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The Name of the Wind to Become a Movie, TV Show, And Game, All At Once
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The Name of the Wind to Become a Movie, TV Show, And Game, All At Once
The rights to Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles book series has been won by Lionsgate. The books will become a movie, television series, and video game - all at the same time.
Lionsgate and Patrick Rothfuss have worked out a complex rights deal concerning the latter's hugely popular fantasy novels, The Kingkiller Chronicles. The multiplatform proposal will see a film, television series, and video game all developed simultaneously, and negotiations have apparently been going on for several months.
Pat seems pretty pleased: "Honestly, I've never been very interested in a straight-up movie deal. But Lionsgate was willing to work out something different, a multiplatform deal where they develop the films, TV series, and games simultaneously. That will give us the screen time to develop the characters and show off the world."
"What's more, through this whole process, they've treated me with amazing respect. I never thought a studio would approach me as a creative partner who understands how stories work."
Kingkiller Chronicles follows the adventures of Kvothe, as he recounts to a biographer how he went from being a travelling performer to one of the most notorious, reviled, and beloved wizards the world had ever seen - and ended up tending bar at an out-of-the-way inn. He masters magic, loves women, plays music, crosses swords, finds treasure and loses it. He gets beaten up a lot, but not half as much as he probably deserves. As far as modern fantasy literature goes, most estimates place it second in popularity only to George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire.
Board games have already been developed based on those the characters play in The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear. There's no telling what parts of the story a video game would follow, or what might be left out for a film or TV show. How will they portray his music, among other things? My sincere hope is they take a page out of Scott Pilgrim's adaptation and have real-world artists fill in. Imagine Kvothe standing on stage gently strumming his lute, his rapt audience weeping; meanwhile, movie-goers are treated to the Stones' Gimme Shelter. Rothfuss: call me.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Oh my, here goes extra pressure to finish the trilogy. :7
He even looks like the bastard child of Georgie R.R. and a burly wizard.
Edit: upon closer inspection, his face portrays an expression of sly pleasure...what dastardly villianous activities happen to be occurring off camera, may I ask?
Fixed that for you.
The premise for this sounds pretty intriguing. Can anyone here recommend these books? I love ASOIAF and haven't been able to find a series that really lives up to it. Like I tried Wheel of Time but it's just so arduously slow and I don't care about any of the characters except Perrin.
I'm going to be the voice of dissent here.
I've read both of the Kvothe books, and I hate the character. He's a knob. He's your typical super-special know-it-all who can play an instrument, has incredible knowledge retention, impresses everyone, and is just amazing. Rothfuss makes a big deal about how he's incapable with women but he STILL hankers after a gorgeous lass and gets halfway there (who is a main character in the stories, not sure how it'll play out yet).
In terms of their readability - Rothfuss's books seem wooden. As if the author wanted to write fantasy, and forced himself to.
Quoted for truth, the first book was ok, but the second was a constant circlejerk festival about how fucking amazing Kovthe is. That a setting that seemed to be done with came back in full force certainly didn´t help my opinion and there is no way in hell that can be a trilogy seeing how little has actually been shown and achieved on the first two books.
I'm a huge fan of the series, especially the first book. Its style is highly poetic - both in terms of flowery language, and rhythm of speech. It's an extremely well thought out world, but kept vague in the way a first-person narrator should - he even makes currency exciting, and the hero goes through such highs and lows of poverty and largesse that you're rooting for him when he finds a penny. The best thing in the books are the stories that characters tell. Each culture, nation, and person has their own view of history or myth, and there are kernels of truth in each fairy tale you hear. If you've ever read Watership Down, I'd compare the tales in Kingkiller to Dandelion's stories of El-Arairah
It's filled with hundreds of, for lack of a better term, Easter eggs - little factoids about the world or the characters that are of no meaning to the story, and difficult to truly discern, but are very rewarding when you see the pieces come together (Spoilers: I'm thinking of the poem that Kvothe is reprimanded for saying in the first book, is related to a character in the second; the way that two certain peoples' names are so alike they must be connected, but no one seems to notice or care; etc, etc). You can read from cover to cover and never notice if you don't want to, but a deeper reading gives you gifts. "Holy crap! So he knew about X from the very beginning!" or "Wait - he told a story in a which a woman with that name went to this city and - gasp!"
I was really put off from reading it because I'd heard all the things people are saying about it - it's one super-awesome-amazing guy's journey, written by a basement-dwellin troll who doesn't understand dating and yet his character is the best sexer in history. I got over all that pretty quickly. Not only is it ok for characters like that to exist, and for you to like him - imagine what Theseus' autobiography might look like - but Kvothe is ultimately a sympathetic character. His older self, telling the story, is a bitter, defeated man, revelling in how great he used to be, knowing it all came crashing down probably especially thanks to his own arrogance.
Anyways. I really like it!
Thanks for the replies guys.
The fact that you're told from the beginning that this character ultimately ends up as a broken old man might be enough for me to tolerate his general dickery throughout the story. I'll give the first book like a hundred pages or so and see if I'm still interested.
Hmm, might have to check it out. Still waiting on the Mistborn movie and videogame, though.
This is great news!
Best news now would be a Witcher TV series based only on the books... and maybe Abbercrombie getting a sweet deal.
Loved the first book, it was really fun in a Harry Potter meets Game of Thrones sort of way.. But the second was terrible in my opinion.
I'll read the third, just for completeness sake, I reckon.
Name of the Wind would be horrible as a movie, unless it's some kind of side story. The primary strength of the series is how steeped in mythology the setting is, and the many different form of the same myths. That's hard to do all of in a single film.
I only hope he learned from what happened to Robert Jordan and put some safe guards for himself into the contract.
Wow... I've never heard, seen, felt, smelt or even tasted anything but glowing reviews for The Kingkiller Chronicle. In the circles I run in, Rothfuss is nothing short of a literary genius with the fantasy genre. You can see proof of his skill in how quickly his popularity rose following the publishing of Name of the Wind. The guy skyrocketed out of nowhere and now shares panels with the best despite having only published 2 books, a novella and a short story. I honestly don't know how to react to someone *not* liking his work.
Anyway, I can't recommend Kingkiller Chronicle enough. Read the blurb on the back of Name of the Wind and if that doesn't describe a character you want to see moving through the world, then maybe it's not for you. The books outright tell you everything that will happen to the protagonist, both how amazing he will be and how sad and miserable he'll become despite it, and then makes you want to read the story anyway.
/Just my 2 cents.
The books are enjoyable to read. The main characters may be this super-amazing-know-it-all but it's a fun story to read through anyway. And it's not like he's perfect either. I noticed throughout the books just how much of an idiot the main character is when it comes to money. He's constantly poor and as soon he gets some money he immediatly spends it on something he doesn't need, which in turn lets him continue his glorious tradition of being constantly in trouble because he's poor.
If you can deal with a Mary "I swear I'm not a Mary Sue" Sue character then the books are really fun to read. It's your typical fantasy world trip, but with amazing attention to detail and a grounded mix of realism and mythology.
I'm with CrimsonBlack on this one. The writing is perfectly good, the actual prose is great, but I did not find the books an interesting read. The main character's impossibly perfect set of skills and the absurd amount of love and affection he receives for them is frustrating enough to read through even before you have to put up with things like the tracking of every penny in the character's pocket. Honestly, it started to feel like I was reading a handbook on account for the lower classes at one point. Then there's the fact that the plot is lifted more or less complete out of A Wizard of Earthsea. I don't mind the copying, every Wizard-centric story of the last 40 years has cribbed something from A Wizard of Earthsea, the problem is that he's taking three books to get to the point that actually makes the Earthsea story interesting. It's the fall, the hubris that causes it, and the lessons learned and redemption sought that make that story. Instead, Rothfuss has chosen to focus on the least interesting part of the story, the golden age, where by necessity nothing of interest can happen because we know what the story's big moment is going to be and the main character can't be allowed to learn or develop too much until that point has been reached.
I can attest to the beard and voice being awesome though.
Only read the first Kingkiller Chronicle novel, but it was enough to turn me off reading more. What I can remember most is that:
-The protagonist is a tool.
-Many of his teachers are tools, and we're expected to be happy when they're put in their place.
-Worldbuilding is minimal
-The side characters aren't much better.
-Did I mention that the main character is a tool?
I read it a few years ago, and it's amazing how much I DON'T remember bar how much I disliked the main character. I'll give it some credit in that it doesn't have any of the usual fantasy tropes (e.g. dragons exist, but they're kind of pathetic creatures), but I'm not sure if that's enough. A Song of Ice and Fire is still compelling by its lonesome even if it didn't subvert fantasy expectations.
Oh, and I'm glad someone's mentioned Mistborn. Only read the first installment so far, but it's a book I highly recomend.
maybe the tv show will be his origin story, thats basically what the first two books were anyway, and the film will be the 3rd book, a fair bit is going to happen in that after all
it could work out well no need to spend half the film setting up all the stuff you need to know, have time to tell what needs to be told, then have the big epic spectacle that films deliver. of course it might all fall to crap and tumble down around their ears hard to say but will be an interesting ride never the less.
there has been something going on with WoT rights? i dont really keep up with that side of things with books. hope noting half formed gets pushed out of a door just out of spite.
Fantasy authors tend to have their perks. George R.R. Martin really likes food, Steven Erikson likes fat chicks, etc etc. With Rothfus while I overall really enjoyed it he seems to have some sort of anime harem thing going on.
Anyways I'm not sure what they could do for a movie but I love the news for a TV series. If I could be a Hollywood producer this would be my pick for a TV adaption. Some fantasy series would just isn't going to fit either format, primarily from being to expensive for a TV show or too long for a movie, but I'd say Name of the Wind fits in just right for a TV adaption.
Now my top pick for a movie? Give me Brandon Sanderson Mistborn trilogy please! Mistborn would be way to expensive for a TV show, but the books are short enough that you should be able to fit each one into a movie.
Hey, Lionsgate, that company I hate that makes bad movies, got the rights to a beloved (mostly) book series
That's kind of the point of heroic fantasy books. They're always about the exceptional adventures of an exceptional individual. The Kingkiller Chronicles actually deconstructs this; we know from the very beginning that the whole thing comes crashing down at some point, probably because of something stupid that Kvothe did. His luck (and make no mistake, Kvothe is very, very lucky) will eventually run out, and he winds up a fugitive who has lost everything he has ever loved, cared about, and worked for in the space of about a decade. He's only 24 or so in the framing story.
That being said, lots of unnecessary sex is a huge turn-off for me, and the last third of the second book falls into that trap. I also don't feel like he places enough emphasis on Kvothe's flaws (the guy's far from perfect), but I'm very interested in seeing in how everything in Kvothe's world goes horribly, horribly wrong.
Still...I didn't care for ASOIAF because of the writing style, to be honest. George R.R. Martin's history as a screenwriter shows in his writing style, in that the books feel like a gigantic screenplay. Having loads and loads of characters and frequently jumping around makes it difficult to put names to characters.
I love the books and I really wanted to see a TV adaptation but with movies in the mix, I'm a little concerned. How exactly is this supposed to work? Are they going to rush through the story in the movie and then flesh out the in between stuff in the series? I doubt they'll make it a requirement to watch both in order to understand the story.
The game adaptation is actually fantastic news though. Seeing how he's a big fan of games like Planescape: Torment and is in fact writing one the characters in Tides of Numenara I expect he'll be more involved than it's usual for a game adaptation. I'd be really surprised if this isn't going to be an RPG. I'd say get Obsidian on that, but they're happy doing their own thing for the first time right now.
EH never read the books, that short description alone puts me off. Maybe I'm wrong but it sounds like yet another asshole protagonist who sleeps around a lot and I'm sick of that shit. I'm just glad it tends be obvious when you have one of those in the first chapter. Dose it also have a love triangle or worse? Are the books brilliant enough in other ways to make up for that?
The first chapter isn't anything like that, it's actually very poetic and does a good job sucking you in. It's in the latter end of the 2nd book that Kvothe transforms from awkward virgin teenager to sex machine. Not that this is ever the focus or it ever gets smutty.
It's told from a first person perspective so you shouldn't go in expecting all the politcal drama and scheming that ASOIAF has. It's a very different series. Out of all the authors I've read, Rothfuss probably has my favourite writing style. It's hard to describe, but for me, he could be writing about the most mundane things and it'll still be incredibly interesting.
The magic system of the world is really well thought out and goes into enough explanation so that you can actually understand how Kvothe pulls off some of his more impressive feats.
While the initial tone of the book is quite dark, I'd say it's actually a good deal brighter than ASOIAF. There's a lot of humor and Rothfuss doesn't usually linger on the more depressing events. The series also has a lot more mystery to it.
The Name of the Wind is probably one of my favourite books ever and I'd highly recommend giving it a shot. Especially since I too enjoy ASOIAF and also didn't really like The Wheel of Time series (though I stuck it out for 6 books before finally giving up).
While I don't entirely agree with the "Main character is a tool" bit, I can understand that.
This part I've got to adamantly disagree with. I recently reread the series and it's got a plethora of details in it. In addition, it does something that I really like and haven't seem much of anywhere else. Just about every story and tale you get from the past is unreliable. Some facts are true, some are false, and you get a lot of stories that seem to be about the same thing, but tell it from different perspectives. Some even outright contradict each other.
If I had to say anything about the worldbuilding, it's that it's minimalist. It doesn't dish out lots to you, but it gives you a lot to infer off of. The second book digs a lot deeper into the worldbuilding though, so you left a little early to get the bulk of it.
Just like the other guy said, there's none of that in the first book. Later in the second book it gets a little bit (or a lot of bit) mary-sue-ish, and he sleeps around a lot, but you get the impression that this is just him jumping too hard into a world that he just discovered, and it bites him in the ass, hard (Not literally).
There's a lot of good in the series. Like, a lot that's very good. The first book is pretty solid all around, and the second book has some of my highest and lowest points for the series. I'd say it's well worth reading. As I mentioned earlier, it's got some very interesting storytelling, it's got some funny moments, and it's got some interesting characters. It's got a very atypical romance, in a good way. And no love triangles.
If you loved ASOIAF and are looking for something comparable the best bet is probably Joe Abercrombie, starting with his first book The Blade Itself of the First Law trilogy.
A little less epic in scope, but a very similar character POV style with no real good guys or bad guys.
Actually if you want a preview they started adapting it as a web comic a few years ago, though it's only partway through the first book and has long been on hiatus. Good way to get a primer for the series though: http://www.firstlawcomic.com/
Well the company holding the rights to an adaption of the series has done absolutly nothing with it. Earlier this year the right would have expired, but the company pushed out a horrible, horrible "first episode" of a tv series out a day before the rights would have expired and got to keep the rights. The "first episode" aired basically at midnight on an unknown channel, because they knew it was sh*t and just wanted noone to actually watch it. But it's on the internet now and WoT fans are not pleased.
You can read up on it here:
thanks for the info.
thats all rather sad but guess thats what happens when you put a load of sociopaths and lawyers in charge of creative works of art.
Rothfuss is a joke, his prose are rather good but his story telling and characters are all lacking in both depth and personality. I know why he's having such a hard time finishing the books. It's because he has no idea how to deliver on all the promises he's given his fans.
I expect his tv show and movie to be sword of truth quality given the material any directors/script writers will have to work with.
I agree with how annoying the accounting is. The amount of time Rothfuss dedicates to adding up the pennies is irritating.
Also, his beard may be awesome, but his voice is not. This is coming from a British person - he has the most bland American accent. When you said you love his voice, I went and looked up an interview on youtube... not impressed. Bring me a writer who sounds like Jeremy Irons, and I'll be impressed. :D
I second this and highly recommend you read the other two books in the trilogy. If you want good world building, Mistborn Trilogy has got it.
And Sanderson's big epic series The Stormlight Archives (book 1: The Way of Kings, book 2: Words of Radiance, book 3 due next year and 10 planned in total) is even better! Except for the sake of this discussion it's way to big to fit in a movie and would be way to expensive to produce for TV.
Right now Sanderson is my favourite fantasy author surpassing GRRM, the guys still young and just a machine at writing. Love the way he worked his way up, started with a good standalone novel Elantris, then moved on and really established himself with a modest sized trilogy in Mistborn, and after that now that he's a famous author he starts working on the big 10 book epic series he'd been planning from the start. Now there's no need to compromise with book 1, the Way of Kings is a full sized 1000+ page epic with top notch production value. It's the only series I go and buy the full hardcover copy of just for the great artwork.
I've bought the second book, just haven't got round to reading it yet. The last fantasy novel I read was First King of Shannara, which has not only put me off Terry Brooks, but the fantasy genre as a whole right now. Taken a detour with The Martian, but whether I plough into another fantasy novel so soon is another matter. That, and I'm actually reading the novelization of Pacific Rim.
Yes, you have a right to raise an eyebrow.
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Is narrative is a building, a shape established and carried out for a given set of materials? Can we even assume a given set of materials? Perhaps as the building is coming together, the tools in my hands keep changing, the materials feeling more weighty to the touch as I realize what I have... or as what looked solid now with closer examination seems to be hollow.
The materials might be flimsy, but they might be put together to maximum advantage, offering harmony and shelter. The materials might be shaped to keep out inclement weather or to deter people who wish us harm.
The materials might be top-notch but the design might be so unfocused that it provides no shelter or sustenance — even with great material, the narrative might be basically useless.
Sometimes, in describing our realities, we can lock ourselves inside an unhelpful narrative. I talked to a friend this week who was in incredible pain. He described himself as a car whose battery had run out, who needed a jump from another car to get going again. If he accepts this car narrative to be true, how can he possibly help himself? No matter how well the stalled car as an icon describes what he feels in this moment — tired, out of juice, in need of inspiration — this metaphor as a governing narrative is limiting. I would argue for changing the metaphor before hoping to change anything else.
Still, it must be acknowledged that there is some redemptive power in saying "I." Building narrative is power, regardless of materials or skill. Build the structure and see how it works. Change it if you need to. Tell your story. Even if he or I or you paint any one of ourselves into a corner, we can always paint ourselves out again.
In trying to shape a narrative, any narrative, I convince myself and others who may be listening that I do in fact exist — I am a thinker, an actor. I am voicing a present. Whatever may come after, I.

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Seeing Canada's Direction? Imperial Globalization. Part III.
Written by Robin Mathews
Something strange is occurring in Ottawa… something more than ordinarily strange.
Call it, for short, The Canadian Infrastructure Bank … an apparently totally unnecessary (and expensive) idea being moved toward existence by the Liberal government headed by Justin Trudeau. The work of such a 'Bank' can be done by the Bank of Canada and has already been done by that Bank. It worked for several decades before 1974 with unquestioned success, financing huge infrastructure activity through interest-free loans, keeping the country almost debt-free.
In 1974 the Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau silently let that power slip away to please the [imperial globalizing] Bank of International Settlements and its very close connection to International Capital and U.S. designs for the globe. Since that time Canadian debt has sky-rocketted almost beyond the possibility of paying it off as Canadian governments have borrowed at market rates from private Canadian banks or foreign ones.
The Justin Trudeau Liberals have appointed an "advisor" to the Minister for Infrastructure from The Bank of America Merrill Lynch in the U.S.A. (as well as other unnamed advisors to cabinet to design the new Infrastructure Bank). But the Liberals know that COMER (the Committee on Monetary and Economic Reform), with William Krehm and Ann Emmett, is conducting a case in the Federal Court of Canada to return the Bank of Canada to its fully viable function as the already existing Canadian Infrastructure Bank!
Something Not At All Strange: the COMER case was launched by Rocco Galati in December of 2011. And from the start the Conservative government led by Stephen Harper fought hard to destroy the case, wanting no power removed from Big Private Capital, no matter how much it pauperized the country.
Something Most Strange: The Liberal Party platform for the November 19, 2015 election contained the promise of heavy Infrastructure spending to fill real need and to further employment and industrialization. But when the Liberals took government, they continued (and still do) to fight the COMER case in an attempt to destroy it (just as the Conservatives did).
Reasonable Canadians might well have expected the Liberal government to withdraw opposition to the COMER case and to announce that the existing power of the Bank of Canada to finance Infrastructure and related spending, interest-free, would be taken up and used – and so COMER could fold its court action as unnecessary.
That didn't happen.
In an article in the March-April COMER (pp. 1-5) Joyce Nelson draws attention to the simple stupidity (my word) of appointing, however talented, an advisor from two U.S. corporations (now one - Bank of America Merrill Lynch) deeply tainted by the Derivatives Scandal and Bank Collapse of 2008. Does that mean the Liberal government is going to involve U.S. 'international capital' in the "Canadian" bank? Nelson points out the additional stupidity (my word) of the Liberal government in appointing a number of other advisors, too, to the Infrastructure Bank matter without making public even their names! That is exactly what the ugly, insensitive Conservative government of Stephen Harper would have done.
Something more than ordinarily strange is going on in Ottawa … obviously.
Into the picture comes Paul Hellyer, for years a Liberal (and cabinet minister) and then a Tory, and then founder and continuing supporter of the Canadian Action Party – and a person deeply concerned with the questions raised by COMER, by the national debt, and by ways to finance the Canadian economy and public spending in a way that is viable and debt-free.
In "An Open Letter to Prime Minister [Justin] Trudeau" (Dialogue, Summer 2016, pp. 8-9), dated June 1, 2016, Paul Hellyer says nothing about the COMER case that he earlier supported. That may be an accident. He proposes (without reference to the Liberal intention to create a Canadian Infrastructure Bank) a process of feeding into the Canadian economy money (not loan-created debt) in order to absorb previous debt and re-root private banks and the economy on a sound basis. [That process would have to have money created by the Bank of Canada available to feed into the Canadian economy. Hellyer doesn't mention that very significant fact.]
His proposal, I think, is sound. He is a Privy Counsellor, which means he may be given privileged information by government and may be consulted in confidence by government. Does his letter suggest that both Rocco Galati and the COMER case to retrieve the Bank of Canada for the Canadian people have been thrown to the wolves?
Hellyer makes a very strange statement in his letter to Justin Trudeau… that in 1974 "Bank of Canada Governor Gerald Bouey, unilaterally, and without consultation or agreement with your father, the prime minister, announced that the Bank was adopting 'monetarism'. There was no hint that shareholders' interests were to be abandoned in favour of policies established by the International Bank of Settlements, an organization indirectly controlled by the elite banking families." (Dialogue, p. 8)
That statement seems almost over-simple. Even if what Hellyer says is true, the Pierre Trudeau cabinet could have said to Bouey: "That initiative must be significantly reconstructed. Do it". Pierre Trudeau was prime minister for nearly another eight years and had the power (with his cabinet) to change the situation at any time. The Bank of Canada is not more powerful than the cabinet - which is The Government of Canada in fact. The Bank of Canada is not a separate State. And so blaming the Bank of Canada for the huge failure of the Pierre Trudeau cabinet may be admirably loyal, but it is considerably less than convincing. (That was a time, moreover, when Pierre Trudeau was still in his phase of "internationalism", and splenetic anti-nationalism.)
The cabinet of Pierre Trudeau (and the following cabinets of both major Parties) permitted the "imperial globalizing" Bank of International Settlements to make major (damaging) monetary and economic policy for Canada. And, now, the present Justin Trudeau cabinet is using boatloads of taxpayers' dollars to defeat the COMER action to return the Bank of Canada to it's pre-1974 state as Canada's very successful Infrastructure Bank! ! !
Something more than ordinarily strange is happening in Ottawa ….
Could it be that the Liberal Party of Canada is tied to International Capital, to phoney, and "world" organizations (the hand-maidens of U.S. imperial globalizing) and can't confront them through the Bank of Canada? Could it be the Liberal cabinet is going around them – to avoid bloody confrontation - and moving to create a separate Canadian Infrastructure Bank (seemingly abandoning the Bank of Canada's role as lender-without-interest for Infrastructure and related projects)? What they are doing seems more than ordinarily tricky, tacky, and strange. Can they (possibly?) be creating a "Canadian" Infrastructure Bank with U.S. partners – another name for National Suicide? Questions. Questions. Questions.
Neither you nor I know the truth of the "Infrastructure" situation, nor the answers to the questions asked above … and no one who knows is willing to tell Parliament - or us - what is really happening. Why not?
Written by Robin Mathews
"Does anyone really care what time it is"
The Straight Goods
Cheers Eyes Wide Open


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BEE all you can BEE
I'm sure you know at least one person who has held the view that Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) or Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-bBEE) has not worked. Not from a framework perspective mind you, they are quick to add, but rather from an implementation perspective.
A few weeks ago however, Dr Moeletsi Mbeki went somewhat further by saying that our country's BEE policy entrenches the country's shocking economic inequalities, by creating a culture of cronyism and entitlement, which discourages black entrepreneurship and education, keeping millions of our people in poverty.
"BEE tells blacks — 'you don't have to build your own business, you don't have to take risk, the whites will give you a job and shares in their company'," he has been quoted as saying.
Of course, as vehemently as Dr Mbeki and others despise BEE, there are just as many that have supported the ANC-led vision, and will just as easily draw your attention to the many successes the policy has achieved since its inception. Nevertheless, they'll be quick to add that much work still needs to be done, especially given the fact that black people still only occupy 10% of the directorships in the country and only own 10% of the assets in our economy.
In our profession, the environment is much the same. As at June 2009, SAICA has only 4369 black CAs(SA) registered compared to 24 654 white CAs(SA), despite the progressive transformation projects SAICA has undertaken that have led to the increasing number of black candidates passing both the QE1 (please read pages 38 to 46) and the QE2, and despite the fact that our profession was one of the first to adopt an industry charter to drive transformation in the profession using government's code B-bBEE of good practice.
At some point in the transformation debate, we must ask the question: "How on earth do we begin to ensure that Dr Mbeki's shocking statistics continue to change?"
And while Dr Mbeki's sentiments about scrapping anything to do with BEE because it begs the question 'what will collapse first, BEE or the economy, or the country', and adopting a far more concentrated approach to broad based skills' development so that our country's 'underclass' will begin to really benefit are valid. Skills development does not by itself ensure economic growth, and will not ensure a change in ownership of the assets in the economy. And definitely will not ensure transformation.
We also delve further into the debate this month, as we begin to look at the factors influenced by and influencing our country's B-bBEE policy. We assisted government to address the somewhat controversial issues attached to the policy, all so that you can make up your own mind and ascertain whether or not BEE is working, and, indeed, for whom it is working.


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Posted: Mar 10, 2017
Bristol, Tenn. --- The 9th-ranked University of Mount Olive took the first two games of the series from King University in Conference Carolinas baseball on Friday afternoon in Bristol, Tenn.
Game 1: Mount Olive 9, King 3
Game 2: Mount Olive 4, King 1
Mount Olive (18-5, 8-0 CC)
King (9-11, 1-7 CC)
Location: King Baseball Field, Bristol, Tenn.
How It Happened
Game 1: Play-by-Play
Game 2: Play-by-Play
- Mount Olive fell behind early as King scored the game's first run on a RBI groundout in the bottom of the second.
- The Trojans answered to tie the game in the top of the fifth as Grant Tyndall scored Alvin Swoope with a RBI groundout.
- Following a scoreless bottom of the fifth, UMO drove in two runs on an RBI-double by Jason Smith and an RBI-single by Bradley Ragan and the Trojans took a 3-1 lead.
- The big inning came in the top of the ninth as Mount Olive struck for six runs. A lead-off single by Jose Lopez and walks to Ragan and Gunner Tolston set up the Trojans' shortstop Ricky Surum.
- Surum, with the bases loaded and one out, cleared the bases with one swing as the senior's grand slam gave UMO a 7-1 lead.
- Two batters later Drew Ellis belted a two-run home run over the right-field fence to give the Trojans an eight-run cushion.
- The Tornado tried to make a comeback in the bottom of the ninth and did score two runs, but Mount Olive stopped the threat and took away the 9-3 win.
- Brighton Hudson (3-0) took the win on the mound as he went six and a third surrendering a run off six hits, striking out three, and surrendering a pair of walks.
- Surum and Ellis led the team with four RBI and two RBI performances respectively.
- Mount Olive continued to swing the hot bat in game two but had to wait until the third before striking for three runs on a David Mayo home run to left.
- The Tornado responded in the bottom of the third scoring a run off a Trojan error to bring the UMO lead to 3-1.
- UMO pushed home one final run on a Zach Mozingo RBI-double that scored Ellis, who led off the inning with a double, and Mount Olive pushed back ahead by three.
- King managed to get a runner on base in the final at-bats for the Tornado in the seventh, but the Trojans defense stood strong ending the game on a double play to take game two 4-1.
- Austin Hutchison (6-0) picked up the win on the mound for the Trojans as he went six complete allowing a single unearned run off four hits, striking out nine, and allowing two free passes.
- Zach Vennaro (S1) came in to record his first save of the season as he allowed a single hit in his one inning of work.
- Mayo led the Trojans with three RBI.
Up Next
Mount Olive will round out the three-game Conference Carolinas series with King tomorrow with a single nine-inning game. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.


text:
Bibliochef: So, let's begin with the basics! I know you run Small
Potatoes Sales and Marketing and that you focus on small producers in upstate
New York. Can you tell us a bit about what that means and how you got into
doing this?
Sure. The most visible part of what I do is going store to store, pitching my
clients' products. I also consult about pricing, packaging, shipping, marketing
materials, ingredient sourcing, potential alternative markets, and anything
else they need. I've chipped in at farmers markets, doing in-store demos, and
making deliveries. I also talk to distributors, media, bloggers, consumers, and
really anyone who'll listen. Some days it feels like I'm selling products one
at a time. Other days I actually am selling products one at a time. So far I
haven't helped to make anything, but I'd be up for it. When I started Small
Potatoes, I joked with friends about calling myself the President or CEO, but
in the end I went with Local Foods Advocate, which I think best describes what
I do. My
background was as a retailer. I spent the last 5+ years as a buyer for a small
natural foods store and have around 10 years experience in grocery stores.
Growing up, I spent summers working on a local farm, picking corn and stacking
hay. My family owned small businesses when I was a kid, so for me
entrepreneurism is the family business.
last two years that I worked at the natural foods store I was in charge of,
amongst other things, sourcing all of our products that weren't fresh produce.
That meant building relationships with vendors large and small, distributors,
brokers, sales reps, and consumers. I was also on a national advisory council
for food cooperatives that dealt with promotions and sales. What I came to
learn was that the big guys had elaborate, expensive, and easy to use support
systems to get retailers to buy from them. A big international company might
have 3 different people pitch a new product to me, and always offering a huge
discount. It was easy to order, easy to promote, and easy to make a larger
profit on it. The little guys sometimes didn't even know how they'd get the
product to us, or other basic things. In an hour meeting with a broker I might
talk about 30 or 40 different product lines. In an hour meeting with a
small-scale local person, I would talk about a single product or product line.
So I took what I learned from dealing with big companies, and applied the same
model to my business, just working with the little guys. Before I agree to work
with a producer, we go over all of the things a retailer will expect of them
and then make sure they can deliver on it. If they aren't ready, I won't pitch
it until they are.
Bibliochef: Although you clearly represent more than food items, can
you tell us how your work involves food? And would you describe yourself as a
Martin: Ha ha. I definitely have been described as a foodie
by others, but I'd rather not describe myself at all. I prefer to describe the
products I sell. Food is how I got my start and is where my passion for the
work lies. The farmers market is my office every Saturday morning. Over the
years I've been active in Slow Foods CNY, the Central New York Sustainable Food
Network, food co-ops, and a Fair Trade Advisory Council. Living Tree Botanicals
and Syracuse Soapworks meet the same criteria I look for in a producer and they
sell in the same marketplace as the food people do.
Bibliochef: Wow. Cool. I had heard of the Community Test Kitchen but did not really know what it referred to! Nor did I know you run it. So, why
"small potatoes"? How are you defining small, for example? And why
Martin: My first thought was to come up with a name that
people would associate with Central New York food. Salt potatoes are an iconic
CNY food, and that became Small Potatoes the breath after I said salt potatoes
out loud. I never considered any other name. I think it says a lot about who we
are, without having to explain it.
Bibliochef: I know you focus on
upstate New York. Are all your clients from around Syracuse? Can you tell us
some about how you gain clients in upstate and then how you market them?
Martin: I work with clients all over upstate. My western most client is Flour
City Pasta out of Fairport. Eastern most is Mu Mu Muesli out of Sharon Springs.
To the south is Living Tree Botanicals in Oneonta. And then Better Brittle,
Syracuse Soapworks, and Recess Coffee House & Roastery are all located here
in Syracuse. I've also done consulting with about 20 local food business within
that region.
My full time clients are all either folks I worked with as a retailer,
or folks who'd heard about me through word of mouth. The consulting work has
come from meeting people at the farmers market, local food events, word of
mouth, through my blog, Facebook
page, and Linkedin. I do a lot of networking. In the last 5 months I've handed
out 1000 business cards. I was handing out cards to strangers while waiting in
line at the post office the other day. Syracuse First has also been a great
organization for connecting me with local businesses.
Bibliochef: I know your
business also has a blog; how did you come to be doing that? And what piece are
you most proud of?
Martin: Frankly,
the blog came out of necessity. I just couldn't afford to pay someone to design
a website, and didn't want to take the time to learn it myself. What I've found
though, is that because the blog always has fresh content, more people come
back to it than they would with a proper website. It also allows me to tell the
stories of all of my partners, whether it be clients, retailers, or local
projects and organizations I'm involved with. I think the piece I'm most proud
of was If buying local is so great, why isn't
every store doing it? . People assume that retailers don't buy local
because they aren't trying hard enough, or just don't care. But the truth is
it's just plain harder. I also did a follow up piece called I'm a retailer, what
more can I do to support local producers? that I liked.
Bibliochef:I liked those as well!
How far
from the production site of your clients do you take your marketing? (Ok, I
know you focus on small producers not local producers, but the two notions seem
a bit entwined on your blog! For example, you spend a lot of your time in your
car engaged in marketing work, right? What do you make of the impact of
that on the carbon footprint of local goods?)
Martin: Depending on
where I'm making the pitch, I describe my clients as either "small-scale local
producers" or "small-scale regional producers". My territory right now is from
Buffalo, NY to Amherst, MA, and from New York City to Burlington, VT. My goal
is to cover that territory about 6 times a year. Some of those places don't
necessarily consider my clients "local" to them. As "local" gains enough
presence in the marketplace that the average consumer has some idea about it,
we can start to talk to them about regional foods as well. A lot of retailers
are already there. The economic and environmental impact of buying locally
still applies when buying regionally. I'm always considering the carbon impact of my travel, but the truth
is most retailers don't respond to getting samples in the mail. And if they
haven't heard of you many don't respond to emails or cold calls. They need to
meet me and hear the stories about my clients face to face.
Bibliochef: Each of those examples is swell -- and just tellig those stories is a marketing success in itself! Having said that, what do you see as your most effective marketing technique?
Martin: Feeding people. It seems simple, and it is if you can get the right person to sit down with you and try it. If it doesn't taste great or, in the case of body care products, work great, nothing else matters. It makes being a salesman a lot easier when you know your product is just plain better than what else is out there. And I can say with all the confidence in the world that my clients make really wonderful products. Better than a lot of what's out there.
Bibliochef: What's the most surprising thing you have learned while
running your business?
Martin: How many support networks exist to help start and promote businesses. If people have the drive and desire to do it they can find a lot of assistance. I'm also surprised at how instinctually people react to "salesman". I'm obviously not the average sales rep, but some people will never get past the fact that I'm selling something.
BIbliochef: If you could imagine a product from upstate New York that
does not yet exist but "should," what is it? How might you market it?
Martin: When I was a retailer, one of my goals was to have local
products represented in every category in the store. And if I looked hard
enough (which I did) I could fulfill that. There isn't too much out there that
you can't find a local version of it. The one idea that has been burning a whole in my head for the last
year isn't a food product, but is one that promotes the local food system in
general. And I'm happy to say that I'm consulting with someone who's developing
it right now. It's top secret though. The marketing for it will be very similar
to what I do with Small Potatoes. Just plugging in to the right portion of
network of food businesses that's already out there, and putting it to work for
you. If you have good product, you can definitely carve out a little spot for
yourself in the marketplace. It also depends on your goals. I'm kind of a
subsistence entrepreneur. I'm not trying to make a million bucks. Just live
comfortably doing something I believe in.
Bibliochef: I love the notion of a "subsistence entrepreneur." How great! And now for some of the questions I ask all of the people
I "speak" with! What's the absolutely best meal you have ever had? What made it
the best meal?
One meal that always pops back into my mind was Mushroom & Prosciutto Barlotti.
I was hiking with my girlfriend with a little picnic lunch of a loaf of bread,
a hunk of cheese, and some prosciutto and we found the most perfect, fresh
chicken of the woods I've ever seen. It was bright yellow and newly fruited. We
picked a bunch, took it home, and made barlotti with it. I think about that
barlotti like once a week. The company certainly helped.
Bibliochef: What music, films, books related to food would you
recommend? Why?
Martin: I'm a big Michael Pollan fan. Wendell Berry too. For finding out what's going on locally nothings better than Edible Finger Lakes. I try to grab Edible Community Magazines everywhere I go.
Bibliochef: What do you eat for comfort food?
I do most of my shopping at the
farmers market, so my diet is filled with whole ingredients: meat, veggies,
fruits, and dairy. But I also couldn't live without boxed mac and cheese. The
organic kind, but still.
Bibliochef: Do you have a favorite restaurant in the Finger Lakes
and/or Central New York region?
Martin: Yikes, that's a tough one. There are so many places
making great food here. I just ate at Simply Red for the first time, which was
wonderful. I also enjoy Sparky Town, Alto Cinco, and Funk N Waffles in Syracuse and Circa in Cazenovia. But
the place I eat most often is Empire Brewing Company. Their ingredient sourcing
is second to none. The spring issue of Edible Finger Lakes has a great article
talking about the garden they run to feed the restaurant. Plus, the beer is
awesome. They just added a pale ale made with local organic hops. I also eat at
Gentile's whenever I can help it.
Bibliochef: Now that is a list that provides me some food for thought -- I have only eaten at one of them! Finally, what am I not asking that I should? What question have you
never been asked that you have always wanted to be asked? What's your answer?
Hmm. I guess, I can't think of the question as readily as I think of the
answer. Which is to say that I think food is one of the basic elements of all
economies. There are a handful of things that are common to all people in all
communities. Health care. Energy.
And food. As a community we don't get too many options to choose our
health care or energy providers. At least not in a way that we can personally
affect on a daily basis. But with food we can. Every meal we can make a choice
about our local economy, our culture, our environment. I don't expect that
everyone will choose to go locovare, but they can choose to make one food
choice a day that's local. Eating at Sparky Town instead of Applebee's. Or
getting a growler filled at Empire or Middle Ages instead of buying Coors.
Paying the extra 50 cents a pound to buy local grass fed ground beef instead of
the industrially produced beef. And those choices may seem like small potatoes,
but they make a real and significant impact on our community. So, I'm not sure
what they question there is, but I'm certain that's the answer I'm looking for.
Bibliochef: Hey, Martin -- thanks! That's not small potatoes as an interview (Okay, you must have heard every joke possible using the phrase!) I learned a lot and I hope readers did too! I didn't know about your business (Small Potatoes Marketing), a lot of your products -- or the restaurants you eat at! So: thanks. Meanwhile, since I could not find a web site for Recess Coffee, here's my contribution to the marketing effort -- their urban spoon widget:
Bibliochef: Hey, Martin -- thanks! That's not small potatoes as an interview (Okay, you must have heard every joke possible using the phrase!) I learned a lot and I hope readers did too! I didn't know about your business (Small Potatoes Marketing), a lot of your products -- or the restaurants you eat at! So: thanks. Meanwhile, since I could not find a web site for Recess Coffee, here's my contribution to the marketing effort -- their urban spoon widget:


text:
This is the point at which Geraldine Brooks chooses to begin her latest novel, People of the Book. Dr. Hannah Heath, an Australian expert in the field, has come to
Through a series of flashbacks drawing ever nearer to the book's origins, Brooks details for readers what the few clues can only hint at to Dr. Heath concerning the book's travels across
As Hanna Heath seeks to learn as much about the Sarajevo Haggadah as she can, she finds herself on a parallel journey in which she learns as much about herself and her personal origins as she does about the book. She finds herself attracted to the man who carried the haggadah to safety in
People of the Book is at once a mystery, a history lesson and a modern day romance. My only quarrel with the book is its "Mission Impossible" ending which, for me, served to completely change the tone of the story being told and rather jarringly reminded me that I was reading fiction. Fortunately, this distraction came late enough in the narrative not to ruin the book for me.
Rated at: 4.0


text:
John talks about his trip to SQLSaturday Oslo and the training day he will be delivering.
Speaking – Data Platform Summit 2019
John discusses his upcoming trip to Data Platform Summit 2019 where he is presenting two training days and speaking at the main conference.
Getting back on the waggon.
So, it has been a rather long time and I have been doing other bits and pieces. But, I am ging to make a concerted effort to get back to blogging regularly around topics that interest me. "What interests you John?" I hear you ask. Well, pretty much most things tech if I'm honest. Mainly … Continue reading Getting back on the waggon.


text:
This sixth generation benchtop diffraction system is a perfect XRD solution for R&D, QA/QC and teaching. Available high-speed detector, sample-changer and monochromator make it incredibly flexible.
>> See more
One series of next-generation semiconductor thin-film materials that has received a lot of attention recently is organic semiconductors. These materials have promising features, such as low cost, ease of manufacturing and physical properties that are induced by the overall structure determined from the molecular orientation and packing.
In this study, the molecular orientation of a thin film of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) on a glass substrate subjected to surface rubbing, is studied using in-plane and out-of-plane X-ray diffraction on Rigaku's SmartLab multipurpose diffractometer. CuPc is of interest due to its optical conductivity and electroluminescence properties.
In the out-of-plane measurement, only the CuPc (h00) reflection is observed as a diffraction peak, revealing that the thin film of the a-axis oriented CuPc phase is created on the surface. Moreover, in the in-plane measurement, in which the profiles are different between the parallel direction and the perpendicular direction, anisotropy of orientation consisting of the b-axis normal direction perpendicular to rubbing direction and the c-axis normal direction parallel to rubbing direction is confirmed.
The figure to the right shows the relationship between these directions as a schematic diagram of the orientation of the CuPc molecules for the rubbing direction of the substrate.
The in-plane and out-of-plane measurements presented here were performed in a relatively short time, on the order of half an hour.
Sample provided by Takezawa and Ishikawa laboratories, Department of Organic and Polymeric Materials, Academic School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology.
The SmartLab is the most novel high-resolution diffractometer available today. Perhaps its most novel feature is the SmartLab Guidance software, which provides the user with an intelligent interface that guides you through the intricacies of each experiment. It is like having an expert standing by your side. Read more about SmartLab...


text: Time to visit 2kn's soundcloud to explore some updated beats! Die Artwood's "This Is Why I'm Hot" gets an ill 2kn re-rub (below). The monster "Friday, 13th" continues to explore the mad rhythm-routine with nostalgic synth lines and frightening bass. The soundcloud page is split in three playlists for your maximum auditory enhancement and updated regulary. To stay informed, click on the grey "Follow"-Buttonon the bottom of this page.


text:
Dr. Boudette is a licensed psychologist working in private practice with office in Skillman and Princeton. She received her doctorate in 1989 from the California School of Professional Psychology. Formerly the Program Director at the University Medical Center at Princeton Eating Disorders Program, she has worked in the field of eating disorders for over 25 years. As a psychologist at Counseling and Psychological Services of Princeton University, she spent 14 years working with undergraduates and graduate students, coordinated the Eating Concerns Team and founded the Mind Body Health Services Team. She continues to enjoy working with students and has office hours on Nassau Street.
Other areas of specialty include depression, anxiety and stress-related physical problems. Dr. Boudette has worked with many clients in overcoming the obstacles frequently encountered across the life span such as identity issues, grief and loss, relationship challenges and lifestyle changes. In addition to individual therapy, she offers mindfulness skills training in a variety of settings.


text:
Partner with Cox eLearning Consultants and get the word out about your organization!
Cox eLearning Consultants (COX) provides a wide range of public relations (PR) services to our clients. PR is a great way to publicize a brand to a wide audience, both targeted and general, and its numerous tactics can reach different audiences which typically would not be reached via direct marketing efforts. COX can help communicate everything from name changes, branding, and services offered, to executive leadership changes, awards, case studies, and more. Some of the more popular PR services that COX provides include:
- Case Studies
- Feature Stories
- Social Media
- White Papers
- Product Reviews
- Blogs
- Press Releases
- Client Testimonials
- Branding Services
- Bylined Articles
- Client Success Stories
Most of these services involve written communication, labor and associated project management. In general, these items will be delivered on a time and materials basis, plus any hard expenses (typically minimal). Most services require a deposit prior to the start of the engagement.
As clients of COX attempt to sell something to their clients, to eliminate confusion, we define a COX client as a "Vendor," and a Vendor's client as a "Client."
Case Studies
A Case Study is normally a 750- to 1,000-word document that describes a Client problem and how the Client solved it using the Vendor's product or service. Case studies:
- Highlight specific success that a Client has had with a Vendor's product
- Examine multiple variables and provide an in-depth summary of the problem that was solved by the Vendor's product or service
- Act as a concise educational tool to help customers better understand a product's applications
White Papers
A White Paper is usually a 1,500- to 3,000-word document that describes, with some technical detail, how an industry problem is solved or a new solution was pioneered by a Vendor. White papers typically explore a particular solution in depth, are often technically-oriented, and may or may not feature Clients who have used that solution. In addition, white papers:
- Help to educate readers, especially with complex or highly technical products
- Assist readers with their decision to purchase the product or service
- Are useful for educating channel partners, investors, and the media
- Illustrate the business benefits through the explanation of technical details, in one document
Press Releases (News Releases)
A Press Release is generally a 400- to 800-word document that announces a specific and noteworthy new Vendor product, service or event. An "event" can include items such as (a) earnings reports, (b) a corporate name change, (c) launch of a new product or service, (d) securing a new Client, (e) hiring new, key personnel, (f) promotions of key personnel to new positions, (f) partnering with new channel partners, etc. The purpose of a news release is to regularly and frequently get the Vendor's name (or its product's or service's name) in front of the media, Clients, potential Clients, and competitors. Press releases:
- Quickly get the Vendor's product and company name in front of a mass audience
- Help drive traffic to a Vendor's website
- Can create "buzz" in the marketplace when used with social media communications
- Can be used to help generate a Feature Story, Product Review, or Bylined Article
Bylined Articles
A Bylined Article is a short, 250- to 500-word item written about a specific product or solution and placed in an industry publication. These placements may or may not require a fee, often assessed in the form of advertising, either in a printed publication or on a website. Bylined articles:
- Are typically "ghost-written" by a PR professional but feature a Vendor executive as the author
- Provide exposure for the Vendor and product among industry professionals and potential Clients
- Drive traffic to a Vendor's website
- Position the Vendor as an industry expert
Bylined articles must be "pitched" to industry publications. Unlike feature stories, bylined articles have high placement rates because the content is submitted "press-ready" to the publication.
Feature Stories / Product Reviews
Feature Stories and Product Reviews are 1,000- to 1,500-word news pieces that are written by a third party – usually an industry reporter or expert – based on interviews with a Vendor's executives and a trial of a Vendor's product. Alternately, these pieces can be written by COX, providing third-party, objective credibility to the Vendor. Feature stories and product reviews:
- Vary in length, which is sometimes dictated by the publication or reporter
- Use product and executive photos
- Create a relationship between a Vendor and a reporter, positioning the Vendor as a "go-to" entity when the reporter next needs industry information or a quote
- Provides credibility for the Vendor and the product with an objective third party's perspective
These PR pieces must be "pitched" to reporters, although there is no guarantee that an article will be written.
Client Testimonials (References)
Building a list of Client Testimonials is a powerful selling tool. Obtaining permission to be a reference, by itself, is a fairly easy process. The most time-consuming activity is working with a Client to formulate a testimonial that benefits the Vendor and is acceptable to the Client. Sometimes, the PR staff is required to interface with the Client's legal department. Client testimonials:
- Provide a favorable description of a Vendor's product or service from a reputable third party
- Lend credibility to the Vendor and the product or service
- Can act as a Vendor's best indirect salesperson
Client Success (Application) Stories
A Client Success (Application) Story is typically a 250- to 750-word document describing the success that a Client realized from using the Vendor's solution. Client success stories are more in depth than a testimonial but are less detailed than a case study. Client success stories:
- Provide a brief synopsis of how a Vendor's solution solved a Client's problem
- Typically include a product's specific features and benefits, written in a sales-oriented manner
- Allow readers to quickly understand a product's usage in a specific industry or environment
Social Media
The latest tools in the public relations world involve communicating with potential customers and others via Social Media – Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. As simple as these tools might be to use personally, there are certain techniques to utilize when establishing those accounts for a business. COX can establish your organization in these systems, and develop a regular communications schedule for updates and tweets. Social media:
- Keeps your organization in front of your customers, maximizing reach and frequency with the most cost-effective tools available
- Reinforces your brand and key messages
- Enables easy communication with numerous audiences, including customers, leads, employees, senior management, channel partners and the press
Similar to Social Media, Blogs are one of the newer public relations tools available in marketing. Blogs are generally 100 to 250 words in length and frequently tie external headlines and events to a Vendor's product or service in an interesting way. COX can enhance your marketing efforts by developing blogs on topics specific to your products or services, as well as develop a regular communications schedule for subsequent blog postings. Blogs:
- Utilize first-person commentary to create "buzz" about a Vendor's products and services
- Put a "face" onto the messaging, lending a personal element to communications
- Reinforce your brand and key messages
- Enable easy communication with numerous audiences, including customers, leads, employees, senior management, channel partners, the press
Creating a blog strategy, schedule and corresponding topics is a critical part of this process. Once those are established, the writing of content typically flows smoothly.
Branding Services
Establishing and defining a brand is a complex yet critical process. COX can assist with the development of specific branding items that will help you to define your brand's position in the marketplace, distinguish it from its competitors, and provide a framework upon which all other communications can be built. A well-defined brand:
- Establishes credibility in the marketplace
- Is strong enough to stand on its own against the competition
- Creates a specific image among Clients, potential Clients, and competitors every time it is used
- Creates a framework for all other communications
The three branding components that are defined in this process are (a) definition of the brand itself, (b) definition of the unique selling proposition, and (c) identification of the brand's key selling points. Through a series of interviews and via secondary research, COX will write characterizations for these items.


text:
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
{back at it}
I'm settled in my office this morning with a scone and some music I haven't listened to in a while, working on my script for today's show. We started back up again for the fall a couple weeks ago, and it's fun. I've missed my mic and teleprompter.
I was happy to have the summer off though. Everything this year came to a stand-still about mid-June. The evenings became like big empty caves that I'd yell into without echo, because there was nothing for miles and miles to bounce my voice back. Sure, there was moving. Selling the house and buying a new one. There was morning sickness, lots of that. And as a result, there were countless hours of sleeping and eating crackers. There were doctor's appointments and little summer road trips and a wedding or two and friends. But nowhere I really had to be every week, nothing to prepare for, no students to teach. The whole summer is just a sun-bleached, foggy, sort-of memory.
I stopped writing because it felt like there was nothing to write about. I stopped doing anything even remotely creative because my brain went into Exist-And-That's-It mode. And after the craziness that was last spring, I absolutely loved it. I needed it. But now, I'm ready to have someplace to go and be and something to do there. Something to wake my brain and my fingers up and clear the pathways between them. Something to talk about when people ask what I've "been up to".
So, for today, it's nostalgic music and script-writing and taping my little music segment.


text:
Coastal Carolina Regional Airport
Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN)
The airport is situated three miles (5km) southeast of downtown New Bern.
Getting to the city
Car rental companies, taxis, and airport shuttles are available, but there is no public transport servicing the airport.
GMT -5 (GMT -4 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
Tel: (252) 638 8591
Car rental
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National are represented at the airport.
Airport Taxis
Taxis are provided by A-Z Shuttle and Taxi Service.
Airport facilities include a relaxing lounge area, a mother's nursing room, an airport deli, an outdoor sculpture exhibition, free wifi, an ATM, and a visitor information kiosk.
Short-term parking costs $0.50 per 30 minutes, up to a daily maximum of $10. Long-term parking costs $0.50 per hour, up to a daily maximum of $7.
Free wifi is available in the terminal.
Coastal Carolina Regional Airport Taxis: the taxi fares above are intended as a guideline only.


text:
Single Post Shade Structures
When shade is required, but there is little accommodation for multiple columns, choose one of our Single-Post designs. Our complete line includes the Coolbrella, Single-Post Pyramid, Lifeguard, Aurora, and Twilite structures. Each can provide a unique look for your venue, with water and theme parks common applications for these designs.
- Coolbrella available in 12' or 20' diameters; entry height 7' 8"
- Single-Post Pyramid available in 10' x 10', 12' x 12', 14' x 14' sizes; entry height 8'
- Lifeguard available in 9' x 8' and 11' x 10' sizes; 17' post for custom entry height
- Aurora available in 12' x 12', 16' x 16', and 20' x 20' sizes; entry height 8'
- Twilite 4-post available in 12' x 12', 16' x 16', and 20' x 20' sizes; entry height 8'
- Twilite 8-post available in 25' diameter; entry height 8'
- Zinc-rich primer available for wet areas
The Advantages of a Single Post Shade Structure
Simple yet versatile, single post shade structures can mean:
- More space for you and visitors. Without extra posts taking up room, you have more space to set up furnishings, seating, and accessories, such as a poolside seating area complete with lounge chairs and tables.
- Flexibility. With a variety of sizing options, our single-post shade structures can be a perfect solution for areas of nearly any size. From smaller Lifeguard shade structures designed to shade just one person, to larger structures such as our Coolbrella, we have numerous options to help you get just the structure you need.
- A great aesthetic. Single post structures mean less columns in lines of vision, which creates a wide-open space and allows you and your visitors to enjoy the view. Parents can lounge poolside and watch their kids play in the water, for example, or children can enjoy a shaded sandbox area at daycare - all while remaining safely in view of teachers.
- Easier installation. With only one column to install, it's simple to put your shade structure in place. With only one post, even uneven ground or hard concrete does not pose as much of a problem, since you do not have to worry about multiple columns like you may have to with other structures.
- A fun aquatic environment. Single post shades are a great option for beaches, pools and other aquatic areas. Since there is only post, it's easy to shade lifeguard stations, rest areas and other waterside spaces. The shape of a single post shade sail can also look great with a water theme.
- Plenty of protection from the sun. A single post shade canopy from USA SHADE can be up to 25 feet in diameter, offering plenty of sun protection. Numerous single-post shade structures can be placed near each other to further expand this range.
With plenty of choices and customization options for single post structures, USA SHADE is your ideal choice for shade structures. No matter your industry and regardless of what space you need shade for, our shades and exceptional customer service, as well as the high quality of our products, help you create the outdoor space of your dreams. Contact us today to get a quote!


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Gavin M. Witcombe
Baker & McKenzie Limited
Not admitted to practice law in this jurisdiction
Gavin Witcombe is a partner in the Firm's Energy, Mining & Infrastructure Practice Group in Bahrain, where he has practiced since 2009. Mr Witcombe has 25 years of experience practicing law and has presented on construction issues at various conferences including Qatar Projects 2012. He is a member of the Australian-Bahrain Business Group and the Society of Construction Law (Gulf Division).
Practice Focus
Mr. Witcombe practices in all areas of construction law. He is involved in front-end engineering and construction work, including major infrastructure, mining and processing projects. He has acted for government departments, owners, financiers and contractors in drafting and negotiating contract documentation. He also has extensive experience in litigation and other forms of dispute resolution including mediation, expert determination, arbitration and adjudication.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Law Society of Western Australia - Member
- Society of Construction Lawyers - Gulf Division
- Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia - Member
- Australian - Bahrain Business Group - Member
- Western Australia~Australia (2006)
- High Court of Australia~Australia (2006)
- Supreme Court of New South Wales~Australia (1985)
- University of Sydney (LL.B.) (1985)
- English
Previous Offices
- Sydney


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BAGHDAD (AP) -- A truck bomb exploded across the street from Iraq's Foreign Ministry near the Green Zone today, knocking out concrete slabs and windows and leaving a mass of charred cars outside as a wave of explosions around Baghdad killed at least 86 people.
BAGHDAD (AP) -- A truck bomb exploded across the street from Iraq's Foreign Ministry near the Green Zone Wednesday, knocking out concrete slabs and windows and leaving a mass of charred cars outside as a wave of explosions around Baghdad killed at least 86 people.
It was the deadliest apparently coordinated attack in Iraq so far this year and marked a major challenge to Iraqi control of Baghdad. A steady escalation of attacks following the June 30 withdrawal of U.S. troops from urban areas has heightened fears that government troops are not ready to provide security.
Iraqi officials blamed al-Qaida in Iraq and other Sunni insurgents, echoing U.S. military warnings that the militant group is trying to provoke new bloodshed to undermine public trust in the Shiite-led Iraqi government.
"The terrorists are trying to rekindle the cycle of violence of previous years by creating an atmosphere of tension among the Iraqi people," Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said in a statement. "Our security forces must be more alert and firm. Also, the political groups must unite."
Sunni and Shiite extremists remain active in Iraq and the U.S. military has detected some political violence ahead of next year's national elections. But truck bombs and suicide attacks bear the hallmarks of al-Qaida in Iraq.
The most devastating strike blackened the facade of the Foreign Ministry, killing at least 59 people and wounding 250, according to police and hospital officials. Rescue workers dug through rubble and debris near the ministry, which is adjacent to the Green Zone, the most heavily protected part of the capital.
The explosives-laden truck was parked in a largely unguarded parking lot across the street but the force of the blast tore through the 10-story building, which itself is surrounded by a concrete blast wall, as well as nearby apartment blocs.
Dozens of cars were charred and plumes of smoke rose into the sky.
A recent rise in bombings has dealt a blow to Iraqi government efforts to restore a sense of normalcy in the capital as the overall level of violence remains low compared with recent years. Iraqi security forces have begun removing concrete blast walls, which have been credited with helping reducing violence. The walls have been coming down in residential and commercial areas with the aim of improving appearance and easing traffic congestion.
The midmorning attacks hit first near the Finance Ministry in northern Baghdad and then minutes later near the Foreign Ministry. Around the same time as the explosion near the Foreign Ministry, mortars struck inside the Green Zone. It was not immediately known what damage the mortars caused or whether there were causalities.
Another car bomb targeted a joint Iraqi police and army patrol just outside the Finance Ministry, killing at least 19 people and wounding 22, a police official said. Twenty-two were wounded, said the official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another blast in the commercial area of western Baghdad's Baiyaa district killed two people and wounded 16, while a bombing in the commercial district of Bab al-Muadham killed six people and wounded 24, authorities said.
An Interior Ministry official, speaking separately, put the death toll at 88. Conflicting casualty tolls are common in the chaotic aftermath of bombings in Iraq. The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information.
Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said Monday that he wanted to deploy U.S. soldiers alongside Iraqi and Kurdish troops in northern Iraq where some of the worst attacks in recent weeks have been carried out.
U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq's cities on June 30 under a security pact that outlines the American withdrawal by the end of 2011. President Barack Obama has ordered all U.S. combat troops out of Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010, leaving a contingency of up to 50,000 U.S. troops in training and advising roles.
Odierno said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been receptive to the idea, though has not approved it.


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Decorating the homespace with prints seems to have really taken off in the past couple of years and I think the accessability and affordability of such pieces is a huge pull for interior enthusiasts like myself. Thanks to them, it has never been easier to change and update the vibe of a room by creating a little gallery wall or shelf and the effect can be incredibly beautiful, calming and even thought provoking.
Word Up Prints recently sent me a selection of their prints and one of their notebooks and I've used them to create a focal point in our bedroom on top of our drawers unit. This is the place in my bedroom where I do my hair and makeup most mornings and so I wanted to choose pieces that would (hopefully) help to motivate me as I begin each day.
I just love how simple these pieces are. They're wonderfully uncomplicated and easy on the eye, yet they really make the whole space 'pop' with vibrancy! I think this is such a brilliant way to personalise a space without commiting to an expensive longterm feature, especially as framed prints are so interchangeable and easy to move around.
I'm looking forward to infusing more framed prints onto our walls and I can't wait to share them with you!
*Post in collaboration with Word Up Prints


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The renowned actress Liv Tyler has tied a new string to her bow, as she moves away from the stage and takes to the sewing machine.
Joining up with Belstaff clothing, she has designed a whole collection as part of London Fashion Week.
Eleanor Cunningham joined her for the opening party


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DUBAI: Saudi Telecom Co (STC) reported a 20.2 percent fall in fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday, missing estimates as service costs and expenses rose.
The former monopoly, which competes domestically with Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) and Zain Saudi, made a net profit of 1.95 billion riyals ($520 million) in the three months to Dec. 31. This compares with 2.44 billion riyals in the prior-year period, a bourse statement said.
Five analysts polled by Reuters had on average forecast STC, which own stakes in operators in the Gulf, Turkey, South Africa and Asia, would make a quarterly profit of 2.36 billion riyals.
STC's annual profit was 9.34 billion riyals, down 14.8 percent from the previous year.
The company's board has recommended paying a fourth-quarter cash dividend of 1 riyal per share, it said in a separate statement. This is the same as the payout for the corresponding quarter of 2014.
In November, STC said it would pay a minimum quarterly dividend of 1 riyal per share for three years from the fourth quarter of 2015 onwards.
($1 = 3.7500 riyals) (Reporting by Tom Arnold; Editing by David French)


text: Broadcast 1699 (Special Edition) Guest: Dr. Harley Thronson. Topics: "Accelerating the Future: The Importance of Human Achievements Beyond LEO Within a Decade." You are invited to comment, ask questions, and discuss the Space Show program/guest(s) on the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments, questions, and any discussion must be relevant and applicable to Space Show programming. Read more about Broadcast 1699 (Special Edition)Comments


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While boys may not play Cops and Robbers or Cowboys and Indians anymore, their play is often around weapons, rescue missions, exploration, and adventure. However, in today's politically correct and overly sensitive society, this type of play is nearly criminal.
The adventures and thoughts of a Mississippi boy and his family living in the Washington - Baltimore region


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Iconic Glass Structures – R&F Yingkai Square
This week, we look at R&F Yingkai Square a newly constructed glass and steel tower in the Guangzhou Province in Zujiang. Its shifty shape is a visual treat because it's a departure from the standard "four square" building. The tower is a mixed-use environment, and it's nearly full.
The tower's design is inspired by bamboo plants. It features asymmetrical "corners" that, when combined with the steel strips on the outside faces, make the building appear to move. The steel facing at the base gives way to glass at top of the building. The change in texture and the building's faceted corners draw the eye ever upward, also lending to the notion of a building in motion.
The building tenants include the Park Hyatt Guangzhou on the upper floors, and a host of offices on the lower floors. The building also includes residential spaces. The tower extends 66 floors (nearly 1,000 feet) up and five floors below grade, and overlooks the Pearl River. Hotel guests can take advantage of spectacular views from the hotel's infinity pool, and enjoy a meal in the hotel's rooftop eatery and garden.
R&F Yingkai Square is currently the 9th tallest building in Guangzhou and the 49th tallest structure in China. It's brand new construction, having been designed by Goettsch Partners of Chicago in 2008. Construction on the building was completed in 2014 and the building was formally opened earlier this year.
The building is owned by Guangzhou R&F Properties Co., Ltd., which also provided structural engineering services and was the primary contractor for the building's construction.
Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specialized glass coating that bonds permanently to glass surfaces. GlassPrimer also makes a glass surface molecular activator that is designed to work with UV-inkjet glass printing processes. For more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you'd like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store.
Photo Credit: 1st image via CTBUH


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- Anniversary Symbols
- Banquet Settings
- Best Man Speech
- Bridal Favours
- Bride's Speech
- Bridemaids Speech
- Changing Your Name
- Choosing Your Wedding Reception
- Church Flowers
- Church Music Guide
- Church weddings
- Duties of Mam & Dad
- Duties of the Bride
- Duties of The Groom
- Etiquette for the big day
- Fashion Sense
- Fr. Dara Molloy ( Blessings )
- Grooms Speech
- Have your cake and eat it!
- How to choose a Top DJ
- Invitations & Stationery
- Irish Wedding Blessings
- Irish Wedding Traditions
- Love Quotes
- Meanings of Flowers
- New Testament Readings
- Old Testament Readings
- Old Ways Are Best
- Order of Church Service
- Pre-Marriage Courses
- Rules for Marriage in Ireland
- Sample Marriage Vows
- Speech Time for Mam & Dad
- The Perfect Photographer
- The Role of the Grooms Parents
- The Story of the Claddagh
- Transports of delight
- Wedding Countdown
- Wedding Music
- Wedding Quotes
- Wedding sentiments
- Wedding Tips
- Wedding Vows..As Gaielge
- White – Prague Wedding Agency
- Who Does What on the Big Day!
- Who Pays for What
- Wine Basics
- Wording for Invitations
- Your Wedding Videographer
Try not to be upset if they insist on doing everything themselves.
One of two things will doubtless happen. Either:
a) they will soon run out of steam/time/funds/patience and come running to you to take over
b) they will organise everything their way, be radiantly happy on their day and you'll be saved from one of the most stressful experiences known to Man (i.e. planning a wedding)
If you are to be central to the wedding planning, however, then our best advice is to treat your wedding like a business project. Make a list of what you have agreed to do and send it to the bride and groom. As the preparations continue, it will be your ability to communicate clearly, to keep things organised and to collaborate and consult that will ensure the success of the wedding. When it's all over, you can apply for a job as a management consultant!
The traditional responsibilities for the bride's mother are:
(In consultation with the bride and father of the bride) deciding on the numbers and names to be invited to the marriage and reception
requesting a provisional guest list from the groom/groom's mother, having advised her of numbers
finalising the guest list. It may require pruning and this is never an easy task! So be frank and be fair
getting the wedding stationery printed
keeping the groom's family in touch with the plans
liaising with the groom's mother over what to wear on the big day, ensuring no conflict of colour and style
sending out the wedding invitations, including those to the groom's parents - or the groom may wish to manage the invitations for his side
keeping a record of wedding acceptances and refusals
helping wedding guests to organise lifts to the ceremony and overnight accommodation if necessary. Alternatively, you could include local information with the invitations and leave it up to each guest to make their own arrangements
deciding, in partnership with the bride, plans for the flower arrangements at the church and reception
supplying the wedding gift list or details of where the couple have placed their list
taking in any presents that arrive for the couple
most importantly - in consultation with the couple and the father of the bride - organising the reception.
organising the reception
For a small wedding, you may choose to host the reception at the family home and do the catering yourself. Family, friends and neighbours may offer to help share the load, but the main task of planning the menu, buying the food and drink, preparing the food and organising and possibly borrowing or hiring the seating, china, glasses, cutlery etc may fall to you.
If you are holding the wedding reception in a marquee on your lawn and hiring caterers, you'll need to organise and co-ordinate the different suppliers so that everything goes without a hitch.
If hosting a wedding at home, always check that there are sufficient cloakrooms, heating and electricity supplies and rooms for the couple to change in.
You might want to provide someone to keep an eye on any babies and young children who have been invited. One good idea is to enlist the help of some young people who will take on the role of 'baby sitters' or entertainers, allowing parents to enjoy the event without worrying about what their kids are up to. Either way, let the parents of young guests know what to expect before the day.
If you are hiring an outside venue for your reception then be
careful to get everything - costs, booking confirmations, menus - in writing
and copy these documents to the bride and groom.
who sits where?
If the reception is to be a formal meal or sit-down buffet, you will need to set about drawing up a seating plan. This requires endless patience. It can become quite a juggling act trying to seat everyone in a position where they will be happy. Even the top table, which has a traditional arrangement, is complicated if parents have remarried or one or more parents are missing. Start agreeing your seating plan as early as possible and be prepared to make changes at the last minute, as some guests may drop out before the wedding day.
everybody mingle
Traditionally, members of the same family are seated together, but some families opt to inter-mingle the guests. It is a question of personal choice. The best way to make everyone happy is to make sure you meet the groom's parents prior to the wedding and discuss the issue.


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Are you ready for camp this summer!?! We are!!!
How old does my child need to be to participate in the School Age Summer Day Camp?
Campers must have completed Kindergarten by the first day of camp to register in the School Age Summer Day Camp. Have a younger camper (aged 3-5 and potty trained) who wants to come to camp? We have trailed our School Age camp down for a perfect fit for our youngest campers. Please visit out Preschool Camp page for more information.
|Summer Camp at Happy Acres Ranch offers your child an unique opportunity to experience what summer camp should be without having to leave the city. Our outdoor program gives campers a rare opportunity to be involved in traditional camp experiences and enjoy a natural relaxed setting. All activities are on site. We provide a wide variety of activities for our campers including:
*extra charge
Our operating hours are 6:15 am to 6:00 pm. Our facility closes at 6 pm. The Camp program operates from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. All lessons are from 3:00-4:00 pm. Resident Campers check in Sunday evening and out Friday afternoon. Campers are divided into groups of approximately 15 by age and gender. Playground supervision is provided before 8:30 am and after 4:00 pm at no additional charge. Campers may enroll for one week or all summer. Hot, nutritious meals and snacks are included with the weekly tuition or campers have the option to bring their own.
The Summer Camp program is divided into 10 weeks, with each week having a different theme. Each week has special events and new activities. All campers are eligible to take in any horseback riding program (additional charge). Interested to see what your camper will be doing throughout each day? Each group follows their own set schedule during the day. All groups will swim 2x per day (50 minutes in the morning and 40 minutes after lunch). All groups also have a special activity multiple times per week. The special activities are Art, Archery, Outdoor Ed and Nature and the groups will rotate through these activities every week
Schedule, Schedules, and more Schedules
What will my child be doing all day?
When and where will my child swim?
What Activity will my child go to each day?
Specialized Activities
Outdoor Education (instructor led)
Our outdoor education program provides hands-on learning about the natural world, outdoor activities, and environmental stewardship. A different theme is emphasized each week, along with the seven principles of Leave No Trace (outdoor ethics). Every day, campers explore 10 acres of suburbia zoned rural, which includes a tidal creek, a spring-fed lake, and a hardwood swamp. Through games, group study, and self-directed investigation, campers learn about nature and their role in taking care of the environment. Our program encourages the development of communication skills, leadership skills, tolerance, and the value of diversity. Subjects we study include trees and plants, birds, insects, the elements, estuary ecosystems, food cycles, recycling and stewardship, tent camping, and hiking safety.
Arts and Crafts (instructor led)
Archery (instructor led)
Nature (counselor led)
Athletics (counselor led)
Lessons, Lessons, and more Lessons
Horse Back Riding Lessons
If your camper is only participating in the full day/week Horsemanship Camp, please visit the"Horsemanship Camp" page for information.
All Campers who are interested in horseback riding may enroll in one to four lessons per week at an additional charge. Please see our "Horsemanship Camp" page for more information.
For the latest updates, like us on Facebook Happy Acres Ranch.
Swimming, Kayaking, Arts and Crafts, and Archery Lessons
Does your camper have an activity at camp that they just cannot get enough of? Is it Archery, Arts and Craft, Kayaking or Swimming? If it is, then they are in luck because we offer all four as small group lessons every afternoon? $10 for swimming or arts and crafts lessons or $15 for archery or kayaking lessons. Lessons are 1 hour and happen after camp ends from 3-4 pm. Makeups for weather cancellations are scheduled for the following morning from 8-9 am.Scheduling for all lessons are first come first serve.
Reading and Math Tutoring
We all love the camp is a wonderful break from school. Lazy summer days sometimes spiced up with a little mud. However, do you feel your child needs a little refresher over the summer so they are kept on track for the fall? Want a friendly certified teacher who teaches in the same relaxed manner that we offer camp? Do want to drive you camper to tutoring after a long day at camp? Then sign up for private tutoring lessons with Ms. Kimberly Cobb for K-5 Math or Reading Tutoring. Contact her directly to schedule sessions. Tutoring can be scheduled around the other activities of the day including swim times, horse back riding, or swimming and archery lessons. All private lessons are $40. Ms. Cobb is a long time friend of Happy Acres Ranch and a teacher at Bridegprep Academy.
Stay the Night at Camp!
Friday Night Fun at Camp!
Stay and hang out with us at camp every Friday night (Weeks 1-9). Enjoy dinner, swimming, games, and fun until 9 pm for $20 per camper (limit 15). Why not stay overnight and pick them up Saturday morning by 9 am for $30 per camper? All overnight campers will be offered breakfast before they leave in the morning. Due to the limited number of campers allowed each Friday, we are unable to offer sibling discounts on Friday nights.
Looks good right? We think so but what are the questions we haven't answer the you should be asking?
Do you background check your staff? Yes, every staff member (including volunteers) are level 2 background checked through the State of Florida before they begin working with campers.
Do you offer training to staff? Yes, all staff are required to attend a minimum of 24 hours worth of camp specific training before each summer (this includes returning staff). Year round staff must all complete the 40 hour DCF training within 1 year of employment. Preschool teachers are also required to have an additional 40 hours worth of job specific training each year.
Do you have insurance? Yes, we have property, liability, auto, and student accident insurance for all campers.
Are you regularly checked by any outside agencies? Happy Acres Ranch is. We are regularly, and without notice, inspected by the Department of Children and Families, The Childcare Food Program, Early Learning Coalition, American Camp Association, and APPLE.
Are you accredited and what does that really mean? Happy Acres Ranch is. Our camps are accredited through the American Camp Association and the Preschool through APPLE. It means following their rules and standards at all times. It means we are doing "best practices" which is over and above state standards. An accredited camp puts a lot of time and money into accreditation. We spent over $2,000 in annual dues alone this year!
Where do you get your International Staff? Happy Acres Ranch has a phenomenal international staff. We hand select (meaning our director flies to London each February to personally interview the counselors) our counselors from the hundreds of candidates. We find our counselors through Camp America, who has been doing this whole international counselor program thing for about as long as we have (60+ years). All international staff has the same background check our American counselors have plus one in their home county. The come on a 6 month J-1 visa for cultural exchange. They are as eager to find out about how Americans live as the campers are to find out how life runs in their country.
How do I sign up?
Interested in signing up? New families may email email@example.com to get the process started. All new families are required to tour before requesting an enrollment form. Returning families should email firstname.lastname@example.com to request an enrollment form.
Did you know all families are required to check off on the enrollment form that they have read and understand the Summer Camp Parent Handbook? Click to read the ins and outs of our camp policies in the 2018 Happy Acres Ranch Parent Handbook!