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: Eye surgery in the morning, Figaro after dinner: there's nothing like a little variety, so they say, to add spice to ones life. The surgery went well; bye-bye cataracts. All else pales before The Marriage of Figaro. Those kids at UCLA really got it right.
Peter Kazaras brought the school's opera program into its own with an astonishing Falstaff a couple of years ago; Figaro was even better. The musical ensemble was a joy to watch (Kazaras' doing) and to hear (Neal Stulberg's razor-sharp baton). The look of the stage was mostly make-do, but good of its kind; the most dangerous moments in the action – the deployment of the characters in the final scene, so that the right person gets slapped at the right moment – came off capitally. The two arias usually omitted, for Marcellina and Basilio in the last act, were allotted their proper place this time. It may be out of place for an elderly critic to go gaga over student singers a fourth his age, but there was so much delight in the work of Lauren Michelle, the wonderfully wise and composed Susanna, and Leslie Cook, the airborne Cherubino, that I would risk betraying Dr. Yuri's eyeball surgery if I let them pass unnoticed. Two performances remain, this Friday and Sunday, crammed into UCLA's Schoenberg Hall. There are two casts, and Neal Stulberg assures me that the second ensemble is every bit as fine as the group I saw. Since he is, himself, responsible for the magic of this truly splendid event, I tend to believe him. Halos are in order, all around.
AND ONE MORE HALO, please, for Catherine Uniack, who burst into a crowded roomful on Sunday afternoon with the news that Gloria Cheng's disc had, moments before, pulled down the Grammy that we all knew she greatly deserved – a disc on TelArc full of music by our great friends Esa-Pekka, Steve Stucky and Witold Lutoslawski that Gloria had played last September at her Piano Spheres concert. Cathy is the Executive Director of Piano Spheres, wonderfully devoted and hard-working; the concerts, founded by Leonard Stein, are the background of this Los Angeles piano movement – are we ready to call it "school?" — that gives us this marvelous sense of exploration, that encourages Esa-Pekka to compose for Gloria, Mark Robson to plunge headlong into staggering Messiaen confrontations, Vicki Ray and Susan Svrcek to push back against the barriers of what constitute normal music for their instruments. I mean…I'll drink in the Andras Schiff Beethoven concerts alongside the next guy, and there's a great new Murray Perahia disc out on Sony, but this week the halos go to Cathy Uniack…and to Gloria.
…and to Vicki, whose Piano Spheres concert last Tuesday was one of those grand potpourris that she puts together better than anyone. It began with Stravinsky dry and crackly, the Two-Piano Concerto from 1935, when there wasn't a gram of meat on those bones, but the crackles were now-and-then amusing. Julie Steinberg, San Francisco's own Vicki Ray, was the second pianist at stage left. Slight, agreeable works by Rand Steiger and Fred Rzewski formed some packing material; John Adams's Eros Piano, played without its orchestral backing, seemed somewhat trivialized by the loss. At the end came Julia Wolfe's 1993 my lips from speaking, long and jammed with pretensions, somewhat trivialized by the presence.
JACARANDA CONTINUES its wonderfully inscrutable ways, providing its chosen celebrant with the most sumptuously embroidered birthday box in which to celebrate in absentia. There was no Messiaen on Saturday's Messiaen celebration, and none at next month's; the ecstasy is in the zeroing in, and in the wisdom of Patrick's devotional program notes – page after page this time, all worthy of publication, and with one special delight: the way the deviations in the spelling of "Franck" versus "Frank" swung back and forth like a censer at St-Sulpice.
I can learn to live with a modicum of Fauré (provided it's the Requiem), and so much of Saturday's program tended to enhance awareness au fond of church-pew construction. Then, from the most unexpected source, came the evening's great Surprise: a Piano Quintet by Louis Vierne, composed in 1918. Here is a piece whose very pedigree inspires fear and loathing: a French organist, thus bearing the stigma of César Franck; blind from birth plus a few other afflictions, father to a family of offspring mostly killed in WWI; struggling to compose this one chamber work with his brother helping to fill in the note-heads on the manuscript paper. And then, voilà!
I am not ready to proclaim this Quintet of Vierne any kind of long-lost masterpiece. Surely the element of surprise has entered into my reaction to the work. I found it a considerably attractive work, the more so in its dark, rich, haunting slow movement and its lively, shapely finale than its somewhat over-eager first part. If I had a recording, which I don't, I would gladly give it some study. All I know for sure so far is that musicians I have come to trust and admire – Jacaranda's Denali Quartet plus the pianist Steven Vanhauwaert – have given the work a serious and devoted performance, and that music I had expected to curdle in my eardrums on Saturday night failed to live down to expectations.


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23/02/17 Due to the extreme weather of Storm Doris today, Stopford's power supply is currently very intermittent causing problems with the phones and computers. We apologise if you are unable to contact us straight away and will respond to any emails as soon as possible.
We have also had trees down on vehicles so take care if you are out in the storm today!

subset: commoncrawl


text: An occupational therapist who specialises in working with people with neurological conditions. Occupational therapists help people regain their independence and adapt to any disability. They can recommend special tools to help perform everyday tasks more easily and can also recommend adaptations to the house, such as hand rails, bath seats and stair lifts.


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I am amazed that, even today, there are still California employers who do not require employees to clock out for meal periods or schedule their employees' meal periods or rest periods, to ensure that the same are taken in a timely manner. In addition to this, there are still California employers that do not let their employees leave the employers premises during meal periods. If you are guilty of these missteps and operate your business in California, such employment practices invite costly, employment litigation.
What's the risk, you ask?
Class action, wage and hour litigation is the answer – with catastrophic litigation expense that is not typically covered by most EPLI policies (Employment Practices Liability Insurance).
Both your past and present employees can sue your Company for class-wide violation of meal period, rest period laws and leave your firm exposed to significant money damages. The period of exposure can also be significant – a window of four years and perhaps longer if the practice has not ceased. These are the lawsuits where employers are facing class action claims for millions of dollars.
Why would you ignore the mandates of California's Wage Orders and Labor Code to expose your company to the type of lawsuit that can put you out of business? The answer appears to be a continued lack of understanding of what's required.
California's employers have to provide hourly paid, non-exempt employees an off-duty, uninterrupted, unpaid, thirty-minute meal period, each workday, within five hours of the start of each shift. If an employee works more than ten hours in a day, the employer must provide a second, meal period as described. If you violate this rule, you might have to pay for that meal period as hours worked. In addition, you will owe that employee one hour of "premium pay" at the employee's regular rate of pay for the violation. If you have a habit of violating this rule for all of your employees, then you may face class-wide exposure for violating this rule.
California's employers have to provide hourly paid, non-exempt employees an uninterrupted, paid, ten-minute, off-duty rest period for every four hours worked, or major fraction thereof. If you violate this rule, you again owe the employee for the time as hours worked and, again, you owe that employee one hour of premium pay at the employee's regular rate of pay for the violation. As with meal periods, there is risk of class-action litigation where employers ignore these rules.
If you decide, for example, to stack your employees' rest period with their meal period, which eliminates a rest period in favor of a longer meal period, you have likely violated California's rest period laws for those employees. If you do this for all of your employees, you invite class action litigation to remedy this class-wide violation.
If you do not let your employees leave your premises during their meal period, you have probably just violated California's meal period laws, for an entire class of employees (think class action lawsuit) because you did not relinquish control of your employees. Don't take my word for it, rather, that is part of the California Supreme Court's rationale, in Brinker Restaurant v. Superior Court 53 Cal 4th 1004 (2012).
If your employees are not clocking out for their meal periods, there is a legal presumption that no meal period was even provided. And, Courts will also allow employee testimony as to whether those meal periods were provided, whether the same were provided in a timely manner, etc., etc., to determine if such violations occurred. Why would you create such risks when the same could have been avoided by use of employee time clocks?
If you are engaged in such practices, or other questionable employment practices related to meal periods and rest periods, now is the time to obtain guidance before litigation commences. In California, an employer needs to install a system and procedure to monitor, identify, correct and pay meal and rest period violations if/or when they occur, to avoid the costly consequences of class action litigation. This is typically done by coordinating the activities of production management with payroll and human resources, using professional guidance as needed to install and bring the system online. Seek such guidance now to avoid the costly consequences that follow inaction.


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Scrap Car Mow Cop, ST8, Scrap your car for free
Scrap Car Mow Cop are a reliable team of scrap car collectors working out of Mow Cop (ST8), Cheshire. A lot of car owners are unaware that if they have a scrap car it will still need to be taxed even if the vehicle is not in use. Do not pay a company to collect your scrap car. We offer a free scrap car collection service in Mow Cop!
Recent News in Mow Cop (ST8), Cheshire
As well as offering a completely free collection, we are also currently able to offer cash for scrap cars in Mow Cop depending upon the weight of the vehicle!
If you'd like us to make you an offer just ask when calling or add 'CASH QUOTE PLEASE' in the 'Additional Info' box when submitting our online form.
- Completely free collection!
- Environment agency approved recycling facilities
- DVLA notification
- Convenient collection times
- Nationwide coverage
Call 0800 043 5100 for your free collection or fill out our online booking form to the right!
Choose Scrap Car Mow Cop
We like to give our customers a service that they can rely on after trading in the Cheshire area for over a decade we are still going strong. We are proud to offer a fast response we can do this as we know the area so well. We will collect your car at the agreed time slot, you can rest assured. We will collect vehicles, seven days a week, 365 days of the year, and are able to work around your commitments.
We make sure that you vehicle is correctly disposed of. There are some companies out there that will not even scrap your car the will sell it and not notify the DVLA. This leaves you vulnerable legally, and can easily result in you being fined. When we collect a scrap car in Mow Cop we always ensure that the DVLA have been notified that the car is going to be scrapped, so that should keep your mind at rest. Every time we scrap a car we recycle as much as possible, keeping the impact on our environment as low as possible.
By ensuring that your car is collected by a reputable company like us, you can rest assured that the streets of Cheshire are kept clean and tidy of abandoned vehicles. When your street is filled with old abandoned cars it can seriously damage the image of an area, scrap your car and clean up your street. Broken down car, not worth fixing, call us on 0800 043 5100!
Reasons to scrap your car
There will be many reasons for you to scrap your car. In our experience the main reason is that the vehicle has failed its MOT and the required work to repair it is too expensive. If you have an old car that is not being used you will either need to declare it of the road or scrap it, but keeping the car you will still need to keep it taxed.
The car scrappage scheme
The car scrappage scheme may seem like a splendid idea at first. However, you will be limited to what you can buy. You can't just go out and buy any car you want. This can cause people a lot of misery as you might have your heart set on a particular car only to be told that, "the vehicle is not in the scrappage scheme".
How to scrap your car
It is so simple to scrap a car in Mow Cop. Just by picking up the phone you will learn a lot about our service. Rather than giving us a phone call straight away please feel free to have a look at our helpful guide to see what the process is.
Just call us on 0800 043 5100 or fill out the following form:


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Tranquil, friendly setting within 4 acres garden/woodland on lower Cambrian slopes. We offer B&B in the house - 2 en suite King size bed rooms with guest lounge. 2 s/c Cottages sleeping 2 and 4.
Pant-Teg B&B and Cottages
B&B (sleeps up to 4, not suitable for children under 12)
Red room: first floor triple aspect room with en suite bath, shower, toilet and basin
Gold room: ground floor with choice of zip linked King or twin bed, en suite walk in shower, toilet and basin
Large guest lounge is on the first floor, both rooms have TV, beverage trays, dressing tables, seating, radio alarm clocks, selection of tourist info.
Breakfast room overlooks the garden and bird feeders and a good hearty breakfast is served giving a good start to the day.
Both Cottages have their own patios and furniture, heating, TV, Hifi, Washing machine, fridge, freezer and everything you could wish for a comfortable stay.
Pant-Teg Bach (sleeps 2)
Choice of zip linked King or twin bed, walk in shower, toilet basin. Open plan kitchen, diner and lounge
Pant-Teg Cottage (sleeps 4)
One double and One Twin bedded room both having en suite shower/basin /toilet. Open plan kitchen/ lounge/diner
All prices can be found on our website.
From around £52.00
- Parking
- Children Welcome
- Dogs Welcome
- Tea/Coffee
- Secure Bike Lockup
- Bike Washing
- WiFi
- Garden
- Breakfast
- Patio
Enquire Online
ContactHelp us help you, please mention that you saw this ad on Beds for Cyclists!
Pant-Teg, Llanfair Clydogau, Lampeter, SA48 8LL
1x En-Suite Twin
2x En-Suite Double
Local Cycle Hire
Directions to Here
|National Cycle Route
|Regional Cycle Route
|Local Cycle Network
|Cycle Parking
|Toucan Crossings
|Other Crossings


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Five-year reissuance cycle? More like five cards in a year, due to fraud concerns
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Nearly half of the cardholders in the U.S. have had at least one card reissued in the past year, with those experiencing fraud multiple times saying they have had nearly five cards reissued, according to recent Auriemma Consulting Group research.
Increasingly, consumers are not bothered by the reissuing of cards, with many appreciating the fact their banks are proactive in sending new cards to avoid fraud problems or pre-empt a card's expiration.
A third of the cardholders experiencing the process of obtaining a new card had a debit card reissued, while 20% said their credit card had to be reissued. Auriemma conducted interviews with 800 debit cardholders during the month of September in compiling its first data on card reissuing in its fourth-quarter Payments Report.
Overall, for both debit and credit cards, one third of cardholders said they were reissued a card because it had expired, while 27% cited fraudulent charges as the reason for a new card. Another 26% said their magnetic stripe cards were reissued as EMV chip cards.
The research did not calculate the cost to card issuers for reissuance related to fraud or EMV chip conversion, but the banking industry has established a range from $3 to $25 per card, depending on how the card is manufactured and what is included in the mailing.
More importantly to card issuers, the Auriemma study found, is what the reissuing experience does to the cardholder's use habits — especially for the consumer's most frequently used card.
And the news is fairly good on that front.
"The most compelling stat, I think, is that reissuance may have caused about one in five cardholders to switch their most frequently used card," said Jaclyn Holmes, senior manager of payments insights for Auriemma Consulting Group.
But another one-quarter of cardholders say they made their reissued card their most frequently used card, Holmes added. "From an issuer standpoint," she said, "this can be very promising."
Those types of consumer actions fall in line with what the report revealed about their general feelings on card reissuance.
More than eight in 10 cardholders (84%) said they appreciate when their issuers proactively send them new cards, and 80% expect their issuers to automatically send them new cards if there is a data breach at a merchant where they had shopped.
Twenty-seven percent rate card reissuance as somewhat or extremely inconvenient, whereas 41% said it was "just a little" inconvenient and 32% said it was not inconvenient at all.
Issuers have some technology at work that can make things smoother, Holmes said.
"Most cardholders don't find reissuance inconveniencing, but issuers have started to implement mobile features to eliminate usage gaps during periods of reissuance," Holmes said.
The Capital One Wallet is an example in which customers can access their new card's number, expiration date, and CVV within the app for online purchases, Holmes added. "They can continue using their old card until the new one arrives in the mail."
These types of features can help banks reduce switching of one's top-of-wallet card during the reissuance window, while also building customer engagement with their app, Holmes said, adding that the majority of cardholders, at more than 70%, find those types of features valuable.
In other findings, 44% of respondents indicated their most recently reissued card was linked to recurring payments. That number rose to 50% among college graduates and 51% among city residents.
Related to recurring payments, 87% said they consider automatic updates of recurring payment accounts with the new card to be a valuable service from an issuer. Among cardholders whose issuer actually provided those services, the perception of it being a valuable service rose to 93%.
Of those with reissued cards, 75% said they spend about the same on their new cards as they did on the previous card. Just 12% who had a card reissued because of fraudulent charges said they have been spending less on the card since it was reissued.
Among the small number of people (75) who experienced fraud multiple times in the past year, 89% of those cases had fraudulent charges all on one card.
Despite the ongoing news of data breaches and some cards being reissued simply as a safety measure, 78% of respondents said they have not experienced fraud on any of their payment cards in the past year.


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Television over the Internet -- known to many as IPTV -- is the technology landline operators hope will let them compete with cable providers and others in offering bundles of services to customers.
So far in North America it's been a struggle, but Nortel Networks has what it believes is an answer: An application platform using open interfaces that allows the development of services for many brands of middleware.
The goal is to enable providers to charge subscribers for these services, enhancing the bundles they're buying and increasing revenues.
Services imagined by Nortel include targeted advertising; the ability to track children carrying a cell phone to make sure they stay in the neighborhood; and the ability to watch, pause and continue watching a movie starting from home, shifting to a handset and ending on a laptop across several hours in the day.
"We think what we're doing here is revolutionary," said Grant Hall, Nortel's marketing leader for video solutions about Nortel's VSP9500, an application sold with an IBM server.
Pricing depends on the size of the system the provider wants to serve.
"It's one of the first Web services platforms to allow you to very quickly develop applications, get them out and see what develops traction," Hall said.
The fact that it has an open architecture and can be used for middleware from Microsoft down to custom-developed applications should entice application developers, he said.
While the Internet is a raging success, viewing TV over the Web -- particularly over large screen TVs in living rooms -- is less of a hit in Canada and the US, although admittedly it is a new technology.
According to IDC Canada, as of January there were only 160,000 IPTV subscribers in the country. That is forecast to grow to 690,000 by the end of 2011. By comparison cable subscribers number in the millions.
Providers want to lure subscribers with triple-play or quad-play bundles of TV, Internet, wireless voice and data packages. IPTV has the advantage of being able to be interactive as well as link to other home devices.
But with applications working across a number of services Nortel argues their value will increase, and make it more likely customers will stay with the provider.
So far Nortel has sold six of its IPTV systems, built around its hardware and applications from a number of partners.
Still, Hall acknowledges that providers still wonder "what is my return on investment -- how can I fend off cable and satellite and over-the-top VoIP providers, how can I reduce churn?"
Nortel's answer is the Video Services Platform (VSP) 9500, being demonstrated this week at IPTV World Forum in England.
The platform is a layer that fits in between the provider's network and its IPTV infrastructure. At the moment, it only has adaptors for Nortel's switches as well as middleware from Nortel partners Minerva Networks and NDS Ltd. Hall says Nortel will develop links to other manufacturer's switches and middleware on request.
"We'll be assembling an ecosystem of application partners that can develop applications on the platform," he promised.
Nortel will also be selling providers several modules with pre-built applications they can turn on, around general themes such as personalization (such as the ability to shift an IPTV stream from home to a mobile device), content (including the ability to target advertising) and innovation (such as interactive games).
Hall said one of the advantages of the open nature of the platform is that developers can create "mashups" of different services, such as linking a cell phone with location-based service carried by a youngster to an Internet map service to show where they are.
To entice buyers, Nortel is including the Communications Module 9520, a plug-in allowing providers to offer services such as the ability to link caller ID to an IPTV system, in with the VSP 9500. Customers would have the ability to see onscreen who is calling and decide whether to answer the call or shift it to voice mail or the phone of another member of the family, play voicemail and other telephony features.
Providers would pay Nortel for turning these services on based on the number of subscribers.
"These services can be extremely high margin," said Hall, "because we're leveraging the investment you [the provider] have already made in your broadband, IP infrastructure and in your IPTV infrastructure."
"The time-to-payback for the platform and the application can be under a year," he said.
Nortel's IPTV system, being an end-to-end solution, is aimed at Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers, said Hall, but because the VSP 9500 can reach across any middleware "gives us entry to the Tier 1 market."


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What is a Guardian
A guardian is an individual who has been given the legal responsibility to care for a child or adult who does not have the capacity for self care. The appointed individual is often responsible for both the care of the ward (the child or incapable adult) and that person's affairs.
Also referred to as a "conservator" when referring to an adult in need of care.
BREAKING DOWN Guardian
The guardian is usually either named or appointed in a will or in a court of law by a judge. A parent will often name a guardian to his or her children in the event of the parent's death or inability to provide for the children. Guardians are governed by state and local laws, and is the ward's fiduciary.
Because guardians exercise such extensive control over their wards, they are subject to close scrutiny by the courts. Often must prepare financial statements documenting that they have managed the ward's finances in the best interest of the ward. Guardianship issues are typically handled by courts with limited jurisdictions, such as probate courts and family courts.


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Excellent post Danielle. The UN expert has forced them to name their source by drawing public attention to this The Rodarte sisters saying of their inspiration that "it came out of nowhere" is what could be called offensive (not the work) they should have named the artist -Benny Tjangala from Papunya Tula -paying for the license to use is not enough (blame bad PR advice?)
Is taking the risk of offending worth it in fashion? I too think so.. Vivienne Westwood and Hussein Chalayan are great examples.
As for mining local subcultures, you don't have to look very far in Toronto. When I see various ethnic groups dressed for the Canadian winter.. I love the mishmash.. clothing from everywhere in the world poking out from under coats paired with winter boots.. the results can run the gamut from art to painful. . a collection showing this has great potential to offend 🙂
March 21, 2012
inappropriation – why fashion is a cultural scavenger
When I read about this UN expert stating that Rodarte's Fall 2012 "Australian" inspired collection was offensive, I was… confused. The designers had licensed the images from the artist, so it wasn't like they had done anything illegal or hateful. I couldn't imagine the Rodarte sisters in their studio plotting to nefariously decontextualize Aboriginal art. What is cultural appropriation, anyway? And why am I so culturally insensitive that I can't even tell when appropriation is offensive? Is there something wrong with me?
I don't like to jump to conclusions so these questions led to a long line of online inquiry… and at the end of a long weekend reading all sides of a relatively new and controversial subject, I still feel ambivalent about it. A lot of what is written about cultural appropriation on the internet is very difficult for a new initiate to the subject to get into – much of what is available is accusatory and angry and doesn't offer any clear directives. It seems like this kind of rhetoric builds a barrier to understanding what exactly the issue is, because it took me quite a while to find a demystifying description, and I don't think most people would take that kind of time.
To get my problem out of the way first – I think the reason why I am culturally insensitive is twofold. One – I enjoy offensive stuff. To me, fashion needs friction to be interesting. The edges where fashion offends are where new fashions form. As such, I tend to view stuff that others perceive as offensive with detached curiousity. Two – I'm white, atheist, and have been raised with many privileges within the world's most dominant culture. I have no experience of belonging to a distinct race, religion or culture, so my ability to truly empathize is limited. I have to be deliberate to be conscientious.
So, why are the Rodarte sisters culturally insensitive? Many critics suggested that the designers should have known better in the aftermath of the 2010 M.A.C. collaboration controversy, where the names of the cosmetic colours referenced a town in Mexico most famous for systematic violence against women. In that case, they released an official apology and retraction, and M.A.C. pulled the line and donated projected revenues to appropriate charities. Like many followers of fashion, it was the first time I learned the story of Juarez.
In all of the coverage of the controversy, I didn't find anyone who asked why the inspiration referenced was so dark. The collection itself was, in my opinion, one of Rodarte's career highlights – I even created a paper doll inspired by it. To me, Rodarte's design identity belongs in the same category as artists like Lana Del Rey – let's call it American Decay. Sadness and dissolution are part of the beauty. The sisters take a lot of their inspiration and identity (even their name) from the southwestern United States where they grew up and are still located. The Mexican border is close to home, and their natural proclivity as narrative designers towards creating sad beauty explains why they were drawn to Juarez because of, not in spite of, its tragic story. The distressed Quinceañera dresses created an indelible impression and were well received.
All of these are reasons are why Rodarte Fall 2010 was a successful collection in a creative sense – it told a story that obviously resonated with the artists – and in turn, their audience. The risk of cultural insensitivity in this case was well worth the artistic result. The makeup collaboration however, is by its very nature a commercial endeavour. This is why it diminished its source material, instead of honouring it.
So why did the Fall 2012 "Australian" collection also diminish its subject? To the critical eye, the pretty dresses with their printed motifs seem innocuous, even boring. As far as collections go, it was less successful in creative terms. Why would the sisters choose to source such distant reference points that resulted in a predictable, dull collection? Why did they choose to use the idea of Australia, rather than visiting the country itself?
Fashion designers tend to resort to appropriation once they've exhausted their own autobiographical resources. Yves Saint Laurent launched into a long series of appropriations in the seventies as his creative faculties were in decline. After abandoning the Dior tradition of using abstract "lines" labeled with letters of the alphabet, YSL found success culture-mining local European street style, the world of art, and his own childhood in Morocco. After that, then what? In his case, it was Orientalism.
Fashion is ever-hungry for novelty. While many designers start out using their own experiences as launching points, the ability to turn that into something new and unusual on a relentless six-month schedule is creatively exhausting for even the best and brightest. While it may seem like cultural appropriation is the lazier way out – and it is in the sense that infusing novelty from a diffuse dominant culture is near-impossible – you just wouldn't accuse fashion designers of being lazy if you knew one or tried to be one. It is one of the most demanding creative professions both in terms of time and money. Why did the Rodarte sisters not take a trip to Australia? They probably would have loved to – what is most likely is they didn't have the time – and if industry gossip is true, they don't have the budget either. Fashionable appropriation just isn't as great a money-maker as it was when Pierre Berge launched Opium in 1977.
Cultural appropriation is a risk that fashion designers take – sometimes garnering success and acclaim, and sometimes provoking offense and controversy. In either scenario, they're staying in the game, where the rules state that boring the media means getting ignored by the media. So if designers can't co-opt other people's culture, what else can they do?
Tom Ford is the ultimate example of a designer who has remained true to his autobiographical antecedents. When he's criticized, it's for always doing the same thing regardless of what label he works at or how many seasons he's presented riffs on the same self-centered obsessions. Because he's Tom Ford, he doesn't apologize. Ford is not in fashion to push it forward, it it is more important for him to trust his creative instincts. Most independent designers don't have the sheer power to be able to get away with this kind of obstinate consistency and stay relevant.
The other option for narrative-driven first-world fashion designers is mining the many subcultures within the dominant culture rather than citing indiginous and endangered cultures. There are a vast array of examples of wild style tribes available in the margins of the mainstream – but that doesn't mean that controversy is avoided by doing so, and the aesthetic variety is limited to post-modernism.
Perhaps these are the reasons why in the last decade, in terms of design, the major trend is towards creativity via technique rather than subject.
I like a cultural free market, because I want fashion to be as fascinating as possible. I think that it's good for designers to risk offense. Offending people and provoking criticism has positive consequences for cultural awareness, whether indirectly by publicizing examples of oppression or directly by questioning the modern validity of traditional cultural practices. The risk of so much dismal rehashing of stereotypes is worth it for allowing the shocking possibilities of irreverence and audacity.
11 thoughts on "inappropriation – why fashion is a cultural scavenger"
Excellent post Danielle. The UN expert has forced them to name their source by drawing public attention to this The Rodarte sisters saying of their inspiration that "it came out of nowhere" is what could be called offensive (not the work) they should have named the artist -Benny Tjangala from Papunya Tula -paying for the license to use is not enough (blame bad PR advice?)
Rodarte could have used Aboriginal models in its collection, that would have been a simple way for them to put some kind of equality into their appropriation.
Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Christian Louboutin are all very protective of their brands to the point of suing if they feel their high-end luxe is being misrepresented. But when I get protective about a piece of cloth that has for centuries represented a part of the world I'm from and my family's history I'm being unreasonable, too sensitive, not understanding how fashion works.
What fashion does time and time again is take things with an existing meaning and turn them into something new, emptied out away from those who hold them dearly. This could be interesting if the industry was interested in equality but it isn't, the opposite is true, it goes out of its way to exclude. This isn't merely offensive, it is hurtful and usually a way of putting 'Other' cultures in their place.
Fashion isn't genuinely interested in having an open border policy it just thinks it should be able to roam wherever it wants in its creativity.
Agreed that fashion by its nature (like art) derives inspiration from everywhere. But some of these cases are just so egregiously ripping off artists–Urban Outfitters foremost among them, and not just Navajo artists but indie artists–that it goes beyond "inspiration" and into full-on stealing from culturally rich and visibly poor people. I don't know how much of it is a problem of offense versus a problem of actual income–the Rodarte sisters licensed this image so I'm not terrifically concerned about it, but indigenous artists are ripped off left and right. It's not just politically correct; it's how native artisans survive, and then when groups with more privilege appropriate their work, the value of the real deal is diminished.
I was horrified by the Juarez nail polish. Embuing products with sadness is one thing; culturally approved mass killings, torture, mutilation, and rape is quite another. I know the Rodarte team didn't intend to harm but in a way that's sort of the point: They could look at Ciudad Juarez and see its dark beauty; Mexican women don't have that privilege. So I guess given that enormous misstep that certainly puts this collection in a different light, though I admit that's not terribly fair of me!
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What the fashion world is NOT getting is that when they take elements from another culture as their design influence they do it with a complete lack of RESPECT for the people who identify themselves, their culture, their art, etc. by the clothing they wear. And what's worse, is that the traditional clothing that is usually used for inspiration because of it's originality, colour, and style is their most special and prized articles of clothing that are reserved for special occasions, ceremonies and sacred events. I am a native designer from Canada and I would NEVER incorporate let's say for example, sacred chinese symbols into a textile pattern or embroidered design or whatever as I respect those things and the people who use them. They have significant meaning and are important.
The Rodarte sisters could have easily taken the high road and actually promoted the fact that they licensed an aboriginal artist for their collection…that would have made NEWS…instead, they probably didn't want people to know who did the art in case someone else had the same idea…who knows? I'm sure the artist could have used the publicity and recognition. It is true that indigenous and 3rd world peoples are mined for their cultural art among other things and they are the ones who are never given credit nor see any revenue or benefit from that exploitation.
I see this happen so often, that I've come to realize that there is an alarming amount of ignorance in the world about indigenous people, and culture. I think it's time that recognition is given to the cultures, people, artists that are used as inspiration for fashion designers along with perhaps a small bit of research and education…most indigenous designs have deep meanings that may just provide some insight to the jaded and superficial crowd. Thanks for the discussion.
Hi Danielle, while I completely understand your question and personal dilemma, rest assured that it is more than ok to buy & wear 'authentic' native footwear such as produced by Manitobah Mukluks. You would be honoring our culture as well as supporting a native owned business which is also struggling with the same issue we've been discussing here…well, mostly it's a 'knock off' issue, but once again it's larger companies that see something unique & original that has become a 'trend' & not understanding or respecting the history & cultural significance of traditional footwear. That said, it's been to the benefit of MM that models & celebs like Kate Hudson have put them on the map but they bought them (I'm assuming) because they WERE authentic. It's when others see a market opportunity & copy a design or item, mass produces it which then waters down the 'specialness' of the item & confuses the public. It then forces the smaller & original designer/producer to launch a major marketing effort to educate the market & brand themselves as the 'original'. By that time, they may have already lost a huge share of revenue. Personally, I design with a global market in mind & it is my hope that they feel comfortable wearing just a little piece of my native culture which perhaps may bring them to understand us or at least appreciate the beauty of our art & culture a little more.
I think the Rodarte collection would have been less offensive if the sisters had defended their work and explained their intentions. They could have shown that they were aware of how the collection is problematic – that they present it within a context of privilege and exploitation, as well as owning up to their own privilege – but that they felt so strongly about their work that it was worth the risk. However, their response, unless there was more to it than what was published in the linked post, suggests either a staggering level of ignorance or entitlement, or both. (Self entitlement being one the most pernicious hallmarks of privilege. I say pernicious because I find it is the sense of entitlement that often creates barriers in these types of discussions.) Should the sisters have to explain themselves? Well, if it is to a representative for the aboriginal group they have engaged with, it's a sign of white privilege and entitlement to not to have to.
While I agree that the sisters didn't have to live in the outback and that they are probably too busy running their business for that, I would like to point out that with the internet and access to a decent public library system, it would not have taken much effort at all to have educated themselves and I would hope that in learning about the history of Australian aboriginals, they would have at least been aware of how their collection could be deemed offensive. It appears they were also in touch with an aboriginal artist agency – a possible connection to pursue. Perhaps they were aware of the issues – but simply didn't care to engage with them?
I wouldn't be surprized if it was simply ignorance. Ignorance about race relations, social privilege and colonial history is a privilege. For other people, colonial history weighs on them to varying degrees in their everyday lives – they may face discrimination on personal, professional and social levels as well as systemic and bureaucratic levels that remain largely invisible to the privileged. It's no accident that the average middle class Canadian, including non-whites and university grads, know precious little about aboriginal groups in Canada (could a random Canadian on the street tell me about the Indian Act?) and may still subscribe to many falsities, stereotypes, etc. And they suffer no direct consequences for this ignorance while aboriginal communities struggle with that legacy – and the resulting legislation – on a daily basis.
I think there is something particularly problematic about choosing art from Australian aboriginals. Cultural appropriation is not simply about white vs "ethnic". It is also about power dynamics, class and economic domination, cultural imperialism, privilege, entitlement, hegemony, etc. (If this seems very exhausting and fraught with contentiousness, imagine all the Canadians who are always weighed down by these things, who must fight against it daily.) So while it may have been very annoying for my brown girlfriends to have seen my white gfs donning bindis in the 90s and then quickly discarding them, after brown girls had been mocked and othered for doing the same thing, and while there is a history of British colonialism in India, that's not the same as the Rodarte collection. The treatment of Australian aboriginals, for those who are not aware of it, well it's arguably worse than the situation in Canada, so you can extrapolate from that. What I'm saying is that it is more problematic to take from many aboriginal groups because there is often a long history of exploitation and extraction (of resources, knowledge, even their own children) so taking from that Australian aboriginal culture is not comparable to taking from other cultures. There's a much greater potential for offense with the former.
I would love for all artists to be truly free to traffic in whatever images they choose to pursue their own visions without fear of reprisal. But it's like imaging a world where race or class or history doesn't exist and where that doesn't result in the subjugation of one group by another. Fashion is deeply embedded into a greater context, and I think being embedded, is ultimately, what makes fashion interesting, meaningful and human.
Anyways, I'm glad I found your blog and the alagarconniere link is great. I appreciate your broaching the topic!
p.s. I never judge white people for wearing "ethnic" clothes (unless it's something obviously offensive e.g. N. American war bonnet); it's presumptuous. I'd rather that people, instead of worrying about offending others, continue learning about, questioning, discussing and engaging with these issues.
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Dublin West TD and Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has said this is an important week for Luttrellstown Community College which has lodged its planning application for a major extension.
"This is a big step for the school which has formally applied to build a new sports hall, and community centre. I can confirm that the funds for this project are secure thanks to the ongoing commitment of this Fine Gael-led government.
"It's a fantastic project to build eight general classrooms, eight specialist classrooms, two lecture rooms, and a new sports hall with changing rooms and a fitness suite. It means the school will be able to enrol a total of 1,000 pupils when completed.
"And in more good news for the community, the school is also planning to build a new community facility including a meeting room and youth facilities. The community will also have access to the school's sports hall after hours.
"There has been an enormous investment in new schools, and extensions to existing schools, in the Dublin 15 and Dublin 7 areas in the last few years. Massive housing development occurred during the boom years but the last Government of Fianna Fail, the Greens & Independents left Dublin West behind when it came to new school buildings.
"That's why the current Government invested in new and extended schools at: Mary Mother of Hope (Littlepace), Scoil Bhride Boys and Girls (Blanchardstown), Mulhuddart National School, Castleknock Community College, Scoil Choilm, Hansfield Educate Together, Powerstown Educate Together, Gaelscoil an Chuailinn.
"St Mochta's Clonsilla & the senior and junior schools at St Patrick's Corduff will be totally rebuilt in state-of-the-art modern buildings with construction starting next year. Planning permission has already been secured.
"Construction will also start on permanent buildings for Pelletstown Educate Together National School in Ashtown. This school currently operates from temporary premises and was only established earlier this year.
"Future provision is also being made for an additional new secondary school for the Castleknock/Carpenterstown area for 1,000 students, and a second primary school for the Pelletstown/Ashtown area. While the demand for these new schools is only emerging, it's important to plan ahead and allow sites to be identified and plans developed.
"We are only able to make this increased investment in our future because the economy is now recovering. We need a strong economy to produce the resources we need to invest in education, health and infrastructure. In the next five years, we can do this and more but only if we keep the economy strong and protect it from those who would undermine it."


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After recently purchasing our first family vehicle, the second for our household, I quickly became aware of the inconvenience of only having one forward-facing car seat, and the hassle of having to move it back and forth between cars. When I had the opportunity to review Graco's new Argos 70 3-in-1 car seat, I jumped at the chance! Graco has long been one of my favorite and go-to brands for baby gear!
When our new car seat arrived and I began to take it out of the box, aside from its striking color, the first thing I noticed was the weight. This was no flimsy plastic car seat – this was sturdy! I immediately felt secure that this car seat would keep my son safe, no matter what we faced on the road. As I, and my excited son, explored the Argos further, we discovered there was even more to this car seat than just its stellar safety. Here are some of the features of this handsome and secure 3-in-1 car seat.
- Higher weight limits for children 20-70 lbs forward-facing in a harness, 30-100 lbs in the belt-positioning booster and 40-120 lbs in the no back belt-positioning booster
- Simply Safe Adjust™ Harness System is safe & simple with a one-hand, no re-thread harness that automatically adjusts
- Side-impact tested* (*In addition to meeting or exceeding all applicable US safety standards, the Argos 70 car seat has been side impact tested for occupant retention solely with the built-in 5 point harness system)
- Engineered & crash tested to meet or exceed US standard FMVSS 213
- Steel-reinforced frame provides strength and durability
- 3-position recline helps keep your growing child comfy
- One-hand, adjustable headrest easily adapts to your growing toddler's needs
- EPS, energy absorbing foam for effective impact energy management
- Integrated child's cup holder keeps drinks close by
- Contoured armrests with cup holder and storage pockets
- Open-loop belt guides help you correctly position your vehicle's seat belt
- LATCH-equipped
I really can't say enough great things about this car seat! Having 4 children of my own, it gets pretty expensive to buy a new car seat every time they grow into a new stage. I'm looking forward to being able to use the Argos through the remainder of my little one's entire car seat career. Here's a closer look at the three modes of the Argos:
At every car seat stage, the Graco Argos offers comfort and safety.
In addition to the outstanding safety benefits that come with the Argos, there are also some added features that are sure to please parents and children. In many other car seats, the cup holders are placed on the side of the car seat. This sometimes works, but if you have more than one child, there's simply not room to put another child, or another car seat with that little plastic cup holder sticking out the side (which renders it unusable). The Argos has a fantastic cup holder that is placed on top of the arm rest.
You know how those side cup holders never seem to actually hold a sippy cup size? And once your child takes the cup out he can't seem to get it back in? This cup holder not only cleans up easily, but it's also big enough to fit most standard sippy cup sizes. It is very easy for my 2 year old to take his cup in and out as we travel.
I also love that this car seat comes with two side storage pockets that make it easy to store your child's small toys, pacifiers, small books, etc. to use as you travel. My son loves this feature and we both use it all the time. Every week, I'm able to swap out small toys and books in his storage pocket that keep him entertained on short trips around town. He still sometimes uses a pacifier when he is tired, and with the side pockets, I'm able to keep an extra one in his seat which keeps me from having to search or reach for one while driving.
The harness system is easy to work with and the comfort of the material used in this seat is evident simply by looking at it. I love that as my son grows and we change to different stages, I won't be frustrated and sweating to change it from stage 1 to stage 2. And I love that in every stage, the features and safety that I love so much about this car seat will remain the same.
When we first explored the Graco Argos 3-in-1 in our living room and my youngest son sat in the car seat, my older son remarked "Wow Mom!" "He looks like he could fly in a rocket ship in that car seat." Now, after using the Graco Argos, I'm confident my son could safely travel to the moon in this car seat – and have fun doing it!


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There is this bird in my marina. It's some sort of cormorant, and it does the funniest thing in the world. It sits on its nest.
The nest is built in a floating wheel buoy. For those not familiar, a wheel buoy is an inflated tire on a wheel floating in the water and tethered to the lake bed by a chain. I am not sure of the purpose of this particular wheel buoy, but there are several around the marina.
So, this cormorant sits on her nest all day, every day. And every day her dutiful mate swims around, braving attacks from canadian geese and one very aggressive male swan, collecting food for her.
She's sitting on eggs – one can see them when she deigns to haul her chubby butt off that wheel buoy and actually do something. There's no problem with this, of course. Sitting on eggs is what birds do.
But these eggs haven't hatched yet, and they were laid in May!
That's right, little miss sunshine has been sitting on these eggs while her mate works his tail feathers off, in the full knowledge that these eggs will never hatch.
It is a shocking and appalling manipulation of the male bird's instincts and nature. I feel deeply for that poor male cormorant.


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Can it happen...again? Most likely. The government has defaulted before, and guess what...nothing horrible happened.
The US government defaulted in 1933, on refusing to honor gold bonds, and FDR confiscated all privately held gold.
It did it again in 1968, when refusing to honor silver bonds (remember those silver certificates?), and instead, they became worthless paper. Well not worthless, as they are collectibles.
In 1973, Richard Nixon defaulted on gold debts to other nations, with its gold obligations.
Did you realize that 2 trillion of this debt is owed by the Federal Government...to itself? Yep, the Fed has that owed. You know, the people that print the money, etc. The *unconstitutional* and *inflationary* and *devaluing the dollar* Fed.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value… zero." -VOLTAIRE (1694-1778)
Using the government's own calculator, for what $1 in 1913 (earliest year possible) compared to today's dollar - you will spend $22.80.
I wonder about 1980 price change from $20, as I could get 4 paper sacks of groceries at that price, compared to today's prices - $54.79
And I was buying basics. Soup, stripped chicken for soup, etc.
Compared to today's usual grocery trip for me, I spend around $125 to $150 (this includes cat food, dog food, cat litter, etc) I come up with $5.48 in 1913 dollars.
In 1969, Cornflakes: [1969] 12 oz, 29 cents. In 2011, 12 oz. costs $3.79.
I just found an interesting book on Google Books: Cost of Living and Prices of Food, GPO, 1904. It's free, and you can browse through it on your computer. I find it quite interesting. I seem to collect *more* reading :)
Enjoy your day, I will certainly be reading old statistics today. I've found that statistics and economics are INTERESTING! Who'da thunk it? Someone that used to sleep as much as possible during classes in high school (I was reminded last year at the class reunion by the guy I used to sit behind, to "hide me so I can sleep' in Russian History. I'm skeered to actually look at my HS transcript, it might be pretty darn poor!
2 years ago


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Lamborghini preparing hybrid drive train?
If the news about Ferrari bringing a hybrid concept to the Los Angeles Auto Show wasn't shocking enough for you, this one is equally as electrifying: Lamborghini is also considering incorporating a hybrid drive train into their super cars as a means of reducing their vehicles CO2 emissions.
The Italian luxury car builder made the first step when they engineered the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 to achieve a maximum output while reducing CO2 exhaust emissions by almost 20%. In the future, Lamborghini will focus on lightening up their vehicles, improving combustion efficiency, reducing the parasitic loss caused by friction, taking advantage of fuel saving automatic start/stop systems, gas/electric hybrid drive train modules and renewable biofuels.
Following a similar path as Ferrari, the other exotic manufacturer from Italy is working towards creating the future super car. A world in which elite car owners will brag about going 200 MPH while their cars get unheard of fuel efficiency and release zero emissions, as opposed to how fast their car looks standing still. A future filled with vehicles a lot like the Tesla Roadster.
Full details after the jump.
Press release
The plans for reducing emissions will thus involve two areas: modifications to the Lamborghini factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese, and development in vehicle design.
To redefine its industrial processes in accordance with its policy of environmental sustainability, Lamborghini has just begun a project to complete installation of a large photovoltaic system by the end of 2009.
The roof-top plant will produce 1,582 Megawatt hour (MWh) of "green" energy per year, which translates into a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions (-1,067,820 Kg/year) by 2010.
The photovoltaic systems will have a total installed power rating of 1,4 Megawatts and will extend over 17,000 m2 throughout the entire industrial area. The new system will be built by Sinergia Sistemi S.p.A.
At the same time, an equally important energy conservation project involving insulating the production facility's whole roof, improving lighting and heating and introducing destratification systems for heated air will be completed, thus resulting in a 10% energy usage reduction by 2010.
These projects represent the next step in a program that began last year with the opening of the new Lamborghini Logistics Center. The Center has already contributed to diminishing the impact caused by heavy truck traffic on the roads between Anzola and Sant'Agata Bolognese. It is calculated that this facility has achieved a reduction of emissions by over 75 kg per annum, and nitrogen oxide by over 750 kg (Sources: Standard Euro 3).
In April 2009 Lamborghini obtained the UNI EN ISO 14001 certificate, meeting the international environmental standards. It is also the first firm in the Italian automotive sector to be close to registering for the EMAS environment certificate, having successfully completed the program: EMAS regulations are set by the European Union to support organisations in their effort to evaluate and improve their own environmental efficiency.
These recent achievements support Lamborghini's commitment to protecting the environment in which it operates, and its desire to make all stakeholders aware of its actions in a transparent manner.
With regard to Lamborghini vehicles, the CO2 reduction plan aims for an additional 35% decrease in emissions by the year 2015.
The program reached its first milestone with the Gallardo LP 560-4. Introduced last year, the new car's technical advancements resulted in an 18% reduction in CO2 emissions.
At this point, Research & Development activities will continue in the following directions:
- decreasing vehicle mass
- improving combustion
- reducing friction
- Start-and-Stop systems
- hybrid drive train solutions
- biofuels
Lamborghini's commitment and its sense of social responsibility regarding the environment is evidenced by the numbers and by the sheer size of the investments that are planned. 35 million Euros will be appropriated over the next five years for this purpose.
Stephan Winkelmann, the President and CEO of Lamborghini, has said, "Despite the difficult situation in today's global economy, Lamborghini is committed to its policy of environmental management, since we are well aware of the great opportunities that derive from it. We have an objective to reduce CO2 emissions to the greatest possible degree. We have also set compulsory annual goals that are part of an integrated approach both considering the automobile as an element which is more considerate of the environment, in terms of emissions and the use of resources, to the accomplishment of a series of corresponding measures such as modifications to our factory. This is an important action for Lamborghini and a central opportunity for our long term corporate and product development."
European Parliamentarian Guido Sacconi, President of the European Commission on Climate Change, recently paid a visit to Lamborghini headquarters in Sant'Agata. At that time, he said that, "The commitment shown by Lamborghini with its efforts to reduce environmental impact and develop vehicles with less polluting technologies confirm the company's goal of following the right path toward complying with the directives of the European Union. To safeguard the DNA, history and technology of niche car manufacturers on a European level, a series of exceptions have been passed for manufactures of 'specialty' vehicles (with fewer than 10,000 new cars made per year) who run their own production facilities and design centres, even though they are part of a group of associated producers. This is the exact situation in which Lamborghini finds itself. We have been particularly satisfied with the actions it has taken thus far, because they illustrate this company's desire to embrace a new industrial vision which combines competitiveness and performance with social responsibility."
Partner companies:
Located in Casalecchio di Reno, Sinergia Sistemi S.p.A. is a leader on the Italian market of services that help companies save energy. The company specializes in energy certification of buildings and the construction of large systems that take advantage of renewable energy sources. Sinergia Sistemi also acts as an E.S.Co. (Energy Service Company) that finances the plant systems and energy requalification projects it offers to its customers, in a relationship of total Energy Management.
The finalized project was built from a design based on a preliminary study carried out by the CENER National Center for Renewable Forms of Energy of Spain. This study involved a broad evaluation of the feasibility and size of the project.


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A recent study suggests a burger and fries may aggravate asthma.
U.S. (WiredPRNews.com) – A recent study suggests one of the most popular fast food meals in the country may worsen asthma. As reported by LiveScience.com, researchers found that a burger and fries, and other high fat meals may lead to increased airway inflammation.
Lisa Wood, of the University of Newcastle and researcher on the study, is quoted in the report as stating of the findings, "If these results can be confirmed by further research, this suggests that strategies aimed at reducing dietary fat intake may be useful in managing asthma." Asthma reportedly affects approximately 34 million people in the country, in accordance with American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2007 data.
As noted in the report, the research will be discussed at the annual American Thoracic Society International Conference in New Orleans, May 14-19.
WiredPRNews.com – The latest in Health News
Photo Found: Wikipedia public domain


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ESL 051 English as a Second Language Level 1 • V1-10 Cr.
Prepares English-as-a-second language students to understand simple spoken phrases and respond to basic personal information questions. Students learn decoding skills and survival vocabulary to read and write personal statements. This is beginning literacy level ESL. Students must show progress in three quarters of instruction. Course is graded credit/no credit. Prerequisite: Placement by assessment.
After completing this class, students should be able to:
- • Read and understand words and sentences in school and workplace texts.
- • Read and understand numerical information, such as dates and time.
- • Identify the information required in forms and main ideas and details in short texts.
- • Use headings and pictures to locate and identify important information.
- • Know where to find the meaning of unfamiliar words.
- Writing
- • Write upper and lower case letters of the alphabet, spell simple words, and write sentences about everyday topics.
- • Edit your writing with help from the teacher.
- • Complete personal, school, and work forms.
- • Use technology (computers) to write and to communicate with others.
- Speaking/Listening
- • Listen and speak with different classmates in small and large groups.
- • Tell about people, places, things, ideas, and events.
- • Express feelings and ideas clearly.
- • Ask questions when you don't understand something.
- • Answer questions clearly.
- Language
- • Use correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
- • Use the "be" verb, the simple present tense, and the present continuous tense to complete sentences and to answer simple questions.
- • Use many strategies (plans) to learn the meaning of new words and sentences.
- Level 1 Course Standards for Technology
- • Log-in to Canvas.
- • Message your teacher in Canvas.
- • Check your grades in Canvas.
- • Complete assignments in Canvas.


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Call us at 503-538-1950 or request appointment online to request your AC repair. A Four Season's employee will confirm your appointment and share any relevant details related to the service call.
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Your technician will perform a thorough assessment of your AC unit. Once he's identified the problem, he'll share his findings with you and discuss possible solutions. Our repairs are based off a fixed-price quote which you sign off on beforehand, so you never get blindsided by a massive bill at the end.
The vast majority of our AC repairs are completed in a little over an hour. After the repair is complete we run a series of tests to confirm your system is working perfectly.
We sincerely want to hear about your experience–good or bad. Four Season's repairs are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. So if you feel something could've been done better, don't hesitate to let us know.
The cost of repairing an AC system in Portland depends on a number of factors, including:
Four Seasons makes one simple guarantee to our customers. We guarantee that if the service you received was not to your satisfaction for any reason, we will do whatever it takes to make it right, even if that means refunding you 100% of the costs.
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Having choices is a good thing. Feeling pressured to make a choice that isn't right for you is not. Whether your service call involves an in installation or a repair, we always give you options, but we never force you into one.
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If you are only going to see one waterfall, Courthouse Falls is it.
Courthouse Falls shining in the light of the early evening
Courthouse Falls Trail is accessible from Forest Service Road 140, a gravel road off N.C. Highway 215.
Take N.C. Highway 215 to the junction with FS 140 (I have always called this road Courthouse Falls Road, but I do not know if this is its official designation). Turn right onto this road. Travel 3 miles. Summey Cove Trail and Courthouse Falls Trail are accessible on the right. There is a small parking area on the right across the road from the trail access.
Blaze Markings: orange
Length: approximately .4 miles; exactly 2063'; note this is slightly longer than the .3 miles given in The Trails Illustrated Pisgah Ranger District map (1996); also note the other end of the trail is not accessible, so the trail requires twice the stated distance of .8 miles or 4126' as the there and back distance.
Difficulty: easy; the trail is relatively flat except for the very last portion that leads to the falls.
Just below the plunge pool
Courthouse Falls is named for Courthouse Creek which is so-named because it originates near the famed Devil's Courthouse rock accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Cherokee held that its waters were sacred as the rock was sacred. I think they were on to something. Courthouse Falls is my favourite set of falls, so far. I love the private location and the colours of the rocks, water, vegetation, and interplay between them. It is a cool place, even in the summer. It is a great place to swim, wade, and play in the water, in general. You definitely need to see this.
Courthouse Falls Trail overlaps the Summey Cove Trail for most of its length, breaking off only to access the Falls. The trail parallels Courthouse Creek its entire length. This is a popular destination, and many people camp in the general area along the creek and its tributaries.
Courthouse Falls Trail:
I began measuring from the edge of the gravel road.
From 434' to 660', a plank and hardware cloth bridge leads you over a spring and a mushy area resulting from the presence of several small springheads in the area. These, of course, flow into Courthouse Creek.
At 740', a spring crosses the path.
At 844', a small creek crosses the trail and flows into Courthouse Creek.
At 1124', an unofficial access to the top of Courthouse Falls is on the left.
At 1469', an unofficial and very steep access to the falls rips down the mountainside—not recommended.
At 1629', the trail plunges down to the left to access the falls. This trail is steep and features very shallow wooden steps at the end. These are often wet, so be careful.
At 2063', the trail ends at Courthouse Falls. Enjoy the scenery.
The plunge pool
Jun 01, 18 11:01 AM
A family oriented gem alongside the Pisgah Ranger Station.
Jun 01, 18 01:12 AM
The folks behind Blue Ridge Hiker
Jun 27, 17 02:20 PM
Bridal Veil Overlook Trail


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On March 14, 2016, Milwaukee police officers Devon Kraemer and Michael Leeman entered a bus after the driver stopped, honked her horn and said that Manuel Burnley Jr., 28, was arguing over his fare. The bus driver wanted him off the bus. Reportedly, Burnley was told to exit the bus, but he would not leave until his $3 bus fare was returned. Allegedly, he was pulled off the bus, and the two officers and Burnley Jr. fell to the ground. Devon Kraemer, who is a white woman, claimed she feared the 28-year-old was "reaching for a gun," according to USA Today. Kraemer shot him in the back, but he survived and claimed Officer Leeman called him the N-word after he was shot. Burnley Jr. was hospitalized for 12 days and lost part of a lung, however, the bullet remains in his body.
Kraemer had a two-week trial for aggravated battery with intent to cause great bodily harm, while armed with a dangerous weapon, and she faced up to 15 years in prison. The result was a hung jury. The jury consisted of six men and six women, including two African-Americans. Burnley Jr. insisted he was not resisting, while police experts were split on whether the officer's actions were appropriate. Burnley Jr.'s attorney Jonathan Safran said about the verdict, "He's very disappointed, upset and can't understand how a jury could reach that conclusion," according to USA Today.
There is a possibility the case will be retried but, as we all know, officers accused of wrongful shootings of Black people almost always results in hung juries or acquittals.
Mo'Nique Compares Charlamagne To A Slave Who Allowed His Wife To Be Raped By The Master
Concordia College Closing Its Doors, Collapsing Under A Challenge That Many HBCUs Face
11 Malcolm X Quotes That Are Eerily Relevant Today
11 Malcolm X Quotes That Are Eerily Relevant Today
1. Malcolm X SpeaksSource:Getty 1 of 12
2. Malcolm X On The MediaSource:false 2 of 12
3. Malcolm X On Political PariesSource:false 3 of 12
4. Malcolm X On EducationSource:false 4 of 12
5. Malcolm X On Being WokeSource:false 5 of 12
6. Malcolm X On ProgressSource:false 6 of 12
7. Malcolm X On PatriotismSource:false 7 of 12
8. Malcolm X On Black WomenSource:false 8 of 12
9. Malcolm X's Most Famous QuoteSource:false 9 of 12
10. Malcolm X On Being SuccessfulSource:false 10 of 12
11. Malcolm X On How He Wants To Be RememberedSource:false 11 of 12
Hung Jury: White Female Police Officer Gets Off Scot Free After Shooting Unarmed Black Man In The Back was originally published on newsone.com


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Marlin's Connecticut plant to close
March 28, 2010 by shilohtv
Filed under Trail Boss News
Marlin Firearms Co., a Connecticut gun manufacturer founded in 1870, has announced it will close its North Haven plant in mid-2011 and lay off 265 employees. Amid much speculation, Freedom Group, Inc., which owns the company, has indicated that the manufacturing of Marlin Firearms will be moved to another location at Trail Boss our Prayers are with the employees and families who are losing their jobs and we thank them for providing products that have brought many so much enjoyment. The Hartford Courant.


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On Wednesdays, we open our phones to you! Dr. Michael Rydelnik tackles the questions you have about the OId Testament, New Testament, your spiritual life, and Biblical/Jewish culture. It's all fair game! Call or text to 800-969-9467.
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Mornings with Kelli and Steve helps start your day with spiritual encouragement, fresh conversation on current topics, and Christ-centered music. Join Kelli Thompson and Steve Hocker for updates, weather, community events, interviews, and features, as well as opportunities to join the Christ-centered conversation.


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Those who feel the Obamas are indoctrinating our children will not be happy with Sesame Street's 40th anniversary guest: the First Lady. This comes shortly after the veteran kids' show made waves for trashing Fox News:
I wasn't allowed to watch Sesame Street - only Mister Rogers in fact - because my mom had read somewhere that the editing techniques shortened attention span. As a result, I always thought of it as a naughty treat to be snuck in secret at friends' houses. (This was later relaxed after it developed that 'Maria' lived in our neighborhood and I was starstruck.) I wonder if that's how conservative kids think about it now. Although the controversial episode ran in 2008, there's recently been a dust-up about a segment in which Oscar the Grouch makes a crack about "Pox News" ("Now there's a trashy news show!") that has come to the attention of the conservative blogosphere. (Although the scene is so confusing and chaotic that I'm amazed anyone noticed - was it always like that? Maybe it's my attention span.) Indeed, the outcry has been enough that PBS' ombudsman has weighed in, saying,
I don't know what was in the head of the producers, but my guess is that this was one of those parodies that was too good to resist. But it should have been resisted. Broadcasters can tell parents whatever they think of Fox or any other network, but you shouldn't do it through the kids.
Yup. It's especially unfortunate timing, because it politicizes Mrs. Obama's appearance, in which she'll promote her healthy-eating message. As the NY Times describes the upcoming episode,
Mrs. Obama's message on the anniversary episode isn't an exhortation to future soldiers, scientists and presidents to be all that they can be, but to tiny consumers to eat the freshest food they can find. "Veggies taste so good when they come fresh from the garden, don't they?" Mrs. Obama tells a rainbow coalition of children gathered around a soil tray, an echo of her White House kitchen garden. "If you eat all these healthy foods, you are going to grow up to be big and strong," Mrs. Obama says, flexing her fists. "Just like me."
Now, you could certainly argue that since any such joke goes over a kid's head, and it probably does. But the truth is, we live in a politicized world and, while Sesame Street has always been an aspirational nirvana - and, plenty would add, Free to be You and Me progressive - it can be that, philosophically, only by keeping their genuine care for kids' learning at the forefront. If it justifies critics' claims of politicization, well then, some kids are going to miss out on its valuable lessons in the process. And playing into O'Reilly's hands isn't a lesson any kid needs.
Grouch Trashes Fox News [YouTube]
PBS Ombud: Sesame Street Producers Should Have Resisted 'Pox News' Joke [Politico]
Michelle Obama Guest Stars on Sesame Street [Wall Street Journal]
Same Street, Different World: 'Sesame' Turns 40 [NY Times]
To Get To Sesame Street, Hang A Left, Says One Blogger [NY Times]


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« 5 Things Superintendents Want Their Chief Technology Officers to Know | Main | Screen Reading Worse for Comprehension, Leads to Overconfidence, New Meta-analysis Concludes »
Google Experimenting With New Cloud Storage, Artificial Intelligence Initiative for K-12
Portland, Ore.
One of the more intriguing new developments teased at the annual conference of the Consortium for School Networking, being held here this week:
Google is starting to provide cloud storage for K-12 districts, helping them warehouse the massive amounts of data they collect on their students, then offering artificial intelligence-as-a-service to help districts analyze the information and use it to generate visualizations, recommendations, and predictions.
The emerging effort involves Google's Cloud Platform and Data Studio tools. It's currently being piloted by Washington's Evergreen Public Schools system and a couple other U.S. school districts, according to a presentation made here Tuesday.
During the session, Evergreen chief innovation officer Derrick Brown described his district's partnership with the Mountain View, Calif.-based online-services giant.
"We have tons of data in our school districts," Brown said, ticking off the information generated by student information systems, instructional software programs, online surveys of children's social-emotional well-being, and special-needs students' individualized education plans.
"All that data needs to go in a container. And that doesn't exist. But this does that," Brown said of Google Cloud Platform.
Google has not yet answered questions from Education Week about how the arrangement works.
But the basic idea, Evergreen officials said, is to take all the district's information, put it in one place, then allow for automated analysis that can cut across datasets that have historically been housed in separate silos. Such capability has long been something of a holy grail for K-12 districts, which for years have pursued better data integration and interoperability by building their own information warehouses, working with vendors providing learning-management and student-information systems, and pushing for new technical standards to ease the flow of data between systems.
It's unclear exactly how Google proposes to overcome the longstanding challenges that have vexed other such efforts.
It's also unclear how the new effort will address potentially significant privacy concerns, including questions over how participating districts will comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. FERPA, as the nation's main student-data-privacy law is commonly known, requires that districts maintain "direct control" of students' educational records, and that parents be given the opportunity to review and amend those records.
Sign up to get Education Week's latest ed-tech news in your inbox.
"We haven't gotten to the [data] ownership piece yet," said Brown, who noted that Evergreen Public Schools' involvement with the effort began under a since-departed superintendent and has proceeding without a formal data-sharing agreement in place.
"It's something we have to address, as well as privacy," he said. "Those are things we're thinking about, but haven't figured out yet."
Evergreen recently starting hosting its data with Google, Brown said, as part of a free pilot experiment with the company. The district has not yet figured out what questions it hopes to answer with the data, and Google is not currently analyzing the data via its machine-learning algorithms or other artificially intelligent tools.
Big picture, cloud computing is nothing new in education. Eighty percent of districts now use cloud-based educational software, according to a 2017 survey of school technology leaders by CoSN and the Education Week Research Center.
Amazon Web Services is already a popular option for K-12 cloud storage, minus the analytics and recommendations that Google is now exploring. And Google has been hard at work touting its cloud platform to higher education institutions.
But if the new Google experiment in K-12 were to take off--and overcome the many questions it is already raising--it could be a big deal.
Evergreen assistant superintendent Chris McMurray touted the effort as a way for schools to know more about their students, then combine that information with the powerful AI tools that Google is already using in its consumer products to personalize the learning experience.
"What I'm excited about is the ability to gather information on learners at such a scale that when I start seeing certain indicators, the machine can automatically [make predictions]," he said.
"Google knows me. It's a great relationship, because Google can finish my sentences. We can harness that power to learn about our learners."
See also:
- Prepare to Meet Schools in the Cloud Because That's Where They're Going
- Elizabeth Warren Wants to Break Up Big Tech. What Would That Mean for Education?
Follow @BenjaminBHerold for the latest news on ed-tech policies, practices, and trends.


text: When it comes to making pillow cases, I'd say I'm the queen. I have a stash of almost every color pillow case in the rainbow so that I can change them out whenever I feel like it. My go-to method for making pillow cases had always been the pocket method that I shared a couple years back, but recently I wanted to try out adding a zipper instead to give the pillow a sleek look on both sides. As it turns out – it's almost just as easy! Continue reading "DIY Velvet Pillow Case with a Zipper"


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Mounted tv frame for less than $10
In my attempt to beautify the look of a television, not only did I conceal the cords in my previous post here, but I wanted to create a frame around the tv. This has been on my to do list for some time and I still have two televisions to tackle.
Start by measuring the length, width and depth of the biggest part of your tv. You'll want to find wood widths that combined will not stick out past the tv screen. Therefore, if my tv sticks out from the wall 3", I want to find wood that's 1/2" in depth and no more than 2.5" wide, which combined equals a 3" depth. Add about a 1/2" to your measurements, which leaves you with a 1/4" gap the whole perimeter of your tv, allowing for buttons to still be accessible if they're concealed on the side perimeter like mine.
Using a miter saw, create the base box with dimensions you took from your tv. Be sure your measuring from the inside of the wood, not the outside as the tv needs to fit on the inside. I used heavy duty nails to attach my pieces together.
Next, create the frame that you'll attach to the base. I chose to use the same wood that I used to create the base, but you could easily use a decorative molding instead. Remember to use a wood with a depth that will not stick out beyond the tv depth. Be sure your frame inside measurements are the same as the inside measurements of the base for a seamless look. If you're not a fan of the recessed base and want this to appear more like a box, create the frame first, then create a base with the frame outside measurements. If you'd like to see this version, let me know! Attach the base and frame together with nails. I used a nail gun. Build time was about 45 minutes.
Lastly, finish your tv frame with paint or stain and hang. I hung mine using 2 tiny "L" brackets attached to the top of the base and the wall. I determined the L bracket placement by the location of the studs in the wall.
I hope you have enjoyed this and until next time!
11/6/2016 08:40:20 am
Thank you, Kathy!
thanks for a marvelous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don't have time to look over it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the superb work.
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Further Information
R/V Heincke: Varna-Varna (3 weeks summer 2019), proposed
The Black Sea is a unique marine system due to its isolation from the world's oceans. It is influenced by a large drainage basin, resulting in low salinity and vertical stratification of the water column. Especially the latter is an ideal condition for the growth and proliferation of marine dinoflagellates, including many toxic species. The phytoplankton diversity of the Black Sea has been studied by morphological characteristics since the middle of the 20th century. Approximately 1600 species are listed in the Black Sea phytoplankton checklist, 49 of which are described as toxic in other marine areas. However, there is almost nothing known about the actual occurrence of toxic phytoplankton species and their associated toxins in the Black Sea. This information deficit is becoming an increasingly problematic issue for the young mussel aquaculture sector, because mussels as filter feeders can take up and accumulate marine biotoxins from the plankton and thus represent a health risk for shellfish consumers. The aim of this research project is to determine the presence of toxic algae and their toxins in the western Black Sea, as well as to investigate their distribution in dependence on bio-optical, biogeochchemical and oceanographic parameters.
R/V Sonne: Punta Arenas-Valparaíso, Chile (35 days, austral summer 2020), proposed
During the planned research cruise with RV Sonne II, the South Chilean fjord and canal system shall be investigated in response to two devastating harmful algal blooms (HABs). In the context of global climate change, an expansion of habitats towards higher latitudes is generally expected, but the opposite is true in Chile, as HABs are spreading northwards. Two hypotheses will be tested within the framework of the expedition: 1) HAB species are experiencing a northern distribution extension due to the presence of existing cyst beds (resting stages) with changing environmental conditions 2) HAB species are experiencing a northern distribution extension due to the introduction of new species either by northward migration with the Humboldt Current or from anthropogenic activities. In order to examine these hypotheses, a multidisciplinary research program is proposed.
R/V Heincke Bremerhaven-Bremerhaven (11.07.2018-12.08.2018)
Shellfish poisoning caused by azaspiracids (AZA) is a relatively recent phenomenon, which was first described in 1995, after 8 people became sick in the Netherlands after the consumption of Irish shellfish. These shellfish poisonings were caused by toxins produced by a number of nanoplanktonic species of the family Amphidomataceae. Although recent research results show that these species have a worldwide distribution, Ireland to this day remains the most affected country in the world by these shellfish poisonings. An evaluation of all currently available data leads to the hypothesis that Amphidomataceae, unlike many other toxic algae, are pelagic plankton of the open sea, which accumulate in specific cases by currents and winds at West coasts. With the present proposal, this hypothesis shall be tested by an integrated data set comprising oceanographic, bio-optical, meteorological, plankton and sediment data accompanied by taxonomic determinations, toxin measurements and Irish monitoring data.
GreenHAB II
R/V Maria S. Merian: St. John's, Canada-Nuuk, Greenland (25.06.2017-19.07.2017)
The project "GreenHAB II" expedition will investigate the interactions between hydrography, bio-optics, and planktonic composition (especially toxigenic algae and their toxins) in combination with metagenomic approaches in fjords of West Greenland as well as along a latitudinal transect along the West Greenland coast. These fjords differ in their ice cover, glacial melt water runoffs, and history. The results shall be used to estimate quantifiable effects on the ecosystem which are driven by an accelerated glacial melt water runoff. The occurrence of toxigenic algal species which can be favored by decreasing salinity and increasing temperature shall be investigated with chemo-analytical, metagenomic, and bio-optical methods. In addition, sediments shall be examined for resting stages (cysts) of toxigenic planktonic species in order to estimate future population dynamics, including range expansions as waters warm. Levels of algal toxins shall be determined in algal material and the water column, partly directly on-board.
In cooperation with the ICBM, Universität Kopenhagen, WHOI, Universidad Mayor und PUC Santiago de Chile.
The aim of the expedition to the Limfjord (June 2016) was to study the plankton community in the fjord system, which on the one hand represents a separated water body, but on the other hand it has a connection with both the North Sea in the west and the Baltic Sea in the east. Water, plankton and sediment samples were taken during the entire expedition to investigate not only the plankton composition in the water column, but also sediments (cysts) in the sediment. This expedition was a collaborative project with scientist from Copenhagen University in Denmark and participation with researchers from Argentina, Bulgaria and Finland.
Understanding of HAB dynamics by assessmentof of oceanographic and hydrographic conditions, bio-optical sensing. Determination of biodiversity of toxigenic phytoplankton and trophic transfer of toxic dinoflagellates to their protistan grazers. Site comparison among differnt fjord systems.
In cooperation with the ICBM.


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The first thing you want to do is get water boiling for your rice noodles. Fill a large saucepan three-quarters full with water and heat over high. When water starts to steam, add several large pinches of salt and cover.
Meanwhile, start to prep your other ingredients. Peel ginger with a vegetable peeler or spoon and slice as thinly as possible. Slice 1 jalapeño into thin rings and discard stem. Trim root ends from 1 bunch scallions. Starting at root end, cut white and light green parts into 1" pieces. Set aside segments and reserve dark green parts for serving. Use vegetable peeler to remove zest in strips from 1 lime, then cut lime into 4 wedges.
Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium saucepan over medium. Add ginger, light parts of scallions, lime zest, and half of jalapeño. Cook, stirring often, until ginger and scallions are golden, 7–10 minutes. Season with salt.
Add 4 oz. curry paste and stir until paste starts to stick to bottom and is slightly darkened in color, about 3 minutes.
Add two 13.5-oz. coconut milk and stir to combine. Season with more salt, then reduce heat so mixture is barely simmering. Cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors are melded and curry is slightly thickened, 5–7 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook 8 oz. rice noodles in pot of boiling water according to package instructions. Drain noodles in a colander in the sink, rinse thoroughly under cold water, and shake off excess water. Drizzle with remaining 1 Tbsp. oil and toss to coat and prevent sticking.
Season 1½ lb. shrimp with salt and add to curry. Cook, stirring, until shrimp are cooked through, 2–3 minutes. Remove pot from heat and squeeze in juice from half of lime wedges.
Divide noodles among bowls, then ladle curry over noodles. Thinly slice remaining scallion greens and sprinkle over curry along with remaining jalapeño.
Pick basil sprigs and scatter over, then serve with remaining lime wedges alongside.


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Many start-ups are operating now under the model of launching a beta period to encourage new users to try out the platform with the express purpose of learning from the user feedback before attempting a full launch. GoodEReader first profiled one such company at this year's Tools of Change event in New York; Flipick, the Mediawide company that allows publishers to create ePub ebooks directly from InDesign, announced this week that it has released an update to its platform based on valuable feedback about the site.
"We paid serious attention to the feedback of Flipick members during the first phase of our beta launch. There were unanimous suggestions for Flipick to support text wraps, tabs, tables and footnotes," says Ravi Dugal, President of Flipick, in a press release on the relaunch. "Our R&D team lived up to these challenges and built a fascinating product, where these features are no longer converted to an image."
Some of the features that Flipick made available after the original beta period include support for text wraps, tabs, tables, facing pages, drop caps and footnotes, which are all vital, industry standard features in publishing. Also, Flipick plug-ins are available for InDesign CS 5.5 and InDesign 6.0 for both Mac and PC.
Flipick is continuing its beta period to allow users the opportunity to try out that additional features. Users can sign up for the beta at flipick.com.
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.