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IFI & VMDIFF Careers in Screen Day – Jude
On the 28th of February I attended the IFI Careers Day in IFI as part of my TY work experience. This was a day where students aged 15-18 had the opportunity to hear experienced filmmakers talk about their jobs in the film industry. Each of the filmmakers discussed how they got their start in the business and what films they had worked on through the years. The event was advertised through the IFI's School Programme. The day began with an introduction from director Lenny Abrahamson which was followed by a talk from cinematographer Cathal Watters whose films include Viva, Handsome Devil and Rosie.
After this I stayed in Screen 1 and heard from extra coordinators and stuntmen, Jonathan Shaw, Dennis Fitzpatrick and Charlie Endean who discussed their work on Vikings, Game of Thrones and The Wind That Shakes The Barley. Lenny Abrahamson (Room, Garage, Adam & Paul) and Ed Guiney who has produced these films as well as The Favourite, Glassland, The Guard and more then talked about how they met and their beginning in film which I really enjoyed and found very interesting.
At one o'clock there was a break for lunch and students also had the chance to meet graduates from the YIFM National Youth Film School, Kilkenny, and Fresh Film Festival, and to ask questions and see some of their work. Irish author and screenwriter Derek Landy, the writer of the popular Skulduggery Pleasant series was the next speaker who talked about the creative process and the difficulties he faced early on in his career before writing Skulduggery Pleasant.
The final speakers I saw on the day were assistant Director Hannah Quinn and Director of Photography Kate McCullough who were working on the TV show Blood. Some clips of the show were also played on the big screen.
Other guests throughout the day were Foley artist Caoimhe Doyle who has worked on The Favourite, Room and Game of Thrones, podcast host Erin McGathy (Community) who interviewed actor Cathy Belton (Red Rock, Philomena, Roy). There was also animation with Cartoon Saloon's Jeremy Purcell. Costume Designer Consolata Boyle (The Queen, Florence Foster Jenkins, Philomena) gave a talk about her work. Screen International's chief critic and reviews editor Fionnuala Halligan spoke about Film journalism. Gavin O'Connor from Brown Bag Films talked about Digital Painting for animation and games.
To conclude the event the students had the opportunity to meet representatives from 3rd level institutions who specialise in film and TV courses. Overall I really enjoyed the day as it was a great experience to hear from so many filmmakers and would recommend it to all students who are interested in a career in film. Mar 2019.
Bohemian Rhapsody by Julia
My name is Julia and I am 16 years old. I am in Transition year in John Scottus School, Shankill, Bray. My passions are singing and running and I sing with the St Bartholomew's Choir in Donnybrook. I have always loved watching films as it's a great way to unwind and escape into the wondrous, unimaginable, unknown world of film.
I thoroughly enjoyed my week in the IFI. I got to try many various aspects of working in a film organisation and was able to see a few screenings in the fantastic cinemas. During my placement here I got to see the screening of Bohemian Rhapsody, a riveting story about the rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound.
The film Bohemian Rhapsody is a celebration of Queen, their music and the lead singer Freddie Mercury. Hinted in the title, this biopic film is about the miraculous creation of one of the greatest rock songs ever to exist; A truly remarkable six-minute suite, that combines a ballad, an operatic section, and hard rock. Nevertheless though the film still manages to focus on Freddie's life and it takes us back to Farrokh Bulsara's early days featuring his discouraging father and meeting his lover Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton), shortly after followed by his worldwide tours, parties, lonely writing sessions and personal struggles. The film also dives into the lives of the other rock members of Queen and their contributions to the massive hits of the 1970's and 1980's.
In spite of it being a musical, the film accurately displays Mercury's long-awaited biopic. The Live Aid concert in 1985 mimicked by actor Rami Malik was the scene that moved me. At this stage Freddie is coming to terms with his sickness but he really stands by his lyric to 'keep on fighting till the end' through the duration of the concert. This scene really highlights the determination and strength in the band.
During my time here at the IFI, I was fortunate enough to meet the members of Queen Extravaganza, the official tribute act for Queen. They sat among the other schools we had in and watched the film with us. After the film credits, they went down onto the podium and introduced themselves individually. We then had an open discussion with them and the audience members asked them all sorts of questions regarding their lives, work and their aspirations for young bands starting off. Unfortunately the talk had to come to an end, as they had a lot of rehearsing to do that day for their gig the following day. However I wasn't too disheartened by it because they had left a bag for me, filled with goodies, to keep as a reminder of one of the best days I had at work experience and the time I got to meet them. Nov 2018.
Condemned to Remember by Tom
As part of my Transition Year Work Experience, I was able to partake in an IFI Schools Programme screening of the documentary "Condemned to Remember" (2017). This film is the third in a trilogy of documentaries by Emmy award-winning Irish filmmaker Gerry Gregg, that documents the life of Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental.
Gregg's first two films about Tomi, "Till the Tenth Generation" (2009) and the award-winning "Close to Evil" (2014) were hugely popular both in Ireland and throughout the rest of Europe. They are also the reason "Condemned to Remember" was made, acting as a sort of closure to Tomi's incredible set of films.
As a survivor of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, to which he was sent when only nine years old, Tomi is determined to keep the dark memories of the Holocaust alive to ensure that nothing as horrific ever happens again. However, as the documentary explores, Europe may not have learned from it's past.
Most of the documentary is set in mainland Europe where Tomi explores Holocaust memorials in Poland, Germany and Slovakia. Each memorial has its own tragic story attached that highlights the true destruction of the Jewish community in the Second World War
The film starts at Tomi's 80th birthday party, an occasion he never thought he would get the chance to see. He is invited to a Dublin mosque to talk about his experiences and to celebrate with others. This sets him off on his journey to discover the past and near future of an ever-changing Europe.
The documentary is divided into different sections covering stories from both the past and present. We see Tomi's unsuccessful attempt to confront SS war criminal Hilde Michnia, his growing concerns over Marion Kolbe's far right political party in Slovakia and also of the mass murder of Jews by the Nazis that occurred in the small Polish village of Jedwabne in 1941.
On his journey, Tomi relates to the millions of Syrian refugees today who are going through experiences of exile and racism today, which he experienced almost 70 years ago. He then meets with survivors of the 1990's genocide of the Muslim community in Bosnia. Tomi brings up some startling truths stating "We have to be careful that history doesn't repeat itself."
These stories, along with some personal stories of Tomi's family, make up the running of the documentary. "Condemned to Remember" is a tough watch in places as it is quite emotional. It focuses on the history of Europe and issues that are relevant today and this helped me recognise in more detail the tragedy that was the Holocaust and its aftermath.
Along with the screening of the documentary, there was a follow-up Q & A with director Gerry Gregg, Shaykh Muhammad Umar Al-Qadri (The Head-Imam of Al-Mustafa Islamic Educational & Cultural Centre Ireland who featured in the film) and Tomi Reichental himself. The students were given the opportunity to ask questions of the panel. Some questions were about the production of the film, or about Tomi's family but also how to combat racism and xenophobia. Gerry told the students how he met Tomi through a contact at RTÉ and how Tomi was willing to redo takes to make the film as strong as possible. A student asked if Tomi got to meet his father at the end of the war; Tomi explained how his father escaped Nazi custody by jumping off a moving train, then joined the partisans to fight the Nazis and how they were reunited after the war after believing each other was dead.
Shaykh was asked how we can fight racism. His answer was clear: Education. He explained that by teaching children at a young age about other cultures, everyone can live a safer and happier life, accepting our differences. He said that Ireland and its culture are changing, and that we should change with it.
Overall, the event was a great success. In collaboration with the Holocaust Education Trust, Ireland, the students were given Holocaust Memorial Day 2017 books giving them a chance to learn more about the event. The film is a truly fantastic experience and I highly recommend that everyone sees it, just like Tomi wants. It is vital we keep the memory of the Holocaust alive to educate the future generations. Nov 2017
La La Land Review by Kate
My name is Kate and I am 16 years old. I am in Transition Year in Holy Faith Clontarf. I play GAA and I coach football on Saturday mornings to the 3-5 year olds. I have always loved films and TV shows and the possibility of exploring them. I enjoyed my time in the IFI and found it interesting and beneficial. During my placement I was able to see a screening of the Oscar-nominated film La La Land and here's my review.
Inspiring, effervescent and surprise are only three words to describe the outstanding film La La Land, directed by Damien Chazelle. La La Land is a 21st century musical with aspect of old Hollywood classics such as Singing in the rain. Set in modern day Los Angeles, it's about the joys and pain of everyday life.
The storyline blew me away, every song was brilliant and all the musical set pieces complimented the songs in such outstanding fashion.
When I first saw the trailer I thought it was going to be another romantic film but it was much more. I now understand why this movie has been nominated for 14 Oscars and has won 7 Golden Globes. As soon as the film started, I didn't want it to end.
Without giving away any spoilers, the first scene is bursting with colours, creativity and imagination, starting off with a bang of song and dance which would make you want to get up and dance.
The story revolves around an ambitious jazz pianist [Ryan Gosling] and an aspiring actress [Emma Stone] who fall in love while perusing their dreams of stardom and fame. LA appears as a city where hopes and dreams are crushed, but it also might just be the place where dreams actually do come true. Mia and Sebastian are both struggling to make ends meet, with Mia's acting career not going quite to plan and Sebastian's jazz dream not working out the way he had hoped. Both find each other just when they need each other's help and support.
It seems like once they meet they will live happily ever after, but there are many obstacles to Mia and Sebastian happiness.
The musical remained enticing throughout which made me an even bigger fan of this dazzling classic Hollywood musical.
Since I have seen the film I can't stop thinking about it. In my opinion I think this will turn out to be a classic film that people 50 years later will still be in awe of. I would recommend it for people of all ages. Feb 2017
3 ½ Minutes, Ten Bullets review by Sophia
'3 ½ minutes, ten bullets' narrates the story of the 2012 murder of 17-year-old Jordan Davis by Michael Dunn in Jacksonville, Florida in a gas station after an altercation over loud music.
'3 ½ minutes, ten bullets' is part of the IFI's Portraits of America 3-part series. This series is offers different views of the U.S.A and is part of their Transition Year programme.
Marc Silver, the director, was granted access to film inside Michael Dunn's trial. He was also able to access Dunn's private phone calls and interview tapes. Whilst only being miniscule additions these really benefit the documentary as a whole in creating an extra layer of realism.
In the film, you are presented with the impression that Michael Dunn has a brilliant defence. I believe that this impression has created to ensure uncertainty in the audience about the verdict and create tension but it can be slightly misleading if someone has not done prior research.
Another small issue with the portrayal of Michael Dunn is we get next to no background information on this individual. I understand that this is a documentary about the shooting itself although after going into such depth to create a background for Jordan Davis it would have been interesting to see some outside opinions on Dunn from the perspective of neighbours or friends. Though I feel the information was purposefully disregarded by Marc Silver in an attempt to dehumanise Michael Dunn, which is justified.
The film is a straight-forward, emotional thriller. The court scenes are well-edited and get to the point whilst not neglecting to include key moments. The inclusion of home videos, memories of Jordan from friends and protests for the justice he deserved truly personify his character through the film and highlight that this was not just a shooting, this was a racially-charged murder. What makes this film so effective is that it has the suspense of a crime-drama in addition to the passion and authenticity of a biography that you just can't help but become immersed in.
In my opinion, I would rate this film 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this film to anyone mature enough to fully understand/appreciate it, those with an interest in the U.S.A's gun laws or anyone researching into racially motivated crimes. Jan 2017
The Hunger Games Review by Owen
My name's Owen and I am 16 years old. I go to school in St. Kevin's CC in Wicklow. I play drums and guitar and hope to learn many more instruments. My two passions are music and film. I really enjoyed my Work Experience in the IFI. I got to try out everything I wanted, and even some other things I hadn't expected such as elements of graphic design.
On one of the days, I sat in on a schools screening of The Hunger Games, showing as part of the IFI Schools programme for TY. The film, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, is set in a dystopian future. Katniss Everdeen and her family live in one of the twelve oppressed districts that are harassed by The Capital. Since the twelve districts failed rebellion, The Capital has been striking fear into the citizens by randomly selecting a teen boy and girl from each district to fight to the death in what's known as The Hunger Games. When Katniss' little sister, Prim, is chosen as a representative for District 12, sixteen year old Katniss volunteers to take her part instead.
To me, it seemed like the film was split into two parts. The first part shows us life in the poorer districts. It shows us the random selection of names, and how everyone gets ready for this 'tradition'. It shows us the media coverage and the support from the viewers, particularly those in The Capital, and it shows us the lead up to the Games. The second part of the film is the Hunger Games themselves and the effort it takes to be the last survivor.
One of the most interesting things to see was the way the media, as portrayed in the film, reacted to these traditions such as the name selection. Almost like an extreme version of The Truman Show, the media gives full coverage of these Games like a reality show. In the build up to the Games, there are various shows and interviews to get to know each participant, as if the media wants the viewers to pick favourites and to have someone to root for. In a time that people are obsessed with reality TV and even in some cases violence when it comes to boxing or the UFC, I think some parts of the movie can even be very relatable.
With an added intensity from the sometimes quick camera cuts, Jennifer Lawrence's brilliant performance and the setting, The Hunger Games was an enjoyable and frantic movie, which will keep you stimulated and on the edge of your seat.
After '16 review by Tom
My name is Tom and I am sixteen years old. I am in transition year in CBC Monkstown. I play and coach soccer for my local club. I love watching films and TV shows. I really enjoyed my week at the IFI. I found it entertaining and informative. Overall I think it was a great experience.
As part of the 1916 centenary events at the IFI, the education department screened a selection of short films from After '16, the once off short film initiative from the Irish Film Board. Many schools came along to watch the films and participate in a Q&A session with the filmmakers. There were six films in total and some took a dark and starkly realistic approach, while others commemorated events in a more comedic and entertaining way. I think that the audience benefited from the fact that the films were so different because by the time they left the cinema they had been entertained, informed, shocked and amazed.
The first film, My life in Ireland, directed by Kieran Walsh, caught the audience off-guard with its comedic tone. Its combination of satire and wit was a nice break from the serious attitude that other films about the Rising took. This was followed by Mr Yeats and the Beastly Coins, whose director described it as a film that showed W.B Yeats as a politician and not just a poet. I think the film worked very well because not only did it show Yeats as a Senator but it also explored how Irish people see themselves. The next film was The Cherishing, a brilliantly directed and harrowing film that dealt with the children who were killed in the Rising. The producer Liam Ryan came in to introduce his work. The fourth film of the day was the fantastic animated film, A Terrible Hullabaloo, written by Aoife Noonan, which succeeded in being funny and informative as it followed a young soldier in Boland's Mill. The next film, Baring Arms, focused on tattoos people got about the Rising and why they got them. The final film of the day was the excellent Granite and Chalk which focused on a story about two spies whose real identities are unknown to this day. The film shed light on a story that is not very well known but which had great significance at the time. I also really enjoyed the use of animation here. Overall I think this was a very successful and informative event that commemorated, celebrated and ruminated the 1916 Rising.
The Revenant review by Daniel
My name is Daniel and I'm 16 years old . I'm currently in Transition Year in Skerries Community College. I'm captain for my local u16s soccer club and I like to draw and go out with friends. I chose the IFI for my work experience because I am interested in film and media. I thoroughly enjoyed my week in the Education department, I got to try many different aspects of working in a film organisation and was able to see a few screenings in the fantastic cinemas. One of the movies I saw was The Revenant and here's my review.
Cold, exhilarating, dark and captivating are just some of the words that may be used to describe filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu's latest success, The Revenant. Many filmgoers thoroughly enjoyed the emotion and energy of his last film, the award-winning Birdman, but this latest film takes a different approach. In retelling the gruesome tale of legendary frontiersman Hugh Glass , the directorutilises a lot of realistic qualities, not only in the infamous bear sequence but also in every gut-wrenching and blood-stained action scene to make them as believable as possible. With Leonardo Di Caprio's intense physical performance, for which he has been nominated for a long overdue Oscar, and the help of surreal costumes, set design, and CGI effects, the film makes the viewer feel as if they are living through Hugh Glasses traumatic encounters.
Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki brilliantly utilises the magnificent Argentinian mountain range and the snowy depths of the Canadian Forest to recreate the beautiful yet harsh landscapethrough which Glass travelled. . The fur trapper is shown as constantly tortured by memories of his murdered Pawnee wife and the suffering of his son, Hawk, in the fire that destroyed their village. Alongside Di Caprio, Tom Hardy plays a villainous frontiersman, John Fitzgerald, who is only ever following where the next penny comes from. Throughout this epic film you see layers of malevolence being peeled away to reveal an even darker side to Fitzgerald, in which Tom Hardy has transformed from simplistic cowardly killer to cold-blooded villain. Glass finally gets his opportunity to seek revenge, but does he take that opportunity?
Watching this epic thriller I was not only stunned by the beautiful shots and scenery, I was enthralled by the combination of the story of Hugh Glass, the impeccable performances from Leonardo Di Caprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson and Will Poulter, the surreal effects and the amazing soundtrack. Overall I would say The Revenant is a must see, although I would not recommend it for those who find blood and gore hard to watch.
13.10, 18.20
13.50, 20.20
15.10, 19.10
The IFI is supported by The Arts Council
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March 2018
Art & an affront
On the recent legal decision regarding "5Pointz" in Long Island City.
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On the recent legal decision regarding "5Pointz" in Long Island City.
On a footnote to the "Rhodes Must Fall" movement.
On Nadezhda Mandelstam's literary achievements.
On the "Rebuild Penn Station" movement, and on Penn Station's architectural history.
On the literary career of the English novelist Henry Green.
A review of Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts: Twelve Journeys into the Medieval World by Christopher de Hamel.
On the alien tourism industry, past and present.
On Hangmen at the Linda Gross Theater, At Home at the Zoo at the Irene Diamond Stage & Relevance at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.
On "Outliers and American Vanguard Art" at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
On "The Art of Canada: Director's Cut" at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.
On "Thomas Cole's Journey: Atlantic Crossings" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
On Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera, and, at Carnegie Hall, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Denis Matsuev, Janine Jansen, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, the Cleveland Orchestra, and Marilyn Horne.
On the lack of self awareness in the party of grievance-mongers.
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What you don't feed, dies. What you do feed, grows.
Plants need certain conditions to optimally grow. They need light as the source of energy (trust me, the scientific explanation about why plants actually need light for their growth is a long story. I got the long story from a semester-long of torture studying biochemistry and botany in college, haha. Owell, I passed them anyways). Some amount of oxygen, water, some certain range of temperature and many other requirements in order them to grow optimally.
Just like plants need those things to (physically) grow optimally, so do we, people. If we are hoping of personal growth, we've got to get ourselves properly fed. Talking about physical growth, I believe we already know what that means, we need nutritious food to get the metabolic system in our body to work as well as it is intended. We do need carbohydrates as the source of sugar in our blood, we need protein for damaged cells repair and etc. This post is not intended to be a scientific article on nutrition and living things' need of nutrition. But the idea of how living things do need nutrition to grow is the main idea of this writing.
Our souls are pretty much the same as our physical bodies in a way that our souls, in order to grow, do need to get properly fed. As in our daily life, there are many kinds of food, drinks, supplements, vitamins and etc edible or consumable. But not all of those kinds of stuff are good for our body, correct? Also, it is up to the individuals themselves of which food or drink or vitamin to consume. I am not talking about what people like to eat, but what they need to eat.
Let me use myself as the example. I have a condition in which my metabolic system is unable to break down a chemical compound called uric acid. Uric acid is basically one kind of protein that is mostly found in green veggies, peanuts, animals innards and certain kind of fish. If I consume too much of those kinds of stuff then the content of uric acid in my body is increased and they will be deposited in the joints. When it happens, then I will get inflammation in joints, especially in joints around my toes or knee. Well, the inflammation may occur differently for each person. I really like green veggies, like, so much! But ever since I got that condition, I am never again being able to consume green veggies as much as I want. So, do you see my point? I am not talking about something that we like to eat, but something that we need to eat and do some good to our own body.
Now, back to talking about the soul. There are many thoughts, ideas, wisdoms out there. They bombard us every day, even more in this kind of days, which we are overly exposed to media. Whether we realize it or not, the media have really great impact on our personal growth. How couldn't it impact us for we are exposed to them almost every minute of our life. And I believe that constant exposure to certain things can finally stay, grow, and root deep in our thinking system. This way of thinking then creates habits in our thinking system. Habit, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary is translated as "a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance."
So, on feeding our soul, don't we need to be very careful?
There are many thoughts, ideas and wisdoms exposing us every single day, even every single time we open our PDAs or computer. As for my personal experience, I have stopped following some twitter accounts that exposed to me nothing but sarcasms, negative spirit, and just some cynical statements about life. It did have some effect on me: I was so negative, sarcastic, and cynical to many things, you bet, just the same as what I have been feeding myself with.
What you don't feed, dies. What you do feed, grows. If we feed ourselves with negative spirit, sarcasms, cynical statements, then so be it. If we keep ourselves exposed to such thing, then the system in our thinking will gradually accept it as true.
There is a good saying that I want to share here,
It is hard to let old beliefs go. They are familiar. We are comfortable with them and have spent years building systems and developing habits that depend on them. Like a man who has worn eyeglasses so long that he forgets he has them on, we forget that the world looks to us the way it does because we have become used to seeing it that way through a particular set of lenses. Today, however, we need new lenses. And we need to throw the old ones away.
— Kenich Ohmae
We can never hope to harvest figs out of thornbushes.
Stop feeding our soul with negative thoughts, sarcasms, cynicism about life or things around us. They give us nothing but crushed and broken spirit while we ought to grow as we are intended to grow. A broken spirit is severely contagious. It doesn't only affect us, but also the people surround us. Remember, what we don't feed, dies. Cut them off, they will not stay alive. Uproot them, they will be finished. Instead, start feeding your soul with stuff that gives you courage to face each new day, gives you new lively spirit to live better, gives you enlightenment to share the light to others.
You can choose to live your life out of two options: either a living testimony or a potential menace. You choose. You can choose to feed your soul with out of two options: either stuff which extremely beneficial or plainly destructive. You choose.
"So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, …" — Ephesians 6:15-18
Another day, another lesson learned.


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La famiglia Garella ~ un potere mondiale
What is it to be a Garella?
Garellas are caring...Achilles "Kiel" Garella wrote a high-school paper on the slaughter of African elephants. He is against it.
Christophe Garella is a psychotherapist in Aix en Provence, in southeastern France, not far from the Garella heartland. He's cousin to Jean-Brice Garella of JJ Garella fame (see fashionable and sexy, below).Ā
Nancy Garella is director of volunteers at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.
Serafino Garella, a native of Biella, Piemonte, Italia, was until 2002 a physician at Lutheran General Hospital in Chicago, USA. He also founded Community Health, a free medical clinic for uninsured people in Chicago. Here's a People magazine article about him, and an award he won. In 2004 he was elected to the Consiglio Comunale of Biella.
Veena Garella is an architecture and urban planning professor in New Delhi, India, who has studied housing for the poor. She is for it. (Why there are people named "Garella" in India remains a mystery.) Her daughter Jaya Garella is an architect who lives in London; look for her article on New Delhi's "bungalow zone" here.
Vera Garella is a dental assistant at a dental practice in Bochum, Germany.
Garellas yearn for justice...Craig Garella of Garella Pest Management in Gillespie, Illinois, USA, is on the front lines of humanity's doomed rebellion against its insect masters.
Speaking of our insect masters, Garella rotundipennis lives in Borneo, Java, and New Guinea (don't tell Craig, OK?). It was named by Walker Garella in 1863. See its tymbal organs here!
Elena Garella, of Seattle USA, is a lawyer in private practice, with particular interest in civil rights. For a list of Seattle Times articles about her click here.
Fabio Garella (Firenze, 1956) is an Italian Senate Adviser and Secretary of the Antimafia Commission. Here's his book The Administration of Constitutional Bodies.
Mauro Garella is a lawyer in Venice.
Rich Garella worked in Cambodia as press secretary for the democratic opposition party during the bitterly contested elections of 1998. Now he works in the US as a communications consultant, sometime journalist and movie producer.
Garellas are intellectual...Dott. Alessandro Garella is a Neapolitan psychoanalytical researcher.
Alex Garella is a student of the ancient art of mummification -- and rocked out his own version of Live Earth!.
Karin Garella of Bochum, Germany, looks forward to a career as a librarian. Bochum is in the Ruhr, which could be considered the Piemonte of Germany.
Luigi Garella is a film critic making his mark on the site Gli Spietati.
Maria Adelaide Garella is a nuclear physicist at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare in Torino. She's working on the TERA hadrontherapy project (wow). Check out their magic cube!
Massimo Garella writes for an Italian punk-rock e-zine called Vida ("piu di un giornale, e un idea per uscire dalla schiavitu delle edicole e liberare la musica"). Until we hear differently, we will assume he is one and the same as Max Garella, the France and Italy correspondent of Edinburgh-based music webzine Miuzik.com. Prove us wrong.
Professor Paolo Giorgio Garella is an economist at the University of Milano. He specializes in industrial economics, microeconomics, economics of information, and banking.
Garellas are fashionable and sexy...Jean-Brice Garella is at JJ Garella design, part of GroupeGarella. Have a look at their shop window in Paris, and read an interview with this famous son of a miner.
Hey! We need more in this category!
Garellas are creators...Aldo Garella, a priest in Biella, created a church of his own a couple of years ago. Believe it or not, the court found in 1999 that the design of the church infringed on the copyright of sculptor Pietro Cascella -- and ordered the church demolished!
Claudio Garella is the president of Sideco, a company making "converting machinery." His son Paolo is the Director General.
Here's a plan of a bridge in Tuscany done in 1810 by engineer Giacinto Garella.
Another Elena Garella lives near Parma, Italy. Her hobbies include cooking and digital photography.
Guido Garella is an architect who works at INPDAP in Torino. He has two brothers, Franco and Piero, and his father Antonio (detto Mario) also has two brothers, Luigi and Giovanni and three cousins, Giovanni, Giuseppe and Graziella. His grandfather Giuseppe had only one brother, Nicola, whose had sons Antonio, Giuseppe and Luigi. This latter Antonio, in turn, spawned Renato, Giuseppe and Francesca. This too makes them creators.
Luciano Garella is some kind of important architect in the Marche, Italy. He recently designed the new headquarters of Castelli (but we don't know what that is).
In 1857 the first camera capable of making a 360-degree image was patented by M. Garella of England.
A man, a plan, a canal...Garella? Napoleon Garella was an engineer sent out by the French government in 1838 to study and report on the possibility of building a canal through Panama. This would have linked not only two great oceans but also two great palindromes. The other one: Able was I ere I saw...Panama.
Paolo Garella is head of the Special Projects group at Pininfarina. He was instrumental in creating the unique Ferrari P4/5 supercar! He's famous, see?
Vicenzo Garella is the general manager of Only Glass, an Italian firm "specialized in hot-end repairs."
Garellas are athletic...Barbara Garella is a championship volleyball player in Saluzzo, Piemonte.
Bill Garella has golfed for the Community College of Allegheny County and for Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He made it to the Nationals in Pinehurst, North Carolina and finished 25th in the USA.
We have been referring to Claudio Garella (not the president of Sideco, but another) on this site as a "minor Italian football hero." We were giving short shrift to the achievements of this notable member of our clan, and for no particular reason, none at all. After some five years, one Giuliano Pavone has come forward to rub this undue tarnish from Claudio's splendor. Quoth Pavone: "not so minor, as he won two 'scudetti' (Italian football championships) with two teams (Verona 1985 and Napoli 1987) that never won championships before." We stand corrected at last, and join with Pavone in saluting our namesake and compatriot, Claudio Garella, il portiere dei miracoli -- the bearer of miracles (or goalkeeper of miracles--it's a pun!)
Giorgio Garella is a personal trainer who lives on Capri, where he has trained the likes of Naomi Campbell and Keanu Reeves! He "can help you achieve any goal you have in mind."
Judo expert Riccardo Garella recently took 2nd place in Juvenile C (60kg) at the USJF Junior Nationals in Irvine, California.
Garellas are artistic...Antonio Garella was a sculptor. Here's his 1896 statue of Francesco Datini in Prato, and another view with an English description. And here's a lovely little bust he made.
Daniele Garella made the music for Comus, presented at the 1998 Rassegna Internazionale di Teatro, in Firenze. Here's a picture of him, too!
Gianpaolo Garella is a poet.
Luisa Garella lit up Italian screens a generation earlier, in little-known gems such as Quattro Ragazze Sognano (1943), La Signora in Nero (1943), and La Scuola dei Timidi (1941).
Jean-Franńois Garella, whose grandfather was born in Biella, and his wife Soizic run an art and antiquities shop called Arthemes in Cormeray, France (we think). They specialize in 19th century French Impressionism.
Marc Garella is the drummer for Balloon Squad, a jangly New Jersey pop band.
Nanni Garella is a theater director at Bologna's Arena del Sole. We suspect he is the same who starred in 1988's Il Cuore di Mamma.
For generations, the Garellas of Torino have set their fertile minds and nimble fingers to the creation of Lenci dolls. Not only that, but they have helped keep the name "Beppe" alive.
Garellas are resourceful......and apparently marry into America's first families! Jeanine Garella-Standish is a naturalist in Pennsylvania USA who can teach you how to eat weeds...but she has dropped off the web.
Alba Garella has transformed an ancient farmhouse into the Il Glicine Bed & Breakfast in picturesque Zimone, Italy.
Gina Garella is Chief Financial Officer of Atlas Technology, a New Jersey USA staffing firm.
Garellas can even be blonde! Julie Garella was the mastermind of McColl Garella, an investment banking firm serving women-owned businesses, which closed in 2006. "There aren't enough large, sophisticated women-owned businesses to focus solely on that niche," said Julie. But don't worry; she landed softly at CitiGroup.
M.I. Garella sells real estate in St. Tropez.
Garellas are fictional...Commander Garella pilots giant warships through space, it seems. Here it is in English, sort of.
Hendrik from Germany is kind enough to call our attention to "the first [Garella] ever reported who certainly does not come in peace, with a message of love and forgiveness," the mafia boss in a 1995 Italian B-movie called Poliziotti. Hendrik translates: "Unexperienced policeman Andrea is shifted from the province of south Italy to Turin and is assigned to guard the imprisoned gang boss Garella. In his older colleague Lorenzo he finds a friend, but even more he is fascinated from the gentleman Garella and particularly his beautiful girlfriend. Too fascinated: Garella escapes during a non-permitted excursion. Ashamed of their failure, Lorenzo commits suicide. From now on Andrea risks everything to find Garella and get revenge for his dead friend."
Garellas are mysterious...At one time, perhaps in the 1930s, there was an archbishop of Garella named Bishop Gabriel Breynat, apparently in Canada's Northwest Territory. The post seemed to be vacant at present. Any takers?
More Garellas, especially those with web sites, may contact me if they want to be included on this list.
New features
History of the Garella name
Il nome Garella e citato per la prima volta in atti del Comune di Biella nel 1280. Ci sono almeno due localita con il toponimo Garella, una in citta e l'altra tra Biella e Vercelli detta Cascina Garella, e questo vuol dire che e un nome da lungo tempo affermato in questo territorio. Si deve quindi presumere che Biella e non Torino sia la culla di questo nome.
Mi risulta che sicuramente alcuni Garella, che pero non conosco, abitano a Parigi e provengono da Biella. A Caen in Normandia vive un nostro cugino (pronipote di un fratello del bisnonno Serafino). Vi sono inoltre parecchi Garella nel vercellese, che essendo vicino a Biella, potrebbero avere una radice comune, quello che invece non ho mai capito e l'esistenza di questo cognome pure in Sicilia.
-- Fernando Garella
Garella is a very old name in the Piemonte region of Italy. The first citation of the name dates from 1280 (see above).
Aldo Garella (see "Creators" at left) believes that the name is derived from an old dialectical word meaning "he who limps" or "the limper." Not as glamorous as we might have hoped...especially after the childhood torment of being called "Gorilla" (that's right, you weren't the first to think of it).
The largest concentration of Garellas in the world is probably in Torino, the capital of the Piemonte region, where you can find all kinds of businesses with the name.
Garellas can now be found not only in northern Italy but in Sicily. And we are on the move worldwide--in France, Spain, Europe and across the United States. You want proof? In addition to Italy's Via Garella in Brescia and Strada Garella in Biella, we have Garella Road in Bethel, Connecticut, USA, and even a town of Garella in Indonesia. Do not doubt us again.
However we categorically deny that we are secretly shifting the levers of power in ways that others cannot even contemplate. In fact, we come in peace with a message of love and forgiveness for all Earth's peoples.


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Break the Ice. Set a clear Direction.
Between 2006 & 2008, Sam Clear walked 15,600km around the world. Literally. The journey now lives on as he presents around Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Book him for an inspiring keynote today!
Keynotes & Workshops
What do you get if you take a polished public speaker and send him around the world on foot for 19months?
A story like nothing you've ever heard before.
Drawing on over twelve years of professional public speaking, Sam draws out the timeless lessons learnt from enduring a world of challenges.
From effective strategic planning, to navigating through countries listed as the most dangerous on the planet, from learning to communicate in nine languages, to winning people's trust in the most dire circumstances, the complexity of the walk4one provides incredible insight into what works, and what simply distracts us from our goals.
Setting out on the 16th of December 2006, Sam walked from the eastern most point of Brazil, through South America, Central America and North America, across Siberia on the Trans-Siberian Railway and on foot again from Moscow to the western most point of Spain, on a promotional walk for unity.
The journey encompassed twenty-one countries & ten languages, thrusting Sam onto the front page of numerous overseas news services as he continued onwards despite major obstacles. Having to find food and water every day and relying on the hospitality of complete strangers, he was mugged at knife point, threatened at gun point, bashed on the side of the road, came face to face with dangerous animals and experienced temperatures from -33°C to 47°C, yet through it all what stood tall was love in action under the most incredible circumstances. That, and how your planning can make or break you.
Adventurer, author, documentary producer, & missionary, Sam Clear, provides visually stimulating, action-packed and highly engaging keynotes that engage each individual in the art of communication & inspire all to persist through adversity.
Overcoming Adversity
One of Sam's past football coaches encouraged him after a shoulder reconstruction once that, "Courage is not the absence of fear; it's the mastery of it."
Perhaps the most common question asked of Sam is, "Did you ever just want to pack up and go home?" His answer surprises, and challenges. How can one person endure so much and yet still persist, not just to finish, but to achieve so much more than anyone thought possible?
Attacked - While walking Sam was held at gun point three times, at knife point by four men, and beaten up.
Hospitalised - Sam endured Salmonella poisoning, Typhoid fever, multiple food poisonings, a dislodged hip, stress fractures, a heart arrhythmia and two toe operations as he continued on.
Unfavourable Conditions - From -33°C to 47°C, from driving snow storms to thundering electrical storms, from puma stand-offs to scorpion stings, the road ahead was never 'smooth'.
successful planning
How do you 'plan' to walk 15,600km around the world by yourself through countries you've never stepped foot in? Not to mention that some of them are listed as the most dangerous countries on the planet.
The more important question is how are the lessons learnt from that extensive exercise translated into our workplace and everyday lives?
What aspects of planning work, and what simply distracts us from what you should be doing?
Support Crew - A team of people assisted Sam in pulling the journey together, but he was the only person to undertake the journey. It was just him and one 50L backpack... plus a lot of advice from those he met along the way.
Itinerary - GoogleMaps didn't exist during the year-long planning phase before the walk4one, yet Sam commenced the journey with a complete itinerary for every single day, including the name of the town he was heading for, the distance and the average temperature for that time of year.
BUILDING CLIENT RApport
While pumas, gun-weilding assailants and tornados were easy to identify as a likely threat to the journey, the far more subtle threat that was art of communicating the mission with those he met and achieving the goals set out for the journey.
When we communicate our ideas, instructions or objections are they both heard and understood?
What characteristics in our personality affect our ability to be understood? And why do some people respond with a smile while others resist?
The Greatest Weapon - Sam is often asked why he didn't carry a weapon with him on such a dangerous journey. The answer is simple; "The greatest weapon we posses is our ability to communicate."
Who I Am - The simple way in which Sam introduced himself often determined whether or not he was accepted with open arms or rejected with force. The key wasn't learning nine languages from scratch. The key was learning how to communicate in those languages a way that affirmed the other as valued.
"Sam Clear's presentation was thought-provoking and motivating.
It captured the attention of all who heard it and inspired us to
think about making a difference to the world."
Robern Hinchliffe, St John's Anglican College, Queensland
Book Sam for a keynote or interactive workshop today.
You will be captivated.


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Customer Experience Leadership
Few organisations have products that are so unique, or a product brand so strong, that true customer loyalty is assured. By developing and delivering powerful customer experiences which really engage customers, influence their behaviours and re-define reputations, business leaders can create platforms for growth and transform business performance and profitability. This session shares some proven approaches, tools and techniques that have had a transformational impact on 100's of businesses.
During this session, Gordon shares his experiences and observations providing business leaders with the opportunity to:
- Reflect why Customer Experience is recognised as THE battleground of today and what's behind the shift from Customer Service
- Unpack the numbers: understand the potentially transformational ROI of Customer Experience Leadership, refocusing leadership decision making and redefining what we measure.
- Close the 3 Gaps which prevent consistent excellence, employee ownership and buy in, market differentiation, competitive advantage and profit improvement:
- The Insight gap - drive improvement and transform relationships through understanding customer expectations and perceptions
- The Experience gap - adapt a simple proven approach, the Customer Experience Cycle, enabling continuous innovation and collective ownership, breaking down silos
- The Leadership Gap – understand the 6 E's of Customer Experience Leadership which underpin the transformation
- From ideas to implementation – a simple step by step roadmap for taking Customer Experience Leadership to the next level, influencing employee and customer behaviour and engagement.
"Everybody claims to focus on 'customer service' ... and most just tinker round the edges. Gordon's approach brings process and system to what is a critical metric for your reputation, your brand. His approach is professional, based on huge experience and well worth serious study"
Chris Hughes, Vistage Chair- May, 2015
"Gordon's command of the topic was exemplary. All present went away with a list of items that they are going to immediately implement in their various businesses. The scores that were given were the highest that I have seen after more than three years of using Vistage speakers. I can therefore highly recommend him to others"
Stuart Smith, Vistage Chair- December, 2013


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KOOL FM Having Fun with Russ Dean Family RV
This weekend at TRAC, your chance to get a great deal on an RV!
We're spending some time this weekend at TRAC with Russ Dean Family RV. Come on out and check out the great deals on the leading names of RV's, with everything from pop-up tent trailers to big 5th wheel RV's!.
Event goes through Sunday at TRAC in Pasco.
Check out some of these pics. Hard to believe they're RV's and not apartments!


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Sound Design Workshop: Diced Beats
Introduced in Live 7 back in 2008, the Slice-To-MIDI feature has become a mainstay for Ableton-based producers, thanks to its one-click approach to dicing beats in a manner similar to Propellerhead ReCycle (and before that, MixMan). In Live, you can opt to slice your samples according to note values, warp markers, or the transients of individual hits (Figure 1). Better still, since the slices are assigned to individual drum pads—a boon to Ableton Push users—you can process each slice individually with effects and plug-ins.
Though the feature has been around for nearly a decade, I find that many users have never ventured beyond the standard array of factory slicing presets, many of which are based on Live Suite's Sampler instrument. These are varied and capable, but may not be the perfect fit for the treatment you're after.
Fortunately, there's a way to create your own highly customized presets that go beyond the factory options. The process is tucked away in the documentation and often overlooked, so let's take a closer look at it using Simpler, which comes with the standard version of Live.
Step 1: To begin, locate the Slicing folder in the User Library (Figure 2). It's easy to miss, because it's tucked into the Defaults folder. This is where you'll place your original slicing presets as you complete them.
Step 2: To create your own slicing preset, start with an empty Drum Rack and place the Simpler instrument in the C1 pad, leaving all other pads empty. For drums, it's often best to turn Snap and Loop off for the Simpler. Now, any macros you assign to this Simpler will be inherited by all of the slices in your original preset.
Step 3: Each of the Drum Rack's eight macros can be assigned to a different Simpler parameter. You can also use the macros on any effects chain after the Simpler. This custom configuration will be inherited by all slices. That said, if you place a process intensive effect like high-quality reverb on every Simpler, your CPU may groan under the weight of 16 or 32 instances applied to each of your slices. A more economical approach would be to add a Reverb to your Drum Rack's aux returns (Figure 3) and add a global send as the macro.
Step 4: For a more straightforward approach, try mapping classic synth parameters to the macros. Figure 4 shows the filter cutoff, resonance, filter envelope, filter velocity, filter attack/decay, and amp attack/decay mapped to the eight macros. Try using this as your basis, then save the results to your Drum Rack user library.
Step 5: To turn this into a preset for Live's Slice-To-MIDI function, just drag the customized Drum Rack to your Defaults/Slicing folder (Figure 5) outlined in Step 1. Now, any time you use the Slice-To-MIDI function, your preset will appear on the list of slicing options (Figure 6).


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Some pictures of the babies from the last couple of weeks!
Emily, Paulette, and Courtney the Silkies - 3 weeks old.
Angitou the golden Polish with Maran and Carmen Maranda the cuckoo Marans - 2 weeks old.
Angitou and Maran closely examine a pecked-over plant sprig. They're a little over three weeks old in this picture.
Here's Emily at a little over four weeks old. She's at that awkward stage where she's got a combination of her baby down and her first Silkie feathers.


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About our board
Our board meets on the third Thursday of March, June, September and November from 6:00 - 8:00 PM in the Conference Room at the Families as Allies offices in Jackson (see address below). All of our meetings are open to the public and include a Public Comment Section. We find the Public Comment section to be one of the most valuable parts of our meetings and welcome feedback from as many people as possible. We request that Public Comments be limited to three minutes so that everyone who wishes to participate has the opportunity to do so.
Sylvia Leggette, President email@example.com
Marika Cackett, Treasurer email@example.com
Cheryl Grogan, Secretary firstname.lastname@example.com
Roberta Burrell email@example.com
Paula VanEvery email@example.com


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Eco-artists UNITE! I was at an East End Arts presentation today, and spoke about my eco-art workshops and programs I run. I was so inspired and awestruck by the incredible range of incredibly enriching, fun and engaging presentations and projects. I am so grateful to have been a part of this dynamic and creative energy. Networking was great – artists all sharing their passion, projects, ideas and supporting each other. Community building at its finest!
For more info check out: http://eastendarts.ca/2014/02/19/create-a-buzz/


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Does SC ruling in Global Vantedge have precedence value?
Recently, Supreme Court dismissed the special leave petition filed by the Revenue against Delhi HC ruling in Global Vantedge case [TS-1-SC-2014-TP]. Earlier Delhi HC confirmed the ITAT ruling which had in turned confirmed the findings of CIT(A). Ruling in favour of the assessee, the CIT(A) deleted TP addition in assessee's case. The CIT(A) held that arm's length price of a transaction cannot exceed the final price charged to third party for the services rendered by the entire Group. The CIT(A) also held that though the least complex party is to be selected as tested party, a foreign entity could not be chosen since it would be difficult to compare entities in different jurisdictions owing to difference in the geographical locations. It would also be difficult to obtain all relevant facts that could lead to a proper FAR analysis. While confirming the CIT(A) conclusion, ITAT upheld the order of the CIT(A) on the ground that the neither assessee nor Revenue had been able to provide any basis or material to rebut the findings and conclusions of the CIT(A) [TS-12-ITAT-2009(DEL)].
On appeal by Revenue, Delhi HC held that ITAT didn't act illegally or irregularly in confirming CIT(A)'s order absent any cogent reasons [[TS-55-HC-2013(DEL)-TP]. The Revenue had contended that it was incumbent upon the Tribunal to record its own findings rather than merely confirming the findings of the CIT(A). However, HC observed that Revenue had not controverted CIT(A)'s findings or pointed out any new evidence and it was not necessary for ITAT to repeat findings similar to that of CIT(A).
This is the first transfer pricing case on merits which had been disposed of by the Supreme Court. But, it is one word order ("dismissed") and there is no discussion in the Supreme Court order. Justice Dattu, while dismissing the case, is believed to have told the Revenue counsels that they had not been able to bring material on record to controvert CIT (A)'s findings and that seems to be the main ground for dismissal. So, the question arises as to the precedence value of this SC ruling. Does the ratio of HC or ITAT or CIT(A) in this case stand confirmed by the Apex Court?
In this context, well known tax expert Mr. Gautam Doshi opines that "this is not a 'dismissal' post consideration of merits and does not constitute a precedent." He feels that it would be more correct to say that Supreme Court 'refused to admit the SLP' by the Department and the refusal to admit does not mean that the principle on the basis of which the ITAT or the High Court decided the matter, is approved by the SC.
We welcome views from our readers on the precedence value of SC ruling...
- TP Snippets's blog
- Log in or register to post comments


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Everything I wrote yesterday about 13P was a hideous lie. It came to me just now in a flash. Their success has nothing to do with hard work, a clear mission statement, or fundraising genius. Rather, it's because they are thirteen of them—and each one must have his or her own specialization. It's like Ocean's Eleven, or, better yet, Buckaroo Banzai.
Which one is Sarah Rule?
Now that they've imploded, the gang must be done for good, right?
They're either going to get back together in a couple of years to put on one more big show, or they'll get word that Earth is in danger from an intergalactic evil that can be stopped only by creative fundraising. Rob Handel will yell, "13P—Assemble!" and the evil will be vanquished...for now.


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What TomTom's New Traffic Index Says About Canadian Traffic Congestion
Think traffic congestion is getting worse? According to TomTom, you're right. You spent more time in traffic this year, than you did last year by about 2 hours.
TomTom recently released its 5th annual Traffic Index, a report that uses data based on actual GPS measurements from over 200 cities worldwide to help gauge traffic congestion levels. And, while there are certainly cities experiencing far worse traffic congestion levels than found in Canadian cities-Istanbul, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro top the list-traffic congestion in Canada isn't getting any better, and in many cities is getting worse.
- Do gas prices affect how often you drive? A recent KANETIX.ca survey asked Canadians if cheaper gas would have an impact on their driving habits. See what was said.
What Does Congestion Level Mean?
Congestion level is best explained by example. Vancouver's congestion level is 35 per cent, which means that Vancouver drivers have 35 per cent longer travel times, than what could normally be expected, because of traffic.
Is The Traditional Workweek To Blame For Traffic Congestion?
This year's Index suggests that traffic congestion is getting worse. The data shows that traffic has worsened in five out of seven of the Canadian cities measured. Overall the average congestion rate in Canada is 27 per cent, a 2 per cent increase over last year; however, when looking at the evening rush hour specifically, the congestion rate in Canada is estimated to be 57 per cent.
TomTom suggests that these increasingly high levels of congestion are partly due to the traditional workweek schedule, which causes a surplus of drivers all trying to get to and from work all at once. It goes on to point out that overall congestion could decrease if workplaces adopted more flexible work schedules.
What Does This Bump In Traffic Congestion Mean In Dollars?
The average Canadian commuter is said to have lost 79 hours due to traffic delays in 2014, and that number climbs to 84 hours in cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. This rise in traffic costs Canadians more than just time on the clock. The average annual cost of gridlock in Toronto alone is over $11 billion, according to a CandianBusiness.com article.
Commuting and Your Car Insurance
Yes, traffic congestion is a growing problem around the world. However on the bright side, you don't have to worry about traffic delays driving up the cost of your car insurance. Your car insurance rate factors in the distance you drive for your commute-not the time it takes you to drive the distance.
And, if traffic congestion has you rethinking your commute and you happen to be lucky enough to be able to eliminate it altogether, you could potentially save up to 10 per cent off your insurance premiums. Public transit is sounding better and better.


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Congratulations to Mia in year 9 for winning Gold at the recent British National World Tae Kwon Do Championships. Mia did incredibly well, winning all three of her fights at the Championships in Manchester. She won in B Class (which is the second-hardest class) and will soon be moving up to A Class, which consists … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: October 2017
Former student gains first Pro cricket contract
Congratulations to Ollie Robinson, who recently completed his A Levels here at Chis and Sid this past summer. His cricketing career seems to be making excellent progress as he has just signed his first professional contract with Kent Country Cricket Club. Click here to read more on the Kent Cricket website. We look forward to … Continue reading
Candlelit Carol Service- Tuesday 12th December
Borneo Expedition
Students had the most amazing time on their expedition to Borneo. Here is their fantastic poem summarising the trip as well as an amazing video of their highlights. We spotted Orang Utans, Sun Bears, Scarab beetles and much more, We were welcomed in to a local community who we did work for. We took on … Continue reading


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NFL comment: now that the St. Louis Rams got embarassed yet again in Buffalo today, I don't want to hear what Mike Martz will say next… I'm sure it'll probably lead off on PTI tomorrow… well, maybe be a headline story, after the Detroit and South Carolina/Clemson incidents. I'm so glad I have a :15 break at 5:30 to catch the Headlines and Five Good Minutes portions of PTI. (And it's your fault, yes yours, Mr. Klauss, for me getting insanely addicted to this show :-D)
Anyhoo, I checked my user statistics here on Livejournal, and not only have I been posting more not than often for a little over two years now, but this is post #99 of my journal. Some people do have significantly higher post totals, which is a good thing. Guess that means I don't have that much to say in a journal sometimes, just when I have severe thoughts or minor emotional trauma. But, you know, looking back over the last two years of happenings in this journal, I'm glad I have had this to record some of the thoughts, issue and utter crap I've had to deal with since November of 2002. For those of you who don't remember, read back around March and April of 2003, one of the most trying times of my life, and you'll see what I turned out to be a better person (at least in my opinion) considering what happened in all aspects of my life at that time.
So, I'll think of something witty for my next historic post, #100. Until then, keep smiling 🙂


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Feb '12 - Apr '13
Studio desk crits are times when some of the most exciting, mind-blowing conversations take place. Our professor sits with each of us individually to discuss our project, probes our thesis with difficult questions, and helps us push forward to make more potent design arguments (this happens every MWF, when there is no pinup or presentation).
The only thing I regret is that I never recorded any of these incredible conversations. My classmates share the same sentiment.
Our professor drew these notes during a recent desk crit. I believe this was a prescription of what to do next. But without an audio recording, it's hard to remember what actually happened, what this means, and whether this should be read in plan, section, or axo.
I know, right!? I always felt like that when I was in school too. But what I started doing was taking notes like I was in a lecture during desk crits. It means the conversation is a little stilted with pauses, during which I would write and my professor would sip their coffee or tea. But at least later you'll remember more. I would go back to those notes, which I usually took in list format or on the actual sketch the professor drew, and read through them deciding what I would take and what I would leave for my project.
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
This is a journal of my adventures at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (GSAPP) as I pursue my M.Arch degree. It includes images of my projects, classmates' work, some thoughts, and grad-student daily life.


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A Stylish Stay: Luxico, The Home Hotel
Water softly lapping at the lower terrace stairs of our beachside abode, we no longer had to wonder how the other half lived. For this weekend, we are the other half. Delighting in the sprawl of our sandstone castle against the sparkly waters of Palm Beach, we're mentally a million miles away from anywhere, yet feeling right at home.
Welcome to the next evolution in luxury travel, pioneered by Australian start-up Luxico, who are bringing the benefits of the share economy to the top end of the accomodation market with their luxurious collection of 'home hotels'.
Think of Luxico as a high end boutique offering, whose accommodations are the antithesis to uniform 40m2 uninspired boxes… rather their 'rooms' are located throughout Luxico's network of luxury private homes in Australia's most exclusive addresses. For this weekend, our 'room' is roughly the size of our entire apartment, complete with 30m2 balcony with a lounge purpose-made for meditating on the uninterrupted water views. None of the delights of a hotel stay are lost as all Luxico reservations are complete with the full suite of hotel extras: personal concierge service, welcome hamper and of course, staple hotel slippers.
With said slippers afoot, and the sun quickly slipping toward the horizon there was not much more to be done for the balance of our weekend but recline… concierge had taken care of chilled champagne on arrival and booked in our in-room massage and facial which was set up in the home to the standard of a high end spa (should you be so lucky to come by the godlike hands of Aleisha Marie – she is otherwordly).
Rohan, our personal concierge provided an ample list of local haunts to ensure all wining and dining needs were met, his service highly professional and discrete. Should any whim need to be fulfilled Rohan is a quick call or message away to organise anything from dinner or transport through to yoga, fishing expeditions or just general directions. Unintentionally we put his service through its paces as our hot water system had a momentary lapse; within minutes Rohan returned, armed with knowledge, an industrial strength toolkit and a smile… hey presto – hot water and relaxation restored within moments.
Though Luxico's offering is at the upper end of the market, when booked with a group the price per room is exactly what you'd expect to pay for a quality hotel. As we farewelled our Palm Beach haven at the end of a blissful weekend, I quickly nominated myself into a leadership role in organising all future family and friend gatherings… I won't need to look any further than this.


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A Small-Space Harvest
A Small-Space Harvest
Even where outdoor space is severely limited—just a small deck or patio, a bright front stoop, or a patch of concrete along the drive—you can grow your own fruits and veggies. Just choose wisely and plant them in pots. Growing in containers makes some crops, such as strawberries and spinach, less vulnerable to snails and other ground-cruising predators. Others, including peppers, seem to relish confinement and produce more abundantly. Blueberries like more-acidic soil than other edibles, so they are easier to accommodate in pots. And container crops have fewer problems with weeds because they're raised off the ground and grown in weed-free potting mix.
Shown: Container-grown lemons, mustard greens, and lettuce rub shoulders with pots of flowering plants.


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Faces of the Grandman: Mary Kathryn Levy
Mobile Baykeeper is hosting the 13th Annual Publix Grandman Triathlon on Saturday, June 3 at 7 a.m. at the Fairhope Pier. The event is a sprint triathlon consisting of a 1/3-mile swim, 18.6 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run along beautiful Mobile Bay. Click here to register today!
In this edition of "Faces of the Grandman", we catch up with Mary Kathryn Levy (formerly known as Mary Kathryn or "MK" Cunningham), previous Development Director at Mobile Baykeeper who served as Grandman Race Coordinator for two years. From her North Carolina home, Mary Kathryn tells us what it takes to plan and prepare for the Grandman, why it's such an important event for Mobile Baykeeper, and also offers a few pieces of advice for both volunteers and first-time racers.
As former Race Coordinator, what does it take to put an event on of this caliber?
The biggest challenge with planning the Grandman is to make sure you're doing everything well in advance because you want the race to be the best possible experience for the racers. They spend a lot of time and energy preparing for it and you want to be able to deliver something to them so they will say "That was so great, I can't wait to come back and race again next year." To do that, you just have to make sure you're prepared and ready to go on race day. This is why we really value our volunteers.
What's so great about the Grandman?
The Grandman is such a wonderful way to get people from all over the Southeast and bring them down to Mobile Bay and see this special place we're so lucky to call home. It's such a huge community event and makes a significant economic impact on the city of Fairhope. The race course is so beautiful too – there's nothing quite like it.
What about the volunteers? Why are they so important to this race?
There would be NO race without our volunteers and the Baykeeper staff. They keep the race going and our staff works really hard to make sure everything is in place on race morning. They are an amazing group who arrive before the crack of dawn on race day to make sure our race is safe, fun, and that the racers are having the best experience they can possibly have. It's hard work, it's an early morning, the weather might be hot, but it's so rewarding at the end as a volunteer to see the racers cross the finish line and achieve this type of great accomplishment. And then you get to enjoy such a fun post-race party.
What advice would you give to first-time volunteers or first-time racers?
For everyone who is volunteering – THANK YOU! I can't even begin to explain how helpful volunteers are for this race. The volunteers are just invaluable to this race. They make it kick and they make it work. My advice to volunteers and racers would be get to the race site early. Figure out where you need to go and ask any questions. If you have a question as a racer, ask a volunteer. If you have a question as a volunteer, find a staff member. Everyone is going to be willing and able to help you get where you need to be. That's the biggest piece of being a volunteer is just being able to go wherever you are needed because those are the people who really make this race possible.
The most important thing to know though, is to just have fun. The Grandman is meant to be a fun experience for everyone involved. It's meant to be fun for the volunteers to see something as incredible as a triathlon. It's meant to be fun for racers who train like crazy to get through it so they can be rewarded for their hard work when they cross the finish line. It's important for both racers and volunteers to know that the ultimate goal of all of this is to have fun. Enjoy spending time outside on the Bay in this beautiful place we're all lucky to call home.
You were the Development Director at Baykeeper for two years. How important is the Grandman to Baykeeper's mission?
The Grandman is so incredibly important to Baykeeper for many reasons. First, and foremost, it's a fundraiser. Proceeds from this event help bring money to the organization so we can continue to work for clean water, clean air, and healthy communities. It's also important for us to raise awareness of our work and encourage people to get outside and enjoy everything we love about Mobile Bay. It's a great opportunity for us to promote our work and show people why we do what we do.
2015 was the largest Grandman in the history of the race and you were a big part of it. Any secrets to success you'd like to share with us?
I'm an overly organized person and I like to do things well in advance and then follow up with people several times. I'm that annoying person who is constantly reminding people what they committed to. The race itself is so easy to promote because it's such a fun event and people love the setting and the race course. It's just an easy sell. I don't think there's one secret though, to be honest. The Grandman is a successful race because it is run very well by people who genuinely care about it. That's the main ingredient.


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Celebrating Young Adult & New Adult novels with an Awesome Multi-Author giveaway extravaganza!
Enter the giveaway here: http://bit.ly/127ZIu1
Check out the list of prizes!
- Scars of the Bifrost Ebook from A.J.M. Mousseau
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- Any of my published Ebooks: In My Dreams, Hidden Wings, Descent, or Broken Wings From Cameo Renae
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- Returned Ebook From Keeley Smith
- First Soul EBook From Keeley Smith
- The White Aura Series: The White Aura and The Vessel EBooks From Felicia Tatum
- Ebook Cover or Paperback Cover Labor-Free From Dragon Tattoo Cover Designs
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I'd like to send out a special thank you to A.J.M Mousseau for organizing this giveaway. Her novel, Scars of the Bifrost is excellent and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA and or sci-fi. It can be found here: Goodreads
Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will enter to win some great prizes. Happy reading!


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