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Search results for "dziga-vertov "
Fruit and flowers
Wednesday, 03 August, 2011 - 23:37
Perry Bard is the artist behind Man with a Movie Camera: The Global Remake, a participatory reproduction of Vertov's 1929 original. We are invited to upload video clips of our own which match or interpret, shot for shot, the sequence of the original. The remake allows us to therefore see one, two, three - and more, an infinite number of films called Man with a Movie Camera, the first, the original, placed next to the second, the shot-by-shot crowd-sourced substitute, creates a third film composed of the two engaged in a concurrent dialogue, side by side. The act of montage is no longer only a diachronic suture, stitching two fragments into a meaningful utterance, but also a synchronic relation of each fragment to its reinterpreted counterpart. But a further fragment is always implied: the one you wonder might be waiting on your phone or hard drive, the one you might go out and make now. This putative fragment is just the first of an endless number of presumptive shots you now know are hovering at the edges of possibility, stretching the polygenetic, tesselated sequences out through both dimensions of now and next. If meaning is created through articulation, that is, the joining of pieces, tokens, words, or images moving and still - the basic fact of montage - then the possible expressions of meaning generated by the intertextual adjacency of source, reproduction, reinterpretation and imaginary addition are endless. The myriad thinkable paths all occur somewhere, dispersed in the matrix. The most familiar occurrences are merely those that float in the shallows.
In On the Internet, nobody knows you're a constructivist: Perry Bard's The Man With the Movie Camera: The Global Remake, Seth Feldman examines the interplay between Vertov's original and the participatory remake, and notes that the first significant aspect is the generative promise which Vertov makes for his film, which promise Bard's project fulfills. Seth writes that his thesis is that "Vertov's writing and The Man With the Movie Camera in particular are less historical texts than they are generative forces or perhaps, more accurately, generative grammars for the pure language of cinema that Vertov envisioned." What is the generative grammar that Vertov envisioned? Vertov writes of it in his notebooks, published in 1984.
When The Man with a Movie Camera was made, we looked upon the project this way: in our Michurin garden we raise different kinds of fruit, different kinds of film; why don't we make a film on film-language, the first film without words, which does not require translation into other languages, an international film? And why, on the other hand, don't we try, using that language, to speak of the behaviour of the "living person", the actions, in various situations, of a man with a movie camera? We felt that in so doing we would kill two birds with one stone: we would raise the film-alphabet to the level of an international film-language and also show a person, an ordinary person, not just in snatches, but keep him on the screen throughout the entire film [...]
An experiment's an experiment. There are all kinds of flowers. And each new breed of flower, each newly produced fruit is the result of a series of complex experiments.
We felt that we had an obligation not just to make films for wide consumption but, from time to time, films that beget films as well. Films of this sort do not pass without leaving a trace, for one's self, or for others. They are as essential as a pledge of future victories. [...]
If, in The Man with a Movie Camera it's not the goal but the means that stand out, that is obviously because one of the film's objectives was to acquaint people with those means and not to hide them, as was usually considered mandatory in other films. If one of the film's goals was to acquaint people with the grammar of cinematic means, then to hide that grammar would have been strange.
Dziga Vertov, 1984, Kino-eye: the writings of Dziga Vertov, UCP: Berkeley, pp153-155
The film does not hold up a mirror to the world, but it generates the world. It begets, leaves traces, and pledges future victories. Cinema reveals its grammar to us in order that we may learn it. Fruit and flowers. "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth" (Genesis, 1:11)
The eye of the mannequin
Tuesday, 02 August, 2011 - 22:41
Dziga Vertov's Man with a Movie Camera is, according to the first title frame's final parenthesised subtitle, an "excerpt from a camera operator's diary". It is a re-presentation of the records of the man with his camera, an excavation of an naively created archive - authentic and unspun. The film unfolds reflexively in its very name and subtitle, its title sequence, and its opening scenes which present a cinema theatre filling with spectators, gathering to watch the moving images on the screen.
An orchestra is frozen in time, the camera cutting between individual musicians poised and waiting, in tension with their instruments. Vertov stretches the sequence in time, pausing on the horns and the fingers resting on the valves, the double-bass straightening its player through the bow, the timpani, violin and trombone holding their humans taut as they anticipate the still conductor's movement at the prompt of the rolling of the film. The elongated duration in which the inert players remain motionless, braced for the introductory notes, outlasts the sense of natural time elapsing: life is fixed fast and rigid.
The projector's shutter is shown slowly to open and to begin beaming light, whereupon the conductor brings his orchestra to life: the once motionless musicians now burst and flail over their charges. Although when released the film was accompanied by live music in theatres, and subsequent audiences have enjoyed the film with a variety of audio interpretations as its soundtrack, the film artefact itself is silent, and has an extraordinary effect when viewed without sound. In silence, the orchestra works wildly, and the projector swallows its reel of film noiselessly, before finally the cinematic vision appears: a single numeral '1' is erected into view and we begin moving through a window of a house. The eerie silence augments the distances we travel: we are watching a film-maker watching a film-show. The camera watches the audience watching what the camera has seen.
Some minutes into the film within the film, we see the eyes of a mannequin, peering from a store-window, gazing out on the world. Eyes, windows, camera. The lifeless figures in the windows and the dressed busts, the posed dummies at the sewing-machine or astride a bicycle - even a stuffed dog articulated so as to seem expectant and watchful: all look out at the world, whose alienated form reflects on the inanimate almond shaped bumps painted to look like the organs of sight in a facsimile human face. The camera sees for them: their own images, their view of the streets, the paraphernalia of commerce which surrounds them, the sleeping bodies of the otherwise absent human race.
It is a puppet show in a world of matter with a transcendent intervening cinematic machinery providing an occasionalist vision and sense. An outside force runs through the world, causing actions and events, permitting sense to be made, prompting beings into life: mediating. The world's continued existence is brought about by machinery with a roving eye.


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A cop, a Brit, a deb, a B-school grad, a guy with good hair, and a wisecracking lawyer wrestle with the naked truth about literature and life.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Writer's Workshops
I mentioned last week I would write something about guns but decided I need more time to get all my facts right which is unlike most people on either side of the gun-control argument.
Instead I want to talk about one of my favorite pastimes. No, not football or even sports of any kind. Not TV or alcohol either(but for the record they are still two of my favorite pastimes). I'm not even going to talk about writing, at least not directly. I'm going to talk about teaching. Over the years of cuts several subjects. I was a certified defensive tactics instructor for the state of Florida and enjoyed working with fellow police officers in developing their skills that might save their lives one day. But lately I've been teaching a lot of classes on writing. And surprisingly this has a little bit to do with guns as well.
I enjoy writing, I study writing, I listen to other writers talk about writing and I'm always open to ideas from editors and agents. I also am knew enough to publishing to remember the frustration of rejection upon rejection upon rejection. I found that this makes for any easy connection with many of the participants in the various writing conferences across the country.
Not surprisingly, because my background in a couple of articles I've written on the subject, I am asked to give my demonstration on police tactics frequently. It's a fun class unlike most of the drive panels we've all listened to at Bouchercon or ThrillerFest. People like to see and handle real guns in your dopey redneck like me hop around on stage in tell them what's really said during arrests and what cops look for every time they assess a suspect. I understand why am asked to do this and enjoyed teaching the class but I have been equally successful when I give serious talks on specific elements of writing fiction.
This really came to light about a year ago when I was asked to teach a three-hour marathon workshop on point of view at the South Carolina writers workshop. I had never really looked at the topic with an eye towards teaching not only class but an incredibly long class on the subject. It forced me to think about all the angles and implications the point of view far beyond the commonly discussed aspect of first person versus third person storytelling. Not only was the class a huge hit but it was also one of the most satisfying experiences I've had as a writing instructor.
From September 11 through the thirteenth I will be speaking at the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer's Colorado Gold Writing Conference in Denver Colorado. In addition to the class on realism in writing, which is different than the police tactics class, I will be be Sunday afternoon closing speaker. I generally do not speak from notes because I have been a victim of too many lunchtime talks that dragged on and on as the speaker felt compelled to cover every point he or she had written down. I would look around at the slack faces of my fellow board lunch mates and promised myself I would avoid doing that to anyone else if I were ever in by such an event. So far I think I've avoided the dreaded pointless unending lunch speech. In fact I've been told one of my strongest attributes is my speaking ability although I'm sure many would disagree.
From October 23 through October 25 I will be speaking at the Florida Writers Conference near Orlando. Once again I will be talking about realism in writing as well as a class on weaving Backstory into a novel. Then on Saturday night I will be delivering the keynote speech where I will strive to keep people engaged and interested even if I am forced to fire off a couple rounds into the ceiling.
His most writers realize these conferences rarely pay and can tie up an entire weekend. But I have found over the past few years that they are more than worth the effort. I have met interesting people, encouraged talented writers and and learned quite a bit about the art of writing itself. So I look forward to these events every time they come up on my calendar and if any of you reading this today run into me at a writers conference I will most certainly be in a good mood because I'm doing one of the things I truly love.
Have any of you ever attended a writer's conference? If so what were some of the good and bad points about it?
9 comments:
And everyone in South Carolina at the 3-hour marathon workshop on POV enjoyed themselves too. With the exception of those you singled out to make fun of. Those are the people who will be attending you next weapons workshop.ReplyDelete
- James O. Born8/27/2009 9:47 AM
Not to scare any one off. I make jokes about a select few people in the audience to keep things rolling. Deeby in particular because she's smart, beautiful and had to marry beneath her.ReplyDelete
It's a fun class unlike most of the drive panels we've all listened to a doctor can't were ThrillerFest.ReplyDelete
I have turned this sentence inside out trying to parse your intention and my only conclusion is you've suffered a head wound.
I just hope it won't affect your drinking.
Interesting theory, David. I thought it was a voice-activated software screw up.ReplyDelete
I, too, tried to decode "a fun class unlike most of the drive panels we've all listened to a doctor can't were ThrillerFest."
I think it had something to do with doctors and cantors being boring speakers.
As for Jim's topic, I've spoken at fiction and screenwriting workshops and I've "graded" submissions. I have always felt incompetent to do this and have probably dispensed a lot of faulty information.
I would, however, listen to Jim for three hours...if copious amounts of vodka were on hand.
"It's a fun class unlike most of the drive panels we've all listened to a doctor can't were ThrillerFest."ReplyDelete
My original vote was voice-activated software screw-up, but now I think I prefer to vote for "head wound."
I've done a handful of book conferences and book fairs and they're sort of all over the board. Some speakers can make any subject boring and it's clear that a number of writers take themselves a tad bit too seriously. I generally prefer it when things are kept light and people can make fun of each other.
My favorite exchange was from the Ann Arbor Book Fair and I was moderating the panel of thriller authors. One of them was from Providence and she commented that Rhode Island was the most corrupt state. I asked her if that was the state motto. Tom Grace, sitting next to me, jumped in with, "Yeah, like 'Virginia is for Lovers!'"
All in all, I think it's more fun for everybody if the writers are having fun, too.
- Anonymous8/27/2009 2:15 PM
I have attended two of Jim's classes. They were exceptional and he is a very good teacher.ReplyDelete
It is obvious that he is having as much fun as the students.
- James O. Born8/27/2009 4:52 PM
I'm being taunted by both speech recognition software and Blogger.ReplyDelete
That should read Bouchercon
Thanks for the nice comments on the classes.
Few people appreciate your classes, your loyalty to the writing community or your dedication to the alcoholic enjoyment cohort more than I.
Still, that sentence was whack.
PS Full disclosure: I owe Jim for an invitation to the SC book festival where I met a great many avid readers and a few stalkers.
Please, stop calling here. We have caller ID.

subset: commoncrawl


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May 19th Nobody Loves You When you're Down and Out … ( Maybe there is!)
Reading: Proverbs 19:1-29
In the summer of 1973 one of the most famous, rich and popular men on the planet, John Lennon, wrote "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)". The song is written during a period in which he felt disappointment at the perceived negative reception of his work and was experiencing a separation from wife Yoko Ono. The song reflects his deep feelings of depression and loneliness. I think this song captures some of the feelings chapter 19 (vs 4,6,7). If we are honest, it's often easy to avoid the 'poor' and the 'poor in spirit'.
He writes,
"Nobody loves you when you're down and out
Everyone sees you when you're on cloud nine
Everybody's hustlin' for a buck and a dime
I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine"
"Nobody loves you when you're old and grey
Nobody needs you when you're upside down
Everybody's hollerin' 'bout their own birthday
Everybody loves you when you're six foot in the ground"
People often express surprise that those who 'have it all' get depressed. It's as if there is an unwritten equation in our society that says 'Money' + 'Career' + 'Family' + 'Significance' = 'Happiness'. If one of those is missing then society seems to understand that we can be unhappy and depressed. However, as in the case of John Lennon and many others, we can have all those things and still experience depression and loneliness. The problem with the equation is that it seems to imply that if we work harder to gain those things 'money', 'career' etc., or if we change our circumstances we will be happy. However, depression is much more than a lack in our circumstances. We saw yesterday Solomon write profoundly, " The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?" (Proverbs 18:14).
God never turns away the poor, the broken and the hurting. "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out" (Isaiah 42:3). God didn't just feel sorry for us or sympathise with us, he went much further, his son carried our griefs and pains as well as our sin on the cross. (Isaiah 53:4). Moreover, God invites us to be part of his ministry of reconciliation, Solomon writes "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done." (17).
Jesus says
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour. (Isa 61:1-3 / Luke 4:18-19)
For memorisation
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done." (Proverbs 19:17)
Father, I come to you in my brokenness and ask for your touch, your healing. Lord, use me to comfort with the comfort you have given me. In Jesus name. Amen.
Dear Brother,
The Lord be with you and make God's face to shine upon you and give you peace.
I am Waseem Yousaf from Pakistan. I have studied your web site, and have found it to be one of many wonderful sites offered on the internet which gets to the Truth of the Word of God. As is the case with others whom I have contacted, you have created material which is full of knowledge concerning development of religious faith. Living in Pakistan, we Christians face many obstacles in getting access to God's Word. Most people in Pakistan speak Urdu, and are not capable of understanding the English language. Because of limited access in our native tongue, my people have a true hunger for fresh Christian Perspectives.
Proficient in both English and my native languages, I would like to offer my services as translator to you. Presenting your material in both Urdu and Punjabi would be a true blessing to the Pakistani and Indian people. For a nominal fee, I will enable you to bring the message of Salvation to a most deserving people.
Blessing you in advance for your consideration,
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
In Him,
Waseem Yousaf
A quote in my diary this week by an unknown author says "In a world full of people that couldn't care less, be someone who couldn't care more." I pray I might be a person like that.
"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out" (Isaiah 42:3). This was in my reading today, and reminded me particularly of a time in life when my spirit was heavily "bruised" over a long period. Deep emotional wounding takes as much time to heal as any physical injury – that's what a lot of people who haven't experienced it tend to forget when dealing with others. Its Mental Health Awareness Month, and the fact that God deals so gently with us when we suffer bruising to our spirits whether on a regular or occasional basis, lifts us to believe He will always be there for us – when when it may not feel like it. Faith, not feeling!
We so need to be people of compassion. Compassion means suffering with. It doesn't mean we become ineffective and hopeless but rather we are willing to enter into the sufferings of others in order to understand and bring comfort and hope. We need to be the opposite to the words in Lennon's song. We need to be the people who are there when folks are down and out, depressed, suffering, poor, sick.
Mother Teresa said 'The worst disease is being nobody to anybody.'
Today, Lord, help me to be compassionate to someone who feels like no-one cares.
I think there may be a difference between depression on the one hand and mourning, oppression, being broken and dismayed on the other. There is a proverb which declares "The heart laughs and is sad." We may have the whole world collapsing around us but our heart is protected by the Lord's supernatural joy.
John Lennon's heart as displayed in his poem is full of self pity with no inkling of joy – he was certainly depressed.
I have met scores of folk over the years who are depressed, and many I have asked the direct question, "Do you feel sorry for yourself." Without exception they have answered, "Yes!"
Let the joy of the Holy Spirit rule in your heart and not self pity.
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Sweet Chilli Sauce Recipe
Here's the perfect recipe if you feel like adding a boost of flavour and a touch of warmth to your meals. A purely delicious and healthy sweet chilli sauce that you can make in about 5 minutes. The sauce adds a little punch to tomato soup, your next chilli con carne, pan roasted salmon or organic poached chicken. It also marries perfectly with my earth burgers and cinnamon roasted sweet potato and a side of thick natural yoghurt.
I often like to vary my chilli sauce and it really depends on the style of cuisine I'm cooking, as well as what I have in the fridge at the time. Most of the time I love to scent my sauce with lime and chilli then sweeten with a few fresh pitted dates. Apple cider vinegar or a touch of lemon is also great if you don't have lime and your fresh dates can be replaced with a little pomegranate molasses or organic honey or maple syrup. Aromatics such as fresh ginger are wonderful and for an extra touch of anti-inflammatory benefit, I sometime add a hint of turmeric.
What's good about it?
Chillies are a great source of beta-carotene which is an antioxidant and precursor to vitamin A, helping to promote vision and support reproduction, growth as well as a healthy immune system. It can raise your metabolic rate, increasing energy expenditure and metabolic rate. Studies have shown that chilli consumption can help control and reduce insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels) often associated with type 2 diabetes. Other great benefits are that chilli can help stimulate digestion and help with gastrointestinal orders and also work as an anti-inflammatory helping to reduce symptoms of arthritis. Red capsicum (bell peppers) are low in fat, carbs and calories and high in antioxidants such as beta-carotene a precursor to vitamin A, helping to promote vision and support a healthy immune system.. Black pepper contains an active ingredient called piperline that is known to enhance digestion and work as an anti-inflammatory.
1 long red chilli, deseeded and chopped
2 red capsicum, seeded and chopped
1 cm piece fresh grated ginger
4 fresh pitted dates
1 lime (see notes)
pinch of sea salt
generous pinch of black pepper
Combine chilli, capsicum, ginger, dates, lime, sea salt and pepper into a high-performance blender like a Vitamix.
Blend for 15 – 30 seconds until smooth.
Pour into a glass jar store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Delight your taste buds and enjoy over your favourite dishes.
Optional extras:
1 clove smashed garlic
1 cm piece fresh turmeric
Nutritional info: Per 25 g serve (2 tablespoons)
Protein: 0.4 g
Total fat: 0 g
Saturated: 0 g
Carbs: 2.4 g
Sugars: 2.3 g
Fibre: 0.5 g
kilojoules: 47
Calories: 11.4
Add extra chilli for an extra hot sauce.
Lime can be swapped with 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Also, check out my XO chilli sauce.
Serving Suggestions:
Add 1 – 2 teaspoons of chilli sauce to any stir-fry
Smear 1 teaspoon sweet chilli sauce over an organic egg or egg white omelette and top with fresh coriander, avocado and lime.
Serve with my Healthy Chicken Burger, Poached Salmon or stir through Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables .
– See more at: https://www.thehealthychef.com/2013/06/sweet-chili-sauce/#sthash.O7ZcQUAC.dpuf


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People often underestimate the importance of attitude when it comes to how it affects our everyday lives. Even though you may not realize it, your attitude can be projected towards others before you even open your mouth to say anything. Our attitudes consist of more than just our words. Body language and facial expressions convey our attitudes as well. It took me a long time
What Are Positive Affirmations
Having a positive outlook can open up so many doors for us. However, sometimes it's hard for us to get past our self-doubt or fears to see what is waiting for us on the other side. That's where positive affirmations come in. You're probably wondering, what are positive affirmations or do positive affirmations work? Put simply, positive affirmations are statements that we declare, or affirm,


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About us
Visitec is a distributor for safety- and high visibility products for the machine tool industry and users. Visitec offers the world leader in Spin Windows, Visiport® by T2K which provides a clear sighting into your machine tool.
The laminated protective window protects the worker and is also necessary for a long term visibility into your machine tool. With Visitec you have chosen the right partner, as we sincerely help you to find the best, individual and innovative solution to keep your machine tool running.


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Bring along your Style Guide for others to see.
What are they for? What should they contain? What should they not contain? We will tackle these and many more questions about Style Guides.
Bring paper copies or a copy on a memory stick. Talk us through your guide and the rest of us will ask questions and make suggestions. The idea is to build up a consensus and not to run down or score points. We are keeping it friendly.
Get the right ticket
If you have a guide to offer please choose the "I'm bringing mine" ticket.
If you just want to join in choose the "No guide to offer" ticket.
The event is free and open to anyone interested in technical communication such as technical authors, information architects, internal communication professionals, report writers, marketing writers, web content writers, graphic designers and Illustrators.
All are welcome ISTC members or not.


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Attract daily visitors and travelers alike with a familiar, welcoming exterior style. Our wide variety of textures and finishes give you the flexibility to create a design that customers love and consistently choose.
Consistency is key for restaurant success. Our vast catalog of looks and styles helps you create a coherent brand identity and an appealing ambiance for experiences that will keep guests coming back again and again.
From elevated elegance to relaxed comfort, Nichiha styles help you create familiar, consistent designs that make guests feel at home, no matter where their travels take them.
Buyer trust begins at the door. Let Nichiha's variety of textures and finishes help you create an exterior facade that reflects your brand's principles and sparks consumer interest.


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Heidi Klum Collection
In 2004 Heidi Klum formed an exclusive partnership with Birkenstock. Heidi styled a limited edition of sandals, clogs, and boots inspired by the wild animals of Africa. They merged her expertise from the fashion world with Birkenstock's commitment to health and comfort.
The Heidi Klum Collection is no longer available, but her design influence continues to exert influence. Follow the link below for fashionable Birkenstock styles


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Springkite session in San Francisco by Ideami
Another edition of the creativity and innovation Springkite workshop took place in San Francisco in July. Javier ideami took the dreamers of Imagine Creativity Center on a wild journey through 7 modules targeting all their senses, helping them balance analytical and creative thinking processes by combining unique technology tools built by ideami and different exercises and strategies.
Participants worked on real challenges related to their current jobs or new ones they selected. After each module some of the new insights and results were shared with the group. The event included the SK presentation system developed by ideami which allows him to control videos and sounds in different ways to activate exercises and activities at will.
All in all a fun and intensive day that helped participants discover new ways to empower their creative thinking as well as balance their analytic and creative thinking processes in order to increase their general productivity and efficiency.


text: SODECO Construction is a general contracting, project management and interior design firm operating in the greater Montreal area. We specialize in complex construction projects where the Facility's production processes or the project's intricate designs are at the heart of that complexity. Whether your project is a food production facility, a precast concrete plant, a high-end office for your company or a residential project requiring noble materials and top quality workmanship, we pride ourselves in managing the project's complexities while building with quality, integrity and results!


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Washington Post
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - President Barack Obama offered a plan Friday to reduce the costs of higher education by increasing the amount of federal grant money available in low-interest loans and tying it directly to colleges' ability to reduce tuition.
In an impassioned speech before 4,000 students at the University of Michigan, Obama delivered an election-year pitch to the type of youthful audience that buoyed his 2008 campaign, saying his administration was putting colleges "on notice" that they must rein in soaring prices.
"You can't assume you'll just jack up tuition every single year," Obama said to cheers at Glick Field House, the school's indoor football facility. "If you can't stop tuition going up, your funding from taxpayers will go down. We should push colleges to do better; we should hold them accountable if they don't."
Obama's proposal would significantly boost federal investment in the Perkins loan program from $1 billion to $8 billion and revamp the formula for distributing the money. Under the plan, colleges would be rewarded based on their success in offering relatively lower tuition prices, providing value and serving low-income students, the White House said.
The administration also is proposing to provide $1 billion in aid to states that curb higher education costs and to create a competition that provides $55 million in startup funding for higher education institutions to pursue innovation to boost productivity.
Most of the plan would require congressional approval, however, and Republicans have objected to adding expensive new proposals at a time of spiraling national debt. White House officials said the Perkins loan portion of the president's plan would not cost taxpayers additional dollars because students pay off the aid money with interest.
Obama's appearance in Ann Arbor was the final stop of a three-day tour of five battleground states that aimed to build public support for the goal laid out in his State of the Union address this week of building an economy that offers more equity and opportunity for the middle class.
That message will frame the president's re-election argument, and his focus on taming higher education costs echoes one of the central concerns of the Occupy Wall Street protests over the past year.


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This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.
What generates the message "Connecting To 22.214.171.124.." and how can I stop this "thing" from slowing down my WEB response times ????
This problem started in January 2011. I have an AT&T 3G wireless connection to the INTERNET. Response time had always been amazing with the 3G and Firefox. Starting one day in January I started having long delays with every website, page, etc., etc. that I accessed. The message "Connecting To 126.96.36.199..." appeared with everything I did.
All Replies (1)
The "connecting to 126.96.36.199" is an HTML code-snippet that AT&T is injecting in to HTML pages that calls a javascript image accelerator (presumably hitting some AT&T cache) sitting on the server with the IP address "22.214.171.124". They're doing this to improve image quality/download speed on mobiles, but given this is a firefox forum I'm willing to bet the "34 people" that have this problem as well are using their AT&T 3G connection for internet tethering.
To confirm this, navigate to one of these slow pages in firefox and use the menus to find: View ==> Page Source You should see right at the top something like:
< script src="http://126.96.36.199/bmi-int-js/bmi.js" language="javascript">< /script>
Given you're on a laptop, you probably don't want this image shrinking service so you need to block access the site "184.108.40.206". I'm sure you use to be able to block access to certain sites in the admin tool widget on FF5 but I couldn't find it anywhere. I installed a FF add-on called "blocksite" and told it to block "126.96.36.199". I noticed a significant improvement.
I actually had this problem on the UK telco O2 as well so it isn't just AT&T that is doing it.


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The Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival is an annual, spring event to celebrate the beautiful display of wildflowers on the Sunshine Coast.
The Wildflower Festival was born in 1967 by Kathleen McArthur, an artist, author, environmentalist and founding member of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland. Since its humble beginnings the Festival has grown each year with the support of local community groups hosting activities.
This year Coast Care will be hosting three walks with Rosa sharing her expertise at the Keith Royal Park walk on the 24th August; Mark leading his annual walk again at Coolum Beach West on Saturday morning 1st August, which is sure to delight and Tony leading another walk later on in the day at Marcoola, not to be missed!
The Wildflower Festival provides free, public guided walks and activities across the Sunshine Coast. From Bribie Island to Noosa National Park people can immerse themselves in nature. Discover the diversity of native, flowering plants in our local environment.
2018 Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival
The Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival will run from 19 August – 2 September 2018.
For more information about the 2018 Festival, view the Festival program[2204KB]and visit the events website.
Bookings are essential for each activity.


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As a global energy and environment company, Enzen wished to create a unique and vibrant work environment to enhance staff morale, positively influence visitors and promote a sense of pride and belonging.
Our designers, production and account management teams came up with a bespoke solution that involved all aspects of office design: from carefully adapted space planning taking into account future growth, to a full turnkey design and fit out plan. The result? A stunning office space with on brand features that will allow the company to grow and flourish for years to come.


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- WiFi
- Car park
- Air conditioning
- Rural
- Accessible
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This family-run Hotel Neuthor offers views of the ancient town wall with its half-timbered houses and features soundproofed rooms with a seating area, and varied breakfast buffets. Ulm Train Station and Ulm Cathedral are 1640 feet away. The nonsmoking Hotel Neuthor features contemporary-style rooms with a desk, telephone and flat-screen TV. WiFi access is also available free of charge in every room. All rooms are provided with a safe. Guests can start the day with a varied buffet breakfast. The cathedral and the historic old town are in a 10-minute walk from the hotel. The Congress-Centrum Ulm Exhibition Center is 0.6 mi away. A public underground parking (for vehicles of up to two yards high) is available near the Neuthor, 230 ft away. The A8 motorway is 3.1 mi away.


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"She used to sing musical theater loud in the grocery store," said Scott, when we and the other people in our foster parent training were talking about what sort of strategies we might use to address public tantrums.
"I did?" I asked.
"Don't you remember that?" he seemed shocked.
"Oh yeah, I did, didn't I?"
How could I have possibly forgotten about the singing? That was the best idea I ever had! I didn't make it up -- it was an amalgam of advice from mommy bloggers and late night phone calls to old friends. But it was, indeed, a great strategy. How had I forgotten it completely? My memories of those first few years with my now-7-year-old son, Tariku, adopted from Ethiopia after a history of significant trauma, are peppered with strange blank spots -- probably the result of the combined trauma of what we as a family went through.
But when he mentioned it, it all came flooding back. So, in case it might be useful to anyone, I thought I'd share it...
Between 18 months and about 4 years, Tariku had alarming tantrums that would pitch him backward into some vortex of primal fear. Ten times a day, he would wail and thrash and bite and hit, inevitably at the most inconvenient times: At Target, the movies, the mall, Disneyland (admittedly, I often feel the same way there). At first, it was really embarrassing. Then I stopped caring what other people thought. After that it was just exhausting, and often left me hopeless and despairing at the end of the day.
We even had the police called on us. I'll never forget the day a police officer showed up at my front door because someone had reported our license plate as a potential kidnapping from the pony rides at Griffith Park.
Extreme problems sometimes demand extreme measures...
Sometimes, if I could catch the tantrum while the wave was just starting to roll to shore, I found I could short-circuit it. At the first flicker of trouble, I would break into a chorus of "That's Entertainment." And nothing, I mean nothing, will stop a child in his tracks and have him begging for you to stop quite like a time step in the produce section.
Except the big trick was, I would make up my own words and they would go something like this (everybody now, to the tune of "Oklahoma"):
I love you! I will always love you! There is nothing you can do to make me not love you! I don't care if you bite me every day for the rest of your life, I will still love you! I don't care if you hate me, I still love you! Oh boy, you're being a big pain right now, but guess what? I love you! I love you I love you I love you!
You get the idea. This tool is useful even if you don't have an extreme situation, and really just want to head off some whining at the pass.
Now, once in a while, when I get an, "I hate you!" I'll respond, "I love you!" in musical theater voice.
And if I really want to annoy him when he's ordering me around, I'll resort to talking in a cockney accent and calling him the "Little Lord."
"Would the Little Lord like some ketchup with his corn dog?"
Wow, does he ever hate that! He'll start saying "please" so fast it'll make your head spin!
Which is all to say...
Sometimes, we have to throw a wrench into the habitual, negative patterns our brains can fall into. For us, often, playfulness is not just the best option, it's the only option -- unless I want to lock horns with my child and get caught in an unwinnable power struggle. Sometimes we all need to step outside our comfort zones, of our ideas of what is right and wrong and how we should all be behaving.
Sometimes you just have to sing "I love you" to the tune of "Some Enchanted Evening" until there's nothing left to do but laugh your ass off.


text: About Me Michelle Umlauf I love to do all types of sewing, creating and embellishing. As a National Educator representing Sulky of America, I get to travel all across the country and share my passion with people just like you. It is "sew" much fun AND, it doesn't feel like work at all! In fact, I also host the Sewing Online with Sulky (S.O.S) webinars and get to come to you, no matter where you are in the world! To watch some of the past webinar, click here. When I meet new people, I am often asked what do you like to sew, and I tell them that I don't have a favorite, because as a sewer, I make anything I want when the inspiration hits me. I must admit, there are two things that top my list and that is free motion sewing and machine embroidery. Another question I am asked is if I was a home economics major and how long have I been sewing. No, I did not major in home economics. I have an A.A. as a Paralegal and a B.S. in Psychology. Many people are surprised when I tell them that I was a tomboy growing up. My mother could not get me to stay indoors and sit still long enough to teach me how to sew. I don't remember her wanting to teach me, but she said she did. We'll have to take her word for it, because Mommy is always right! The sewing bug hit me about ten years ago. I know, I was a late bloomer. I immediately fell in love with it and the people I met. I knew that I could teach sewing and I want to make a difference. It's sew rewarding to see the big, bright smiles on a student's face. I had some fantastic mentors along way. Because of them, they instilled some values with me that I'll share with you. I want to share with people how easy it is to sew. After all, if I can do it ANYONE can do it. I want sewing to be convenient for everyone, especially the ones who are in school or at work during the day. Why is it that all the cool classes are offered during the day, or at the end of the day. Lastly, it doesn't matter what brand machine you have, how old it is, or how inexpensive it was. As long as it is in good working order it is perfect for where you are now. On a personal note, I also get asked about my pink hair. I decided to go pink at the end of 2015. It is the best thing I have ever done for my sewing career. Why? Because people remember me, know who I am when they see me and can't forget about me. It has even brought me some opportunities that I'm not ready to reveal yet because they are still in the works. I receive so many compliments my hair, but the best ones are how people say they love the color and it makes them happy! Then to see the smile on their face is priceless. I live in the mountains in the most western part of Maryland with my husband, our two German Shepherds, Heidi and Zero, and two rescue kitties, Chai Kitty and MagiKat! Almost everyday, including the rainy and snowy days, I take the kids (that's what I call the dogs) for a walk through open fields and woods. It's a great way to start my day or clear my head, get some exercise and spend some quality time with kids. Almost every walk is an adventure. There is always something beautiful to see or a wildlife sighting. I know what about the kitty cats…well, they are indoor kitties, but they have gazebos where they can spend time in a safe place outside and enjoy the birds and bugs! Do you see the butterfly on the roof of her gazebo? 2016 came in crazy busy! I'm glad things slowed down, but the year is going out the same way that it came in. We received short notice that we will be moving towards the end of the year. Our house is on the market and I had to consolidate my sewing room to just one room in the house. So, if I become quiet, it's not because I forgot. I'm either traveling for work and one pleasure trip or busy with this move. I'm so happy that our new home is on top of a mountain!


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text: Give you pet an adventure with this cardboard photo booth. Let your pet explore the photo booth box and turn into a superhero or Viking when they stick their head through a particular hole. See your pet move from adventure to adventure. Makes for great photos and a good laugh. Suitable for cats and small dogs. The cube measures 315x315mm (approx 12.5 x 12.5xin).


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Courses labelled as tbd are placeholders for future development. We encourage you to submit your comments, proposals for syllabi and details of your ideas about these courses.
What do the GSA (and VA/Wisconsin/et al) BIM requirements mean to me?
Using contingencies to control costs
Project cost management
Project cost management is one area where you can make major improvements to your projects.
This approach uses a cost model as a financial planning tool to help you to understand project cost constraints. In a process similar to the program estimating support used by agency construction managers, you create a cost model for the project. When used collaboratively, cost models are highly effective tools for controlling project outcomes. The goal is to create a model, which includes cost placeholders for all anticipated costs in the project. The cost model then becomes the objective measure of financial success for the project.
At the outset of a project, it is unnecessarily expensive to negotiate costs that encompass every conceivable service that might be required as the project proceeds. The best solution is to carry contingency funds. This gives you more flexibility to make changes without renegotiating or amending contracts. Changes such as revising the project scope, amending prior decisions, providing updated information, extended schedules, expanding services, or adding additional consultants become easier to handle when managed within a budgeted contingency. By streamlining the need to negotiate additional costs, you minimize the need for uncomfortable situations that can jeopardize the owner's relationships with the team.
It is difficult to determine ahead of time the precise scope of every item in the project. In simplest terms, the goal for any cost management program is to eliminate (or at least minimize) uncertainty. Completely removing uncertainty is not possible, so you establish contingencies. The contingency is not the only tool that you use to manage costs. Management of the costs in any project relies on many other factors to help prevent costly changes:
The project needs to start with a realistic schedule. When there is schedule uncertainty or an extended schedule, there are always added costs.
The project should include a comprehensive programming effort. Understand the design before proceeding into the production phases. A clear design and clear communication of the design is the owners best tool for controlling embedded 'fudge-factors' in bids.
By their very nature, documents will contain some errors and omissions. Producing a perfect set of drawings and specifications has yet to occur. No human has yet achieved perfection, no matter how skilled or how high of a fee it is paid.
Current site surveys and soils reports should be in-hand.
Financing terms should be locked-in or a separate allowance for added costs should be included.
In order to manage these and many other factors, contingencies are included in the cost model. The contingencies are established using professional judgment and historical precedent. They cover some changes, not every conceivable one.
Managing additional costs for legitimate changes must be as easy as possible. Confrontation costs money. With institutional owners, the contingency eliminates the need to obtain repetitive formal approvals―a huge barrier for many project managers―since you have already encumbered the funding. Including contingency funds in your project budget, is a far better way to manage costs than taking the adversarial approach. In the final analysis, a contingency fund will help you to receive a better product and avoid needless headaches and legal wrangling.
Sustainability and green
It seems like everyone is talking about sustainability and green – green cars, green architecture and green appliances. Everyone wants to be sure that we leave the world a better place for our children and grandchildren.
Talk about green is cheap. What we really need is action. Building industry is inefficient and wastes too many resources. Only 10 cents of every dollar spent on construction adds value. 33 cents is spent on support. And, a whopping 57 cents is wasted.
Other industries have fixed this problem. For example, today we get 62 cents of value out of every dollar we spend on manufacturing. We have to plan better and be more accurate.
The way that we have been designing, constructing and operating buildings is in crisis. The reason is that over budget, inefficient and error-ridden projects have become the norm. Problems in the construction industry hurt the economy. Just look at the impact that the lending crisis is having.
The building industry is working to cut $200 billion of waste by 2020. Without these cuts, prices will continue to increase and our energy problem will get much worse in the next few years.
BIM stands for building information modeling. BIM is the approach that is making these changes happen. BIM touches every part of our world – from the first idea and right into day-to-day life.
- BIM lets us understand costs, time and money from the beginning of projects.
- BIM eliminates wasted resources, wasted effort and wasted money.
- With BIM we improve in big ways that save big money.
- BIM makes big savings possible.
- Without BIM we make small adjustments, like changing to energy efficient light bulbs.
- With BIM we improve in big ways that save big money.
Over budget, inefficient and error-ridden projects have become the norm. I couldn't stop wondering how we could be getting so little for so much. As I looked into it, I started to see the same things happening over and over – good projects were over budget, finishing late and all had big problems.
We need to find solutions.
As an architect, I am a little obsessed about these subjects. In fact, I got a little obsessed about finding solutions these problems. I wrote BIG BIM little bim to show how to use today's technology to plan better, so that we can know ahead of time where we are going.
We need new school of thinking that's based on sustainability and zero-waste.
I spent 10 years researching and tracking how owners, architects and builders work and how they can change to do a better job.
We really need to chuck the old-school 'throw-away' mindset. Some say that it is unrealistic and idealistic – 'It can't happen, you are dreaming'. But I say that the ones who are unrealistic are those that want to continue with the old path – that's dreaming. The old way just doesn't work anymore.
The old way didn't just happen. It was the work of generations of smart people. These people solved the problems that they faced. Today, the problems are different. Resources are much more limited. So we need to solve new problems. That's what BIG BIM little bim is all about.
Overview of the National BIM Standard
Simple, concise standards
Today, much of the energy associated with BIM goes toward developing standards for the future. Some ask—"Who really follows complex standards?"
Anecdotally, projects that attempt to follow standards are large, complex, high gross fee, high-gross-project-cost, government-funded ones. Yet, these projects make up a small part of the total U.S. construction market, even though they are often high-visibility projects.
There is a strong case for simple and concise standards. Without such standards, BIM might always be marginal technology and might never achieve its potential.
There are groups working to create a National Building Information Model Standard (NBIMS) that will act for BIM as the National CADD Standard (NCS) has acted for flat CADD. Depending on your clientele, you may never need to focus on NBIMS. NBIMS will be embedded in some bim solutions. Over time NBIMS will likely be one of the many things that just happen with any bim solution.
Standards are often not enforced. When a standard is not enforced, it becomes more of an impediment than it enables productive and focused work. This course is about doing BIM every day. It is about simple BIM. For BIM to be used successfully your standards must be simple.
If you want people to follow your standards, they must be simple.
Many of the highly developed standards intending to control the flat CAD production environment focus entirely on specific applications. Using them, in most cases, adds little to a BIM workflow. When you move to a bim solution, you can usually abandon them without penalizing your work product.
Offices wrote CAD standards with worthy goals in mind. However they tend toward complexity. They tend toward hundreds of layers, pen tables and proscriptive requirements. They make navigation and understanding difficult. You cannot impose systems that worked for one specific instance on all instances. They are inflexible. They are by their nature impediments to change.
An integrated process using BIM must be flexible and allow for easy transitions between projects, tasks and people. It needs everyone to understand, without a data table or rule course. It needs common and understandable names. When you start, define only a small handful of attributes. After completing several projects, look at them and throw away everything that was not essential. From what is left, you might have a BIM standard for your office.
What could go wrong?
Understanding the past can keep you from making the same mistakes or doing the same work twice. With today's technology, you can create a more sustainable, interconnected environment, and profit in the process. Using tools and processes that eliminate repetition while maximizing the efficiency of your clients' facilities and operations, you become more valuable.
As you have read this course, you have explored the threads from the past that inform integrated practice. Alvin Toffler helped us to understand that "you cannot run society on data and computers alone." Buckminster Fuller's ideas still ring true. We really can "do more with less."
Many of the concepts that have driven change in our world came from their vision.
Our understanding of their concepts has matured. However, successfully achieving their vision requires more than buying a new piece of software. Finding the right tools and adapting your way of doing business is critical to prosperity in this environment.
The way you design your practice will depend on how your business looks now and where you want it to go. You have looked at changing perceptions and explored how to design your practice to integrate with building information modeling and an information-rich process.
Every drafting room of the 1970s seemed to have a curmudgeon.
It was his (they were all male) job to keep everyone on task. His desk was usually at the back of the open studio (the studio had to be open, because that was the latest innovation).
From this lofty perch he could spot the malingerer and that worst of all offenders—the Pouche'r.
This villain was responsible for lost profits, delayed drawings and the firm's general inability to deliver and make money.
Although always exaggerated, this characterization has been common. It is very likely that over-drawing and excessive detailing have been a problem since the days of the medieval master builder.
Step forward to today. The drafting room of 2007 is different. There are no drafting tables. The standard tools of the 1970s are museum pieces. Now, if you have a fast laptop or a flat screen monitor, a fast computer, a mouse and an iPhone, everyone should get out of your way.
You have the world at your fingertips. You can do it all.
Because of this power, we offer several cautions before you proceed with your exploration:
Sell the benefits
Architects face many dilemmas. They dream of designing the ultimate project. They strive for perfection. They work to stay ahead of the curve, because everyone else passes them if they do not grow.
They react by holding their cards close. They become afraid to take risks. Then they run risks by openly sharing their concepts and innovations.
Architects fear for their intellectual property, with good reason, since society puts everything that architects value on the line. When something goes wrong, their approach makes them an easy target. Architects have a lot to lose. Fortunately, integrated practice offers the solution.
It also offers confusion.
The complexity of the whole information modeling issue makes it easy for people to blow smoke—making it hard for good people to understand what is really happening. Bad information makes it hard for an owner to request what he or she wants and needs. It makes it even harder for an architect to figure out the best approach. This confusion results in people continuing to work the traditional way—even though it is not as successful as it should be.
You can step in and do the right thing. You can make the benefits happen for your firm. You do not have to tell the world about it, you just have to do it. If you sell the benefits, forget the technology and give your clients a great product, they will buy into it. They usually do not want to know why or how. That is why we created Integrated practice.
You will find that selling the technology is not a winning strategy. When you sell the benefits of what you can do that others cannot, your win rate goes up.
Risk selling an integrated process without telling people how the technology works. When you prove to them that they can see their project earlier, can make better decisions earlier, and can be more certain about the outcomes, they will buy into the concept. They want the benefits; they do not care how you achieve them.
When you try to explain what BIM is, people's eyes glaze over, because it is not important to them yet. It is too complicated. Why waste energy explaining what it is? Just do it!
Beware nouveau BIM experts
Recently I attended a presentation by a firm that is supposedly a "BIM Leader" with 300 employees. A principal and the firm's CIO gave the presentation. Between them, they made at least five glaring theoretical errors. Obviously, vendors had planted the messages to further their position. They use the software, but that is all.
Today I read letters to the editor resulting from a recent BIM article in a major architectural journal. Almost all were application centric. Universally they reinforced the notion "Since application x is not able to do it now it is not possible. So why are we raising everyone's expectations?"
Owners have changed before
Owners of facilities have spent a lot of money to implement new technologies over the past thirty years. Typically, they threw away old systems and started over every time a new system or approach became the standard. Each time this happened, they had to bear the costs to resurvey, re-input and replace their entire system. The monetary costs were significant. They lost inertia, resources, and information. Alternatively, they ended up with halfway implementations and ongoing usability problems.
For owners, the information-driven approach represented by BIM and process integration may be the ultimate step in moving away from the "throw it away and start over" approach. It is a practical way for them to reuse their information over the life of their facilities. With interoperable processes, they can reuse their information rather than recreating it every time a new system comes along.
The goal is to find a long-term solution that moves away from the cycle of starting anew each time a new technology develops. With BIM, you maintain data in standardized and shareable formats that can be software neutral. Whatever new technology is developed can read and manipulate the data. That is why standards such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) are so important. Rather than starting over, you move to a cycle of reading a data file archived in an interoperable format.
Data interoperability does not solve the problem by itself. If tomorrow we woke up and every software product on the market could magically "talk to and understand" every other product, the problem would not go away. This is because in most people's experience, the problem revolves around archiving and recovery of information.
How often have you tried to open a file from version—X of your current software, only to find that you cannot open it with the latest version—Y? How many times have you found the floppy disk with the specification for a job you completed 5 years ago, to find that none of your machines have floppy drives? How many times have you tried to access a CD-ROM burned six years ago and found that it was unreadable? These are the day-to-day issues that often overshadow concerns of interoperability.
I hope that model servers with redundant backup will resolve some of these problems. In the meantime, your system should include strategies for keeping your archived data in usable condition. Otherwise, what good is it?
A tale of 8 steps
The changes that occurred in the production and archiving of construction documentation is one example:
Owners historically archived ink on vellum and pencil on paper. When they needed data someone searched through the files and field verified their "paper" records—the time-tested approach;
They then moved to plastic lead on Mylar media. This change had minimal costs, since nothing much changed for the owners. In fact, this medium improved owners' archival abilities;
Then pin-bar compositing systems were developed, ushering in what would later become complex CADD layer conventions and creating major archival difficulties;
Then large owners invested in CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) on mainframes. Each station cost a lot of money and the technology that fostered this change was so new that few gave thought to the realities of archival data. Much data was lost due to format incompatibility and tape drives that quickly became obsolete;
Then the standard moved to CADD (Computer Aided Drafting and Design) on minicomputers. Archived data continued to be lost to software revisions and format incompatibility, floppy disks and Winchester drives;
More recently, the standard became personal-computer-based 2D CADD. Archived data continued to be lost due to lack of interoperability, complexity of standards and lack of long-term storage media. File systems became so complex and hardware dependent that it became difficult to access archives quickly;
Then a few owners moved to 3D CADD on laptops. Data is not database driven, not intelligent, usually not interoperable and does not comply with a single standard;
And now to BIM and integrated processes
Owners demand change
The traditional project delivery process is fraught with lack of cooperation and poor information sharing.
Studies suggest that owners experience project schedule and cost overruns on 85% of all projects. Owners can no longer rely on the traditional checks and balances in the construction industry to assure outcomes, because the industry is too disruptive and undependable.
You can lay part of the problem on retiring baby boomers causing a brain drain. Everyone is losing seasoned staff at a rapid pace. Throughout the construction industry, knowledge resources are lost as experienced people retire. Every year it becomes more difficult to hire experienced, senior staff. Some surveys predict that 50% of all senior managers will retire in the next ten years.
The loss of knowledgeable workers, inefficiency and lack of coordinated workflows plague the entire construction industry.
As architects lose experienced people, the tendency has been to rely on task-based automation to correct the problems. The errors caused by the lack of senior staff and other problems worsen as architects do not find effective ways to capture knowledge and make it available to the next generation. Even today, other professionals are starting to do many of the tasks taken for granted as traditional parts of architectural services.
The loss of knowledgeable staff and competition from other professionals goes so far as to make some architects fear for the survival of the architectural profession.
Much as NIST identified losses due to lack of interoperability in the construction industry, there is much the same problem with implementation, as many organizations work to understand integration and BIM. The complexity and fragmentation of the U.S. construction industry makes interoperability, even at this level, a major challenge.
Even with these challenges and the new processes represented by integrated practice, BIM and rules-based systems, some architects seem only to be paying lip service to clients' broader concerns.
If architects do not do something, is someone going to come up with a way to integrate them out of existence?
By facing these questions head-on, you can find answers. You can design your practice to provide value and overcome the issues raised by CURT. Let others work on the big picture issues. For the rest of us, the problem has to be solved one architect at a time.
Inefficient processes
In 2004, the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) issued a report titled Cost Analysis of Inadequate Interoperability in the U.S. Capital Facilities Industry. The report documented the fact that the current approach is not sustainable.
By correcting disjointed processes, NIST predicted savings of over $15.8 billion annually (1-2% of total industry revenue). Obviously, owners would receive the greatest part of these savings.
NIST estimated that the owners' share of the savings is $10.6 billion. Constructors' share of the savings is an estimated $1.8 billion, with fabricators and suppliers saving an additional $2.2 billion. Architects and engineers' share of the savings is an estimated $1.2 billion.
Architects as form givers—-only?
Could future architects find themselves relegated to generating only project aesthetics only?
Rules-based systems and modeling tools enable other professionals to deliver high performance outcomes in many areas that many traditionally consider the realm of architects. One can argue that these services miss the subtleties and standard of care that architects provide. However, in some cases, owners are willing to live with these losses to avoid the problems they are experiencing in the traditional process.
Owner groups are actively working to correct these problems. One active owner group is The Construction Users Roundtable (CURT). CURT's goal is to "create strategic advantage for construction users."
A call to action
In 2004, CURT issued a call to action white paper titled Collaboration, Integrated Information and the Project Life Cycle in Building Design, Construction and Operation. In the white paper, CURT issued a firm and clear message—Stop the finger-pointing, litigation, and lack of accountability that seem to be business as usual. In 2005, CURT followed up with a second white paper titled Optimizing the Construction Process: An Implementation Strategy.
CURT's documents have acted as a wake-up call to the architectural profession. They have offered a strategy for owner leadership in enabling change needed in the construction industry. One could argue that they are responsible for much of the recent focus on BIM and integrated practice in the profession.
In 2006, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), CURT, and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) began a joint effort to transform the construction industry. The leadership shown by owners, contractors and architects working in tandem is critical to the future of the industry.
This joint effort is one of the many initiatives looking at interoperability, collaboration, risk management, and integrated processes. Unfortunately, many of these initiatives are overlapping and disconnected from others.
Retain the advantages
Someday architects' processes will be highly integrated with construction. Someday you will routinely share models electronically with the entire team. Someday you may see bidding reduced to a profit auction with all other costs tied to the market. However, these are a future reality.
Today's reality is that even with an integrated process, you issue bidding and construction documents. In an integrated process, you have to get to the same places. The difference is that the work effort has changed.
A generic traditional process goes something like this:
You start with Schematic Design creating design concepts for owner approval. This approval requires a lot of faith and trust, since you include very little real information beyond aesthetics.
Next, during Design Development, you define and develop the project's systems. Up to this point, the process is in the designer's control. Outcomes depend on the designer's abilities and knowledge.
Next, the process moves to Construction Documentation and a handoff to the production team occurs. You continue to make critical project decisions. The bulk of project detail is added at this time.
If the designer was able to get the required decisions and finished the design process under budget, the production team's work is simplified.
If not, they take the handoff with a big disadvantage. They find themselves having to reinterpret and implement the work of the designer. Sometimes with his or her close involvement. Sometimes without input, while trying to make up for lost ground against the design fee.
Is it any wonder that architects have cost overruns and errors in their documents?
With an integrated process, you reverse this situation. You arrive at the start of construction documents with much of the work done. You have made the critical design decisions and included them in the prototype. You have confirmed material selections in the prototype. Production templates are set to generate the documents—plans, elevations—sections—details—schedules—et al. All coordinated, labeled, and in your preferred formats.
If your engineers and specification writer use compatible systems, their work is coordinated, interference checked and tied to the project index. Your effort to produce construction documents comes down to cleanup and packaging. The production team does not have to reinterpret or wait for decisions. They assemble the documents. It is much more controllable and predictable.
Excess Perfection Syndrome
Building information models and shared information (interoperability) make it possible to replicate the real world in your computer. With enough time and energy, a model can have nearly as many attributes as the real thing.
Much of this information is already in the model and tools. This information costs little or nothing since it has been—"captured." You must then add information, since every model requires some level of customization to match an existing condition or to reflect the design.
You must have a plan for managing this information. At every phase specific information and detail is required to get the job done. In the ideal, you place this information in the model, nothing more, and nothing less. Over-building models with too much information results in lost productivity.
Over documenting can dramatically affect your bottom line in an integrated practice.
Check your ego
Today, architects are players in a very small part of the built environment. Much of the world works with almost zero interaction with architects, contrary to some architects' notions of their role in the process. Studies have shown that most people have never even met an architect.
Studies have also shown that most architects tightly focus on the "traditional" core of the business and they pay little attention to what happens before schematic design or after construction. Strangely, many architects seem to think that the built world revolves around them.
It does not, by a wide margin.
There is a much larger world of built things, where architects are never involved. Integrated practice opens up this world to architects. Owners have strongly asserted a need for better integration of processes. They see building information modeling technology as the means for streamlining the built environment from cradle to cradle. They are exploring how to correct the industry's problems.
Architects, to great extent, have abandoned the larger world issues to focus on design and construction. Because of this narrow focus, many do not see architects as critical to integration. BIM and integrated practice make it possible for architects to expand into areas where few of them have gone before. However, until it happens, a false sense of his or her place in the world can limit an architect's options.
Many do not realize how closely architects' skill sets match the needs of integrated processes. Integration is a team sport. Architects manage teams. Not only design teams. With these skills, architects are ideal candidates for leadership in the integration process. However, becoming leaders in this change will not happen easily. Owners, contractors, engineers and unlicensed professionals with technology skills are all exploring how to lead the process. These same professionals are questioning architects' ability to fill a leadership role in correcting these problems, since architects have generally not "stepped up to the plate."
At a basic level, Architects synthesize information and manage complex processes. Few can rival these skills. Applying these skills through integrated practice allows lets architects focus their skills to solve the problems that plague the industry. Step up to the plate and get it done!
Status quo
We designed this course to help you understand how building information modeling and integrated practice can change your life for the better.
The solution began to take form in the 1970s. The '70s were an era of confusion, conflict, and change. McGovern lost to Nixon in 1972, and by 1974, Nixon had resigned. Intergraph was getting off the ground and AutoCAD was not on the horizon. The anti-war movement was in full swing. The floppy disk and the microprocessor had recently appeared, but most of us were still punching cards—if we used computers at all. Most considered Toyota to be a cheap import aimed at those with limited resources. Ford Motors was the gold standard. Futurism was in full swing. The possibilities were endless.
Embrace change
I left graduate school at the height of a recession. Jobs were scarce. After nine months of looking, I got my first job in a "real" architectural office.
They were a progressive growing firm. They sharply focused on productivity and profitability and they taught how to carefully budget and manage projects. They were constantly looking for better and more profitable ways to do things. They accepted overlay drafting, paste-up, and any other hand methods that got projects out the door faster.
They were a very detail-oriented firm and were quietly controlled by one of the first Certified Construction Specifiers (CCS). He taught me to pay attention to the details.
The firm's senior designer would produce a sketch. The rest of us worked out the details. We eliminated the problems. As long as someone made the effort and spent the time to resolve conflicts, we picked up most of the problems in the process. As a fallback, the firm had people full time on construction administration to catch anything that others missed.
They did design/build and design/build/leaseback, but most of the projects were design/bid/build.
My first project with an agency construction manager started in 1980.
In the mid-1980s, things began to change for the firm. The specifications writer retired, I left and they had to hire new and less-experienced people. People sued them—several times, usually for something that they missed. The construction administration department could no longer talk their way out of the errors and conflicts with the documents.
The senior designer started to accept only waterfront projects for close friends. He did not have the time to handle the details and no one with enough experience was available to do it for him. They went from a high-profitability, growing, and dynamic firm to a static one. They lost their momentum.
The principals were perceptive enough to know that they needed to change something. They hired a management consultant, who met with limited success. They tried mergers, without success. They made functional changes.
In the mid-1980s, I returned in a leadership role. My partners expected things to work just as they used to. However, it was not possible to roll back the clock. Now there were more and hungrier competitors. Economic conditions had changed. Staff expected higher salaries and clients were demanding more in less time. Computers were becoming an issue. The firm's inertia was gone.
Construction management and design/build had taught me that it is much more cost effective to have all of the issues examined as early in the process as possible. I knew that projects that were properly budgeted and designed within the budget had a much higher chance of success.
We hired a senior construction manager to work with the senior designer in an attempt to correct the problems. Rather than solving the problem, hiring the construction manager seemed to signal the end.
The partners resisted making additional changes and refused to fund solutions. As a group, they had tried too many things, without success. They took the—"we will try one, and if it works, we will talk about another," approach.
Computerization was becoming a problem. Partners' attitudes were—"You can try it if you want, but I will never touch a computer." A longtime drafter was "allowed" to try Cadvance, but only as long as it was profitable. The firm's engineers were trying AutoCAD and they hired a drafter who knew how to use Microstation on UNIX, so they tried that too.
After months of meetings, they authorized a group to find the best solution for a CAD system. We looked at everything on the market—worldwide. We concentrated on products that would work within an agency construction management approach.
We developed a rough business case for the process. In 1990, we found the technology that looked like it would solve the problem. We began look at how we could tweak our process to make it happen.
We ended up buying ArchiCad. It worked with our rough business case. We started with one seat. We trained two people in the week after we got the software. Within nine months, the entire architectural staff was using ArchiCad and we had five seats, with no additional outside training.
A senior architect was using ArchiCad to prepare all documents. Drafters were using ArchiCad for construction documents. New interns were producing virtual reality fly-thrus after only two days on staff. The software worked.
However, things were not getting better for the firm. It became obvious that we could not correct the problems by buying new software. The projects done per the rough business case went well. The projects done in the regular way did not. Broader changes to the business operation were required.
The partners continued their no-technology bias and the firm splintered into disconnected studios. We could not reach a consensus about how to move forward. Organizational change was not possible due to too many legacy issues. By November 1996, the problems had reached an impasse and Design Atlantic Ltd was born.
As often happens, we resolved never to repeat the same mistakes. We resolved to use technology as a tool to create better architecture. We conceived a test platform for new ways of doing the business of architecture.
Do not let your firm go the way of the firm described above. Embrace change and do what is necessary to adapt to integrated practice.
Control your projects
"If you're not the lead dog, the view never changes," quipped Ian Thompson, vice-president of Standing Stone Consulting Inc. Ian's comment came on the heels of a meeting with a school superintendent to discuss how to structure the team on a new project.
The superintendent required a textcourse approach and could not conceive of why a high school might need CPTED support. Safety and security were critical. However, the superintendent could not be convinced of the importance.
The meeting was one week before 9/11.
Sometimes you just cannot change a preconceived notion. Sometimes the local situation and pressures force people to make the wrong decisions. As a professional, you still have to try.
Over the years, how many projects have you seen that started with a flawed plan? How many were under-funded? How many were over-scoped? How many missed a critical piece that led to failure in the end?
A primary goal of integrated practice is to avoid this type of failure. These failures happen because of a small, easily correctable flaw at the beginning. Conceptually it is simple to correct them at the beginning. In practice, it is much harder.
It seems simple. You have to start right
It seems simple. You have to start right.
As we completed more and more projects, we saw a disconnected process. People were forgetting the basic equation. Moreover, problems usually resulted ….
We saw a typical scenario play out repeatedly—the owner hires an architect without really keying him or her into the fiscal realities.
The architect creates a design that responds to aesthetic requirements but misses the issue of sustainability.
They build a facility that is too large or too expensive for funding to support. The organization struggles financially to operate the facility and then (and only then) the realization occurs that they missed something…
Use good business sense
As a profession, architects' process is rooted in tradition. As a group, architects give too much power to legacy systems when they should be making changes using good business sense. The days where an architect could design without connecting to the client's business systems have passed.
Technology is commercially available to allow architects to do a much better job at controlling projects, from the very start of every project. They no longer have to rely on manual linear processes to produce quality work. Architects now have databases, the Internet and BIM. It is time to become leaders in making the change
I'm an owner. Why should I care about BIM?
The convergence of BIM and the growing sustainability ethic offers architects an opportunity to engage the whole spectrum of building and project types in a richer way. Architects can offer real value to facility owners and their respective communities.
This same convergence also offers architects the best opportunity in decades to reassert their value to client-owners in what is their core market—design.
Architects synthesize information and manage complex processes at a very high level. With these skills, they are ideal candidates for leadership in the building information modeling process. Integrating their practices will help them maintain their distinction as a profession and avoid the creeping irrelevance that comes from their steady march away from risk.
Using process such as Integrated practice, architects—both large and small—can improve how they deliver their services. These processes foster just-in-time-decision-making, eliminating duplication and making the correct data available, when and where needed.
Analyze your projects in ways that once took weeks and cost a lot of money.
When you deliver integrated services, you help your clients make better and earlier decisions, saving them money in the end. They will see direct advantages that do not come from the traditional design process. Your work begins to benefit all parts of the construction industry. Everyone profits.
Some of the benefits that come from integrated practice and BIM include:
Reduced risk
You engage owners earlier in a more collaborative way. You help them with early decision-making support and assurance of project outcomes.
Virtual design and construction reduces risk.
You are better able to withstand public scrutiny, the political climate and funding discussions.
You detect errors—before they cost significant money, time or pain.
You assure the necessary quality at the lowest reasonable cost.
You deliver construction simulation before building—resulting in fewer misunderstandings, a faster bidding process, reduced bid-day surprises and less disputes and claims.
Managed change
There are fewer change orders, fewer mistakes, and fewer losses.
You simplify integration of new team members into the process (CPTED, Emergency Services, tools developers, psychologists, manufacturers, et al.
Diversify and compete in a wider spectrum of service areas and client types.
Repurpose your work products for downstream reuse to support phased delivery.
Create clarity
Study organizational structures, physical requirements, and operations issues in depth, early.
Capture intelligence and rules. It helps you to begin the knowledge management process.
Manage constraints to enable faster, better, and lower-cost outcomes for both yourself and your clients.
Improve profitability
Projects have a higher percentage of senior staff time and much-reduced production staff time, resulting in higher effective multipliers.
New projects experience 8-15% savings in project costs. Follow-on projects that reuse project data result in increased profitability of 8-35%.
More accurate cost estimates at earlier stages.
Improve communications
Create, manage and integrate high performance communications among owner, designer, constructor, and new and unique team members. Develop more effective and simpler collaboration tools.
Build diverse teams in rapidly evolving and competitive markets.
Foster full participation by all team members.
Efficient process
You improve project control—you can better document decisions, consistently.
You get more time and energy for design—fewer issues to "work out" during CDs. Better-coordinated documents and a revision process that is more efficient. Spend less time on drafting.
You produce higher quality outcomes with fewer hours.
You can build complex geometry. Work with up-to-date and real-time information. Create just-in-time imagery for your clients.
More sustainable
The process is inherently sustainable.
You build project databases designed to predict and manage future alterations. Data connects to the facility management database—giving a fast return-on-investment.
Owners see direct advantages to their operations, which do not come from the normal process.
They see why this approach saves money in the end. They can, at little or no additional cost, end up with easier-to-manage facilities.
You integrate facility management and GiS for better long-term management and operations of facilities.
You improve accountability.
You improve efficiency and allow for a more diverse practice.
Legal Implications of BIM 101
Integrated cost management
Integrated Specifications
BIM for Purchasing Agents


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Italian Pinot Grigio One Gallon Winemaking Ingredient Pack
The Italians have their own way with the Pinot Gris grape variety, and in the process they create a special magic with it that's unmatched elsewhere in the wine world. Though dry in character and with a pleasant zip of acidity, this Pinot Grigio shows off a pleasant floral fragrance and tremendous fruit flavors, making it the perfect picnic accompaniment. Designed to pair with our one gallon winemaking kit. Although this wine will benefit from further aging, your wine will be ready to drink in just 4 weeks.
- Large juice bag
- Wine yeast
- Toasted Oak
- Packaged Bentonite, Metabisulphite, Sorbate and Chitosan (used to clarify and preserve your wine)
- One-Step no-rinse sanitizer
- 5 corks
- Full set of instructions


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How to Get Ordained, Register and Perform Weddings By State
Get Ordained, Register and Perform a wedding or ceremony in Florida.
If you are planning to get ordained in Florida, need to find a minister in Florida or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in Florida, you've come to the right place.
As an ordained minister with Open Ministry, our ministers have successfully performed thousands of marriages in Florida and around the world!
The Ordination and Officiant information is provided below in five steps, is designed help walk you through the most common steps in registering to become a minister for Florida and perform a wedding ceremony in Florida.
Step 1 - How to Become Ordained
How to get and become Ordained in Florida to Officiate or perform marriages in Florida
Our Ordinations for Florida are completely free and can be completed in less than a day. Thousands of people have registered and become licensed ministers in Florida and are able perform marriages through Open Ministry in Florida!
Get Ordained Today and start your journey as an ordained minister in Florida with Open Ministry.
Get started today by clicking on the link below!
Step 2 - Contact The County Clerk
How to Register to Officiate a Marriage in Florida
Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk) in Florida. Let them know that you are a minister of Open Ministry in California, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage in Florida.
When speaking with the county clerk; it can be helpful to use the following phrases.
- What agency or department issues marriage licenses in your county and how may I contact them?
- I am an ordained minister with a church in California and I would like to register as a wedding Officiant in your county to perform and solemnize weddings.
- I have my Letter of Good Standing and/or Ordination Credential as proof of my ministry and ordination.
- What additional documentation is required for me to register as a wedding Officiant in your county?
Step 3 - Getting Licensed to Perform the Marriage
License to perform a wedding in Florida
After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our bookstore to purchase your official credentials and any required documentation (See Florida State Statutes for More Specific Requirements )
When registering in Florida you may be asked to display proof of your ordination to the county clerk's before they will accept the marriage license as having been legally solemnized. We typically advise ministers of Florida to get a Complete Minister Package for Florida which includes your Letter of Good Standing.
Having your ordination credentials will also provide peace-of-mind to any couple that you intend to marry. Additionally, we recommend that you have at least 4 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in time to register.
It is important to note that some county clerks in Florida may require wedding officiants to attach a statement avowing some of the elements in the marriage license upon submission, including the following:
- The time and location at which the wedding took place
- The names and places of residence of all official witnesses
- The religious organization in which the officiant is ordained
- The printed name and address of the officiant
Please note that, when filling out a marriage license, that Florida State may request you use the title "Minister" or "Reverend". The County Clerks may also require you enter your denomination, you can use "Non-Denominational". Failing to state a denomination may result in rejection and could require a duplicate marriage license.
741.07 Persons authorized to solemnize matrimony
(1)All regularly ordained ministers of the gospel or elders in communion with some church, or other ordained clergy, and all judicial officers, including retired judicial officers, clerks of the circuit courts, and notaries public of this state may solemnize the rights of matrimonial contract, under the regulations prescribed by law. Nothing in this section shall make invalid a marriage which was solemnized by any member of the clergy, or as otherwise provided by law prior to July 1, 1978.
(2)Any marriage which may be had and solemnized among the people called "Quakers," or "Friends," in the manner and form used or practiced in their societies, according to their rites and ceremonies, shall be good and valid in law; and wherever the words "minister" and "elder" are used in this chapter, they shall be held to include all of the persons connected with the Society of Friends, or Quakers, who perform or have charge of the marriage ceremony according to their rites and ceremonies.
Title XLIII: Domestic Relations - Chapter 741: Marriage; Domestic Violence
History.?s. 1, Nov. 2, 1829; s. 2, ch. 1127, 1861; RS 2056; GS 2575; RGS 3934; CGL 5853; s. 1, ch. 28104, 1953; s. 1, ch. 74-372; s. 1, ch. 78-15; s. 34, ch. 95-401.


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I am available for ad hoc arbitrations as either as a solo panelist or part of a larger panel. If your arbitration is through a sponsoring organization, such as FINRA, please schedule your arbitration through them. For ad hoc arbitrations, please fill our the case information sheet and prose addendum, if applicable. After a conflicts check, I will contact you to schedule.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Contact Denise
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 832.740.8191
Online Scheduling: petersonadrtx.com/schedule
Unless otherwise specified, in-person arbitrations conducted at:
Heights Mediation Center
3605 Katy Fwy Houston, TX 77007


text: A leak from a mains water pipe near to the small playground at the front of the school forced a school closure on Monday 9th October as the mains water had to be turned off, leaving the school without drinking water, heating or sanitation. A swift response by engineers has ensured that disruption has been kept to a minimum and we are pleased to report that the leak has been repaired and the water is back on and has been tested throughout the school. We are therefore delighted that the school will to re-open tomorrow, Tuesday 10th October. See you all in the morning and thank you for the patience and understanding shown during this time.


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Studio ApartmentSuperior
Studio apartment for one or two persons.
The studio has the living room and bedroom in the same area, divided by a small bar, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Located on the second, third or fourth floor of the hotel with a private balcony with an amazing view over the sea and marine harbor.
All rooms are decorated with marble, handmade mosaics, ratan furniture, wooden flooring and massive wooden furniture. Very comfortable rooms decorated with high quality materials.
The bathrooms decorated with Brazil granite have a shower, hairdryer and toilet.
Flat screen television 32 " with international channels.
Free WiFi in the hotel and rooms
Air conditioning without surcharge
- Free WiFi in rooms
- Flat Screen TV with international channels
- Kitchen with two hob
- Kettle and coffee maker
- Toaster
- Bathroom with shower
- Safe
- Air Conditioning
- Private terrace or balcony
- Cleaning of the apartment 6 times a week
- Welcome bottle of wine
- hair dryer
- International channels


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Canon : Inspired
What would you do for the perfect picture?
Editor's Pick
One of the hallmarks of passion is that you're willing to do anything for it. Canon's "Long Live Imagination" campaign, created out of Grey New York nicely extends that to create this beautiful spot that pays homage to the will-do-anything attitude of real photographers.
Set to a cover of "Beautiful Dreamer" by Rachel Fannan of Only You -- which in itself is an expected, albeit well-suited choice -- the spot features a series of shots that see photographers going to great lengths to get the perfect shot, from breaking a dish because it was in your way, to rolling down a steep hill alongside a burning tire. Watching it, you can't help but wonder whether the director, MJZ's Nicolai Fuglsig, who himself is known to go out of his way to catch a great shot, and way back when was a former photojournalist--was imagining himself in each scene.
Most Popular
- Date
- Nov 28, 2012
- Brand :
- Canon
- Client :
- Canon
- Agency :
- Grey-New York
- Chief Creative Officer :
- Tor Myhren
- Executive Creative Director :
- Ari Halper
- Executive Creative Director :
- Steve Krauss
- Creative Director :
- Stu Mair
- Creative Director :
- David Cuccinello
- Agency Broadcast Producer :
- Topher Lorette
- Agency Music Producer :
- Zach Pollakoff
- Agency Photography Producer :
- Jen Pugliese
- Production Company :
- Director :
- Nicolai Fuglsig
- Director, Photography :
- Linus Sandgren
- Editorial Company :
- Work Editorial Inc
- Editor :
- Neil Smith
- Music/Sound Design :
- Henry Boy
- Music and Sound Design Company :
- Black Iris
Need a credit fix? Contact the Creativity Editors