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SEMA News—April 2016
The Golden Age of New Performance and Mobility
How Advanced Vehicle Technologies Are Transforming the Performance Industry
The Ford GT race car was the centerpiece of Ford's SEMA Show display.
Welcome to the golden age of new performance and mobility. Whether it's gasoline, electric, hybrid or hydrogen, it's a good time to be in the performance business. I know that the golden age of new performance sounds like a paradox, but this truly is an exciting time to be in the rapidly changing automotive industry.
The performance business is growing not just deeper in the traditional areas of speed, power and torque, but also wider in terms of the overall vehicle experience and the ability to accommodate new automotive and vehicle ownership lifestyles. Horsepower is being matched with computing power, and new market segments are being created in safety, emissions, vehicle electronics, connected and automated driving as well as mobility options.
Back in the '60s and '70s, we were looking at 300hp engines. Today, we have 600hp engines—double the horsepower with a nearly 50% increase in fuel efficiency. The new production Ford GT is a great example of the latest technologies being applied to next-generation performance vehicles. It has a 630hp, 3.5L, twin-turbo, V6 EcoBoost engine matched to a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission. Its 50 sensors generate more than 100 GB of data per hour, with six controller area networks processing 300 MB of data per second. It has active aerodynamics, gorilla glass, carbon fiber and 10 million lines of software code—three million more than a 787 Boeing Dreamliner and eight million more lines of code than a Lockheed F-22 fighter. These technologies and systems are not just there for convenience. There's a very performance-driven purpose for all of those electronics systems, according to Dave Pericak, director of Ford Performance. The street-version GT goes on sale later this year and serves as a test bed for advanced technologies and features that could become commonplace on future vehicles throughout Ford's lineup.
Editor's Note: In what has become an annual tradition, SEMA Vice President of Vehicle Technology John Waraniak recently shared his frontline perspectives with SEMA News on advanced vehicle technologies and what SEMA members need to know about how those technologies are impacting the performance and specialty-equipment industry.
Ford Motor Company's GT race car returned to the racetrack for the first time since 1969 this past January, where it competed in the Rolex 24 at the Daytona International. Motorsports is often called one of the cruelest sports, and both GTs that were entered in the GTLM class experienced gearbox problems, and Chevy Corvettes finished one and two on the podium. The GT will also compete in the 24-hour endurance race at Le Mans this June. Ford's involvement in racing goes back to the very foundation of the company. Ford Performance Marketing Manager Henry Ford III said, "It's a great symbol of the innovation at Ford. We're a company that always pushed the boundaries.
We are really excited about this race car, because while it certainly is a testament to our heritage and legacy, it really is very forward-looking and innovative."
Performance is good business, but today it's way more than just horsepower and power electronics. It's about how performance technologies and product content are packaged and integrated with the vehicle as well as the social context of the vehicle.
The Ford GT's technologies and systems are not just there for convenience. There's a very performance-driven purpose for all of the electronics systems, according to Director of Ford Performance Dave Pericak.
Performance is an attitude as well as a lifestyle. Performance optimism is helping to drive the industry to record sales. Vehicle technology is the top selling point for 39% of new-car buyers, and today's new high-tech performance vehicles are the Detroit automakers' fastest selling and most profitable models. General Motors just unveiled an all-new Powertrain Performance and Racing Center that will turbocharge its racing-engine development program, and Ford is introducing 12 new performance vehicles in the next five years. Automakers around the world will continue to make high-tech, next-generation performance vehicles to raise their brands' awareness and drive consumers into showrooms. Cars are works of art, power, access, fashion and fun. Performance brands engage emotion.
Technology is a competitive advantage. Branding is a competitive differentiator. Scott Bowers, chief marketing officer at Wheel Pros and former architect of Oakley's marketing success for more than 25 years, has an excellent video, "What Makes a Brand Cool," that we recorded at the SEMA Show and is available at SEMA's Biz-Tips (www.sema.org/biz-tips).
These latest performance, safety, connectivity and automation technologies onboard many of today's vehicles are demonstrating their value to automakers and consumers, and they're coming from both inside and outside automotive OEM and aftermarket companies.
New entrants from technology giants, automakers and suppliers to startups and aerospace companies are accelerating the pace of innovation, particularly in the area of safety performance, connected and autonomous cars.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Drivers can retrofit and upgrade their older cars with the latest safety performance technologies from Brandmotion. The Advanced Driver Assistance System is a forward-crash and lane-departure warning system with the added benefit of a built-in digital video recorder.
We recently attended a briefing at Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, California, to help facilitate the transfer of technology from aerospace to automotive aftermarket applications. The most important safety performance advancements for SEMA manufacturers to pay particular attention to and include in their technology roadmaps are Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, known as ADAS. These systems include electronic stability control, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and many other new systems making their way into dealer showrooms and customization shops around the world.
Developing a technology roadmap for your company is a critical tool for success. It helps you understand the latest and emerging disruptive technologies to ensure that you customize with confidence as well as provide a framework to help protect and future-proof your business by connecting these technologies to your core products and market segments. ADAS features offer high satisfaction to drivers. As the technologies rapidly mature, they will lead to semi-autonomous and autonomous cars. In a recent survey of 800 C-level global auto executives by audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG, 38% said that autonomous vehicles are an extremely important trend in the industry, up from just 3% last year.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research on ADAS and vehicle automation has already led to regulatory and other policy developments impacting the performance aftermarket, particularly suspension and lift-kit manufacturers. The agency's work on electronic stability control (ESC), for example, led to the FMVSS126 standard mandating this form of automated technology on all new light vehicles since 2012. Through SEMA's Vehicle Dynamics Program, 20 leading aftermarket suspension manufacturers have conducted more than 80 full-scale vehicle tests to demonstrate FMVSS126 and ESC compliance of aftermarket-modified vehicles as well as provide an industry knowledge base for developing SEMA's Aftermarket ESC Math Model. The model will help manufacturers with vehicle dynamics product development, analysis and simulation. SEMA is currently developing test procedures with Link Engineering for functional and system compliance of new ADAS systems onboard many of today's latest vehicles and the most popular models being modified by members.
In early 2015, NHTSA also began recommending automatic braking technologies as part of its assessment of a vehicle's crash ratings. Automatic braking systems reduce rear-end crashes by about 40%, adding momentum to equip all new cars with the technology. While automatic braking technology does not affect a vehicle's star rating, the systems are now included in NHTSA's list of recommended safety technologies, which include backup cameras as well as lane-departure and impending-collision warning systems, many of which are provided by aftermarket companies.
More than 33,000 people lost their lives last year on our nation's highways. ADAS and connected and automated vehicle technologies will significantly reduce the number of deaths on our roads. The aftermarket industry is playing an increasingly significant role in retrofitting and installing many of these systems and technologies on the 250 million vehicles already on U.S. roads. Jeff Varick, Brandmotion CEO and president, has positioned his company as an aftermarket leader with ADAS vehicle-to-vehicle solutions and custom accessories such as backup cameras, 360º camera systems, front-facing cameras and parking sensors as well as a nationwide distribution network of installers for accelerating the deployment of these systems and aftermarket safety devices.
SEMA companies specializing in mobile electronics can create new business opportunities with infotainment features that integrate with ADAS capabilities. Delivering more synchronized ADAS and infotainment product strategies and solutions can help drivers take full advantage of the active safety technology installed on or available as aftermarket upgrades in their vehicles. An example would be building relevant ADAS information into the infotainment system to create a more effective and seamless human/machine interface.
SEMA companies seeking to leverage and capitalize on the latest ADAS technologies—as well as demonstrate functional and system compliance to ensure that these systems are operating after modification and customization—also need to pay particular attention to the evolving regulatory and legal landscape, shifting consumer and social demand patterns and automotive cybersecurity challenges. SEMA's vehicle technology programs, government-affairs expertise and SEMA Garage services and benefits are available to members to help them continue growing and prospering in the evolving automotive specialty-equipment industry.
Self-Driving Cars and Mobility
More than 20 SEMA suspension manufacturers, including Pro Comp, have conducted 80 full-scale vehicle tests to demonstrate FMVSS126 and ESC compliance of aftermarket-modified vehicles.
Silicon Valley and Detroit are on the grid and in a race to take self-driving cars to the next level. Self-driving cars, connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies and systems are certainly getting the headlines at this year's auto shows, as well the automakers' attention and budgets. However, I believe that connected and autonomous driving will coexist with the joy and passion for driving for the foreseeable future.
Scott Bowers, CMO at Wheel Pros, participated in the SEMA Performance and Design Forum and recorded the "What Makes a Brand Cool" video, now available at SEMA Biz-Tips (www.sema.org/biz-tips).
The federal government plans to invest $4 billion to help get autonomous cars onto U.S. roads, but attorneys say that there are still many liability and deployment issues to address before self-driving cars hit the mainstream. The money will primarily go to helping state and local governments get ready for deployment. David Strickland, partner at Venable LLP and a member of SEMA's Vehicle Electronics Task Force as well as the former head of NHTSA, believes that this transition money is likely to go to infrastructure incentives for the states to harmonize general rules of the road and help states and localities establish automated driving lanes.
Disruptive technologies, next-generation customization and new players as well as traditional suppliers and aftermarket companies from the Motor City and Silicon Valley are leading the connected and automated vehicle revolution. The result is both heated functional competition and unprecedented cooperation and collaboration between two industries and cultures that rarely spoke to each other just five years ago. Fully self-driving cars are a few years into the future, but some of the enabling technologies that will make them possible are already here.
Semi-autonomous features used to be found only on luxury cars, but they're quickly migrating to mainstream and performance brands as technology gets cheaper. Many features now ubiquitous in vehicles, such as electronic stability control, antilock brakes, backup cameras and keyless entry, started as high-priced extras in luxury cars and trickled down to mainstream vehicles over many years. Electronic stability control became mandatory in 2011 after it first appeared on the BMW 7 Series 15 years earlier. Government regulations accelerated the deployment of electronic stability control and, with the latest wave of ADAS technologies and reduced costs, that deployment and trickle down seem to be accelerating across platforms and models. Toyota, for example, will offer automatic braking, pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning for just a few hundred dollars on all of its vehicles by 2017.
Car-sharing and ride-hailing services with new mobility players and companies such as Uber, Lyft, Maven and Zipcar, as well as fully autonomous systems developed by Apple, Google and Cruise, will drive automakers and a growing number of consumers into mobility relationships that don't involve personal vehicle ownership. Therein lie substantial risks to traditional-thinking automakers and aftermarket companies that choose to ignore the consequences of inaction. Mark Fields, Ford's president and CEO, summed up the challenges and opportunities being created by new mobility solutions very well.
"I describe our strategy as having one foot in today and one foot in tomorrow," Fields said. "We are becoming a mobility company and an auto company."
SEMA Vehicle Electronics Program
Colin Dyne, CEO and chairman of Red Bull Global Rallycross, spoke at SEMA's Racing and Performance Forum. He stated that, in order to stay relevant, many automakers from Ford to Ferrari are downsizing engines with smaller turbocharged engines from larger, naturally aspirated engines to improve fuel economy and lower vehicle emissions.
A new SEMA Vehicle Electronics Program is moving forward with the formation of the Vehicle Electronics Task Force, which consists of an outstanding group of industry leaders from aftermarket, automaker, supplier and technology companies. The charter for the new program and task force is to lead the development of a collaborative program focused on understanding vehicle electronics business and product-development opportunities as well as the challenges of functional and regulatory compliance for aftermarket customization and integration of ADAS technologies, automotive and consumer electronics.
Brembo, an acknowledged leader and innovator of disc-brake technology, is an excellent example of a performance company embracing new vehicle electronics technologies. The Brembo rear Extrema caliper used on the Ferrari Enzo is one of the most technologically advanced calipers in production and combines a high-performance, fixed aluminum caliper for the brake function on ceramic discs with an integrated, floating, electrically-actuated caliper for the parking function.
Vehicle software modification and customization is an area of vehicle electronics that SEMA members need to pay particular attention to. Cars are being designed today to run on code. The cost for a vehicle's software ranges from $350–$1,000. However, the electronics, hardware, computer chips, displays and user controls using the software can add another $2,000–$6,000 to a vehicle's cost. Software is the major factor—and in some cases the deciding factor.
Since the beginning of the industry, automakers have traditionally sold vehicles mainly based on horsepower, utility, convenience and, in some cases, fashion. But that's changing fast. At one time, it was important to show that cars could be fast. And many aftermarket companies helped show the industry that we could make fast cars. We stopped going faster at Indy more than 20 years ago and plateaued at 225 mph. Today, as we get set for the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500, the challenge is to make cars fast but do it with less energy and fewer vehicle emissions. Vehicle electronics will play an increasingly important role in meeting these challenges, and aftermarket companies will continue to help develop vehicles with technologies and features that are affordable and that consumers want to purchase.
Vehicles within a given segment have reached a level of commoditization and relative parity on performance and fuel economy while active safety, connected-vehicle technologies and vehicle-electronics features have become deciding factors for consumers. Many people actually select vehicles based on whether they work with their smartphones. Apple's design expertise with CarPlay and Google's Android Auto technologies are compelling choices for drivers demanding to stay safely connected while in their cars.
The Toyota '16 Mirai took to the track as the first hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle to pace a NASCAR race this past year at Richmond, Virginia.
Alternative and Advanced Powertrains
Powertrain engineers have never been more challenged. They must balance consumer demands for greater performance and improved drivability with environmental and societal needs for better fuel economy and reduced emissions. Convincing consumers to choose more fuel- and energy-efficient technologies that are also more expensive when fuel prices are low is not an easy task. The Toyota '16 Mirai took to the track as the first hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle to pace a NASCAR race this past year at Richmond, Virginia. The Mirai is available for about $58,000 and is one of the most advanced vehicles available today.
Designing an internal-combustion gas engine involves balancing four factors: performance, emissions, durability and fuel economy. Cylinder deactivation is great technology for increasing fuel efficiency while maintaining torque requirements. The combination of direct injection and turbocharging has enabled smaller engines to increase performance and compete with larger displacements while using less fuel.
Brembo's rear Extrema caliper used on the Ferrari Enzo is one of the most technologically advanced calipers. It combines a high-performance, fixed, aluminum caliper for the brake with an integrated, floating, electrically actuated caliper for the parking function.
Colin Dyne, CEO and chairman of Red Bull Global Rallycross, did a great job at our recent Racing and Performance Forum explaining how Red Bull Global Rallycross provides a platform that facilitates technology transfer relevant to today's automotive trends.
"Downsizing engines with smaller turbocharged engines from larger naturally aspirated engines is an industry trend from Ford to Ferrari," he said. "The increased efficiency is better for fuel economy, and the lower emissions are better for the environment."
The auto industry and the world face new challenges with fuel-economy targets and environmental concerns over vehicle emissions. According to the design firm Fitch Global, three-quarters of teens around the world consider climate change a greater risk than drugs, violence or war. Generation Z, today's 14- to 19-year-olds, is the most culturally diverse generation to date and will be the largest group of consumers worldwide in four years, making up 40% of U.S., European and BRIC-country (Brazil, Russia, India and China) buyers and 10% in the rest of the world. They believe in a world where good works are not just for volunteers but are an intrinsic part of society, especially in the corporate world. Their beliefs and values will shape the future of mainstream retail and—perhaps even more importantly—form the next-generation workforce many automaker and aftermarket companies will be hiring over the next five to 10 years.
Performance Optimism and Next-Gen Engineers
Advanced vehicle technology coupled with consumer demand for connectivity and customization is transforming the performance industry and lowering barriers for new players to enter the business. That has significant implications for both automakers and aftermarket manufacturers.
Jim Campbell, vice president of GM Performance Vehicles & Motorsports, summed up the reasons why GM races with four key areas: technology transfer, connecting with customers, reinforcing branding and developing engineers and talent pipelines for future technologies.
The industry's romance with performance cars is still going strong. Although they are small in terms of production, performance vehicles and specialty-equipment products bring excitement and positive emotional connections to an enthusiastic driving public and car lovers everywhere. The advanced vehicle technologies leading the golden age of new performance and mobility are also creating many new and exciting business opportunities and careers in science, technology, engineering and math as well as art and design that did not exist in the industry just five years ago.
Performance and racing are the roots of the SEMA community of companies. Before a company decides to go racing, it defines the costs and objectives of the program. But beyond the budget, the key question is how racing connects our products, brands, fans and customers.
Jim Campbell, vice president of GM Performance Vehicles & Motorsports, summed up the reasons why GM races with four key areas: Technology transfer from the track to street performance; connect with customers through social engagement; reinforce branding with frontline authenticity; and develop engineers and talent pipelines for future technologies. Using racing as a crucible to develop future superstar engineers, designers, aerodynamicists and electronics experts who will power a company's technological expertise into the future is one of the most sustainable competitive advantages in the golden age of new performance.
New breeds of automotive performance engineers are evolving with skill sets such as software and systems engineering as technology integration talent becomes a key strength for automakers and performance aftermarket companies. Software is becoming increasingly important and is leading to a rapid shift from "hardware performance" to "software experience." Advanced materials and manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing and metal injection molding are also bringing exciting innovations and flexibility to product development for SEMA manufacturers. Innovation and talent are the two primary investments automakers and specialty-equipment companies need for creating a competitive advantage and staying relevant with advanced vehicle technology, consumer and social demands.
President Obama visited the 2016 North American International Auto Show on January 20 and saw firsthand the innovation in transportation technology that promises to drive the future of the global automotive industry. More importantly, his visit demonstrated how important the iconic auto industry is for economic growth and jobs, as well as how far the auto industry and the Motor City of Detroit have come since the recession and industry crisis of 2008.
Detroit and SEMA are pure Americana. Detroit and the auto industry represent the birthplace, if not the gateway, to our country's middle class. And SEMA is the birthplace of American customization.
Being born and raised in the Motor City and now based there for SEMA makes me proud to represent and position SEMA-member companies on the front lines of automotive innovation with OEMs and suppliers and ensure that the performance aftermarket continues to have a place and a voice in the golden age of new performance and mobility.


text: Jena Friedman is a stand up comedian, writer and filmmaker. She has worked as a field producer at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and has written for Late Show with David Letterman. Her critically acclaimed stand up special, American Cunt, is now available on iTunes and her new special "Soft Focus with Jena Friedman" is airing on Adult Swim on February 18, at midnight EST/ 9pm PST.

subset: commoncrawl


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BEIJING, July 6 -- Dalian Commodity Exchange plans to introduce coke futures this year and is studying plans for coking coal contracts as consumption for the raw materials rises in China, the world's biggest steelmaker.
"Due to a combination of factors, the price of coke and coking coal this year fluctuated a lot," Liu Xingqiang, the director of the bourse, China's largest derivatives market, said at a conference in the city today. "The industry's need for a risk transfer is very strong.
Dalian Commodity Exchange joins Singapore in pushing futures for bulk commodities, as demand for steel rebounds with the global economic recovery. BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's largest exporter of coking coal, this year won two price increases for the material from Asian mills after dropping annual contracts for quarterly agreements.
"It gives participants an opportunity to hedge some of their purchases and protect the downside." Andrew Driscoll, head of resources research at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, said by telephone. "A lot of the long term contracts are fixed in volumes but not prices, so futures will provide the industry with ways to hedge their positions."
Prices of coking coal traded in Asia rose to $225 a ton for the July quarter, up from $200 in the previous quarter, and compared with annual prices of $129 in 2009, according to Deutsche Bank AG. Prices could fall in the fourth quarter and into the first half of 2011 as global steel demand could "decelerate and potentially contract," the bank said in a June 30 report.
Trading Volume
Futures trading in China, the third-largest economy, jumped 47 percent in the first half from a year ago, according to data compiled by the Futures Industry Association, as the government cede control of prices of some commodities and allow more market participants.
The Chinese government maintains controls of prices of commodities including electricity and fuel and imposes export and import limits on products such as minor metals to prevent inflation.
CME Group Inc., the world's largest futures exchange, predicts "great growth" in Asian derivatives as the economy grows. Dalian Commodity Exchange may introduce energy, coking coal and live-hog futures contracts to spur trading volume, Liu said in October last year.
Still, trading volume on the futures contracts may take a while to pick up, according to Driscoll.
"A lot of producers and consumers have been dealing directly with each other for a number of years. They're set in their ways of doing business," said Driscoll.
China's coking coal imports may reach the second highest on record this year as domestic production can't meet demand from steelmakers, Citigroup Inc. said on April 22.
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Tuesday 20 September 2016
Posted by: Westcor International
Figures published by the Bank of England in the summer confirmed the predicted slowdown in the property market and subsequent fall in mortgage applications following the Brexit vote. This was in addition to the stamp duty increase on buy-to-let properties in the last Budget. In contrast however, the popularity of remortgages grew; increasing by 6% from June to July this year.


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I took a deep breath as I stood silently in the doorway. I stared with excited trepidation down the long hallway in front of me. There were at least ten doors on either side. I could make out the names on the glass, but that was all. I could not see what lay behind the smoky-tinted glass. Each name represented an exciting opportunity in my life—a different path to follow—and I simply had to choose a door. But how could I choose? What was on the other side? The doors read: Business School, Hospitality Consultant, Endless Travel, Unconditional Love, Buddhist Monk, Motivational Speaker, Youth Development Coordinator, Reunion Committee Chair, Spiritual Vagabond, Yoga Master, Elephant Charmer, Unknown, Power of One, and there were a few at the end I could not quite read. Surprisingly, I was afraid to choose a door. What if I chose incorrectly? What if it wasn't what I was expecting? What if, What if, What it…
And so, I quickly darted down the hall and entered the first door on the right:
When I returned from my road trip across the country, I had aspirations of going to business school to get an MBA. I was excited. I had figured out the next phase of my life, and I knew how I would occupy myself for the next few months. But when I began to study for the GMAT and prepare to write essays and complete applications to different schools, I felt lost and confused. I could study for three hours or read about different curricula, but I lacked the passion and excitement of my friends who were also applying to business school. When anyone would ask why I wanted to go to business school, I was at a loss for words. I would literally stammer and stumble trying to articulate a coherent answer.
Obviously, I had chosen the wrong door. I may need the credential someday, but not now. I turned around and closed the door carefully behind me. I would always have the opportunity to go through that door again, but now was not the right time.
So what did I learn by going through that door? I found a series of new doors, some of which were the same as in the first hallway, but there were several new opportunities that now existed simply because I had made a choice to go through this door. This is one of the most important realizations that you can make when deciding a course of action or a life-path. You will never know if you're on the right path until you make a choice! Once you have made a choice, you can determine if it fits or doesn't fit with who you are and where you want to be. Until you have opened that door, it is simply speculation in your mind.
So I continued down the hallway and went to the third door on the left: Unconditional Love.
When I arrived to
"Does she have an extra bedroom?" "No." "Are you sleeping on the couch?" "No." "What do HER parents think of this?"
Well, needless to say, the past month and a half has been amazing! When you have been single for two years, it is very difficult to let go and open up completely to another person. You have to unconditionally place your trust, faith, and love in another person's heart knowing that they are ready to do the same. It is comforting and invigorating, and at the same time, frightening and overwhelming. Fortunately, the last two are only temporary. Once you've overcome the initial love-threshold, you're walking in the clouds. It's truly a great feeling to be warmed from the inside out as you bask in love's glory. It makes you happy to be alive! Makes you wonder why everyone's not in love. Actually, we won't tackle the relationship side of the coin, just yet, only the love side. I had clearly chosen the right door.
So now that I found myself in a new hallway with more doors, I decided I would take the third one on the left again: Motivational Speaker.
After deciding recently that I would not apply to business school for the upcoming year, I have been trying to figure out my next step. I have been trying to find something that would fulfill my personal vision and passion of: teaching others how to build productive, inter-developmental relationships; how to show compassion and understanding for others; and ultimately, how to use compassionate relationships to create a better world and global community. This was a vision that I came up with several months ago, which led me to give workshops with my father entitled Living at the Edge.
Recently, I have thought very seriously about being a motivational speaker for young adults in an effort to help them find their passion, personality, and possibility. I think that hearing a message from a peer would resonate very strongly with high school students, college students, and recent college graduates. Now is the time to realize that life is about discovering who you are, how to make difficult choices, and understanding how you can make a difference in your world! I have been developing an hour long presentation entitled: Who do you want to BE when you grow up? And the punch line is: You can DO anything when you grow up, but you will always BE who you are!
As I stepped through this door, I was in a large atrium. In the center, there was a large statue of a leaning Buddha stretching from one end of the room to the other. His golden arm pointed towards two immense golden doors: The Power of One.
During the end of December and January, I will be traveling to
Are you ready for this? The mission of The Blue Star of Hope, which is the organization running this program, is to, "foster global understanding and compassion, celebrate cross-cultural similarities and diversities, and promote a consciousness of peace and empowerment while supporting economic prosperity, social progress and ecological integrity for all of Earth's inhabitants." As a mentor for The Power of One, I will be working on an
Over the past three months, I have truly tried to Live at the Edge. I have sought to define the edge of my personal box of possibilities, by constantly reevaluating my attitudes, judgments, and beliefs. I have made difficult choices to which I did not know the outcomes. I have experienced mixed emotions, faced challenging circumstances, and at times struggled to stay At the Edge. And in the end, I have realized that Living at the Edge will always make you feel uncomfortable, to some extent, because you are in a constant state of flux (or impermanence). Once you cross the edge of your box of possibilities, you have crossed a very important threshold. Things cannot go back to the way they used to be, and you have not yet defined the way things are going to be. Therefore, the way things are is frightful and fulfilling, fearful and fabulous! In order to sustain yourself, you need a solid support system, and the ability to see life with the right kind of eyes.
So, now, I find myself walking down an endless hallway with doors. I am slowly and methodically meandering down the path of life, while carefully tight-rope walking along The Edge. Truth comes in many forms as long as you live a purposeful existence. Compassionate relationships, fantastic experiences, and mystifying adventures present themselves everyday. You can DO anything that you want to do, as long as you remember to BE who you are! Live purposefully, Live mindfully, Live at the Edge!


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Be A Good Citizen
- Published: September 01, 2007, By By Edward Boyle, Contributing Editor
Green Converting
What do the ancient Iroquois, Thomas Jefferson, and many of today's leading companies have in common? They all embraced a philosophy that has become known as "sustainable development." Today, this philosophy encourages manufacturers to balance the "triple bottom line impact" of their operation—people, profit, and planet—when making business decisions.
John Bernardo, founder of Sustainable Innovations, Boise, ID, and a recent speaker at Heidelberg's open house in Kennesaw, GA, provides businesses with analysis and support for introducing sustainable operations into their cultures. He says the inevitable emphasis on today's bottom line can lead shortsighted companies to focus more on immediate costs and quarterly reports and overlook the long-term economic and environmental benefits of sustainable operations.
"If you implement sustainable operations, you're going to improve your profits, reduce your impact on the environment, and improve the way you impact society, including the people you hire and the neighborhoods you do business in," says Bernardo. "It's not just good citizenship but good business—real good business."
For converters and end-users alike, the life cycle of the supply chain—from the purchase of raw materials to the disposal of packaging—has been a primary focus of sustainable operations. For example, major end-users are demanding lighter-weight packaging, which reduces shipping costs and is more easily recycled by consumers. Procter & Gamble, for one, has made reducing the size of its packaging, such as detergent containers, a priority. The change is a win-win for the company and the environment: Shipping costs are reduced and less CO2 is emitted by fewer trailers needed to ship the product. Ultimately, says Bernardo, this is just one example of how sustainability "will save you money and make you look good to your customers and to regulators."
Centuries-Old Concept
Although the concept has been around for centuries, "sustainable development" was first defined in 1987 in The Bruntland Report, issued by the World Commission on Environment and Development, as meeting "the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Bernardo says the Iroquois Tribe implemented the concept of sustainable development centuries before North America was colonized by Europeans.
"Before the Iroquois would burn a forest so they could have a meadow, they would look at it and see what impact this burning would have seven generations down the line," Bernardo explains. "Jefferson even adopted some of their philosophies when he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
He would say you can't just care about today and the heck with future generations, because that would certainly impact on their liberty and pursuit of happiness if they didn't have the same resources available to them."
In modern-day business, Bernardo says virtually all Fortune 500 companies, and a growing number of smaller operations across all market segments, embrace the philosophy and routinely issue Corporate Social Responsibility Reports (CSRs) that describe their efforts—even though CSRs are not yet required by government agencies. Starbucks, Weyerhaeuser, HP, Xerox, and Nestlé are just a few examples of companies that most openly share the details of their sustainability efforts.
Bernardo specifically cites Weyerhaeuser, an international forest products company with annual sales of $21.9 billion, as producing one of the most comprehensive CSRs available. Perhaps that's because "sustainability" is literally essential to continued growth through ongoing development of its primary renewable resource—trees.
Worldwide, the company manages more than 21.8 million acres of forestland (8.8 million hectares) in five countries. Through its various processes, Weyerhaeuser also has committed that by 2020 (assuming a comparable portfolio and regulations), its greenhouse emissions will be 40% less than they were in 2000.
On the consumer level, says Bernardo, Starbucks' 180-p CSR report details its global business practices down to "how much they're paying a coffee grower in Ecuador versus what the market's paying him." It also details its efforts to reduce waste and energy use, including eliminating "double cupping" by using beverage sleeves made of up to 60% post-consumer recycled fiber, and utilizing wind power to reduce reliance on oil and coal.
"CSRs are a requirement of doing business in Europe," explains Bernardo. "It's a nice feature in the US right now. I think in the future it will be a requirement that all Fortune 500 companies have one. It's the smart companies that are doing it already."
Sustainable Development
While saving the environment is a critical part of a company's CSR, it is only one leg of the tripod. Sustainable development "should not be confused as an environmental movement," he explains. "Sustainability is saying, 'Look at your entire operation and figure out where you're sourcing materials. Are you minimizing your negative impact? Are you operating your business as efficiently as possible?' View it as an opportunity instead of something you're trying to deflect or ward off."
Bernardo cites Wal-Mart as one company that is "trying to make headway" from an environmental standpoint, "and we all know it's because they're trying to improve their bottom line." Encouraging or even demanding that converters minimize packaging weight reduces both shipping costs and landfill space, "but that's two of the three legs of the 'triple bottom line.'
"Some people are saying, 'We think you're doing this to shift the attention away from other practices that aren't so socially responsible, like putting companies out of business or not paying people enough.' For true sustainable operations, you look at the entire triple bottom line, not just two parts of it."
Companies that have already gone global or are thinking about it surely should embrace sustainable development, says Bernardo. He notes that in America, compliance with environmental regulations is a basic requirement of doing business today. In the global arena, embracing and implementing sustainable development concepts is expected "if a business is to stay competitive and be looked favorably upon by shareholders, customers, and the media."
He also encourages companies to view good "environmental citizenship" as an opportunity to improve internal efficiencies in the following ways:
- Incorporating sustainable (green) building practices into new plants and plant remodeling projects;
- Using renewable, low-polluting sources, such as wind power, whenever possible;
- Partnering with communities to develop and support local sustainability efforts, such as composting;
- Supporting mass transit;
- Driving waste out of the business.
Part of that effort should involve both converters and end-users working with suppliers of raw materials such as corrugated boxes to make sure they are recyclable at both the plant and consumer level, says Bernardo. Paraffin wax, for example, provides excellent product protection, but 80% of that wax is imported and increases petroleum use in shipment. Acrylic and naturally based alternatives can save both money and the environment, he says.
Finally, he adds, companies should promote their sustainable operating efforts to customers, shareholders, regulatory agencies, and employees through Social Responsibility Reports and other efforts to enhance their public image. This will be even more important as the emphasis on "going green" continues to grow in importance to consumers—and consequently to the bottom line.
"Companies are saying, 'We're not going to wait for some social group to say what we're doing; we'll tell you ourselves. We're going to make it a positive for our company,'" explains Bernardo. "Market your efforts, because that's all part of the competitive process."
Sustainable Innovations | sustaininnovations.com | PFFC-ASAP 302
Where Recycling is a Dirty Word
Recycling is at the heart of the sustainable packaging movement, which has been hailed for its efforts to bring an "environmentally conscious, life cycle approach" to the development and utilization of packaging. For one company, however, "recycle" is a dirty word. A travesty? Hardly. It's because Greenpak Inc. is taking its efforts to save the planet one step further by making it both easy and economical for companies to reuse—rather than recycle or discard—those ubiquitous shipping pallets.
"Wooden pallets were, at one time, made to be expendable after one trip," says Jeffrey Shaver, VP of sales and marketing for Greenpak, which has been manufacturing boxes, containers, and pallets for nearly 60 years. "Everybody was happy to turn those wooden pallets and crates into mulch, but you're better off reusing it as a pallet as often as you can. We get those formerly expendable items and bring them back and utilize them again."
To economically track and retrieve any of the one million pallets in use at thousands of companies across the country, Greenpak developed its Transportation Resource Utilization and Control System (TRUCS), a proprietary computer system that allows tracking and near real-time location monitoring of its trucking assets. It handles all scheduling of deliveries and pickups and helps to consolidate multiple, less-than-truckload pickups within a small geographic area.
TRUCS also helps determine the value and status of return loads of packaging and containers, allowing for quick reprocessing and remediation of shipping materials, putting them back into use in distribution channels. On this site, you will be helped to take a cash loan instantly, just fill out the easy form and send and the manager will contact you.
To meet the standards of companies such as Dow and DuPont, Greenpak ships and retrieves the pallets, cleans and refurbishes them, then ships them back—at a reduced cost to the customer. In fact, some of those same pallets have been reused for 17 years.
Shaver says Greenpak is able to do so because of its three strategically located plants, which are within a day's drive of 70% of the US population. These facilities house more than 2.5 million sq ft of warehouse and distribution space, allowing Greenpak to store and manage packaging and product for its customers.
"We've been able to economically and efficiently get those things back," says Shaver. "We just do that over and over and over again."
- Greenpak Inc. | greenpak.com | PFFC-ASAP 303


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The Psychology of Vaccine Fear
I was reading the other day about the rise in the percentage of parents who opt-out of having their kids vaccinated. This was in California, so it may not apply to the entire country. But there is a disturbing uptick of parents — especially those who enroll their children in private schools — who don't get their kids vaccinated.
Three times as many private versus public schools don't make the grade. More than 15 percent of the private schools in California failed to reach a 90 percent immunization rate, compared with 5 percent in public schools. Ninety percent is what public health officials believe is the minimal rate needed in order to keep many of these childhood diseases at bay.
This rate has doubled in schools in California over the past decade, fueled largely by rumor and lies about vaccinations, their value to a society, and bad science that was trumped up over decades worth of previous research by respected institutions and researchers.
Why are some parents making decisions for their children based upon fear and bad science? Let's find out.
First, let's be clear that the vast majority of parents aren't making these kinds of poor choices for their children. Most parents want what's best for their kids, and that means keeping them healthy and safe from disease.
Parents cite a variety of reasons for not immunizing their children, among them: religious values, concerns the shots themselves could cause illness and a belief that allowing children to get sick helps them to build a stronger immune system.
The story also says "like many parents who refuse some or all immunization shots, [one mother] worries her children's immune system could be overwhelmed by getting too many vaccines at once." While that's a common mantra among the vaccine deniers, there appears to be little evidence to support that a child could suffer from too many immunizations at once.1
Will delaying or denying your child a vaccination somehow make them more immune to future disease (the idea that they are building up "naturally" the child's own immune system)? Drs. Mark Crislip and Stephen Barrett have an answer to that:
In May 2010, the journal Pediatrics published a study that compared more than 40 variables related to mental and neurological function among a large group of children to see whether delaying vaccination provided any benefit.
After finding that no statistically significant differences favored the less-vaccinated children, the researchers concluded: "Timely vaccination during infancy has no adverse effect on neuropsychological outcomes 7 to 10 years later. These data may reassure parents who are concerned that children receive too many vaccines too soon."
In other words, an unvaccinated child is gaining no benefit from not being vaccinated. And the potential consequences of not being vaccinated remain serious. "Chickenpox, whooping cough, influenza, and pneumococcus still cause hospitalizations and deaths in previously healthy children." "The U.S. is in the midst of what could be its worst year for that disease in more than five decades, with nearly 25,000 cases and 13 deaths."
What Drives Parents' Vaccine Fears?
If the scientific data shows little support for these ideas, what drives a parent to making this sort of decision for their child?
A parent's religious beliefs may offer a valid reason to forgo having a child vaccinated (if you're religious). Some researchers offer additional theories as to the psychology behind vaccine fear:
[T]here's no single explanation that accounts for why so many more parents who send their children to private schools apparently share a suspicion of immunizations.
Saad Omer, a professor of global health at Emory University in Atlanta who has studied vaccine refusal in private schools, surmised more private school parents are wealthy and have the time to spread five shots over a series of years and stay home should their child get an illness like chickenpox.
Neal Halsey, a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the Johns Hopkins University, said parents who choose private schools are likely to be more skeptical of state requirements and recommendations.
I can agree with both rationales, to a point. I suppose the wealthy do feel less hemmed in by government's recommendations for their children. And I suppose they have little regard for the value and role of public health agencies like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose primary purpose is to ensure society's stable health.
I also see another factor at work here… Something called confirmation bias (or myside bias). It's the psychological tendency of people to favor information that confirms their own personal, pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses about something. We all do it, and we do it all the time.
With the information so readily available online today, it's not hard to conduct some quick research and find a community of people who agree with you, no matter what the subject or your opinion on it. I'm not sure vaccine deniers would've ever gotten the time of day two decades ago, pre-Internet era. But because they all found each other online so more readily, it let them spread their misinformation and fears in a way that was self-reinforcing.
That's both the power and the predicament of the Internet — it spreads ideas fast, no matter how good or bad those ideas are.
We've been giving vaccines to children for decades now, and the overwhelming, vast majority of the scientific data show this has resulted in a positive gain for society as a whole. It's unfortunate some parents don't understand these benefits, not just for society, but for their child's own safety and well-being too.
Read the full story: Private school vaccine opt-outs rise
Grohol, J. (2018). The Psychology of Vaccine Fear. Psych Central. Retrieved on October 28, 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-psychology-of-vaccine-fear/
Last reviewed: By a member of our scientific advisory board on 8 Jul 2018
Published on Psych Central.com. All rights reserved.


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The OSIsoft PI-Batch database has always conformed to the ISA 88 batch standards. It provided three mechanisms to create batch structures:
- PI Batch Generator: A Windows Service to create batches based on the batch generator in the SMT.
- PI Batch Interfaces: These are interface that connect to batch control system and provide automatic creation of tags, modules, aliases and batches
- Programmatically through the use of the PI-SDK
The major shortcoming of the PI-Batch Database was the lack of scalability and sole focus on batch structures.
The Event Frames Database was designed to overcome these limitation and broaden the scope of time segmentation by introducing the event concept. Now any type of manufacturing (for example discrete and batch control) can be modeled and in addition time framing such as up- or downtime, Condition Based Maintenance, Process Models, ... can be captured using the same data structure.
The Event Frame Database (EF) is highly flexible and can be configured for any type of event. OSIsoft provides a set of ISA 88 batch templates within the Event Frame Generator (PI-EFGEN) to build these structures. The following table shows the relationship between ISA 88 (referred as 'Procedural Control Model'), PI Batch and EF Batch:
PI Batch
EF Batch
PI Batch
Unit Procedure
PI Unit Batch
Unit Procedure
PI Sub Batch
PI Sub Sub Batch
Phase State
Phase Step
The Event Frame Templates and References are attached (see below). Similar to the Element templates, there are base templates that are derived from a universal template called 'EventFrame Base' and derived templates based on the corresponding base templates (e.g. EventFrame Base -> Phase Base -> Phase).
There are different tools to create Event Frames:
- Event Frame Generator: Mostly used to create Batch structures.
- PI Analysis: Allows to create single event frames on Element level.
- PI Batch Interfaces: Are transitioning from PI Batch to EF
- Programmatically through AF-SDK.
Event Frames allow to reference Elements. This mapping leads to the following simplified relationship:
Procedure Model (EF) + Equipment Model (AF) = Process Functionality
The following shows the relationship in detail:
Another option is for Elements to reference Event Frames. The benefit of this design is that event frames can reference Element attributes such as Start and Stop trigger, recipe, procedure, without losing AF as the abstraction layer.
In summary, Event Frames provide very flexible structures for time segmentation. Using the out-of-the-box or custom templates allow fully ISA 88 compliant batch structures.
Next Blog:
PI and MES: Functional Integration (Example: Proficy Workflow)


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January Blues Thank the Eurovision Gods that January is OVER! After surviving debilitating New Years' hangovers (which get worse every year if you're anything like me!) and being forced, under duress, back to work. Having had no experience of daylight for the last 4 weeks (going to work in the dark
ESC Hatch: Travel
Kiev Calling!
As we close the books on another Eurovision finale with Portugal taking home their first ever trophy, we at HelloEurope.eu reflect on our few days in the Ukrainian capital and all it has to offer. Despite initial organisational problems, the 'Eurovisual' atmosphere in Kiev was celebratory. You couldn't turn a corner
Your Trip to Eurovision
The Italian Job – Rome: Part 1 – Getting There
Lazio's Hidden Treasures of Italy in Viterbo: No. 5 Monte Palanzana
Scaling Heights From solemn depths to dizzying heights Viterbo's ascending scale of adventurous exploration takes you up to the top of Monte Palanzana who's vantage point allows you to behold Lazio's own stunning vista as far as the eye can see. Several hours of sunny daylight and a mild breeze are perfect
Lazio's Hidden Treasures of Italy in Viterbo: No. 4 The Etruscans
The Etruscan Mystery Corresponding to an area over Tuscany, Western Umbria, and Northern Lazio the Etruscan people – referred to by the Romans as Tusci or Etrusci – pre-dated the Roman civilization for hundreds of years until the Roman Republic overtook their culture in 4th Century BC during the Roman-Etruscan Wars. Much of its culture
Lazio's Hidden Treasures of Italy in Viterbo: No. 3 Spas and Termes
Lazio's Hidden Treasures of Italy in Viterbo: No. 2 "Double-Pizza"
The Famed "Double-Pizza" A trip to Italy wouldn't be complete without a bowl of pasta or a slice of pizza, and to coin a cliché I often frequented many local restaurants in search of delicious Italian cuisine. Rare is the inedible dish! Viterbo hosts the famed Double-Pizza restaurants. When you're not watching a
The Great Culinary Quest; Part 3
Lazio's Hidden Treasures of Italy in Viterbo: No. 1 Macchina di Santa Rosa
The Great Culinary Quest; Part 2
'In love, as in gluttony, pleasure is a matter of the utmost precision.' (Italo Calvino) Never were truer words spoken in history with regards to my relationship with food. Although, what I lack in precision I make up for in permissiveness. With a few more countries crossed off the bucket list my culinary
The Great Culinary Quest; Part 1
Stockholm Calling!
Almost a month after Ukraine swept away the public vote for Eurovision 2016 and Stockholm has regained its composure to being the prosperous Nordic city of the north. Banners taken down and ABBA packed away for another year, Stockholm's breath-taking ochre buildings of the Gamla Stan are once again the centre


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Kate & Eben - Cow's Milk Allergy: A first time mum's perspective
Kate found out that her firstborn, Eben, had a Cow's Milk Allergy, after he suffered from a reaction following a few spoonfuls of yoghurt. The experience was terrifying for new mum Kate.
Being a mum for the first time is challenging enough, but having to take an allergy into consideration presents a whole host of new problems. Kate's dream of a work/family balance were stopped in their tracks due to Eben's complex dietary needs.
Kate's determination to continue to breast feed Eben, to give him the best start possible, means that she's had to make other sacrifices too...
If you need advice about Cow's Milk Allergy, call our helpline on 01322 619898 or email us for support.


text: The four-story office and research space building was designed with state-of-the-art telecommunications and power infrastructure. The building is LEED Silver certified. Set in the University's 71 acre research and technology community, COPT's property is designed to accommodate established companies as well as incubator space. The building's exterior expresses a business image within the context of UMBC's university community. The facades beige brick and cast stone panels compliment the surrounding architecture of the research park as well as the adjacent university campus.


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Lily J. Lee, the leading Blasian Family YouTuber from Blasian Family Channel (블라시안 패밀리 채널) is branching out. Lily started the Blasian Family Channel in 2008, and has uploaded nearly 900 videos which in total have been viewed over 6 million times since that time. Her channel which primarily focuses on her Blasian family (Kenyan and South Korean) and their adventures has attracted over 27,000 subscribers, more than any other YouTube channel focused on Blasian family topics, and it is steadily growing.
Now Lily is adding a new component to her channel – Lily's Blasian Dating Show, and it's available to watch now at the link. In this dating show, Lily will set up Asian and Black singles on blind dates and film them as they meet and go out on early dates. It is a really fun show and viewer comments have been overwhelmingly positive with some saying that Lily's Blasian Dating Show is breaking down years of misperceptions and negative stereotypes between Asians and Blacks. It's a really great thing to witness.
Lily's Blasian Dating Show sets up both Black man, Asian woman (BMAW) couples as well as Asian man, Black woman (AMBW) couples. Season one of the show was shot in Korea and so far has shown 3 Blasian couples, Tyrell and Yeowon, Derek and Ariel, and Anthony and Yeowon. Also there are probably another 3 or 4 episodes to come in season one from Korea. We don't want to spill the beans and will let you watch the blind dates on your own, but some of the couples work out better than other couples as you would expect, but all of the couples are interesting and entertaining. It's a really good show!
And now for some really great news! Season 2 of Lily's Blasian Dating Show is being planned as we speak and this time, all of the participants will be from the US. In fact, if you would like to be a part of season 2, you can drop Lily a line at email@example.com. Lily is looking for potential dating participants for season 2 – single Black men, Asian women, Asian men, and Black women, preferably on the east coast in either the greater DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area or the New York city area. She is also looking for behind the scenes people who can help with filming and editing the show, as well as potential advertisers, sponsors, and investors. If you are interested in any of these roles in Season 2 of Lily's Blasian Dating Show, you should run, do not walk, to your email and get in touch with Lily now! Season 2 of Lily's Blasian Dating Show will be bigger and better, so don't miss out!
It is a really beautiful thing to see new Asian and Black couples coming together in such a fun and creative way. Lily's Blasian Dating Show is a trailblazing concept and ABC is happy to be a full supporter of the show. We encourage everyone to share in the excitement!
Go watch Lily's Blasian Dating Show now at this link.
Watch Lily's Blasian Family Channel at this link.
Read ABC's prior interview with Lily at this link.
Contact Lily at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: RallyDriven 398 Posted June 27, 2018 Been playing Autosport today and I forgot how good it was! Shame it was overlooked due to grid 2's failures. The handling was a really good Ballance between sim and arcade, with some decent racing and tracks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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We do things differently. Working across packaging, brand, identity and communications, we use curiosity to create ideas-led solutions for our clients. Doing things differently means seeing commercial challenges as creative opportunities. It means using insight to take a different path, even if it's harder. It means making choices that put the environment first. It means shining the light on greatness, not sameness. But mostly it means making a difference. Work that engages audiences, creates loyalty and drives success for our clients and their communities.
We partner with like-minded innovators, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and corporates in Australasia and worldwide – those who understand the need for a different take on their brand. Over the last decade, we've shared success with many. And many of these partners have become friends. It's how we like to work. If you'd like to do something different, please get in touch with us.
our team
Ryan Marx
Creative & Managing Director
As a designer, Ryan is renowned for brilliant conceptual thinking and strong design craftsmanship, delivering commercial success for clients and collecting a suite of design awards along the way. As business owner and creative director since 2008, Ryan leads the design team - encouraging imagination and bold ideas with precise and pragmatic executions. Ryan has both a local and international perspective, attracting briefs from global brands seeking fresh ideas. Outside of the studio, you'll find Ryan hanging with his family or indulging in some Ryan-time down at the Birkenhead wharf with a beer and a fishing rod.
Janine Bickerton
General Manager
Known for her pragmatic and down-to-earth approach, Janine has honed her skills over 20 years in the design industry. As passionate about great design as getting the job done, Janine contributes strategic thinking with communication, category, consumer and packaging insights to ensure a targeted response is delivered. Encouraging business growth through the delivery of great work and growing the skills of the team are the things she finds most satisfying. In the weekends you'll find Janine with her head in a book or getting creative in the kitchen, indulging her love of food and entertaining friends and family.
Tristan O'Shannessy
Design Director
Having worked with a number of New Zealand's most iconic and celebrated brands, Tristan's design hand can be seen in most Kiwi homes. With over 10 years in all things brand and packaging, he applies experience and strategic thinking to ensure projects are commercially successful, while his creative thinking and flawless finishing have been responsible for a number of awards in New Zealand and abroad. At Marx, he is the warlord of design excellence - no design leaves the studio without scrutiny and a gentle push if improvement is required. In the weekends you'll find Tristan walking the dog with his children or working in his garden.
Helen Chapman
Senior Designer
With over 16 years working across corporate and FMCG, Helen has extensive experience in the development of brands, packaging and advertising. Her skills and expertise create designs that resonate with consumers and she loves working in an industry that excites, engages and influences. Thoughtfulness, accuracy and attention to detail are key skills, delivering designs that are consistent and work hard across all channels. Regular weekends away at the beach with her young family are Helen's happy place.
Michael Barron
Senior Designer
Michael is a hugely talented designer with 8 years experience producing effective and unique work for brands big and small. Michael cut his design teeth at Designworks in Auckland and further honed his skills in London working for a top branding agency. At Marx, Michael works across multiple branding and packaging projects, delivering intelligent, well thought through solutions that are beautifully crafted. In his down time Michael heads north to Motutara Farm to spend time fishing with his family.
Manuel Payán
Senior Designer
Columbian creative Manuel has a global perspective, and after 7 years of creative immersion in New Zealand, a locally integrated approach. With experience across both advertising and design disciplines, Manuel has a portfolio of crafted ideas spanning Brand Identity, Packaging & Comms. Comfortable with diverse briefs from entrepreneurs to established FMCG companies, Manuel's positive can-do attitude delivers enthusiastic results across every project. Outside the studio you'll find him walking his pug Pavarotti, cooking elaborate breakfasts for his wife Renée and shaking his booty at Latin events across Auckland city.
Prudence Marx
Our resident design widow, Prudence lost Ryan to the world of design early in their marriage. Prue met Ryan at design school and it was their mutual ambition to start a business in the belief that great design will deliver a better future. Managing recruitment, finance and HR, Prue takes great care of the team, creating a cohesive, enjoyable and productive environment for both staff and clients. In her spare time, Prue enjoys time with her enormous family and dragging Ryan and their 2 children on adventures.
Anne Macindoe
Senior Production Designer
Anne brings a unique set of skills to the Studio. After 10 years in London working for a prestigious architecture practice, she returned to New Zealand 3 years ago and has been working across both design and advertising disciplines. This has provided her with experience in the development of print, digital, brand identity and packaging. She also has a keen interest in architecture and interior design. Anne is the quintessential Virgo – uber-organised and a perfectionist, which makes her the ideal artworker. Outside of the Studio, Anne can be found playing tennis with friends and planning the next holiday abroad.
Samantha Bulkeley
Senior Account Manager
Samantha has a wide range of experience from FMCG product development & marketing to project, pre-press and print management. With both agency and client side expertise, she fully understands what's required to get the job done smoothly - from strategic planning and managing timelines, through to proof reading and checking all the fine details. An appreciator of good food and wine, Samantha's creative pursuits outside of work include cooking, entertaining, gardening and enjoying her young family.
Rachel Dredge
Account Manager
Rachel's role as Account Manager allows her to do the things she loves the most: talk to people, get things done and learn something new every day. A natural at managing projects, Rachel draws on diverse skills in marketing, photography, studio management and people leadership. Highly organised and capable, she is driven to deliver the very best outcome for our clients. Rachel's other passion are her rescue dogs Izzy and Choc.


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Welcome to Solbakken Camping
Family Festival
Reserve your pitch already now!
The greatest party of the year
Once again, we welcome you to a wonderful Family Festival at Solbakken during calender week 30.
As usual, we will prepare evening meals together from Sunday July 19th to Saturday July 25th.
Food vouchers are sold on the 'Taverna' behind 'Solbiksen' on Saturday July 18th from 16:00 to 17:00. All other days vouchers can be purchased from 11:00 to 12:00. If you buy vouchers for single days, these must be purchased the day before (though not for Sunday, July 19th).
Prices for the entire week are DKK 425,- for adults, DKK 200,- for 12 to 17 year olds. Children under 12 years eat for DKK 100,-.
If you prefer to buy vouchers for individual days, they can be purchased for DKK 80,- for adults and DKK 40,- for 12 - 17 year olds, as well as DKK 20,- for children under 12 years of age.
NOTE: Vouchers for Saturday, July 25th are DKK 100,- for adults and DKK 50,- for 12 - 17 year olds, as well as DKK 25,- for children under 12 years of age.
The menu for each day will be posted on the notice board. The BBQ chef, as always, works hard to get dinner ready by 19:00.
We expect you to buy your beverages in the 'Festival Bar' situated in 'Solgården', which opens every evening at 18:00.
With regard to the activities taking place, please click the individual days in the menu below. The following activities will take place throughout the week: Morning jogs, killer darts, volleyball, petanque, water activities on the Isefjord, including water skiing. Also dinner is prepared communaly every day, and everyone will be assigend chores (preparation, dish washing, cleaning, etc.).
More information can be found on the notice board.
As can be seen from the programme (please click on the individual days below), lots of activities have been planned and more are likely to appear during the week.
We reserve the right to make changes to the programme.
We are looking forward to a really lovely family festival and hope to see you again at Solbakken Camping next year.


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For the first time ever, color authority Pantone has given two colors the honor of color of the year. In 2016, Rose Quartz and Serenity will share the spotlight, serve as go-to trendy shades, and, according to Pantone, "reflect societal movements toward gender equality and fluidity."
Pantone officials describe Rose Quartz "a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure," while "Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times." To the less observant and not-so romantic, they look like pale pink and light blue, respectively. Together, they blend into a mellow lavender.
So actually, that's more like three colors; all of which appear in Drake's "Hotline Bling" video. Which ultimately means that Arizona artist James Turrell was way ahead of the curve on this one.
Regardless of whether Pantone also "fucks with Turrell," offering the option to choose between or blend the two colors is poetic and topical. If only we'd been offered an alternative to 2015's color of the year, the much-contested Marsala, a red-brown-purple-y shade that immediately drew comparisons to period blood. But we digress.
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Interactive? Does it sweat by itself?
No, silly. You wear it like any other t-shirt. It has this barcode that you can read with your iPhone or one of the other smart phones. My Droid Eris has an app for that (Shop Savvy)!
This new QR Code technology will read the code with just the app and your smart phone camera, recognize the code, and then take you to the website embedded in the code!
Quick and easy.
The interactive code for our PCWM t-shirts takes you to the PodCamp wiki page where all the posts, videos and photos have been linked. You can never forget what the link is and how to get there!
The QR Code from the picture above also works with my phone camera!
So, what else is it good for?
Merchants can post the code in their windows to announce a special sale. Passersby with their camera phones can read the QR Code and come into the store prepared!
There likely will be other uses besides these two but that will get us started.
And to think I got my first interactive t-shirt at PodCamp Western MASS 2!
Note: In all my PodCamp experiences, this "one time" ranks amongst the top five. In no particular order, my top five would be:
- CC Chapman and Mitch Joel's session at PodCamp Boston 1
- John Robison's session at PodCamp Western Mass 1
- With Steve Garfield and the gang to do a fire eagle danger day video for Ze Frank
- Introducing John Robison and Chris Brogan at PodCamp Boston 4
- The interactive t-shirt from Podcamp Western Mass 2


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7 inch Singles or Sample Pack
Singles or Samples
I've had a lot of requests for "Singles and/or Samples". Some of us might only have 5 x 10 inch EP's or a handful of 7 inch 45 rpm's in our collection, so why would you want to order 25 sleeves? Or maybe you're just not sure of the quality of my products or if it's right for you? So I created this option.
SINGLES can be added to any regular order that has a MINIMUM of 25 sleeves of another product. For example, you have ordered 25 x single pocket sleeves and you want 5 x 7" dual pocket and 3 x 10" dual pocket. There will be NO ADDITIONAL SHIPPING CHARGES for the singles. There is NO LIMITS on the number of singles that you can add and can be shipped anywhere I currently sell product.
SAMPLES can be ordered by themselves but there are limits and conditions:
No more than 0.7 lbs. to an envelope. This means that you need to add up the weight of your samples and round up to 0.7 lbs. See weights listed below. If you exceed the allowed weight for the shipment, I will email you to determine which items will ship;
Padded envelope size is 15 inches x 10 inches, so 12 inch singles will be folded in half and will arrive with a crease from post office handling;
There is a minimum shipping charge of $15.00 CAD or approx. $11.50 USD;
Samples can only be shipped to Canada and the USA at this point. Any off shore orders will be cancelled.
A 3.5% surcharge will apply to cancel Paypal orders, as they now charge this for refunds.
7 inch product is 0.0256 lbs. per sleeve
10 inch product is 0.488 lbs. per sleeve
12 inch product:
4 mil Dual pockets are 0.0696 lbs. per sleeve
2 mil Dual pocket are 0.036 lbs. per sleeve
4 mil Single pocket are 0.0464 lbs. per sleeve


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So once again International Women's Day has snuck up on me. I always mean to plan ahead for days like this so I have something profound, interesting or inspirational to put up here. Luckily for me, I just happen to be in the middle of reading something from an author who is all three of those things. One who just happens to be a woman, and someone I discovered by purposefully going outside my comfort zone.
A while ago, I released most of the books on my shelves were from white, male writers and that keeping my reading so restricted was going to be limiting my own growth as a writer.
My first step to rectify this was a simple internet search for women writing in horror. From just a quick browse, the name Shirley Jackson kept popping up. And so I picked up her horror story The Haunting of Hill House.
And, as anyone else who has read this book will understand, I was instantly smitten.
I'd don't know any writer who can so expertly craft stories that remain so intimately personal the more the action unfolds. Her protagonists – at least in what I've read so far – feel fleshed out and real beyond most writers. Usually, when we read we don't think about how the characters are just that; characters. As good as they are, we know deep down they are not, and our willing suspension of disbelief allows us to ignore this as long as they fit the story world. But Jackson creates entire characters that you feel you know and understand intimately. The action of the plot may be happening all around them, but all of it is shown through such a focused point of view that it's hard not to feel that we are not literally watching through the character's eyes. Her grasp of the isolation felt only while in the midst of other people is pitch perfect. I don't know any other authors can so deftly express so much about how our lives are constrained by the world and the people around us like Shirley Jackson. If you know of any, please recommend them to me.
I've re-read The Haunting on Hill House several times now. It's a massive influence on my current project. Every time I've been stuck I've used as an opportunity to read it once again, and every time I leave it with fresh ideas and inspiration. It's one of those books that instantly leapt into my all time favourites. I could easily read it over and over without it ever getting dull.
I'm now reading this collection of her short fiction, and with each story I love her work all the more. I've heard so many things about how good The Lottery is, only the quality of the stories before it is stopping me skipping forward and reading it first (it's the last one in the collection). Each story is a snapshot into a world reflected through the eyes of her protagonist. The theme of each one is both simple and complex, a stream running deeper than it appears.
So if you want to mark International Women's Day by reading a kick-ass female writer, and you haven't discovered her already, I can't recommend Shirley Jackson enough.
And so let this be a lesson in the benefits of branching out and trying something outside of your comfort zone. I discovered one of my favourite authors through by recognising that my reading wasn't diverse enough and making the effort to do something about it. Let's ignore the underlying problem of why it wasn't diverse for now, shall we – That's an issue for a different post – and imagine what I still have to discover by just making an effort to try something different?


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|On a recent Saturday the Hideout threw a (free free free) Appreciation Dance Party! for all of the fans that voted for us as "Chicago's Best Dance Party" in a recent issue of the Chicago Reader. To celebrate, we have finally installed a disco ball!
Other "Best Of" winners participated and provided free stuff. These winners included (best coffee) Intelligentsia (best restaurant) Lula Cafe (best wine selection) Cellar Rat (best record label) Bloodshot Records (best record store) Dusty Groove (best tattoo artist) Dawn Grace Russell and (best festival) Pitchfork.
Congrats to all our Pals for being the Best!
Hideout named Chicago's Best Rock Venue and Best Dance Party
Posted on January 9, 2011 by Bill Rousseau
This entry was posted in press and tagged Best, dancing. Bookmark the permalink. Comments are closed, but you can leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
← Previously - Obama congratulations at The Hideout


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SpringServe Partners With Protected Media to Cut Down on Video Ad Fraud and Fake Traffic
Partnership brings prebid and postbid verification to mobile platform
The video ad mavens at SpringServe announced a partnership with the security pros at Protected Media. By bringing "the latest measurement and verification tools" on board, SpringServe hopes to cut down on ad fraud and fake traffic on its programmatic video channels.
A recent report from eMarketer predicted the U.S.'s video ad spend will reach more than $33 million this year and balloon to more than $50 million by 2022. But along with a flood of cash in the CTV and OTT marketplaces, there's been a flood of fraudsters looking to profit, while security experts scramble to adapt.
"The most important platforms in the world of online advertising are connected TV and OTT, and these are places where data science usually falls short," said Protected Media CEO Asaf Greiner. "There's so much diversity in these sources and so little history that it's harder to measure than, say, in desktop."
That's why fraud in desktop has decreased over the years as it has climbed on mobile, Greiner added. And he has the numbers to back it up. A third-quarter study from Pixelate found that 19 percent of worldwide OTT impressions were invalid due in large part to fraud.
To combat that trend, Greiner is beefing up SpringServe's verification process, both before and after an ad is served, to ensure any inventory bought is the real deal. Prebid fraud detection ensures that any scammy inventory is shuttered from the marketplace, while postbid detection gives advertisers insight into where a particular scam might be coming from.
Between the implementation of GDPR and ads.txt, advertisers in the digital space "have gone through a lot of traffic in these past few months," Greiner said. "That puts a lot of stress on them to make a quick dollar, and often, that means committing fraud."
Such fraud, he added, can take many forms—fraudulent publishers, bot-laden traffic and even click-jacking (where a user's clicks are plucked to generate traffic on another publisher's site).
"These guys are actually willing to lose money to keep their platform," Greiner said of SpringServe. "They could have still made bad money from them and gotten a free pass but chose not to. And that's a big deal."


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Field Work
July 17, 2014
College 529 Plans: a Video Primer
In this video, the president of a Boston-area community bank explains the fundamentals of 529 college savings plans, which most state governments offer.
Bob Mahoney recently put both of his daughters through college with money he'd saved in 529 plans. While it can be difficult for many parents to scrape together the money, he said 529 plans provide some hedge in the future against the ever-rising cost of a college education.
Mahoney suggested starting small and contributing, say, $1,000 or $5,000 each year and also asking grandparents to put money into the 529, in lieu of giving toys and other gifts.
As he explains in the video, the advantage is that 529 plans are free of federal and often state taxes on the investment returns earned while the future student is growing up.
One disadvantage is that they require parents to make difficult decisions about how to invest the money they're saving. Mahoney's advice is to avoid high-flying stocks and to approach 529s as one would approach 401(k) investing. And, like 401(k)s, low-fee funds also make sense for 529 plans.


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colour sandy beige
Ref. 559920 | roll size: 13.4 cm x 5 m
Friezes are versatile and can be applied both vertically and horizontally.
Placed near the ceiling or in the middle of your wall, a frieze is ideal to add an extra decorative touch to wallpapers or a painted wall.
Technical information sheet
Coordinates well with
You'll also like
For hanging
Your store's promise


text: Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation October sold out! November tickets on sale now Through May 16, 2021 Welcome back, Boston! See what's on view and our new hours Advance timed-entry tickets required Go to slide 1 Go to slide 2 Play/Pause Today's Hours 10:00 am–5:00 pm Get Tickets Become a Member Art for This Moment Personal responses to the collection Explore MFA Videos Browse exhibition tours, artist interviews, and more Online Events Stream conversations, classes, music, and more Digital Learning For educators, families, and art enthusiasts Extending Your Membership Members are the heart of our community MFA at Google Arts & Culture See online exhibitions and tour collections Search the Collection


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By: Marian Kornilowicz
On June 21, 2012, the Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed the Building Energy Benchmarking Law, Bill No. 120428-A, requiring owners of nonresidential spaces of 50,000 square feet or more to track and report energy and water use. This past summer, the City sent compliance notices to owners/operators of such buildings advising them of the compliance deadline of October 31, 2013 (the original deadline was June 30, 2013.) Owners of buildings that fail to disclose their energy and water data are subject to a $300 fine the first month their data is late, and a $100/day penalty following the initial 30 days.
In short, beginning this month, owners of Philadelphia buildings with 50,000 sq. ft. of indoor space are required to annually submit information relating to energy and water usage to the Mayor's Office of Sustainability (MOS), which will compile and analyze the data and make the results publicly available beginning in about June 2014. Owners must compile and submit their energy and water use data on-line at http://phillybuildingbenchmarking.com/.
For more information, please contact Marian A. Kornilowicz, Chair of the Business Practice Group at email@example.com or 215.564.1700.