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Have We Been Taking the Wrong Approach?
What makes people different? What makes creative people, create differently?
When we speak of someone having a particular style, or a unique approach to what they do, what does that mean?
In the case of music or art, how can two people who work in the same medium or idiom, play the same instrument, and perhaps even have the same influences, do what they do so differently? Or if the differences are subtle, how can they change the experience for the listener or viewer so profoundly? What is that difference made of?
I've been thinking about these questions quite a lot lately, partly because we've had some substitutes playing in the band at the show I've been working for these past few months.
Now, we maintain a pretty high standard of musicianship – the core players are all very accomplished and versatile players, and when we 'sub out' we try to make sure we hire replacements of the same calibre. Luckily Berlin is well-stocked with fantastic musicians, and we're fairly well connected with the community. So it's not hard to bring in players that are up to the challenge.
However, it changes the music and the experience dramatically. For us, for our non-musical colleagues in the show, and for the audience, though they may be unaware of it.
I suppose through a certain lens this is all very unsurprising, but I started to ponder it a little and it began to strike me as a deeper and more subtle thing than it might seem at first glance. And, well, I'm all about exploring deep and subtle questions that might otherwise be overlooked… More
The First Time…
photo credit: Daniel Flower
Note: this is a slightly edited re-post from the first 'version' of this blog, and functions as a bit of a teaser for the now basically finished and nearly release-ready 'Cliffjump Manifesto' that I've been talking about here for far too long…
About six or seven years ago I spent some time in Dubrovnik, Croatia, a stunning medieval walled city on the eastern coast of the Adriatic. Some good friends/colleagues and I had the good fortune to have a 'working holiday' arrangement there for a couple of summers, whereby we would play music – basically whatever we felt like playing, but nominally jazz – in exchange for lodgings and food at a cool local taverna called the Sesame. Nice place, recommended if it's still there!
During the daytime we could pretty much do whatever we wanted, which was naturally walking, exploring, swimming, and generally hanging out. Dubrovnik has incredibly thick and ancient stone walls, which in many places stand right on the water. In a number of spots there are narrow passages through the wall to little enclaves on the outside, often small cafés or restaurant. One of these, which we never really knew the name of but which we called 'the Lav' for reasons that will shortly become clear, was a favorite haunt in the late afternoon.
Everybody's doing it…
Now 'Lav' in Croation (I am told) means 'lion', and the reason we called it that was this: next to the restaurants zone there was a kind of high rock terrace overlooking the water, and at the lip of this was a large rock on which someone had written this word, 'Lav'. This was where people jumped from. I don't really know how high it actually was, perhaps 15 meters (50 feet) or so. High enough to be daunting, but then lots of people were doing it; you could swim right underneath, the water was very clear and you could see that the shore dropped off very steeply and there was lots of uninterrupted water of great depth to jump into.
Nevertheless, it was a kind of test of courage, which built up over days and days while I built up my resolve to try this thing. I'm not a kid anymore and I don't take these things as lightly as I used to, but I also haven't completely outgrown the urge for a physical rush. So I have a very clear memory of standing up there on the rock on the day that I had decided I was going to do this thing, and taking deep breaths and telling myself that it was going to be OK, people were doing this all the time.. and fighting the biological imperative we all have built in that tells us to NOT JUMP OFF OF VERY HIGH THINGS, EVEN IF EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT….
Creative Mastery
photo credit: Wonderlane
Today we're going to talk about mastery. Thats right, you heard me. Mastery. Not 'being pretty good at something' or 'knowing more or less what you're doing' or even 'being in the zone' or 'feeling the flow'. Mastery. Being a master of whatever it is that you do. You in? Good. Buckle up…
So. I have a few piano students these days, and while the lessons are largely focused on practical pianistic things, I try to teach from the same kind of holistic perspective and approach that informs my composition and performance work – and of course, this blog. So from time to time some of the more abstract and philosophical stuff does find its way into the lessons.
Recently I found myself trying to convey something which has become very central to my whole thinking about music and piano-playing, in a kind of subconscious way, and I think it applies to creative work more broadly. It concerns, as you may have guessed already, the concept of mastery.
I suspect that many creative people tend to have a vague idea of mastery as something unattainable, or at least attainable only by an elite and supremely gifted few. Something for the rest of us to strive towards, perhaps, but never attain. And what would it feel like to attain it, anyway, since we never really sit down and define exactly what it means? How would we know that we've arrived?
Some of us are even uncomfortable with the whole idea, mistrusting perhaps the elitist overtones… And yet there are masters, undeniably – those whose abilities seem to transcend normal limitations, whose confidence and poise match their technical command, who make it seem easy.
I believe that coming to terms with this word, and what it means to us, can have a profound impact on our approach to creative work. So I'm going to try to get very specific about what it means to me (and as always, you're heartily invited to join me with your comments at the end!)…
Authentic Creativity
photo credit: shawnzrossi
I did an interview recently, focused on my compositional work and approach (I'll post a link when it goes live) and, as often happens in these things, once we'd wrapped it up and signed off I found my brain spinning with other ideas. You know, things we didn't touch on but could have, things I wish I'd said or wish I'd said better. So it goes. I guess I just need to do more interviews…
However, one of these 'afterthoughts' has stuck with me, and I'd like to try to expand on it a bit here. It has to do with authenticity. Now, this is a subject I've touched on here before, and of course it's also something of a buzz word in the interwebs generally and the blogosphere more specifically. We need to be more authentic, we're told; people like authenticity, it's generally considered to be a Good Thing.
But, ummm, what is it? What does it mean? I suppose standard answer would probably be something like "being true to yourself" – but let's face it, that's basically a meaningless cliché and doesn't tell us much of anything at all. It's an unexamined platitude.
(Quick aside: I'm generally allergic to unexamined platitudes – ideas or terms that are bantered around without anyone ever seeming to take the time to really question and define them, or find out if in fact there's any substance to them at all. Or perhaps allergic is not the right word; I'm actually kind of attracted to these linguistic or logical black holes. I'm driven to try to figure out what, if anything, they mean – or at least, what they mean to me.)
Give The People What They Want…
A slightly better / more complete answer, then, for me – and the one I've been using for a while now, in various contexts – is this: Always try to be the best, most honest version of yourself, rather than being what you think people want you to be (or saying what they want to hear, and so on). It's still pretty vague, but at least it's something. The key here is that in fact we can't ever know, really, what people want us to be, so it's best not to spend a lot of time trying to reverse-engineer it.
However, I still think there's room for improvement. And while I don't claim to be any kind of ultimate authority on the subject, I do seem to have stumbled on something that is serving me reasonably well – for the moment at least – as a kind of guideline to help me move towards some kind of authenticity in my own life and work.
And it has to do with stew. Or goulash, gumbo, whatever, take your pick…
Keep it secret! Keep it safe!
photo credit: lrargerich
I read a short blog post a few days ago called 'Creative Privacy', which posed the question "Do you agree that it's best to keep your creative projects private until you're ready for input and criticism?"… here's what I posted by way of a comment:
This is a thorny one. I think it really depends on what you're looking for by 'letting people in'… and on your degree of artistic confidence. If you're looking for approval or validation, because you need those things in order to feel OK about your work, then I think there's danger there for sure. If you're looking for criticism to hone your ideas, and you're confident enough to handle that, it can be a healthy part of the process. It's not necessary – some people create in a very private way, some in a very public way. I've experimented with both, and have pretty much arrived at a place where I'm confident enough to have a very open process; the project I'm immersed in now is a relatively public one, where I put out works in a very raw form and I'm not much bothered by how people respond to it. I'm really just happy if there is *some* response as opposed to deafening silence…
Predictably, there was a range of other responses, ranging from the somewhat paranoid ("what if someone steals your idea?") to the more blustery ("I'm an artist. I don't care about input and criticism!"). Some found an ambivalent middle ground; I guess you could put my own response in that category.
I think it's worth examining our responses to this a little more closely, because they say a lot about our relationship to our work…
Fearless Problem-Solving
photo credit: whiteafrican (from the Maker Faire Africa, Ghana 2009)
What's the difference between an artist and a technician? I suspect that the answer to that really depends on whom you're talking to. I'm sure a lot of artists would say there's all the difference in the world, but I'm not so sure I agree. I also think there are a lot of artists who get a lot done who might question the notion that there's a cut-and-dried categorical difference between the two.
A lot of what really separates people who make art on an active, daily basis from people who don't (but perhaps imagine that they could, or would like to) is not some mysterious source of 'inspiration' but technical skill and the experience it's based on. And maybe even more than that, it's about attitude. It's about fearlessness.
I've been thinking about this lately because I've been immersed in a task that was highly technical in nature, and less overtly 'artistic' than usual. However, it has in a way been highly creative and satisfying and I thought it would be interesting to explore that a little – and get around the music-and-art-bias that sometimes pervades things around here.


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Title - Bargain in Bronze
Author - Natalie Anderson
Stars - 3.5
Bargain in Bronze:
Libby's specialty is producing her renowned muesli. When an Olympic athlete invites her to make cereal for him, she's puzzled that his brother Jack should accuse her of trying to spoil his brother's career. Libby intends to remain single, but with Jack around, she can barely suppress the pleasure she's long denied herself.
Jack's fascination with Libby is immediate, but he's raised his two siblings following their parent's death, and it's been hard work for as long as he can remember. He can't let down his guard when his brother is so close to the Olympic success. However, keeping Libby at bay takes every ounce of his self-control.
Neither wants a relationship, but they can't refute their attraction. When the relationship starts to crackle between them, will they be able to take it?
Bargain in Bronze started out alright, but I never really felt I knew either of them. Bargain in Bronze hopped around a fair bit which was slightly off-putting. The story is basically okay, not over the top, and a quick read. Perhaps it should have been a novella. I think more detail is needed, and perhaps Natalie Anderson needs to expand descriptions a little.

subset: commoncrawl


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Back In Time
Aug. 11, 1945: Sgt. Richard O. Moore left Monday night to report to Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, after spending 30 days with his wife and daughter. He served 12 months in the European Theater with the 128th General Hospital as a clerk in the registrar's office.
--John Voss and Clarence Calcote, both of Plainview, have purchased the M&M Grocery at 1029 Broadway and began operation Monday. Roy McLaughlin is the former owner.
--Motor Machinists' Mate Third Class John Paul Mason wrote his parents that he has landed safety in the Philippines.
Aug. 11, 1955: Lt. and Mrs. Howard E. Stinson have returned from Germany, where he has been stationed with the Air Force. They are now in Plainview visiting with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ashley Mixon, and her sister, Mrs. John Kirchhoff.
--The Bulldog cheerleaders will be at cheerleading camp next week on the campus of Southern Methodist University. The squad includes Peggy Billington, Gloria Ayers, Charlotte Garner, Melba Williams, Katherine Brown and Kate Swanner.
--Those scheduled to man the dunking board tonight at the Plainview Band Parents Carnival include Jim Norman, Bob Carter, John Joe Kirchhoff, J.C. Oakley, James Wallace Davenport and Olan Alexander.
Aug. 11, 1965: Developers Randall Hodges and Travis Goree and builder Weaver Adair are planning the development of 43 two-acre tracts in Pleasant Acres Development northwest of Plainview. An open house is planned Sunday at the first home completed in the development, which is 10 minutes from Plainview.
--Twirlers for the PHS Band has been announced by Band Director O.T. Ryan. They are Nedra Magee, Judy Newland, Donna Taylor, Pat Patterson, Connie Emberton, Yvonne Emberton, Sisti Walker and Sue Perrin.
--Gene Barnett and Bill Clymer, vocational agriculture teachers at PHS, are participating in the statewide In-Service Education Workshop for teachers of vocational agriculture. The sessions are being held in Dallas.
Aug. 11, 1975: Tom and Janie Aday have purchased the West-Edgemere Pharmacy, 2408 Yonkers, from Jess Wayne West. The business is to be renamed Edgemere Pharmacy.
--The home of the Rev. and Mrs. H.M. Reeves, 1603 Dallas St., has been selected Home of the Week by the Beautification Committee of the Women's Division of the Plainview Chamber of Commerce.
--Troy Klepper of Kress won first in the 7,000-pound open division at the tractor pull in Vernon on Friday. Looney and Rhodes tractor of Petersburg places third in the 7,000 open and Gary Foster of Kress won fifth place. On Saturday, Klepper came in second in the 9,000-pound open contest and Looney and Rhodes placed third.
Compiled by Doug McDonough


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The acer family of trees, better known as maple trees, contains thousands of species and cultivars (hybrids). The maple tree popularity with gardeners is in its versatility, easy-to-care-for lifestyle, and its fantastic fall and sometimes summer foliage. All maples will thrive, provided they have well-drained soil and enough sunlight. The shallow roots of maples can make gardening around them problematic, so plant larger varieties away from flower and garden beds. Choose the planting site for your maple based on its mature size rather than its size when you buy it.
Plant maples in early to mid-fall or mid- to late spring to give the tree a chance to grow roots and settle into its planting site without the stress of growing and maintaining leaves.
Choose a spot in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. The more sun your maple receives the brighter its fall color will be.
Dig a hole twice as deep and three times as wide as the root ball. Pile the removed soil to one side. Break up large soil clumps and remove rocks, roots, sticks and other debris from the removed soil, and from the planting hole.
Mound soil in the middle of the planting hole and place the tree on the mound with the roots hanging off to the side. Make the soil mound high enough so that the root collar (the junction between roots and trunk) is level with the surface.
Remove your maple tree from its container or unwrap the burlap from balled and burlaped trees. Loosen the soil around the root ball and examine the roots. Prune off any broken roots, making cuts 2 to 3 inches into healthy tissue. Separate and spread the roots.
Place your maple in its planting hole, gently spreading the roots so that they drape over the mound and spread out into the planting hole.
Fill the hole with the removed soil, and gently firm the soil around the roots and base of the maple.
Give your newly-planted maple 1 to 2 gallons of water. Pour the water slowly around the tree. If water begins to pool on the surface, stop watering and allow the soil to absorb the water before you resume.
Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch--wood chips or shredded bark work well--around your maple. The mulch should extend 2 to 3 feet from the trunk on all sides. Pull the mulch 3 to 4 inches away from the maple's trunk to avoid damaging the trunk.


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1. Ingleborough in its full glory
In this author's opinion, the finest way to approach this finest of Yorkshire peaks is not from the clichés of Ingleton or Chapel-le-Dale, but instead from Clapham. A climb of Ingleborough via its south-east flank, glimpsing the cavernous underworld at Gaping Gill, before returning via the wild limestone pavement of Moughton and the glacial erratics of Norber, does full justice to the mountain's remarkable limestone and glacial geology.
Start/finish Clapham (GR: SD745692)
Distance 14 miles
Time 4-6 hours
2. The 'other' Yorkshire Three Peaks
If the crowds on the 'official' Yorkshire Three Peaks don't appeal, why not try the Wharfedale alternative? Starting at Kettlewell, head over the long ridge of Old Cote Moor Top to Birks Fell, then descend to Langstrothdale, walk around the spectacular top of the valley to Cray, ascend Buckden Pike, then brave the sting-in-the-tail climb up Great Whernside before descending via Hag Dyke. Save for a day with good visibility to make the most of the high-level views.
Start/finish Kettlewell (GR: SD968723)
Distance 23 miles
Time 8–11 hours
3. Not-to-be-forgotten Nidderdale
Nidderdale was left out of the Yorkshire Dales National Park upon its creation, but in its upper reaches you'd never know. How Stean Gorge is a limestone wonder (now with added via ferrata), while the walk over In Moor to Scar House Reservoir, then following the Nidderdale Way around the head of the valley, is a route to equal anything in the National Park.
Start/finish Lofthouse (GR: SE100728)
Distance 9 miles
Time 4 hours
4. The wonders of Lower Wharfedale
Bolton Abbey is well worth a visit, but expect crowds at weekends. Luckily they are easily escaped with elevation. Beginning at Posforth Bridge (there are usually vacant verges to park in), take the lower route through the misleadingly named Valley of Desolation before heading over Barden Moor to reach the great gritstone fortress of Simon's Seat. Descend to Dalehead farm and walk back along the River Wharfe, past the booming Strid and through the lush ancient forest surrounding it.
Start/finish Posforth Bridge (GR: SE075557)
Distance 10 miles
Time 4–5 hours
5. Malham magic
The limestone scenery of the Dales at its most jaw-dropping. Malham Cove is famous but Gordale Scar is equally impressive, a sheer-sided gorge of vertiginous scale. A short but thrilling scramble up tufa and waterfalls leads to a wild land of limestone pavement and lonely trees, leading to the even-lonelier Malham Tarn. From there walk back via Ing Scar to emerge above Malham Cove itself, where even the birds seem wary of the huge space beneath them.
Start/finish Malham (GR: SD901629)
Distance 10 miles
Time 4-5 hours
6. Peace and pastoral beauty in Swaledale
Swaledale is less accessible than Wharfedale or Ribblesdale, but the pay-off is a sense of world-apart tranquillity. From Hoggarths head over Keld Side to Angram, walk over Kisdon to Muker, then around the east flank of Kisdon to pass a triplet of waterfalls: Kisdon Force, Catrake Force and Wain Wath Force. Best in spring when Swaledale's famous wildflower meadows are in full bloom.
Start/finish Hoggarths (GR: NY870013)
Distance 8 miles
Time 4- 5 hours
7. Haworth to Hebden Bridge: "It's me, Cathy"
Experience the land of Catherine, Heathcliff and that Kate Bush song. Starting from Haworth, follow the Brontë Way to the remains of Top Withens (possible inspiration for Wuthering Heights) following helpful signs in both English and Japanese. From there pick up the Pennine Way for a while, follow the permissive path over Wadsworth Moor, then descend into the wonderful woods, crags and mills of Hebden Dale to return to Hebden Bridge. The number 500 bus gets you back to Haworth.
Start Haworth (GR: SE030372)
Finish Hebden Bridge (GR: SD965246)
Distance 12 miles
Time 4-6 hours
8. Captain Cook country
The mountain-in-miniature of Roseberry Topping is a highlight here. It's said the young James Cook walked in the area, glimpsing the North Sea and dreaming of what might be. Follow in his footsteps by starting at Great Ayton, climbing Roseberry Topping, walking around the escarpment of Newton Moor to reach Cook's monument before returning to the start.
Start/finish Great Ayton (GR: NZ562109)
Distance 7 miles
Time 3-4 hours
For loads more on Yorkshire, pick up or download the latest July issue of The Great Outdoors


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LED Wall Packs: How to Calculate Return On Investment (ROI)
LED wall packs, area lighting fixtures that mount to the side of buildings, are an efficient way to light a parking lot. Although wall pack landscape, come in a variety of shapes, wattages, and beam angles, one thing they have in common is their consumption of electrical energy.
Wall pack light's, have depended heavily upon high wattage metal halide bulbs to deliver lumens. However, the advent of LED lighting, with its flexibility in housing options, wattages, and beam angles, is rapidly transforming the wall pack landscape.
Increasingly, when weighing the pros and cons of LED commercial wall pack versus their High-Intensity Discharge (HID) alternatives, the only advantage is that the initial materials costs of HID bulbs is less expensive than LEDs. However, that expensive is quickly eclipsed by maintenance and energy costs.
A rule of thumb regarding LEDs is that you can use a quarter of the wattage of HID bulbs to replicate the same amount of lumens.
Consider a shopping mall with fourteen (14) 400 Watt Metal Halide fixtures. These fixtures burn approximately 5.6 kilowatts per operating hour. If the mall owner pays the national average of 12-cents per kilowatt hour (KwH), his energy expense is 67-cents per hour. If his wall packs are burning from dusk to dawn or 11-hours per day, 365 days per year, the mall owner is paying close to $2,700 in energy costs. And then, with the HID bulb, the mall owner must contend with light loss and the expense of replacing bulbs and ballasts when they expire, typically within three years.
Conversely, the energy expenditure of an equivalent LED Wall Pack will be much less:
Fourteen (14) 120 Watt LED Wall Pack fixtures will burn just 1.68 Kilowatts per operating hour. At eleven hours per day, 365 days per year, the mall owner's energy expense is just $809.42 per year. That's a savings $1,888.66 per year. Also, as the LED wall pack has a five-year warranty and will likely last for 10 or more years, the mall owner saves in maintenance costs as well.
Added benefits are to the community; our landfills are spared the waste of yet more mercury-laced bulbs, and our utilities will pause before building more nuclear power plants to accommodate the ever-increasing energy demands.
A rough ROI for the mall owner is less than three years, which means at least 7 years of complete money-in-his-pocket savings. It would appear to be as close to a no-brainer situation as one can get.
As an added benefit, the 120-watt wall pack will produce even more light than the 400-watt metal halide with less light loss over time.
We have also added a FREE LED ROI Calculator for you
Bycalculate investment LED Wall Packs owner pack packs return


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In need of your daily dose of cute? Look no further! Check out the flamingos, camels, giant pandas, and other adorable baby animals in these photos.
BREAKING OUT: After spending two months inside an egg, a tiny loggerhead sea turtle hatches before heading to the ocean. Females often return to the same beaches to lay their own eggs.
Photograph by Wild Wonders of Europe, Zankl, Nature Picture Library
TAKE A WALK: A dromedary camel can usually walk within a few hours of being born. (This one in Egypt is just two days old!) As an adult, a camel can cover 25 miles (40 kilometers) of desert in one day.
Photograph by Gerry Ellis, Minden Pictures
UGLY BUT CUTE: Rose-ringed parakeet chicks might look naked without all their feathers. But as adults they're covered in bright green plumage, helping them blend in with leaves.
Photograph by Joe Blossom, Alamy
BEARY HAIRY: Giant pandas, native to China, grow their black-and-white fur about a month after they're born. At birth, their bodies are pink with only a few white hairs.
Photograph by VCG, Getty Images
ALL GROWN UP: Rain frogs in Costa Rica skip the tadpole stage and hatch from eggs fully formed. They develop a special tooth to cut themselves out from the eggs.
Photograph by Michael and Patricia Fogden, Minden Pictures
READY FOR TAKEOFF: To gain speed before they fly, flamingos "run" across the water on webbed feet. Chicks are gray and white until they're about two years old, when they start turning pink from pigments in the food they eat.
Photograph by Anup Shah, NPL, Minden Pictures
TAKE A STAND: When it's born, an elephant calf needs help standing from Mom and other females in its herd. After a couple days, the calf is strong enough to move with the herd.
Photograph by ZSSD, Minden Pictures
GOT YOUR BACK: A young southern tamandua—a kind of anteater in South America—rides on its mom's back while she searches for food.
Photograph by Nick Garbutt, Nature Picture Library
Click the full-screen arrows in the upper right for more information!
Party Animals
Two Panda Bears Are Better Than One - Ep. 4
The fun never ends when two panda friends goof off together in this video featuring music from Parry Gripp


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Check it out:
Oulu's first wave – Experience from Nokia helps new entrepreneurs
Excerpt from Youtube description:
"Oulu has been a city of Nokia. For engineering students, a career at the big company was the number one thing to pursue after graduation. And for the employees it was a place where you could use your know-how in an international environment.
But times have changed and now Oulu's engineers and other experts are learning new things, for example how to become successful entrepreneurs. They are confident in what they do and lot of knowledge in technology, telecoms and hardware.
Couple of years ago, entrepreneur Teemu Polo, a former Nokia employee, and his friends put together Starttaamo, a startup hub for Northern region. Founding members Polo and Ykä Marjamaa tell us that Oulu is now experiencing its first wave of startups. The ecosystem is growing fast and Starttaamo is a good example of it.
To be the first to know about awesome tech and startups SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/KickSubscribe
Sign up to our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/oGxzH
More from Kick:


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Lifepak CR2 Semi Automatic with WiFi
Taking a new step into AED evolution, Physio Control has created the CR2 to help increase chances of survival against cardiac arrest with advanced INSIGHT™ technology. This allows the device to analyse a patient's heart rhythm whilst CPR is being delivered, an exclusive feature to the CR2 AED which will help to close the time between CPR and defibrillation shock, boosting the chance of restarting a casualty's heart.
The LifePak CR2 AED COMES WITH:
LifePak CR2 Key Features
Embedded WiFi which communicates to LIFELINKcentral™ Physio Control's online AED management program
Advanced INSIGHT™ technology. This allows the device to analyse a patient's heart rhythm whilst CPR is being delivered
Carries out self-monitoring to ensure the device is rescue-ready at all times
Allows remote AED program management if required
Sends patient data to emergency responders and hospitals
Automatic accessory expiry reminders
IP55 rating
Not Sure Which AED it best for you?Remember, we are here to help. If you have any questions, or need help deciding the best AED for your needs, please call us .... it's what we are here for. 01473 551915


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Commerce Minister Announces Delegations for Associate
Press Release – New Zealand Government
Commerce Minister Simon Power has announced the delegations for new Associate Commerce Minister Craig Foss.Hon Simon Power
Minister of Commerce
30 June 2011
Media Statement
Commerce Minister Announces Delegations for Associate
Commerce Minister Simon Power has announced the delegations for new Associate Commerce Minister Craig Foss.
"One of Mr Foss's main delegations will be the oversight of the Commerce Commission as ownership Minister and of ongoing operations of the Commerce Act," Mr Power said.
"I look forward to working with him as the Government continues its major reforms of regulation in the business sector to promote competition and increase participation in New Zealand's capital markets."
Mr Foss's other delegations are:
• Responsibility for trade remedies and responsibility for the administration of the Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act 1988 and the Temporary Safeguard Authorities Act 1987.
• Responsibility for the oversight of the three institutions involved in standards and conformance infrastructure in New Zealand. The three bodies are: Standards New Zealand, the Testing Laboratory Registration Council, and the Join Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand.
• Responsibility for the National Contact Point responsible for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises which provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business conduct.
Mr Foss said he welcomes the opportunity to work in the Commerce portfolio.
"Following my experience as Chair of the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee, I'm keen to contribute to the Government's reforms in the commerce area."
Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
Original url


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Merry Christmas dear Elves, you have all deserved a nice rest after creating all the wonderful handmade gifts and decorations through the year. Just a short rest though if you wish to make a new head start beginning January 2017.
For now if you have photos of projects that were "secret" at the time of making, you might like to post a picture to share with your fellow Elves.
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
Secrets Shared
3 comments:
- Sharmayne said...
Hi Narelle - I'd just like to say thankyou for hosting this throughout the year, even though I've let you down by not being able to participate like I had hoped! I'm sure planning for a more productive and far less stressful 2017. I hope you will allow me to take part if you host this next year. Wishing you all the best, Sharmayne
- 28 December 2016 at 16:48
Hi Narelle could you please send me the link again,as when I deleted my old blog I lost the link to this blog,thankyou xx
- 29 December 2016 at 00:07
- Renee said...
Narelle, thank you for hostessing our workshop this year! I would not have completed nearly as many gifts without this blog to help hold me accountable and feel I had a deadline to meet. I hope you have a very Happy New Year!
- 30 December 2016 at 12:31
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Health care is in a period of deep transformation. Global and domestic macroeconomic pressures are driving focus away from fee-for-service medicine toward high-quality care that is cost-efficient, also known as value-based care. This paradigm shift results in a move away from managing disease to managing the overall health of populations, setting the course for the Arnhold Institute's Research and Development (R&D) agenda. R&D at the Arnhold Institute is rooted in data science.
The call for healthcare transformation coincides with unprecedented availability of data from electronic health records, genomics, insurance databases, clinical trials, and other sources. That data science team aims to leverage that data for knowledge discovery by applying recent advances in computer science and econometrics in novel ways. The data science team is an interdisciplinary group of computer scientists, economists, software developers, and clinician researchers.
The Arnhold Institute is investing in new academic capabilities and business partnerships to advance the fields of health system design and global health, leveraging the resources of the largest health system in New York.
The following projects are examples of partnerships that are advancing the Arnhold Institute's mission of creating lasting global health impact at scale for the poor.


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2009 Conversations
2008 Conversations
2007 Conversations
2006 Conversations
Gavin MacLeod: Captain relinquishes ship to original navigator
Randy Singer: Christmas: An American conundrum
Ray Gannon: Sharing Christ's love
Max Latham: No home for the holidays
Ronald J. Sider: An age of hunger
Dennis Swanberg: 'Nip sin in the bud'
Steven Daugherty: Partners in healing
Hope Egan: Does God care about what we eat?
Ginny Owens: Fingerprints of God's love
Wayne Warner: Preserving our heritage
Clay and Renee Crosse: Broken by pornography
John Schneider: God is up to something
Stanley M. Horton: Jesus will return
Hal Donaldson: Lessons from America's dark corners
Dave Ramsey: Entrepreneurship equals evangelism?
Barbara Johnson: Still laughing
Dan Hudson: Bringing Christ's presence
Brad Lewis: Ministry in combat
Bob Reccord: 'Launching your kids for life'
Frank Peretti: The Gospel as page-turner
Jeremy Camp: Restored
Mark Lowry: 'God is crazy about you!'
Zollie Smith: The power of Pentecost
Evelyn Husband: High Calling
Mark Earley: Aftercare is the key
Jessie Daniels: Living proof
Stephen Baldwin:
Livin' it
Josh McDowell: Jesus can change your life (3/27/05)
Thomas E. Trask: Discovering Jesus (3/20/05)
Roger Powell Jr.: Hungry and humble (3/13/05)
Ellie Kay: Recovering from the pitfalls of debt (2/27/05)
Dennis Rainey: Romance to last a lifetime (2/20/05)
Fred and Brenda Stoeker: Sexual sin doesn't need to end a marriage (2/13/05)
Kurt Warner: Up or down (1/30/05)
Mayor Alan Autry: Acting on God's leading (1/23/05)
Actress Jennifer O'Neill: Life after Hollywood, forgiveness after abortion (1/16/05)
Dr. James Dobson: Still focusing on the family (1/9/05)
2004 Conversations
Frank PerettiÕs debut novel, This Present Darkness, placed him front and center as a writer with wide appeal. The sequel, Piercing the Darkness, connected him with even more fans, and millions of readers have since snapped up copies of Prophet, The Oath and The Visitation — along with a host of books for younger readers. HangmanÕs Curse, one of his youth-themed works, was made into a feature film in 2003, and The Visitation is scheduled to hit the big screen this year. PerettiÕs latest novel, Monster, takes readers in a new direction but continues to explore ageless issues. Peretti recently spoke with Associate Editor Scott Harrup.
PE: Your fiction consistently directs your readers to examine the reality of God. Do you see that as your calling?
PERETTI: Absolutely. ItÕs a ministry. GodÕs called me to use storytelling to equip and edify the body of Christ. Also, to see if I can expand the body of Christ. So far, thatÕs worked out pretty well.
PE: What were some influences that shaped your faith?
PERETTI: Family mostly. I was raised in a Christian home; I grew up in the Assemblies of God. I had good Christian people around me. It was the grace of God and the calling of God. From the time I was a little kid, I loved the Lord Jesus and I wanted to serve Him. ThatÕs all there was to it. I canÕt say I was born saved, but it was awfully close to that.
PE: Can you identify an experience that set your life on its course?
PERETTI: Back in the days when they had 16 mm movies, our church showed a Christian movie. I remember being shaken and really moved and going back to the prayer room. I prayed, ÒLord, thatÕs what I want to do. I want to tell stories.Ó That was pivotal. Of course, I started out wanting to do movies, and that didnÕt pan out. I became a novelist instead. Now weÕre kind of going full circle because some of my novels are being made into movies. So God has His way of doing things.
I remember another epiphanic moment in my 30s. IÕd been pastoring with my dad near Seattle, but I was seeking the LordÕs will and trying to figure out what in the world I was supposed to do with my life. I was out with Barb, my dear wife, near Puget Sound up on the big rocks overlooking the sound. And it came so clearly to me: Frank, youÕre supposed to be a writer. IÕd tried so many things. I finally realized for once and forever that the only time I ever really felt at peace and felt fulfilled and full of joy was when I was writing.
PE: Whom do you go to, or what resources do you access, to maintain your spiritual vitality?
PERETTI: I develop a small circle of friends that I can share with. I attend church, of course, and the worship and the teaching from the Word are integral to my faith. But having that cluster of good, godly, mature people around me really counts for a lot. ItÕs a funny dynamic, when you become some kind of a known person, I guess. A lot of people know who you are and want to somehow be a part of your life. But that makes it so much more important that you have close friends who know you for who you really are. You need a group of people around you who can share life as it really is and share the Lord.
PE: This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness both examine satanic forces. ItÕs a subject youÕve said you may revisit. What are some current cultural markers that make you believe society is willing to consider the reality of demonic activity?
PERETTI: I donÕt see any markers that indicate, at least in our culture, in the West, that weÕre more preoccupied with demonic activity. But I do see a definite rise in the interest in spirituality. It takes different forms. Being spiritual creatures and being deprived of spiritual reality through humanism and evolution and all this other stuff, people are searching. A lot of films have come out dealing with spiritual issues, the hereafter and whatÕs going to happen to us when we die. ThereÕs a hunger out there.
PE: Youth-oriented fiction is a big part of your life as a writer. Why?
PERETTI: Youth have always been a part of my ministry. I cut my teeth as a youth speaker at youth groups and rallies and summer camps. The first book I ever published was The Door in the DragonÕs Throat, which was written for junior-high-age kids. The Cooper KidsÕ adventure series all stemmed from that.
I like kids. IÕve always been a child at heart. I try not to lose that. I jump back and forth between big grown-up books and books for young people. And, man oh man, there are people who come up to me — and theyÕre grown up with kids of their own — who still remember, ÒOh yeah, the first book I ever read was one of those kidsÕ books.Ó And now their kids are reading them.
PE: Much of your latest novel, Monster, takes place in the woods. Would you describe yourself as an outdoorsman?
PERETTI: When I think of an outdoorsman, I think of the hunter wearing camouflage and toting his gun and going out and getting himself an elk. I donÕt hunt. I donÕt have camouflage clothing. But I live out in the woods and I love it out here.
PE: I was interested in the stutter that you gave one of the main characters in Monster. I relate to someone in fiction who has a pronounced AchillesÕ heel. How did that factor into your shaping of the story?
PERETTI: The stutter was part of BeckÕs character, the fact that she is a frail person. That she doesnÕt fit in. A stutter or any kind of a defect like that has a social impact. For her, sheÕs just afraid to be around people. Afraid to talk. She has a lot of fears. That, of course, is what goes into her whole character development and the change that she goes through. At first sheÕs timid, stuttering, very sheltered, and wants to stay comfortable and in her own world. By the end of the story, sheÕs able to come out of that shell and assert herself and do what needs to be done and find strength in that.
PE: Is there any danger — when using mythical figures to drive a story that has a spiritual foundation — of relegating God to the arena of fable in some readersÕ minds?
PERETTI: I havenÕt seen that. I wrote about a dragon in The Oath, and I didnÕt encounter anybody who thought I was trying to promote that dragons are real. So, that falls into that interesting realm of Christian fiction and whether or not the body of Christ has gotten used to it enough to be able to draw the difference between what is fiction and what is theological treatise.
PE: In your introductory note to the reader in Monster, you point out that the title has a broader meaning. Many of your readers will probably connect that truth to your book No More Bullies. How did some of your own experiences growing up expose you to the monstrous characteristics that people can display?
PERETTI: In the course of the book you begin to understand who the monster really is. IÕm talking about the monster in all of us — when we are devoid of absolutes, when God is taken out of the equation, when we are told continually through evolutionary doctrine that weÕre nothing but animals. Who hasnÕt experienced firsthand that animal side of our nature that would most certainly prevail if we did not have a God-given conscience and God-awareness and some sense of accountability to a moral absolute? When you remove those things, which is exactly what evolution does, then you run into the kinds of problems that I put into the book.
PE: What do you want readers to get from Monster?
PERETTI: I want them to walk away asking questions. What are the moral consequences to evolutionary dogma? If we fully believed in it and it became the moral foundation for our society would we become more like animals? Could our society endure if that was the only truth that we really had? IÕm not just coming right out and going, ÒBam, bam, bam, this is the way it is and this is the way you should think.Ó IÕll be content if people ask questions about things theyÕve always been told.
PE: You were recognized last year with an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Indiana Wesleyan University. What did that mean for you?
PERETTI: ItÕs such a remarkable, wonderful good thing somebody did for me. IÕve had trouble believing I deserve such an honor. It was just so meaningful to me.
PE: YouÕve traveled the country with your monologue ÒThe Chair,Ó talking about people who create their own truth. Where do you anchor your truth claims?
PERETTI: My truth claims are anchored in the Word of God. The Bible is a consistent, coherent message from God applicable to all aspects of life in all times and in all places. It has proven itself through the centuries. It presents a whole scheme of truth that is consistent with what we observe in reality in terms of manÕs heart, manÕs needs and what can be done about manÕs needs.
How did Charles Colson put it? Three big questions: How did we get here? What went wrong? How do we fix it? The Bible answers those questions. Ravi Zacharias offers the classic worldview quadrants: Where do we come from? Why are we here? How should we live since we are here? Where are we going? The Bible answers all those questions.
Consider the implications of evolutionÕs answers. How did we get here? WeÕre strictly an accident. WhatÕs the purpose for being here? There is no purpose because weÕre an accident. How should we live? Any way you want. Where are we going? Nowhere.
I wish people would think about this before they just jump in and believe evolution. Look at the consequences. This is devastating.
PE: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
PERETTI: IÕd like to see myself still writing. IÕd like to see some really good films made from stories that I havenÕt even written yet. IÕd like to be a lot more involved in the production of those films. But more important, I hope that my life will be a life of peace. I really hope that I will fulfill GodÕs purpose for my life. I donÕt want to drop the ball and miss out on whatever it is HeÕs trying to perfect in me.
PE: Do you have a final word of encouragement?
PERETTI: DonÕt be afraid to ask questions. The truth will stand. GodÕs Word will stand. It was around long before Darwin ever challenged it. It will be around long after Darwin is just a memory.
E-mail your comments to email@example.com.


text:
Miranda & Elektra
Twin Sisters
Sam & Shaka
Artistic Duo
Cecilie & Amalie
Twin Sisters
Gabi & Sung Jin
A Couple
Will & Chloe
A Couple
Miranda & Elektra
Twin Sisters
- We look quite similary.
Exactly the same.
- Does one that's more romantic than the other ?
- I might be more romantic.
I like to see the good in everything
and the good in people.


text:
Windward Community College students will sing, strum, dance and play music at three performances celebrating the end of semester. The performances will be on May 6, 9 and 12 and are free and open to the public.
Windward CC Piano Program Spring Concert, under the direction of So Jin Kimura
- Tuesday, May 6, 7 p.m. at the Ronald E. Bright Theatre at Castle High School
The piano program students will showcasing solo pieces ranging from Disney's movie Up to the classical first movement of the Piano Sonata in C Major by Mozart.
Windward CC Vocal Program Concert, under the direction of Kaʻala Carmack
- Friday, May 9, 7–9 p.m. at the Hale ʻĀkoakoa, Windward CC with intermission/refreshments
The concert features performances by the choir and voice classes, Professor Ron Loo's slack key guitar students and Sky Gora's Hula ʻŌlapa students.
Hanauna Mele Concert Series, under the direction of Kamuela Kimokeo
- Monday, May 12, 6:30–8:30 p.m. at the Paliku Theatre, Windward CC
The concert features slack key and ʻukulele students from Windward CC and University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu. Special musical guests include Aaron Mahi, Martin Pahinui and George Kuo.
—A Windward CC news release


text:
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Clutter Crushing ~ The Shoe Closet
"Load up into the van!" Mama's voice would ring throughout the house.
A chorus of replies would quickly follow from her many children...
"I can't find my shoes!"
"Mom, where are my shoes?"
"Can I just wear one shoe?"
An hour later they would all load into the van. Some had shoes. Some did not.
But Mama had a solution. There was a coat closet right next to the front door and Mama instituted a punishable-by-death-if-not-followed rule: When entering the house all children must immediately remove shoes and place them in the shoe closet.
For the most part this worked, but there was still a problem. Did I mention that this Mama had many children?
She still heard...
"I can't find my shoes!"
"Mom, where are my shoes?"
"Can I just wear one shoe?"
Surely a solution could be found. With the help of a brave knight named Daddy, Mama searched high and low and found a shelving system meant for garage storage. The knight and his squires quickly put it together and within the hour all was well in the kingdom again...
Pin It Now!
4 comments:
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- kidsfeetfetishJuly 16, 2014 at 5:47 AM
any stinky well worn kids shoes you want to sell?ReplyDelete
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text:
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text:
Student cancer survivor urges funding bodies to guarantee PhD candidates right to sick leave
Most PhD students receive a stipend, rather than a salary, as part of their research funding. Although this system has advantages, they often have very little right to sick leave.
More than 400 academics have backed a student's campaign to guaranteed PhD students the right to sick leave if they fall seriously ill. The initiative has also attracted support from Cancer Research UK.
Claudia Pama, a 29-year-old graduate student who is studying at St John's College, Cambridge, was diagnosed with cancer part-way through her PhD in 2015. Her experience highlighted the fact that, at present, the United Kingdom lacks a clear, standardised approach to managing PhD students' funding if they have to put their work on hold because of a serious illness.
Claudia had to postpone her research for 10 weeks so that she could receive treatment. She then found out that one of the funding bodies supporting her work had no sick pay policy, and planned to suspend its funding for the duration of her treatment. This threatened to cut off one of her main sources of income, while she was still dealing with the shock of discovering that she had cancer.
Together with two other students who had encountered similar problems– Edwin Dalmaijer at Oxford, and Stella Prins at University College, London – Claudia set up a small online campaign, urging funding bodies to adopt a standard model for providing students with sickness cover. They also published a letter in the leading academic journal, Nature, arguing that PhD students who fall ill should receive guaranteed income under a system that would be similar to the statutory sick pay available to people in work.
Hundreds of academics have now signed the group's online petition. In addition, Cancer Research UK, whom Claudia approached through an academic colleague at St John's, has now adopted a formal policy on paid leave entitlement for students in response. The charity, which runs a network of research centres training around 550 PhD students, has committed to give them a period of four months fully-paid sick leave, as well as another four month period of half-pay if they need additional time off.
Image: Claudia Pama at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, where she is currently studying for a PhD
"Having enough money is the last thing that you want to worry about while you are dealing with serious problems to do with your health, your career, and your future."
"CRUK's response has been hugely encouraging," Claudia said. "They took into account the suggestions that we had made and made a very sensible policy change. My hope is that this will raise awareness of the existing problem and prompt other funding bodies to change their own systems as well."
Most PhD students receive a stipend, rather than a salary, as part of their research funding. Although this system has advantages, they often have very little right to sick leave.
While some funding bodies do have contingencies in place (training grants from the UK research councils, for example, typically allow for 13 weeks of paid sick leave), there is no standard model. As a result, some students are forced to postpone their research – a process known as intermission – knowing that they will lose income as a result.
Claudia's aim is to draw attention to this problem and, if possible, encourage funding bodies to subscribe to a clear and consistent framework that protects PhD students against loss of income and employment due to illness.
Image: Claudia at work in the lab
She herself was being funded by two different organisations when she was diagnosed with cancer in February 2015, during the first year of her PhD. When she contacted these to let them know that she had to take a 10 week intermission period, one of them told her that her funding was not available during periods of intermission and that she would have to pay back 10 weeks' worth of her stipend.
As this would have left her struggling to cover basic, daily expenses, Claudia eventually managed to renegotiate the arrangement. The funding body agreed to maintain her stipend during the 10-week treatment period, but in return she would have to forego payment during any extra time her PhD took at the end.
The experience left her feeling isolated at an emotionally challenging time. "It didn't feel right that this was happening, but I didn't know anyone in a similar situation, and at that time I had no idea what to do," she added.
Through social media, however, she then began to make connections with PhD students who had found themselves in a similar position. Eventually, she combined forces with Edwin and Stella to write a letter to Nature and then place a petition online calling for changes to the system.
To their surprise, many senior academics at their own universities and beyond, as well as numerous early-career researchers and postgraduate students, were enthusiastic to add their names to the petition. Their initiative has also been supported by Chronically Academic, a network of academics with disabilities and chronic conditions.
Claudia's own treatment appears to have proven successful and she has resumed her research. "I have been positively shocked by all the support that I have had from friends and colleagues in Cambridge, even people I didn't know that well," she added. "It really helped, because having enough money is the last thing that you want to worry about while you are dealing with serious problems to do with your health, your career, and your future."


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Solvency II look-through reporting will affect not only insurers and asset managers, but others in the complex information chain that leads from raw data in the fund to the individual cell in the reporting template. Chris Johnson, Head of Product Management, Market Data Services, HSBC Securities Services, is the Chairman of the TPA Solvency II Working Group*, a group of fund administrators working with the Investment Management Association on Solvency II reporting. In this article he outlines the working group's perspective on the logistical and technical challenges facing the industry.
Fund administrator's perspective
Third Party Administrators (TPAs) provide custody and fund administration services for asset owners and managers including insurers, fund managers, pension funds and hedge funds. Most large Insurance firms have outsourced their custody and fund administration functions to TPAs although some firms continue performing those functions in-house. Solvency II has created demand to extend those TPA services to include delivery of asset data content on behalf of insurance firms to assist them in fulfilling their obligations under all three pillars of Solvency II.
The TPA Solvency II Working Group was formed in October 2011. Our primary objective is to identify workable solutions to resolve the gaps in asset data content, and to overcome challenges in sourcing the wide range of information necessary, in order that the regulator's objectives of Solvency II can be achieved.
As TPAs we are responding to requests from our insurance clients to deliver a comprehensive data service for Solvency II asset data. This includes look-through, i.e. the ability to identify on a line by line basis the underlying investment fund holdings, as a specific requirement. The scale, depth and turnaround times required to produce look-through data present significant logistical and technical challenges that must be resolved if the completeness, accuracy and appropriateness stipulations are to be met.
Exchange of look-through fund information, on the basis of line by line fund constituents (ISIN level), does exist on a very small scale in the industry. However, this is delivered using bespoke bi-lateral formats between firms with low volumes and with a significant time lag. At present the process is not standardised or scalable.
The industry will need to gather asset data in respect of collective investment funds, hedge funds and structured products on a large scale in a cost efficient, accurate, granular manner. The logistical challenges to this are onerous and can be explained as follows:
1. Permission from fund managers to release fund constituents: Fund managers will need to grant permission for each fund to release the constituents and weightings immediately after each period end. This will entail listing out all of the investments within the fund on a line by line basis. It includes clear identification of all investment types held within the fund in order to support the data provision for solvency calculations as well as to deliver quantitative reporting templates (QRTs). At a high level this will require asset type, ISIN/Sedol, total value and value by line.
2. Consolidating and publishing the insurers' fund-level holdings: Insurers potentially use multiple asset managers when choosing their fund investments. This poses challenges for TPA's to gather on a line by line basis all the asset information in respect of the holdings in these funds, to enrich it with the necessary fund administration, custody and market/reference data, and consolidate it into a usable format for the insurance company. The logistical challenge is particularly significant where insurers' investments are placed across multiple fund managers. Those fund managers are likely to have already appointed one from a number of TPAs. Only by collating all of the fund constituent data, drawn from across each of the relevant TPAs, can the full picture of the look-through for all of an insurer's investments be created and made available in a form that complies with completeness, accuracy and appropriateness.
3. Timeliness of obtaining look-through details from the asset manager: The validation of the necessary investment information, by either the fund manager or its appointed TPA, can vary depending on the complexity of the fund, but look-through creates urgency to produce validated fund holdings very early in the monthly cycle. This poses challenges for the insurer's TPA as there is a dependency on obtaining this information to provide it in a timely manner to the insurance company.
The TPA Solvency II Working Group believes that look-through will also generate several areas of additional cost, such as the cost of obtaining and holding additional lines of securities (including market/reference data vendor licences), the related operational overheads associated with this data and any infrastructure automation costs. In addition, there will be an interim tactical workload generated by high volumes of look-through data template exchange until such time as a standardised solution is available.
The need for a systematic solution
The complex permissioning, fund structures and linkages pose significant technical and logistical infrastructure challenges. There is a need to pull in high volumes of detailed fund constituent information and in many cases this information will be sourced from a number of fund managers or their TPAs. This information will need to be in a format based on the exchange of standardised data templates that can then be presented to the insurer in the form of a standard QRT template as well as for pillar I SCR purposes. Any solution for look-through permissioning will need to be provided securely and accurately.
We believe the look-through process will need a systematic and sophisticated solution to avoid an overly complicated aggregation activity as well as to provide permissioning, automation, quality validation and fast turnaround that the process will necessitate.
In addition, the other Solvency II drivers of the SCR calculation under Pillar I and the ORSA under Pillar II that impact the frequency and timeliness of look-through, mean that this issue has to be addressed in a robust, business as usual manner with line by line granularity.
Fortunately several data vendors have solutions that could be adapted for this purpose but significant investment and product development will be needed almost immediately if they are to deliver on time. Several of these firms have already declared an intention to provide a look-through solution. The TPA working group would encourage this to complete the key "missing piece" in the delivery of Solvency II data content that look-through represents. Given the impending implementation of Solvency II, we believe that a look-through solution will need to be designed and implemented urgently to meet the proposed regulatory deadline of January 2014.
* TPA Solvency II Working Group members: BNP Paribas Securities Services, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, Citi Transaction Services, HSBC Securities Services, J.P. Morgan Worldwide Securities Services, Northern Trust and State Street.The Investment Management Association (IMA) is also a member and has participated actively in our meetings with regulators.
Link to Symposium index page.


text: This immaculate white Essentials CUF55W12 Undercounter Freezer boasts loads of great features that make keeping your food hassle free.SuperfreezeThe Essentials undercounter freezer slots neatly into just about any kitchen surrounding and adds a certain touch of class with its glossy finish.The CUF-55W12 has 3 drawers that can take a generous 86 litres of food storage, whilst still maintaining a superb 4-star freezer rating.Peace of mindThis undercounter freezer is ideal for placing into tight spots, with a reversible door you can set up as you prefer. The CCUF-55W12 is also economical to run with a great A+ energy rating, saving you money to spend on delicious food instead.Discover the advantages of the Essentials CUF55W12 Undercounter Freezer, top food storage results at low maintenance. ___________________________________________________________________________PLEASE NOTE:Use in outbuildings: This refrigerator is not designed to be used in an outbuilding – both your food and the appliance can be damaged. Do not use it in any unheated area.Reversible door hinges: This refrigerator has a reversible door – please consult with installation experts such as our Knowhow team to carry out door reversal.


text: Hello once again. For today's challenge I am using The Bonbon Belle CD Rom available from www.polkadoodles.co.uk . I chose 4 digi images and printed them out. I made a stepper card and matted the main topper on some cardstock and used the same cardstock on the steps. I then cut out the little pirate, treasure chest and rocks. I then adhered them to the steps. I made two ticket sentiments and die cut some bunting. This makes a great party invitation.


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This Chapter investigates the opportunities in energy savings and waste management by integrating various natural and artificial systems within the Urban Farm. Closing the loops of various natural and artificial systems and nutrient cycle creates a stable, autonomous farming paradigm that is self-renewing and self-sufficient.
Posts that are tagged as: modularity
Vignesh is the founding architect & computational designer at WOWAD, where he focuses on the use of algorithms and computation to generate architectural concepts that are evidence-based, performance-driven & cost-effective. When he is not thinking about buildings, he surfs the web for art cinema. So if you stumble across any good ones, feel free to share with him.
Widgets In Tabs
Things I read
Tagsacoustics aquaponics archicad BIM Chennai Computational Design concept design conferences data visualization decentralisation design exploration design optioneering design research documentation energy descent evolutionary design evolutionary optimisation food network food security GDL grasshopper hydroponics knowledge sharing kolkata Maps modularity Parametric Design peak oil rhino Seminar sidefx houdini singapore systems loop urban design urban farming visual dataflow modelling web apps webinar Workflows workshop


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Cable Companies
Many people think that Cable & Wireless is a new company. In fact, the group dates back to the 1860s, the pioneering years of international telecommunications. By the 1870s our company, then known as the Eastern Telegraph Company, had created the world's first global cable communications network, a 'Victorian Internet', which revolutionised the speed of world communications.
The main global hub of the Victorian Internet was Porthcurno in west Cornwall. Today it is the home of the company's historic archives and museum. The first cable from Porthcurno, linking England with Bombay, was laid in 1870 and within ten years the network had been extended to Indonesia, the Far East, Australia, South America and Africa. The Eastern Telegraph Company grew and grew and by 1900 it operated a massive international communications network of around 100,000 miles of undersea cables.
In the 1920s a rival technology emerged for the first time. Marconi sent a radio signal across the Atlantic from Cornwall in 1901 and by the 1920s he had a thriving radio communications network which offered both telegraph and voice communication. Radio began to threaten the dominance of the Eastern Telegraph Company and in 1929 a merger was arranged between the operating side of Marconi's company and the Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies. This new company also incorporated a number of other cable operations such as cables across the Pacific and in the Caribbean. It was called 'Imperial and International Communications' until 1934 when it was re-named Cable & Wireless.
In the 1940's, following the Second World War, the British post-war Labour government nationalised much of British industry. Cable and Wireless was one of the companies to be bought up by the government and it became the international communications section of the British Post Office. During the 1950s and 1960s it successfully adapted to major advances in communications technology. These decades saw the beginning of the end for the telegraph and ushered in a new era of international voice communications. In 1956 first transatlantic telephone cable TAT1 was made possible by the invention of the submarine repeater and Cable and Wireless played an important part in the laying of a new international telephone cable network for the Commonwealth between 1961 and 1967. Another major advance of the 1960s was the communications satellite and the Company's first earth station was built on Ascension Island in 1966.
As a nationalised company, throughout the 1960s and 1970s Cable & Wireless continued laying cables, operating telecoms businesses around the world and developing communications technologies. This period was one of considerable change in the way the company did business in many locations. Whereas in earlier decades it had operated as a monopoly in many locations, it now had to establish working partnerships with the independent governments of many Commonwealth Countries.
You may like: Top best Shortwave Radio reviews 2018
In 1981 Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government re-privatised many major British companies, including Cable & Wireless. BT was floated as a separate entity from the Post Office and the British telecoms industry was de-regulated. Cable & Wireless seized the opportunity to establish a competitor to BT in the UK by forming Mercury Communications, later to become Cable & Wireless Communications. This was the first time that many younger people had heard the name 'Cable & Wireless'. From this time the Company, freed from the restrictions of nationalisation, began to further develop its business around the world in the fast changing global communications marketplace.


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Download EBOOK In the Night Garden: A Lovely Present PDF for free
Category: Children's Books
The author of the book: Andrew Davenport
Format files: PDF, EPUB, TXT, DOCX
The size of the: 370 KB
Language: English
Edition: BBC Children's Books
Date of issue: 3 March 2011
Description of the book "In the Night Garden: A Lovely Present":Not suitable for children under 1 year 6 months of age Once upon a time, Makka Pakka gave each of his Night Garden friends a special present. You can find out what it was in this illustrated story book featuring Upsy Daisy, the Tombliboos and the Pontipines! This sturdy first storybook features board pages, rounded corners and a hardcover for little 1-3 year old to read over and over again.
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Download EBOOK In the Night Garden: A Lovely Present for free
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USAJOBS Website
All federal positions are posted on USAJOBS, the official job site of the U.S. federal government. This includes permanent, term, and seasonal positions. Check periodically for new postings.
Permanent positions become vacant occasionally. The application process varies for each job; please see announcement details.
Most summer seasonal positions at Cuyahoga Valley and other national parks will be posted in January and selections made beginning in March. For general employment information, click here.
Internships are a great way to gain practical experience; apply classroom learning; explore career options related to outdoor education, park management, recreation, natural and cultural resource management, and non-profit management; gain professional skills and self-confidence; and establish connections and build a network of professional contacts.
Click here for current internships in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Volunteer Opportunities
Click here to learn about volunteer opportunities at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.


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Oct 8, 2013 7:00 PM
Blues by the Beach
Film Club. Blues by the Beach - documentary by Joshua Faudem. Organized by the Consulate General of Israel in New York and Czech Center New York.
Doors open at 6PM, movie starts at 7PM
RSVP by Oct. 1st at: http://israelinny.wufoo.com/forms/blues-by-the-beach/
Photo ID is Required
Opening remarks by Ambassador Ido Aharoni,
Consul General of Israel in New York
Q&A with Producer Jack Baxter & Director Joshua Faudem
Directed by Joshua Faudem
2004, 75 min., documentary
"This is a very, very important film. It ranks, along with ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER as an actual, undeniable presentation of the unmitigated horror of terrorism. Terrorism is the directed, purposeful taking of innocent life for supposedly political purposes. Innocent life is innocent life – at the World Trade Center or in Tel Aviv –its extinction is an act of bestiality. To which fact this film bluntly and incontestably testifies." David Mamet
"When New York filmmaker and freelance journalist Jack Baxter travels to Israel he's looking for the right story to document, but he quickly becomes part of the story at Mike's Place, a live music bar in Tel-Aviv. Enamoured with the intercultural mix and the American Blues style music, Baxter teams up with bartender/filmmaker Joshua Faudem and begins filming Mike's Place. However, a suicide bomber quickly shatters the peaceful atmosphere and the film takes a personal turn into the lives of the survivors. The result of this collaborative effort is a film that resonates with recovery, perseverance, and hope."
321 East 73rd Street
NY 10021 New York
United States
Oct 8, 2013 7:00 PM
Czech Centre


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What is a second mortgage and how does it work?
October 26 2017
You've probably heard of second mortgages. You might even be considering applying for one. But do you know exactly what they are and how they work? Keep reading to learn more about this option and see if it's right for your situation.
What is a second mortgage?
It's another mortgage where your home is used as collateral, just like with your original loan. If, for some reason, you are unable to pay your original mortgage and must sell your home to pay off debts, the second mortgage is paid off after your first one. This is why second mortgages often have higher interest rates.
Why get one?
One of the most popular reasons for taking out a second mortgage is to fund home improvements or repairs. They're typically called home equity loans or home equity lines of credit (HELOC). You must have enough equity in your home to qualify for this type of loan.
Some people apply for a second mortgage when they purchase a home to avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). Most homebuyers must have at least a 20 percent down payment to avoid PMI. Taking out a first mortgage for 80 percent and a second mortgage for 20 percent is one way to waive that cost.
Should you get a second mortgage?
Just like any other financial decision, there are several factors to consider before going that route. For example, if you're considering a second mortgage to pay off existing debt, make sure you can afford the monthly payments.
If you have questions about this type of loan or would like to apply for one, please reach out. We're here to help!


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Google CEO Page 'Recovering,' Back in the Office
Google CEO Larry Page was back at the office last week after a mystery ailment causing the loss of his speaking voice forced him to miss last month's Google I/O developer conference, according to the company's chairman Eric Schmidt.
Schmidt updated reporters with the news about Page's condition at a fireside chat with media in Sun Valley, Idaho last Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported.
It's not clear if Page has completely regained his voice, but Schmidt said, ""Larry is doing much better ... he seems fine," according to the Journal. The specific nature of Page's ailment has not been revealed.
Schmidt told shareholders in June that Page would be missing upcoming Google events, including Google I/O and the company's upcoming second-quarter earnings call on July 19. Schmidt didn't say if Page's plans regarding next Thursday's conference call with investors and analysts had changed given his apparent return to health.
Page continued to run Google the past few weeks despite his illness, Schmidt said. The 39-year-old CEO has been communicated via email and other forms of written messaging during his recovery.
Meanwhile, at the same fireside chat in Sun Valley, Schmidt talked up Google's self-driving car initiative, opining that "self-driving cars should become the predominant mode of transportation in our lifetime," according to Tech Crunch.
For more from Damon, follow him on Twitter @dpoeter.


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VIDEO: 1 in 14 won't see any sunlight on longest day of the year this Sunday
New research reveals one in 14 UK adults will not see any daylight on the Summer Solstice, longest day of the year – Sunday, 21 June. This figure rises to more than one in 10 amongst 18-24 year-olds.
The study, commissioned by outdoor travel and adventure brand Kathmandu, reveals that Brits who leave the house on a daily basis will spend on average only 79 minutes outdoors.
Presenter and naturalist Chris Packham is urging Brits to rediscover the outdoors, even if in a urban environment as he fronts the #GotToBeOutThere campaign - watch the video above.
Almost half (47%) cite the British weather as the main reason for not being outside enough.
41% blame work commitments for getting in the way; 14% say they can't afford to whilst one in 10 (10%) believe computers, tablets, game consoles and smartphones steer them clear of outdoor pursuits.
Almost one in three (29%) parents surveyed express concern that their children are not spending enough time in the open air.
Meanwhile, almost one in five (17%) hardy respondents state that nothing prevents them from devoting time to being outdoors.
Walking is by far the most popular outdoor activity (70%) among adult Brits, followed by socialising with family and friends (43%).
Almost one in four (23%) enjoy walking their dog and one in five (20%) like to get active outdoors through sport and exercise.
A further 20% make sure to find the time to embrace nature with pastimes such as bird-watching.
It seems some adults are more adventurous when it comes to spending their leisure time, by pursuing activities like mountain biking (8%), hiking (13%), mountaineering and rock climbing (3%) and water sports including surfing (9%).
A few thrill seekers (4%) indulge in extreme sports such as bungee jumping, zorbing and paragliding whenever they have the chance.
Meanwhile, one in six (16%) are determined to experience the outdoors on their own terms by caravanning and camping.
In addition, Brits say that on average they connect with the great British outdoors four times a year but of those two thirds (66%) will never stray further afield than their local area or region.
Will you be spending time outdoors this weekend?
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Spelljammer: Beyond the Moons
Of particular interest beyond all the great planets and sphere ideas are the 3.5/PF conversion rules, a unified cannon Spelljammer history, and a quick random crystal sphere generator. And more. A lot more
The Piazza
This is an active board discussing Spelljammer! Come see the forum where every week is Spelljammer week. Also, they are super nice, and if you're looking to track down an out of print book, or have a question answered, they are the people to help you!
Want more standup models for your Spelljammer game? Lose your old ones like I did? (I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter)
"If a player asks about oxygen and carbon dioxide, flip it back on them and ask how their character could know anything about that, and if they say they're asking out-of-character, ask them why it matters. If they ask in-character, explain it in terms of elemental forces (plants filter corruption out of the air or something). If they can't suspend their disbelief enough for in-game explanations to work, recommend they go play Traveller or something, since it would take too much time dealing with them whining about unicorns, dragons, elementals, planar travel and spelljammer being unscientific." - AuldDragon (Jeff) at the Piazza
Visit Melkot.com and print off some new ones!
Here's a link to the Google Plus Community Spelljammer
Finally, some really well thought out ideas can be located here about adjusting the Spelljammer rules in various ways
Last, but not least:


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Off Broadway Show Blue Man GroupReviewing: Off Broadway Blue Man Group | Rating:
Blue Man Group is an Off-Broadway show playing in New York City at the Astor Place Theatre. It is an extremely popular show that has been there since 1991. The Blue Man Group has become a sensation that now has several productions all over the world, but I believe the Off-Broadway location is one of the first ones.
Tickets for Blue Man Group are $75, or $65 for limited view seats. The theatre is really small, so no matter where you sit, you'll be able to see everything just fine. I actually purchased my ticket for $25. They sell student tickets 1 hour before the show, except for Friday and Saturday night performances. It was pretty crowded when I went, so I would recommend getting there a little earlier if you wish to purchase a $25 ticket.
I thought that the show was pretty entertaining, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. It is basically 3 men with blue paint on their heads doing all sorts of silly tricks. The audience really enjoyed it, and I can see how it is a worldwide sensation. The Blue Men don't speak at all, so it's easy for all people to understand what's going on.
While Blue Man Group is definitely fun, I don't know if it is worth $75.


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Online Speech Therapy
eLuma Online Speech Therapy
Have you ever considered online speech therapy (also known as teletherapy or telepractice)? It is no secret that there is a growing shortage of speech-language pathologists in U.S. schools. Thousands of job openings go unfilled because speech therapists cannot be found. Even after many hours and critical resources are spent on recruiting speech therapists, they can often be just as hard to retain.
eLuma offers unparalleled online speech therapy solutions. eLuma's speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can provide all of the same required services live and online, through a fully-secure, HIPAA-compliant platform, as they can in person — and can do so with a high degree of efficacy, efficiency and flexibility. By combining high-quality speech therapy with its industry-leading platform, game-changing management tools and innovative blended solutions, eLuma enables you to do more, do it better, and in many cases, do it with less.
See It In Action
eLuma's Online Speech Therapists
eLuma takes great pride in its team of high-quality SLPs. They come from all over the country with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and offer a wide-range of specializations. All eLuma therapists are required to have a master's degree, along with the appropriate certifications and state licensing. In addition, eLuma looks for therapists who have rich and valuable experience as practitioners; on average, they have seven years of K-12 experience. Lastly, eLuma looks for individuals who are committed to embracing the company values and fulfilling its mission to help special education teams excel.
How Online Speech Therapy Works
Speech Therapists
The eLuma team of online speech therapists can provide the services you need with competence, passion and dependability.
eLuma can help programs expand their capacity to ensure that each and every student can get exactly what they need.
Features & Tools
eLuma provides a number of features and tools, which enable better efficiency, tracking, communication and overall effectiveness.


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simple truths
Pivotal Jewish Insights for Centered Living
that help us be victorious in our everyday struggles, not
by battling the challenges one by one, but by finding
our center and aligning with our inner truth.
Choose the time that's most convenient for you.
In a sand-swept Sinai some three and a half millennia ago, the Jewish nation received the Torah from G‑d. Ever since, Jews the world over have passionately dedicated themselves to its study. From eras ancient to modern, our people have endured tremendous sacrifices to study Torah, sometimes even surrendering their lives in this pursuit.
What is the value of Torah, and why does Judaism venerate its study above all else? This lesson explores the role of Torah study in Jewish life.
Monday, November 13, 2017 at 7:00pm
It is only natural to want to enjoy life's pleasures. At the same time, all the pleasures on earth cannot satisfy our inner craving for deeper meaning and purpose.
How are we to balance our inner tug toward all things pleasurable with our human need for meaning and spirituality? Are these desires mutually exclusive? Can they ever align in pursuit of a common goal? This lesson explores the intersection of these two potent human needs, to extract secrets to wholesome living from the wellsprings of Jewish teaching.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 7:00pm
We are all creators, made in the image of G‑d, the ultimate Creator. But is the difference between our ability to create and G‑d's merely a quantitative one?
This lesson unearths foundational principles of Jewish thought regarding G‑d's creation of the world, unearthing ageless wisdom for reframing our approach to life's obstacles, dealing with anxiety and doubt, and seeing the value in every moment.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 7:00pm
Imperfection is human. Yet little makes us feel worse than our character deficiencies. Our less-than-noble thoughts and feelings lead to inner turmoil and lowered self-perception, hampering our motivation to grow and change.
How can we remain motivated toward change and uphold a positive view of ourselves while battling dejection over our constant struggles with our character flaws? This lesson explores how we can reframe our apparent deficiencies as inspiring pathways to personal growth, inner joy, and spiritual fulfillment.
Thursday,February 22, 2018 at 7:00pm
To be human is to have an innate desire for greatness—a drive to pursue our noblest dreams, to actualize our highest potential.
In this lesson we will focus on how to capitalize on our strengths. We'll learn how to draw upon the things about us that are fundamentally good, and transcend our self-perceived limitations to take them to the level of "great"—and, considering the vast reservoir of potential within us, there is never a limit to how great we can become.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 7:00pm
The quality of our relationships has a direct impact on our quality of life. But in a world where digital communication and social media are increasingly replacing real-world communication, the capacity to truly connect to others seems more and more like a lost art. How do we cultivate genuine empathy, trust, acceptance, and love in our relationships?
This lesson teaches us how to peel away all of the superficialities that divide us, and we discover what ultimately unites us, allowing us to develop truly deep and fulfilling relationships with others.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 7:00pm
If you assumed that Judaism was about being somber and sullen, you have not met the real deal.
This lesson demonstrates the extraordinary emphasis that Judaism places on being joyful, explores the role of happiness for the sake of personal well-being and success, and presents a step-by-step journey to achieving happiness based on a deeper appreciation of the purpose of life.
Monday, May 14, 2018 at 7:00pm


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The Scheme: I started looking through my papers to see what might match the colours and found a pair of papers in pale green and orange as well as a sheet with ecru/grey on one side and yellow on the other. All colours found, I raided some 6x6 pads and my scraps bags for extra patterns. Matching mini-alphas should help me with the clues!
The Evidence: Leafy washi, metal brads, coloured string and bakers twine add to the picture along with some wood veneer stars and buttons to scatter around. Those heart-shaped enamel shapes help support the case.
Green tiny floral print paper - unknown manufacturer as this was an outcast from a friend's stash
Lily Bee Design Queen Bee (yellow damask reverse)
¼ sheet Grandpa's Overalls Stripe by Mustard Moon
⅓ sheet Basic Grey Create from Colour Me Silly
Orange tiny floral print paper - same source as above!
6x6 sheet Pink Paislee Prairie Hill
6x6 sheet American Crafts Thataway Collection
¼ sheet Echo Park Navy (?) Ombre (grey reverse)
¼ sheet Holly-Christmas Vanilla by daisy d's
Echo Park All About The Boy Superhero (teal, white, orange explosion reverse)
MM Paper Reverie Noir alpha stickers
WRMK green leafy washi tape
Grey, yellow and orange paper blooms
Grey washi tapes (from a fellow blogger)
American Crafts wood veneer stars
Lily Bee Designs ABC neutral mini alphas
Grey and white baker's twine
Cream and orange hemp cord from Hemptique
MLS Fog mini alpha stickers
Basic Grey Archaic glazed brads
Bingo Card from SS Urban Traveller
WRMK Enamel Shapes
7 Dots Studio Illumination word stickers
Now you need to pop over to Julene and see what supplies she has managed to unearth! If the trail goes cold, you can always pop back to the incident room here and work out where to take the next step.