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Rated 4.2 out of 5 by 260 reviewers.
Rated 2 out of 5 by SPGmemberG Luxury Collection???? Look up the ceiling of the Grand lobby, it was filled with luxury spider webs, thats my first impression of this "luxury collection" and the rest of the day, i will only have a world to described----Disappointment. while waiting for our upgraded room with lap pool, we were escorted to a normal deluxe room temporary. You may see broken door hinges, chipped off flooring along the corridor. upon reaching a normal deluxe room, apart from the refurbished toilet, the room was a mess. Bad odour of urinated smell were filled in the room, watermark stained of unknown liquid on the bed-head wall, broken furniture hinges and non-functional TV. Its location is unique, but with the poor upkeep and maintenance, i would rate this hotel as a poorly maintained 3 stars hotel. "Luxury collection" can't be seen. The named should be removed from SPG category to prevent further disappointment for others. July 14, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by Sowane Superb setting for relaxation This resort and place is special. The service, setting, atmosphere, beach and facilities are outstanding. This is the place to go if you want to completely relax and receive amazing service and food. The resort has managed to create a haven between the wonderful soft sandy beach and the rainforest. There is a relaxed feel and the staff are highly professionally but friendly and they have personailities. May 26, 2012
Rated 4 out of 5 by shanmes need renovation to meet luxury collection i upgraded to presidential suite but the room i feel to old.except the bathroom other part of room need to renovate.the floor is totally out.this suite look like 4 star.also the corridor of hotel and other part outside hotel need to take care like painting and touch up.look not nice and old.base on room i stay and outside of hotel i cannot accept this as luxury collection.the lobby quite nice. June 9, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by Tillietiger Wonderful Wildlife Dear Anne, I just wanted to rely back to you on the wonderful Macaque monkeys. Even though they are quite cheeky they made our experience at the Andaman unique. It was a pleasure spending time watching these very intelligent creatures. I didn't want you to think I was complaining about them! They were a treat! We were very lucky to have also see a couple of the dusky leaf monkeys too...wonderful. February 12, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by Ned62 3 Nights in Langkawi (Andaman) A great resort with excellent amenities. The service was impeccable, and every interaction we had with the staff was friendly, and professional. The F&B Manager (Teufik), also opened the breakfast buffet earlier on our departure day for us to enjoy their world-class breakfast, which exceeded our expectation, and left a great impression on my family, who had two rooms for three nights. June 17, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by NAI71 The best stay ever The first time ever I felt so satisfied going for a vacation. We were upgraded to Executive Pool Room and the room was to die for! We love sitting at the deck with our daughter playing in the pool and us chatting while enjoying the sea. Everybody had a good share of doing what we want on a holiday at the Andaman. September 17, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by DB10 Amazing experience I went there for 4D/3N and would recommend this hotel for anyone visiting the Island. The Beach of the hotel is superbe, the staff extremely welcoming and the overall atmosphere is very positive. The only little drawback is the location, in case you need to be closer to the Center of town this hotel is not made for you, however in case you are only there to relax, look no further. September 13, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by MKeshreh Beautiful Hotel .... recommended for honeymooners Very nice hotel. Clean and well decorated. You can spend the whole day in it without feeling boring. It has very nice pool with a private beach access. Very friendly and professional staff. They just smile and greet you whenever they see you, trying their best to make you feel home. Good quality of food in the restaurant. The Main restaurant server Malay and Western foor, there is also a Japanese restaurant whcih is nice. For seafood eaters, a very nice restaurant there. A live band is performing in the Lobby Lounge from 08:00 pm to almost 11:00 pm, very nice slow English songs. The newly renovated "Pool Access" rooms are amazing. You can enjoy almost a private pool with a direct access from the room. A little bit away from the main attractions in the city, so you may pay extra for taxi driver (40 MYR instead of 24 MYR and 70 MYR to airport). All in all, very nice and beautiful hotel to spend your honeymoon. January 23, 2013
Rated 4 out of 5 by unhappyvisitor lost that luxury feeling! this was my fifth visit to the Andaman (first time under new management) and unfortunately the feeling of exclusivity and luxury seemed to be missing this time around. Maybe due to the large number of families with kids. It was difficult to find a table at breakfast. The beach is still gorgeous, but i missed the cold towels that use to be handed out at the beach in the past! August 24, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by Bells362 The staff could not have been more helpful We loved our stay on Langkawi, the whole lay out of the hotel, especially the spa. The most memorable factor for us was the friendliness, attentiveness and engagement of the staff without exception. Our first morning at breakfast we were greeted, our names and room number already known. Really impressive. We also enjoyed a truly memorable spa experience. Highly recommended. October 16, 2013
Rated 4 out of 5 by Ruth123456123456 Nice but overpriced Really beautiful setting, decoration and very friendly staff. Overall happy with our stay, but restaurants were quite pricey. Room on ground level was super - yet very moist prob due to outside rainforest, swinngpool and the heavy rain which is hard to avoid but maybe some de-humidity arrangements could be made. Also some sevege smell coming from the bathroom sometimes. August 5, 2013
Rated 4 out of 5 by CoquineBabe Hotel & facilities We stayed in a pool Seaview suite. The too wasn't cleaned, the toilet smelled and we had to point out few things like light bulbs , leaking roofs etc. all these constant fixing whilst we were trying to enjoy our stay really was annoying. For the price we paid we expected better. The best highlight was the romantic beach dinner. It was superbly done. Well done. May 22, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by LaiHC Wonderful Resort I had my great time in The Andaman, The Luxury Collection as the the hotel have wonderful location and great place to spend for holiday. Enjoying the facilities and the comfortable room.Another credit for the resort is truly rainforest resort where we can experience a great time on the beach while experience to stay at the resort inside the thick rainforest April 29, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by Tillietiger This hotel has great facilities The Andaman is wonderful. My 7 year old daughter & I had an amazing time during our short stay. The staff are all very kind. The facilities are great. The spa is a must. The monkeys are cute but don't be fooled, they are very naughty at times. I hope to return again soon but for a longer stay next time. We had a family wedding at the Andaman & it was magical. January 23, 2013
Rated 4 out of 5 by olivsch Nice location in the Rainforest We enjoyed our stay very much. The rooms are a little dark due to the fact that they facing the rain forest and that the interior is pretty dark. However half of the hotel will go under refurbishment. Good spot especially if you on vacation with your kids, nice swimming pool, monkeys and other wild animals around the hotel. Staff is very friendly and helpful. May 13, 2013
Rated 3 out of 5 by BusyTravelling Good hotel but rooms need improvement We were there for 2 nights. The room was not in good condition - paint peeling off the wall, wifi connectivity was not good and the shower facilities were too complicated to even turn on hot water. On the positive side, the massage at the spa was excellent. Breakfast buffet had a great spread and staff were friendly. The beach is also nice and quiet. July 15, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 Honey Mooooon The hotel, food (including wine) and hospitality were superb. The staff smiled as if they genuinely cared that you had a great stay at their hotel. We met the General Manager at a sundowner drinks reception and we said Hi every time we saw her. Personal service. The spa and jungle (morning and evening) were particularly luxurious and fun. March 21, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by SAMMUEL50 This hotel has helpful and friendly staff Location: is ideally located in a quiet and scenic and beautiful rain forest surrounding.Excellent clean beach front and the pool facilities for adults and children are very good. Restaurants:The variety and quality of food are excellent,and served by very friendly staff. Rooms:Very clean,but hot water system was not efficient at times. August 26, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by runic1901 secluded resort with great beach A great place to sit and relax, even during tropical downpours. Beautiful areas to sit or swim, in sun or shade. Very attentive staff, in all areas. Interesting architectural details. Various jungle animals to be seen from the resort balconies. September 14, 2014
Rated 4 out of 5 by April24 Relaxing and rejuvenating Spent the weekend at the hotel and it was a great relaxation trip. Didn't leave the resort as it was far from everything else. Spent a lot of time by the beach or the pool, staff was great and attentive. Liked how the staff were actually cleaning up the beach every now and then to ensure that guests do not step on twigs and stuff. December 9, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by voula55 Just like the movies..,only better My husband and I went to the Anderman for some relaxation, we did not expect to be treated like royalty. So much relaxing and enjoying the sceanery and watching the monkeys! The food was First class and at any time of the day you could find something to eat, do or nothing but sit by the water. We were very impressed and loved it! May 21, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by AIK62 RELAX AND EDUCATIONAL A wonderful resort with a lot of "HEART-WARE"! The services are above expectation especially the concierge, front desk, Japanese restaurant and pool-side restaurant. Maybe they are too good so much so that they make others less than perfect! A must-visit resort if you are looking for a truely relaxing and educational holiday! June 24, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by jll888 A place to relax. We had been offered an upgrade to Luxury Pool Access Rooms as a Platinum Elite Member. The room provide a private deck access to private pool which is marvellous. The hotel is surround by tropical jungle beside the beach which is quite a nice place to relax. You can see lots of wild animals like monkeys, lizards, bats, etc. July 4, 2013
Rated 2 out of 5 by Sus2012 Overrated I had high expectations when I went to Andaman for a relaxing weekend. I was very disappointed to find the property so "tired" and run down. The hotel is far from luxurious. I normally enjoy swimming but, the pool was so murky that I did not dare go for a dip. The spa was nice although the treatments were rather expensive. June 27, 2012
Rated 2 out of 5 by Liza51 Location is not everything Despite being in a wonderful location with wondeful views and beach the hotel lacks almost everything a "luxury" hotel should have in 2012. While new facilities are being constructed, which I am sure will help considerably, this hotel is very tired and local staff are unfortunately not up to the task of a 5* hotel . Shame. December 18, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by mrteejai Easter break Firstly, the location of the Andaman is breath-taking and nothing short of spectacular. It's set in a magnificent rainforest and on an idyllic beach. Secondly, Anne and her staff are exceptional. They made us feel welcome and at home and were friendly, courteous and helpful - particularly Mizan! He's a wonderful fellow who made our stay extra-special. The Beach Bar is a delight, and the food and beverages we experienced at the various restaurants were delicious. Another great attraction at the hotel is the coral nursery and coral rehabilitation program. It's a fun education and great experience for the kids. In terms of improvement, the only area I would point out is that the hotel does look and feel somewhat dated, but that aside it is a wonderful destination for a relaxing family vacation, and I would highly recommend The Andaman. I had considered the Four Seasons as an alternative, but am very relieved I chose The Andaman. The locations simply don't compare! April 7, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by Angie123 Very Good A luxury hotel,very friendly staff everywhere you go. Amazing beach and pools and staff always ready to assist without being annoying. A great choice of restaurants and watering holes,only one suggestion although the rooms were comfortable they really need a freshen up bit old and shabby . I would recommend this hotel April 1, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by surfski808 My new favorite resort in Asia Thanks to Tasriff and his team for making my stay spectacular! I really appreciate the upgrade to the suite. It was stunning. I never did come across any cheeky monkeys during my visit by the way. The beach, the pool, the forest, the seclusion, the service, all top notch. I will most certainly be back in the future. March 11, 2014
Rated 1 out of 5 by plai1969 This hotel was below expectations I booked the Andaman as I wanted to have a really great time with my family, in a place that promises a good kids club, great swimming pool and luxurious accommodation. Unfortunately, for the price we paid, this hotel turned out to be a real disappointment. Firstly, the shower was blocked, which resulted in a flooded room Secondly, the TV reception was poor requiring the maintenance man to come Thirdly, the kids club was gloomy, and facilities for kids were lacking Fourthly, we were not informed that we had to make reservations for dinner. We dined in the hotel, hoping that it would be a quick dinner. When we went down to the restaurant at 8 pm, we were told we could only get a table at 8.45pm, which we did. However, our food only arrived at 9.45pm! By then, we were starving! Breakfast selection was also poor. We ate almost the same food for 3 days. For the amount of money we paid, I was really disappointed with our stay. However, the staff were always very courteous. March 21, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by Mirofai64 Truly excellent resort experience The best of luxury tropical resort holiday experience, made even better by superb staff offering friendly and attentive service. Food and beverage options are good, and the Spa experience is an absolute must. Definitely recommend for families, couples, or anyone wanting a few days to completely recharge and refresh. December 16, 2012


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"dnt wlk behind me 4 i wont lead dnt wlk behind me for i wont follow, dnt wlk beside me ether just leve me d hell alone" - HongNhung
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Houston's 10 Best Destinations for Wine
For decades, the Houston wine scene has been dominated by the California powerhouse: "California Chardonnay," "Napa Cab" and "Merlot" (in quotes because it denotes Merlot from California) have long been been Houston's go-to wines. And in many circles, they still are the most frequently ordered wines within the city's ever growing mosaic of restaurants.
Photo by Jeremy Parzen While Houston has rapidly become one of the nation's top locales for creative and innovative dining in the U.S., the rest of the country still thumbs its nose at the city's wine programs. That's about to change.
But in the late 1990s, as wine awareness began to evolve in the U.S. and more and more wines from Europe and other parts of the world became available here, the Houston wine scene started to grow and expand with the rest of the country. By the late 2000s, the city's wine culture had firmly established itself as a leading destination for fine wine, however unknown that development may have been outside of Texas. Today, no wine industry observer can deny that we are in the thick of a genuine wine awakening in south Texas.
Many wine drinkers first experience new bottles when they dine in restaurants or sample a few glasses at a wine bar, either through a sommelier's recommendation or because a label intrigues them. They taste, they drink and they then buy a case of what they like. They become demanding wine drinkers, and the local wine world becomes all the better for it. So one great way to discover new and interesting wines is to look for restaurants and wine bars with diverse and competent wine lists.
Here's our list of the "Best Houston Destinations for Wine," in no particular order, chosen because they won't disappoint when it comes to a glass or bottle to pair with your food. And a visit to any of them will definitely be a learning experience.
(One note: "Special occasion" and "power dining" restaurants have been purposely omitted. Places like Tony's, Brennan's, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, RDG/Bar Annie and the more recently arrived Phillipe have and will always have some of our country's best wine programs. We will visit them at a later date.)
The criteria for this list (which will be updated periodically) are as follows:
Does the wine program offer selections for "everyday" wine pairing?
Does the list include "special occasion" bottles for a Saturday-night anniversary celebration?
Food Friendliness
Does the wine selection work well with the menu? Does it offer an ample selection of "ready to drink now" wines?
Does the wine list teach the guest something new about wine?
Does the wine list express a theme or an aesthetic?
Is the overall wine experience enhanced by the skill of the sommelier and the servers?
Je ne sais quoi
Does the list make the guest feel sexy?
Location Info
Tony's Restaurant
3755 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
Brennan's of Houston
3300 Smith, Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
5839 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
RDG + Bar Annie
1800 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
Philippe - CLOSED
1800 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
13 Celsius Wine Bar
3000 Caroline, Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
Brasserie 19
1962 W. Gray St., Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
Americas Restaurant
2040 W. Gray St., Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
Amazon Grill
5114 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
800 Bagby, Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
Catalan Food & Wine Bar - CLOSED
5555 Washington St., Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
Osteria Mazzantini
2200 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
1100 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
The Pass
807 Taft St., Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
807 Taft, Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
Camerata at Paulie's
1834 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
Cafe Rabelais
2442 Times Blvd., Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
1600 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX
Category: Restaurant
Backstreet Cafe
1103 S. Shepherd Dr., Houston, TX
Category: Music
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Department of Cognitive Science
Cognitive Science Register
The ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders and the Department of Cognitive Science are always on the lookout for people willing to participate in experiments investigating a number of areas of human cognition. All of these experiments are completely safe; most involve watching briefly presented pictures or words and making judgments about them. Participants are paid $15 per hour (or pro rata) for taking part in these experiments.
Anyone can join the Cognitive Science Register. People who register will receive emails notifying them about experiments they can sign up for. The main focus areas of the research conducted are in language, reading, perception and action, and belief formation.
To proceed either
Further Information
- Monday 23rd Mar,
Associate Professor Karin Verspoor,
"Accelerating biomedical discovery through large-scale heterogeneous ..."
- Wednesday 25th Mar,
Devin B. Terhune,
"The role of visual cortex in synaesthesia"
- Monday 30th Mar,
Patrick Cavanagh,
"The Language of Vision"
- Tuesday 7th Apr,
Prof. Bruno Rossion,
"Understanding face perception with fast periodic visual stimulation"
Who is Visiting
- Professor Daniel Bub
- Jenny Wu
- Professor Masanori Higuchi
- Associate Professor Daisuke Oyama
- Dr Dennis Norris
- Professor Susan Gathercole
- Niina Tamura
- Dr Julie Morris
- Professor Naomi (Wenkai) Chen
- Professor Kate Nation [Previous Visitors]
Contact Details
Telephone: (02) 9850 9599
Fax : (02) 9850 6059
Email : firstname.lastname@example.com
Web : www.cogsci.mq.edu.au


text:
I have come across Robin McKinley's name on several occasions on lists of books I would or should like – several of her fairy tale retellings have been on my TBR list for years. 587 more words
Tags » Open Road Integrated Media
[Review] Calling written by Joe Samuel Starnes
Title: Calling
Author: Joe Samuel Starnes
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media (2005) – Reissued by MysteriousPress.com
Date of Publication: 8 July 2014
Number of Pages: 281… 961 more words
Jessica Yee ('11) works with Publishing in New York
While moving to Brooklyn during the summer of 2011, I had the quintessential, clichéd "New York is so inspiring" experience. Although the physical trip to New York was terrifying (my parents and I had several extremely close calls with aggressive cabbies), seeing the Manhattan skyline for the first time was exhilarating and inspiring in a cheesy kind of way, especially when it hit me that this would be the new place I'd call home. 1,095 more words
Good News: Some Thankful Things Here!
Hello All! I hope you are totally enjoying your Thanksgiving 2014. :) I am either cooking, cleaning, stuffing my face, or sleeping. It's a good day. 362 more words
The Genome - Sergei Lukyanenko
Sergei Lukyanenko is an author I will pick up even if the book doesn't sound like something I will like. His Night Watch Series is amazing. 794 more words
I received a prerelease e-copy of this book through NetGalley (publication date December 2, 2014) with the expectation that I will post a review on their site and others (my blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Google +, LinkedIn, Twitter, Amazon, etc.). 189 more words
Discounts on books from Open Road Integrated Media!
Happy Romance Awareness Month!
Open Road Integrated Media is celebrating with a promotion! Fifteen books have been downpriced to $1.99 or $0.99 across various genres of romance. 154 more words


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Mobile, mobile-only, mobile apps, smartphones: Enough said
The newly released annual look at the digital world from online and mobile measurement firm comScore makes it quite clear that retailers better be ...
Mobile, mobile-only, mobile apps, smartphones: Enough said
The newly released annual look at the digital world from online and mobile measurement firm comScore makes it quite clear that retailers better be ...
Data breaches hurt more than e-retailers' bottom lines
Money matters, but online merchants must keep consumers' trust and offer reassurances that their payment data is secure.
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At the IRCE Focus: Digital Design conference in Los Angeles, sources report retailers being contacted about the move.
Posted 03/18/2015Thad RueterPost a comment
A new ChannelAdvisor report for February finds continued growth for merchants selling through Amazon while eBay auctions decrease 26.2% year over year in February.
Posted 03/10/2015Matt LindnerPost a comment
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Buying the top-level domain name costs Google $25 million and could strengthen its ties with web developers.
Posted 03/03/2015Thad RueterPost a comment
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The e-commerce services provider, which helps merchants sell via online marketplaces, reports a 25% revenue gain for 2014.
Posted 02/06/2015Thad RueterPost a comment
Related Content:Channeladvisor
Amid reports that Amazon has discussed buying some RadioShack stores, an analyst envisions three main uses for those locations, along with other scenarios.
Posted 02/03/2015Thad RueterPost a comment
International growth was only 3.2%, leaving the e-retailer's overall revenue increase at under 14.6%. Amazon Prime membership grew 53% worldwide and 50% in the United States, says CEO Jeff Bezos. And Amazon surprised investors by turning a profit, largely from fulfilling orders more efficiently.
Posted 01/29/2015Thad RueterPost a comment
Amazon's mobile wallet stored loyalty cards that could be scanned at checkout.
Posted 01/21/2015April DahlquistPost a comment
Shoppers are shopping more on their smartphones than ever before, and that continued during the second week of December, according to Custora. Meanwhile, ComScore says sales growth via desktop computers slowed slightly during the second week of December.
Posted 12/17/2014AbCallardPost a comment
Buying U.K. company E-Tale will help ChannelAdvisor support manufacturers looking to develop direct-to-consumer sales and steer shoppers to resellers, says CEO Scot Wingo.
Posted 11/07/2014Allison EnrightPost a comment
Related Content:Allison Enright
The No. 1 e-retailer in North America reportedly will open its first physical store, which would be located near the Empire State Building.
Posted 10/09/2014Thad RueterPost a comment
Related Content:Online Grocery | Foot Locker


text:
Ozwald Boateng: A singular man
British fashion designer Ozwald Boateng's creations epitomise glamorous style, but a new documentary paints a picture of personal trauma behind the glitter. Kaleem Aftab reports
Wednesday 10 November 2010
When fashion designer Ozwald Boateng decided, back in 1998, to allow a director to film him for six months, he had little idea of what he was setting in motion. In the end, the director followed him around for 12 years. In that time, Boateng became the youngest man to open his own store in the Savile Row area of tailors and was also made creative director of menswear at Givenchy. Indeed, filming only finished at the end of September when Boateng presented his latest London show, A Man's Story, at Fashion Week in Leicester Square.
All these moments are captured by director Varon Bonicos in his documentary, also called A Man's Story. But the film is not just a chronicle of Boateng's career. Over the course of those dozen years, the two men's friendship developed, and Boateng allowed more intimate, personal moments to be shot. In the finished film, which I have seen, the truly personal nature of the picture becomes dramatically apparent. The documentary reveals, for example, some of the reasons for Boateng's split with his second wife, Gyunel. Boateng is shown reading out amorous text messages, which he has found. Gyunel features in the film as well, in an interview giving her side of the story in which she accuses Boateng of not being able to organise his time and putting work in front of family.
It seems strange that Boateng, a man known for his snazzy suits, his debonair style and his seemingly glamorous lifestyle, should have sanctioned such a raw and personal film. And, indeed, when I met Boateng shortly before the first official screening in Abu Dhabi, the designer looked nervous, wearing an open blue shirt and green trousers. He says of the documentary: "It's like being on a skyscraper and jumping off the top of it."
It is unsurprising that Boateng feels this way. He could easily have ordered a film to be made that simply celebrated his own successful clothing empire and told us little about his private life. Instead, this documentary looks as rough as his clothes look smooth. The shaky handheld camera and shoddy sounds are what stand out in an opening that seemingly sets up a typical rags-to-riches tale.
When the cameras began rolling, Boateng was at a low ebb. He was in financial difficulty and his divorce from his first wife, Pasquale, had just been finalised. In the film, we see Boateng rebuild his clothing empire and, eventually, become a designer with a global reputation.
But the film's central theme is not Boateng's success. Rather, it is the fact that, despite the glamour and the riches, Ozwald Boateng is, at the end of the day, just another guy with everyday problems.
"It's a story about belief, what is really important in life, and also I think it summarises all men's journeys in a way," he explains. "As a man, there is a certain expectation on you, and I think a lot of men will be able to look at this film and recognise certain elements within it that resonate for them on a very deep level."
A Man's Story is almost too personal for Boateng. He says he cannot even watch the first hour of the film. "It's very difficult for me, very hard. I can probably watch the last 15 minutes of the film, the first hour or so is very tough because there is a series of moments portrayed in the film and it's moments that you can forget or try to forget. For example, the moments I meet my wife and then you see the love, that moment, especially when it goes wrong, you can say it was never really that. This [selective memory] is a way to move yourself forward, so to be reminded of that is a very powerful thing, because it's not just having a record but also on film. The way he [director Varon Bonicos] films, he's got an unbelievable ability to capture the real moment in time, so as a viewer you are experiencing that moment. So it's a very powerful piece of work."
When I tell the fashion designer that I'm surprised that he has allowed his personal life to become such an important focus of the documentary, he responds: "I think to answer the question, I have a lot of trust in Varon as a film-maker. He's been with me for 12 years. There is no way I would allow it to happen if I didn't trust him. When he started filming me 12 years ago, after my first divorce, of course, I didn't intend for the film to turn out how it has."
The original intention was for Bonicos to film for six months, but over that period the director and subject became friends, and before they both knew it, time was flying by. The 42-year-old recalls: "After five years, I said, 'This has got to stop' and I tried to take him to LA to meet a couple of big producer friends of mine, Joel Silver and Jerry Bruckheimer, whom I knew because I make clothes for them, and I thought that they would discourage him from filming. But it went completely in the opposite direction, and they said you should film more!"
What Boateng calls "real" moments include hearing Gyunel screaming at him on his mobile phone, saying that she doesn't love him, and an astonishing sequence in which the clothes-maker reads out text messages.
"We've all had that call," believes Boateng somewhat curiously. "I think it's very personal, but if you can step back from the phone call, step back enough to see the portrait, you can see that this is life, and because I have a perceived lifestyle it doesn't mean that I don't also have those experiences. That's why I think this film is important. It's almost like dispelling the myth, and the fact that I might have a bigger house and you have a smaller house has nothing to do with it. We all fall in love the same way, we have families in the same way."
Surprisingly, Boateng argues that the roughness of the storytelling is complementary to his finely finished fashion designs. "I'm someone who ultimately can't just create for creation's sake, there's always been a meaning to my creativity, so the film was very much a mirror to that."
His clothes are known for their use of colour and having a certain flamboyance, but as soon as I say the F word, Boateng steps in. "But flamboyance is not the key I would use for it. I'd say I design textiles, and when I first started I actually used very classic grey whites but as I went on this journey and there came an understanding that Savile Row and traditional British tailoring had a significance on my creativity I looked at different tools that I could use to mordernise it and so for me colour was a tool really and for me it was a very interesting tool to use because by introducing it in a particular way I found a way of mordernising some of these very traditional forms and I like tradition because it has a strong foundation that you can work from and you don't have to break it."
Boateng made getting suits made on Savile Row fashionable to young celebrities and not just for bankers and lawyers. Boateng recalls: "It was a very private club, there wasn't much opportunity for anyone with new thinking to be even allowed to walk the street let alone go into one of the stores, so I think what I did was that I realised and identified the uniqueness of that and I knew that the only way that was going to be kept alive, the concept of British tailoring, was by having to change the concept and I knew I could effect that change, so that's why I decided to do that and I knew that by effecting that change and keeping it alive I could effect other changes from other perspectives on the bigger issue of that period of time where there was a lot of finding identity and how I fit into this new evolving place called Britain. The clothes were also helping me find my place and also introducing a new perspective on what now is British."
The film only touches upon this struggle with brief use of archive footage of the Brixton riots. Growing up in a changing Britain had a huge impact on the man who broke the race barrier of British tailoring. Little did the 16-year-old boy who started out working as a tailor before opening a store on Portobello Road aged just 23 know that he would go on to become such a part of the fabric of British society.
This new film will certainly add a human dimension to a celebrated career.
'A Man's Story' will be released next year
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The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe.
Pan and Pfeil (2004) count 87 distinct "peoples of Europe", of which 33 form the majority population in at least one sovereign state, while the remaining 54 constitute ethnic minorities. The total number of national minority populations in Europe is estimated at 105 million people, or 14% of 770 million Europeans.
The culture of the United States is primarily Western, but is influenced by Native American, African, Asian, Polynesian, and Latin American cultures. A strand of what may be described as American culture started its formation over 10,000 years ago with the migration of Paleo-Indians from Asia, as well as from Oceania and Europe, into the region that is today the continental United States. The United States of America has its own unique social and cultural characteristics such as dialect, music, arts, social habits, cuisine, and folklore. The United States of America is an ethnically and racially diverse country as a result of large-scale migration from many ethnically and racially different countries throughout its history as well as differing birth and death rates among natives, settlers, and immigrants.
Its chief early European influences came from English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish settlers of colonial America during British rule. British culture, due to colonial ties with Britain that spread the English language, legal system and other cultural inheritances, had a formative influence. Other important influences came from other parts of western Europe, especially Germany, France, and Italy.]citation needed[
Native Americans are the indigenous peoples within the boundaries of the present-day United States, including those in Alaska and Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes and ethnic groups, many of which survive as intact political communities. The terms used to refer to Native Americans have been controversial. According to a 1995 U.S. Census Bureau set of home interviews, most of the respondents with an expressed preference refer to themselves as "American Indians" or simply "Indians"; this term has been adopted by major newspapers and some academic groups, but does not traditionally include Native Hawaiians or certain Alaskan Natives, such as Aleut, Yup'ik, or Inuit peoples.
Since the end of the 15th century, the migration of Europeans to the Americas has led to centuries of conflict and adjustment between Old and New World societies. Many Native Americans lived as hunter-gatherer societies and told their histories by oral traditions; Europeans therefore created almost all of the surviving historical record concerning the conflict.
2nd row: Elizabeth I of England • Bobby Moore • Margaret Thatcher • David Beckham • Harold Godwinson • Kate Winslet • Charles Dickens
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Angelcynn. England is a country of the United Kingdom, and English people in England are British Citizens. Their ethnonym is derived from the Angles, Germanic peoples who migrated to Great Britain after the fifth century AD.
The history of the United States as covered in American schools and universities typically begins with either Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage to the Americas or with the prehistory of the Native peoples, with the latter approach having become increasingly common in recent decades.
Indigenous peoples lived in what is now the United States for thousands of years and developed complex cultures before European colonists began to arrive, mostly from England, after 1600. The Spanish had early settlements in Florida and the Southwest, and the French along the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast. By the 1770s, thirteen British colonies contained two and a half million people along the Atlantic coast, east of the Appalachian Mountains. The colonies were prosperous and growing rapidly, and had developed their own autonomous political and legal systems. After driving the French out of North America in 1763, the British imposed a series of new taxes while rejecting the American argument that taxes required representation in Parliament. "No taxation without representation" became the American catch phrase. Tax resistance, especially the Boston Tea Party of 1774, led to punishment by Parliament designed to end self-government in Massachusetts. All 13 colonies united in a Congress that led to armed conflict in April 1775. On July 4, 1776, the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson, proclaimed that all men are created equal, and founded a new nation, the United States of America.
The Nova Scotian Settlers or Sierra Leone Settlers, (also known as the Nova Scotians or more commonly as The 'Settlers) were African Americans who migrated from Nova Scotia to Sierra Leone and founded the settlement of Freetown and the second colony of Sierra Leone on March,11, 1792. The majority of these black immigrants were among 3000 former slaves and free blacks known as Black Loyalists who sought refuge with the British during the American Revolutionary War. The Nova Scotian settlers were jointly led by former soldier Thomas Peters and John Clarkson, an English abolitionist and first governor of Freetown, who became a respected friend and patron of the Nova Scotian settlers.
Although the Maroons and other transatlantic immigrants contributed toward the development of Freetown, the Nova Scotian Settlers were the single greatest Western black influence on the making of Freetown, Sierra Leone and their legacy remains there till this day.]citation needed[ For most of the 19th century the Settlers resided in Settler Town; today their descendants are found among the Sierra Leone Creole people. The Nova Scotian settlers have been the subject of many social science books which have examined how the Nova Scotians brought 'America' to Africa as the founders of the first permanent ex-slave colony in West Africa which proved quite influential throughout the region.
Pontiac's War, Pontiac's Conspiracy, or Pontiac's Rebellion was a war that was launched in 1763 by a loose confederation of elements of Native American tribes primarily from the Great Lakes region, the Illinois Country, and Ohio Country who were dissatisfied with British postwar policies in the Great Lakes region after the British victory in the French and Indian War (1754–1763). Warriors from numerous tribes joined the uprising in an effort to drive British soldiers and settlers out of the region. The war is named after the Ottawa leader Pontiac, the most prominent of many native leaders in the conflict.
The war began in May 1763 when Native Americans, offended by the policies of British General Jeffrey Amherst, attacked a number of British forts and settlements. Eight forts were destroyed, and hundreds of colonists were killed or captured, with many more fleeing the region. Hostilities came to an end after British Army expeditions in 1764 led to peace negotiations over the next two years. Native Americans were unable to drive away the British, but the uprising prompted the British government to modify the policies that had provoked the conflict.
In journalism, a human interest story is a feature story that discusses a person or people in an emotional way. It presents people and their problems, concerns, or achievements in a way that brings about interest, sympathy or motivation in the reader or viewer.
Human interest stories may be "the story behind the story" about an event, organization, or otherwise faceless historical happening, such as about the life of an individual soldier during wartime, an interview with a survivor of a natural disaster, a random act of kindness or profile of someone known for a career achievement.
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A computerized connection system between exercise stations, comprising an exercise machine or equipment item and interface means to allow the exchange of information between the user and the station itself, includes a telecommunication network operatively interposed between the exercise stations to allow the connection, information exchange and communication of the users of the individual stations.
1. A computerized connection system between exercise stations comprising:
an exercise machine or equipment item;
interface means to allow the exchange of information between a user and station, the interface means comprises means for the input and means for the output of information,
a telecommunication network operatively interposed between the exercise stations to allow the connection and simultaneous bi-directional information exchange between the users of each individual station by allowing the socialization of the connected users.
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The present invention relates to the field of exercise machines and/or equipment and in particular its subject is a computerized communication systems for exchanging information and communications of the users of exercise stations.
The exercise stations of gyms for fitness or sports training can be constituted, as is generally known, by machines of by exercise equipment with various structures and features. Such stations can be equipped with electronic control and/or user interface means, constituted for instance by a system unit, by an input device, such as a keyboard, and by means for displaying the information, such as a monitor or display screen.
These electronic means allow the interaction between the user and the means embodying the actual exercise station for a broad variety of purposes, which can range from the simple recording of data pertaining to the user's work program; to the automatic pre-setting of the machine according to the various phases in the development of the user's program; to the feedback control of the machine and of the user to obtain an exact correspondence between the set program and the program actually performed.
Individual stations of the prior art, however, do not allow their respective users to communicate with each other, or vice versa to communicate with the world outside the space in which they are located.
Such a possibility would bring about significant advantages, since during the execution of the exercise the local users of a same gym, or the users of physically remote gyms could find it useful to be able to exchange information, messages, or even to participate in a collective, simultaneous exercise sections whilst being individually situated in physically remote locations.
The aim of the present invention therefore is to provide the users of two or more exercise stations, possibly also very remote from each other, with the capability of exchanging information in real time.
In accordance with the invention, said aim is achieved by a computerized telecommunication system for connecting the exercise stations, comprising an exercise machine or equipment item and user-to-machine interfacing means, characterized in that it further comprises a telecommunication network operatively interposed between the exercise stations and designed to connect individual users in such a way as to let them intercommunicate with each other or with the outside world.
Further technical characteristics of the invention, according to the aforesaid aims, can be clearly noted from the content of the claims set out below and its advantages shall become more readily apparent in the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent an embodiment provided purely by way of non limiting example, in which:
FIG. 1 is a heavily schematic block representation of an exercise station according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic block representation of a system for the computerized connection of the exercise stations of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an exercise station obtained according to the invention.
With reference to the drawing of FIG. 2, the number 1 globally indicates a computerized connection system between exercise stations 2 to allow the connection, and the exchange of information in general, between the users of individual stations 2, within the same gym, or vice versa, in a broader scope represented, for instance, by two distinct and separate physical environments, possibly situated in positions which can even be separated by a great distance.
The exercise stations 2 are operatively interconnected by an interposed telecommunication network 3.
The individual stations 2 are generally constituted by an exercise machine or equipment�which are not defined in detail because they are extraneous to the subject of the invention�comprising means for the interface between the user and the station 2 itself.
The interface means include a system unit 14 which allows, by means of a suitable software, the exchange of information between the user and the station 2 itself; or between the user and the organs 20 embodying the exercise machine, for setting up and controlling the machine itself; or also between the user and recording and controlling systems that record the progress of the personalized program, set up for the user.
The interface means between user and exercise station 2 generally comprise input means 4, 5, 6; 7; 8 and output means 9, 10; 11; 13 with which the user, through the network 3, activates a process of communication and bi-directional information exchange with the users of other exercise stations 2. Exchange, which through the adoption of suitable software and communication protocols can take place both in confidential form between only two users who are identified by means of appropriate recognition codes, or between a plurality of users who access a collective conversation through appropriate access filters.
In particular, the input means 4, 5, 6 can be made in such a way as to be able to be operated directly by the user of the exercise machine 2 itself and, as such, can be embodied by a keyboard 4�or by the same keyboard that normally equips the exercise station�or by a manually operated pointing device, such as a mouse 5 or joystick 6.
According to a different embodiment, particularly advantageous in the exercise stations 2 that provide for the user to employ his/her hands during the exercise, the input means can be so devised as to be operated by the user through voice activation. This can be obtained for instance by connecting, through a suitable audio board 21, a microphone 7 to the system unit 14.
The input means can also comprise at least a video camera 8 associated to the exercise station 2 and interfaced to the processing unit through suitable video board 25, whereby the users of the stations 2 simultaneously connected can also exchange visual data.
In regard to the output means, FIG. 1 shows that they can comprise means for displaying the data embodied by a monitor 9 or by a display 10 provided to the exercise station 2; and they can further comprise, both in combination therewith and as an alternative thereto, an audio device 11 (i.e., ear phones) which can be worn by the user of the exercise station 2; or also one or more loudspeakers 13 associated to the exercise station 2 itself.
The telecommunication network 3 can be embodied by an analogue network; in this case the interface means between user and station 2 comprise a modem 15 for analogue-digital and digital-analogue conversion of the data exchanged between the users of the stations 2; but it can also be embodied by a digital data transmission network. The telecommunication network 3 can be physically supported by cables, by optical fibers, by wave guides; alternatively, it can be constructed also with a wireless technology and exploit, for instance, radio waves to transmit information between the users of the connected stations 2.
In use, the connection system of the invention allows all users who desire to exchange messages or to converse in real time during the execution of their respective exercises to communicate through the exercise stations 2.
However, further expansions and enhancements of such features are also possible, for it is readily understood that, through the local telecommunication network 3 of a generic gym, the user can reach the Internet global network and be able to communicate with other gyms, with individual exercise stations, which may be other users' home stations or, even more generally, with anyone with whom he/she desires to communicate during the execution of his/her own exercise program.
A possible indicative and non limiting example of such variations can be readily noted from FIG. 1, observing that the connection, through the network 3, of the various exercise stations 2 can also be activated through a simple portable telephone 23. The latter integrates within itself, by its construction, the keyboard and microphone as input devices, and the earphone device 11 and the display 10 as output devices.
The system according to the invention allows numerous and advantageous practical applications, a first example whereof is the possibility of favoring the socialization of the users of the exercise stations 2 of a gym. By providing each exercise station 2 with a microphone 7 and with a speaker 13 inter-operating with the telecommunication network 3, the users of the various exercise stations 2 can communicate with each other during the training session.
For this purpose the system is provided with search means 50 operating on the telecommunication network 3 to connect a first calling user with the exercise station 2 of a second called user, i.e. of a second user with whom the first desires to come in contact.
If the first, calling, user knows the physical location of the exercise station 2 of the called user, the search means can be embodied by a simple telephone router. If instead the first user desires to reach a second user without knowing the location of the second user's exercise station, the search means 50 will track the second user and, once identified his/her exercise station 2, will automatically connect him/her to the first, calling, user.
The recognition of the second user may take place both by means of dedicated hardware and by means of suitable software operating in such a way as to track the second user for instance by means of a suitable personal identification number entered in the exercise station 2, the so-called PIN, or through a portable means in which are stored various data both pertaining to the exercise protocol and to the personal recognition data; all as for instance illustrated in document IT-1.274.053, previously the subject of patent protection by the same Applicant.
Naturally, in order to preserve the privacy of the second user and his/her willingness to be contacted, the search means shall subordinate the connection of the second user to a declaration of availability for possible contacts which the second user may express by entering, from his/her own exercise station 2, an appropriate personal availability code; or also by activating or not activating an option presented for instance by a program menu.
The connection system described above can be advantageously employed also to allow an interactive dialogue between the instructor and the user of the exercise station 2, which in this case embody respectively the first and the second user as previously defined.
A further use of the system of the invention can be the formation of training classes, i.e. groups of users simultaneously engaged in a shared activity: in this case the first user, caller, connected to the telecommunication network 3 is again represented by the user; the second users, the called parties, shall instead be represented by the users of the various exercise stations 2 involved in the shared activity.
Naturally, it is also possible to obtain virtual training classes, in which the second users, the called parties, can be located in exercise stations 2 situated in mutually remote physical locations, such as gyms which may be in different cities, or also, more simply, inside rooms of individual homes.
In the case in which the training class is constituted by exercise stations 2 situated in the same room, the system can also comprise indicator means 51 able to signal that the user of a generic exercise station 2 is temporarily occupied in a connection with at least another user of the telecommunication network 3; or with a different operating move, that the user is available for socialization: the light signal can be seen as a complementary or alternative embodiment of the personal availability code.
More in particular, the indicator means can comprise a visual indicator 51, mounted on a support rod 52 associated to the exercise station 2. When the indicator 51 is used as a tool for identifying a training class, the emission of a light indication can allow immediately to highlight, in the plurality of the exercise stations 2 of the gym, which ones are simultaneously connected with the telecommunication network 3 and/or are collectively engaged in one of the possible activities which may be performed together.
By exploiting different chromatic tones of the light indicators, it shall be possible to distinguish the various training classes, which shall therefore be identifiable by instructors and users based on the tone set in the various exercise stations 2.
The invention is susceptible of evident industrial application and can be subject also to numerous embodiment variations without departing from the scope of the same inventive concept.
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Do you want to help your ministry become a culture of generosity? It's important to know how to go about it, and The Vision Group has resources to help you. But it's not enough to know what to do; you also need to know what not to do.
Recently I asked stewardship experts Brian Kluth and Michael Williams what don'ts they would share with leaders who want to help their ministries become more generous. Here are some of their insights:
What other advice would you give to ministry leaders who want to foster generosity in their ministries?
You can hear more about Effective Ministry Leadership from Mike Stickler on this week's featured program. Mike is also one of the presenters at the Raise Your Vision Online Forum.
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Hugh Ballou is a transformational leadership strategist and coach as well as a seasoned conductor of choirs and orchestras. We recently talked about how leaders can bring out the best in their people to achieve a common vision.
Ballou began by describing a leader as three things:
There are many different theories of leadership out there. Hugh has said that over his 40 years in ministry leadership, he found most leadership theory as "too complicated. I'd read all these leadership books, and there was way too much theory, and the stuff was too complicated."
He discovered strong similarities between leading a business or ministry and conducting an orchestra. (And certainly an orchestra qualifies as a highly organized organization!)
"So I boiled down transformational leadership as a conductor to four principles," he said. "And you can apply this to any organization. These four principles are how you take the conductor model and work it into your leadership skills in a non-musical setting."
I'll let Hugh explain his four principles:
1. The conductor first and foremost must know the score. "When you step on the podium, you must know what's in that score. It's far too complex to fake it. As a leader, we must know what the vision is," Hugh said. "What's that vision God has given us? We must have a plan; we must have our skill set nailed."
2. A conductor hires the best players for the orchestra. "We don't want mediocre people. We hire the best. This second principle is about relationships. You build and maintain effective relationships," Hugh said. "Ministry and leadership are first and foremost built around relationships. We cannot lead people or minister to people if we don't have relationships."
3. The conductor rehearses for success. "If we have a bad rehearsal, we're going to have a bad performance," Hugh says. "We build systems into our organizations that engage people. We empower and engage and motivate people through those very systems, so we build excellence into everything we do." Examples of these systems would include strategies for leading effective meetings, for making decisions and for selecting people for ministry roles.
4. The conductor values the rests. "In a great symphony, rests are there for a specific reason," Hugh explained. "They validate the energy that came before; they set you up for what comes next. Rests are not absence of sound. They're punctuation. "
Hugh made a connection between musical rests and the leader's daily life. "It's about balance in life. It's work life, church life, our personal set of skills, our personal being, our spiritual being, our physical being, our intellectual being—how we balance all of those. And how do we balance all those things going on in our organizations?"
He went on to explain what that looks like. "Balancing life doesn't mean things are equal. But it means we have time to rest, we have time to play, we have a Sabbath, mini-Sabbaths, a whole-day Sabbath. We really think about how we're going to be rested and prepared as we show up as the leader. And fundamentally that fourth tenet of balance makes the others work. We can't preach Sabbath and not take care of our bodies. Sabbath is there for us. It's there for a reason."
Here are my take-aways:
Which of these will you begin to work on first?
You can hear more about Effective Ministry Leadership from Hugh Ballou on this week's featured program. Hugh is also one of the presenters at The Raise Your Vision Online Forum.
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Unless they have a crazy sense of adventure (and not much sense otherwise), most people don't set out on a trip with no idea of where they want to end up. People usually only hit the road after they've decided on a destination.
For ministries, "where we want to end up" is another term for vision. It describes the final destination that beckons them. Vision is what moves everything forward in ministry. For your ministry to go forward, you have to work backward. That is, you have to think backward from the final goal so you know what it will take to reach it. I've traveled all over the world, and every trip started with knowing where I wanted to end up, then working backward from there so I knew what I needed to do to get to my destination. A ministry doesn't only need a vision, a desired end. It also needs a strategy to get there. This is particularly true when it comes to raising funds for the organization. Without financial goals and a strategy to meet them, the ministry only has hope. And hope is not a strategy. Say you have a personal desire to go to Hawaii. That's your vision. What's it going to take to get there? Do you need to get the consensus of your family? Do you need to raise money? What will happen when you get there? Will you be hiking? Do you need to prepare yourself physically? What reservations will you need to make? Who will you need to contact ahead of time?
This strategizing process applies to ministries as well, especially when it comes to raising funds for the ministry. What does the destination—that vision—look like for your ministry? What resources, time and abilities will your ministry need for trip itself? Once we determine the destination, then we need work backward from there so we know what we need to get us there.
If your ministry is not going through that process, if you're not really thinking these things through, you don't really have a strategy. You have hope, but hope is not a strategy.
Do you know where your ministry is headed? Where are you in working out how you'll get there?
You can hear more about Effective Ministry Leadership from Mike Stickler on this week's featured program.
All information and images property of The Vision Group, Ltd. © 2015 Use, unless expressly given by the Company in writing, is unlawful by U.S. Copyright Law.
Where would you like to see your organization?
Determining the direction and effectiveness of your organization is a mandatory practice in today's competitive fundraising environment. Mike has created a tool to help your organization determine where you stand in accepted best practices in organizational development and fundraising methodologies. This assessment is a serious undertaking, which has been developed using accepted best practices and scientific data collection. This assessment will take approximately fifteen minutes to complete (62 questions) and is best accomplished by senior leadership within your organization.
Where is your organization headed? What do you want to accomplish? How will you get there? Have you built your organization's capacity to get the job done and be self-sustaining over the long haul? Have you given capacity building the attention it needs?
Many nonprofits and ministries are started by visionary leaders who are eager to get right to the task of serving their community, so they don't take the time to build the necessary infrastructure and support. My friend Art Ritter has said, "Quite frankly, that's the entrepreneur's disease—the attraction of wanting to jump ahead into serving before you're actually ready to deliver the goods. That urge is exceedingly strong in any entrepreneur's DNA, I'm afraid."
There are many different ways to give to ministries, and there are many different motivations for giving. As we plan to raise ministry funds, it's important to understand what motivates people to give to an organization.
Some people are motivated to support an event. It's important to them to support an event they believe God will use to touch lives. Others want to give to something tangible, such as a building, vehicle or piece of equipment that will help the ministry be more effective. Some want to give to causes that help people directly—perhaps with food, housing or education. Others want to give because the practice of giving blesses them and helps them grow in spiritual maturity. If there is one thing that motivates givers more than anything else, it's this: when they've been gripped by a compelling vision. They can see that the ministry is striving to accomplish a vision that will build God's kingdom and change people's lives. Vision is what drives everything forward in ministry. It is what makes people want to get on board with what a ministry is trying to accomplish. One thing that dampens people's desire to give is the "constant needs" approach. That's when a ministry seems has no compelling vision, but instead always asks for money for one need this week and another need next week. Not only do givers grow tired of that kind of appeal, but it also makes the ministry leaders feel like they are manipulating their donors. And in a way, they are.
It's amazing isn't it, the many reasons people have for giving. And nothing motivates giving as much as a ministry with a clearly defined vision.
What motivates you to give? How does your ministry seek to encourage giving?
You can hear more about Effective Ministry Leadership from Mike Stickler on this week's featured program. Mike is also one of the presenters for The Generous Life Conference.
All information and images property of The Vision Group, Ltd. © 2015 Use, unless expressly given by the Company in writing, is unlawful by U.S. Copyright Law.


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Print or sketch your basic design.
How to Design Your Own Embroidery
Embroidery is a beautiful and nearly lost art. Embroidery adds a touch of elegance of times long gone and it makes anything personal. Designing your own embroidery makes your pieces all the more special.
Things You'll Need
- Ruler
- Paper, 1/4-inch graph paper
- Pencil
- Design picture
- Colored pencils
Transfer your design onto the graph paper. Draw in just the outlines and edges; don't worry about shading and color. Make two copies of the design.
Draw in the stitches you want to use on one of the copies. Use different colors for each type of stitch.
Make one more copy on graph paper and color the design. Color this copy as close to the colors of floss you will be using.
Use these three sheets as reference while you embroider.
Make your design exact on your fabric by taking your pencil drawing and turning it upside down. Tape it to a window and trace the design with an iron-on transfer pencil. Place the design (pencil side up) on the fabric, cover with a towel and iron. Now you should have an exact copy of your design stamped onto the fabric.
Embroider away and enjoy your very own unique design.
- 1
Tips & Warnings
- If you don't have graph paper, use your ruler to create 1-inch squares and then sketch in your design.
- Copying anyone's design is plagiarism. Use your imagination to create your own beautiful artwork.
- Photo Credit Jeanette Chadwick
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Shattered (US - DVD R1)
Lionsgate Home Entertainment sends over details on this Pierce Brosnan film
Starring: Pierce Brosnan
Released: 25th December 2007
Further Details:
Lionsgate Home Entertainment has announced Shattered which stars Pierce Brosnan, Maria Bello, and Gerard Butler. This Mike Barker directed thriller will be available to own from the 25th December, and should retail at around $26.98. The film itself will be presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, along with English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Surround tracks. Extras will include an audio commentary with director Mike Barker and writer William Morrissey, deleted and alternate scenes, a Hero to Villain featurette, and a Breaking Apart the Wheel featurette. We've attached the official package artwork below:
News by Tom Woodward
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The Education Vault
To be successful precious metals investors, we must educate ourselves about several key aspects of this market.
First, we must understand why gold and silver have genuine intrinsic value in our cultures: because they are our best "money". This, in turn, begs the question "what is money?"
Once we understand why gold and silver have their special status, we must get to learn their markets - which have a number of similarities, but also some crucial differences.
After understanding why we want to accumulate precious metals, there is still the decision as to what to buy, since precious metals can be purchased in different forms.
For those who become comfortable investing in this sector, there are many reasons why investing in precious metals miners can compliment one's investment portfolio. We provide guidance on how to begin investing in these companies.
Community The Educational Vault
The Education Vault
- Precious Metals & Bullion 101 ( 11 Articles )
- Mining Investment Information ( 17 Articles )
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Author Archives: John Roper
JNC THEATER: Gorilla: Metropolitan Police Squad 8 DVD box set
Strap into your gull-winged Starion, because the entire 46-episode run of Gorilla: Metropolitan Police Department Squad 8 goes on sale tomorrow, December 17. What is Gorilla: Metropolitan Police Department Squad 8? It's an 80s cop show produced in Japan, complete with shootouts, explosions, car chases, … Continue reading
PRODUCT GUIDE: S2 Carbon Works Skate Decks
Are you jonesing for a glimpse of hakosuka Skyline or Datsun 510 during your sick front side 180 ollie? The S2 Carbon Works 2014 line of skate decks has some pretty cool JDM style rides, including a VIP Celsior/Lexus LS and … Continue reading
ART CORNER: Papercraft nostalgics by Metmania Fan
Got some time to kill? Perhaps the art of papercraft as applied to some JNCs will do the trick. These are the creation of a Japanese artist who goes by the name Metmania Fan, and cover a whole range of … Continue reading
PRODUCT GUIDE: Datsun 510 reproduction panels by Futofab
One way to tell if your car has attained true classic status is how many reproduction parts are available. For example, it is possible to buy an entire 1967-69 Camaro bare metal body brand new and completely licensed by GM. JNCs … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Million Dollar Baby, Part 02
Two months ago a shockwave was sent through the automotive world when a 1967 Toyota 2000GT became the first Japanese car to break the million dollar barrier. 1,155,000 buckaroos to be exact. But was it a fluke? Well, we shall … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Belatrix Yellow 1967 Toyota 2000GT
This 1967 Toyota 2000GT is expected to fetch $650,000 to $850,000 when it crosses the auction block on April 27. If it does, it would be a new high for Japan's first supercar.
WEDNESDAY WALL: High-res Hakos
Do you like GT-Rs? Of course you do. Here are some high-res versions by Rob Shaw from the Skyline Festival at Fuji Speedway.
KIDNEY, ANYONE? NOS Datsun Competition L20 head, manifold and 50mm Mikunis
Today's kidney trade is not even a complete car, but it could cost much more than one. The Nissan L20 Group 1 cylinder head is perhaps the rarest, most unobtainable piece of Datsun metal in the world. A race-only part … Continue reading
VIDEO: @Speed Garage Thailand: The Garage Passion Built
Thailand is a hotbed of nostalgic car activity these days, and @Speed Garage is the perfect example of exactly why that is. From classic Skylines to a race-ready Toyota Starlet, it's the stuff our most fevered dreams are made of. … Continue reading
QotW: Which nostalgic car makes the perfect daily driver?
Some of us are blessed with enough parking to house multiple cars. Others must choose only one to fulfill all their practical, reliable and/or economical reqs while maintaining a veneer of old school Japan cool. Therefore we must ask: Which … Continue reading


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