text:
As 2011 lingered in the rearview mirror, the first hot-button topic of the New Year hit the Manufacturing Belt: right-to-work legislation in Indiana. The Mackinac Center was on the scene from day one of the controversy, providing on-the-ground reporting and analysis for Michigan and the rest of the country.
The right-to-work bill that was signed into law by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels on Feb. 1, 2012, made it illegal to require an individual to join or remain in a union or to pay any dues, fees or other charges to a labor organization. In non-right-to-work states, including Michigan, collective bargaining agreements typically require workers to pay a fee in lieu of regular dues if they do not wish to formally join the union.
The concern for proponents of the right-to-work law was the Indiana House Democrats, who the year before had fled to Chicago to halt voting on a similar measure. The maneuver had come at a public relations cost, however, and despite several initial walkouts in January of this year and union protests, the Republican majorities in the Indiana Senate and House and public outcry eventually forced these legislators' hands.
The Mackinac Center sent reporters to Indiana for most of January, filming the union protests held outside the capitol and posting to CapCon. Labor Policy Director Paul Kersey simultaneously illuminated the legislation's potential economic benefits to Indiana, such as faster rates of income growth and job creation.
From a workers' rights perspective, right-to-work laws provide accountability to employees more effectively than so-called "Beck Rights," which are a reference to the U.S. Supreme Court case, Communications Workers of America v. Beck. Under Beck, an employee should be able to limit his or her payment to the union to his or her share of the costs of representation. In reality, inaccurate union accounting often makes this a futile exercise.
Now that a right-to-work bill has been proposed in Michigan, economic pressure is just beginning to mount. Sen. Colbeck, R-Canton, remarked of Indiana's new status, "It's good for Indiana and bad for Michigan. But at least some of our working youths will have shorter drives now when they come back to visit Michigan for the holidays."


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Arts and Crafts Movement, CFA Voysey, Edwin Lutyens, EW Godwin, Norman Shaw, Norwich buildings, Norwich houses, Queen Anne revival
Following the explosion of terraced-house building in the latter part of the C19th it was perhaps the Arts & Crafts movement that had the greatest influence on the detached and semi-detached houses that were then built at the edges of a still-expanding Norwich.
The Arts & Crafts Movement took its name from The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society (1888). Its members believed in the fusion of art and craft and held to the principles of craftsmanship and truth to materials expounded by William Morris. Morris was revolted by Victorian mechanisation and started a moral crusade in search of a purer, craft-based way of living. His Red House, designed by his friend Philip Webb, represented a transition from full-blooded Gothic to a romanticised pre-industrial version.
Morris despised much of contemporary design so he decorated the house with help from friends such as the Pre-Raphaelite artists Rosetti and Burne-Jones. This was expressed in his famous motto: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." At about this time Morris formed his own design company, Morris & Co, which became "the furnishing wing of the Pre-Raphaelite movement" [1].
Richard Norman Shaw was a contemporary of Webb's. Although both architects adhered to Morris' principles of locally sourced materials and craftsmanship both diverted from the Gothic to develop a vernacular alternative. Webb developed Old English design but by the 1870s this had given way to a trademark 'Queen Anne' Revival style [2]. This Arts & Crafts style was not a slavish return to the architecture from Queen Anne's age (early 1700s) but a mixture of influences: Dutch, Flemish, French, Robert Adam and the Japanese-influenced Aesthetic Movement. Added to this was an English Renaissance style based on Christopher Wren (the 'Wrenaissance') in which red brick was favoured over the white stone (or brick) of classical Palladian buildings [3]. As well as red brick, red tiles and terracotta panels became the materials of choice during the Queen Anne Revival.
In Shaw's version of Queen Anne, multi-paned windows with crisp white glazing bars were a distinguishing feature. By the time this had filtered down to the general building trade – which is when we see it in the provinces – a common formula for windows was for the small panes to be restricted to the upper part with larger panes of plate glass at the bottom [3].
Bedford Park Estate in Chiswick London occupies an important place in the Arts & Crafts canon because it provided the model for the late nineteenth century suburb and led to the Garden City Movement [1].
Initially, EW Godwin – who anticipated modernism with his stunning Aesthetic, Japanese-influenced sideboard – had designed small detached and semi-detached houses but these were not well received and so Norman Shaw was recruited to provide further designs.
The Ballad of Bedford Park (below), although satirical in intent, gives an idea of the totality of the Arts & Crafts movement and shows how its spirit invaded all parts of the art-conscious middle-class home.
With red and blue and sagest green
Were walls and dado dyed
Friezes of Morris there were seen
And oaken wainscot wide
Now he who loves aesthetic cheer
And does not mind the damp
May come and read Rosetti here
By a Japanese-y lamp.
(St James's Gazette, 1881)
Two other architects had a major influence on Arts and Crafts style. The first was Charles Francis Annesley Voysey [4]. Characteristically, he employed large sweeping roofs set above horizontal ribbons of windows. Walls were covered with his trademark white-painted roughcast. Even when he wanted to use local materials, clients insisted on his popular roughcast [5]. This coating, which John Betjeman [6] thought 'dematerialised' the surface of a house, provided local builders with an inexpensive shortcut to an Arts & Crafts style unburdened by any underlying philosophy.
Voysey took a child-like approach to his work and used obvious imagery like hearts as cuts outs on woodwork and as a recurring motif in his ironwork – another shorthand for readers of weekly trade journals like The Builder.
Edwin Lutyens was another key figure in the Arts & Crafts movement. He enjoyed a long professional partnership with the garden designer Gertrude Jekyll. In 1896 Lutyens built Munstead Wood. Miss Jekyll clearly wanted a house rooted in tradition ("Arts and Crafts simplicity was the note" [7]) for she specified something "designed and built in the thorough and honest spirit of the good work of old days" [8].
His early designs involved huge chimneystacks in Norman Shaw's Old English style, horizontal bands of leaded casement windows, and great sweeping tiled roofs. These catslide roofs could come down to door level leaving the first floor bedrooms to protrude via large gables [1]. A Norfolk example can be seen at Overstrand Hall:
… and while we're in Overstrand here's a surprising Lutyens building:
Lutyens was famously playful and loved verbal as well as visual puns, such as shaping brackets to the silhouette of the client. In one version of a story he is claimed to have said to a bishop toying with a portion of fish, "I suppose that's the piece of cod that passeth all understanding."
Although Arts & Crafts architecture became a popular movement its most iconic buildings were mainly architect-designed one-offs for the wealthy. Amongst the important examples in Norfolk is Home Place, now known as Voewood, at Kelling near Holt. Its architect was ES Prior, the co-founder of the Art Workers' Guild and "perhaps the most brilliant of all Shaw's pupils" [1]. Here he built a butterfly house with its obliquely projected wings. Building material dug from what is now the sunken garden was used to make the inner core of concrete to which the larger excavated flints were applied [7].
Two other butterfly houses are found in Norfolk: Kelling Hall by Sir Edward Maufe and Happisburgh Manor by Detmar Blow and Ernest Gimson. Although they were built in the Arts & Crafts spirit their singularity (and cost) ensured that butterfly houses did not become models for a more widespread Arts & Crafts style.
In Norwich, at number 24 Tombland is St Ethelberts designed by EP Willens and built in 1888. It throbs with A&C references: red brick, plaster swags between curved oriel windows, roughcast, dormers set in a tiled hipped roof. The design of this remarkable house is said [9] to owe a debt to Norman Shaw ("wildly Norman Shavian") but the original on which this was surely based is not too far to find.
'The Sparrowe's House' type of oriel (curved sides, flat front, leaded lights with a central arch) is recognised to be one of three Old English window designs used by Norman Shaw [3]. However, these two East Anglian buildings, with oriel windows joined by botanical swags, are so similar that it seems likely that the Norwich architect had first hand knowledge of the Ipswich building as well as of Norman Shaw's pattern book .
Swags are found on another Norwich building …
… St Mary's Croft in Chapelfield, built in the Tudor Revival style.
St Mary's Croft is a symphony of red brick, from the concave/convex ovals on the gateposts – a humorous example of the bricklayer's art – to the floral panels of moulded brick. I remember when it used to be my dentist's surgery.
One of my favourite buildings in Norwich is Tower House at the junction of Newmarket and Kingsley Roads.
Tower House is generically Arts & Crafts with roughcast walls and a romantic tower capped by an ogee lead roof. What I find more interesting is the simplicity and asymmetry of this elevation – its effect depending on the massing of ten different windows (plus fanlight) in eight different styles. This irregularity echoes one of the most iconic buildings of the Arts & Crafts movement: the White House by EW Godwin. The irregular composition of its windows – really a blocking out of shapes on a flat surface – is thought to reflect Godwin's fascination with Japanese art and the way it embraced asymmetry [3].
Below, in Limetree Road, Norwich is this archetypal Arts & Crafts house by Percy Morley Horder. (His students couldn't resist a Spoonerism and called him Holy Murder). He went on to design Nottingham University for Jesse Boot (the Chemist). This part of the building (1908) containing the carriage arch, covered in roughcast, is pure Voysey.
In 1879-1886, at the time of the first Ordnance Survey, the parts of Newmarket and 'Unthanks' Road south of the present Mile End ring road were mainly open fields and nurseries. Their development around 1900 shows how various Arts & Crafts features were absorbed by local builders to make the Edwardian house, some 40 years after Morris et al had tried to find an honest vernacular style.
These semi-detached houses on Eaton Road were designed by architects Postle and Webster in 1906 for the builders Podd and Fisher of Aylsham Road.
Constructed of red brick and tile the houses have Voyseyian touches: steeply-pitched roofs sometimes coming down to door level; roughcast for the upper floors; coloured glass hearts and heart-shaped cutouts in the woodwork.
This house on Unthank Road shows the now-familiar heart-shaped cutouts on an asymmetrical porch.
Below, the house on Grove Road is a good example of how Arts & Crafts design became part of the everyday vocabulary of the local building trade. A neighbour said that his grandfather ("Youngs the Builder") had built the house for his own family (presumably after the First World war).
- Davey, Peter (1995). Arts and Crafts Architecture. Phaidon Press, Oxford.
- Anscombe, Isabelle (1991). Arts and Crafts Style. Phaidon Press, Oxford.
- Girouard, Mark (1990). Sweetness and Light: The Queen Anne Movement 1860-1900. Yale University Press, New Haven and London.
- Hitchmough, Wendy (1995). CFA Voysey. Phaidon Press, Oxford.
- Blakesley, Rosalind P. (2006). The Arts and Crafts Movement. Phaeton Press, Oxford.
- Betjeman, John (1974). A Pictorial History of English Architecture. Penguin Books.
- Aslet, Clive (2011). The Arts & Crafts Country House. Arum Press, London.
- Tinniswood, Adrian (1999). The Arts and Crafts House. Mitchell Beasley, London.
- Pevsner, Nikolaus and Wilson, Bill. (1997). The Buildings of England. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. Yale University Press, New Haven and London.
Thanks to David Bussey for background on the Eaton Road houses

subset: commoncrawl


text:
7 x 3.5 in.
Bikes On Roof- Yellow ⚠
Out of stock
A line-of-sight reminder to spare your bike, roof rack, and garage.
If you carry a bike, board, or boat on top of your car, you know the risk is real.
$8.oo (US shipping free)
This reminder tag can help spare your gear from a collision with any low-hanging hazard:
- Garages
- Drive-throughs
- Car washes
- Low underpasses
This roof rack reminder works because it's a habit to check the rear-view mirror.
Can you put a price on peace of mind? Clearly, this is a wise investment in your gear.


text:
Building a church? Build it to last:
§ 215 § A church building is a lasting expression of a faith community's life. Because the church building is destined to endure, parishes and the professionals who assist them should ensure that the components of the building, especially the building materials, are sturdy and substantial enough to stand the test of time. While traditional building materials have served the Church well in the past, more recently developed materials and building techniques might better serve a contemporary structure. In all instances, the building that is designed for an extended life will need fine, durable materials. The use of materials available locally and of designs that are expressive of local culture can be an advantage to parishes.
And keeping in mind that parishes should be building for decades to a few centuries, so some of these considerations that follow may be expensive, but in the long term, may be cost-effective in addition to being responsible stewardship:
§ 216 § Faithful stewardship of the earth's resources demands that the Church be a partner in the development of a sustainable architecture. Materials, construction methods, and procedures that are toxic to the environment or that are wasteful of the earth's resources should be avoided. Providing heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and lighting systems that are energy-efficient is financially sound practice and, at the same time, environmentally responsible. It is an exercise in parish stewardship.
All texts from Built of Living Stones are copyright © 2000, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.


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Many Christians teach Leopard Theology*, because they believe that the Bible is only inspired in spots and that they are inspired to spot the spots. They don't call it that, but that is exactly what their theology is founded upon. And, like the leopard, they camouflage themselves and they are dangerous predators. They take on church leadership roles even though they teach the opposite of the Bible.
Saying the Bible isn't fully inspired by God may seem like a humble premise, but it actually makes several strong and unfounded claims.
It implies that God couldn't or wouldn't deliver His word to us in a reliable way, and that despite God's alleged failings flawed humans are able to discern which parts were inspired and which parts were not. Are we to believe that humans are to correct for God's errors?
Why is this a serious problem? It is hard enough to follow the teachings of the Bible without having "Christians" choose what "really" came from God. Worse yet, they ignore some parts of scripture so they can teach that the opposite is not only acceptable but desirable. Some may do it accidentally or out of laziness but others are just blatant false teachers. They have made up their own god and their own religion.
If someone claims the Bible is only partly inspired, ask a few questions:
- How did they come to this conclusion?
- Do they think their favorite verses are inspired? If so, how do they know? How about John 3:16? How about "love your neighbor?" Whenever "Judge not, lest ye be judged" is quoted, I never hear the liberal theologians question whether Jesus really said that.
- If the Bible is only partly inspired, how can they be sure that their preferred verses aren't the ones that are uninspired and the ones they don't like are the "real" verses?
- Why is it that God couldn't inspire the original writings of forty writers, but He can inspire billions of people to properly determine which parts are right and which aren't?
- If He couldn't get Paul, Luke, Matthew, John, etc. to record his word accurately, how can He get you to do it?
- Why should I trust your "inspiration" over those who penned the Bible, or over my "inspiration?"
Then there is Advanced Leopard Theology. It is just like basic Leopard Theology, except God is also changing spots and adding or removing spots, and, oddly enough, He is only telling theological liberals and progressives. They use phrases such as "God is still speaking," but they don't mean He still speaks through his Word (that would be a true statement). They think He is still revealing new truths to the church and changing doctrines taught in the Bible. They may also say things like, "The Holy Spirit is moving in a new direction." Indeed.
Here's an example: A Methodist pastor named Laurie Hays Coffman did a pro-gay theology piece that made the argument that she wants to "unfurl our corporate sails to catch today's winds as the Spirit blows afresh." She said she was challenged by the vision God gave to Peter in Acts 10-11 where God makes it clear that the Gospel is for the Gentiles, too, and that the Israelites' ceremonial dietary laws are no longer in force. Her reasoning is that in the same way that God overturned those laws that He is now overturning the prohibitions against homosexual behavior. If that looks like a non sequitur to you then you are correct. The problem is her poor Biblical analysis. There are at least nine things wrong with this view:
- The person with the revelation was Peter, one of Jesus' inner circle and a key leader in the early church. It wasn't made to you, me or someone like Ms. Coffman. That doesn't mean God couldn't reveal something important like this to us, just that it is highly unlikely.
- The visions were clear and emphatic. Peter was given the vision three times and the incident is mentioned twice.
- Peter was inclined to reject the meaning of the vision, whereas these Advanced Leopard Theologians have views on human sexuality that are virtually indistinguishable from the prevailing culture and they are glad to accept this allegedly new revelation.
- There was external validation for Peter from the Roman centurion, which also included a supernatural intervention.
- This lesson showed up in the Bible, not outside it. I'm not saying miracles don't happen outside the Bible. It is just that things appear in the Bible for a reason. God communicating that the ceremonial laws had been fulfilled was one of those "big deals."
- This vision overturned a ceremonial law, not a moral law. There are zero examples in the Bible of God reversing his moral laws. In fact, the more Jesus talked the stricter the laws seemed to get, because He emphasized the spirit of the law and not just the letter (i.e., lust was akin to committing adultery, anger was akin to murder, etc.). The dietary laws never applied to Gentiles.
- The "God has changed his mind view" is primarily being "revealed" to theologically liberal Christians in the U.S. . . . the very ones who often deny the authority of his Word to begin with! So we can't trust the accurate transmission of the original writings but we can trust their new revelations? I'm skeptical.
- If God is revealing a change, why is it necessarily more liberal? Why couldn't God make his laws more stringent?
- The Bible gives strong warnings not to add or take away from its teachings.
But the orthodox can fall prey to this in a more subtle way by claiming full inspiration but conveniently ignoring passages we don't like. Consider this passage on church leadership, where some exaggerate "not given to drunkenness" to mean no alcohol whatsoever but ignore the "must manage his own family well . . ." part.
1 Timothy 3:2-4 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.
Another example is correctly teaching about the sin of homosexual behavior while neglecting to give proper emphasis to Biblical admonitions against divorce, adultery and fornication. We need to teach all of scripture with balance. Grandstanding on sins that aren't temptations to us and soft-pedaling those that are are not attractive or Christian things to do.
There are plenty of reasons and resources to defend the accuracy and integrity of all of the original scriptures. We don't need to get sloppy and just follow the parts we like. And we truly miss out when we cast doubts on every passage and question if it is really the word of God.
I'll close with some friendly advice: Don't mess with God's Word.
Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
Proverbs 30:5–6 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
Revelation 22:18–19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
*Also known as Dalmatian Theology.
Also see


text:
WASHINGTON – Toy recalls for excessive lead and other hazards are down this year, but consumer advocates warn that potential dangers to children remain on store shelves.
Several toys with high lead levels or toys that could cause young children to choke were found at major retailers and discount stores in the last few months, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group said Tuesday. The consumer safety group analyzed 50 toys for its annual report. Violations were found in just under a dozen, including a Captain America toy shield and play jewelry.
PIRG said the Captain America Soft Shield purchased at Toys R Us had 29 times the legal limit of lead. A package of toy jewelry rings from Dollar General tested positive for lead twice the legal limit, said the report.
Small parts that could detach from a toy and choke a child were found in 6 toys that the group said did not carry the necessary warning labels for children.
Among the other concerns outlined in the report were toys that were too loud and exceed federal safety limits on decibels. According to PIRG, three toys violated the limits: two Leap Frog phones for toddlers — the Chat & Count phone and the Lil' Phone Pal — and the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn remote.
Government figures show 31 toy recalls in fiscal year 2013, which ended Sept. 30 — none involving lead. The number of toy recalls has been declining, down from 38 recalls in 2012; 50 in 2009 and 172 in 2008.
A 2008 law that set stronger standards for children's products, including strict limits on lead, has helped make many products safer for youngsters. The law was passed after a wave of recalls of lead-tainted toys.
The "Trouble in Toyland" report can be found at http://www.uspirgedfund.org/reports/usf/trouble-toyland-2013.


text:
Friday, March 29, 2013
New look: Global
Global is a Canadian television network, the second most watched network in the country behind market leader CTV. Last month, on February 20, it launched a new graphics package, created by BDA Creative in London.
BDA took "big, friendly and bold" as the brand position and developed a bright, colourful and fluid package built around the network's versatile cursor mark. The typography uses good ol' Gotham, often blown up to take over the entire screen.
Posted by Simon at 4:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: 2013, BDA Creative, Canada, motion
Thursday, March 28, 2013
New logo: UKTV
UKTV is a British broadcaster owned by the BBC and private investors to operate a series of channel's that provide a second outlet for BBC programming. Launched with just one channel in 1992, it expanded over time include a portfolio of ten channel's. Between 2007 and 2009, the company embarked on a strategy to turn these channels into stand-alone brands and removing links to the parent company. This month it announced that it would backtrack slightly on that measure and reintroduce UKTV as a brand for use in cross promotion and corporate communication.
This is done in the form a turquoise cloud logo, designed by Landor Associates. The brief called for a "bold new identity that represents UKTV's internal and external culture and purpose". The individual channel brands will remain unchanged.
Posted by Simon at 2:30 AM 1 comments
Labels: 2013, Landor, new logo, television, United Kingdom
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
New logo: Gdańsk University of Technology
The Gdańsk University of Technology (known as Politechnika Gdańska in Polish) is a technical university in the Polish city of Gdańsk. It traces its root back to a school founded in 1904 under German rule. This month it has introduced a new visual identity, officially launched on March 19. It was developed by Polish design agency Mamastudio.
The previous logo was considered too complex with poor visibility. Mamastudio's task was to make it more modern and contemporary while maintaining continuity with the institution's history and traditions. As expected, students are outraged and have formed a Facebook protest group.
Posted by Simon at 4:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: 2013, new logo, Poland, university
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
New logo: Monoprix
Monoprix is a French retail chain, positioned as somewhat more up-scale than regular supermarkets with a mix of groceries and department store items. This month it is introducing a new corporate identity with a new signature that it hopes will increase visibility and consistency.
In addition to its Monoprix stores, the company operates smaller stores under brand such as Monop', Dailymonop' and Monop'Station. These stores will be given a clearer brand hierarchy, and some will be renamed.
The chain also has a new symbol in the form an apostrophe, which replaces an M in a square used up until now. It should illustrate Monoprix's multichannel strategy and "the promise of a relationship beyond the store walls". A new slogan, "Vivement aujourd'hui", meaning "Live today", expresses the state of mind it want to communicate to its costumers as well as "a promise of surprise and innovation".
Posted by Simon at 4:00 AM 0 comments
Monday, March 25, 2013
New logo: Banelco
Banelco, an abbreviation of Banca Electrónica Compartida, is an ATM network in Argentina. This month it has introduced a new corporate identity and new signage. It was designed by DAS Branding & Design who were selected through a contest.
Argentinian ATMs will now be found by looking for a clear red sign with a white B on it. The three lines in the logo were inspired the previous logo.
Posted by Simon at 4:00 AM 0 comments
New logo: Kering
PPR – a French luxury and sporting goods company that owns brands such as Gucci, Saint Laurent Paris and Puma – announced on Friday, March 22, that it would change its name to Kering. The visual identity was developed by Havas Lifestyle, while the strategy and signature was drawn up by Dragon Rouge. A launch campaign was devised by TBWA\Corporate.
The new name will be pronounced as the English word "caring" as an expression of the corporate ethos. "Ker" also means both home and heart in Breton, a language spoken in the region of France where the company originated. It also introduces an elegant symbol in the form of an untamed owl. The owl's ability to turns its head symbolises the company's ability to anticipate trends.
Posted by Simon at 2:30 AM 2 comments
Friday, March 22, 2013
New logo: InterRent
Europcar is an international car rental company based in based in France with activities in much of the rest of the world except North America. This week, on March 19, it launched a new low-cost car rental service that will operate under a new separate brand, InterRent. Initially, the service will be available in France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and the UK. The brand identity was developed by Brandimage.
The brand identity puts emphasis on simplicity, as expressed in the brand claim "drive, save, enjoy". The simplicity and cheerfulness in the symbol above also runs through the rest rest of the graphic expression, including a bunch of pictorgrams.
Posted by Simon at 4:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: 2013, Brandimage, car rental, France, new logo
New logo: NC+
NC+ is a new Polish satellite television distributor launched yesterday, March 21. It was formed from the merger of the country's second and third largest satellite distributors, Cyfra+, owned by France's Canal+, and N, owned by nationwide broadcaster NTV.
The logo combines elements from its predecessors, with the letter N and a blue colour taken from N and the rest inspired by Cyfra+' old logo. The service is launched with the ambiguous tagline "a new definition of entertainment".
Posted by Simon at 2:30 AM 1 comments
Thursday, March 21, 2013
New logo: Latvian Mobile Telephone
Latvian Mobile Telephone (Latvijas Mobilais Telefons in Latvian, usually abbreviated LMT) is Latvia's oldest mobile telecommunications provider. Yesterday, March 20, it presented a new modern corporate identity.
The new logo contains four irregular polygons with rounded corner placed in a shape that roughly resemble a map of Latvia. The shapes can also be used on their own, for example in advertising imagery.
Posted by Simon at 4:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: 2013, Latvia, new logo, telecommunication
New logo: GU
GU is a rapidly expanding Japanese discount clothing store with about 200 stores. It is owned by Fast Retailing which also has the international chain Uniqlo in its portfolio. At the beginning of the month, March 5, its unveiled a new logo which it hopes will transform the chain into an international fashion brand. The new blue and yellow logo was reportedly designed by Japanese art director Kashiwa Sato, who also created Uniqlo's identity several years ago.
Posted by Simon at 2:30 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
New look: CCTV-10
CCTV-10 is the science and education television network from China's state broadcaster CCTV. Around the time of the Chinese new Year, it launched a new look, created by Australian broadcast design agency Zspace and a Chinese company called Top Vision.
While still locked in CCTV's tedious brand system, it introduces a fresh new channel icon. Built around the idea of "the eye by which you can explore the world", it is made up of three crescents that spin around each other. The three crescents stand for discovery, observation and documentation, which is also reflected in the channel idents.
Posted by Simon at 4:00 AM 1 comments
Monday, March 18, 2013
Logo round-up: February 2013
Posted by Simon at 5:00 AM 2 comments
Labels: collections
New logo: Sosialistisk Venstreparti
The Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti, SV, in Norwegian) is one of seven political parties in the Norwegian parliament, currently a part of the governing centre-left coalition. As the name suggests, it is the most leftist of the Norwegian political parties. Last Friday at its party conference, a new logo was unveiled.
Newspaper reports say the party want to perceived as "sharper at the edges", which is reflected in the new logo which abandons the brush script and places the party initials in a triangle.
Posted by Simon at 3:19 AM 1 comments
New logo: SCA
SCA is a global pulp and paper company specialised in consumer hygiene tissue and other kinds of forestry products. Founded in Sweden in 1929 as Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget it now has activities around the world and is behind dozens of brands such as Tena, Libero, Cushelle, Libresse/Bodyform, Zewa and Plenty. Last week, on March 15, it presented its annual report and also unveiled a new corporate identity, created by Design Bridge.
SCA's icon is based on an old pagan symbol known as a valknut. The updated version has been given "stronger, more distinct colors and softer lines". It also includes the tagline "care of life".
Posted by Simon at 1:30 AM 3 comments
Labels: 2013, Design Bridge, new logo, pulp and paper, Sweden
Friday, March 15, 2013
New look: Foxtel
Foxtel is Australia's leading pay TV platform, offering hundreds of channels to Australian homes via cable, satellite and IPTV. Last year it implemented a new design programme, created by branding agency Principals. Parts of this could be seen in the Foxtel Movies rebrand, posted here in January.
Before the redesign, the Foxtel logo contained an icon with two searchlights, but it was dropped and the wordmark now stands alone. Instead, the searchlight motif has been turned into a visual device that can be filled with the world of entertainment offered by the company. A new set of idents, created by Ink Project, contains out-of-focus images that suddenly become sharp when touched by the searchlight.
Posted by Simon at 3:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: 2012, Australia, Ink Project, new logo, Principals, television
New logo: SBAB
SBAB is a Swedish state-owned mortgage institute and bank, founded in 1985 to finance government home mortgages. At the beginning of this week, on March 12, it unveiled a new corporate identity. It drops the word "bank" from its name and replaces it with an exclamation mark. The exclamation mark and the orange colour should reflect the bank's position as a challenger on the market.
Posted by Simon at 1:30 AM 0 comments
Thursday, March 14, 2013
New logo: Vevo
A more popular way to consume music videos days is through the website Vevo. In a somewhat surprising move, it this week launched Vevo TV, an old school linear TV channel available on the web and through apps. At the same time, the entire service was given a new visual identity.
New logo: Cabot Corporation
Cabot Corporation is a Boston-based corporation that makes different kinds of specialised materials, described by the company as "specialty chemicals and performance materials". Founded in 1882, it now has activities on several locations around Europe, Aisa and the Americas. Last week, on March 7, it unveiled a new corporate identity that aims to emphasize its strengths, reflect its values and give visibility to its products.
It introduces a new chevron symbol that is divided into different color fields, communicating an "approachable, collaborative spirit, and energetic approach to innovation and customer service".
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
New logo: DG
DG is an American company specialised in advertising distribution for television and the web. Yesterday, March 11, it launched a new corporate identity, developed by Chermayeff & Geismar.
Previously, DG's operations have had a fragmented visual identity with several different logos used by its operations. This exercise gathers them all under a common brand. The new logo is a pink spot and comes with the tagline "Spon on", cleverly celebrating "the spot as the core creative element of advertising".
Posted by Simon at 4:20 AM 0 comments
Labels: 2013, Chermayeff and Geismar, new logo, United States
New logo: BrightFocus Foundation
The American Health Assistance Foundation is an American non-profit group that funds research to prevent Alzheimer's disease. In late January, it changed its name to BrightFocus Foundation and introduced a new corporate identity. This was all developed by Siegel+Gale.
A new brand platform puts more emphasis on diseases that cause irreversible harm to the brain and eyes, chaning the previous focus on seamingly less urgent age-related diseases. The name was selected as it "speaks to clarity of purpose, the health of sight and mind, a commitment to innovative medical research and optimism for the future". The logo with its interlocking chevrons "reinforces the focus on change, progress and pushing the boundaries of discovery".
Posted by Simon at 2:47 AM 0 comments
Labels: 2013, charity, new logo, Siegel+Gale, United States
Monday, March 11, 2013
Motion branding in 2012
Last year, The Branding Source featured a round-up of motion branding projects launched in 2011. Here's the much-delayed 2012 edition in that series with over 70 projects to explore. Enjoy!
Posted by Simon at 6:00 AM 7 comments
Labels: collections
New logo: Hudson's Bay
Hudson's Bay is a Canadian chain of department stores, owned by the Hudson's Bay Company which is known as the oldest company in North America, founded in 1670. Generally known as "The Bay", it was announced last week that the chain was return to using its historical name and introduced a new corporate identity that celebrates its history.
The previous "Bay" logo was created by Lippincott & Margulies in the 1960s. It featured an ornate and embraced the name that its costumers had come to use. The new corporate identity will primarily be used as a wordmark. In certain circumstances it is used with a version of the company's coat of arms, redrawn by artist Mark Summers.
The company also has activities in Quebec, where it is now called "La Baie d'Hudson", using a separate logo.
Posted by Simon at 1:30 AM 0 comments
Friday, March 8, 2013
New logo: Duftstars
Duftstars is an annual event where are awards are given to achievements in the German fragrance industry. The event was established in 1993, inspired by the American FiFi Awards. This week, the awards unveiled a new visual identity, created by KW43 Branddesign.
The rationale for the symbol is said to be inspired by a drop of perfume and the ripple effects it has when it hits the human skin. Therefore, the symbol is five sets of concentric circles that together form a star. The name is set in Gill Sans.
Posted by Simon at 3:00 AM 2 comments
New logo: SABC2
SABC2 is one of three TV channel broadcast nationally by the South African Broadcasting Corporation, the state broadcaster in South Africa. A family-oriented mix of entertainment and current affairs makes it the leading television network in the country. Last week, on March 1, it launched a new look with a refreshed logo and new slogan. It was developed with South African ad agency Masters & Savant Worldwide.
Rather than having specified identity colours, SABC2 is now using four bright primary colours - red, green, blue and yellow - as a way to express the diversity of the programming and the nation. It also gets a new tagline, "You belong", instead of "Feel at home".
Posted by Simon at 1:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: 2013, new logo, South Africa, television
Thursday, March 7, 2013
New logo: South Australia
South Australia is a federal state in Australia, making up the central southern part of the continent. Yesterday, March 6, a new brand that should promote the state to businesses, tourists and its citizens. The brand was designed by Cato Partners.
It introduces a new icon, clearly inspired by the shape of the state's borders and its location to create a doorway into a house shaped like Australia. Conceptually, this is tied up as the state being the portal to all of Australia (see quotes further down). It is also a versatile motif that can be used a myriad of ways. In the applications used so far, the symbol has been turned into a window to frame different images, while other use just the doorway to create a graphical element for advertisements.
Posted by Simon at 1:30 AM 5 comments
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
New look: Energy
Energy is a Spanish national TV channel that targets a male audience. It was launched in 2010 by Spain's leading broadcaster Mediaset Espanña. This week, on March 4, it launched a new graphics package, entirely created in-house.
The new look aims to "distinguish and strengthen" the brand among Spanish viewers. The Energy logo remains unchanged. In idents, a gigantic version of the logo has been digitally inserted into exciting locations, such as a glacier, a space shuttle launch or a wind farm.
Posted by Simon at 1:30 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
New logo: Space
Space is a Canadian cable channel dedicated science fiction, horror and mystery programming. It is essentially the Canadian equivalent of Syfy, with which it shares plenty of programmes. Yesterday, March 4, it launched a new look, built on the tagline "It's all around you". Space is owned by Bell Media, and as is customary everything was created by the in-house Bell Media Agency.
The new logo is a straight-forward circle with the channel name placed somewhat off center. On screen, the logo get incorporated into various creative circle motifs that reflect the programming. The idea is to dilute the notion that the channel is all about outer space and bring it back to earth.
Posted by Simon at 3:00 AM 4 comments
Labels: 2013, Canada, in-house, new logo, television
New logo: Ion Television
Ion Television is an American broadcast TV network, available for free around much of the country much like the major networks. Its schedule is primarily built on reruns of shows from other networks. Yesterday it launched an new graphics package with a refreshed logo.
The new look is built on Ion's established "Positively entertaining" slogan. The graphics package is relatively simple and built around blue and orange blocks. It launched with a campaign dubbed "Ionthusiasts" that targets advertisers.
Posted by Simon at 1:30 AM 3 comments
Labels: 2013, new logo, television, United States
Monday, March 4, 2013
New logo: Quézac
Quézac is a brand of mineral water, originating from a source with the same name in the Cévennes mountains in southern France. The brand is owned by Nestlé and was recently given an overhauled look, created by Dragon Rouge.
The agency aimed to highlight Quézac's historic roots in a contemporary manner.
Posted by Simon at 3:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: beverages, Dragon Rouge, France, new logo, packaging
Friday, March 1, 2013
New logo: Ooredoo
Qatar Telecom, also known as Qtel, is a major telecommunications provider in Qatar. This week, on February 25, at the Mobile World Congress in Madrid, the Qtel Group announced that it would change its name to Ooredoo. The name is taken from the Arabic word for "I want".
Posted by Simon at 3:00 AM 2 comments
Labels: 2013, new logo, Qatar, telecommunication
New logo: Integra
Integra Telecom is an American company that provides telecom services to enterprises, describing itself as "facilities-based providers of communication and networking services". This week, on February 27, it announced that it would shorten its name to Integra and introduce a new visual identity.
Removing "Telecom" from the company name is about widening the perceived scope of its solutions. The new symbol is a take on the concept of infinity.
Posted by Simon at 1:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: 2013, new logo, telecommunication, United States
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RG 109, Ch. 6, Vol. 364, p. 163
Medical Director's
Office July 28/64
The directions to the contrary
given you on June 3rd are hereby revoked & in future the capacity of
the Hospital under your charge will be regulated by the allowance of 800 cubic
feet to each patient.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt
Wm. A. Carrington
Medical Director
To Surgn W. A Lewis Stuart Hospital
To Surgn W. C. Nichols La Hospital
To Surgn T. M. Palmer Howard's Grove Hospital
To Surgn F. W. Hancock Jackson Hospital
To Surgn A. G. Lane Winder Hospital
To Surgn J. B. McCaw Chimborazo Hospital
Copyright © 2004 Civil
War Richmond Inc.
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Getaways displacing gifts this Christmas, forecast find
Walking into a Canadian retailer this time of year feels exactly like being swallowed by a Christmas parade float – all garland tongues, gingerbread breath and tinsel tonsils. But are shoppers buying what stores are selling? Unless they're inside a travel agency, the answer appears to be a firm "meh." According to BMO's 2013 Holiday Spending Outlook, to be released Wednesday, gift purchases in Canada will be relatively flat this season, rising a scant 0.6 per cent over last year to reach $678. Instead, Canadians are allocating a larger share of money to getaways, which are forecast to rise 22 per cent over 2012, and nearly double what was spent in 2011: $689 versus $360. "We're seeing different ways of giving," said Laura Parsons, a BMO personal finance expert. "There's a switch to going on trips as a family, instead of doing gifts." Overall, seasonal spending is projected to be up for the third Christmas in a row, rising to $1,810 from $1,610 in 2012 and $1,397 in 2011. But Parsons cautions that money is being distributed differently than in the past. Across the country, consumers are wising up to deals, with the expected use of loyalty rewards for holiday purchases up 32 per cent over 2012. People are increasing their family travel allowance instead of putting more money toward traditional gifts. And in terms of setting a fixed budget, the share of Canadians professing to do so is up seven points, to 36 per cent. "There are a lot more thrifty buyers who are really doing their homework before they spend," said Parsons, who is based in Calgary. "You do not want that Christmas aftermath that carries through to the summer months." But Grinches we are not, with most Canadians getting into the spirit in one way or another. Starbucks alone, for example, is expected to sell enough holiday drinks — think peppermint mochas and eggnog lattes — to ice more than 812 curling sheets. Parsons said the take-home message, simply, is that shoppers aren't going to go crazy. Independent surveys for Deloitte and Ernst & Young arrived at similar conclusions, with each forecasting a conservative Christmas spend (modest year-over-year increases of two to 3.5 per cent), while a third survey for Google Canada predicted a drop in the average gift budget, from $711 to $629. The BMO report is based on a Pollara survey of 1,215 randomly sampled adult Canadians, conducted between Oct. 11 and 16. Results are considered accurate within 2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Read More...
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Composing Only 5% of the World Population, Americans Take 50% of All Pharmaceutical Drugs
While Americans comprise only 5 percent of the world population, we consume an incredible 50 percent of Big Pharma's drugs, as explained in Jeff Hays' documentary film, Doctored. Make no mistake. These drugs are meant to keep us imprisoned in poor health, not heal us. It's time to kick the drug habit America. Tell the drug pushers – Merck, Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, GlaxoSmith Kline, Abbott, Astra-Zeneca, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Sanofi (along with the FDA and CDC) that you are going cold turkey, and learn what true health really means.
Sadly, Americans are more familiar with names like Abilify, Nexium, Humira, Plavix, Crestor, Advair Diskus, Enbrel, and Cymbalta, the top selling drugs of Big Pharma, than names like Aloe barbadensis, Curcuma longa, Allium sativum, Moringa oleifera, Vitis vinifera L, all indigenous plants that have healed millions around the world.
You've likely heard the phrase before – just a dozen huge corporations are keeping Americans popping pills while they rake in billions, but have you really thought of what these numbers translate into, in terms of real health?
Annual sales for just one drug, Humira, was $9.3 billion. That puts Abott squarely at the top of the list as one of the most successful drug companies of all time.
One drug. One year. $9.3 billion.
This particular drug is meant to inhibit cancerous tumor growth, but there are dozens of natural remedies for the same purpose. Consider: turmeric, papaya leaf, grape seed extract, ginger, cannabis, and a host of other inexpensive plants can treat cancer. Here are 4 cancer fighting foods. Cost – around $3 per day per item.
Or the 'what if' scenarios:
- Getting out in nature heals tremendously. What if that $9.3 billion were used to create more green spaces, to keep more natural forests, and to install community good health gardens in every city?
- What if that $9.3 billion were used to clean up the environmental messes from fracking, oil drilling, oil spills, mining, nuclear meltdowns, chemtrails, pesticide and herbicide spraying, chemical dumping, and more, that cause cancer to begin with?
- What if we hired comedians to visit patients with cancer, using the proven technique of laughter therapy to treat many diseases, cancer among them?
Our money and our health is wasted on these companies, but we have to unplug from the drugs. We are overworked, under-nourished, over-fed, and lied to. You don't need another pill. What really needs to pop is the illusory bubble that Big Pharma is the answer.
April 23, 2014 12:23 pm
Jogging 16 miles a week will lower your risk of dying from cancer by 95%:


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Lauren Trantham led ETSU in scoring and rebounding, chipping in 11 points and pulling down 11 boards, but ETSU fell at Memphis, 90-48 in the first round of the Lady Tiger Classic.
The Lady Tigers didnt hold anything back in the win, including the press, as the Memphis defense picked away at ETSU, forcing 24 turnovers. The Lady Tigers scored 13 straight points to open the game before allowing ETSU their first basket with 15:56 left to play in the first half. Memphis forced six ETSU turnovers in the first five minutes of the game, scoring on all but one of the steals.
Memphis took a comfortable, 49-19, lead into the lockerroom at the half after shooting 57.6 percent from the field and hitting 4-of-5 shots from three-point land. ETSU scored just 19 points off a 29-percent shooting effort from the field. The 19 points scored in the half was a record low for the 16-year-old Lady Tiger Classic. The previous record was 20 points by UT-Martin four years ago in the 1996 tournament.
The Lady Tigers came out strong in the second half, shooting 53.6 percent from the field. Memphis outscored ETSU, 41-29, in the second half and outrebounded them, 42-27, for the game. Memphis emptied the bench during the game as all players played at least 10 minutes, including freshmen Danielle Barnard, Princess Swilley and Kaneshi Hart.
Barnard was the only Lady Tiger to not score in the game, but she did record two rebounds and two assists. Swilley scored seven points while Hart added five points.
Six Lady Tigers scored in double digits, led by junior Malissa Bushs 15 points. Bush was 5-of-6 from both the field and the free-throw line, and also totaled four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Also scoring in double digits for Memphis were Malissa Abraham and Lauren Jackson who both scored 11 points, and Tiffany Adkins, Shannon Hamp and Kelly Herron who all scored 10 points. Jackson and Tiffany Collins both led the squad in assists with seven apiece. Collins and Jackson were the starting guards for Memphis, and between the two of them, they totaled 14 assists and just one turnover. Hamp led the way in rebounding, pulling down nine boards.
Lauren Trantham led ETSU in scoring and rebounding, chipping in 11 points and pulling down 11 boards. Racquel Ellis was the only other Lady Buc to score in double digits with 10 points.
The Lady Tigers will face either Texas A&M or Northwestern State in the championship game at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Texas A&M was leading NSU, 36-32, at the half. ETSU will play in the consolation at 3 p.m. on Saturday.


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It wasn't all that long ago — before a Hall of Fame quarterback reeled in a future Hall of Fame quarterback to work in Denver — that the Broncos were stuck in the AFC West basement.
Even as the preseason hype is in full force about what the Broncos can be in 2013, how far they can go and whether there is a trophy at the end of the road, they know what square one looks like.
"It all starts in your division," Broncos coach John Fox said. "That's your only guaranteed way into the playoffs. Our guys know that. Whatever people say — we call that outside noise — doesn't matter because you have to understand the only guaranteed way to get in the tournament is to take care of your division.
"When you have success, you have a bull's-eye on your chest. Everybody is out to get you. We swept our division a year ago, so all those cats are out there right now planning to not let it happen again."
With NFL training camps set to open soon, the offseason plans of the Broncos' AFC West brethren are largely in place. When personnel executives look at the West, they still see a clear favorite in the Broncos with three other teams in various stages of rebuilding.
In the Chiefs, NFL personnel people see the team with the most potential to chase Denver if they live a charmed life in Andy Reid's first season as Kansas City's head coach.That starts with Reid finding a way to repair the league's worst passing offense in 2012 (169.6 yards passing per game) around their biggest offseason acquisition in quarterback Alex Smith.
Smith should fit quickly into Reid's version of the West Coast offense, which emphasizes quick decisions and efficient play. Smith is plenty efficient — he was 20-6-1 in his past 27 starts for the run-heavy San Francisco 49ers.
But Reid is trying to add a little spice to the mix and put the threat of the deep ball back into the Chiefs' attack by clearing Smith to take a few well-placed risks. Smith threw 30 touchdown passes over his past 25 starts as a conservative game manager in Jim Harbaugh's offense in San Francisco.
The Chiefs used the No. 1 pick in the draft to acquire Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher, protecting their investment in Smith.
The Chiefs hope Smith can mesh with another play-action run offense with Jamaal Charles in the Kansas City backfield. Smith was the league's highest-rated passer out of play-action plays last season, with a rating just better than 132 before he was sidelined with a concussion, then benched by Harbaugh to put Colin Kaepernick in the lineup.
The Chiefs also signed cornerback Dunta Robinson and wide receiver Donnie Avery in free agency and re-signed wide receiver Dwayne Bowe to a multiyear contract.
"I loved being in the NFC East all those years, but the AFC West, that looks challenging to me," Reid said.
In Oakland, the Raiders continue to remake themselves in the second year of former Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's tenure as coach. General manager Reggie McKenzie's biggest move also came behind center when he traded Carson Palmer and his substantial contract to the Arizona Cardinals and acquired Seahawks backup Matt Flynn has the Raiders' starter.
Flynn has started only two games in his five NFL seasons, but Allen anointed Flynn the team's No. 1 quarterback and compared Flynn's career track to that of Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub and the Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers. But the Raiders also used a fourth-round pick in April's draft on Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson to go with Terrelle Pryor on the depth chart.
After signing a lucrative deal in Seattle in 2012, Flynn was beaten out by rookie quarterback Russell Wilson in training camp. Flynn was easily the Raiders' biggest offseason acquisition, in addition to signing veteran safety Charles Woodson, as McKenzie took a low-key, draft-heavy approach to the roster this offseason.
In San Diego, former Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy inherited a proven quarterback in Philip Rivers, but McCoy and first-year Chargers general manager Tom Telesco faced an almost total rebuild in the team's offensive line.
The Chargers have put their faith in veteran free agent offensive linemen Max Starks and King Dunlap to go with their first-round pick from April in D.J. Fluker.
McCoy also hired former Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt to help smooth out Rivers' play. Rivers has thrown 35 interceptions over the past two seasons combined. With a long to-do list, the Chargers took a measured approach to the offseason, with two of their high-profile signings — Starks and pass rusher Dwight Freeney — coming in May.
"I'm excited about what's there, but we know we have some work to do to get our program in place and make clear what we expect," McCoy said. "We all know there's plenty to do, and what's been done in Denver is the kind of success we're looking for. We just have to get to work and make sure we're ready to make the most of all of the opportunities we have."
Jeff Legwold: firstname.lastname@example.com or twitter.com/jeff_legwold
Comparison shopping
With training camps set to open across the league during the next two weeks, NFL personnel executives say the Broncos are the favorites in the AFC West by a wide margin. Here's a snapshot of the work their fellow West teams have done this offseason:
Kansas City Chiefs
2012 record: 2-14; 0-6 in AFC West.
Notable numbers: Finished 32nd in passing yards (169.6 yards per game), and defense was 27th in run defense (135.7 rushing yards allowed per game).
Broncos dates: Nov. 17 in Denver; Dec. 1 in Kansas City.
Biggest acquisition: QB Alex Smith.
Oakland Raiders
2012 record: 4-12; 2-4 in AFC West.
Notable numbers: The Raiders have lost at least 11 games in eight of the past 10 seasons. They have not won 10 games since an 11-5 finish in 2002.
Biggest acquisition: QB Matt Flynn.
San Diego Chargers
2012 record: 7-9; 4-2 in AFC West.
Notable numbers: QB Philip Rivers has thrown 35 interceptions combined over the past two seasons and has been sacked 79 times in that time, including a bone-numbing 49 times in 2012.
Biggest acquisition: Rookie OT/OG D.J. Fluker.
Jeff Legwold, The Denver Post


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The Truthiness of Things
Swim 1:03:03 (6th out of 217 in 50-54 age group). T1 6:34. Bike 5:40:46 (33rd out of 217). T2 6:20. Run 3:50:30 (7th out of 217). Total, 10:47:12 (14th out of 217).
The Training
Twenty years ago I adopted an active lifestyle where I either swim, cycle, or run five or six days a week nearly every week of the year. I've done several Olympic distance triathlons and two half irons. I've long watched and puzzled over the 140.6 mile long distance scene. Eleven months ago, when intrigue trumped ambivalence and I registered for IronCanada, I had no interest in "just finishing". Instead, I established one overarching goal, to complete the run in less than 3:59:59. I knew if I saw a "3" at the start of my run time, in all likelihood there would be a "10" at the start of my total time.
Once I started to train in earnest, I got more specific and thought if everything came together just right the following was possible—1:03, :06, 5:36, :05, 3:50, 10:40. To avoid unnecessary pressure, I kept that equation to myself. I also skimmed the results from the last few years to see how fast the burners in my 50-54 year age group were likely to go. Then, a month ago, when a serious heat wave settled over central British Columbia I decided it made more sense to shoot for a tenth place finish, whatever the conditions, whatever the time.
A healthy fear of racing the distances really helped narrow my training focus. There was little "I should probably work out today" dithering. Even if I was consistent I knew I was going to suffer mightily on race day. If I started cutting corners, I'd not only suffer terribly, but have the added disappointment of underachieving. Once in awhile I chose rest over a planned workout, but that was to avoid injury.
A typical training week was three swims for a total of 7-12 kilometers. No stroke work, no kicking, no drills, half with paddles and pull buoys. Two hundred miles of cycling. Typically two 60ish club rides (meaning intervals) and a solo 80 miler on my time trial bike on Saturdays. Four runs for a total of 30-48 miles. I almost always ran 8-10 miles off the Saturday long ride in increasingly warm afternoon temps. Two key workouts. I ran 15 rolling miles off a hot 70 miler and 4 miles off a 125 mile solo effort (ride time 6:32).
Early on I was dismayed by my average cycling speed, low to mid 18's. In the last six weeks, without seeming to lean on the pedals any harder, I started to see improvements, regularly averaging low to mid 19's and 20. And to my surprise, from the beginning of my five-month build, I always ran solidly off the bike. Maybe it was getting professionally fitted and my improved bike position, maybe it was the salt tablets that finally kept the cramping at bay, maybe it was my above average weekly run mileage, or a combination of each. I always ran between 7:45s and 8:15s off the bike, even on the hot and hilly 15-miler, even after 125 miles. I told the running posse that it was starting to feel easier to run 8 minute miles off the bike than fresh out of bed at 5:45a.
Running solidly off the bike built confidence. Confidence to post a "3" and a "10" given decent conditions. I also devised some unique mental strategies. One came to me at the top of a climb in the Eastern Sierras in May. As I sat by a beautiful mountain stream, I meditated on the water's natural, effortless flow. What if I ran like that? Lightly, naturally, steadily. And then my most bizarre race prep idea of all time. The Canada run course borders Lake Skaha between miles 4 and 22. I started visualizing the lakeshore lined with Canadian Navy Seals (camouflaged and mostly submerged under water) who had "shoot to kill anyone walking" orders. The only way to survive would be to keep running, no matter how slowly. That of course introduced a real dilemma. How could I manage to adequately warn all of my fellow competitors who were slowing to a walk that their lives were in imminent danger?
I planned on traveling to the race solo, but I'm glad we turned it into a family vacay. We dig Penticton. Broke the bank on a house rental two blocks from the beach and start/finish. Sunday morn I left the house shortly before dawn with my wetsuit draped over my shoulders. Blue skies, next to no wind, a wonderfully flat lake. Athletes started appearing out of the glooming. It's strange to train almost completely alone and then be surrounded by 2,700 other athletes. And to have lots of people watching what I've been doing in complete anonymity. I got somewhat veklempt walking down a semi-dark Main Street. Five months of anticipation finally giving way to racing.
Then, standing in the lake minutes before the start, the singing of the Canadian national anthem. A soul stirring rendition. From far and wide. O Canada.
Thankful to be healthy, to be in such a beautiful spot, for my family's presence, and for all the friends and extended family monitoring and pulling for me from afar.
Act 1—The Swim
In the Torah it says, "We see things not as they are, but as we are." This is how I remember the race. Which doesn't necessarily mean it's the way it went down.
Lined up just right of center in the second row. Anxious as hell. Anticipating an alley fight. Then, somehow, I cruised to the first buoy nearly unscathed. Piece of cake. Why does everyone exaggerate how physical the start is? Just when I started to relax and get a little cocky, I got seriously squeezed by 20 people on my left and 10 on my right. The 130 meters between buoy one and two were the longest two minutes of my life. I panicked, breaststroked a few times, and thought to myself, "Straight lines and the race clock be damned, I just want open water."
I wanted to get ten people to my right, completely on the inside, but it was like trying to walk across a 30 lane freeway moving at 60mph. I slowed my already slow breaststroking to regroup and turned backwards to see if I could slip back and to the right, but it was a constant stream of rubberized humanity. I now understand how even strong swimmers who are comfortable in the water can get in trouble.
I don't know how, but I pressed forward. Gradually, it loosened up just enough for me to calm down and get back into a rhythm of sorts. I spent a quarter of the rest of the swim on other people's feet and three quarters swimming into small open pockets of water. I knew drafting off other people would be faster, but I didn't care. I just wanted to pretend I was at home in tranquil Ward Lake. By the end, I took three shots to the head, but nothing debilitating.
I always loose my balance and end up semi-dizzy after open water swimming. After throwing in a few dolphin dives for the crowd and staggering for thirty seconds well right of the ramp, I made my way into transition one.
As per tradition, my transitions were disasters. When you exclude them, I raced faster than the 10th through 13th place guys in my age group. Wish I hadn't crunched those numbers. I have a bevy of excuses, but there's lots of human error mixed in too. Excuse. I had to hit the sunscreen hard given my fair skin and history of skin cancer. Human error. I wore my swimsuit instead of cycling shorts for the first time ever in a race. It was also hard getting my arm coolers all the way on with wet skin. And I ran to the wrong side of my bike rack and had to crawl under to get it unracked. Comedy of errors. But I hadn't drowned and I was ready to ride.
Act 2—The Bike
Realized early on I didn't have my gel flask in my jersey pocket. Another transition fail. I did take salt supplements every 30 minutes, 13 in total. And two powerbars. Felt good and settled in through downtown and up McClean and into Okanagan Falls. High cadence, low effort. Riding like a mountain stream. Reminding myself that the ride begins at the Husky Station at mile 40, at the base of the 11 kilometer long Richter Climb. Between OK Falls and Osoyoos three different groups of riders passed me in blatant violation of the no drafting rules. Hardest part was spending five minutes watching them slowly pull away. I'm guessing there were some 50-54 year olds mixed in there.
I was gradually improving my position on Richter which wasn't as tough a climb as I had remembered from five years ago when I did it on a training ride. Just past the top I pulled over at an aid station for a bottle. Another cyclist rode into me, I braked too hard, and went over my handle bars at about 4-5mph. Probably my fault for not signaling clearly enough. He was fine, but I had a short, very deep cut on my right shin and was bleeding badly. I'm guessing it took five total minutes to find three bandaids that would stick. I probably could have used a stitch or two, but to borrow from Frost, there were still miles to go. The blood ran all the way down my lower leg onto my white sock which turned light red. Total badass. Look out now mothers!!!
The most amazing aspect of the second half of the ride was the utter absence of wind. I thought there was always a serious headwind throughout most of the second half, but the anticipated press against the chest never came. Which was wonderful. Like the IRS saying, "We've decided not to audit you after all." Loved the smooth pavement on the out and back, up to Yellow Lake, and back into town. Stood a lot on the short climbs and broke up the long ones by standing at times too, but was careful to keep it under control. I rode like I trained, at about 80% effort. Max speed descending from Yellow Lake, 48.3.
Act 3—The First 18 Miles of the Run
Ran like I trained. Went through the half in 1:48:25 and continued to run low 8's through mile 18. Passed a fair number of peeps. Took salt supplements every three miles and sports drink and flat cola every mile. Drank approximately 120 ounces. Blood was flowing from underneath the bandaids, but there were still miles to go.
Act 4—The Last 8.2 Miles of the "Run"
The ex-7x TDF winner likes to say, "Sometimes you're the hammer, sometimes you're the nail." The last 8.2 miles was ALL nail. The internal dialogue. "F$*# the mountain stream metaphor. And I don't give a sh&t if the Canadian Navy Seals have me directly in their sights. Go ahead and fire. Put me out of my misery. That's it, I can't take it anymore. I'm walkin'."
I walk 16 minutes a mile so if I'm running almost 8 minutes a mile, it's an 8 minute penalty per mile spent walking. I think I lost a good 12-15 minutes over the last 8.2 miles which means I almost walked two of the last 8.2 miles. Put differently, I ran 24 miles, which I'll take. Especially given the second half headwind and temps in the high 70's, low 80's.
The finish. Pardon the sexism, but when a female athlete passes you in the last 100 meters of a triathlon, it's referred to as "getting chicked". With 100 meters to go I was "geezered". A ripped guy with the number "60" on his calf passed me at the 140.5 mile mark. I was relieved to hear the announcer say he won his age group (by 45 minutes it turns out), but still, to spot the guy ten years?!
My personal fan club was at the finish cheering wildly in their iRONman gear. Just like before and after the swim, just like before and after the bike. And best of all, somewhere on the Southern California coast, WonderYears Wayne slammed his laptop shut, ruing the fact that his run as the fastest Iron athlete in the fam was finally over, forever and ever, amen.
Act 5—Post Race
I told the race volunteers who "caught" me that I needed to have a cut cleaned, looked at, and taped up. They immediately labeled me "Walking Wounded" and ushered me into the medical tent. The World Triathlon Corporation is a much maligned organization these days, and in many cases for good reason, but the Penticton volunteers were unbelievable. Maybe the WTC deserves some credit for that. One doc said I had a piece of gravel in my cut. How badass is that?! All that extra weight I carried over the last 90 miles!
After getting my cut cleaned and taped up I felt nauseous, tingly, and altogether terrible. Probably borderline heatstroke. They moved me to the second level of the medical tent where I sat for a half an hour drinking soup with ice on my head while being attended to by a nice nurse. Gradually I felt good enough to make the three block walk home. The GalPal and 17 picked up the bike and gear bags and 20 warmed up an assortment of leftovers. I woke up at 3:45a.m. and made myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
I had wanted to wade into the lake right after finishing to speed recovery, but didn't because I was in such miserable shape. Nor did I eat nearly quickly enough. As a result, I'm still quite sore four days later.
Thanks to everyone who helped me train, offered advice, and/or cheered me on from afar. And thanks to my family for putting up with the extra training and fatigue.
And thanks dear reader for making it through the world's longest race report. Congratulations, you're an IronReader!


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There is nothing to do for introduction but to share with you the exact instructions for our SoCS prompt from Linda Hill. Each week we get a pompt from Linda to write a post on Saturday. This one was challening and I quote:
"Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is as follows: read closely. When you're ready to sit down and write your post, look to the publication (book, newspaper, permission slip from your kid's teacher, whatever you find) closest to you, and base your post on the sixth, seventh, and eighth word from the beginning of the page. Enjoy!"
Wow! So glad I wasn't cooking or reading the newspaper or…
As it happens I already had a post in mind for today so I happened to have a book sitting nearby. The words that qualify are "shines to bless". The book? A Wanderer in the Spirit Land, a fairly old publication, dating back to 1901, with a transcriber's preface dating 1896.
This ia a favorite book of mine and the entire sentence from above reads, "Oh star of hope that shines to bless the Wanderer through life's wilderness! Angels of Love-are ye come to lead the weary Wanderer home?"
I find it ironic that anything metaphysically inclined has now come to be called 'New Age' when, in fact, there has been awareness of the metaphysical since ancient times, perhaps even more respect for its role in existence being understood and accepted in those days. The difference, I suppose, in modern times is the social acceptance of such ideas. And a lot less witch burnings. 😏
The primary reason I love this book is the basic concept that a man who has lived less than a chaste and benevolent life, turning his back on his one true love to wheel and deal in monetary gain to the ends of deeply sinning against God and humanity, finds himself in hell-but not a religious hell. That would be too simple. This hell is one that takes time to sink in for it is not a lot different from his life. This hell I can envision, as each entering there is made to exist among others such as themselves. If a thief, among theives, if a murderer, always running from murderers, etc. To exist in a place where there is no chance of salvation or redemption, playing out scenarios wherein one is the victim of their own sins over and over would indeed be hell to me.
Our dark hero, Franchezzo, has gone to such a place, resigning himself to his fate until a lifeline as in a faraway dream is extended. His true love prays for his soul, he can see her, and his heart is broken for what he is putting her through. He never stopped loving her though his heart had become embedded in stone in later life.
( I somehow feel the idea for Ebenezer Scrooge came from this book)
So Franchezzo seeks out a way to ascend the deepest bowels of hell, rung by painful rung, only so that he may relieve her pain over his soul's demise. The ensuing tale is reminiscent of Dante's Inferno and the moden day movie What Dreams May Come, with Robin Williams. It is possibly one of the most heartbreaking yet profoundly beautiful films I have ever seen in terms of personal love and sacrifice, of hope and salvation.
In the film Chris descends to hell to save Annie who has committed the grave sin of suicide, but he too is eventually drawn into her nightmare and decides to stay with her there rather than live throughout eternity without her. This final act of love awakens her soul to the truth of unconditional love and they are thus saved from Annie's hell.
I believe in a higher power that only knows love for its children and that whatever it takes to bring them home is what It would want. I also believe we have beings on Earth that deliver messages from the spirit world if only we can still our hearts and minds enough to see and hear them.
"Be still and listen, sayeth the Lord…"
Wishing you all a beautiful weekend filled with miracles and light.


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Most of you will be delighted to know that I've decided to accelerate the reading of this piece of oddness, mainly because I want to get to the last verse in order to ask a few questions. So far we've established that:
- writing seven poems a week is not the same as writing seven good poems;
- Hill's interest in things military may stem from his guilt that he never took part in combat;
- writing bad lines is not made any better by acknowledging this in a poem;
- over the last few years Hill has gone from being the bad boy of British poetry to its darling at the very time when his work is not at it's best;
- pattern poems (usually) aren't very good.
- Sir Geoffrey Hill can (of course) write whatever he wants because he is Sir Geoffrey Hill and has already written several of the finest poems in the language.
This is all of Poem VI:
I can hack most laureates' roster-homage,
Make a pranged voice nasal through ruptured matchbox;
Brief the act undangerously heroic;
We will survive it. This astounding people (Disraeli), their spears
Beating shield-hides, murmuring high a basso,
Hive-like, buzzing rage become torpor almost
Blood self-enthralling. Assegais whish-washed in the fleshy Empire
Jelk you inside out like a dumdum bullet;
Death by numbers, one-shot Martini Henry
Redhot on target. Errant Chelmsford, yet if slow Pulleine then had
Ordered form square, he could have saved their breakfast,
Might have subscribed that long-abandoned letter
Dead on the table. Stand-to you viewers. Mark how Chard and Bromhead
There with plucked Hook posthumously ill-fictioned
And a Welsh Jew - Land of My Fathers bless them -
Staggered the impi. Though your own sapped psyche so courts retraction
Soldiery's grand comedy plays to curtains.
Who denies this I would expect the Queen to
Rise up and smite him.
Let's start by getting the proper nouns out of the way, Lord Chelmsford was in charge of British forces during the Anglo-Zulu war and is blamed by many for not returning with his troops to Isandlwana when he was told that it was under attack. Subsequently Chelmsford tried to blame Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Henry Pulleine for the disaster because he had been left in charge of the camp. It does seem (from this completely amateur point of view) that neither did very well although Pulleine's failure to 'form square' may not have been his major sin. Chard, Bromhead and Hook were all heroes of Rorkes Drift- a battle that occurred at about the same time and in which we repelled (staggered) the Zulu forces. The Queen is likely to be our own current monarch but could also be Queen Victoria who met and was won round by Chelmsford after the war even though no-one else was. I am assuming that the ill-fictioned Welsh Jew is one of the characters in the film 'Zulu' that I have referred to before. It is unlikely to refer to Hook who was born in Gloucester although the majority of soldiers at Rorke's Drift do appear to have been Welsh.
I have no idea what that long-abandoned letter refers to nor do I know how to find out.
So, Isandlwana overrun due to upper class English incompetence / cowardice etc whereas Rorkes Drift defended by herioc Welsh squaddies singing 'Land of My Fathers' in the process (bless them).
I'm trying really hard to ignore the fact that 'then had / ordered form square' is so obviously bad and has no part in any kind of poem. It doesn't work on any level, if poetry is supposed to be 'heightened' language then this is surely language demeaned – isn't it? This isn't 'wrong' in the sense that Keston Sutherland has described, it's just unimaginative, weak and (dare this be said?) lazy. It doesn't even have the excuse of 'dissonance' all acknowledged in Poem 13 of the 'Clavics' sequence, it's just bad.
Readers of the disappointing 'Oraclau' sequence will not be surprised to note that Hill's recently discovered Welsh ancestry continues to influence his world-view. This may be quaintly idiosyncratic or merely self-indulgent, depending on your taste.
Films have been made about both these encounters as Hill would seem to acknowledge by addressing his audience as viewers although 'Mark how' is more theatrical than cinematic – I don't know of any plays depicting either battle.
The last verse is the reason for paying so much attention to this poem because I don't know what to make of it and would like some assistance with the following:
- whose psyche is being described?
- why is this psyche said to be sapped?
- what does having a sapped psyche mean or indicate?
- why would a sapped psyche court or woo (ie ask for) a retraction?
- is this retraction a denial of a previous assertion or the action of pulling an object back?
- is it altogether reasonable / sensible to equate the horrors involved in soldiery with theatrical performance and death with 'curtains'?
- why should people wish to deny that soldiers sometimes get killed?
- isn't it extremely unlikely for either monarch to take any heed of what Hill expects?
- which of the 26 main definitions of the verb 'smite' is being used on the last line?
- would it be worth my while to try and work this out?
So, we have the derring-do of the buzzing rage and the whishery washery of the insect like savage, the well-known incompetence of the British officer classand the unabashed heroism of the Welsh squaddie. We also have the fact that the British were using dum-dum bullets counterbalanced by the savages' entirely unreasonable use of the spear whilst omitting to mention the appalling rationale the British had for using such atrocious devices against spears and daggers. We have some bad lines, some lines that sound better than they are and more than a few syntactical tics.
Up until the last verse it is reasonably clear what's going on but the last four lines are either deliberate and self-indulgent obfuscation beyond my ken or they don't make any kind of sense, even for a 'hierarchical Tory'.
I now find that I've come out of this reading in a more negative mood than when I started which might say more about me than the poem but it's not an exercise that I intend to repeat with this sequence any time soon primarily because I don't have to and life really is too short.


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Blog Archives
With Statement in C# .Net
If you're stumbling across this article, chances are you may be looking for a replacement for VB .Net's "with" statement.
Sadly, there is no exact replacement, but there are alternatives which are equally helpful.
Given a basic class "Robot" below:
public class Robot { public string name {get;set;} public int age {get;set;} }
Variable Declaration
If you were using "With" simply for initial variable declaration so you didn't have to specify long constructors, you can use the following instead:
public Robot MyRobot = new Robot() {name="Ronnie-5", age=3300};
If you were using "With" to stay within the context of an object while performing a specific task, then there is no direct equivalent, although I would definitely advise you to try "using" if you're not already.
using (Robot MyRobot = new MyRobot()) { MyRobot.name="Ronnie-5"; MyRobot.age=3300; if (MyRobot.name=="something") { //do something } //when finished it will automatically dispose for you }
Extension Methods
Another approach, if your concern is code readability and brevity is to begin using some generic class extension methods in your project to help you simplify common tasks. (see example below)
(Kudos to Anay Kamat for clean and reusable code.)
public static class MetaExtensions { public static void Set(this object obj,params Func<string,object>[] hash){ foreach(Func<string,object> member in hash){ var propertyName = member.Method.GetParameters()[0].Name; var propertyValue = member(string.Empty); obj.GetType() .GetProperty(propertyName) .SetValue(obj,propertyValue,null); }; } }
So you could also alternatively replace "With" by adding the above class extension method and simply doing:
var myrobot = new Robot(); myrobot.Set( name=> "Ronnie-5", age=> 3300 ); //or as a one-liner myrobot.Set(name=>"othername",age=>otherage);
Now this is technically more lines of code than simply declaring initialization values in the first code snippet, but the upside is… well actually, I'm not sure of the upside, but it's definitely cool. 🙂
Anay Kamat (blog), http://anaykamat.com/2009/08/09/simple-equivalent-of-with-statement-in-c-sharp/
MSDN (Extension Methods), http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb383977.aspx


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Moro is a great restaurant, but if you want to eat just tapas, you have to sit at the bar. Cue Morito, a small tapas-only sibling next door. Almost half of Morito is comprised of bar seating (thumbs up for the under-counter bag hooks), and the other half is made up of table seating. It's casual and buzzy and often crowded.
Still, on a recent Monday evening, I was able to snag a table for three, though it was wedged awkwardly in the corner near a waiter's station.
Morito is a lot of fun. The tapas are small and most are priced under £4 per plate. The service was friendly, and most dishes I tried were excellent. The perfect place to have a drink and catch up with a friend. (I wouldn't go with a bigger group – you'll never get a table).
Pepper potato and onion tortilla: The classic dish, and a good measure of the rest of the tapas to come, I think. Morito's had a good firm texture, creamy with potato, sweet from the peppers and onions, and finishing with a little chili kick. (£3.50)
Quail's egg and jamon – Eggs and ham. It's salty; it's creamy. What's not to love? Its prettiness is icing on the cake. (£4)
Spiced labneh with aubergine – tangy, rich labneh perfectly complemented the slightly-sweet-and-smoky aubergine. (£4)
Puntillitas (aka baby squid) – the perfect bar snack. Seasoned, breaded and fried. (£6.50)
Good, but not great:
Red prawns and alioli – Shell-on prawns were sweet but kind of lacking in meat. And I would love if they'd been more garlicky. (£6.50)
Salt cod croquetas – I like more creamy bechamel in my croquetas. Also, bacalao is not my fave. (£4)
Crispy aubergine with miel de cana – These were way too sugary. Miel de cana has the strong flavor of molasses. (£3.50)
Patatas mojo (aka salt crusted potatoes with green chilli and coriander sauce) – Despite the delicious-sounding menu description, these were a bit bland. (£3.50)
There was an impressively large number of dishes to choose from, and generally, all were pretty good.
With cheap and cheerful tumblers of wine, each of us paid £20. And because I still had room for dessert, I treated myself to an affogato down the block at Caravan, which is great on atmosphere, coffee and desserts. (Dinner there, however, was underwhelming, in case you were wondering).
There's lots of other dishes I wish I'd tried at Morito, including the mussel and chorizo empanadilla, the lamb chops with cumin and paprika, and the spiced lamb with aubergine, yoghurt and pine nuts.
So I'll be back. But only with one friend.
Morito, 32 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL; closest tube stations: Angel or Farringdon, but it's a healthy 10-15 minute walk, so try to catch a bus like the 38.


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To show thanks to their valued clients during Easter, Shelley Naylor Realty wanted us to cook up something a little different.
We proposed the idea hot cross buns with their logo piped and baked on, the kind of personal touch, care and attention to detail that resonates with the Shelley Naylor approach to real estate.
Collective Intelligence (CQ) is a membership-based community of professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders from across New Zealand.
They have a clear vision and wonderful branding however one of their key tools (an introduction pack for new members) was very underwhelming.
MediaWorks were looking to increase staff engagement with their annual goal setting.
The challenge was to sustain interest in the set goals over an extended period of time. Not easy, unless you turn the goals into a coin rugby game.
When a great idea already exists it needs to have equally great marketing to make it spread.
Heatrite came to us with an awesome product to promote: The Oztent - a tent that can be erected in 30 seconds.
Real estate agents are experts at marketing homes — from the photography and web marketing to the finely honed-copy and face-to-face sales.
It can be easy for many agents to fall into a robotic rut. A 'numbers game'. Not Shelley Naylor.
When you're competing against established brands one of your best assets as a small business owner is your personality.
Steve, of Steve's Tyre Service, embraced our social media campaign idea to use him as a central, tongue-in-check character to market their services online.
Award Importing were seeking a brand refresh that could maintain a sense of heritage while also moving their branding into the modern age.
Designed with digital spaces in mind we created the 'Flying Jib' logo lockup.
The PKF Rutherford's Christmas Party is the must-attend Christmas party of the year.
A beautifully decorated office, live music, an outdoor barbeque area, delicious punch and Christmas canapes.
So imagine the shock when PKF's clients received a mysterious invitation, beautifully presented in deep red and black, declaring 2015's party as their Final Act.
Fonterra were hungry for a way to communicate the progress and benefits of their mozzarella research to their stakeholders and the media.
We took all of the information that would normally go on press release and transferred it onto something a little more digestible - a pizza box.


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The US economy added: 250,000 jobs in October. federal economists reported on Friday. The unemployment rate was 3.7 percent.
The government's latest labor market snapshot is the last in the mid-term election, showing a stronger boom than the widely-anticipated analysts.
The report arrived three weeks after Hurricanes broke florid pancakes and Georgia, some people temporarily from work and attenuating southeast-economic activity.
Michael's death followed the hurricane in Florence, flooding homes and roads in Carolinas.
[[[[US workers see the fastest wage growth in a decade, but inflation is made with a toll]
Typical employees' income grew by 3.1 percent in the year ending October, and in the first decade, they broke the 3 percent growth ceiling for the first time.
The country now has 7.1 million openings, record high, announced by the Ministry of Labor on Tuesday.
Companies are under pressure to make more pay at the time when more vacancies are vacant than applicants to fill them, "said Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at Glassdoor.
"Average earnings eventually start to pick up, especially in some low-skilled positions," he said. "Maintenance workers, bank counters, cashiers, chefs – employers work in many jobs."
Health, manufacturing, construction, transportation and warehousing fueled particularly strong labor growth in October.
The number of people employed in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare institutions increased by 36,000.
The number of manufacturing jobs jumped by 32,000 and the biggest gain was generated by the production of goods.
The country's unemployment rate in mid-September is nearly half a century low. The President accepted this data point. "Just out: 3.7% Unemployment is the lowest since 1969!" Trump tweeted on October 5th.
Some analysts have been spending more and more prizes on legislative steps. Eighteen states have increased their minimum wage this year.
He spoke at a Washington letter on Thursday, the White House economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, said he was opposed to this policy at national level.
"In my opinion, the federal minimum wage is a terrible idea. It's a terrible idea," he said, adding that this race would damage small businesses.
In the US, employment growth slowed down significantly in September, thanks largely to the devastating run-off of the Hurricane in Florence through Carolinas.
From According to the Labor Statistics Office, 313,000 people did not work in working time in September because of the rough weather.
According to economists, tens of thousands of people are likely to miss wages in October due to the hurricane Michael's damage.
Service and construction workers are likely to lose shifts during and after major storms. The crumbling rainforests store, wreck their paths and delay the delivery of building materials.
Business disturbances due to severe weather, according to a Federal Reserve study. Economic activity can take months to recover.
"You can not work in a workplace if you're under water," said Robert Frick, Navy Federal Credit Union Virginia, a corporate economist.
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