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Easy MCS have experience with all MCS Certification bodies though MCS Installer Accreditation. A number of MCS Certification Bodies work alongside Easy MCS or offer discounts to Easy MCS customers. Below are details on our current partner Certification Bodies.
For further information on becoming an Easy MCS Partner and to offer exclusive benefits to your customers please contact Easy MCS on 0161 768 5807 or email email@example.com.
HETAS is the official body recognised by Government to approve biomass and solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and services, including the registration of competent installers and servicing businesses.
NICEIC is the UK's leading voluntary regulatory body for the electrical contracting industry. It has been assessing the electrical competence of electricians for over fifty years and currently maintains a roll of over 26,000 registered contractors.
APHC Certification Ltd. is accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) to operate a Competent Persons Scheme, Green Deal Installer Scheme and Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS Certification Body) for plumbing and heating companies to install and certify a range of permitted work areas that fall under the scope of each scheme.
Stroma is a multi-disciplinary construction services company and MCS Certification body. Stroma are known for offering high levels of customer service across the sectors they operate in.
As one of the leading certification bodies and training providers for the UK renewables and energy efficiency industries, NAPIT strive to help more businesses understand the financial benefits of Certification Scheme membership. This includes Green Deal Certification & MCS Certification.


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news.com has a post on EPA's investigating a google data center which was part of the dobuleclick acquisition.
EPA investigating alleged Google chemical release
Greener-than-thou Google, which takes environmentalism seriously, is under investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency for an alleged coolant problem at one of its data centers, the company disclosed Wednesday.
"In February 2009, we learned of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency investigation into an alleged release of refrigerant at one of our smaller data facilities, which we acquired from DoubleClick, and the accuracy of related statements and records," Google said in a quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"We are cooperating with the EPA and have provided documents and other materials. The EPA investigation could result in fines, civil or criminal penalties, or other administrative action," Google said.

subset: commoncrawl


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YOURSAY | 'You are making insincere statements at the Gerakan assembly.'
CQ Muar: Those 1,618 Gerakan delegates who were at the party conference on Sunday forgot they were listening to a smooth and skillful orator like PM Najib Razak, who could even fool dignitaries from different countries whenever he took over the podium at international summits.
Aware of their weaknesses, Najib again enthralled the Gerakan delegates with superlative frills, much to their delight.
Thus, such are the likes of this party, endowed with high hopes to win the hearts and minds of voters, especially the Chinese. Regrettably, this is not to be, as voters are more enlightened and wise unlike in the past.
In no time, and sooner than expected, its existence will disintegrate with party members seeking refuge elsewhere.
Citizen No.26: PM, people are accusing you of making insincere statements at the Gerakan assembly.
To show your sincerity and that you are not a hypocrite, please issue a directive to all the right-wing Malay groups and your own Umno ministers to immediately stop their racial rhetoric against Chinese Malaysians, and arrest Ali Tinju, Jamal Md Yunos and Ali Rustam for their racist provocations against a defenceless minority group.
Otherwise, the people will only see you are as a two-face hypocrite.
FellowMalaysian: In front of a predominantly Chinese crowd, Najib hailed their contributions and declared that they are not 'pendatangs' but 'sons of Malaysia'.
What Najib claimed is far too disingenuous for the community to place faith in, especially on matters concerning the rights and dignity of the minority races.
Najib may be an excellent actor behaving like a true demagogue complete with the trimmings of a chameleon, but the Chinese are too shrewd to fall for his antics.
At a time when the polls showed that his approval ratings from even the Malays has dwindled to a record low, I strongly urge Najib stop his pretence and show more sincerity in what he say.
Ratbatblue: I am asking a few questions as the No 155 commenter in Malaysiakini - without taking a look at all the preceding 154 comments:
1. Could Najib make that specific statement, "Chinese are sons of Malaysia" at the Umno general assembly?
2. Did former Gerakan chief Koh Tsu Koon and his comrades really believe what the PM said?
3. How come the PM omitted these "lyrics" at the National Silat Merdeka Gathering (two days after the red shirt rally) and was, instead openly exhibiting an overly defiant 'defend Malay pride' stance?
4. How can one talk one thing at one gathering and a completely contradictory one at another?
5. How long more will it take these race-based component parties of BN to realise that they are history, as far as the political ambitions of the Umno-led coalition are concerned?
6. When red-shirt mobs were paid to shout obscenities like "Cina babi" and "pendatang", where was Najib?
Ferdtan: Najib, words are cheap. Speaking mainly to the Chinese audience, you say they are not 'pendatang' but when you were with the Umno crowd you crowed differently.
Remember, didn't you blame the worsening result for BN in the last GE on the "Chinese tsunami?
You however did echo how we feel: "That is why you (the Chinese) are not 'pendatang'. You are the sons of Malaysia. You are born here, grew up here, and when the time comes, when you die, you will be buried here."
Yes, for us, there is no other home. Malaysia is our only home. No 'red shirts' racists can take that away.
GE14NOW!: If Najib was really sincere about the Chinese, he would had rebuked Jamal and put an end to the racist red shirt rallies. Instead he chose to praise and support them.
The reason for his behaviour then was that he was under the impression that the Malays were still with him and he did not need the Chinese.
Having now seen that the Malays are also no longer backing him he has to try and win over the Chinese once again.
Oh Ya?: The MCA and Gerakan 'pendatang' better not 'syiok sendiri' too soon. The 'social contract' is the caveat emptor which Najib kept harping on.
It is actually no more than an unwritten quid pro quo trade-off among Malaya's founding fathers pertaining to the granting of citizenship to the non-bumiputera and the Malay special rights and privileges.
But in Umnoputra dictionary, it means the non-Malays are indebted to the Malays for citizenship and the principle of 'Ketuanan Melayu' forever.
Anonymous 560221439180274: It is not enough the PM says that the Chinese are sons of the soil, the entire Malay leadership, especially those from Umno, must confirm in unison that this is the truth and a fact.
Whenever a Umno leader speaks out of tune, the question commonly asked is "does the PM have control over his party". The fact that these leaders get away with their divisive remarks can only hurt and earn the distrust of non-Malays.
This should not be happening after almost 60 years of independence. Small-minded leaders, from whatever the party - government or opposition - must be treated with disdain.
No leader should argue that he was provoked into making such a remark. We do not need emotional leaders who are no better than drunkards.
Anonymous_1372741039: Sir, national harmony, unity and cohesion must begin with the government of the day and it must be consistently articulated, not when one finds an opportune time to express it and at other times vilify the minorities.
It must be uttered with utmost sincerity because the rakyat is more divided now resulting from insensitivities carelessly voiced by those in office, including NGOs and religious bodies.
The government must discourage such discourses as all Malaysians will suffer regardless of ethnicity. Like it or not, we are all Malaysians.
SRMan: A 'pendatang' (immigrant) is a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country. Therefore, Malaysians including the Malays, Chinese and Indians who were born in this country are not 'pandatang'.
Needless to say, the same cannot be said of their forefathers who came to settle here many years ago from other countries. Yes, Najib, you are also not a 'pendatang'.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.
These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/316483#ixzz3pBzR35sT


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Are you looking for Christmas gift ideas for mom? Well, that's to be expected as one of the most special day of the year is getting closer – the Christmas day. If you are still undecided what kind of Christmas present you should give to her that she would like, then you've at the right place. You may consider below suggestions for your mom's Christmas gifts.
Our mothers will always have a special spot in our hearts. In good or bad times, she's always there for us. She keeps us inspired and motivated, giving us hope in time when we're doubtful. Although we should show our appreciation and affection to her every day, Christmas Day could be one of those special moments given to us to return the favor and make her happy.
Bear in mind, finding the perfect gift for your mom can be a bit daunting especially if you want something unique and special. Fortunately, you don't have to go crazy before finding her a gift that she will love, although, moms will love whatever gift you gave her for it is there nature as mom. Nevertheless, it won't hurt you to make an effort by giving her something she will really enjoy using for a long time and will remind her of your generosity.
Here are some good Christmas gift ideas for mom that you may consider.
Christmas Gift Ideas for Mom
Mothers, although not all, love to cook will love cookware set for christmas. So, give her nice cookware to get her to start whipping up nice meal for the family again. Cookware set is another Christmas gift ideas for mom to consider.
Top Christmas Gift Ideas for Mom
I bet you have heard the adage, jewelry especially diamonds are a woman's best friend. So, get your mom a set of jewelry for Christmas.
It does not matter how old or simple your mom, all women love gold whether it is a bracelet, earring or necklace your mom will appreciate a generous gift.
Take note, your mom took care of you from day one and even now that your old and can take care of yourself, your mom still worries about you. That's why, giving your mom jewelry is a good idea for she will love the gift no doubt about it.
Personalized your gift by buying a bracelet with both of your initials, or get a necklace with her birthstone as pendant, make jewelry top Christmas gift ideas for mom.
Great Gift Ideas for Mom for Christmas
This Christmas, you can give your mom a bottle of her favorite perfume or something new and expensive to add to her perfume collection. Perfume can be a nice great gift ideas mom for for Christmas, even if she is not into collecting perfume.
Bear in mind when buying perfume, always consider her favorite scent and not yours.
Christmas Gift ideas for My Mom
This Christmas gift ideas for my mom is especially great for those who enjoy running in the morning. Fila sport shoes provide heat and comfort for active mom. Put the shoes in a gift basket together with other cool stuff and make it more special by decorating the gift basket with ribbons and Christmas card.
Unique Christmas Gift Ideas for Mom
Treat your mom with something special. Give her a gourmet Christmas hamper. Most of these items are special food items that you can buy from specialty stores. There are many food shops and malls that sell gourmet gift basket during Christmas season so finding the best and less expensive deals is easier. Gourmet hamper offers a unique Christmas gift ideas for mom.
Mom Gift Ideas for Christmas
Every mom deserves a break once in a while. Pamper her this coming Christmas day by giving her a basket full of items that she can use to pamper herself. Buy her a spa basket gift full of aromatherapy candles, scrub, facial creams, eye mask, pedicure and manicure set. Spa supplies mom gift ideas for christmas to consider.
Good Christmas Gift Ideas for Mom
This Christmas, the best gift you can give your mom is peace and relaxation. You can give her peace of mind by buying her a spa treatment at the best place in town.
The spa treatment should include full massage, pedicure, manicure and hair treatment. Your mom deserves every bit of happiness, you can give her, so let her relax this Christmas and do the cooking for Christmas dinner just this once. Let your mom come home relaxed and feeling wonderful. Spa treatment good christmas gift ideas for mom.
Great Christmas Gift Ideas for Mom
A lot of moms rarely buy something for herself, most just buy what they need for the house. In fact, most of the time they only buy home decorations whenever there is extra money. So, this Christmas, I suggest you make your mom happy by giving her something that can inspire her to throw a party for New Year eve. Give her a home décor, like a lovely blanket, expensive vase, or candleholder or whatever you can find that will add style to her dining table.
Buy her a home décor that she wouldn't buy herself but would love to own. In other words, do her a favor and just get her the decoration she always wanted but don't have the courage to buy herself because of her thriftiness. Flower vase great christmas gift ideas for mom.
Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas for Mom
If your mom have a hobby or want to do something she always wanted like scrapbooking, quilting or whatever, give her a gift that will encourage her to start. That's right, this Christmas, indulge your mom's interest and give her a gift that will make her happy.
If you have no idea, just observe her or better yet, ask her what she want to do during her spare time then buy items that will finally jump start a new activity for your mom. For example, if she's into crocheting, buy her a crochet kit like yarns with various colors and crochet tools. Or maybe, you can do the crafting and make her homemade soap. Come to think of it! you can find a lot of homemade christmas gift ideas for mom online.
Christmas Gift ideas for Mother in Law
Women love bags, regardless of how many handbags your mom owns if she is into bags then do not hesitate to buy her a new one. I know a mom who cannot resists a really beautiful LV bag, and if your mom is like her there is no doubt that she will love this type of Christmas gift.
There are many types of bags from tiny purse to sling handbag to fashionable clutch bag. So, you won't have a hard time finding one that is unique and special for your mom. Get a handbag that she will love to carry around anywhere she goes this christmas. By the way, handbags are also great christmas gift ideas for mother in law.
Christmas Gift Ideas for Mom and Dad
What's entertaining gifts? Things that she can use to make her home nice and comfy when there are guests. Take note, gifts such as wineglasses, table linens, tableware, and others items that can add style to her afternoon or dinner parties are a perfect gift to a mom who loves entertaining people to her home.
When buying wineglasses or whatever items for your mom's home, take note of what she likes. Look around the kitchen study what she likes so it will be easier to find a gift that your mom will love.
Wineglass can definitely be the perfect christmas gift ideas for mom and dad.
Great Gift Ideas for Mom Christmas
Collect photos of your family and arrange it in a nice photo album. Just make sure that you don't damage any of those photos. Add a personal touch to it by decorating the album cover at any way you like. Wrapped it with nice Christmas wrapper and ribbons and attach a gift tag to it. There you have it, great gift ideas for mom christmas.
Gift Ideas for Mom for Christmas
Mom's the most sentimental when it comes to their kids, so if you have the time then giving your mom a homemade Christmas card is a fantastic idea. There is nothing more special than a gift to parent that their children have worked hard to make. Believe me I know because every time my daughter makes me a nice card with thoughtful messages I always cry. Your homemade gift doesn't not have to be award winning, just be creative, and have fun while you're making it then you can make a simple card into a nice gift ideas for mom for Christmas.
Take note, there are tons of homemade gifts to make from picture frame with collage of pictures of you and your mom together, or handmade sweater, socks or whatever you can think of as Christmas gift.
And there you have your Christmas gift ideas for your mom. You really don't have to spend a huge amount of money just to make her happy. Consider her taste and interest and think about the best Christmas present according to it and you'll never go wrong.


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As I was drinking my morning coffee today, I came across an article about breastfeeding, specifically whether a woman can be a good mother if she chooses not to breastfeed. Reading through it, I became thoroughly annoyed and decided to post an essay I wrote last year about my own experience with mothering and nursing. The long and short of it is that every woman – no matter her background, education level, socioeconomic level, marital status, or anything else – has the right and should be encouraged to make her own decision as to what's best for her and her child, without guilt, without fear. What was right for me is not right for everyone, and I have no right to judge what any other woman does to keep her children fed and happy.
Yesterday I had fifteen minutes to spare while waiting to go pick up my little man at school. It wasn't quite enough time to do any of the myriad household chores that seem to pile up daily like so much waste after a natural disaster, so I decided to have a cup of tea and surf around the CNN website to catch up my news.
I quickly read through the world and local news items that caught my eye, making sure I was up to date on where the presidential race stands and the weather, then clicked on the entertainment tab. I scrolled down to the bottom, where I often find the most interesting tidbits buried deep by the techies at CNN. I clicked on a link about celebrity moms.
One of the photos showed Alannis Morrissette with her son. Next to her photo was a snippet from her interview on Good Morning America back in May. The essence of the caption is this: she is a proponent of breastfeeding and plans on allowing her son to continue nursing until he has decided he is done and weans himself.
I am a major proponent of breastfeeding, as well. I read the Time Magazine article in May about extended breastfeeding and attachment parenting, and at the time I sat down for a good long think about my own feelings on the subject. It's a deeply personal decision and while I might advocate it as a positive in developing a strong bond with your child, it is by no means the only method by which a mother can bond with a child, and for a whole variety of reasons, it's simply not for everyone. That being said, here's what else I thought about.
My son is nearly 5. I nursed until he was thirty-nine months old, including through recuperation from a lumpectomy. I held him constantly until mobility grabbed hold, and I never let him cry. Until almost age four, my son slept in bed with my husband and me. Now, The Boy starts out the night solo in the room next to mine, but more nights than not, ends up back with my Ernie Hemingway and me by morning. It has only been recently that my husband and I resumed any social life. Until four months ago, my son had never spent the night away from me; in June, Ernie Hemingway and I went away for a weekend and The Boy spent two nights with my parents. The only people who have ever watched The Boy are my parents, my sister, and very occasionally his older sisters.
Apparently, all that makes me an attachment parent. Apparently, that makes my parenting style is about self-sacrifice and utter devotion to my child, devoid of any intention to raise a self-sufficient child.
But I don't see it that way.
I was raised by a young mother who became a single mother. She did the best she could do, exceedingly well, and came as close as possible to attachment parenting before it was defined. Although she was not able to nurse me due to medication given her to cease lactation, she held me constantly and may have even slept with me, but in any event never left me to cry. Until I was school age, I don't believe she ever left me with anyone but family or close friends.
I am independent, self-sufficient, and accomplished. I had a successful and lengthy professional career, and I voluntarily gave that up for my son, who is more important to me than any career ever could be. I am raising my son the way my mother raised me: we are bonded and he is confident that I am always there. I encourage my son to explore the world and make the experience personal and intimate.
I did all this because it's what felt right to me, not because I was subscribing to someone else's definition of being a parent. I nursed my child because it was the healthiest option for us. I slept with him because after he was born he lost nearly 2 pounds and I needed to nurse constantly to get the weight back up, but I still needed sleep. It was the best option for us. I held The Boy, refusing to let him cry because I love him and can't stand to see those little eyes filled with confusion and hurt when beloved mummy won't hold and cuddle him.
If I am attachment parent, that's fine with me. I waited until I was almost forty to have a child. I waited so that I afford – financially and emotionally – essentially to drop out of life and spend my time knowing and raising my child. My son is the single most important contribution I will make to the future of this world, and why shouldn't I devote all my energy to that endeavor? Shouldn't we all have the choice to do that for our children? It has been a wonderful experience for us, and every parent should be able to say that without fear of judgment.
I applaud Kristin Chase, Casey Mullins, Casi Densomre-Koon and Catherine Connors for their willingness to stand up and defend their decisions, their lifestyle, and ultimately for a mother's right to choose how to best nourish her children. These women and so many unnamed others have given me the courage to take ownership of my situation, to stand up and proudly flex my parenting choice muscles.


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Metadata Truth – Fact or Fiction?
A philosophical question, what is 'metadata truth'? I saw that term and it has stuck in my head. There is definitely a difference between low quality and high quality metadata, but is metadata truth achievable so it provides a consistent understanding across applications that use metadata to define the context and knowledge of the asset? Can metadata be accurate if used across multiple applications? Can one go overboard on metadata to document every possible use scenario?
From an information lifecycle management perspective, metadata is a key component in the strategy and has been elevated in importance due to compliance, regulatory requirements, and privacy issues. Without metadata truth, management of content from inception to disposition is impossible. Much of the creation of metadata always falls on the end user. I think we all know that some will explicitly follow organizational policies, others will consistently not follow organizational policies, and then the few who are ruled by how they feel at that moment and may or may not follow policies. Time and again we have seen the unrealistic expectation that users follow these procedures to determine where a document should be stored, how long it should be preserved, who has access to the document and how it can be used and as a result it has often failed. Obviously the implication in this scenario is that metadata truth can't be achieved.
The lack of metadata truth is the inability to find, use and protect content assets. In some industries this has now become a boardroom priority that carries financial repercussions and impacts business agility. Is it possible to provide a common understanding of data that can be used at all levels of the organization, both by business and technical, that defines content at a high and detailed level? Is it necessary?
How does one ensure metadata truth?


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King Edward VI Sheldon Health Academy (KESH) is a high school for students aged 11-18 in East Birmingham and P&R Morson was part of the delivery team tasked with construction of the school's new £26 million building.
P&R Morson carried out a £2 million upgrade to its mechanical and electrical services as part of a wider, £19.5 million refurbishment project, commissioned by the University.
P&R Morson were appointed by Volker Fitzpatrick to design and install the M&E services for a 6 storey higher education building which includes a learning resource centre, lecture theatres, and associated areas such as black box dance studios, recording studios and a new performing arts centre.


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"A Walk With Allingham" was a short film created over 4 days in the summer of 2013 by a team of multidisciplinary design students & staff from #designatmagee, School Of Creative Arts & Technologies, University of Ulster, Derry. The creative team including Padraic Lynch, Mark Cullen, Laura Coyle, Debbie Lockhart, Heidi Elliott, Ciaran McLaughlin & Winnie Tang who collaborated with Irish actor Seán McGinley and Oisín McAuley from Berklee School Of Music in Boston.
The piece was commissioned by The Allingham Arts Festival and was also part funded by The Abbey Centre Management Group, Garfield Weston & The Higher Education Innovation Fund.
"A Walk With Allingham" is screened in a looping exhibition in the Abbey Centre in Theatre 3 during the festival and we invite you to drop in at any time for a relaxing 10 minutes which reveals William's story. This is an excellent educational film about the poet. The film was shortlisted for an IDI Award in 2013.
If you would like to bring your students along, please call the Abbey Centre to book a viewing.


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DIY Wedding Resources: Decorating Type with Curls & Flourishes + a Free Printable
Last time I shared DIY wedding resources with you, I showed some beautiful watercolor flower clip art + examples of how you can arrange them to create your own invitations and paper elements. Today I want to tell you all about the wonders of curls and flourishes and how you can use them to decorate your type.
See the layouts I prepared below.
1. The "Thank You" text is lovely on its own if you choose the right font (for this example I used Peoni Pro)
2. & 3. See what adding just a few curls can do? You can make the swirls on your own by hand or via a graphics software like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape (free!) BUT if you want to save time like me, you can easily purchase ready-made curls that you can mix, match, enlarge, reduce, and arrange however which way you want.
The swirls I used are from the Hand-Drawn Curls and Banners Vol.2 vector pack ($15) but if you want more bang for your buck, I would recommend the Hand-Drawn Curls and Banners Megapack ($33) which contains 600 curls, swirls and banners for you to spice up your wedding decor with!
Another vector pack I would recommend (I'm actually planning to buy this myself come payday) is the DIY Decorative Typography Pack ($20). Just take a look at what you can do with this set:
So pretty! Imagine making signs with personalized quotes which you can use as table numbers or as decor throughout your reception!
Ready to make your own? You can browse Creative Market for more handmade graphic elements that you can use for your DIY details.
Moving on… another way you can decorate your text is through the use of flourishes or swashes — those curly, squiggly things that usually come with Pro font packs.
For this example, I used swashes and decorative elements that came with the gorgeous new Calligraphic font Adorn. "Thank You" was typed in Peoni Pro. Look at how much more interesting the type looks after I embellished it with those flourishes. Of course you can choose to add as little or as many as you'd like, it all boils down to personal preference.
Next time I will give you a list of my favorite calligraphic fonts that come with free swashes.
And looky here, I have a free printable for you today: Rustic themed Mr. Right and Mrs. Always Right signs that you can use as props in your photo booth pics and other pictorials. You can also use them as hanging chair signs, just punch holes at the top and thread ribbons through.
Head on over to the Freebies section to download your printable!
* partnered post


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As Omaha Fashion Week prepares for our 10th Anniversary in fall of 2017, we are taking a moment to look back and see how it all began and grew over the years. During the next 10 months, we will be touching base with many of the talented designers who have joined us along the journey and show you what they are up to now. Each month leading up to OFW August 2017, we will look back on a different year of Omaha Fashion Week.
2008: The year Omaha Fashion Week was born
In 2008, there were a number of fashion designers in Omaha, putting on their own small shows in various venues across town. Enter Nick Hudson and Nomad Lounge with a reputation for some of the best nightlife events Omaha had to offer. Nick, whose family has a long legacy in fashion (stemming from his grandfather buying silk parachutes and turning them into garments following WWII) saw an opportunity to bring local designers together. And so, Omaha Fashion Week was born!
With the help of Dale Heise, Rachel Richards and Tom Sena among many others, 12 designers and 20 models debuted collections in front of an audience of 2,000 on Jones Street in September of 2008. And thus, a new tradition was born that put Omaha on a trajectory to become the Midwest's fashion hub!
Designers showing collections in 2008 were Sabrina Jones, Lindsey Solomon Mohr, DOMINIKAT, Dan Richters, Threaded by Laci Neal and Kevin Steward, Buf Reynolds, Dale Heise, Autopilot Art by Alexia Thiele, Bucky's Tulle and Dye by Katherine Pope and Reverend Steve, Amy Beck, Spano Lang by Shannon Hopp, and Julia Drazic.
Designer Highlight: Amy Beck
Amy Beck, who has since married and become Amy Quinn, designed the apron with plant pockets that graced the photo of the very first Omaha Fashion Week program in 2008. Amy returned from a craft fair in Chicago just a few days before OFW and was scrambling to finish her collection before it hit the runway. Luckily, she had the aid of her friends from the Omaha Craft Mafia (find them on Facebook @omahacraftmafia) to back her up.
At the time she signed up for Omaha Fashion Week, Amy hadn't done much garment work since graduating from University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She was looking forward to a break from her norm at the time: fabric sculpture. Her brand Plaiderpillar was best known for—you guest it, plaid! Plaiderpillar featured adorable fabric animal and monster sculptures adorned with plaid accents. In addition to the creatures, Amy had created some bags and quirky boy shorts. The playfulness of Plaiderpillar carried over to collection on for OFW, with one model even carrying a plaid inflatable bouncy ball.
In the weeks prior to the show, her studio at Hot Shops Art Center (@hotshopartcenter) saw model after model for fittings. Amy, who was using some of her designs from college as part of the collection was often surprised by their height. Her baby doll dresses didn't quite hit a length she was comfortable with—especially considering the runway was 48" off the ground! "So I designed boy shorts and tights and leg warmers to be sure they were covered up with the view from below," Amy says.
But Amy was most worried about the quick dress competition that was part of the show. "I had to shut off my crazy left brain," she remembers. "I had one of my Craft Mafia friends as my helper and we made a game plan which of course, did not work out. I totally crashed and bombed on the quick dress portion."
Her fondest memories of the experience lie in the comraderie backstage. There were garments needing edits at the last minute, zippers needing to be repaired and finishing touches applied, "it was neat to see everyone come together and help each other out."
Today Amy has taken on a different kind of chaos. Twice a week she stays home with her children, Geegee, 4 and Buster, 21 months. The other three days she is hard at work with Signs and Shapes International, a company that designs inflatable mascot costumes and structures. The company is well known for its work on several large scale balloons seen in high profile parades. Early this year Amy was tasked with a big project for the company which we can not disclose. Since taking on the project her work on Plaiderpillar has lapsed for the time being and she has done some very limited custom work. To see some of Amy's work, including a large inflatable bow billboard for Borsheims through Signs and Shapes International, visit flickr.com/plaiderpillar.
Also check out these videos from 2008 to really get a feel for the first year of Omaha Fashion Week:
Photo Credit: Dale Heise
Model: Amelia Hummel


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Channel 9's website nineMSN has made a major stuff-up by announcing the winner of The Celebrity Apprentice this morning before the show airs tonight.
Former record exec Ian 'Dicko' Dickson and model Nathan Jolliffe were the final two contestants in the Australian version of the show.
A video at the nineMSN website features host Mark Bouris announcing the winner. "It was a difficult decision and the decision was made on a number of factors. But in short, in 2012 the Celebrity Apprentice is (Noise11.com has the winner's name here).
The video posted today at nineMSN was titled 'Celebrity Apprentice: ***** wins". It was meant to be uploaded after the show aired tonight.
The nineMSN blunder has meant the secret was out 12 hours before the show was scheduled to air at 8pm this evening.
Channel 9 has since taken down the video that had only 100 views when the mistake was discovered.
Spoiler Alert – Find out who won The Celebrity Apprentice 2012 Australia here


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Lot 8 Oak Bluff Court is a $28,500 property located in North Utica, IL.
Large residential building lot. City water, under ground utilities, curbs & sidewalks. Walking distance to golf course & historic downtown Utica. Close to interstate.
|Property Type
Vacant Land/Lots
|HOA Fee
la salle
|School District
|Elementary School
waltham elementary school
|Middle School
waltham elementary school
|High School
la salle-peru twp high school
The accuracy of all information, regardless of source, including but not limited to square footages and lot sizes, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be personally verified through personal inspection by and/or with the appropriate professionals. Listings marked with the Broker Reciprocity icon (above) are provided courtesy of Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC. Broker Reciprocity Database. NOTICE: Many homes contain recording devices, and buyers should be aware they may be recorded during a showing.


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In life she polarized a nation, and in death Margaret Thatcher has been no different.
Since her passing was announced by her former PR manager last Monday, Britain has again been divided by her politics, with public protests attended by some people not even born during her 11 years in power from 1979 to 1990.
And further splitting the divide will be tomorrow's almost state-like funeral arrangements which, coming with a £10 million ($15 million) price tag have angered some Britons.
Tomorrow morning, the grocer's daughter from the middle England town of Grantham in Lincolnshire will be given a de facto state funeral, with her body carried on a gun carriage along London streets lined by 700 members of the Armed Forces. Falkland veterans will carry her coffin into St. Paul's Cathedral, where around 2,000 guests have been invited to the service in a farewell meticulously planned by Mrs. Thatcher in her later years.
But the elaborate arrangements have their critics, among them the bishop of Thatcher's home town, the Right Rev. Dr. Tim Ellis. Asked by BBC Radio Lincolnshire whether the organizers had "got it right" in spending £10 million on the funeral, he said: "I personally don't think that they have. It plays into the hands of those more extreme people who will use the funeral as an opportunity to promote certain political views."
Senior Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians also called for a more modest funeral, but senior Tories such as Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague said the current plans are appropriate. Last week, Mr. Hague argued that a £75 billion EU rebate she negotiated in the 1980s would more than cover the cost.
However groups, like the economic equality movement Occupy, say the funeral has been imposed upon the population. "The Conservative Party and a group of tabloid editors have foisted this vulgar funeral on us and I think the vast majority of British people do not want it," says Occupy's London spokesman Richard Paton, who would have attended and turned his back on the cortege in protest had he not been working as a teacher tomorrow.
"Quite apart from the rebate, Margaret Thatcher wasted the North Sea oil windfall which came on tap in 1980, [and she created] a housing bubble which we still suffer from," Mr. Paton says, referring to the easier credit available in the mid-80s which fueled house-buying, pushing up prices. "Why should she have this funeral?"
But former national Tory spokeswoman Jo-Anne Nadler, who was a Young Conservative in the 1980s and now a London councillor, says it is justified. "I think it reflects well on our nation. It's not just Britain watching the funeral, it's the whole world."
"Outside Britain, she had a huge international profile alongside Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, effectively ending the cold war. If we didn't acknowledge that with a dignified, elegant, and grand funeral, it would not reflect well on Britain."
Edwina Currie, a former junior health minister during Thatcher's term, agrees. "I think Mrs. Thatcher would have been thrilled to bits with the funeral plans. Of course, she would never say that – she would probably have said 'No, no, no, don't make a fuss.' But that was more about the way she was brought up as a Methodist."
"But I think she would secretly been very flattered and proud that her political achievements got the recognition."


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The Annual MRV Blueberry Festival at Hartshorn's Farm
Saturday, 8/6, and Sunday, 8/7, from 11-4
JAMboree on Saturday evening from 6-9pm
At Hartshorn Farm:
- Delight your taste buds with blueberry milkshakes, creamees, crisp, shortcake, flatbread pizza, fruit popsicles, blueberry lemonade, breakfast and lunch food, and maple cotton candy and more.
- Pie eating contest on Saturday at 12:30
- Bake off on Saturday at 2:30
- Listen to good music, get a massage under a tent in the field, have a holistic tarot reading, spend time with family and friends, and have fun!
Around the Valley:
- 20% off at The Collection anything Blue
- 15% All Zinc based moisturizing sunblocks at Complexions
- 15% off at Whippletree Designs anything Blue
- Free mini blueberry cheesecakes at Irasville Country Store
- Free cinnamon buns at Knoll Farm on Sunday 9-noon while supplies last
- 20% off blue yarn at Shades of Winter
- Three Mountain CafeBlueberry muffins, smoothies and milkshakes. 20% off anything blue
- Waitsfield PotterySign up between 10 and noon on Saturday. Eligible to win a custom berry bowl
- 15% off storewide at Peanut & Mouse if you mention Blueberry Festival
- 20% off all blue clothing and accessories at The Green Closet
- Mix Cupcakerie 20% off anything blueberry


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With nearly every major business news publication reporting Apple is looking to design its own car, Neil takes a look at the polarizing issue and why there seems to be so much disagreement among industry observers. The episode also includes discussion on what Apple's goal would be by entering the automobile industry, concluding with a few minutes of speculation as to what Apple R&D may be focused on.
Show Notes:
Apple Hiring Automative Experts to Work in Secret Research Lab - Financial Times
Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars - WSJ
Apple Wants to Start Producing Cars as Soon as 2020 - Bloomberg
Apple Hiring Big Brains in Car Battery Space - Reuters
Apple Is Forming an Auto Team - The New York Times
Jan Dawson - The Evolution of CarPlay - Techpinions
AAPL Orchard daily email - Above Avalon


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On March 15th, the mediation group of residents selected by Councilor Ike Randolph after the meeting with IPL at the Creamery on February 23rd met again with IPL and the Indianapolis forester along with Ike and Attorney Greg Silver. The mediation group calls ourselves Traders Point Green Preservation-TPGP). TPGP met among ourselves several times in preparation for the second meeting with IPL, and we developed our proposals for resolution of IPL's plan for tree removal and severe trimming. Those proposals,or talking points, were distributed via e-mail within Traders Point last week. We did not expect the negotiations to conclude at the March 15th meeting and they did not. IPL wants time to consider our proposals. Ike Randolph and Attorney Greg Silver are to coordinate with IPL and city forestry to take "field trips" to the Griffin, Huler, and Stevens properties (border south 86th Street). It was tentatively scheduled to meet again the first week of April. In the meantime, Councilor Randolph got IPL to continue the tree cutting moratorium until after the next round of negotiations.
Likely, the first activity of IPL after the March 15th meeting is to have a surveyor do a survey of the 86th Street corridor. In our preparations for these negotiations, TPGP and Greg Silver studied the Huler and Stevens mortgage surveys and the plat drawing of the Silver Leaf Estates (3 properties south of 86th on Moore's west side plus Silver Leaf Court, and Silver Ridge). Mr. Silver then had a surveyor of extensive Indianapolis experience do survey research and make a survey drawing of the Moore-86th intersection and areas east and west along 86th St. The surveyor's results confirmed the mortgage surveys that there is no utility easement on the south side of 86th Street west from the intersection at Moore, and the right of way is only 40 feet from road center then widening to 45 feet further west. Measurements made by TPGP of the power poles on the Huler and Stevens properties show them to be violating the right of way by many feet. Furthermore, running the length of Silver Leaf Estates along the south side of 86th Street is a 15 foot planting easement intended for trees to beautify 86th. IPL violated the planting easement in 1992 when they clear cut the trees from it to put in the power poles we now have.
TPGP has incurred more expense for the fee of the surveyor, but the expense has been very worthwhile. We still are in need for covering the attorney and, now, surveyor expenses so contributions are very much sought. Thanks to those of you who have contributed already.
The last point to make on the tree issue as it currently stands is a bit of suggestion: everyone go hunt up your mortgage survey and look for right of way and easement indicators.


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1. In A Mellow Tone 6.08
2. Moon River 3.20
3. Misty 3.18
4. Corner Pocket 5.24
5. Count'em 6.22
6. Announcement Count Basie 0.28
7. Mr. Five By Five 2.02
8. I Want A Little Girl 3.32
9. I'm Coming Virginia 2.02
10. The Swinging Shepherd Blues 3.55
11. The Midnight Sun Never Sets 3.05
12. It Needs To Be Bee'd With 4.27
13. Lil' Darlin' 4.01
14. One O'Clock Jump 1.37
15. Jumpin' At The Woodside 3.09
Snooky Young, Al Aarons, Sonny Cohn, Don Rader, Rickie Fortunatus – tp
Henry Coker, Grover Mitchell, Benny Powell, Urbie Green – tb
Marshall Royal – as
Eric Dixon – ts, fl
Frank Wess – as, fl
Frank Foster – ts
Charlie Fowlkes – bs
Count Basie – p
Freddie Green – g
Buddy Catlett – b
Sonny Payne – dr
Jimmy Rushing – voc
Recorded September 9, 1963 at the Sportpalast, Berlin, Germany
The last event in the history of the Berlin Sportpalast was a jazz concert. Benny Goodman was sounding the conclusive finale. Also in 1958, when "Beatniks dismantled the Sportpalast" (opinion of the press at that time), jazz could be heard on stage: The Kurt Edelhagen orchestra was the opening act of Bill Haley's rock'n'roll-show. Five years later there was another big band on stage, the Count Basie orchestra. One person from the audience even found his way into literature: In his novel Der Weg nach Oobliadooh GDR-born author Fritz Rudolf Fries tells the story of two jazz enthusiasts who – previous to the construction of the Berlin Wall – set out from the Soviet zone for a Basie-concert at the Sportpalast.
Over the years, the multipurpose hall hosted many jazz celebrities on its stage. Among others, Lionel Hampton, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Buddy DeFranco, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles and Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic-spectacle. Official recordings exist of Johnny Hodges (Johnny Hodges at Sportpalast, 1961) and the Dutch Swing College Band (The Dutch Swing College Band at the 'Sport Palast' Berlin, 1962, and 20 Years DCB, Live at the Sportpalast, Berlin, 1965).
The problems faced by most big-bands at the end of the 1940s also had an effect on Basie. The bandleader was forced to break up his orchestra and shrink his formation to the size of a combo. However, already in the early-50s he was back in the old format. In the early-60s, his big band was once again one of the world's most favourite big bands. In 1963 it won the Grammy for "Best Performance by an Orchestra for Dancing" for the album This Time by Basie! Hits of the 50's & 60's, arranged by Quincy Jones and recorded in January of the same year. The song also made it into the US-charts (on the eve of the "British Invasion", a massive media exposure of British beat music, which started the following year). This success prompted the record label to release a follow up album in next to no time, More Hits of the 50's & 60's, later renamed Frankly Basie. Count Basie Plays the Hits of Frank Sinatra.
At that moment the band was on its first tour of Japan, a remarkable success. A short time after their return to the USA, the next long business trip was coming up: Europe. In Germany the band paid visits to the main stages in the big cities as well as flying visits to US military bases in provincial towns, as it was quite usual in those days. From one of these rural stopovers a journalist of Jazz Podium reported in the October edition of the magazine, under the remarkable headline "Beer Tent on the Roadside":
"I am asking you, dear jazz connoisseur, how would you feel on discovering Jimmy Rushing and the entire Basie band in a blue-and-white striped beer tent in the middle of the countryside among a colourful, jeering and beer mug clutching crowd, certainly eager for entertainment, but less so for jazz..? The audience in the tent accepts Basie just as they accept the beer in their mugs. No astonishment, no excitement, not even special attention. The people dance, drink and have fun." The colourful report is garnished with a photo of heavyweight Rushing in the beer tent – caption: "Knackwurst-Blues" …
A completely different ambience prevailed at the Berlin Sportpalast concert (one must be grateful that the word creation "Curywurst-Blues" was never brought to the attention of the media). Rushing himself showed off with his body mass and recorded – in the same year of 1963 – the album Five Feet of Soul, a reference to his nickname "Mr. Five by Five". The song of the same name, "He's five feet tall and he's five feet wide" had already become his theme song in the 1940s and just had to be included in Berlin schedule as well.
The attendance of the blues-shouter was a temporary return to the band. Rushing had already been a singer in Basie's group from 1935 to 1948. Joe Williams became his successor in 1954 but had left the orchestra in 1961 to work on his solo career. However, he was to return – just as Rushing – time and again over the following decades.
Williams joined Basie in the early days of a newly established orchestra in 1952, unofficially known as The New Testament Band – to differentiate it from the Old Testament Band of the 30s and 40s. The previous formation focused on the individual performance and thus the soloistic moment, whereas now the ensemble and thereby the arrangement gained importance. The level of precision achieved coined a somewhat paradoxical term: From now on the band was known as swing machine. Of vital significance for this development was Neil Hefti, probably the most important arranger of the New Testament Band, and he was well aware of his importance: "I genuinely believe that my fifty arrangements for Basie have saved him from ruin and are responsible for the two million dollar he takes in annually. It was quite simply a question of life or death for the band, as obviously the pre-war sound did no longer work. A musical cardiac transplantation and it did succeed." (cit. Nolden 1990, p. 60)
Also the Berlin audience could convince itself that it did work. The performance followed a well-planned script. It started moderately with Ellington's "In A Mellotone", "Moon River" (the only song from the Grammy-winning Hits of the 50's & 60's) and "Misty". The band slowly gained pace with "Count `Em" (from Li'l Ol' Groovemaker … Basie! – also recorded in 1963) arranged by Quincy Jones. It reached a first climax with Jimmy Rushing's intermezzo – a glimmer of old Kansas City style in a new form. "The Swingin' Shepherd Blues" offered a prime example of Basie's economy on the piano, this thrifty "pling-pling" (or "bink-bink!" as Henry Miller described it in his Greek travel diary). To what extent his art of "less is more" was primarily the art of perfect timings, the band compellingly showed in Hefti's "Lil' Darlin' " – a charming piece of music, which becomes irrelevant when performed in the wrong tempo and without this crucial timing. What then followed was a finale furioso with "One O'Clock Jump" and "Jumpin' at the Woodside". On this occasion the Count Basie Orchestra showed that it was much more than just a swing machine: It sweats, boils and steams …
Karsten Mützelfeldt


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Brandon Washington's master's thesis, The Spectacle, is an investigation into Guy Debord's theory of the same name and how it relates to today. The spectacle is a communication tool that employs fantasy in order to sell society on the idea of how we should live our lives, and what we should aspire to be. It manifests in many forms—social media, movies, television, store displays, political campaigns, sports, and entertainment. The spectacle urges us to watch and consume life instead of actively constructing our own—losing our grasp of our own desires and replacing them with others. Brandon's thesis takes the form of an intervention, aiming to wake people up, expose them to alternative and freethinking, get them in touch with their own desires, and express their true selves.
The spectacle urges us to watch and consume life instead of actively constructing our own—losing our grasp of our own desires and replacing them with others.
The spectacle describes how the culture industry has weakened society's ability to think critically by providing the key elements to distracting and stupefying the public. Guy Debord paints a picture of the spectacle in his book Society of the Spectacle, and created a group called The Situationist International to fight against it. The group stood by the belief that the wealth accumulated by society should not be used for mindless consumerism, but instead should be used to revolutionize that society. They did this by creating situations that disrupted everyday life in order to make people question the systems around them. The ultimate goal of this approach is to take away the limited view of the status quo, in order to construct one's own.
We are a society engulfed by the spectacle. The spectacle is rooted in a neoliberal capitalist ideology—a free market where you have to pay to play. Capitalism promotes the idea of consumerism as a means to build and strengthen an economy. The more society buys and consumes, the more jobs are created. More jobs allow people to feel secure as far as their needs are concerned, but also provide people more expendable income that can then be used to buy more stuff. The problem is that consumers do not understand when enough is enough. We tend to want more objects than others. We need a bigger house than our neighbors, a better car, a higher paying job, and newer things. We constantly play this game of "keeping up with the Joneses," and it has, in effect, become the status quo; it has become the dominant ideology.
It's also an ideology has swept the globe as a mark of success. But this society is only utopia for the few born with great privilege. "Most of us will have to work our bones off to make this idea a reality," Brandon argues. "Some of us will go further than others, chasing for so-called status. But it is evident that only a few can stand on the top of the mountain called capitalism; these have recently been branded as 'the one percent.' One percent of the population is a small number, yet millions of Americans want membership into that exclusive, yet almost impossible-to-join club."
"This is a strange, rather perverse, story, just to put it in very simple terms. It's a story about us, people, being persuaded to spend money we don't have on things we don't need to create impressions that won't last on people we don't care about." —Tim Jackson
Brandon's thesis is a contribution to fight this condition, and his initial explorations took the form of commentary. He created a set of editorial products that, by urning them into "boobie traps," make people stop and think. For example, below is "furniture that is impossible to take apart when nestled together."
Or perhaps a slippery welcome mat.
Although these interventions literally jostled people out of their expected moments, the work made Brandon realize that social commentary wasn't a satisfying route to pursue, and so he redirected his sights towards an "ethical spectacle."
An ethical spectacle has several criteria. It needs to be participatory, authentic about its message, open to everyone's ideas, transparent, and aspirational.
The Ethical Spectacle
With insights gathered from speaking to experts, user research, prototyping, sketching, and system mapping, Brandon started to form a methodology to achieve the thesis goals. One of his biggest influencers was activist, educator, and author Stephen Duncombe, who coined the term "ethical spectacle" in his book Dream:Re-Imagining Progressive Politics in an Age of Fantasy. An ethical spectacle has several criteria. It needs to be participatory, authentic about its message, open to everyone's ideas, transparent, and aspirational.
Brandon created "ethical spectacles" through a framework of three design lenses: service design, social enterprise, and a futuring.
Brandon wanted to give people the materials to question society. His conversation with educator, activist, and founder of The Journal of Radical Shimming, Sam Gould, helped guide this pursuit. Here, he encouraged Brandon to use art as a vehicle for creating spaces for questioning culture. As a result, Brandon created ALT BOKS.
In 2013, nearly 70 million Americans visited a museum or gallery, or took part in an art event. Those of us living in major cities, immersed in art culture, can interact with this culture in tangible ways. But for people who do not live in these types of cities, interactions with art, in most cases, takes place through screens.
The ALT BOKS service is a mix between an arts CSA and a modern book club.
ALT BOKS wants to make this experience more tangible. It's is a subscription-based service that disseminates "the materials of art that foster free thinking, expression, and questioning to those who don't have art in their daily lives." ALT BOKS distributes free thought from people whose art and writing are not widely publicized.
Subscribers receive one box every month for a year. There are six themes over that year—each grounded in critical and alternative thinking. New themes are introduced via a book, which is paired with a summary and suggestions on how to digest the book. The following month, subscribers receive an artist-commissioned object that is inspired by the book and theme. These are paired with a description of the artistic process of creating the object, along with the artist's point of view on the topic.
The companion online platform features tutorials, artist talks, and a forum to discuss the themes and topics presented within the contents of ALT BOKS. In total, the service is a mix between an arts CSA and a modern book club.
Last Mile
Looking through the lens of a social enterprise, Last Mile is an attempt to take some of the power that fashion designers have, and to return it to the consumer. Here, rather than the producer's or designer's name emblazoned on the clothing, a "write-in" label is provided for the consumer to write their own name on as a gesture to claim ownership of the clothing purchased. The Last Mile shifts the power to the consumer by giving them ownership to present, curate, and realize their own spectacle. In doing so, the clothes become less about the maker and more about the wearer.
owever, with this power comes responsibility—the responsibility to understand where the clothes come from, and who created and produced them. Partnering with a company like Zady would be ideal for this program. Zady is a fashion-conscious retailer who presents customers with the origins of each piece of clothing that they sell. Taking the concept further, Brandon imagines all proceeds going to a non-profit such as Boot Strap, helping underprivileged creative people realize their dreams of becoming designers.
Brandon asked, "What if we turned the phone over, and literally wore our content on our chests?"
Last Mile inspired Brandon's next project, Projection. The idea of owning, curating, and presenting your personal spectacle was the spark for a proposed future social behavior.
In the book Of System of Objects, Jean Baudrillard defines an object of consumption as a mere signifier of what that person represents. Brandon took the idea of signifiers in a literal sense, turning them into objects, and used the cell phone as a jumping off point.
Smartphones have allowed for multiple ways of communicating with others through multiple media. At the same time, they have contributed to a kind of voyeurism, insulating our consumption into a bubble. Brandon asked, "What if we turned the phone over, and literally wore our content on our chests?"
Here, the product allows users to project digital content out into the real world—creating a new form of social media in the physical sense. Like on platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr, the content that you choose to display on your Projection makes up—and represents—who you are. Whether it's a political statement, a diary of your daily activities, or promotional content, Projection shows strangers on the street your point of view. But instead of being able to hide behind an avatar as is possible digital social media, the product forces you to stand behind what you believe in. Of course, Projection is quite a spectacle, but its content also sparked conversation and interest among test subjects.
Co-Creative Session
Returning to Stephen Duncombe's argument that most ethical thing to do is to help connect people with their own desires—and to express them through spectacle—Brandon discovered a bright spot in the "five whys" method. The method was created by Sakichi Toyoda, and used within the Toyota Motor Corporation to discover the root cause of problems within his company. Simply asking a person "why" five times can uncover fundamental truths. Comedian Louis C.K. presents a light-hearted look at the technique in this popular television clip:
Brandon dovetailed this technique into a co-creative workshop as a way to tap into people's ideal worlds, and to express them through a print advertisement.
The participants were given a worksheet with the following questions: What one thing would you change in the world? Why would you change it? What company would be most likely to pursue this change? And what would this idea look like as an advertisement? The worksheet ultimately acted as a brief for them to construct their ad—looking through and tearing out images from an array of magazines for material.
The workshop manifested a lot of great pieces. One in particular was a participant expressing the need to create more time to explore nature, instead of focusing all of our time at work. Here it is below:
During the workshop, participants created a "mission statement." Mission statements are typically used by companies to keep employees and their ideas complementary, to stay on course with common goals, and to measure initiatives against. A manifesto can be a similar thing. Manifestos have been used widely throughout history—from the bible to Martin Luther King to the Dada Movement.
Mobile Manifesto is a traveling intervention, where participants craft a manifesto and walk away with an ID card that expresses their beliefs.
Mobile Manifesto
In the next phase of the thesis, Brandon took the concept of a manifesto and turned it into an experience. He argues "in our fast-paced society, we leave little time to understand what we truly desire for our short, precious lives. Manifestos can uncover what we most want, and can become a roadmap for how to get there." Mobile Manifesto is a traveling intervention, where participants craft a manifesto and walk away with an ID card that expresses their beliefs. "It's is an experience to give people a permanent reminder of what they really stand for in this spectacle world," he adds.
The manifesto takes form of an ID Card, so that it can be kept it in a wallet, close at all times. The hope is that it serves as a reminder—a physical piece of evidence—that people are in command of their true desires, despite the outside influences bombarding them every single day.
To keep the event mobile, Mobile Manifesto took place inside a truck. On the interior wall of the truck is a "Manifesto Mad Lib" on an oversized ID card. Participants chose inspiring words generated from aspirational manifestos and mission statements. Armed with a laptop, a smartphone, a printer, and a laminator, Brandon and his team were able to snap a picture in front of the giant ID card, and print it out on the spot.
Brandon was surprised and intrigued to see how much time people spent creating their manifestos. "I was proud to see that they took declaring their desires and intentions so seriously," he remarked. "People would erase and rewrite, erase, rewrite, ask a friend what they thought, have a deeper conversation about it, and then write it out again." A total of thirty-five people manifested with an ID card, but Brandon wondered how he might be able to scale the activity.
Here Brandon created a web app that turns your manifesto into a digital poster. Manifest helps users create a manifesto using the five why's method mentioned above—creating an interactive, digital poster.
First, users are presented with a prompt to start them off. Using the five whys method, the manifesto becomes richer in meaning and deeper in expression. Manifest takes the user's statements and searches the web for content that reflects the user's manifesto. The platform tries to utilize all types of media, offering up videos, photos, audio, and articles that might contribute to the work.
The Manifest platform puts all the content together, creating a mood board-like page that makes the manifesto visually engaging. The digital poster is massive and non-linear, welcoming a bit of randomness and inviting discovery.
In a Frontline television documentary, author and cultural critic Douglas Rushkoff calls our new generation "Generation Like"—re-framing "likes" as a currency that empowers the individual. "Young people want validation and attention," Brandon adds, "and social media makes it easy for them to get it." And of course, companies see this as an opportunity where social media users push their products for free. Their audience becomes their sales force—selling their products for them.
The "like" button is the actuator and sensor of social media. We can quantify the "like." It is a mark of viewership, a sign of validation, a digital equivalent of a gold star. Manifest as a social media site attempts to counter this by eliminating the like button. It is used solely as a platform for expressing oneself to others. Your profile is the main interaction, and the site encourages people to return and update it.
Brandon reminds us "that the spectacle is a communication tool that employs fantasy to sell you shit. It all boils down to us being persuaded to spend money we don't have, on things we don't need, to create impressions on people we don't care about." And in the thesis work, he encourages us to live our lives, instead of watching them.
See more of Brandon's thesis work as it unfolds on his thesis blog meandmythesis.tumblr.com and his other work on brandoffwashington.com. Email him at bw[at]brandoffwashington[dot]com.


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Bold and Courageous: (1 Kings 18:17-19 ESV) When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?" [18] And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. [19] Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."
Clear Call to Repentance and Communication: So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. [21] And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word.
Rebuke of False gods: [27] And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." [28] And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. [29] And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.
Dependence Upon and Trust In God: (1 Kings 18:20-40 ESV) Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. [31] Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name," [32] and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. [33] And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." [34] And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time. [35] And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. [36] And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. [37] Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." [38] Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. [39] And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God." [40] And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape." And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.
Cowardly Retreat: (1 Kings 19:1-3 ESV) Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." [3] Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
God's Restoration: (1 Kings 19:9-18 ESV) the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. [12] And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. [13] And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"


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Your Source for Education Design and Planning
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
60,000 sq.ft.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College wanted to provide students with a space where they could study, exercise or simply relax. The Student Wellness and Learning Center is the culmination of a retreat in which staff, students and community members participated.
The addition includes computer carrels and spaces for students to log in on laptop computers. The space allows ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONCOST PER SQ FT$166.00FEATURED IN2001 Architectural PortfolioSUB CATEGORYSpecialized rejuvenation of the spirit. It blends contemporary and traditional themes dramatically. Interior landscaping, a waterfall, a pergola-covered walkway, and a curved, 8,000-square-foot skylight and space-frame system accomplish this goal.
Heating this space was especially challenging. The relative humidity of the space must be kept below 70 percent for the computers to work properly. The waterfall made this difficult. Condensation on the skylight and space-frame system also was a concern. These issues and air-circulation problems were overcome through the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system designed by the architect's mechanical engineering department.
©George Lambros/Lambros Photography
Coffee shop/Cafe area
Fitness center
© 2019 Penton Media, Inc.


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Learn more about RAPIDO and visit RAPIDORECOVERY.org!
buildingcommunityWORKSHOP ([bc]) is pleased to announce the launch of RAPDIORECOVERY.org in conjunction with our presentation of RAPIDO on Next City's World Stage at UN Habitat III in Quito. RAPIDO is a holistic approach to housing recovery that enables communities to recover for disasters within months instead of years. Through understanding and redesigning the entire U.S. disaster recovery housing process, alongside people who are affected the most, RAPIDO fosters resilience within Texas, empowers local communities, and abates the social and economic impacts of disaster.
RAPIDORECOVERY.org makes it easy to learn more about the RAPIDO model, view work from the RAPIDO Rapid Disaster Recovery Housing Pilot Program, and keep up to date with RAPIDO advocacy efforts in Texas.


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- Ariana Grande knows how to pull off the high ponytail.
- The singer is seen rocking the hairstyle so often that fans could hardly recognize her when she was recently spotted in a video without it.
- Grande has admitted in the past that she actually can't wear her hair down, thanks to years of bleaching it for "Sam & Cat."
Ariana Grande is the undisputed queen of the high ponytail — In fact, the 24-year-old wears the style *so* often that on the rare occasions she goes without it, the switcharoo practically causes a cosmic shift.
Such was the case when the "Into You" singer was recently spotted in a video for her Dangerous Woman tour sans her signature look. Letting down her pin-straight locks, which flowed as the songstress moved around the stage, we saw a whole new side to the star that had fans in an absolute tizzy.
More important than sparking fan reaction, however, the shot marked a shift for the bombshell, who has admitted in the past that she literally *can't* wear her hair down, thanks to years of bleaching it for the Nickelodeon show, Sam & Cat. "[My] actual hair is so broken that it looks absolutely ratchet and absurd,"she admitted via Instagram. To compensate she reportedly told fans she wears " more fake hair than every drag queen on earth."
While there's no word on whether the latest footage is the work of extensions or if she's finally been able to whip her hair back into shape, it looks ah-mazing either way!
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Onaga (Long-Tail Red Snapper)/ Jhana Young
Onaga is one of Hawaii's fish better known by its Japanese name than by its Hawaiian name, ula`ula koae. It is also called ruby snapper or scarlet snapper, due to it's brilliant red color. Onaga have a unique profile with distinctive caudal fins that end in long, slender points.
Onaga has clear, light pink flesh similar to that of the opakapaka but somewhat softer and moister. Fish caught during the winter months seem to have a higher fat content than those caught in the summer; hence onaga yield the best sashimi during the winter season.
Most of the onaga caught off the Hawaiian Islands range in size from 1 to 18 pounds. Harvested exclusively with vertical hook-and-line gear, this bottomfish is caught in deep waters at 600-1000 feet. Learn More.
Fishermen use rods and reels to catch six species of snapper and one species of grouper that are called "bottomfish" and nicknamed the "deep 7" because they live at the bottom of the sea around the Hawaiian archipelago. Each vessel has two to four weighted mainlines that are lowered and raised with reels to depths of 1,200 feet. Baited hooks branch off this mainline. This fishing method is similar to those traditionally used by native Hawaiians.
Vessel | License: None | 4700-NATHAN ABE
Harvest Date: 2015-10-13
Landing Date | Location: 2015-10-14 | Kona


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The Alvah Stone/
Housed in the historic Montague Mill building, The Alvah Stone offers authentic American food and drink in an atmosphere that's both casual and modern. Come for creative, ingredient-focused food and a full bar serving regional craft beers, a broad selection of wines, and inventive cocktails.
440 Greenfield Road, Montague


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Warning! This degree has changed. Read the transition arrangements.
Warning! This degree has been withdrawn and is no longer available for new applicants. Students who are already working towards this degree can continue to enrol in subjects.
postgraduate SWI-MCM-MAS-2019
Master of Commerce
This course is withdrawn and no longer accepting new applicants.
If you are an existing student completing this course, please refer to the Transition Arrangements below.
Available loans
Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Total subjects
Student rating
Study method
100% online
100% online
Credit available
Swinburne University of Technology leads the way with innovative and new ways of teaching, learning and thinking. It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.
University ranking
Degree structure
Degree details
At completion of the Master of Commerce, graduates should be able to:
- Apply advanced and coherent knowledge of trends in business sectors and organisations regarding competitive and sustainable strategy development and adaptation
- Apply advanced knowledge of corporation's approaches to social responsibility and sustainable development
- Apply advanced knowledge of alliances between public and private sectors around sustainable physical and social infrastructure in achieving more effective collaborative cultures in the workplace
- Apply knowledge and skills in business theory and research to develop and implement sustainable, strategic and tactical business mixes in the contemporary business arena
- Apply knowledge of research principles to identify, critique and synthesise complex information and apply it to problem-solving and decision-making exercises as an individual and as a team member
- Apply advanced research and evaluation skills to support projects in specialist areas including: CSR strategies, approaches to adaptive strategy, the effectiveness of public – private partnerships and projects, and contemporary applied marketing practices.
Organisations increasingly require people with skills, knowledge and attributes that reflect an understanding of the complex interactions between external pressures and an adaptive business strategy. There is also a need for strategic human resource management that sustains people and respects wider community interests. This degree should help graduates to drive these agendas and display sophisticated understanding of business sustainability issues and practices in private not-for-profit and public enterprise.
Career objectives
This degree provides you with the concepts, models, frameworks, research and analytical skills to enable you to understand, strategise and deal effectively with complex business challenges.
This degree will prepare you for the global business environment. It will build your understanding of sustainability (commercial, environmental and people oriented) in the business world and your skills in leadership, management, business decision-making and risk taking in a constantly changing business environment.
Higher education
To enrol in a Master of Commerce applicants require either:
- A recognised bachelor degree in business; or
- The successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Commerce or Graduate Diploma of Commerce
English Proficiency Requirements
English Language Requirements
Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Certificate: EAP 5 Advanced: 70%; OR, obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 79, with no individual band below 18.
Applicants with prior post graduate studies that satisfy the academic requirements of this degree may be granted 'credit' and/or entry to the degree with 'advanced standing'. University policies apply and applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process where a student may be granted credit or partial credit towards a qualification in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training.
For information on how to apply for credit please refer to Swinburne's website at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/ltu/oua/credit.html
The Master of Commerce aims to provide students from a wide range of disciplines and business experiences with concepts, frameworks, research and analytical skills to enable them to operate confidently and effectively in a global environment, characterised by constant environmental change and requiring flexible and innovative responses. In the design and development of this program we canvassed industry perspectives on program design and its relevance to contemporary organisational challenges. A common theme linking subjects in the degree is that of business sustainability in a globalised environment.
The Master of Commerce consists of 12 subjects. Students not wishing to undertake the full Masters course may exit with a:
- Graduate Certificate of Commerce (4 subjects)
- Graduate Diploma of Commerce (8 subjects)
Recommended Study Pattern
Master of Commerce students are required to complete 5 core subjects and 7 elective subjects (3 must be at level 3).
Please note: You cannot re-enrol into Swinburne subjects that you have already passed.
Absent Without Leave and Leave of Absence: How to apply for an approved leave of absence and minimise the risk of having to reapply for degree admission: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/open-universities-australia/current/AWOL-and-LOA.html
Award Requirements
To qualify for the award of Master of Commerce, students must complete 150 credit points comprising of:
- Five (5) Core subjects of study (62.5 credit points)
- Seven (7) core elective subjects (87.5 credit points)
Three (3) subjects must be level 3
Please note: You cannot re-enrol into Swinburne subjects that you have already passed.
If you were admitted before 2017 into the Master, Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate of Commerce you can find out which subjects you need to complete by downloading the Transition Plan applicable your course and admission year from Swinburne's OUA course transition webpage.
Master of Commerce Teach-Out
The Master of Commerce suite and nested courses including the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma were moved to teach out from Study Period 1, 2017.
No further admissions are permitted in to any of the levels within the suite.


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K2 Serial Module - Day 1 - Final
I was home sick today. After sleeping for about 6 hours I got bored and decide to
start working on the KIO2 serial module for the Elecraft K2. It was about a two hour
It is nice to have the K2 hooked up to my computer and visible by my logging programs.


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Dates for Coffee to Screen in Oman September 2016
Update: Filmmaker Kiera Lewis and Co-producer Cory Bratton have been invited to screen Dates for Coffee at an event hosted by START.ACT.LEAD in Salalah, Oman, this September 2016.
Stay tuned for the latest while they travel to the Middle East to start shifting the conversation on war and peace.
World Music Composer Todd Roach Joins with DfC
We're proud to announce that world music artist and composer Todd Roach has come on to score Dates for Coffee. A St. Louis native, Roach has for twenty-five years studied the rhythms of percussion instruments from around the world, including most notably, Turkey, Armenia, and the Arab Gulf.
Check out Todd and his band Dunham Shoe Factory.
Local Artists, International Cultures - WKVT Radio
May 30, 2014 (hour 2) An hour spent discussing two local events with an international flavor. Cyndal Ellis of Sobo Dance Studio discusses next week's performance and workshop on the South Indian Classical Dance known as Bharata Natyam, featuring Jaan Freeman. Then Kiera Lewis invites people to Saturday's Masquerade Ball at the Stone Church in support of her documentary, Dates for Coffee.
Masquerade ball to finance documentary film project - Keene Sentinel →
Keene Sentinel - The World Masquerade Ball is this Saturday, May 31, from 7 to 11 p.m. at The Stone Church, 210 Main St., Brattleboro. The event will feature live entertainment, refreshments and an auction of masks created by local artists. Formal attire and a mask are required for admittance. An unmasking will end the evening's festivities.Read More
Coffee talk - Filmmaker Kiera Lewis's documentary explores traditions, attitudes, and the different worldviews of U.S. and Arabic cultures →
By Wendy M. Levy/The Commons
In "Dates For Coffee," the viewer is reminded things are not always as they seem. Seemingly innocuous cultural differences can lead to dangerous misunderstandings.
The title alone has disparate meanings, depending on one's background.Read More
May 31 Masquerade Ball benefits 'Dates for Coffee' film - Brattleboro Reformer →
Get dressed up and spend a night out on Saturday, May 31, for The World Masquerade Ball, a benefit for the film Dates for Coffee.
The event runs from 7 to 11 p.m., and takes place at The Stone Church, 210 Main St. It promises to be a magical evening of enchanting live entertainment, refreshments, dancing, lively conversation and an auction of masks created by local artists. Formal attire and a mask are required for admittance. An unmasking will end the evening's festivities.Read More
Encores & Curtain Calls: To trust is devine - The Recorder →
On Saturday, May 31, at 8 p.m., there's going to be a fundrasing masquerade ball (yes, a masquerade ball) at the Stone Church at 210 Main St., Brattleboro, Vt., for the purpose of creating an original musical score for "Dates for Coffee." Once through the portals — which open at 7 p.m. — all within will be treated to a just-wrapped trailer for the forthcoming independent film, subtitled as "A Peacebuilding Documentary." Its main thrust is the connecting of cultural root-systems and the undercutting of all the politically correct madness that passes for international relations.Read More


text: Tuesday, December 13 at 7 pm, Windsor Congregational Church. Not everyone is "joy-filled" during the holiday season. This is a different kind of service for those who are stressed, lonely, or hurting. The main theme is "Moving Toward Pinpoints of Light." There will be area musicians performing hopeful, healing music, as well as an opportunity to sing. Also: the things about Christmas you thought you weren't allowed to think! All are invited. Clergy from Cummington, Plainfield, West Cummington and Windsor will officiate. Questions: Rev. Alex Hunter (cell/text: 413-344-6690; firstname.lastname@example.com)