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News, Vision & Voice for the Advisory Community
The number three custodian of RIA assets is finding ways to lead
October 12, 2010 — 5:50 AM UTC by Brooke Southall
Brooke's Note: Recently TD Ameritrade came out with a better unified managed account program than the competition. Now its ETF program looks — hands down — to offer advantages. Smaller players have always been the agents of disruption and change. TD Ameritrade continues to warm to its role of small enough to be nimble and — post TD Waterhouse-Ameritrade merger integration and backed by the cash of TD Bank that never faltered in 2008 — big enough to make some varsity moves against larger competitors.
TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. last week unfurled a an ETF platform with the potential to send tremors through the world of financial advisors, investors, providers of exchange traded funds and competing discount brokers.
Consistent with a recent pattern of disruptive competitive behavior, the Omaha, Neb.-based parent of the number three asset custodian is allowing advisors to trade 101 of the larger, more popular ETFs for free. This compares to only 11 commission-free ETFs from Charles Schwab & Co. and 25 commission-free ETFs from Fidelity Investments.
"It doesn't surprise me that TD Ameritrade is more flexible and aggressive in providing a larger universe of ETFs" as the number-three player, says Paul Weisbruch, vice president of ETF sales and options for Street One Financial, a King of Prussia, Pa.-based company that helps RIAs to lower their costs in trading ETFs. "It makes sense to me [that they'd gamble by offering a loss leader]. Otherwise there's no differentiating factor."
In contrast to other custodians, TD Ameritrade will not receive major revenue from the underlying exchange traded funds.
Fidelity gets paid by BlackRock for making iShares the exclusive product-line on its no-transaction-fee ETF platform. Schwab receives revenue from its free-ETF deal because all the products are Schwab-branded. That allows the company to collect revenues from the underlying management fees.
TD Ameritrade receives no revenue for trades on its ETF Market Center except for a $20 charge for ETFs on the list that are bought then sold in a 30-day period. [RIAs interviewed for this article found this caveat fairly trivial because they mostly trade for the long term.]
Vanguard gets a foothold
The two largest providers of ETFs on TD Ameritrade's platform are BlackRock and Vanguard Group respectively. See: Coming from behind, Vanguard is gobbling up ETF market share
TD Ameritrade has an element of objectivity in its ETF offering. Morningstar Associates of Chicago chooses the ETFs that make its free list. Schwab selects only its own funds and Fidelity is restricted to the iShares universe.
Though the new TD Ameritrade offering seems to be a pure loss-leader, TD Ameritrade believes that it will be "revenue-neutral," according to Matt Judge, director of wealth management solutions for TD Ameritrade.
"We want increased share of wallet. We're trying to encourage consolidation of accounts to TD Ameritrade."
The change by TD Ameritrade will significantly improve how well San Francisco-based Polaris Equity Management, for one, is able to serve its clients, according to its president and CEO, Jeff Powell. His firm manages $215 million of AUM and most of those assets are held in ETFs.
"We are big proponents of [TD's new program]. This will allow us to be more active with our management of smaller accounts." About half the ETFs Polaris buys are among the 101 ETFs offered on the new TD platform, Powell adds.
Eating away at returns
He gives the example of a $20,000 portfolio managed on behalf of a client's child that holds 20 different ETFs. At $10 a trade, a rebalancing could cost $200, which amounts to 1% of the value of that portfolio. "That's eating away at returns without considering management fees or our own fee," he says.
This pricing difference is significant enough that it is likely to make TD Ameritrade's competitors like Schwab and Fidelity re-evealuate their own offerings, according to Weisbruch.
Fidelity will take its cues from clients, according to Fidelity's spokesman Steve Austin.
"Naturally, we will evaluate this offer over time based on customer preference," he said.
Austin adds that Fidelity is pleased with how its free-ETF program is working out.
BlackRock partnership
"We are happy with our partnership with BlackRock," he says. "We now have tens of thousands of customers that now own at least one of the 25 commission-free iShares who did not own any of the 25 when the offer became available in February."
Schwab declined to comment but sent a list of features of its free ETF program. Generally its ETFs have the lowest operating expense ratios in each of their respective categories. Another advantage: investors can buy as little as a single share of an ETF.
Doug Dannemiller, a senior analyst with research firm Aite Group of Boston, says that pricing differentials between ETF providers is only one factor that advisors consider when evaluating the products.
"If you're in the ballpark on price, you're fine," he says.
Still, Joseph Leitman, managing director of portfolio management and investment operations for Mclean [Va.] Asset Management says that TD's offer "leapfrogged" the competition and will be beneficial to his company's business.
McLean manages $425 million of assets and it invests primarily in mutual funds from Dimensional Fund Advisors of Santa Monica, Calif.
ETFs and DFA funds
His company is starting to become a separate accounts manager and it may make greater use of ETFs in that sub-advisory portion of its business. TD's ETF pricing encourages that mode of investing.
On the high net worth side of the business, his company often uses ETFs when it sells a DFA fund to harvest a tax loss. It buys the ETF that best approximates the holdings of the DFA fund until 30 days passes to comply with the IRS wash rule.
Dannemiller says the downward pressure on ETF pricing is a remarkable phenomenon that may continue to gain momentum – though it defies the law of supply and demad.
As demand increases for ETFs, the prices only seem to be falling. He points to Vanguard's report last week that it is lowering the minimum investment necessary for an advisor to buy the Admiral class of Vanguard ETFs on behalf of clients from $100,000 to $10,000.
The big losers as ETFs get cheaper — especially in world of advisors concerned with providing fiduciary care: mutual funds, Dannemiller adds.
TD Ameritrade | BlackRock | iShares | Vanguard | ETF
Mentioned in this article:
TD Ameritrade
Asset Custodian
Top Executive: Tom Nally
Share your thoughts and opinions with the author or other readers.


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Boehner plugs Jeb Bush for president
John Boehner put in a plug for Jeb Bush on the Tonight Show on Thursday. "I'm not endorsing anybody but Jeb Bush is my friend and I frankly think he'd make a great president," Boehner told Jay Leno, who replied:
"Bush-Clinton again?"
"We're making assumptions here," Boehner said.

subset: commoncrawl


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NEIGHBORHOOD has just dropped the perfect military style piece for the seasonal weather changes, called the ALT.69 R-JKT. While the quilt pattern is seemingly inspired by camouflage print, it is actually based on an elevation map from around the Altamont, California area, bringing a unique and beautiful detail to the item. NEIGHBORHOOD chose a silhouette based around a 1960s vintage souvenir jacket. A closer look at the piece reveals front slash pockets, elbow patches that are combined with sleeve plackets, and custom graphics on the chest. Right down to the subtle, yet stylish details, the look and feel of this release is definitively NEIGHBORHOOD. The ALT.69 R-JKT is now available at HOODS.
Shop 5, G/F
10 Ice House St.
Hong Kong
Photography: HYPEBEAST


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The Cult Den Interview about Roadtojove.com and quick update.
A couple of weeks ago, Aaron and David did an interview about Roadtojove.com for the Cult Den, an online central all about comics, art, books, and entertainment in general.
The Cult Den has now ended it's run, and as the website, nor the interview is available through there, Aaron and David decided to host it here, on Studio Colrouphobia's blog, for future reference.
The interview was done by Liam Salt, who has moved on to another site (which one, he wouldn't divulge on just yet) and we are sure he will do just fine there.
Without further ado, here is the
Interview – David Sondered and Aaron Dembski-Bowden
"Hey guys! Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed. Now, the first question is a kinda political one that I also asked of Patrick Freivald. I know these things can be a bit fraught, and there's no hard feelings if you don't want to answer… Anyway, here goes; Jedi, or Sith?
David Sondered: Sith. I'm too unbalanced for Jedi…
Aaron Dembski-Bowden: Jedi. Not that they were right (because they weren't) but they were a dead interesting idea for a flawed, nuanced caste of a galactic society. They had tyrannical elements (like the 'kidnapping' of children) and their philosophies ran against natural human instinct, but that only made them more interesting. Perfect cultures are bori–
I just realised I was about to launch into a 3,000 word essay over a joke question.
tl;dr — Jedi. I like how well-intentioned but flawed they were.
Plus, green lightsabers are best.
Moving on…
DS: Coincidentally, I like how focused the Sith are/where, but with a mean streak.
While I'm more than happy to enter into a dissertation-length discourse on Jedi-Sith pros and cons, Aaron, we probably shouldn't… So ice-breakers aside, care to tell us a little bit about yourselves and Road to Jove?
ADB: Um. My name's Aaron, but various family members smugly introduce me as New York Times best-selling author Aaron Dembski-Bowden, which makes me cringe. I've written ten (ish?) novels for Warhammer 40,000, which I've loved ever since I was about 8. I'm working on some other stuff; Road to Jove is the first focused attempt to get some of my other ideas out into the world.
I like Marmite on toast. I collect Pez dispensers. I don't like cats. I'm 50-50 on people who do like cats.
Road to Jove is a gestalt entity of a bajillion things that I love – like ancient world mythology – but on a meta-level (and yes, I feel like a tool even typing that) it's primarily my love letter to Neil Gaiman, Stephen King's 'Dark Tower Series', and the childhood epic 'The Mysterious Cities of Gold',
It was also a great excuse to work with David, whose work I've seen a bunch online over the years, and usually commented on with breathy, admiring swear words.
DS: So, I'm David Sondered.
Half of Studio Colrouphobia (which I run together with my wife) and the… visual aspect of Road to Jove. I make the illustrations for the comic, and I have been working as an illustrator for about ten years. The admiring swearwords where most likely coming from both ends of the canal at more or less simultaneous times, as I have been a fan of Aaron's work since the First Heretic, which was the first Warhammer book I ever bought and read.
When Aaron first asked if I would even remotely have any interest in doing something together with him, I immediately said yes, without hesitation.
And I share Aarons dislike of cats, hence my family, of course, own one.. a magnificent beast called Khan… Just so we can call out "Khaaaaan!". We balance it by calling our dog Balor… he has an evil eye and a mean odour…
Don't all dogs have a mean odour? Ours smells like the back-end of a cow about 75% of the time…
DS: The cow died, crawled up our dogs backside, zombified and then died again… trust me.. there is a difference!
Ha! Fair enough! So, before I get completely sidetracked – what made you guys decide on a webcomic, as opposed to a more traditional publishing format?
ADB: I went into it specifically thinking "I want a webcomic…" since, well, I've kinda always wanted one – just like a million other writers, of course. It seemed like it'd be a simple affair, too.
How wrong we were. That innocent and wide-eyed optimism faded a little when I realised just how much work it was for both of us, considering we wanted it to be as good as we could make it.
DS: At the same time, the hard work has been very rewarding.
I really enjoy working together on this sort of thing. Just the conceptualisation of it all is an extremely rewarding process in terms of finding out what Aaron had as an idea, my spin on it, jumbling things around and coming out at something really worthwhile.
ADB: We've already had a few interesting and tempting offers to do it in a more traditional format (and a few of my writer/artist friends are yelling at us for giving it away for free, given the work that's going into it), but we're still trying to puzzle out where we stand on the whole deal.
I like the webcomic idea, though. It feels right.
DS: The fact that we also work very well on a personal level is a very rewarding part of it. But the webcomic format feels, to get back to that, very right indeed.
On paper, working on a comic sounds simple enough, but I imagine it can be quite testing? Has it presented many challenges?
DS: For me, personally, the greatest challenge has been the loss of detail.
I am used to more finished illustrations, to fit a larger format. In comic-form, a lot of the art has to be smaller, and consequently a lot of detail has to be dropped simply to be able to see what is going on in the panels…
Plus, I really like the setting we have arrived at. It really is our own thing, something new, and so I automatically have the urge to want to paint it all out. In a comic format this cannot always be done.
ADB: I admit, I cheated a little. I know a lot of comic writers, and Dan Abnett sent me some of his finished scripts, with annotations, to show me the ropes. So a lot of the problems I was expecting to have – like, say, brevity – were alleviated a little by seeing how it's done professionally.
Truncating dialogue and description sounds like it'd be really hard for a novelist, but you have the huge boost of the visuals to do a lot of the storytelling alongside it.
Like David says, the hardest part is condensing the finished paintings into the panels. The loss of detail at times is pretty heartbreaking. We're still learning exactly what makes a page work, as well. Sometimes the script has narrative beats at the end of every page, but fitting all of those panels onto a single illustrated update has been tricky. So there are rewrites, but not too many. We're getting the hang of it. We hope.
We've got over a novel's worth of notes right now, at about 150,000 words. We've only 'argued' over two things so far. The first was whether to ink it or paint it. The second was the shape of [DELETED NAME] the robot's shins.
Now we're friends again.
Friends in high places, eh? *takes notes for "how to succeed" at comics" article*…
Specifically for Aaron, has it been odd working on your own project, as opposed to working from an established IP such as GW's?
ADB:It's refreshing. I know that's the most boring and obvious answer of all time, but it's true. Working in IPs is a blessing and a curse. You have structure, and in the case of 40K it's a setting that I've loved since I was a kid. I know it inside-out.
Working within the boundaries of an IP can be restrictive, though. That's its strength as well as its weakness. As thrilling as it is to get to contribute to something you love, it's also defined by specific boundaries – a lot of the things I like to read or would like to write about just don't fit neatly into 40K, so I don't touch them in my licensed work.
It's an awesome change of pace to have no limits with The Road to Jove. I wouldn't say either way is better; they're two sides to the same coin. Sometimes it's nice to be a hired gun for a cause you love. Sometimes it's nice to create the cause yourself.
Have you found your love for, and experience of, the 40k universe cross-pollinating Road to Jove (so to speak)?
DS: It's no secret that I love the background and visual aspect of Warhammer and 40k, but I think a lot of our thoughts with RtJ have gone to the extent of trying to not go towards 40k. People will draw these similarities regardless, because of who we are, but I think that we are moving quite far away from it.
ADB: I try to keep them separate, honestly. I'm aware of the potential for bleed-over, but that's kind of the thing: 40K hits so many beats and claims so many narrative tropes within the huge sphere of its setting. Some things are just ubiquitous, like corrupted machinery or power armour, etc.
It's not that any of it is unique to 40K, but a lot of modern sci-fi and fantasy tropes are so prominent in 40K that avoiding all of them would be impossible.
Basically, I just run with the story we want to tell, in the world we're creating, and try to keep any 40K allusions out of it. Beyond the occasional similarities, I hope it comes across like chalk and cheese.
Aaron, by my reckoning that's now books, comics, and a movie you've covered – any plans for a song as well to complete the set?
ADB: My singing literally tears the wings from the backs of angels. So… no.
Though I do sing 'Sugar Rush' with my 3-year-old about 800 times a day. I draw the line at 'Let It Go', though.
One for David – how do you go about your illustrations? Do you have a preferred method or style?
DS: When it comes to illustration in general or to the comic?
I tend to alter my method depending on what need be done.
For an illustration I generally do a somewhat tighter sketch, followed by lineart if the job demands it (it depends on which Art Director or who is commissioning it) and then I block in everything.
With Road to Jove I am a lot more loose with my panels.
I make really loose sketches, scribbles really. Things that make Aaron rip his hair from any place there still remains after seeing all my scribbles. After that I paint in the background.
For some of the things I have used a lot more reference. Mechanical things like pipes and so on, I tend to use a lot of reference to get the angles correct.
In terms of style, I am moving towards the style one can see among many of the amazing Chinese or East-Asian artists today. Ruan Jia, Fenghua Zhong, Min Yum. It can also be sen wiht some Western painters, to more or less of a degree: KD Stanton, Arnaud Pheu, The Black Frog.
This sort of painterly style is something I really enjoy, and it is starting to show in my art, specifically when it comes to Road to Jove.
But in essence, I am just trying to make it look good. I find that the grittiness works very well for The Road to Jove.
A related question from my editor – what's an average day for Studio Colrouphobia?
DS: The average day- it's different between us, since I do this more on a full-time level and my partner in crime is only doing this part-time right now. But this is the general rundown:
I do research and concepts in the mornings, for about an hour or two. Then, generally, I sleep for two hours. The past months, a lot of conversations have happened early mornings with Aaron as well.
At noon I get up and start with the things that are on my list for the day. This will generally be sketching, rendering or finer details of jobs we have on the table currently.
Later in the afternoon, I will do a bit of paperwork, then more rendering.
In the evening my wife comes home and after dinners and family things, we tend to get to our studio "the Library" and work on on different projects we have. We also have studio meetings, where we set everything up and plan ahead.
I then typically work on up until 2-3am local time, after which I will sleep for about 3-4 hours.
Inbetween all of this, I add in Road to Jove, a bit of going to the gym. Need to keep fit, in mind and body.
Wow! That's a pretty packed schedule, then!
DS: It varies from day to day, but yeah.
There are also frequent breaks. Without breaks my mind melts and my hands cramp up !
Makes sense. I can just about manage one terrible stick-person before giving up! One for both of you – what's your creative process like? Are you organised and methodical, chaotic, or do you just have an idea and wing it?
DS:For me, it depends-
Some of the absolute best work I do comes from a very chaotic point of origin, where a random idea, or even a scribble, will turn into the best I have produced up until that point.
However, mostly, it is pretty organised and ordered. If I couldn't keep things somewhat ordered there would be no way to work for Art Directors all over the world. There need be some structure, otherwise you aren't reliable.
I do, however, keep scribbling at a very high amount. It is one of the best ways to get and keep ideas for future things.
I am also a very Audiovisual person- I need music or some other sound-distraction/inspiration to perform at my best.
Thinking up things to paint, conceptualising, doesnt crave music per se, but when rendering, I really need it.
ADB: We've got into the habit of me sending scripts a few weeks in advance, and discussing the long-term storyline and future way ahead of time. David's keen on the idea of seeding in references to later events or locations as early as possible, so I've had to dial back on my usual chaotic approach to just diving in and hoping it comes out all right by the last page.
Working with someone else has done wonders for my organisational skills. When you've got someone depending on you for information, you can't just crash out early and say "I'll do it tomorrow."
A few times a week David sends sketches over and I offer feedback, but my comments are usually pretty brief, and more often in the form of "What about if we do…?" rather than "Change this".
DS: Oh yeah, the working together part has definately upped my organisational skills.
Since this happen outside of the studio-budget, and thus mean I have to do it on spare-time to be able to keep my working situation bareable, I really had to focus on making sure I have schedules for everything.
It usually doesn't affect Aaron at all, but only side, it is very neat and tidy in terms of when and how I work on Road to Jove, and when I work on other things.
I think, also, the different backgrounds we have, when it comes to dealing with telling story, mean that we have previously worked in a particular fascion. I like to know everything, or as close as possible to everything, up front. That way, I can leave visual keys or hints in my work. Aaron quite early on had to take on my constant questions on where would the story move next, how does it look there, and so on.
At the same time, the way Aaron has built the story and the pace is very intuitive, and I find that sometimes, not knowing what will happend next actually make me evolve.
Interesting! So co-operating has to some extent tamed your collective chaotic natures? I also find it interesting that David, you need music or something to work to. Personally, if there's any kind of distraction, I'll end up not doing what I need. Do you work to background noise/TV as well, Aaron?
ADB: Stephen King calls it "closing the door". I do the same thing- I spend way too much on nice headphones to close the door to the rest of the world, and hear nothing but music.
It's even more important now there's a tiny version of myself walking around the house all day, breaking all my Space Marines and singing about Spider-Man.
DS: In terms of music, there are some characters that will appear that really come straight out of how a certain piece of music made me feel at a certain point.
It is important to know that whilst I do all of the painting, we actually create the characters, visually, together. I throw ideas at Aaron, but we always discuss the ideas and evolve the characters and environments together.
What's you favourite piece of work – or the piece that you've most enjoyed working on/writing – so far?
DS: Without a doubt it's [NAME REMOVED], an antagonist that will pop up before the end of the Prologue. I am enjoying that immensely. Aron knows what I am talking about, but lets not skip a head too much.
Cryptic. I like it!
DS: It is very cryptic, mainly because I cant even describe what he/she/it is, but the process of getting the concepts out there is just.. magic.
ADB: Briefly, two answers to that.
I love the panels on Page 5, where you see the Soldier from the Robot's perspective, looking down at her, and the Robot from the Soldier's perspective, looking up at him. I really love that contrast.
But I also saw a sketch today of a fight scene coming towards the end of the prologue, where decapitations are involved, hot damn that's a thing of brutal beauty.
Awesome! Finally then, some quick-fire questions. Feel free to answer with as much brevity or verbosity as you please;
Tea, or coffee?
DS: Coffee.
ADB: Coffee, then tea.
Major influences?
DS: Paul Bonner, Wayne England, Rubens.
ADB: Robin Hobb, Bernard Cornwell, and Stephen King. I don't write like any of them, but they all have elements that I love and learn from.
DS: Hah, cool, I like Robin Hobb as well, I didn't know she was an influence of yours!
ADB: (She's my favourite author. Look at how little we talk about anything except work. That's dedication.)
True, single-minded focus, clearly!
Classic Rock, or Heavy Metal?
ADB: Melodic Death Metal. But not normal Death Metal. Never that.
I didn't even realise there was a distinction…
ADB: (Don't start another 3,000-word essay, man…)
DS: Ooh, difficult. I like both really, but if I have to choose, Metal.
Ranging from Sabbath, through Zeppelin, Maiden and onto System of a Down; Slipknot… I like most things, until it get a bit too …screamy. I like to be able to understand the lyrics, that's about where I draw the line really.
Movie, or Book?
DS: Book. I enjoy movies, I like to get the visuals, but book always win. My own imagination is so much more wondrous and scary than any movie ever can be.
ADB: Circumstantial.
In the case of I am Legend: book.
In the case of Interview with the Vampire: movie.
In the cases of Watchmen and The Shawshank Redemption: both.
In the case of 300: neither.
Eisenhorn or Ravenor?
DS:Eisenhorn, but only because I (shame) haven't read anything of Ravenor at all yet. I've read very little Eisenhorn too, but still..
ADB: Ravenor. By miles. And I've had this talk with Dan a bunch of times, too. Eisenhorn gets a lot of the breaks and one-liners, but Ravenor really, honestly struggles, and I dig that. Everyone loves Eisenhorn, and the reader gets to intimately see how "right" he is from his perspective, despite how breathtakingly wrong he really is in terms of the setting. I think, in contrast, that can make Ravenor incorrectly come across as less interesting or less informed.
Ravenor works harder, suffers more, and struggles to keep his warband together. Eisenhorn gets it all on a plate.
When Patience Kys and Kara Swole show up on Ravenor's side in 'Pariah', instead of Eisenhorn's, I immediately called Dan and hissed "Yesssssssss!" down the phone at him.
David, that's not too shameful, if only because you've got so much awesome to look forward to.
Aaron, I love that answer, even though I disagree, and would like to add that if you're ever short of monies, I'm always on the lookout for an inside man to help me ambush Dan Abnett and keep him in a "Misery" style situation, churning out new Inquisitor books for me. I promise there's only a 40% chance I'll betray you into a similar situation…
ADB: I like those odds…
And finally, Sci-fi, or Fantasy?
ADB: Fantasy on weekdays, sci-fi on weekends. Or vice versa. Either way, I'd like to see more of both on TV. And more daring examples of both genres, rather than the played-safe versions we get now.
DS: I like mixing things up. In fact, a lot of the visuals in Road to Jove are about that. I mix sci-fi with things like stone, cast-iron and wood. I love that.
So yeah. both.
Awesome! Well, that's all the questions I had, but if you think of anything you'd like to add, it'll be a few days before it goes up, so feel free to message me with them.
And once again, massive thanks guys! Both for the answers, which were pretty uniformly great, and for all the fantastic work!
ADB: Awesome. Thanks again, dude.
DS: Indeed, looking forward to it!
Aaron Dembski-Bowden is a New York Times bestselling author, and lives in Ireland. His works for The Black Library include The First Heretic, The Talon of Horus, and the Night Lords trilogy.
David Sondered is lead artist at Studio Colrouphobia, and has produced work for Fantasy Flight Games, Catalyst Game Labs, and Prodos Games.
Image from Roadtojove.com
Originally posted on TheCultDen.com
We are quite overwhelmed with the response we have gotten so far. We are closing in on the end of the prologue, after which there will be a break before the release of the first Chapter. The first chapter will be released a little faster than the prologue, and we are looking into options to bring it even faster. So bookmark the page is you haven't already.
In case you hadnt already, go over and read aaron's latest tidbits about the road to jove right here: RTJ FAQ: Acronyms ahoy!
There are a few exciting NDA's in he pipeline. and hopefully the items are published soon so we can showcase some goodies.
And for those of you who sponsor us through Patreon: The first Empyrean Champion is bound to be released the coming days: Oberon, king of the forests, is incoming.
(For the non-patreon supporters, Oberon will be available as part of our portfolio in just over a month)
We still have spots open for 100€ commissions. Feeling like you need an interesting piece of digital art? (Single character, simple background) Let us know! These kind of commissions help us evolve, quite often our clients give excellent briefs and have creative ideas regarding things we haven't thought of. So take the chance 🙂
For anything outside of those specs, or if you need any information not covered here, go to the bottom of the About page and send us a message through the contact form, or just email us. The address is right up there, to the right of this post!
Please note that Studio Colrouphobia will not do any paid commissions based on any IP's not allowing any reproduction and/or derivative work.
We're back!
Friends, artists, country(wo)men!
As predicted, a certain time before Christmas we got swamped with work. On top of this, we also upgraded our company-computer, which in itself was a task that demanded a lot more work and time than we thought.We are looking at starting up the weekly updates again, Wednesdays as mentioned before.
There will be a break for Christmas, so on the 24th there will be no update, but for the rest it's back to business.
Have we been completely out of the loop? No, we are aware of trailers of the wars in the stars kind, and Korean super-graphics in MMORPGs.
What have we done?
Well, for starters, as many of you know, there are contracts prohibiting too much to be told about illustrations until releases of either product or disclosure. That time has sadly not arrived just yet, but look out for January-February, where atleast one of the projects David has worked on will be rleased. The rest of our projects, whether private or commercial, will see the light during spring and summer next year and a few new ones are coming in right now.
What about 'style'?
We are writing up the third and last part of this during the last couple of weeks and what is left is making examples and formatting the article into blog-form.
What else is there?
If you have been keen-eyed, you have seen the hints and comments about The Road to Jove by Aaron and David. So let's just post something about that for this "in-between" post.
Q: Is there a date of release?
A: Yes, but we will tell you more about this the coming weeks. There is a timeschedule, some awesomeness and tidbits that will start popping up. Patience is a virtue. David doesn't have patience so we'll see how fast things comes out.
Q: What is this thing anyway?
A: Well, we haven't said what it is just yet. Not definately, to the public. But if you do the maths… Aaron is anaccomplished writer, David does illustration. Plus the hint that they gave through various updates on Facebook and through the blogs. It equals something…
Q: Can't you show us more?
A: Sure! Here is something:
When you make something new and exciting, you often need to brainstorm ideas. Creating concepts and agreeing or disagreeing on what should or should not be in there.
In the process that has gone between David and Aaron, there have beenback-and-forth talk about many things. For one thing, the big guy (above, not giving you a name just yet!) has had several looks for his head. Below you will find a couple of examples that Aaron and David went through.
And then there is this, we're not going to tell you just yet what it is, but it's just something completely new about the Road to Jove that you haven't seen just yet:
That's it for the Road to Jove this time.
Tell us about interesting artists and their art!
Found someone interesting? Let us know! We'd love to showcase some more art on our blog. Let us know through the comments, Facebook page. or Twitter Page (dont forget to hashtag with #dontfeartheclown on Twitter!).
If you are interested in private commissions we have three slots open this week.
For more info and contact, go to the bottom of the About page and send us a message through the contact form.
Tell us what you think about todays blogpost. Use the form on the about page (link in sentence just above this) or through our Facebook page. or Twitter Page (hashtag it with #dontfeartheclown) We'd love to see your input!
Style, to death II
Welcome to this weeks post.
How are you hanging in there? Due to a storm drawing in over Belgium we couldn't post yesterday so let's make up for it in style.
Last week we discussed Western style. We took up some contemporary icons of art and two artists who have a very distinct style.
This week we'd like to discuss Eastern style and some of the lesser known (in the west) styles.
When we say "Eastern" we are referring to Asia and East Asia. Please also note that this is in no way a comprehensive, or necessarily correct, discourse over Asian art. Just observations.
Asian artists have largely been unknown to westerners. To introduce them now would take far more time and space than what this blog can do in a single post. So let's focus on a smaller part of Asia, East Asia. More specifically, let's focus on China and Japan for this time.
To understand how style works in China and Japan, we need to understand some of the background of the art movements through time in these two countries.
China has always had a strong cultural drive. Whether in form of theatre, dance, music, pottery, or painting; there has always been a strong development of the arts.
When it comes to painting in particular, the Chinese have always had interesting ideas around it; i.e. ink has been a strong influence on art. In western art, black has on occasion been seen as no colour, or at the very least a colour that should never be used. The Chinese, on the other hand, revered black as the best colour. Black ink was considered to have all colours in it, and thus could portray all colours. To be able to do this the ink had to be "alive" and applied in varying tones to display all the subtetlies of the spectra. Other colours become secondary and the ink takes the centre stage.
As there is a very specific manner to paint with ink on a brush, the form evolved and is something that still nowadays can clearly be seen in many contemporary Chinese artists.
A comprehensive list of Chinese artists throughout history can be found here:
Whereas Chinese art was always bound by traditions and evolved under strict circumstances to evolve into something perfect, Japanese art has had a number of influences from both mainland East Asia and the western world. The Japanese also took things to it's extreme many times, for instance evolving the sumi-e in much the same fashion as the Chinese evolved their inkbrush techniques, but at the same time it could be influenced by the west, as with ukio-e, landscape paintings that where very common in the Edo-period.
Some basic knowledge about Japanese artschools and artists can be found through here-
Classical examples
A quick rundown of some of the most notable historical painters from East Asia:
Modern examples
So when it comes down to modern art then? Most of you will recognize anime/manga as a style, and possibly have heard about artists such as Ai Weiwei or Aguri Igarashi.
Whereas Ai Weiwei does make interesting art, it hardly comes in mind for what we are looking at: pure painting/illustration. And whilst Anime and Manga are interesting, there are tons of interesting articles online about how to make your art look so.
So here are a couple of interesting artists that you possibly will know and that I would like to add for their distinct style:
Whereas Studio Ghibli undoubtedly is an Anime studio, there is something specific and precise about the style which is lent by Hayao Miyazaki. This is more about design then style, but the daring manner with which he blends traditional and new concepts to create something new make it feel less like manga/anime and more like little perfect stories, filled with anything your imagination can manage, and more.
Look at the textures, and the colours. The amount of natural occuring textures in this piece of art make it almost unfathomable that it is actually a purely digital piece of art. Fenghua works as a conceptartist and freelance illustrator. Specifically the manner with which the almost colourless and monotone colours come out as vibrant and diverse is interesting.
Ruan Jia is a master with colour and tone by mixing colours of contrasting hues, but making them work because the tones are so close. Take a closer look at the eyes of the above illustration. Notice how the predominant colours around the eye, the eyelid, the brows, the lashes, and so on, are cold. Either blue or green. But that the eyes themselves, what little can be seen of them between the eyelashes, are pinkish/orangey-red. These things make the painting come alive with life rare to see outside of a master oilpainting.
So that's a quick look at some Eastern Styles that are worth investigating. Do you have any other artists with styles you find unique or worth looking at when it comes to exploring your own style? Let us know in the comments!
Next Week
Next week we will take a look at how we can use the Western and Eastern style-examples we have looked at to help further, and find our own unique style.
If you have any suggestions on artists we should look at please let us know through the comments below, or through our Facebook page. or Twitter Page (dont forget to hashtag with #dontfeartheclown on Twitter!).
If you are interested in private commissions we have three slots open this week.
For more info and contact, go to the bottom of the About page and send us a message through the contact form.
Tell us what you think about todays blogpost. Use the form on the about page (link in sentence just above this) or through our Facebook page. or Twitter Page (hashtag it with #dontfeartheclown) We'd love to see your input!
Style, to death…
Welcome to a new week.
This week we would like to start to discuss style.
Style has been talked about by numerous artists, art directors and fans of art on so many occasions that it could be considered to be a done-to-death-topic. Nevertheless we'd like to bring it up in a two-part blog to showcase some of the more interesting styles out there that do not fully fall within the mainstream of western culture. At the end of these two articles (or possibly in a third installment) we will discuss what we can take with us from these different styles and see if we can use it to further our own styles.
This week and some other articles on style
This week we will talk about Western artists and some styles of Western origins. Next week we will bring up some Eastern artists and their styles.
For some interesting articles on Style in general, there are some to be found through Muddy Colors.
Here are a few:
Western Styles
When it comes to western styles, these ae the styles that most of the readers of this blog have grown up with. You see it on a daily, or weekly, basis. You have seein it in comicbooks, storybooks, museums, and game-art. These are the ones you all know about, and if we mention just a few well known examples you will immediately have an idea of what they would look like.
To mention some of the contemporary ones.
The above artists and their styles have already had a huge impact on western styles in general. In some cases, like with Frazzetta and Jones, their respective styles have influenced whole generations, where as the others are inspiring on a grand scale, even if they might not have influenced entire generations. These artists, of course, stand on the shoulders of their own artheroes, whether early 20th century american popular artists like James Montgomery Flagg or N.C. Wyeth, or earlier masters ranging back in time to El Greco and Fra Angelico.
Point in case unique styles
Let us take a moment to mention two artists with unique styles that are worth taking a closer look at.
Rocketeer – Mike Mignola/Dave Stewart
Mike Mignola has a very distinct style, based mainly on solid fields of colour or shades.
Visible in his Hellboy-series, the most prominent part of the style is how black and white is used to create drama, often the "white" areas are filled with a solid colour (mostly aptly added by Dave Stewart) to create different ammounts of shade. Mignola also uses a very bold sense of shapes. His characters could almost be seen as charicatures with their oversimplyfied traits, more so then most comicbooks. But it is a great style because it conveys a lot of feeling. The bad guys look bad already at first glance. The Good guys (and gals) are very evocative in how they look and the style shows how every persona feel very well just through poses and how they are drawn in any given situation. Mignola have also mastered texturing in this style. Often making extraordinary large beasts look like they where made out of concrete or some sort of stone-material. Esotheric or non-physical beings, beams, or energy is often illustrated in a very solid fascion, but the way Mignola adds texture will tell the viewer that this is something special.
Spells Are Hard – Justin Gerard
Gerard has a playful style, filled with humour. Where most illustration today is moving towards more realism, Gerard manages to make his illustrations not only have an element of humour but also mintain a very good sense of colour and saturation. Gerard also mixes traditional sketching an painting with digital very effective, often giving his works a very nice textured feeling. To an extent one can see the same playfulness and humour as in the works of Paul Bonner, but where Bonner works exclusively with traditional mediums, Gerard has learnt to take full advantage of both traditional and digital mediums.
When going to see Gerards works, be sure to also take a look at the works of his wife, Annie Stegg Gerard, who is an accomplished artist as well.
So that's a quick look at some Western Styles that are unique. Do you have any other artists with styles you find unique? Let us know in the comments!
Next Week
Next week we will take a look at some eastern artists, both contemporary and historical, to see if we can use them to help further, and find our own unique style.
If you have any suggestions on artists we should look at please let us know through the comments below, or through our Facebook page. or Twitter Page (dont forget to hashtag with #dontfeartheclown on Twitter!).
Sketch and a WiP
Here is a sketch for the next Primarch and a WiP of the illustration for the Ars Scribendi winner. Next week we hope to be able to show you even further evolutions of these two.
If you are interested in private commissions we have three slots open this week.
For more info and contact, go to the bottom of the About page and send us a message through the contact form.
Tell us what you think about todays blogpost. Use the form on the about page (link in sentence just above this) or through our Facebook page. or Twitter Page (hashtag it with #dontfeartheclown) We'd love to see your input!
What you need and what you want….
Hello there,
Welcome to yet another blogpost. It's been another week and it was a busy one.
Several deadlines converged in short succession and as such there are a lot of finished illustrations, but alas little to show until they have been published.
Because of this, we thought we'd show you some general goodness on, and for, artists.
For the artist (and client)
Artpact.com is a tool to help Freelance Fantasy, Sci-fi, Comic book, and other illustrators negotiate a better living for themselves.
It is easy to think that life as an illustrator is great.
A lot of people approaching us in regards to our studio and working as artists or illustrators have this belief that we have all the spare time in the world, that all we do all day is exactly what we want, that it is easy, goes faster then a blink of an eye and that we roll in cash.
It really is not like that at all. In fact, it is all hard work. Often working with illustration means you have to paint what others want, not what you want. Deadlines are tight, you can't display what you painted (sometimes up to years after you painted it). And this belief that it is simple, doesn't cost much time or effort, and so should be more or less for free, mean that even p-professional clients have rules and contracts that make it even tougher to survive on being an illustrator.
Artpact.com is there to help the struggling artist.
But even if you are just interested in commissioning an artist, we suggest you go and read some of the articles there. Our suggestion is these two articles:
The Cost of Being an Illustrator – To give you an insight in why commissions cost as much as they do. There are costs for running a business, and before we even brake even, these costs must be deducted.
Dealing with Difficult Clients – Here you will find things you should try to think about as a client. We're all humans, but these are some of the things that make artists feel less happy about a commission. And in the end, making sure to avoid these things will make your commission end up much more like what you had in mind.
On art and artists
Muddy Colors is a place that's all about art, artists, being an artist, being an art director, or just appreciating art.
If you are interesting in anything in regards to popular art, chances are that you will find something about it here.
The blog-posters are all illustrators, sculptors, 3D-artists, art directors, or gallerists. Dan Dos Santos, Arnie Fenner, Terryl Whitlatch, Lauren Panepinto, Greg Manchess, to name a few of them, are all very helpful in showing bits about art in all its forms, whether you want to work as an artist, hire an artist, or just appreciate good art.
Feng Zhu Design School Cinema is a Youtube channel that gives insights in what it's like to work as a concept artist. With more then 70 episodes, most longer then half an hour, this is a vast source of inspiration, help, and insight in what it means working in the entertainment business as an artist. And if you just want to paint for fun, just watch as Feng Zhu and his guest-instructors paint, talk about things like composition and colourtheory. You should be able to find just about anything on the technical aspects of painting and illustrating, as well as conceptualizing, except for the foundations. This is something Feng Zhu teaches at his school in Singapore. And even some foundation bits can be found here and there.
Whilst you're at it, go check out Feng's own art gallery initiative, in the wake of the loss of CGHUB, DrawCrowd. You might find some art you never seen before.
If you are interested in private commissions we have three slots open this week.
For more info and contact, go to the bottom of the About page and send us a message through the contact form.
Tell us what you think about todays blogpost. Use the form on the about page (link in sentence just above this) or through our Facebook page. or Twitter Page (hashtag it with #dontfeartheclown) We'd love to see your input!
Gone fishing…
Hello there,
Welcome back to another update. This week we will let you see some process images on how to find concepts through randomness.
Throwing the net
So you're trying to figure something out. A concept.
It doesn't have to be concept art that is the ultimate goal. Perhaps you are exploring charachters, creatures or any form of machinery as part of a larger illustration you are doing.
How do you actually get from "I have no idea" to a complete concept?
A long time ago, when we started doing this as a sidejob, Andrew Jones said "You throw out a net and reel in the concept".
Let's see if we can show you an example of it.
The small fish
David Started this by using Alchemy.org, a free program for getting random shapes. You can use any number of random shape-generating programmes, ranging from fractal programmes to zbrush and even specific randomizing brushes in Photoshopp or Painter.
The beauty of this particular programme is that you do not have to know how to paint or illustrate to get somewhere, you only need to try to get random shapes that resemble something. The artistic part comes when you start putting together more complex pieces. Here are some of the first shapes.
These are just random shapes that came out after playing around with Alchemy for a while. Though there are six on this particular sheet, David came up with closer to fifty different shapes that he collected into one file.
Catching the medium-sized fish
So now we take these shapes into Photoshop (or any photo-editing/illustration programme of your choice) and start putting them together in interesting ways. In Photoshop, David cut and paste the shapes on top of one another. Moving things around, turning and flipping and sometimes even erasing to get more interesting shapes.
The idea is to get a silhouette of that looks robotic, but what exactly is not certain at this stage, so David is going for various things, ranging from quadroped robots, to biped robots. Tall and slender to short and robust. The key is the silhouette. The details inside the silhouette are bonuses for later, when we detail the concept.
The addition of colour can help make parts stand out; This doesn't neccesarily mean these parts will have that colour in a final illustration. The colours can represent anything from actual coloured panels, to lightsources, beams, special areas of some sort that will look vastly different on the final concept/illustration but that for now just need to be marked out as "special".
So the sky is really the limit here, these above are the first groups David put together. He then made a couple of more, and started combining them together.
The bigger fish
After putting the first few shapes together, David have some basic robotic shapes. It is very easy to stop at this point and be happy, and some of the best concepts can be done at this stage, but it feels a little stale, so David combine this group of ten simpler silhouettes into some more complex ones. Not all work out, and it is important to be selective about the silhouette at this point. If two look the same, look at which one feels the most interesting as far as details go. Discard the other, or save it in a separate file for usage another day. Eventually, we havet six variations that can be used for illustrations.
Here is one of these simple bases:
And from there we can make an illustrated concept, or go straight to illustration, if it feels like everything needed is there.
The big fish
So here is a sneak-peek of something that will come out of this particular fish-net (not based on the above image, but something else).
This is meant for the project David and Aaron Debski-Bowden is putting together and we are hoping to be able to show you much more before the end of the year.
Hopefully this introduction to concepting gave you guys some ideas and motivation to go out and practice. We would love to see links to your own concepts, practice or otherwise!
As always, you can find things through social medias, so keep an eye out for updates and sketches on Facebook,Twitter, and Tumblr.
If you are interested in private commissions we have three slots open this week.
For more info and contact, go to the bottom of the About page and send us a message through the contact form.
Tell us what you think about todays blogpost. Use the form on the about page (link in sentence just above this) or through our Facebook page. or Twitter Page (hashtag #dontfeartheclown) We'd love to hear your input!
Jingling the Bells
Hi there, and welcome to this weeks blogpost.
This week we'd like to take the time to discuss something that might seem far away, but that you should start thinking about, should you want to use an artist's services for it.
We're talking about Christmas.
Yes, it might seem a bit over the top to talk about Christmas and Christmas presents when we just turned our calendar over to September, but to be able to make it the merriest of hollidays, we really need to bring this up.
So you want to give away art for Christmas?
Let's say you want to surprise someone with a piece of art for their Christmas. There are many ways you can do this, depending on what you want. There are fantastic galleries out there where you can find the right piece for just about anyone. Usually, a gallery-piece will not be that problematic to acquire in time for Christmas.
There are also multiple shops, artists, and other establishments, that carry posters and prints of artwork. If you acquire something like this, we hope you take the time to make sure the right person(s) get paid. Usually an artist will charge less for a better quality poster/print then a counterfeit. Might be worth noting.
So you want to commission an original piece of art for Christmas?
But what we wanted to discuss was the commissioning of an original artpiece, whether painted with brush on canvas, pencil on paper, digital and printed, or other.
For these sort gifts, you need to be out in time. Know your artist. Learn what sort of deadlines he/she works with. Find out if they are specifically busy for Christmas, if they have any special deals that might come up, for hollidays before Christmas maybe even.
Traditional Artists
Alot of artists that work traditionally will have a lot of orders for artwork coming in before Christmas. You need to consider that artists like Dan Dos Santos take about three to six weeks to complete their traditional oilpaintings, and that they might want to dry their paintings for a certain ammount of time before shipping them. If they have a lot of commissions, they might have waitingtimes until November-December already.
Digital Artists
At the other end, where you find artists like Noah Bradley, the digital artists will probably not need such a long time to paint for you, though it varies. The problem for a digital illustrator is rather going to be at the printing-end. The closer you get to Christmas, the longer in advance you will need to contact printers about printing things. Some printers specialize in art-prints, some are multiprinting businesses and will have a lot to do with Christmas cards, brochures an everything Christmassy.
What about Studio Colrouphobia?
So, you might ask yourself, where do we find Studio Colrouphobia in this? Well, we do both traditional and digital. It all depends on what it is you are looking for. So if you are interested in commissioning us for Christmas, you should first figure out what it is you would like to get, then contact us relatively soon, so we can discuss around making sure that your gift becomes the thing it should be- a joy for the person who will receive it.
For some eyecandy, since we try our best to include something every blogpost, here is a private commission David just finished for a Shadowrun player
And how about another small sneak-peek at something from the secret project Aaron and David are working on?
As always, you can find things through social medias, so keep an eye out for updates and sketches on Facebook,Twitter, and Tumblr.
If you are interested in private commissions we have two slots open this week. Last week the two last slots with discounts where taken, but keep an eye out for other drives in the future.
For more info and contact, go to the bottom of the About page and send us a message through the contact form.
Tell us what you think about todays blogpost. Use the form on the about page (link in sentence just above this) or through our Facebook page. We'd love to hear your input.


text:
After you have logged in. Click on 'My Dashboard', then on the right side click on 'At Home Control Center' and then click on 'At Home Program Manager'. From there you have full control and can perform the following modifications:
- Add DVDs to your next Shipment
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- Move Down a Level (do this by adding the DVD you want to your next shipment, then remove the one you don't want). The system will then begin your monthly shipments starting from the earliest DVD in the program.
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If you have any questions about performing any of these functions, please email us directly at [email protected] or call the office at 818-760-2045.


text:
OROVILLE >> Butte County supervisors don't want "exploratory wells" on unlawful lots used for improper purposes, but they don't want honest folks threatened with fees or fines.
The test wells were a response to a 1972 change in state law, allowing people to determine if there was water before spending money to develop land. Once the wells had served their purpose, the property owner was supposed to cap the well and not use the water for "unpermitted" activities.
Oroville Supervisor Bill Connelly said the "elephant in the room" that nobody was mentioning was that the wells are being used to irrigate marijuana gardens.
Brad Banner, project manager with the county's Department of Environmental Health, explained to the supervisors Tuesday that until 1972 new land parcels could be created by deed without going through the county's subdivision process.
The change in the law left between 4,000 and 5,000 illegal parcels in Butte County.
If a building, septic, or well permit is issued on such a parcel, it automatically grants the landowner the right to further develop the property.
So the county came up with the concept of "exploratory wells." The wells had to meet all of the permitting, design, and construction standards of a any other well, but the test well did not give the right for further development.
This solved a difficult situation for a landowner or potential builder. Before going through the time-consuming and costly process to make the property conform to the county's subdivision standards, the individual had to know if there was potable water under the land.
But it also left a number of capped wells that marijuana growers have allegedly been utilizing.
The existing exploratory well ordinance specifically allows for "irrigation" to take place. Banner presented the board with an amendments that specifically forbade use for irrigation.
The proposed regulation also required $65.50 application fee to get the well permit. Then there would be an annual $65.50 permit renewal fee to the county, and to get that renewal the well had to be inspected by a private contractor who would charge the landowner an unspecified fee for the work. There would be an annual inspection by county staff. Failure to get the renewal permit could result in fines up to $5,000. The violations could even result in a misdemeanor criminal charge.
Connelly said, "We are just creating a lot of bureaucracy and putting people through hoops" with the inspections and annual fees.
He said it is unreasonable to make people pay annual county fees and other costs if they are not doing anything wrong.
Connelly moved the board approve the concept of the capped wells, end irrigation, double the fines, but remove the ongoing fees and inspections.
He said the fines can "piled on" if the landowner is found to be doing something else against county codes.
Paradise Supervisor Doug Teeter, who chairs the board, pointed out the rules do not apply to legal lots.
The board voted to have staff return with a new draft ordinance including Connelly's changes.
The new ordinance would not be retroactive, and previously permitted exploratory wells could still be used for irrigation.
Paul Hahn, the county's chief administrative officer, said the amended ordinance would come back before the supervisors at least three more times before it could be approved.
Contact reporter Roger H. Aylworth 896-7762.


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There is no absolute standard of beauty, but that doesn't stop people trying to attain it, and Japan has plenty of beauty secrets that might help some of us feel better about the way we look.
In Osaka this Saturday, young women can learn about fashion and make up at the very first Japan Girls Expo, a major event featuring many of Japan's up-and-coming models as well as more than 50 TV personalities or comedians.
Hosted at Intex Osaka, an exhibition center in Osaka's Suminoe Ward, this will be Japan's largest event of its kind, involving numerous attractions that offer beauty and fashion tips designed to help women feel more attractive and confident in their appearance.
A runway show, in which famous Japanese models will strut their stuff, will introduce visitors to the latest fashion trends, while makeup tutorials and workshops will be available in the beauty area. Visitors will also find that they can receive manicures and make-overs for free, and even get the chance to steal the show through opportunities to participate in various presentations at the booths.
Although the Japan Girls Expo 2014 focuses on cosmetics and fashion, there are other attractions at the site, such as fortune telling and stand-up performances. The event also includes live music shows by idol group NMB48 (a sister group to AKB48) and the quirky pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Kyary, who was bestowed the title of Kawaii Harajuku Ambassador in 2012, is one of a number of performers at the event whose mission is to promote Japan's kawaii (cute) culture to the world.
Another draw card of the expo is the gourmet corner, which will offer regional delicacies and trendy dishes, such as the "world's best pizza," as well as sweets, including truffle cheesecakes. A sweets contest also allows visitors to vote for their favorite confectioners from a range of first-class candidates.
In total there are more than 100 booths offering workshops, tutorials and goods.
Japan Girls Expo is an all-day event taking place April 12, starting at 11 a.m., at Intex Osaka exhibition center. The venue is accessible via Nakafuto and Cosmosquare Stations on the Nanko Port Town Line. Entry is ¥3,500. For more information, call 06-7732-8888 or visit japan-girls-expo.com.


text: Skinny Italian leather belt Item F6500 Color: PECAN Size: All sizes are US sizes. X-SMALL SMALL MEDIUM LARGE X-LARGE Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices include duties and VAT. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit Designed to be worn at hips. Width: 1/2". Product Details A classic skinny belt with custom-developed hardware is exactly what your jeans need. Better yet, it's been made in the USA in rich Italian leather—so it'll last for years. Leather. Made in the USA. Item F6500.


text: > > I wonder if the syntax of that mapping file could be XSLT? > > XSLT, as it is, only allows XML as output. Not true. You can output xml, html or text by setting the xsl:output instruction. We've used XSLT to efficiently put out RFC811/MIME e-mail messages for a client. -- Uche Ogbuji Principal Consultant firstname.lastname@example.com +1 303 583 9900 x 101 Fourthought, Inc. http://Fourthought.com 4735 East Walnut St, Ste. C, Boulder, CO 80301-2537, USA Software-engineering, knowledge-management, XML, CORBA, Linux, Python


text:
Guardian DataSheet
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With its high-speed and efficiency, the Guardian enables over-the-air rates of up to 19.2 kbps within a 25 kHz channel. With its Field Programming Software, the Guardian offers efficient unit programming, link testing and RF path verification. It is readily available for analog operations, which may include, phone line substitutions, paging, slow speed data applications, 600ohm and/or high impedance audio input and output selection. The Guardian also features real-time, non-intrusive online diagnostics; report received signal strength (RSSI), RF power output, supply voltage and radio performance statistics. An additional list of The Guardian's features and benefits are listed below:
With its effortless connectivity and versatile features, the Calamp Guardian is a robust solution that will exceed your business or company's expectations.
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text:
NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States, 2010/01/26 - J.M. Field Marketing is excited to introduce its improved online inventory management software, which can be integrated with different systems.
J.M. Field Marketing is excited to introduce its improved inventory management software, which can now integrate with Salesforce.com and other CRM systems.
The latest release of the companys online order and inventory management system offers a seamless integration between a companys lead information, the sales and marketing materials sent to prospects as well as give companies the ability to track and document all orders from the minute they are placed. The online software provides companies with shipping confirmations, allowing them to promptly following up with prospects, which can result in higher sales conversion rates. Jack Field, the President of J.M. Field marketing stated, Our new inventory system features components our clients have never seen before with a program that seamlessly integrates directly with Salesforce.com.
The propriety software has been updated with all the strengths and none of the weaknesses of the prior version. They have even added new features that enable the system to be more effective and useful to clients. J.M. Field Marketing's ability to automate brochure requests and expedite the follow up process without ever leaving Salesforce.com, sets it apart from any other inventory system available today. The software provides companies with a valuable time saving functionality, allowing them to sign on to Saleforce.com and the inventory management system simultaneously, transferring all Salesforce.com leads and contact information directly to the order form as well as view the order status with one click. With the ability to populate online order forms, with only one click, representatives can spend less time typing and more time following up with customers and as a added bonus sales personnel can save their activity history, so they can view the last task completed and pick up where they left off without back tracking. In addition, representatives can reference the material request history right in Salesforce.com. What's more, J.M. Field Marketings fulfillment team can mail out personalized letters with each order as well as include the contact information for the sales representative. Plus, the system gives companies the ability to track the effectiveness and conversion rate of leads based on the material sent. The improved system provides businesses with the tools required to easily manage their leads and effectively turn prospects into customers.
Tami Miller, the Project Manager at a leading cruise line said, They [J.M. Field Marketing] did an amazing job to ensure that the lead information is transferred to order form, and the order is tracked and documented from the minute it is placed through the shipping confirmation. The inventory management software can be incorporated into any companys business strategy, to increase their sales representatives productivity and reduce paperwork.
About J.M. Field Marketing
J.M. Field Marketing (jmfieldmarketing.com) is a South Florida based company that is an industry leader in creative services, promotional items, direct mail and marketing materials, warehousing, online order processing as well as web-based inventory management. We also offer integrated direct marketing solutions developed, produced, and managed by one team, from one location. The main goal of J.M. Field Marketing, as it has been for over 20 years, is to work daily to provide simple and cost-effective integrated marketing solutions for all its clients.
Written by / Agency / Source: J.M. Field Marketing
Availability: All Regions (Including Int'l)
Traffic Booster: [/] Quick Newswire Today Visibility Checker
Distribution / Indexing: [+]


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Field Diary: Opportunities for vulnerable children in Battambang helps community development
Jan Dannheisig is completing his undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Göttingen, Germany. Now conducting research for his thesis about humanitarian interventions and the responsibility to protect, he describes a visit to a UNICEF-supported project in Battambang, which provides the most vulnerable children and youth of Battambang, with an opportunity to access education, artistic and cultural activities. The project is part of a larger programme - the Partnership Programme for the Protection of Children (3PC) - with contributions from the German Committee for UNICEF, the Netherlands Committee for UNICEF and USAID.
The UNICEF zone office in Battambang, supports initiatives in surrounding provinces stretching along the Thai border, and works to increase access to basic health services, maternal care, child protection, educational opportunities and strengthening the rights of children. When I arrived at the office, the staff informed me about the Phare Ponleu Selpak project (PPS) operating in the Ochar commune.
Phare Ponleu Selpak, meaning "the brightness of art" is located on a big compound in Ochar commune, and is a Cambodian non-governmental organisation that aims to support community development by providing access to education, vocational training in the arts and reintegration of children into a family structure.
At PPS, artistic and cultural activities take place and are designed to support the children who attend by addressing their psychosocial needs and building their self-esteem. The children acquire new skills and generate an income to support their families in an attempt to improve their lives for the future.


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I just had one of those moments at the gym where I think someone recognized me from my blog. This happens every once in a while. Someone looks at me as if they know me and I have never seen the person before. Kind of like they are greeting someone they know until they realize that there's absolutely no glimmer of recognition on the other person's face. Because the person writing the blog can't see you reading it (really, I can't, so carry on). I'm OK with people saying "hey". In fact, I want them to; just at the right time.
I seriously thought she was trying to get my attention to start a conversation on the treadmill. Like my huge headphones weren't a clue that all I could muster energy for at the time was running, breathing and sweating profusely. Oh, yeah...and lip synching. And a teeny-tiny bit of air drums when the mood strikes. I think she realized what she was doing.
I'm a master of avoiding eye contact at the gym. You don't look at me, I won't look at you. If it was you, don't feel bad...you just freaked me out there for a second : )


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Ironman 320t Treadmill Review
treadmill Doctor Note :
In the $1500 range, there are many other better options available. Even at $1000 others make much more sense.
Save your money and go with the 150t if you must have an Ironman. If you must have an Ironman, I've got a deal for you on some Tennessee Magic Rocks!


text: The Philadelphia Flyers look to maintain their recent dominance at home when they host the Minnesota Wild on Monday. After losing seven of its first nine games in its own building, Philadelphia has reeled off eight straight wins at home - including a 5-4 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday in which it rallied for five goals in the third period. The Flyers were unable to complete a sweep of the home-and-home series, however, dropping a 6-3 decision in Columbus on Saturday. Minnesota remains in search of its first victory on its four-game road trip. After suffering a 5-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Thursday, the Wild dropped a 4-1 decision against the New York Rangers three nights later. Jason Pominville scored in both contests, raising his team-leading goal total to 17.


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CHICAGO — Finally, the Chicago Bears can stop looking for a top receiver.
They reeled one in Tuesday, landing three-time Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall in a trade with the Miami Dolphins that addressed their biggest need.
There was widespread speculation the Bears would go after a high-profile free-agent receiver such as Vincent Jackson, but they filled their biggest hole with a blockbuster deal instead, sending two third-round draft picks to Miami.
It's the first big move under new general manager Phil Emery, who replaced the fired Jerry Angelo, and it gives Jay Cutler the go-to receiver he's been seeking since he arrived from the Broncos in a trade three years ago.
Even better, it reunites him with one of his top targets in Denver.
Marshall made the Pro Bowl for the third time last year, when he had 81 catches for 1,214 yards and six scores. But he also dropped at least four potential touchdown catches and failed to end his career-long playoff drought.
The Dolphins had a losing record in each of his two seasons with them, and coach Tony Sparano was fired in December.
Last July, Marshall disclosed he was diagnosed earlier in the year with borderline personality disorder, which stems from such things as a negative self-image and a fear of failure. Then at midseason he said efforts to keep his emotions on an even keel had hurt his play, and before a Monday night game he claimed his goal was to get ejected before halftime.
Marshall sparred with quarterback Chad Henne during his first season with the Dolphins, but he seemed popular in the locker room last year. Dolphins players reacting on Twitter said they were sorry to hear the news of the trade, while Bears players were overjoyed.
"Hate to see my boy B Marshall go," running back Reggie Bush tweeted. "That's the league for you, one day your hear next day your gone. Chicago is getting one hell of a player!"
"Brandon Marshall out of Miami?" center Mike Pouncey tweeted. "Tell me this ain't true…"
Bears linebacker Lance Briggs called it "a great day" on Twitter, with Chicago agreeing to a two-year deal to retain cornerback Tim Jennings and trading for Marshall.


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Princeton Will Hire Ron Fogarty as Head Coach
CHN Staff Report
Princeton University will announce it has hired Ron Fogarty as its next head coach, according to multiple sources.
An official announcement will come at a 3 p.m. press conference on Tuesday.
Fogarty has been the head coach at Adrian (D-III) since 2007, when he left his position as an assistant coach at Clarkson to start the new program.
In seven seasons behind the bench, Fogarty has compiled a 167-23-10 record, including six regular-season championships, five MCHA tournament championships and four appearances in the NCAA tournament.


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May 12, 2014
Live Stats: Game 1, Game 2 | Listen Live: WHUS.org, 91.7 FM
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut baseball team will play non-conference rival Rhode Island in a midweek doubleheader at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Conn. scheduled on Tuesday, May 13. The first game of the twin-billing is set for 11 a.m., with game two following approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion.
The Last Meeting
May 14, 2013
Dodd Stadium - Norwich, Conn.
Bobby Melley (Barnstable, Mass.) leads the American Athletic Conference with a .367 batting average and is tied for the league high with 66 hits this season.
On the hill, UConn still boasts a sub-3.00 team ERA, headlined by left-handed ace Anthony Marzi (Berlin, Conn.) who checks in with four wins and a 2.94 ERA. Freshman RHP Andrew Zapata (Staten Island, N.Y.) will earn his eighth start of the year in the doubleheader and will look to improve on his team-best 1.17 WHIP.
The match-ups will represent the 180th and 181st all-time meeting between the two teams, which is the most for any UConn opponent. URI was one of just five foes the Huskies faced in their inaugural season in 1896. Overall, UConn leads the series 111-64-4, but has not won a game against the Rams since the 2011 campaign.
The squads met last season at Dodd Stadium nearly a year ago when URI escaped with a 7-3 victory despite two-hit afternoons from Vinny Siena (Woodbridge, Conn.) and Melley.
URI enters the game with an 11-37 overall record after being swept in a three-game series at George Washington last weekend. The Rams are just 4-22 on the road this season. Rhode Island has struggled at the dish, holding just a .228 team batting average and scoring just 3.53 runs per contest. On the rubber, the Rams own a 4.31 ERA but have allowed only five long balls this year.
After rounding out its non-conference scheduled against URI on Tuesday, the Huskies will host the UCF Knights in the final weekend of the regular season. Currently, the Huskies check in in seventh place in The American standings, needing just one more victory to secure a berth in the conference tournament.


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Welcome to the Doyle genealogy. Family units are arranged alphabetically by the first name of the father (or single-parent mother). Links are provided to enable you to move up and down each lineage. To follow a line back in time (ancestors), click on the underlined portion of "(son of ...)" or "(dau. of ...)" beneath the name of the person you want to trace back. To follow a line forward in time (descendants), click on the name of the person whose offspring you want to see. A plus sign (+) following a name means that that person had one or more children, but that family group has not been added to this web page. A link to documentation and notes, when available, is given below each family.
All information, especially source material, for inclusion in this web page should be sent to email@example.com or mailed to "Mount Desert Island Genealogy; Mount Desert Island Historical Society; P. O. Box 653; Mount Desert, ME 04660". And, of course, please report all errors.
If you wish to explore a different surname, click here for the current list of surnames.
William Doyle (son of [...]) b. age 29 y. as of 1860 census Maine m. Margaret [...] b. age 21 y. as of 1860 census Maine children: John Doyle b. age 4 y. as of 1860 census Maine Mary Doyle b. age 3 y. as of 1860 census Maine William Anthony Doyle b. age 10 m. as of 1860 census Maine documentation and notes - - - - -


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Lenalidomide and Decitabine in High Grade Myelodysplastic Syndromes
This study has been completed.
Duke University
Celgene Corporation
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Duke University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: January 22, 2009
Last updated: September 6, 2013
Last verified: September 2013
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
No Study Results Posted on ClinicalTrials.gov for this Study
|Study Status:
|This study has been completed.
|Study Completion Date:
|November 2012
|Primary Completion Date:
|August 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)


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Turntable Accessories
Felt Mat for Debut (Y)
(Turntable Accessories - Miscellaneous)
This Felt Mat gives your turntable a very special appearance.
Specifications / Choose an option
|• Debut model
Thomas TV located in Welland ON proudly serving the Niagara region. We carry a vast selection of electronics in brands such as Samsung, Panasonic, LG, Yamaha, Martin Logan, Project Turntables, Audio Technica to name a few. We have been serving Welland Ontario for over 50 Years and remain family owned and operated. We are committed to providing our customers with the best service, best brand selection and the best prices that the Home Electronics Industry has to offer. As a company, we strive to have the most knowledgeable and courteous sales people in the business. We are a member of one of the largest independent buying groups in Canada in order to provide you with the widest selection of quality products and at competitive prices. We aim to serve you better. If you prefer to make your purchases online, enjoy our new website which has an extensive selection of electronic products at the lowest prices.


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SANTA CRUZ -- Santa Cruz County small businesses Jill Alexander Designs, Drumskull Drums, The Penny Ice Creamery, Lyons Marble and Granite, Synergy Organic Clothing, Donnelly Chocolates and BrainChild Nutritionals -- have garnered the 250 votes required to advance in the Mission Main Street nationwide competition for a $250,000 grant.
Chase will award 12 grants, investing $3 million.
"I think we have a pretty good chance," said Jill Alexander, whose 4-year-old company captured the attention of the fashion world with high-quality garments for women size 12 and larger.
She would put the money into opening a flagship store in Santa Cruz and expanding her collection to accommodate those who are size 10 and smaller.
Matt Hardwick, owner of Drumskull Drums, has one full-time employee and three part-timers making intricately carved percussion instruments in Santa Cruz to spread West African music. He would use the money to increase inventory.
Gina Lyons, president of Lyons Marble, has a staff of 10. One of 20 winners of the Make Mine a $Million Business program in 2006, she has moved to a bigger showroom at 128 Encinal St. and wants to become the first local green-certified fabrication shop.
The Penny Ice Creamery, opened in 2010 by Zachary Davis and Kendra Baker, is renowned for artisanal ice cream made from organic dairy and sustainably grown ingredients. Davis and Baker plan to open a new restaurant in downtown Santa Cruz.
Synergy Organic Clothing, owned by Kate Fisher and her husband Henry Schwab, specializes in clothing of organic cotton from India, dyed with low-impact dyes and hand made in Nepal according to fair trade practices.
Richard Donnelly, whose Donnelly Chocolates were rated by National Geographic among the world's best, would use the money to acquire equipment for making caramel and for making chocolate with a lower glycemic index for diabetics.
BrainChild Nutritionals, founded in 1999 by biochemistry researcher Michael Lang, produces nutritional supplements in Soquel for children with autism. After Lang died of pancreatic cancer in 2007, employees ran the firm until Samuel Swerdlow acquired it in 2012.
Nine local businesses with at least 99 votes are pushing for 250 by Friday's deadline. Patrick Boole, owner of Covered Bridge Equestrian in Felton for 35 years, would put the money into a portable covered arena and improving trails. From 50 to 75 horses board at the stable, producing manure for compost that Boole says is favored by garden expert Renee Shepherd.
Follow Sentinel reporter Jondi Gumz at Twitter.com/jondigumz
At a glance
LOCALS NEED VOTEs
Eight Santa Cruz County businesses have 99 votes and are aiming to reach 250 by Friday to advance in Chase's Mission Main Street competition for a $250,000 grant. They are: Children's Alley Preschool, Elite Martial Arts Academy, The Secret Garden Too Preschool, Soothing Science, known as the Alchemology Shop, Midline Integrative Bodywork, Blithe and Bonny, Theatre of All Possibilities and Bagito.
To vote, visit https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/.


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High Potency Herbal Detoxifier. Drug Free Detox!There are no reviews yet.
Vitalabs Drug Free Detoxifier Complex is composed of 100% natural ingredients that assist in the detoxification of the entire organism.
We are invaded by thousands of toxins on a daily basis, which begin to accumulate in our bodies over time. These toxins appear throughout our day-to-day activities, from pesticide pollution to eating and even breathing!
These assaults bring on elevated quantities of free radicals which can lead to premature cell aging, generating an aged appearance and symptoms of age-related illnesses such as memory failure or difficulty concentrating, and other more serious problems.
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Indiana girl, 2, loses battle with cancer
A young Indiana girl has lost her battle with cancer, but the lesson she taught others will live on.
Ava Parker's family posted on their Facebook page, "At 7:03 am 1/9/2014 my beautiful angel received her wings. She fought a long hard battle and continued her fight until her last breath. I thank you all for supporting us during this time and ask to give us space. God Bless."
The visitation and funeral for Ava will be Monday (January 13) from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Charity Church at 2700 South Tibbs Avenue. Burial will immediately follow the service at West Newton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Ava's family says donations will be accepted to help cover expenses at AvaStrong.us. A donation will also be made to a childhood cancer awareness organization.
Ava, 2, fought a rare and deadly disease wanted to do something many kids dread doing every day - she wanted to ride a bus and go to school. Eyewitness News met her in December and we were there as she got her wish.
Buses arrive every day at Liberty Early Elementary School in Decatur Township, but Tuesday, one bus was different. It carried a special young passenger and her family.
"It's about a celebration of life," said Christie Parker, Ava Parker's grandmother.
"When we found out last Monday, that our days are truly numbered with her, I wanted to give her what she truly wanted," said Kacy Parker, Ava's mother.
And what Ava really wants is to be a big girl and go to school. She rode the bus, then got the opportunity to cut and color and do all the things normal preschoolers get to do.
"There's no words," said Kacy Parker. "I literally have no words for the amount of joy we have...that we're able to do this for her. It's a light in a dark place for her."
At 21 months, Ava was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. She's had chemotherapy multiple times and had a tumor removed from her head. The treatment has left her blind in one eye and partially deaf. She was in remission for two months when last week came news she only has a few weeks to live.
"I have to remind myself a hundred times a day to smile. 'Cause it's so hard when you get the news that we have to get out of bed...to take care of your children, to smile," said Kacy.
A mother smiling to make sure, that amid her pain and discomfort, her daughter smiles.
"She fights every day sometimes to have a smile...but she still finds one," said Ava's grandmother.
Suggested Links
A positive attitude from a family that has learned to take nothing for granted.
"I used to try to keep a real tidy house and now it's just not so much importance to that, the small things any more," Christie Parker said. "If you have time to spend with family, go spend time with family and don't worry about cutting the grass."


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|538 sq. ft.
|Property type
Stay in a recently renovated apartment in a Historical building that sleeps 4 people
Originally a Greek Family shop, now a tastefully decorated comfortable visit with all the old features remaining (Coved brick and wooden ceilings) but with modern facilities.
1 bedroom, double bed, fully equipped kitchen, 1 good sized bathroom and a large lounge with dining area and LCD TV, DVD and Convertible sofa bed..
Come and stay in Balat Fener for an authentic experience of Turkish life.
On the Shores of the Golden Horn, it's only a 5 minute walk down the hill to the water and original Byzantine walls.
In the heart of Istanbul's old districts and one of the 7 hills of the Old city, the area is changing as its ancient homes, churches, mosques and synagogues go through gentrification, guided by UNESCO and EU programs..
The right choice for the discerning traveller
The apartment was excellent and is located in a friendly and historic neighbourhood. After the second day several locals recognised us and made us feel welcome. The flat was comfortable and well appointed. The facilities were excellent and there was enough space to cook at home if you chose to. The local markets and shops are full of delicious produce to experiment with. The property is clean and well maintained.
Ozkan was an excellent host and we would recommend his walking tour of Balat and Fener. He is knowledgeable and shows you things you might otherwise miss.
The flat is well placed to see the main attractions. There is a regular bus service or a pleasant 20 minute walk along the riverbank to Eminonu, where you can catch ferries or walk through the Spice market to the main attractions, such as the Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar.
There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in Balat and Fener for evening meals. Most don't serve alcohol, but that wasn't a problem. Agora, Forno's and a newer Fanaraki were all delicious.
Don't be put off by the recent attacks reported in the media. Once in Istanbul you feel safe and especially in a local areas like Balat. it is advisable to avoid large crowds in the main tourist spots, but there is so much more to the city. You will be charmed.
The apartment is tastefully and comfortably furnished, clean and just the right size for 2 adults for a week. In addition to that it is an a excellent location, right in the old town but within easy walking distance of shops markets, buses, restaurants (there are some properly good restaurants in the area!) and everything you need. The area is facinating, you can see how the area must have looked 100 plus years ago and how it will look like in a few years when the regeration is complete. Everyone in the area is very friendly and we felt completely safe all the time we were there. Ozkem was at the apartment to let us in before we even had a chance to call him and even dashed off to get us some milk so that we could make tea! After that Ozkem and Peter looked in on us every few days to suggest places to go, things to do etc and to make sure we were comfortable. They even arranged a cab to take us back to the airport at the end of our break. I don't think we could have asked for more.
What a GREAT experience! Everything from our inquiry and reservation many months ahead, to our arrival in the rain, and our 5-day stay was wonderful. Peter and Ozkan created a clean, well-equipped "home" that was perfect for the two of us. The magic of Balat is the slow emergence of rehabilitated homes in one of the older areas of Istanbul. It was alive with friendly people, lots of children playing in the streets, etc. Yet, with a 5-minute walk down the hill, and a 10-minute bus ride, we were in the heart of "tourist" Istanbul.
Ozkan spent time with us to better understand the area, and all it has to offer. Information that is not in any guide book. With a small shop across the street we could buy water (2TL for 5 liters), snacks, and other necessities. If you want to avoid the crowds and noise of central Istanbul, at a fraction of the cost of the major hotels, this is where you want to be.
One caution. Istanbul, and especially Balat, are NOT easy for those who are lesser-abled. Many cobbled street, and very few places with access to wheelchairs, etc. are a simple reality. But for the independent traveler with just a little taste of adventure, this place is where you want to be!
What a great place to stay! Our first experience with HomeAway, this lovely flat in Balat, hit the mark, a true discovery. The place was exactly what we expected from the pictures and the description. Everything was comfortable, clean, well equipped, and beautifully decorated. We didn't want to leave after a 4 weeks stay! Peter and Ozkan were very helpful, from arranging airport transfer, sharing info about the neighbourhood and their favorite spots in town, to simply being there for all our questions.
Balat is a very interesting quickly developing neighbourhood, dynamic, vibrant and exotic. We didn't feel like touristst at all but above all as one of the neighbours. we always felt safe to wander around. Most of our shopping we did at Vodina street, down the hill, where we quickly had a personal contact with the shopkeepers (also thanks to the few Turkish words we learned at home). But also shopping in the Carsamba area, up the hill, the more conservative part, was great. Everybody was very helpful. Don't forget the Wednesday market (Carsamba market) near Fatih Mosque. We bought wonderfull veg and fruit, cheese, olives, and other stuff.
Balat is a very central location and you can easily reach Istanbul's highlights and hidden gems within minutes by bus, tram, metro, ferry (use Istanbulkart, and even use it for public toilets!). Down the hill you also find the Golden Horn, always good for a walk with a view. We'll be back!
My friend and I just spent a week in Istanbul and this apartment was perfect for us. We were both very comfortable. The place had everything that we needed. We never cooked (except coffee) but we could have if we had wanted to. The neighborhood was cool and if you want a less expensive but great meal or any food, you could get it there instead of in the touristy areas. We walked almost everywhere and it was also easy to access the ferry, bus or taxi to get to other areas. Peter's information sheet was the basis for my itinerary. We went to the oldest Turkish baths that he suggested which was an experience. We bought the croissants type rolls from the street vendor who comes by every morning about 10. The store across the street is great for most of your necessities but there are also great shops down on the main street of the neighborhood. Peter and Oksan arranged our taxi to and from the airport which was a big help. I have already recommended the place to a coworker who is going to Istanbul in September. It is off the beaten path but that is what we enjoy.
We stayed for 6 days. It was our first time in Istanbul and you couldn't find a better place to stay. We liked the neighborhood with its old houses, friendly and helpful people, corner shops, children playing in the streets just a short walking distance or a few bus stops away from the busy, more Western neighborhoods with its hordes of tourists. At the apartment we found everything according to the description. The kitchen is well equipped, though we usually went out for dinner. The owners Peter and Ozkan were very helpful before and during our stay. In short: We can fully recommend the apartment and will surely come back!
On the edge of the more busy tourist area stay in a authentic neighborhood and immerse yourself in the local culture,yet still have easy access by foot, or a 10 minute ride on local transportation to Aya Sofia, The Blue Mosque, Topkapi palace, the Grand Bazaar, Beyoglu Taxsim etc, and all of Istanbul's major tourist attractions.
On hilly cobbled streets, the twin neighbourhoods of Balat Fener were once the home of Istanbul's minorities. Here you'll see old Greek, Jewish, and Armenian homes, and some of the cities oldest Synagogues and Churches.
The area, because of so many national treasures, was recently declared a world heritage sight by UNESCO and so now has a mixture of older more conservative residents and more modern new comers living in their restored houses.
Your host's are local British/Turkish residents on hand to give any information or help if required.
The area is loved by photographers and film makers so don't be suprised to come across film crews as you wander around. The street were you will stay was featured in the last Bond movie 'Skyfall'.
|Rental Period
|Minimum Price
|Additional Nights
|Weekend Night
|Monthly *
|Event Price
My Standard Rate
1 night minimum stay
for 1 night
|Notes: Rates are based on 2 guests; add £10 per night, per additional guest
|No additional mandatory fees
|Additional Guest Fee
|£10 per person per night
* Approximate monthly price. Actual pricing will depend on the days of the month you stay.


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Hyperhidrosis is the condition of excessive sweating.
It can affect nearly any body part that contains sweat glands although axillary hyperhidrosis (armpit) is the most common form. In the past, hyperhidrosis which cannot be managed with anti-perspirants was managed by severing the nerves that supply the sweat glands. Recently the availability of Botox to block the nerves has been useful in non-surgical management of the condition.
Other commonly requested treatmment areas include the palms, occasionally the soles of the feet and the forehead.