementing knowledge programs: bartending classes, wine service seminars, increased menu comprehension. In hiring the 'right people' for the job, the company is also taking liberties to nurture the 'right culture' for a restaurant to create an atmosphere that encourages server participation, teamwork, and internal promotions.
The result of this back-door disruption is due mostly to consumers. Consumers want to experience memorable service. As restaurants move to meet these expectations they must in turn provide service that is reliable and organic. And here we see the opportunity for restaurants to innovate their former systems of recruiting, hiring, training, and retention of staff in the company. This is a vulnerable turning point for the industry as it takes advantage of this time to re-define what it means to work in food service. Chefs are beginning to receive more recognition, servers are put on salaries, and hospitality and business degrees are prerequisites for entry-level positions. The outcome is a highly efficient workplace with a skilled workforce that wants to be in the restaurant doing what they do best. Restaurants are taking better care of their employees all because of consumers who demand higher quality of service, which allows restaurants to become more selective of their team. This is already present in other branches of the hospitality industry: Disney is known for its positive, 'can-do' cast, and Ritz-Carlton for its elite professionalism among even the hourly employees. Quality restaurants are looking to join their ranks; introducing new, disruptive service models has simply taken its time. Innovation and disruption of the restaurant industry must happen slowly and cautiously. Any restaurateur worth his breadsticks will protect his space. However, he will also look for creative ways to cut costs and increase the service value. And while the tradition of food service may not change within the next decade or so, it is clear that new models of employment are beginning to have a presence in the industry.
In this we see the undeniable relation between disruption, innovation, and culture. Creative disruption has provided space for innovation which now leads to a new, exciting work culture that will appeal to both sides of the employment relationship. If all goes well this means the next time you go out to eat, look for the behind-the-scenes disruption models not in the food you eat, but in those who bring you the food. Work culture will bleed into the performance of the front-of-house service, drawing guests to eat out again and again. Restaurants, if they capitalize on these innovative models, will see success as they impress their audience with their artistic expression of the traditional dining experience that will surely earn a standing ovation.
Makaela Reinke is a student at the School of Hospitality Administration, class of 2016. Having worked at both small cafes and larger restaurants, she is excited about where the industry is going. As true Bostonian at heart, she enjoys exploring the city one restaurant at a time.
3 comments
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Need a great start to the day with the latest news as well as traditional Persian music? Turn on Radio Farda and be informed at all times.
RadioFarda is a joint project of the Voice of America and Radio Liberty for Iran, funded by the U.S. government. It covers a wide range of political and cultural topics compiled with a content focus on Iran. Access to the station's website has been repeatedly blocked by Iranian authorities.
Radio Farda is just the best for you if you want to be up-to-date all the time and are fluent in Persian.
Radio Farda


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Welcome to the web's most comprehensive site of quotations by women. 43,939 quotations are searchable by topic, by author's name, or by keyword. Many of them appear in no other collection. And new ones are added continually.
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Martha Finley
"Horace Dinsmore was, like his father, an upright, moral man, who paid an outward respect to the forms of religion, but cared nothing for the vital power of godliness ..."
"I have often noticed that spoiled, petted children, usually have very little love for their parents, or indeed for any one but themselves."
"It is an easy thing to call names; any fool is equal to that ... and the weapon of vituperation is generally used by those who lack brains for argument or are upon the wrong side."
"Good husbands make good wives."
"It cost the mother a pang to inflict the punishment, and leave the darling alone in her trouble; but Elsie was not one to weakly yield to inclination when it came in conflict with duty. Hers was not a selfish love; she would bear any present pain to secure the future welfare of her children."
"'Oh, are you going to teach me how to shoot?' ... 'Yes,' his father answered, smiling at the eager face. 'You will not be anxious, little wife?' turning to her with a tender loving look. 'No, my husband; surely I can trust him with you, his own wise, careful, loving father,' she answered with a confiding smile."
"... how much credit do people deserve for refraining from doing what they feel no temptation to do?"
Martha Finley, U.S. writer
(1828 - 1909)
Full name: Martha Farquharson Finley.


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Meeting with Mr. Haroon Rashid, Managing Editor, The Independent (Urdu)
Mr. Rashid recalled his association with Omar Asghar Khan and mentioned that he had attended a meeting in Abbottabad on his invitation. Mr. Rashid was interested in the Foundation's Cerag experiences, especially the stories it has generated. He said it was important to celebrate individual and collective agency of the poor.


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"Hiring an architect is a waste of money."
Yikes. *Opens tub of ice cream and cries a little…*
Well… while I will never tell you what to do with your own money, let me just tackle a quick myth: architects should not be seen as a luxury. Architects are a piece of the foundational workings of every construction project and are invaluable! We can also save you money.
The team at Rogue Architecture located out of Little Rock, Arkansas, created a series of blog posts that greatly detail how and why architects do, in fact, save clients time, money and stress! Let's break it down.
skipping out on the design is like pouring bad foundations for your new home:
doesn't matter how nice the house is if it falls over.
Their first article deep dives into their design process and how the word itself can mean so many things!
"Design is one of those words thrown around A LOT. It's everywhere. In common use it is very subjective and likely brings to mind a plethora of images that have little to do with architecture. For your architect however design is anything but subjective. For each project we take on, no matter how big, small, complex, simple, mundane or magnanimous, the process is by and large the same. We generally follow through on these three steps: interview, investigate, collaborate."
My own design process, as I share highlights of in my own post "Most Designers Specialize in One Style: Here's Why I Don't" I explain a very similar methodology and how it is critical to any successful project!
Rogue Architecture's full article on Design here: Architects Save You Money: Design
god is in the detail, not the devil.
Went a bit biblical on you there in the title, but it's true. "God is in the detail" is an idiom that explains 'any action or plan one undertakes should be done carefully and pragmatically; attention to small details will ultimately yield the greatest results.' Whereas when you say the "devil is in the detail" means that mistakes are usually made; I know which I'd chose to use if it were my own home, project and money… stay in your lane, Satan!
Rogue Architecture explains that "any design is only as successful as the details that make it work. And without a good set of construction documents (details) you're at the mercy of whomever you hired to build your project and that's not a good place to be with several hundred thousand dollars on the line. But what does that mean? How do good details equal dollars saved for you, the client? There are 3 ways that good details save you money and are potentially worth far more than the fees paid to your architect – coordination, clarity, and consistency."
Rogue Architecture's full article on Details here: Architects Save You Money: Details
The third, but maybe most essential part of why you need architects and how they save you money… and it's the most common service my potential clients cut from the scope. Well… until construction starts and they realize the value.
Rogue Architecture explains that "this is an area of architectural service that we really can't stress enough the importance of, yet it's almost always the one service that is taken advantage of least often. The technical ability to draft and to create a set of construction drawings is a learned ability by virtue of higher education and… the average person can draw a set of plans if they are sufficiently motivated. There is obviously far more that goes into the design and documentation of your average single family home, but we've addressed that before and isn't the subject here today. Professional advice and experienced oversight is not something that is taught. It is not learned from books or research or Google. It is acquired little by little after years of experience being in the field, working with clients, working with contractors, and getting things built… this advice and oversight during construction helps you, the client, save money.
When you hire your architect you were presented with a contract that outlined a scope of work and various services to be performed that are associated with that scope of work. These services are likely listed as Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents and, hopefully, Contract Administration. The first 3 services make up the final work product that your architect provides – a set of drawings issued for construction. The last item on that list, Contract Administration, is where we really get at the meat of how your architect will save you money. This service isn't tangible and honestly the only time a client sees the value of this service is when they elect NOT to have it in the architect's services. Ironic, no?"
Rogue Architecture's full article on Advice & Oversight here: Architects Save You Money: Advice & Oversight


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Equality is when we give everyone the same thing — not everyone needs the same thing. Equity is when we give everyone what they specifically need. What will equity look like in the post-COVID-19 world? The impact of the recent events in the US has shone a light on much-needed resolution around building more equity into every system we have from healthcare and education to financial and government. Please check out this powerful conversation with Aaron Clark, CEO of Equity Solutions, a DEI expert who will share his insights on steps we can all take to make our respective worlds ones of equity.
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