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Dawson & Partners30-Apr-2012
I found Thea's presentation on Practice Management to be refreshing, informative, and fun. I particularly enjoyed the interactive elements of the session, and have taken away a number of ideas that I've already begun to implement within my workplace.
Kate Price , CA
Dawson & Partners


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Sports Hall
A superb indoor training facility, perfect facility for 5-a-side football, badminton, cricket and many more sports and activities. Available for parties, celebrations and events.
Prices from £45 per hour
The Sports Hall measures (approx):-
Length - 32m
Width - 17m
Height - 9.3m
Available evenings, weekends and school holidays. All year round!
Free parking available onsite.

subset: commoncrawl


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Meat District Co
Sydney, NSW
I've been wanting to hit up Meat District Co for what seems like an eternity now, the first two times I tried to go turned out to be unsuccessful and only left me wanting to go even more.
I finally got my chance one evening and siezed it. I walked in and didn't even look at the menu, I'd known what I was going to order for months. The Rib and steak combo, Half a rack of their ribs, a 200g sirloin and fries. I had the steak cooked rare, the ribs with extra basting, red wine sauce on the side and, rare, extra basting on ribs, red wine sauce in the side and upgraded the normal fries to truffle fries.
Being late the food came out swiftly, looking appetising as anything with a sweet caramalised char aroma coming off it.
The Sirloin cooked a perfect rare, was let down by low quality meat, tender but not soft and marbled with gristle, it was seasoned well and slightly basted in the rib sauce too but it lacked a meaty depth.
The ribs on the other had were great, basted astoundingly, grilled to perfection and mouth wateringly flavourful.
It seems to be a trend to get great ribs but the steak leaving something to be desired with these rib and steak combos.
I'll definitely be going back to get the ribs again, and maybe give one of the higher grade steaks a go.
How well it's cooked – 8.8
Flavour – 5.3
Tenderness – 5.7
Overall – 6.6


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Minutes walk to the marina
Star Rating
Commodores Cup 2018 Accommodation, Cowes Isle of Wight for 2 people
Commodores Cup accommodation is in great demand given the success of this spectacular event. Commodores Cup 2018 is even bigger and better than in previous years with many people seeking to holiday in Cowes at the same time. This year there are even more components of the metre regatta and the event lasts for most of July 2018
Property Ref: 34
A self contained aparment with seperate entrance and garden. Twin en suite room and fully fitted kitchen/diner/lounge area. Brand new and perfectly formed.+ More details
Property Ref: 19
A luxury waterside apartment in Cowes in a friendly modern development overlooking the marina with fantastic views of the Solent and beyond. It is a couple of minutes walk to Cowes Town Centre with the Red Funnel Ferry Terminal, the Marinas and Sailing Clubs nearby. The accomodation comprises of a lounge/diner which has a double sofabed, 1 master bedroom,1 bathroom and dining area next to the balcony with stunning sea views.+ More details
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A newly modernised one bedroom apartment within a minute's walk of the High St and Cowes Yacht Haven. Small courtyard garden. Sleeping 2 in a twin room.+ More details
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A stunningly converted, self contained apartment on Baring Road, with it's own entrance and private garden terrace.Twin bedroom with spacious bathroom and open plan kitchen/diner/lounge. Very well presented with sea views.+ More details


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High dynamic range imaging (HDR) is a technique used in imaging and photography to reproduce a greater dynamic range of luminosity than is possible with standard digital imaging or photographic techniques. The aim is to present the human eye with a similar range of luminance to that which, through the visual system, is familiar in everyday life. The human eye, through adaptation of the iris and other methods, adjusts constantly to the broad dynamic changes ubiquitous in our environment. The brain continuously interprets this information so that a viewer can see in a wide range of light conditions.
For imaging, HDR, as its name implies, is a method that aims to add more "dynamic range" to photographs, where dynamic range is the ratio of light to dark in a photograph. In principle, when HDR is enabled during that image capture, the camera instead of taking one photo, three photos are taken at different light exposures. Then, either with an automatic software (as is done at Mobile Phone cameras) or with a sophisticated image editing software, the pictures with the different exposures are overlayed and the best parts of each photo are highlighted.
Toward the HDR TVs, the UHD Alliance (UHDA) [1] of TV manufacturers, broadcasters and film producers have decided to create a new brand logo beyond UHD, the Ultra HD Premium that defines the technical specifications that a TV must meet in order to deliver a HDR/premium 4K experience.
The UHDA's new ULTRA HD PREMIUM specifications cover multiple display technologies and reference established industry standards and recommended practices from the Consumer Technology Association, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, the International Telecommunications Union and others. Moving further forward, UHDA Launches "ULTRA HD PREMIUM" Logo and Certification Licensing for Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Players.
Summarizing the minimum requirements [2]:
Minimum resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 – which remains the same as the 4K/Ultra HD TVs.
10-bit color depth – In contrast to the 8-bit color space that Blu-Ray players use today, the UHD Premium TVs must be able to receive and process a 10-bit colour signal, often called 'deep color', supporting over a billion colors.
Minimum of 90% of P3 colors – To certify a TV as an Ultra HD Premium TV, the TV must be able to display 90% of the colors defined by the P3 color space [3] (More info here).
Signal Input– BT.2020 color representation [4]
High Dynamic Range – SMPTE ST2084 EOTF [5]
Minimum dynamic range – To qualify with UHD Premium, a TV should meet a minimum standard for the maximum and the minimum brightness it can achieve.
- Aiming at LED TVs: More than 1,000 nits peak brightness and less than 0.05nits black level
- Aiming at OLED TVs: More than 540 nits brightness and less than 0.0005 nits black level
Please note that TVs could be certified Ultra HD Premium retroactively, but few TVs released in 2015 can meet the standard.


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Introducing the Mega Thor Hammer
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Briefly: Online Apple Store delays 24-hour ship times in Europe for Easter
In a change to certain European Online Apple Stores, the company is no longer offering 24-hour delivery turnarounds, while the option remains active in the U.S. and Canada.
First spotted by Portuguese blog All Mac Long, the shipping delays are being seen in nearly all European countries in which the Online Apple Store operates.
With current delivery times quoted at one to two days for nearly all products, including Apple's own equipment, the modification is likely a reflection of regional warehouse or courier companies' Easter weekend schedules, not Apple's European product channel inventory.
AppleInsider was able to confirm that Apple's new shipment protocol was adjusted within the past two days.
While the countries listed above may not be promised a quick one-day turnaround on Internet orders, Apple is continuing to offer the 24-hour availability in other parts of the world including the U.S. and Canada.


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About Stir Crazy Cafe
Founded in 2002, Stir Crazy Cafe provides exceptional coffee, tea, and food in a comfortable setting to Richmond's Northside neighborhood. Vickie Hall came into ownership in September 2018, helping to establish the cafe as a neighborhood hub with an emphasis on building relationships with our neighbors, friends and guests.
Our baristas are passionate about crafting quality beverages; from traditional espresso-based drinks to our homemade syrups. Our kitchen offers a large selection of freshly made sandwiches, salads, wraps, pastries, parfaits, cookies, and other goodies. We serve a rotating selection of Counter Culture Coffee, on draft Blue Ridge Bucha Kombucha & Snowing in Space Nitro Cold Brew and a host of our favorite Rostov's teas. Stop by to try one of our seasonal beverages and food specials, check our Events page for upcoming special events, or contact us about catering for your next business meeting or event! Thanks for stopping by our website, and we look forward to serving you soon!


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North Korea casts doubt on Trump summit, cancels talks with Seoul
Pyongyang also cancelled high-level talks due on Wednesday with Seoul over the joint military exercises being held between the US and South Korea.
SEOUL: North Korea on Wednesday (May 16) called into question a much-anticipated and unprecedented summit between its leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump set for next month.
Pyongyang also cancelled high-level talks due on Wednesday with Seoul over the Max Thunder joint military exercises being held between the United States and South Korea, denouncing the drills as a "rude and wicked provocation".
"There is a limit to the amount of goodwill and chances we can give," the North's official news agency KCNA said.
The drills between the two allies' air forces were a rehearsal for invasion and "a deliberate military provocation" at a time when inter-Korean relations were warming, it added.
"The US will have to think twice about the fate of the DPRK-US summit," KCNA said, referring to the North by its official acronym.
Washington said it will continue to plan the meeting in Singapore on Jun 12, with State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert telling reporters it had received "no notification" of a position change by North Korea.
The language used by KCNA is a sudden and dramatic return to the rhetoric of the past from Pyongyang, which has long argued that it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against the United States.
Hostilities in the 1950-53 Korean War stopped with a ceasefire, leaving the two halves of the peninsula divided by the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) and still technically at war.
At a dramatic summit last month in Panmunjom, the truce village in the DMZ, Kim and the South's President Moon Jae-in pledged to pursue a peace treaty to formally end the conflict, and reaffirmed their commitment to denuclearising the Korean peninsula.
But the phrase is open to interpretation on both sides and the North has spent decades developing its atomic arsenal, culminating last year in its sixth nuclear test - by far its biggest to date - and the launch of missiles capable of reaching the US.
The drive has seen it subjected to multiple rounds of UN Security Council resolutions, while Trump and Kim traded personal insults and threats of war last year.
Relations underwent a sudden turnaround as Moon used February's Winter Olympics in the South to broker talks between Washington and Pyongyang, before meeting with Kim in the DMZ last month.
The Trump-Kim summit is due in Singapore on Jun 12, with Washington demanding the North give up its weapons in a complete, verifiable and irreversible way.
High-level talks were meant to take place in the DMZ on Wednesday to discuss follow-up measures to the Panmunjom summit between Kim and Moon.
But KCNA called the Max Thunder drills a "flagrant challenge to the Panmunjom Declaration" taking place before the "ink on the declaration had a chance to dry".
In a statement, Seoul's unification ministry, which handles relations with the North, said it had received a message "in the name of chief delegate Ri Son Gwon that they were postponing the high-level talks indefinitely".
"Accordingly, today's high-level talks won't take place and the government will react following consultations among relevant agencies," it added.
South Korea and the US are security allies, with each pledged to come to the aid of the other if attacked, and Washington has nearly 30,000 troops stationed in the South to defend it against its neighbour, which invaded in 1950.
The two-week Max Thunder exercise started last Friday and involves some 100 aircraft from the two allies, including F-22 stealth fighter jets, B-52 bombers and other fighters.
"We have not heard anything from (the North Korean) government ... to indicate we would not continue conducting these exercises or would not continue planning for our meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un next month," State Department spokeswoman Nauert said on Tuesday.
The exercises are "not provocative", the spokeswoman said.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders added: "The United States will look at what North Korea has said independently, and continue to coordinate closely with our allies."
Washington has often deployed its military hardware in shows of strength to put pressure on Pyongyang - last year it sent three of its aircraft carriers to the waters off the peninsula simultaneously.
But on Tuesday, the Pentagon called the drills "defensive" in nature.
The North has consistently condemned military drills as preparations for invasion, and in the past has often responded with actions and provocations of its own in a cycle of events.
The major Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises, usually around March, have often sent tensions on the peninsula soaring.
But this year, the allies delayed those drills until after the Olympics and Paralympics in Pyeongchang as Moon sought to secure the North's participation at the Games.
In turn, envoys from Seoul said Kim told them he would "understand" if the exercises went ahead, which they did without incident.
Pyongyang has dramatically toned down its condemnations of its enemies in recent months. But it has a long history of switching from aggression to engagement, or vice versa.
The day after the Panmunjom summit, KCNA condemned a US exercise to train for the evacuation of its nationals from the South, calling it "an act aimed to make war a fait accompli and incite atmosphere for it".


text: Is globalization good for democracy? Or has it made our governing institutions less accountable to citizens? Located at the intersection of international relations and comparative politics, this book explores the effects of globalization on national governance. Under what circumstances do the transnational forces that embody globalization encourage or discourage political accountability? Among the transnational forces discussed in the book are the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, multinational corporations, the United Nations, private military contractors, peacekeepers, the European Court of Human Rights, and several transnational social movements. Using in-depth case studies of situations in which these transnational institutions interact with national governments and citizens, Valerie Sperling traces the impact of economic, political, military, judicial, and civic globalization on state accountability and investigates the degree to which transnational institutions are themselves responsible to the people whose lives they alter.


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If you can score a copy of the phone book-sized fall/winter Russian GQ Style you might be surprised to see model of the moment Wendell Lissimore—recently seen without clothing—has a full page in this killer black and white editorial. The magazine is hard to find so here is a scan. The editorial highlights minimalist monochromatic fashions and Wendell is wearing out this tailored Gucci coat and pant. It's kind of cool, if you click on the image you can see the Cyrillic copy at the bottom of the page.
Courtney Taylor and two other black models are also featured in this issue. Not surprising. With the major exception of the fabulous Flaunt, there are routinely more black male models in the European fashion magazines than their American counterparts.
Wendell Lissimore is represented by RedNYC.
Photography GUZMAN
More FASHION
More WENDELL LISSIMORE
You May Have Missed ...
Wendell Lissimore in "DNA" [R20]
It's All About Wendell Lissimore During Milan Fashion Week [R20]
Wendell Lissimore Featured in Campaign for Basic House Korea [R20]
Wendell Lissimore by Rick Day [R20]
Wendell Lissimore in British "GQ"[R20]
Is Sean John "Geared Towards Bisexual Men"? [R20]
Diddy Hires Only Black Models for Sean John [R20]
Photographer Walter Pfeiffer on Gorgeous Boys [R20]
Wendell Lissimore [R20]


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One of the most important things in life is the right to independence. Young adults living with learning or physical disabilities may need an extra helping hand to care for themsleves, but they have the same rights to freedom and independence as anyone else. Live in care gives young adults so much more than just a convenient carer on hand throughout the day and night; it allows them companionship and comfort in their own home. The best bit? You don't have to worry that your loved one is unsafe or lonely.
Thousands of people in the UK are living with learning or physical disabilities that make them that little bit more vulnerable than others and their daily lives are affected in different ways. There are many young adults who are relying on their family for support, which can be stressful and difficult and sometimes it can feel like it's the only option. We believe more people need to hear about 24 hour live in care for disabled young adults, and whether you're based in Brighton, Crowborough, Eastbourne, Worthing or elsewhere in Sussex, there are options out there.
Why live in care?
Live in care for young adults comes with its own set of requirements. Taking care of a young and developing adult with complex medical needs, profound physical disabilities or learning disabilities has an impact on the whole family, but with additional help 24 hours a day, you can reduce the strain on the family and watch your loved one grow. The peace of mind that you get knowing that they have someone with them that they can rely on can often be enough of a reason to invest in the right live in care service.
Respite for you
We can offer short term support to provide the opportunity for a respite break in a way which reduces disruption to a minimum. We know how important routine can be but we also understand how refreshing it can feel to step outside it even for a short period.
Person-centred care
A 24 hour live in service should be about your loved one as much as possible. Every individual is just that, unique, so what affects one young person won't affect another in the exact same way. With all the best intentions, a family member is not always able to offer the best in personal and social care of a young adult craving their independence, and this is where live in carers can step in to shoulder some of the work. Our carers will take the time to build a relationship with the young person and their family so that everyone is listened to. We won't support a young person's expectation of independence by taking it away!
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Living independently doesn't have to mean living alone, and many young adults don't feel comfortable in a care home environment. Bringing a live-in carer to the home can mean that the following tasks can be completed as part of a regular routine – just with a little more support:
- Washing, bathing and personal care
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- Communication support
Disabilities can take many forms, but they all mean that a person would benefit from some extra support to realise their full potential. 24 hour live in care can help them thrive.


text: Shutterstock.com Privacy & Security What should be in an incident response team's Go Bag Howard Solomon @HowardITWC Published: February 4th, 2017CISOs form an incident response team with the hope it will never have to be called on. With any luck, it won't. But in addition to deciding who should be on the team — which I'll deal with later — what it needs to do to collect and analyze data can sometimes be overlooked.Shelly Giesbrecht, a member of Cisco Systems' computer incident response services team, has outlined what's in her group's 'go bag.' which has to be ready for the team to grab when it's called by customers for help. If you want to build one for yourself, here are the ingredients:–The heart is a powerful laptop (an i7 processor, 64 GB of memory) with multiple solid state hard drives for speed;–One or two hardware or software-based write-blockers, to ensure the data collected is unchanged from the original media from which it was sourced. The write-blocker is deployed between the original media and the laptop during the data collection;–Licensed forensic software that collects the data and ensures the data is what was expected, This copy of the data is also hashed and compared to the original to verify it is identical;–A USB portable drive;–Other tools including boot disks, cables, small toolkits, a digital camera, anti-static bags, labels and multiple external storage drives to ensure all data can be collected.This will help the team do a number of things including help with business continuity, security incident response and forensics (whether done by the internal infosec team or handed to an external expert for processing). Related Articles How to get the most out of your incident response plan testWhen Martin Bally became CISO of TRW Automotive in 2013, the billion-dollar international manufacturing giant had narrowly escaped being the... December 4th, 2015 Howard Solomon @HowardITWC Five tips for building an incident response planLike all CIOs, Darryl Lemecha worries about viruses and hackers, data centre problems and technology meltdowns. But what separates his... May 15th, 2007 Mary Pratt @itworldca Every organization's incident response plan is different, but broadly speaking Cisco notes it has to ensure the cause of the incident should be fixed as soon as reasonably possible without further jeopardizing the security or integrity of systems or data, and without destroying important evidence (for example, over-writing a corrupt database from a backup without preserving the original).As to who should be on the IR team, this paper from the SANS Institute will be helpful. Again, there is no set rule but it is recommended members include–a member of upper level management who can give the team authority to do its job and make big decisions;–infosec team members who are trained in assessing the extent of damage, containment, basic forensics, and recovery;–an IT auditor, if the organization has one, who's role is to observe, learn why the incident came to be, ensure procedures are being followed, and work with IT/security to avoid problems in the future;–someone from the physical security team;–a lawyer;–someone from the human resources department, in case stolen data includes employee information;–internal or external public affairs, for dealing with employees and the press;–external resources (from vendors, expert recovery and forensic consultants)."Creating a Computer Incident Response Team is not going to be the best solution for every company," says SANS, "but in many if not most settings, it can be an invaluable tool. It will improve response time to any computer base problems you may encounter, ensure that the incident handling methods are supported by the company, and prevent a state of chaos and panic when an actual incident occurs." Related Download Sponsor: CanadianCIO Cybersecurity Conversations with your Board – A Survival Guide A SURVIVAL GUIDE BY CLAUDIO SILVESTRI, VICE-PRESIDENT AND CIO, NAV CANADA Download Now Privacy & Security security strategies


text:
Click Image for Gallery
Bulletproof for "BOYS & GIRLS"
*Entry Level with 01 lightweight Ballistic Panel, Level IIIA
You also can choose your own solar panel and battery kit in the Solar panels and Solar charger/battery of your choice.
Click these links below and customize your backpack.
Solar Charger Battery
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Bulletproof backpacks for Civilians and and smart people in general with a unique combination of product and protection for a busy lifestyle.
This model features Standard Level IIIA
This Backpack can be worn on a daily basis and is perfect for normal commute or a quick flight. A Perfect accessory for military discreet operations and protections for civilians.
A Classic Laptop Backpack for College Students . Water Resistant. Perfect for Travel. A Modern Computer Backpack for Men Women with USB Charging Port and Headphone Port that Fits a Laptop Notebook up to 15.6 Inches (Black).
High Quality Material: Laptop backpack is made of water resistant and durable nylon fabric. Dual-access zippers design ensures a secure & long-lasting everyday usage. Dimensions: 12.1"L x 18.1"H x 7.2"W. Laptop slot is perfect for size below 15.6 inch laptop, as well as 17 inch.
Roomy Compartments: Easy access laptop and iPad compartment separate from roomy main compartment. 2 main pockets & 1 front pocket & 8 inner small pockets & 2 sealed side pockets, provides a separated space for your laptop/notebook, cellphone, power bank, books, iPad, pen, keys, wallet, clothes, and bottle making it easier to find what you want. Two side compartments for an umbrella, water bottle, glasses and so on.
2 in 1 USB PORT DESIGN: the backpack with a built-in USB charger and headset port. The USB charger port outside and USB cable inside. It offers you a more convenient way to charge your phone and listen to music while walking. Please noted that this backpack doesn't have a power bank, you need to prepare it by yourself. The USB charging port only offers an easy access to charge.
Functional: A luggage strap allows backpack to fit on luggage / suitcase, slide over the luggage upright handle tube for easier carrying. With Two "S" Curve Padded Shoulder Straps and has a lightweight design, this backpack is perfect for daily use at college, work, travel etc.
What we offer: 1x Backpack, 1x USB CABLE. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee and a 12 months of quality warranty. Please feel free to contact us for any questions.
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Dimension: Backpack: 12.1L x 18.1H x 7.2 W
Shoulder strap: 15.6 to 32.2
Weight: 1.76lb
Material: Water Resistant with High quality durable polyester. Unisex.
Ballistic Features & Specifications
-Size - 16.5"x10.25"x<0.25" (41.91 cm x 26.035 cm)
-Weight – 1.4 lbs. (0.635 kg)
-Thickness – .25 inches (.635 cm)
These plates are designed to achieve NIJ Level IIIA protection and is a "Stand Alone" plate. Stand Alone plates are designed and tested to defeat ballistic threats using the plate only.
No ballistic vest is required, as all the ballistic energy and fragments are stopped in the plate. These plates are usually reserved for tactical operations or anti-terrorist work where the ammunition threat is unknown, or if the wearing of a vest is considered too cumbersome.
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-Moisture/salt water resistant
-Stands up to harsh use
The VESTPAK™ Bulletproof Backpack.


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Ernst Kovacic
At a glance
Ernst Kovacic
He has a mastery which extends from mere technical control into unnameable areas. It does not suffice to say that his tone is big and silvery, his musicianship prodigious, his intellectual grasp profound. He has a unique personal affinity for his instrument and for music...The Daily Telegraph
Viennese violinist and conductor Ernst Kovacic is equally at home in repertoire from Mozart to Gruber. An indefatigable champion of new music, he is first choice for many composers and orchestras to premiere new works.
Biography —
Vienna, with its fruitful tension between tradition and innovation, inspires the Austrian violinist and conductor Ernst Kovacic.
Ernst Kovacic is a leading performer throughout Europe and the USA. His recent guest engagements include appearances with the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Prague Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Budapest Symphony, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Tivoli Symphony and the Radio Symphony Orchestras of Berlin, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Sudwestfunk, Hessischer Rundfunk, Norddeutscher Rundfunk and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin among many others.
Ernst makes frequent international festival appearances. He gave a critically-acclaimed performance of the Schoenberg Violin Concerto at the BBC Proms and has appeared at the Edinburgh Festival, the major festivals of Berlin, Vienna and Salzburg, as well as the Ultima Oslo and Prague Autumn Festivals.
Increasingly busy as a conductor, Ernst has been the artistic director of the Leopoldinum Chamber Orchesta in Wroclaw, Poland since 2007. He has directed the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, Camerata Salzburg, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, Klangforum, Ensemble Modern, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Bern, Camerata Nordica, Zagreb Philharmonic and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. He has also toured Japan conducting the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, of which he was Artistic Director from 1996 to 1998.
Ernst's repertory is prodigious and includes all the major works for violin of the baroque, classical and romantic periods. His special energy and commitment to contemporary music makes him a much sought-after collaborator in the creation of new compositions. Composers who have written pieces especially for him include Friedrich Cerha, HK Gruber, G.F. Haas, Beat Furrer, Ernst Krenek, Kurt Schwertsik, Ivan Erod, Robin Holloway, Nigel Osborne and Helmut Eder. His most recent world première performances have been of the violin concertos by Beat Furrer (with the Vienna Philharmonic), G.F. Haas, Cerha, and Django Bates.
Ernst's recordings include Friedrich Cerha's violin concerto with the Radio Symphonieorchester Wien, works by Beethoven and Schoenberg with the Wrocław Chamber Orchestra, Krenek's 2nd Violin Concerto with RSO Wien and Symphonic Elegy with his own Leopoldinium Orchestra, Sir Michael Tippett's Triple Concerto with the composer conducting the BBC Philharmonic, Mozart's complete works for violin and orchestra with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Robin Holloway's Concerto (which received the Music Retailers' Association award for best concerto recording of the year) and HK Gruber's Nebelsteinmusik with the Camerata Salzburg and Franz Welser-Möst for EMI Classics. Ernst's CD releases (with the Leopoldinium Orchestra) include Lutosławski's Preludes and Fugue for 13 solo strings (on CD Accord); "The Art of Fugue", presenting works by Purcell, Bach, Mozart, Schumann, Reinecke, Moskowski, Honegger, Villa lobos, Zeisl and Britten (on CD Accord), and a disc of works by Hanna Kulenty on DUX.
Ernst Kovacic was born in Kapfenberg, Austria, and studied at the Academy of Music in Vienna. He is the winner of several major prizes at international competitions, including Geneva, Barcelona and Munich. He currently plays a 1754 Guadagnini violin.
News —
Photos —
Reviews —
Kovacic' violin playing exceeds by far the limits of mere technical control. Deeply rooted in the Viennese musical tradition, appreciated throughout Europe and the U.S. ,Kovacic is one of the greatest violinists of today.(J.S. Bach programme, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra) The Vjesnik
Kovacic conjured up the wild and mystical world of Ligeti's crazy violin concerto. It was a performance packed with high-octane energy…No questioning now the exquisite uniqueness of this concerto, Kovacic drawing from its five movements a world of colour, virtuosic wit and emotion that can so often be missed in Ligeti's music.(Ligeti Violin concerto, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra) The Scotsman
Ernst Kovacic gave the première [of the Schoenberg Notturno], faultlessly, after a heroic account of the Violin Concerto that deserves to be remembered as one of the finest performances of this Proms season so far. Kovacic himself is a remarkable player, able to phrase this music and make its thematic structure crystal clear.(Schoenberg Violin Concerto, BBC Proms) The Independent
At one time reckoned to be unplayable because of its phenomenal difficulty, the Schoenberg concerto has still not entered the regular repertoire, but Kovacic's playing of it was thoroughly persuasive, a fascinating fusion of virtuosity, expressive purpose and bristling musical character.(Schoenberg Violin Concerto, BBC Proms) The Daily Telegraph
Wow, this man can waltz!...He clearly has the music in his blood…He produced from the SCO that gloriously rich, sumptuous, stylish, and effortless sense of flow…In an intoxicating stream of music the SCO, with Kovacic playing like the consummate musician he is, did not put a foot wrong: every heartbeat and rush of blood was absolutely in place.(New Year's Concert, Scottish Chamber Orchestra) Glasgow Herald
Soloist Ernst Kovacic was hailed by the audience for the intensity with which he played.(Beat Furrer Violin Concerto, Vienna Philharmonic/Metzmacher) Wiener Zeitung
Kovacic is an absolute master of the violinDagen, Stockholm
Kovacic, an Austrian, knows how to waltz to perfection, tripping idiomatically on the beat. Kovacic scaled the ethereal heights of the last movement of Messiaen's Creation du monde flawlessly, as if Messiaen's desired 'Ineffable Peace' were possible.(Wigmore Hall) The Observer
One of the most creative and accomplished violinists worldwide.The Sunday Times
Selected Discography —
Schoenberg: 11 Waltzes For String Orchestra / Beethoven: Violin Concerto in / Beethoven: Grosse Fugue, Op. 133
Robin Holloway: Violin Concerto
BBC Music Magazine
For all the quirkiness of its form, it's the kind of work that becomes more satisfying with every hearing, and this performance by Kovacic is a real tour de force.
HK Gruber: 'Nebelsteinmusik' (Violin Concerto No. 2)
BBC Music Magazine
the Second Violin Concerto of 1988, with string orchestra, [is] an ideal vehicle for Ernst Kovacic's sweet-toned spinning of the melodic line
Related Media —
Downloads —
Contact —
- Costa Peristianis


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Tuesday Tomorrow
The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla by Lauren Willig
Published by: NAL Trade
Publication Date: August 5th, 2014
Format: Paperback, 496 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"In the latest Pink Carnation novel from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig, rumors spreading among the ton turn deadly as a young couple unites to solve a mystery....
In October of 1806, the Little Season is in full swing, and Sally Fitzhugh has had enough of the endless parties and balls. With a rampant vampire craze sparked by the novel The Convent of Orsino, it seems no one can speak of anything else. But when Sally hears a rumor that the reclusive Duke of Belliston is an actual vampire, she cannot resist the challenge of proving such nonsense false. At a ball in Belliston Square, she ventures across the gardens and encounters the mysterious Duke.
Lucien, Duke of Belliston, is well versed in the trouble gossip can bring. He's returned home to dispel the rumors of scandal surrounding his parents' deaths, which hint at everything from treason to dark sorcery. While he searches for the truth, he welcomes his fearsome reputation—until a woman is found dead in Richmond. Her blood drained from her throat.
Lucien and Sally join forces to stop the so-called vampire from killing again. Someone managed to get away with killing the last Duke of Belliston. But they won't kill this duke—not if Sally has anything to say about it."
Yet another stellar book in this series. I adored the murder mystery aspect of it. Review to come tomorrow!
Jane Austen's First Love by Syrie James
Published by: Berkley Trade
Publication Date: August 5th, 2014
Format: Paerback, 400 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Fifteen-year-old Jane Austen dreams of three things: doing something useful, writing something worthy, and falling madly in love. When she visits her brother in Kent to celebrate his engagement, she meets wealthy, devilishly handsome Edward Taylor—a fascinating young man who is truly worthy of her affections. Jane knows a match between her and Edward is unlikely, but every moment she spends with him makes her heart race—and he seems to return her interest. Much to her displeasure, however, there is another seeking his attention.
Unsure of her budding relationship, Jane seeks distraction by attempting to correct the pairings of three other prospective couples. But when her matchmaking aspirations do not all turn out as anticipated, Jane discovers the danger of relying on first impressions. The human heart cannot be easily deciphered, nor can it be directed or managed. And if others must be left to their own devices in matters of love and matrimony, can Jane even hope to satisfy her own heart?"
More Jane, more Syrie, yeah!
Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen
Published by: Berkley Hardcover
Publication Date: August 5th, 2014
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Lady Georgiana Rannoch, thirty-fifth in line for the British throne, knows how to play the part of an almost royal—but now she's off to Hollywood, where she must reprise her role as sleuth or risk starring in an all-too-convincing death scene…
My mother, the glamorous and much-married actress, is hearing wedding bells once again—which is why she must hop across the pond for a quickie divorce in Reno. To offer my moral support, and since all expenses are paid by her new hubby-to-be, Max, I agree to make the voyage with her.
Crossing the Atlantic, with adventure in the air and wealthy men aboard, Mother all but forgets about Max and matrimony—especially when movie mogul Cy Goldman insists on casting her in his next picture.
Meanwhile, I find myself caught up in the secret investigation of a suspected jewel thief. Lucky for me, the lead investigator happens to be my dashing beau, Darcy!
Mother's movie and Darcy's larceny lead everyone to Cy's Hollywood home, where the likes of Charlie Chaplin are hanging about and there's enough romantic intrigue to fill a double feature. But we hardly get a chance to work out the sleeping arrangements before Cy turns up dead—as if there wasn't enough drama already…"
I'm a little behind here... still haven't gotten the last book, doh.
The Grump Guide to Life Observations by Grumpy Cat
Published by: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: August 5th, 2014
Format: Hardcover, 112 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"In a world filled with inspirational know-it-alls and quotable blowhards, only one figure is indifferent enough to tell the cranky truth: Grumpy Cat. Following the success of her New York Times bestselling debut, everyone's favorite disgruntled feline is back with this demotivational guide to everyday life, love, friendship, and more. Featuring many new photos of Grumpy Cat's famous frown and packed with uninspiring observations, The Grumpy Guide to Life will help anyone get in touch with their inner grouch."
This will be my new book to live by!


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Grabarz / A sírásó
Hungary 2010 / 85'
director: Sándor Kardos
screenplay: Sándor Kardos, Gábor Németh, based on a short story by Rainer Maria Rilke
cinematography: Sándor Kardos
music: Peter Ogi
cast: Zoltán Mucsi (narrator), Mari Törőcsik, István Anga-Kakszi, Alina Papp, Géza Bereményi, György Báron, István B. Gellér
producer: András Muhi, Ernö Mesterházy, Mónika Mécs
production: Inforg Stúdió, M&M Film
awards: 11th New Horizons International Film Festival in Wrocław - Special Award. A special mention and FIPRESCI Award
polish distributor: Stowarzyszenie Nowe Horyzonty
release date: 27.04.2012
A stranger comes to town in this adaptation Rainer Maria Rilke short story, and gets a job as a gravedigger – and the adoration of the local bigwig's daughter. She spends entire days with him in the cemetery garden, talking about death and dying. A plague befalls the town, sparing only a few, leaving them the task of pushing coffin-laden wagons to the cemetery.
The film uses the same camera that records horse racing photo finishes; it does not provide the feeling of space like an ordinary film or photographic camera. Gravedigger lacks the illusion of movement typical of most films. Photographed images track from left to right across the screen. Deformed and fuzzy, as if shot by a trembling hand, the images look like blurred film frames, moving too slowly to create the impression of movement, sometimes forming surreal or abstract compositions. The director takes the audience to pre-Lumière cinema to experience motion picture construction (panoramas) and narration.
Jakub Majmurek
Sándor Kardos
Born in 1944 in Budapest, Sándor Kardos studied Hungarian philology, linguistics, and culture management at the Eötvös Loránd University, and graduated from the Cinematography Department at the Hungarian Theatre and Film College. Since 1979, he has been working as DP and author of numerous TV shows for MAFILM. He has cooperated with directors such as András Jeles or Péter Tímár. Kardos also established and is general curator of the Horus Archive – collection of photography documenting the everyday life of Hungary. His Résfilm (2005) was pronounced the Best Short Film at the 36th Hungarian Film Week. He often adapts classic literature in his work (Rilke, Kafka). He rejects cinema based on technical simulation of reality and movement as constraining the viewer's imagination, with the belief that a motion picture should be an invitation to the viewer to perform creative work.
Selected filmography
1983 A szép mesterségek kezdete / The Beginning of Beautiful Trades (doc.)
1992 Csutoros Sándor szobrászművész / Sculptor Sándor Csutoros (doc.)
1997 Növekvő város / Growing City (short)
2003 Telitalálat / Winning Ticket (co-dir.)
2005 Résfilm / Slitfilm (short)
2010 Grabarz / A sírásó / The Gravedigger


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24 Jan Fun Things About Victory By Robert Bickford
Oh great, now I'm craving chocolate chip cookies
When Conor, the wunderkind and DEO (Dad Executive Officer) of Inside Up Games, nudged me to put some of my board game experience into writing, he said 'Don't stress'.
Conor is the #EvilCreator behind Summit, a board game where you must avoid the ravages of mountain climbing, hourly blizzards, and marauding mountaineers- a real low stress chilled out game, right Conor? Given my fear of the #EvilCreator, I am heeding Conor's advice, and will try to keep my review style casual and stress free. This is my challenge. I accept. Feel free to call me the #AgreeableBlogger.
The title of the blog emphasizes fun. I selected a font size of 48 for the 'Fun Things' part of the masthead and a meagre 12 for 'About Victory'. This reflects the actual percentage of value I put on winning and strategy within a gaming experience. In other words, winning (and your genius unparalleled strategy that got you there) is the quarter cup of chocolate chips, and fun is the full cup of sugar in the proverbial chocolate chip cookie. Sure, we all savor that melty chocolate morsel but the cookie is a bland mess without sugar…is my point.
I am conscious that, in a world so saturated with video, this is what literary people would call a bunch of words on a screen. So, in order to convince you to click and read and re-visit, I'm going to make unexpected turns when I write about games. I'll favor story over strategy. Voice over volume. Fozzy over Kermit. Keaton over Bale. Lists over actual sentences. For example.
There's some talented and knowledgeable reviewers on Youtube whom you can easily find for some comprehensive reviews and playthroughs and strategy breakdowns. My reviews will provide some description of game play and some description of strategy. I'll also refer to the atmosphere of the table, and add in some silly inane story.
With all the creative takes on game mechanics these days, I won't often categorize games by their mechanic (e.g. card drafting, area control, grid movement, variable player powers). These categories can appear in many different ways in a game. Instead, I'll try to describe the way the mechanic feels while playing.
In terms of what games I like and will review, I've tried a lot- almost all kinds, and enjoyed them all. I'm into narrative. If the story of a game blends well with the art and its game mechanics then I'm usually a fan, an early adopter, a replayer. Subjectivity makes the experience unpredictable. How fun a game ends up being depends on who's around, how the rule book or turn sequence melds with the mood and social dynamic of who is present and what kind of week they're having.
Conor has suggested I include a paragraph about fun. Part of me thinks he just wants to be entertained by someone trying to write about fun. Never the less, I'm gonna do it. I'll include a few notes listing the fun things about victory at the end of each review. Even though I often lose.
Actually, instead of describing how I plan to do reviews, I'll just do one.
Stay tuned at InsideUpGames.com in the coming week for my first review of Odin's Ravens.


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In the Adelaide Hills cheese and chocolate, craft beer and cider, and even bread and jam are made the old-fashioned way - with hands and heart. You can satisfy your appetite in a country pub or bakery, take a gourmet approach in a sophisticated restaurant, or picnic with local produce fresh from the farm gate or roadside stall. Fresh seasonal local produce is the cornerstone of menus across the region.
Winemakers take inspiration from the landscape, producing cool climate wines with soul and a sense of place. Some 50 cellar doors are spread across the Hills. From tiny solo acts to slick, contemporary venues they can be found on windswept ridges, in hidden valleys and in charming main streets.


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BORN TODAY, in Gronau, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany – Otto Gustaf Veenstra, originally a Dutch citizen, but later a German Citizen. Crew member on the Battleship Bismarck. Perished 27th May 1941 (aged 28) with the sinking of the Bismarck.
Extreme Weather: In Dayton, Ohio, 400 drown in (at that time) the worst flood event in US history, on the Great Miami River and the aptly named Mad River, in the Ohio River Valley. Elsewhere there is also widespread flooding in Indiana and Illinois.
Exploration: From Falmouth, UK – William Scoresby Routledge and his wife Katherine set sail in their 90 foot schooner "Mana", bound for Easter Island where, from March 1914, they will initiate a survey of the island. The Routledges have previously (1910) published a book "With a Prehistoric People", based on their time living with the Kikuyu people in "British East Africa" between 1906 and 1910.
Society and Culture: The town of Red Deer, in Alberta Canada is incorporated as a city as its population rises towards 2800.


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text:
Back Pack Vacuums
Commercial back pack vacuums for sale.
Shop all makes and models of back pack suction vac equipment for flooring and hard surfaces. Free shipping on select products. For assistance in choosing the right machine, please call us at (866) 812-6252. Trade-ins welcome and we offer competitive financing for qualified customers.
- Sort by Default Order


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Tue 10th Sep 2019 at 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Whitehouse Hotel, Worcester, WR1 1EA
Whitehouse Hotel
In order for you to be able to attend this workshop, your business must be:
• Located in Worcestershire
• A Small to Medium Sized Enterprise (SME)
• Trading for less than 5 years
• Trading minimum 70% business to business
The advanced bookkeeping course will explain accruals and depreciation, highlighting why making a profit does not necessarily mean you have cash to spend. You will be shown a simple cash flow that can help manage your cash balances. Some analytical tools will be introduced that you can use to help you understand a set of accounts. Finally, we will look at how to cost products and services, ensuring you cover your overheads.


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Mozilla has made available for the first time a beta version of its mobile browser for Android devices.
Called, unsurprisingly, Firefox Beta, the new app shows off a version of Firefox 5 which is still in development.
The beta offers a load of new features, including improved load speeds, better panning, improved compatibility with SwiftKey and a better display of images and video.
More add-ons
Mozilla has also revealed that there are now over 150 add-ons for Firefox for mobile, with 100 of those compatible with the latest beat version of the app.
This makes sense, considering Mozilla is using the same browsing engine as its desktop to power the mobile app.
The new app also adds support for over six menu items in the Android Menu and images downloaded to the Android Gallery are now immediately visible.
If you have an Android device running on Android 2.0 or higher, then you can go to the Android Market and download the app now.


text: US food authorities have taken the first step towards banning artificial transfats, substances that are found in processed foods. They say it is a move that could prevent 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths a year. Al Jazeera's John Hendren reports from Chicago. SOURCE: Al Jazeera US & Canada United States


text:
Most developers are familiar with the concept of N-Tier Architecture. It is a software pattern that separates components of an application into separate logical layers to establish code boundaries, promote flexibility, and allow reuse. Most commonly this is accomplished using 3 layers:
- User Interface Layer (UI): Where all presentation and user interaction takes place. Displays and receives data to and from the user.
- Business Logic Layer (BLL): Application processing. Coordinates data between the UI and DAL.
- Data Access Layer (DAL): Where data management occurs. Typically using a database or web service.
The UI and DAL are pretty easy to understand, but there is no clear definition for what a BLL should actually look like. As a result, many developers often omit an explicit business logic layer from their applications. That is why we see countless examples of UI code communicating directly with the DAL. How many times have you seen an ASP.NET MVC controller talk directly to Entity Framework? How many times have you seen an iOS view controller talk directly with CoreData or a web service? Even in Microsoft and Apple's own documentation and samples! A "fat controller" is usually a code smell that your UI layer is doing too much.
Some people recommend designing your BLL by simply thinking of your application without a user interface. This is a cognitively difficult exercise. Instead, design your application to support multiple different user interfaces. For .NET, this could mean considering a WPF as well as an MVC front-end to your application. For iOS, it could mean considering both an iOS and OSX app (if possible). Sound easy? Go ahead, try it! Seriously. The need for common code will become immediately obvious as you find yourself literally copying identical code for each front-end. The code that you are able to share between them becomes your BLL! In general, this code will likely fall into one of the following categories:
- Processing commands (from the UI layer)
- Coordinating workflow
- Maintaining application state
- Accessing data (from the DAL)
- Making logical decisions
- Performing calculations
- Persisting data (to the DAL)
- Displaying data (to the UI layer)
The goal is to centralize as much common logic as possible in the BLL so that it is not coupled to any particular UI. In doing so, you are separating out the "core" of your application which, with good design, should support any number of front-end UI's with a minimal amount of code duplication. As the code in your BLL grows, the code in your UI layer will necessarily get smaller. That is the idea behind the "thin controller" (or "dumb UI") philosophy. But won't the BLL become huge if we essentially move most of our application's code into it? Yes, and that's the point! If and when the BLL becomes too large or unwieldy, we can simply separate this layer further by moving from a 3-tier architecture to an n-tier one. This exercise also helps identify leaky abstractions, which are places where a logical boundary has been violated. For example, maybe you are relying on the built-in data validation in ASP.NET MVC. After trying to build a WPF front-end you will that this does not exist, and you will have to explicitly invoke object validators.
The same thinking applies for the BLL's relationship to the DAL! Not sure where to draw the line between the two? Try the same exercise: design your application to support multiple different data stores. Seriously, try to do it. You will find that you probably have built-in assumptions throughout your application that your data comes from a database or a web service (Quick test: do you have the words "SQL" or "URL" in anywhere but the DAL?). The logic of your app (the BLL) should not care where it gets its data from. It should only care about the data itself. Therefore the relationship between the BLL and DAL needs to be designed to be just as datastore-agnostic as it is UI-agnostic.
Like many SOLID development practices, the beauty of a well-designed BLL is best appreciated not at first, but when an application has to be changed or updated. By separating the logic of an application from its user interface and data store, we isolate the code that needs to be fixed, and also make it easier to test. When less code changes, there is a lesser chance that something can break. That means a more stable, and ultimately better, product.


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27th August 2015
Enzo's Wish
Our Wish team heard that Enzo also loved trains so we got in touch with The new Virgin East Coast Train Office who were delighted to give his family 1st Class Seats whilst Enzo travelled from Edinburgh to Alnwick, en-route to Windsor, in the Drivers Cab escorted by a Virgin Senior Train Supervisor.
We were delighted that Virgin Trains went to so much effort to make this Wish extra special and Enzo was speechless when they gave him a very large box of Lego to build his own train station when he got home.
Needless to say they had a wonderful time, from the moment they stepped onto the train and were whisked to the magical Legoland Hotel for 3 days of adventure! Below is a wonderful thank you we received on their return with some great photo's capturing all the fun and a fantastic postcard of a LEGO FAIRY, how brilliant!


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Fort Lauderdale is known as the "Venice of America" because of its' many beautiful waterways. One of the best ways to Explore our city is from the water. The Water Taxi is more than just a boat ride. The captains and crew are well versed on the city and the many attractions that can be viewed from the water. As such, they provide a narrated excursion that includes historical information as well as fun and interesting information about the many mansions and mega yachts that line the waterways. There are 10 stops in Fort Lauderdale and one stop in Hollywood at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort and the Historic Hollywood Broadwalk offering live entertainment nightly. Additionally, Water Taxi operates a complimentary Water Trolley that is supported by the City of Fort Lauderdale that makes 8 stops along the River Route.
Your ticket allows you to hop on and off the boats all day. Your All Day Pass also links Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood. $28 all day pass, $23 Sr/Military (Seniors are age 65 or older), $14 child 5-11 (children 4 and under are free). Moonlight Madness – after 5pm $18. Must be purchased on board after 5pm. $299 annual pass (must be purchased at the Water Taxi Headquarters). Tickets are also valid for discounts at over 60 Cruise & Save partner shops, restaurants, and attractions. Important note: For ticketing and boarding, go directly to one of the water Taxi stops, not the office as Water Taxis do not depart from the office location.


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With fuel quickly heading towards $2 or more a litre and our large cars needing upgrades to tow the ever-increasing weight of vans when is the consumer about to say enough. The construction materials, chassis design, aerodynamics of vans can be looked at by our manufactures. A lighter van means not as heavy and expensive tow vehicle as well as the daily saving on fuel. Lightweight materials do not mean a compromise in strength and in fact some are stronger than those currently used.
Those who have been caravanning long enough will remember their old Viscount or Millard that weighed no more than 1000 – 1200 kg. We see them today still travelling down to the seaside parks where they have been going for 50 years.
As we get older a light van with a smaller tow vehicle all coming with cost savings may be desirable but will our Australian manufactures change? Only if there is a need, a change of buying habit by the consumers.
Traditional Aussie caravans are all much the same.
You need the big fridge, spacious ensuite, washing machine, enough lead-acid batteries to stay off the grid for two years and water to fill a swimming pool, you've got a heavy van. These days, you've got the other 'basic' necessities like a slide-out and a tough off-road chassis and suspension, add a longer A- frame to carry a nice big tool box stuffed with heavy "come in handy one day" stuff, space to carry your firewood, a bracket to carry your outboard motor, a fuel tank for your diesel heater etc, and your luxury van will hit the scales at 3500kg-plus.
Why must the typical Aussie caravan be so heavy? The love affair with a strong chassis and relatively weak timber frame and thin plywood floor might have something to do with it or maybe those who build lightweight, composite interlocking frames are too nervous about market perception if they don't whack 6in-deep rails of BHP's finest under it.
So there you have it: with a few exceptions, is there a need for a heavy caravan for Australian conditions or have we just talked ourselves into it?
A lightweight caravan is a wise money saving decision (i.e. under 2000 kg ATM, which includes most imported European caravans and some shorter Australian ones including pop tops) towed by a suitable environmentally responsible low fuel use tow vehicle. In fact, Lionel Mussell was wondering when and who will be our first member with an electric tow vehicle.
Learn more in our forum area.
Ben Somerville has taken a keen interest in Lightweight Caravanning for the past 6 years and wants to share his experience and research with members. Ben will be writing articles for the Nomad as well as submitting information on our Lightweight Caravanning Forum which is open to all members. Please take up the opportunity to read about this subject and if you have any questions or information to add, please post on the forum as Ben will be only too happy to respond


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Have The Foo Fighters Played Their 'Last Show for a Long Time'?
Don't worry Foo Fighters fans. The band isn't packing it in yet.
At the 2012 Reading Festival this weekend, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl reportedly told the audience that the performance would be the band's "last show for a long time."
The news quickly lit up Twitter and "Foo" began trending on Google searches.
Read what a Foo Fighters spokesperson had to say after the jump.
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Whole grains, brightly-colored veggies and chocolate all have a place in a healthy, balanced diet. Surprising? Maybe. Good News? Definitely. Before you run out and eat a whole pan of brownies or a gallon of chocolate ice cream, know that all chocolate treats are not created equal.
Good-for-you antioxidants come from the cocoa beans used to make chocolate. However, cocoa has a naturally bitter flavor which is usually offset by adding sugar or milk. When choosing a chocolate treat, dark is usually best and enjoy in moderation to avoid overindulging on the sweet stuff.
Antioxidants help the body's cells resist damage by fighting off free radicals which can cause harm if levels become too high. Flavanols, the type of antioxidants found in cocoa, help to lower blood pressure and improve blood flow.
The amount of research about the health benefits of chocolate is as plentiful as the sweet treats found in your grocery store's candy aisle, so remember to take all studies with a grain of salt and check with your doctor before making any health or dietary changes.
Additional health benefits may include:
– Boosts heart health
– Decreases stroke risk
– Improves your mood
– Helps protect your skin
– May fight diabetes


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The Syracuse University Art Museum hosts a variety of online databases for complete collections of artists' work in print. These raisonnés are meant to be useful research tools for scholars and collectors. We are continually adding information as it becomes available, and we welcome your input and information. If you have information about these artists that you would like to submit to be included in this database, please contact us.
Active Catalogue Raisonnés
Seong Moy
Karl Schrag


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I haven't blogged for a while. Partly due to injury and partly due to my complete lack of interest in running of late. Over two months ago I injured my back. Another setback in 2015. I can't quite put my finger on the incident but I turned up at the club session with a stiff lower back. I did the session and the stiffness was worse afterwards. I ran the day after but ended up almost limping. The following day I couldn't put weight on my right leg, the "nervy" sensation like being poked with a cattle prod – not that I've been prodded before but I imagine it would have similar symptoms. It emanated from the right lower back area which was around the Sacroiliac joint/lower vertebrae. I sought advice from my physio and even visited a chiropractor for some manipulation. I was limping into work, walking the dog, even around the house. It took so much time to settle down. I'm very grateful to Keith from Synergy, he has been tremendous in treating me with everything from acupuncture and shock wave to ultrasound. Top bloke.
It was touch
and go for a while whether to call off the CCC (which is at the end of August)
and defer until next year. All the
preparation and organisation, not to mention the financial outlay, was hanging
in the balance. I gave myself a
deadline. If there wasn't a significant
improvement before mid June then I would throw in the towel. I had to miss some of my favourite races,
watching on the sidelines with envy. Blaydon,
the Chevy Chase, Windy Gyle all cancelled.
This was a huge blow having just returned to fitness following surgery
earlier in the year and the boost of the Anniversary Waltz race.
Nobody likes
to be injured when all you want to do is pop out for a run. It is even more frustrating when you have
plans which have been on the horizon for almost three years. It's like a kick in the nuts. The most common diagnosis for all of my
recent woes come down to lazy glutes.
So, although
my back still niggles and my glutes are still not firing properly, I am in a
better place and am looking forward to participating in the CCC. I will make the most of the experience and
just hope I get around in one piece. I
am also looking forward to getting it out of the way. It has been at the forefront of my life for
too long and I won't be planning anything like this again after the troubles I
have had.
After the
CCC, who knows. I'm definitely not as
passionate about running as I was and realise that there is so much more to
enjoy in life like savouring the little things and making the most of living in
the moment. Clichéd, maybe. But it is fact. I'm not worried if I miss a
session or a run and I'm out of the "routine" by fitting running in around life
rather than vice versa.
So, I'm off
to Borrowdale this weekend for the fell race.
I intend to use it as a training run and will be carrying all my kit
needed for the CCC as a tester.
Post CCC – no
plans. A few people have mentioned a Bob
Graham attempt but I'm not sure. I might fall back to shorter races, I still
have some pace…


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The bear as barometer: the Japanese response to human-bear conflict (2007)
Type of ContentTheses / Dissertations
UC Permalinkhttp://hdl.handle.net/10092/991
Thesis DisciplineJapanese
Degree NameDoctor of Philosophy
PublisherUniversity of Canterbury. Languages and Cultures
AuthorsKnight, Catherine Heathershow all
The Asiatic black bear, or 'moon bear', has inhabited Japan since pre-historic times, and is the largest animal to have roamed Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu since mega-fauna became extinct on the Japanese archipelago after the last glacial period. Despite this, the bear features only rarely in the folklore, literature and arts of Japan's mainstream culture. This relative cultural invisibility in the lowland agrarian-based culture of Japan contrasts markedly with its cultural significance in many upland regions where subsistence lifestyles based on hunting, gathering and beliefs centred on the mountain deity (yama no kami) have persisted until recently. However, in recent decades the bear has been propelled from its position of relative cultural obscurity into the forefront of mainstream society's attention. As more and more of the bear's habitat is destroyed or degraded through forestry and development, the bear is increasingly encroaching onto human territory in its search for food, leading to pestilence and bear attacks. This thesis examines the nature of the contemporary human-bear relationship in Japan, dominated by human-bear conflict, or the so-called 'bear problem'. To better understand the contemporary response to the bear, the thesis explores the historical relationship of the Japanese with both the bear and its habitat, the forested uplands. The thesis further seeks to understand how cultural, historical, social and geographic factors influence a society's response to wildlife conflict and what can be learnt from the Japanese example which can be applied to the understanding of human society's response to wildlife conflict elsewhere.


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Today, we have an E-School News report that a settlement has been agreed upon, and now needs court approval.
Here's some background…
Back in February of 2007, The New Yorker magazine ran a feature about Google's intent to scan every book on the planet (the one's in English to start with), and make a searchable database out of the verbal brew. The publishing industry had gotten up in arms about the perceived threat to its very existence and set out to block Google.
According to the E-School News report, the project is moving along.
The Google project would offer snippets of books to folks like us, researching from home or office, and full text to library patrons on site, free at the library. We at home or office, could, for a fee, read or buy the full text of in-print books, read out-of-print books, and presumably, given state-of-the-art print-on-demand technology, buy out-of-print books that interest us. Imagine being able to search the entire printed universe…an infinitely beefed up version of Mortimer Adler's Syntopicon that accompanied the Britannica Great Books of the Western World series.
If this sort of thing excites you, be sure to visit Project Gutenberg where you can download thousands of free books.
And while were at it, I used to lust after the entire Yale University Press publication of The Papers of Benjamin Franklin. Only $50+ per volume for many, many volumes. Even as a devoted teacher of American History, I could never figure out how to get that past my wife, Linda, the chancellor of the exchequer. (She may be the reason I'm not currently living in a cardboard box on skid road.)
Now Yale's The Papers of Benjamin Franklin are free here. Go figure. But I'm definitely not complaining! (Thank you, Yale University Press!)
The E-School News requires registration to read the full article, but don't worry, it's free. You can get their stuff in your Inbox on a daily basis.
This is virtual culture shock even for a digital immigrant. 😉


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Charisma Condominium. Pre-Construction in Vaughan
- Project Name: Charisma Condominium
- Builders: GreenPark
- Project Status: Pre-Construction
- Approx Occupancy Date: 2020
- Address: 8946 Jane Street, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada,
- City: Vaughan
- Main Intersection: Jane St & Rutherford Rd
- Property Type: High Rise
- Building Size: 27 stories
- Location: 8946 Jane Street, Vaughan, ON
- Price: Complete Registration to Reveal Pricing
Charisma is a new condo development by Greenpark Group currently in preconstruction at 8946 Jane Street, Vaughan. The development is scheduled for completion in 2020.
Located at Jane Street and Rutherford Road, Charisma is Vaughan's hottest upcoming condominium project boasting elegant design and a prime location. Just seconds away, you will find two of Vaughan's most popular landmarks, Canada's Wonderland and Vaughan Mills. Enjoy a fun day at the nation's most popular amusement park, or, take a shopping trip at one of the largest malls in the GTA, home to over 200 retailers. Moments away from the upcoming Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, this neighbourhood is set to flourish in the years to come. With an opportunity this great, who says you can't buy Charisma? Register now to receive priority information as it becomes available.? Amenities Outdoor Pool Yoga Studio Fitness Area Lounge


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04 Sep
Get Ready with our Football Season Snacks
With the NFL Season fast approaching, we thought it was time to share with you our Football Season Special. It's full of football season snacks for you. Inside you'll find some Swiss Cheese, Troyer's Trail Bologna, Pepper Jack Cheese, Shisler's Private Label Mustard, Shisler's Private Label Hot Pepper Relish, and Carr's Crackers. We think this … Read more


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Evil' tag.
I studied anthropology in college. At the particular university I attended, this entailed a certain amount of time spent hanging around the anthro lounge with other students. There was a grassy corner outside the building housing said lounge where a curious family would occasionally take up temporary residence to harangue the students passing by. They had a large (about 15' tall) wooden cross they would hold (usually the father) and they would scream at the passerby about their likelihood of burning in Hell for all eternity. Apparently, this family thought attending university was some form of especially grievous sin. Beside the father, the family consisted of a mother and a small boy, probably around 8 years old at the time.
One day, I sat in the lounge while this family stood at their posts screaming invectives. Dickie, a grad student, entered the lounge and flopped angrily into a chair. I looked up and noted that he was visibly upset.
"What's up?" I queried.
"I just feel for that little boy," came the response. "I just want to go out and tell him that there's another way."
My reaction to this statement was to question Dickie about a few things. Specifically, why he thought he had the right to tell anyone else how to raise their children, what he thought entitled him to pass judgment on someone else's beliefs, and whether he liked the idea of someone else telling Dickie how to raise his own children. I didn't do it very nicely.
I got to thinking about that family today as I was reading yet another article about China/Google. I was thinking about them because the elephant in the room reminded me of them.
You see, in all the discussion about this scenario, I have read reams of opinions about human rights (which I'll get to later), but I have read precious little about sovereignty. You know – something along the lines of: Who are we to tell China what to do? When companies from other countries do business here in the United States (even Chinese companies), we quite rightly expect them to play by our rules. If they fail to do things our way, we kick them out. This is right and proper and how it should be.
But not, apparently, when China does it. When we do it, we are a sovereign nation exercising its right to protect the interests of its people. When China does it, they're an evil, tyrannical empire abusing its citizens.
To quote Brian Lewis: "God bless America. And no place else."
Just one more damn thing I find tiresome about my country. Which should not be taken to mean I don't love my country. I love my country, and I always have. I just hold it to a higher standard than most people.
Anyway, a large part of the Great American Idiocy is the unshakable belief that everyone else in the world wants what we have (which contains a kernel of truth, but not of the sort most people think). Americans inexplicably think that the rest of humanity would really love to have an American form of government, as well as a full set of American rights. This is inexplicable for a variety of reasons, the largest of which being that Americans don't even want them themselves.
Don't believe me? Are you actually under the impression that Americans are protective of their rights? If so, I have one question: Where the hell were you for the first eight years of this millennium? You know – that dark, cold period in American history when the Bush/Cheney empire routinely erased the rights of the American people, in response to which the majority of Americans stood up and cheered.
And our form of government? Please. In the first place, we do not have a democracy in this country, or even anything close to it. 'Representative Republic' is one of the phrases that often gets batted around in an attempt to describe what we have. Whatever you want to call it, what we do have in this country is the ability to vote. The actual weight our individual votes carry is an arguable point (and it varies, depending on what, exactly, we're voting about), but in some fashion it boils down to the fact that we are freely given a real, active and meaningful voice in our government.
And yet, in the last election, only 58% of Americans who were eligible to vote actually did so. This means that 42% of the Americans who were eligible to vote chose not to participate in the process, despite the fact that it doesn't cost them anything, is easy to do, and directly and immediately affects their lives.
So tell me – if our form of government is so damned wonderful, why do almost half of the eligible participants choose not to play? And please don't try to tell me that all those Americans want our form of government, but just aren't willing to 'work' for it. That's just another way of saying they don't want it. Besides, dropping by the polls for an hour (at most) once every couple of years is not exactly work (truth be told, there are only two things that the majority of Americans really do want. They want to be able to pick up a six-pack on their way home from work, and they want their cable to work when they get home. If these two things are in place, the average American doesn't give a rat's ass about anything else). I just don't understand why we insist on believing the rest of the world wants a piece of our so-called 'democracy' when such a large percentage of Americans don't even want it. Seems like a bit of a stretch.
Which brings us to the subject of human rights. We here in the Land Of Silk And Money tend to believe that the government of China routinely violates the basic human rights of the Chinese people. Personally, I believe this to be true, but not through any firsthand (or even secondhand) knowledge.
What's unclear to me is why we're bringing internet censorship into the whole human rights discussion. This is not to say I am a proponent of internet censorship (or any other sort of censorship, for that matter). I'd like to think this is obvious. Censorship in any form is an infringement of the freedom of expression, something I consider to be a basic human right (within reason, of course. You know – the old saw about not yelling 'fire' in a crowded theater. Possessing a right to speak freely does not automatically confer a license to use it recklessly. Nor does it absolve one from taking responsibility for things said). What I'm not getting here is why we're all pretending that the Chinese government is the only government that actively censors the information its citizens receive. Or why we pretend that censorship only comes from 'bad' governments. All governments censor information – some are just more honest about it (for which they get sent over to sit on the Group 'W' bench).
We here in the United States tend to place freedom of expression into the 'basic human right' category, I think mainly because our freedom of speech is constitutionally guaranteed and therefore we have more of it than most. What we forget is just how rare this is. The overwhelming majority of humanity does not enjoy this right, even many of the people we Americans kind of assume do have such a right – While article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights pertains to the freedom of expression, it contains the conditional: subject to certain restrictions that are "in accordance with law" and "necessary in a democratic society". In other words, everyone should have a right to free speech, but only insofar as their government wishes to allow (Neil Gaiman wrote a great piece on this a while back). It also should be noted that the European Convention on Human Rights is much like the United Nations – it has no muscles. It is only enforceable if a government chooses to flex its muscles on the Convention's behalf.
I guess my point here is simply a repetition of one of the great litanies of my life: They are all bastards. I don't really see how asking Google to abide by their rules makes Chinese bastards worse than all the other bastards.
I hear X-Men Origins was leaked. So now copies are spreading about the internet like wildfire. And the studio is squealing like a stuck pig. I even saw one pundit (I don't remember where) who tried to tell me that illegally downloading movies takes food off the tables of all the poor schmucks who work in the industry (in a word: Bullshit. I used to work in the industry – there are obscene sums of money involved in even low-budget films. We don't have to worry about the paychecks of the working class of the film industry. Especially because their jobs are well over and paid for long before there's any kind of product to be 'pirated'). But the studios want us all to sympathize with their pain. Want us to see the 'problems' that internet 'piracy' causes. Their argument, in a nutshell, is that people who download movies are stealing from the studios because if they (the 'pirates') couldn't download the movies, they would purchase them instead. Setting aside all the inherent flaws in this argument, let's take a quick look at the legal process of purchasing a movie. Our case study will be the Disney film Bolt, my two-year-old's current favorite movie.
First off, we have to pay the studio just to find out whether or not we like the movie (there was a day, you know, when record stores would let you listen to an album before buying it. Really). In this particular case, the question isn't whether we like the film, but rather whether our son does. We are careful and conscientious parents, so we don't let our boy watch movies until we've seen them first. So it's off to the in-laws' so the boy will be well taken care of while we check out the show. Thirty-five to forty dollars later, my wife and I have learned that the movie is fine for the boy to watch. Cost breakdown: $20 for our tickets, $15 to $20 for refreshments (when it's just the two of us, we ALWAYS get refreshments, because we love them so, but also because refreshment sales is the only real profit our local cinema makes. You DO know that the overwhelming majority of ticket sales goes to the studios, right?).
Now we can move to the next step, which is finding out whether our son likes the film. This time we go to a matinee, and we bring some of our own snacks (no theater sells any form of snack food we're willing to feed our son), so we spend less money. Let's say 15 to 20 dollars. When it's all said and done, we find out that our son does, indeed, like the movie. And it's only cost us somewhere in the area of fifty to sixty dollars to learn this. Let's call it $55.
Since we've learned that the boy likes the movie (loves it, actually. He'd watch it 5 times a day if we'd let him) we now have to buy the DVD, to the tune of $25. This brings us to the nice round figure of $80 invested in this movie.
Then, my wife reads an article about marketing in movies, and she tells me about it over dinner. So the next time we watch Bolt, I watch with a more discerning eye. I notice that, during the course of the movie, we repeatedly see a U-Haul truck. Not a made-up company, but U-Haul. And I realize that this is happening because U-Haul gave Disney a great deal of money for it to happen. I also realize that this particular marketing campaign is not directed at me, but rather at the two-year-old sitting next to me.
A smart and long-term investment on U-Haul's part, actually. Someday – years from now – my son is going to move somewhere. And when he does so, he's going to rent a U-Haul. He won't do so because they offer a better product than anyone else, or better customer support, or better prices. He'll do so simply because he feels kindly disposed toward them. Because during this formative time of his life, those trucks and that company are becoming intricately associated with things (and people) that he loves dearly.
And when he moves again, he'll rent from U-Haul again, even if his previous encounter with them entails sub-standard equipment, half-assed customer service and over-inflated prices. And he'll have no idea why he's doing so.
In a nutshell, Disney got paid a lot of money to program my son. And many, many other children. Even worse, I paid eighty dollars to have this occur. And my family is just one of tens of thousands (hundreds of thousands? Millions?) of families affected just by this one studio and this one film.
And the studios want us to believe that someone else is the bad guy.
Got into a discussion/argument with a random Internet pundit yesterday. He did a post on his blog about Islam, in which he stated that he thinks 'Islamophobia' is understated. He seems to feel that we should all live in mortal fear of Muslims. I wasted a few minutes of my life trying to reason with the poor guy, but realized that I was being stupid when he professed to have read the Koran, specifically referring to 'the nasty parts'. He actually tried to convince me that within the pages of the Koran lies adequate reason for all right-minded global citizens to fear the 'Muslim Threat'. Painfully obvious that he had never actually read the book. Or if he had, he had done so with extremely prejudiced eyes.
I actually kind of like the Koran. As religious texts go, It's not too terribly offensive. It's extremely dull, but not too offensive. The fact that it belongs to a western religion is a strike against it, but it's actually more interesting to read than the perennial favorite of the western religions: The Bible.
Two quick facts, little-known to most Americans: 1) The Koran is not the only scripture of religious import to Islam. The Old Testament also plays a prominent role. 2) The word 'Jihad' makes an appearance a grand total of four times in the Koran. In none of those instances does it refer to an armed conflict (or a conflict of any kind). In the Koran, the term 'Jihad' refers to a struggle – specifically a spiritual struggle. And any idiot can tell you that a spiritual struggle is, above all, a personal one. It's not something you do with a group. Especially a group with machine guns.
Anyway, this guy I was arguing with kept trying to convince me that Islam poses a threat to the world, despite all evidence to the contrary. Eventually, I realized where he was coming from. He had pretty much told me everything I needed to know with the first word he used. Or, rather, the second part of that word: phobia. The guy is just plain living in fear – even abject terror – of Islam. Or, more accurately, of Muslims. And his fear is irrational, a fact that obviously bothers him. So he professes to a knowledge of the Koran, which gives him the ability to claim his fear is a rational, reasoned fear. It's kind of sad, actually.
Since I'm aware of the fact that this guy is not alone in his fears, I started to wonder about the nature of those fears, and their genesis. To be sure, they have roots that go back to the Crusades (you remember the Crusades – when the Pope saw that too many Christians were being killed by other Christians, so he invented an outside enemy for his flock to focus their considerable homicidal energies on), but while the seeds may have been planted in the Middle Ages, the Bush-Cheney cartel did a fine job of pouring Miracle-Gro on it. But the propaganda alone doesn't really explain the fear. What – exactly – are so many Americans afraid of here? What is it about Muslims that strikes so much terror into the heart of Joe Sixpack?
Belief. Real, intense, white-hot belief. The Kind of belief that Americans never see in their own lives. The kind of belief that can drive people to obliterate themselves because they feel their faith demands it. Americans don't get this. America has a different kind of belief – the kind that just asks you to show up on Sunday and perform the proper rituals. Americans feel drawn to religious institutions not out of any spiritual drive but rather out of a simple need to belong. And when we Americans are confronted with people who are willing to die for their beliefs, they scare the crap out of us.
Before anyone starts shouting, let me just say that I'm not talking about ALL Americans here. Just the majority of them. I know there are people in this country who are truly religious. I also know that there are people in this country who are truly spiritual. And I know that sometimes these are the same people. But I know that these people are – by far – the minority. Most Americans subscribe to one religion or another out of fear. Simply because they're afraid that the Beard In The Sky will punish them if they don't. Which is also the only reason most Americans behave themselves. The average American (possibly the average person) is lying, thieving, raping, murderous scum, and the only thing keeping them from acting upon it is the threat of retribution. Don't believe me? Just look at any situation in human history in which the rules were removed. Riots. Wars. Show me any break-down of the social order, and I'll show you the true face of human nature.
Now, this all got me thinking about the nature of belief. Specifically, the nature of American belief. What, if anything (I wondered) do Americans believe in strongly enough (or love strongly enough) that they would be willing to die for it? Religion? Not likely. Sure – there have, on occasion, been Americans who have willingly chosen to die for their beliefs – but they are so rare as to be statistically nonexistent. Their country? Another big 'no'. While there are (and have been) plenty of people who will stand in line to fight and kill for America, those who have actually willingly died for it are intensely rare. Family? Sadly (and inexplicably, to my mind), also no. Hell, I know many, many people who can't even be bothered to give up their bad habits for the sake of their family.
Which brings us to the True American Belief System: Hedonism. This is the belief that burns strongly enough in America that its adherents are willing to die for it. Americans have proven – repeatedly – that the one thing they are more than willing to sacrifice their lives for is their own pleasure. Here we drug and drink and smoke and eat and sex ourselves to death every day. Here we willingly risk our lives just to achieve the pleasure of the moment. This, my friends, is the true American object of worship: Personal pleasure. It is this, not money, that we – as a people – love most.
My boy and I watched Jon Stewart last night (possibly the night before), and Jon did a bit about the current fiasco at AIG. He showed a nice montage of video clips, showing various pundits' sound bites on the subject. The last (and best) was some yahoo who stated that the culprits at AIG should 'receive the Nobel Prize for Evil'.
First off, I agree with Jon – we really should stop giving out that prize. Second, I don't think this is a case of evil at work. As much as we all might like to think otherwise, I don't honestly believe that a group of evil, calculating men (think Cheney) sat around a boardroom and made an evil group decision to do the wrong thing with the taxpayers' money.
I think something more insidious and frightening occurred: Business As Usual. I think the bonuses were given to those folks at AIG simply because it never occurred to anyone involved to do anything different. Because their values are so skewed that they didn't actually perceive of it as being 'wrong'. It's just the way these things are done. Incompetence is rewarded. Gross incompetence is rewarded richly. And I find it hard to assign any blame to the individuals involved. I don't think their professional lives equipped them to make ethical decisions. They live in a world where poor judgement and mismanagement are admired and rewarded. How could we expect them to do anything but aspire to these lofty ideals?
The problem lies not in a few individuals (be they evil or not), but rather in the system itself. The American way of doing business is morally and ethically bankrupt, and we behave as though this is right and proper. We talk about business as though it should be kept separate from all other aspects of life, because in the arena of business (politics, too), it's okay (even expected) to be a scumbag.
Unfortunately, we (as a people) hide this from ourselves. When situations like the one at AIG crop up, we lie to ourselves and make believe that the problem rests at the feet of a few 'bad' individuals. This is how we keep our own moral integrity intact. So long as the culprits are easily identifiable, we can comfortably write the whole thing off as an aberration and forget about it. Which is, of course, why we still have these problems, despite the fact that they just keep on happening over and over.
This time, though, I'm holding onto a faint hope. So far, they don't seem to have presented us with a villain (a la Ken Lay). Without a focal point for our displeasure, there's a chance (however slight) that we, as a people, may finally start to examine 'business as usual' in this country. And if enough of us do just that, therein lie the seeds of revolution.


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Pallavi Dean Interiors uses local inspiration to design Dubai-based real estate office
From the designers:
When JLL decided to upgrade its regional headquarters in Dubai, it wanted to make a statement about the two faces of the company. On the one hand, it's a multi-billion dollar global firm based in Chicago – an international reach that's part of the firm's DNA. At the same time, the company was determined to stress its deep ties to the Middle East and North Africa.
The design brief was clear: create a space to tell both stories.
Alan Robertson, CEO of JLL MENA, explained: "At JLL we provide global experience with a local angle. This design is a true reflection of that theme, showcasing the international nature of our company while also exhibiting our commitment to and understanding of this wonderful region."
JLL commissioned Pallavi Dean Interiors to deliver the vision. Design director Pallavi Dean revealed the firm's approach: "From the outset, we knew we wanted to be subtle and clever in the way we infused local references into the design language. Statues of gold eagles, pearls and a miniature dhow were never an option!"
Manifestations on the glass walls of meeting rooms strike the right balance. Dean worked with graphic designers to take old maps of the seven emirates of the UAE and create abstracted, geometric patterns inspired by the cartography.
"You could walk past them every day and not know what they are, but subtly they contribute to the global-meets-local narrative," says Dean. "Old 19th century maps on walls are so tired and clichéd – we wanted something that captured the local geography and history, but with a very modern interpretation."
Fabrics for the seats in the reception area are another example of discreet local influence.. They fuse the vibrant red corporate colour of JLL with a pattern inspired by Bedouin weavers who Dean discovered in a traditional workshop in Al Ain.
Not everything has a local flavour. The choice of materials – polished ceramic tiles on the floor and high gloss walls in the reception area – were picked to make the space feel bigger, brighter and more welcoming. While the backlit frosted glass with sandblasted JLL logo were used to deliver the corporate branding in an understated, elegant way.
JLL's Robertson said the final design has delivered real impact: "The new reception has made an astounding difference to the experience our clients have when they visit our office. This is where first impressions are created and we now truly look like the world-class organization that we are."


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What's going on Monday?
Talk Normal @ Mercury Lounge in 2010 (more by David Andrako)
today in Chicago
* Peter Gabriel @ United Center
* Talk Normal, Noveller, U.S. Girls @ Empty Bottle (Free Show)
* Brain Killer, Sin Orden, Manipulation, Kontaminat @ Albion House
* Kings Go Forth, Ben L'Oncle Soul @ Jay Pritzker Pavilion (Free Show)
* Paul Metzger, Heresy of the Free Spirit @ Permanent Records (Free; In-store)
Reckless Records is hosting a listening/release party for Bon Iver's new self-titled LP (which scored a 9.5 & the 'best new music' tag from Pitchfork).
We'll be playing and selling the new Bon Iver album on Monday, June 20th at Rodan starting at 9pm. We'll have a limited edition version with a bonus disc & a free poster, we'll also be selling the Calgary 12" one week early.
Bon Iver will appear on The Colbert Report tonight, at 10:30PM CST.
What else?


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Two years into the government of President Mauricio Macri, Argentina's technology industry is experiencing huge growth. His pro-market and pro-business policies are aimed at opening up and modernizing the country's economy.
Some sectors have resisted President Macri's changes. But others are benefiting such as tech start-ups.
Correspondent Joel Richards met with some entrepreneurs in Buenos Aires who are creating a regional hub for innovative technology in a variety of fields.
Argentina is expecting many more changes to the economy with labor and tax reform being discussed. But as the economy opens, so does competition from established international companies. Many Argentine companies will have to update their skills to stay ahead of the game.
Watch Joel's report from Buenos Aires to find out more about the technological innovation taking place in Argentina.