text:
George Souls has always put his kids first.
Souls, who has coached soccer in Yorktown for 37 years, was named Personality of the Month in December by the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association. Souls has coached nearly 30 teams and was inducted into the East Hudson Youth Soccer League Hall of Fame in 2009.
"It was quite the honor," Souls said. "I was very surprised."
The soccer bug bit Souls when his son started playing. Initially helping out the coach, Souls took over when he left and was hooked. He has coached more than 500 boys and girls, including his son, daughter, and granddaughter.
"I want to win, but the reaction of the kids is more important," Souls said. "I want them to do their best and have fun. Even if they haven't had personal or team excellence, if they've enjoyed their experience, I know I've been successful."
Some of Souls' players have gone on to become high school and college soccer coaches. He said he really enjoys when he sees players develop and reach their full potential.
"It's great when you see a kid who is an okay player and you really get the spark going," Souls said. "You watch them become an exceptional player."
Soccer really teaches kids the values of teamwork, Souls said.
"You can have two individuals who are elite, but they have to work with the rest of the team," Souls said. "You cannot be successful unless there's togetherness."
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


text:
Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler Genright Off Road Outboard Shock Mount KitPosted in Project Vehicles on December 1, 2009
In case you're reading about the Scratch-Built Scrambler for the first time, here's the lowdown. We wanted a rig that was reliable and extremely capable on the trail while comfortable on the highway for traveling long distances. In Part 1 of the suspension build (Nov. '09) a TJ or JK Tera Flex Pro LCG long-arm system was installed on our Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler. The installation was relatively easy (not a bolt-on) and we really like the geometry of the system. Through forced articulation testing (with the help of a forklift) in the shop, we found that the system will perform nicely off-road without binding.
Since traveling thousands of miles on long adventures can sometimes require stowing lots of gear, another goal of the build was to keep all the interior space for camp junk, tools, and spare parts. The front suspension already had coilovers with custom hoop mounts. Mounting long-travel shocks in the rear of the Jeep without cutting into the tub or fenderwells could have been tricky, but we used an outboard shock mount kit from GenRight Off Road. The kit mounts the shock on the outside of the framerail and allows the use of many different damper setups. Moving the shocks outboard also gives the vehicle more stability by widening the placement of the shocks on the axle and frame. Since many fabrication tools are needed and instillation takes a bit of knowhow, we looked to the suspension experts at Off Road Evolution to install our new shock kit.

subset: commoncrawl


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Celebrating illustration, design, cartoon and comic art of the mid-20th century.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
On the Horns of a Dilemma
Also last week, my friend and fellow classic illustration archivist, Glen Mulally, alerted me that someone on Flickr had appropriated hundreds of images from our collections of classic illustration scans. Worse than the appropriation was the fact that this person was reposting the scans without any of the credit lines, dates or publication information many of us on Flickr have gone to great lengths to include.
This is not the first time we've had to deal with this sort of thing. Some people don't seem to be able to appreciate that others have invested huge amounts of time and money into scanning, organizing and posting this material out of the goodness of their hearts for visitors to enjoy and learn from. We must look like fools to these ignorant, unscrupulous creeps as we go along our merry way, tossing gold nuggets on the road for anybody to pick up.
And there's more: A while ago I discovered a blog where the person had downloaded a batch of my scans, removed all the type elements (even the hand painted artist's signatures) and was offering these doctored images as desktop pictures for others to download. "Stole a bunch of these from Today's Inspiration - help yourself!" was the note he included on the post. Fortunately, once I explained to this person that by redistributing artwork without proper credit attached he was creating Orphaned Works, he apologized and took down the scans. He hadn't really thought about the consequences of what he was doing.
All of this and more has left me in a blue funk about what I began here with the best of intentions. I now wonder if I haven't been overly generous and naive about the ignorance and greed of those opportunistic profiteers that lurk among us. I had hoped to encourage the creation of a community of kindred spirits to celebrate the accomplishments of the talented artists who came before us. Instead I find I may have inadvertently assisted unscrupulous individuals who think nothing of taking advantage of my good will.
If this blog and my illustration archives haven't already been 'scraped' I can only imagine its just a matter of time. With over 600 subscribers to the TI daily scan email list and an average readership of 1,500 visitors a day, I know that the vast majority of you - the overwhelming majority - are here for the same reason I am. You want to learn about this work and the artists who created it. You find enjoyment and inspiration in discovering and studying the forgotten treasures I present here Monday to Friday each week. Unfortunately a tiny minority of visitors who lack a sense of ethical responsibility for what we are fortunate to be able to share here might force me to shut all this down.
It was pointed out to me the other day that Robert McGinnis has shut down his website because of internet abuse and has asked another site that was displaying his work to remove it. I find it very upsetting to think that I might have been partially responsible for that because I have a set of McGinnis scans on Flickr.
So I find myself on the horns of a dilemma. How do I continue Today's Inspiration, something I feel very passionately about, while protecting this material and the artists who created it from the abuses of the conscienceless?
At the moment, because I don't know what else to do, I've removed the option to view my Flickr scans at full size. But I've been reading that its possible to navigate your way around that security measure if you really want to and besides, now all the perfectly nice people with whom I want to share these scans can't study the artwork in greater detail. I'm no tech expert and am feeling extremely frustrated by this situation. If you have any advice or opinions on the subject, I'd love to hear from you.
27 comments:
That was suggested to me by someone on Flickr yesterday. I really hate those watermarks... they really distract from the artwork, and it would be one more step I have to take in preparing the scans . But I may have to resort to that. Thanks for your suggestion.ReplyDelete
I understand your concerns. It's very infuriating and frustrating to face the disrespect and greed from those people getting in the way.ReplyDelete
Dear Leif,ReplyDelete
I would first like to say thank you for all the effort that has been put into this site, it is truly a magnificent resource of great illustrations as well as art history.
As a current student of illustration I frequent many art blogs (lines & colors, illustration art etc.) in search of knowledge and inspiration, so when I first discovered this site about five months ago I was immediately enthralled by its content. I remember examining the mounds of pictures which were all foreign to my eyes, looking through your entire Flickr catalogue (I believe it was 3000+ pictures back then) over a single weekend, enjoying every minute of it.
I am ill equipped, in the literary sense, to recount my experience in seeing the impressive linework of Robert Fawcett for the first time but, I will do my best to try, complete awesomeness! I have no doubt that there are many others who share these positive reactions to the many works that grace this blog, and speaking for myself, these reactions are multiplied many times over due to the great number of diverse and talented artists showcased on this site.
This website has offered me great insight into illustrators and works that I was previously unfamiliar with. It has been an incredible tool in influencing my art and boosting my knowledge leading to my growth as an artist, and for that I thank you.
Unfortunately, I have no solution for the infractions committed upon your site and others, it is always a bad few who ruin it for the many. I can only offer words of encouragement and thanks. It might not always be easy to preserve knowledge and art, but in my eyes it is always noble. You have created a great thing for many people. Thank you.
James Marik
This is such a worthwhile effort on your part and a benefit for everyone. Would there be a way to have us log in in a traceable way. I hope there is a way that will not incur much effort for you.ReplyDelete
I have enjoyed seeing the art & learning more about artists whose work I know.
- Anonymous11:57 PM
Goodmorning Leif,ReplyDelete
As a frequent reader of your blog I have to thank you for all the hard work you put into this blog. I love to find a new post of this site every day!
The problems you face with these pirates are not easy to deal with; the only thing I can think of is to put the hires pictures behind a paid server and the lowres on the site for free. I personally don't care about the hires pictures, as long as I see them in a fairly good quality. But, even with this solution, I'm sure that anyone who wants to publish a book with this copyrighted material, will pay the fee, just to to get there.
In my very humble opinion, there's just no way you can safeguard the idea of the blog from people who are greedy. Greed is a disease in our western culture; no one person can cure it!
I hope to encourage you to continue the work you put into this blog (I started many, but have yet to keep a regular post on any of them) for the people who really get inspired from the blog!
I can only repeat what I've said before: THANKS!
I don't have a solution either as most anything you do will lesson the quality of the experience.ReplyDelete
Designers are faced with this problem constantly - by those not really thinking it through, and those stealing in full knowledge. The more popular the designer, the more it happens (obviously). Several Illustrators I know gave in and hired legal council to take over.
Whatever you do, I seriously hope you continue offering this fantastic resource. There are only a handful available and it'd be a crying shame to lose even one.
- DMcK2:03 PM
As a frequent visitor to your wonderful blog, I'd be willing to tolerate watermarks rather than see the whole enterprise go into hiding.ReplyDelete
- Joe Taylor5:54 PM
Thank you Leif for all your work and your dedication to sharing. When I discovered your blog I remembered why I became an illustrator in the first place. I think James Marik said everything I feel and I agree with dmck. I look forward to this site everyday to kickstart me like a cup of coffee.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous8:15 PM
I think your restriction to smaller sizes is a good move. You might work around it in specific cases by showing close up details, instead of showing large scans of the whole work.ReplyDelete
You've done a great service for the artists whose work you've shown. I certainly thank you as well.
Leif, the playwright Ibsen once wrote that "to live is to war with trolls."ReplyDelete
People who do hard work, people who take the initiative, people who have original ideas always make themselves vulnerable to parasites like this. As a practical matter, It really doesn't matter what the law says. The real question is whether you decide to let such loathesome people veto what you do, or whether you will keep on doing it, notwithstanding the fact that the wrong audiences exploit and benefit from what you do.
I have worked in Hong Kong (where this book was apparently published) and Beijing, and with the US Trade Representative in Washington, trying to stop the scofflaws who deliberately steal intellectual property. It is very frustrating. Whether you're talking about patents, copyrights or trademarks, China is by far the most notorious country in the world for stealing the work product of others. The same indignation that you are feeling has been felt for decades by software companies, designers of handbags and shoes, manufacturers of electronic products, even whole cars. In fact, you are feeling only a small portion of the frustration and aggravation that others have felt. Billions of dollars of other people's hard work helps keep the Chinese economy afloat.
The countries which export intellectual property have been trying for years to impose international trade sanctions on China and other IP violators. That's what the trade wars are all about. That's what most favored nation trade status and the olympics and boycotts are about. But it's very difficult to achieve. They have changed some of the the laws in China at the national level, but they are largely disregarded, especially at the local level.
The primary hope is that as these countries develop economically, and become net exporters of IP themselves, they will have an economic incentive to support the IP laws. Until then, it is a largely lawless world in all but the most egregious cases.
Unfortunately, the world of e-commerce on the internet is almost as lawless as the world of international trade. In both cases, there is no sovereign to enforce the law. Think you're unhappy? Tiffany is suing ebay right now because over 75% of the "Tiffany" products sold on ebay are counterfeit. Tiffany feels that these poorer quality imitation goods are harming its reputation, and so far the answer has been "tough."
Like Tiffany and Microsoft and Gucci and Motorola, I think you need to take whatever steps you can to minimize the theft and exploitation, but in the end people who do the work must decide whether they are going to continue to do it despite the free riders and the thieves who claim credit for it. I think it is a very personal choice.
Hello Leif,ReplyDelete
Unfortunately I do not have a solution to the dilemma that you face, but I can understand your hesitation. Let me say, though, as a ripe young illustrator, your Flickr page has a constant tab on my browser, and on the browsers of many, many other students at Ringling College of Art. I can say that my illustrations have vastly improved from studying the masters before me and I know countless other young illustrators can say them same. I hope you continue your tremendous contribution to the art community, but it is ultimately up to you and I will respect whatever decision you make.
with much respect and thanks,
-francis vallejo
It's a dilemma, that's for sure. The digital age offers a myriad of possibilities, but has some pretty serious drawbacks.ReplyDelete
I am an illustrator with my work on several sites. I just assume my work will be pirated. I continue on, however, because my rewards have outweighed the losses.
Watermarks work for a lot of people. Making your images not able to be seen at full size on Flickr seems to be a good solution as well.
I thought I knew a lot about those who came before me. Then I found your site. It really is a "Daily Inspiration" for me. It gets my juices flowing and inspires me.
Whatever your solution, I am thankful for what you do--I think it is crucial--do and hope you hang in there.
David apatoff's comment is pretty much the rest of what I have to say. I didn't feel I needed to restate it.
Thank you for what you do.
I don't know what to say. Your site really is a daily inspiration to me, and you have introduced me to such wonderful artists and their work. I do understand your concerns, but it would be such a shame to see your site go away.ReplyDelete
I don't have a solution either, but I did want to say a quick and very heartfelt thanks. I LOVE your blog. Your daily inspirations are something I look forward to.ReplyDelete
I am one of that quiet majority that are deeply grateful for the images and background information you share. I would definitely pay to continue to be on your list if you chose to go that way, but one of the things that I have loved, is the ease with which I can send a link to your articles or flickr images when I get so excited about something that you've posted, and I want to show it with people that are not as familiar with the rich history of illustration and how much it has defined our world.
Anyway, just, sorry about the pirates, but thank you thank you thank you for being out there.
- Michael Lark12:22 PM
Leif - I hate those watermarks, too, but they'd be better than not being able to see the images at full size. It's pretty frustrating to see those tiny scans of those beautifully detailed Fawcett pieces, and not be able to look at them "up close"!ReplyDelete
Obviously, you've got to do what you feel is best. As someone who has his work published on a regular basis, I fully expect that at least some of it is going to be stolen, borrowed, or reproduced without my permission. It's just par for the course. But, in my experience, the people who would do such things are still a very tiny minority. And they're going to find a way to do it no matter what safeguards I put in place.
Whatever you choose to do, I hope you know how much your blog has come to mean to me and the others who check it out on a daily basis. Thanks for ALL of your had work!
- Michael Lark
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Dear LeifReplyDelete
Can only echo the thanks of other contributors regarding your dedication and hope that someone can provide an answer. As I've now reached retirement age(!) and decamped from the UK to France, I have a bit more time to look back at the 60's and 70's when i was at college training to be a technical illustrator for the Ford Motor Company in Dagenham and devoured every publication that had examples of American illustration. I have seen several old friends on your blog and I'm preparing some scans for you of car illustrations from the UK that you may be able to use. Your blog is what the web community is all about and I'm sure you have everyone's support in whatever you decide to do. Thank's a gain for a brillaint site-long may you continue
Regards, Neil Whitehead
Leif, I followed your link to the French flickr member who was scooping up all your images, and what should I find but images that I had posted and images that prof mendez had posted as well. You've got to hand it to this guy-- he sure gets around!ReplyDelete
Can only echo the remarks of everyone else. Thanks for all the effort you continue to put in everyday. Now I've reached retirement age and decamped from england to the south west of France, I have a bit more time to revisit the past when I was at college training to be an illustrator with the Ford Motor Company in Dagenham and eagerly consumed any publication that had examples of American illustrators. My mother though it strange that I wanted to see her Woman's Own magazine - it was only because they reprinted stories from Redbook and other American weeklies! Seeing Bernie Fuchs, Andy Virgil and Bob Peak's work as fresh as the day it was printed has inspired me to pick up the paintbrushes again. Unfortunately I can't offer a solution. I hope you can continue with your great blog - it's a shing example of what the web community is all about.
Regards, Neil Whitehead
Many thanks to everyone for the encouraging words and thoughtful opinions. I can see that there is likely no easy solution to this problem, and I'm determined not to allow a few bad apples ruin this for, as I said, the vast majority of perfectly nice people - you who have commented represent that majority.ReplyDelete
I've had some technical advice by email and will consult with a couple of friends who are knowledgable about website coding and so on. Perhaps there is a way to incorporate a cursory degree of security to hinder those bad apples from running roughshod over everything. My biggest concern is that the artists and their families who naturally have a vested interest in this material are protected.
Hopefully I'll figure out a way to grant access to all my full size archived scans again soon.
Again, many thanks to you all! :-)
I, like the vast majority of those who visit you regularly, look forward to your daily posts because of our love of illustration and not to exploit your hard work and dedication. Unfortunately, like them, I have no answer to your question. The internet is the wild wild west, and there is no law that can police this place.
I'm not even from the same planet as Robert McGinnis, so it's hard for me to imagine how many hundred fold are his problems when compared to mine. However, from the Stats Page of my own web site, in the past 28 days, a list of places from around the world where people are visiting my site from.
US Commercial
US Educational
United Kingdom
Russian Federation
Non-Profit Organization
United States
New Zealand (Aotearoa)
US Military
US Government
Czech Republic
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
Croatia (Hrvatska)
Old style Arpanet (arpa)
Viet Nam
Korea (South)
Dominican Republic
Hong Kong
That's just crazy. I have to assume that some are visiting for nefarious reasons. But what to do about it? How to police it? Hire a lawyer in Slovenia?
That sucks. I am facing the same issue, myself. I have also had one of my own photographs stolen and vectorized for inclusion in a book - was at a high-end art book store, and found myself staring at my own very unique photos traced exactly in Illustrator. Sucked major.ReplyDelete
I am also looking at adding possible watermarks. As someone who works all the time with stock photo comps, however, I know just how easy it is to remove certain watermarks (even if only temporarily for comping)... and I rather shudder to think just how large and involved my watermarks would have to be, to keep my images free from theft...
I discovered your blog about a month or so ago (first time leaving a comment) and at the time, I knew that there were was a certain graphic 'style' that appealed to me, but I did not know what it was called, what artists were associated with it and so on.
Since then, your blog has been a great educational resource for me. I now know that the 'style' I like is called mid-century illustration and I am slowly starting to learn about the various artists and which ones I like best.
While it is horrible how some people will blatantly steal the work of others, I truly hope you keep doing what you are doing.
I've learned so much (and can only assume that others are learning as well) that it would be terrible to let such horrible people ruin such a good thing.
So go ahead and us watermarks, or put a bunch of lines through the image - what ever works for you. As long as I can get a feel for the artist, along with you entry, that will be good enough for me.
Thanks for taking the time to share this blog with us!!!!
Man, this makes me mad.ReplyDelete
I have amassed a very helpful personal archive of the works you have posted, Leif, and it has, and continues to, be an inspiration to me. I am at a loss to imagine ways to control this theft, though.
I sadly tend to think of it as the price of using he internet, and all of that is still very much in the process of shaking itself out.batman
Hello Leif,ReplyDelete
I just wanted to write a note of thanks for all the work you have done in creating each 'Today's Inspiration'. As well as documenting a mostly unrecorded history, the posts provide inspiration for projects at hand and a reminder of the diversity of approaches other artist have taken.
For the working artist, (and I suspect that includes the bulk of your subscribers), the high res images on Flickr are really valuable. I often pour over them to try and figure out media and technique - Oil or gouache? Wash or scumble?
An aside to other illustrators and rights holders: I understand the frustration about being ripped off (it has happened to all of us), but you don't want to be so rights obsessed that your work never gets out there. I usually let the client who has paid for an image use it as much as he can (Yes, you can print a BIG poster!") and anyone who wants to tattoo one of my pictures on their body can do so free of charge (this request came in last week).
But mainly, Leif, whatever solution you work out about this current concern, you have a lot of artist-fans who appreciate what you do!
- Ken Nutt/ Eric Beddows
Hi Leif,ReplyDelete
This is my first comment on your blog but definitely not my first visit. I would like to join everyone else in thanking you for hours of you work you put into this excellent blog!
Regarding your dilemma with the folks in China - I think David Apatoff seems to have a clear view of the problem and eventual (economic)solutions. I do hope that you continue to post the larger images but understand that you should not feel taken advantage of.
Let me take a devils advocate point of view for a moment - I assume the loss that you worry about for the artists or their families is economic? If that is the case why doesn't someone here in he US publish a legal compilation of their works? It seems your scans being posted on TI do good and bad.
The good is that a lot of excellent illustrative work is preserved and available to students who might not ever see it or benefit from it.
The "bad" is that you have demonstrated a demand (read economic opportunity) for these works and facilitated an unauthorized use. (By the way, do you always clear posting images on your site with the creator or heirs of the creator? If not some could argue that as a misuse?)
But back to the "demand" issue - many fine books are not being reissued. (Andrew Loomis' books come to mind, classic copies of the Famous Artists School Correspondence Course book is another.)
How far does your "stewardship" of these artists work extend? Isn't keeping them "alive" in the public consciousness enough? If the demand exists for these works in print doesn't that beg the artists or families to take the next step? I agree if money is to be made on this art it should be the artist or their heirs with the first shot at it. But still their comes a point where art becomes part of our culture and society - thereby entering the public domain. For example - how long can Warner Brothers hold on to Batman?
Thanks for sharing your love of great illustrators and I hope you can find a way to continue. Overall, I do believe that your conservation efforts are beneficial for all concerned.
Take Care,
Jonathan Gilpin


text:
Marketing Maniac necesitaba un nuevo diseño de impreso o envases y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 24 diseños de 8 diseñadores freelance.
We have a current dental newsletter that I would like a fresh look for. The only twist is that I don't want it to look too professional. I've uploaded an InDesign4 file of our current edition that you can use for the redesign to make it easier. All the copy is there.
Here's the link:
I want the final design also to be in InDesign (preferably InDesign 4)
Dental patients
I want the final newsletter to look "homegrown" and "personal" - like someone in the office sat down and put it together. You can use different fonts, turn things sideways. Whatever. Get creative.
Believe it or not, these kinds of newsletters get better responses because they ARE different - not as professional as others send out. They give a more personal, "relationship" feeling. Please know how much I enjoy and respect the talent of graphic designers, so when I say I want it non-professional, please don't take offense.
Have fun with this!!! Add graphics/clipart like a non-graphic artists might add if you think it fits. (no people stock photos though). I love handwriting fonts - so add them in places you think they'd work.
The final should be either just black or at most - two colors, with the second color being a spot color (for printing on a 2-color press).


text:
Meet the Founders
The Vision of Dan Lutkenhouse
The Garden was created through the untiring efforts of one man, Dan J. Lutkenhouse, who discovered Onomea Valley in 1977 while vacationing with his wife, Pauline. Mr. Lutkenhouse purchased the 17-acre parcel for its seclusion and beauty, without knowing exactly what to do with it. Quickly abandoning ideas for a commercial venture which would destroy the natural environment, he decided instead to establish a botanical garden to preserve the valley and its beauty forever.
When first located by the Lutkenhouses, Onomea Valley was an overgrown and virtually impenetrable jungle, choked with wild invasive trees, weed and thorn thickets, and strangling vines.
Mr. Lutkenhouse sold his 40-year-old trucking business in San Francisco and moved to the island of Hawaii in order to devote himself full time to the development of the Garden.
Every day for eight years, Pauline would pack Dan a brown bag lunch and he would disappear into the jungle, returning at night dirty and tired, but happy. During that time Dan, his assistant Terry Takiue, and two helpers worked with cane knives, sickles, picks, shovels, and a chain saw clearing paths through the jungle. All the work was done by hand to avoid disturbing the natural environment or destroying valuable plants and tree roots. The men kept a slow and easy pace, so as not to suffer heat stroke or dehydration in the steamy jungle. The work would continue seven days a week until the Garden opened to the public in 1984.
Trails were hewn from hard lava rock with picks and shovels. To keep the soil from compacting and the natural beauty from being destroyed, no tractors were used; excess rock was removed and gravel brought in by wheelbarrow. Mr. Lutkenhouse followed the contours of the land in designing the Garden trails, which curve and wind their way throughout the jungle. Gradually, secret landscapes revealed themselves. It took years of carefully clearing the jungle before Mr. Lutkenhouse discovered the crown jewel of the Garden - a three-tiered waterfall said to be the most beautiful in all Hawaii.
Though Mr. Lutkenhouse has no formal botanical training, with his love of nature he has created a living tapestry in keeping with the intimate nature of the site. Subtle vistas unfold as you meander along the Garden paths. Patterned foliage and brilliantly colored flowers invite close inspection, enticing you further into the mysteries of the jungle. This is the allure of paradise. The Hawaiians have a word for it - aina, or "the spirit of the land."
Mr.Lutkenhouse, himself, has chosen the location of every plant and tree introduced to the Garden. From the Lily Lake Vista, more species of plants can be seen in one place than anywhere else on earth. Over 110 species have been counted within this vista, most planted by Mr. Lutkenhouse and his staff.
This vivid experience of the tropics has been enriched by the plant collecting trips Dan and Pauline Lutkenhouse have taken to tropical jungles around the world.
Preserving the Spirit of the Land
To protect the Garden site, Dan and Pauline Lutkenhouse have established a non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation and have taken legal steps to insure the land will never be sold or commercially developed. Dan is adamant on this point. "It's too precious a valley to be developed. We're preserving the valley so that mankind can enjoy it forever." He adds, "I believe that we should all try to leave the world a better place than we found it."
From a diamond in the rough, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is being polished to perfection. While the star of the show is the Garden itself, its creation and success are attributed to more than 17 years of hard work and dedication, as well as the prior business experience of Dan and Pauline. Today the Garden has 17 full-time employees and is financially self-supporting. Dan and Pauline gain no financial rewards from the Garden; instead, they have contributed more than $2 million of their own personal funds to establish it. Their reward is the true enjoyment the Garden provides to its visitors. Dan and Pauline's vision of preserving rare tropical plants in one of Hawaii's most beautiful natural settings has been shared by more than 700,000 visitors to date. In the year 1995, they donated the land to HTBG.
The Lutkenhouses have listened to the land and its creator, and allowed the aina to guide them. Under their protection, the spectacular flora and fauna of Onomea Bay are flourishing as a world-class botanical garden, described by many as the most beautiful accessible tropical jungle garden in the world. Truly the Garden is a perfect expression of the state motto of Hawaii, ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono, or "the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."
Hear Mrs. lutkenhouse describe the Garden in the video below from our 30 year Anniversary Celebration.
Support the Garden
Send Tropical Flower Bouquets
Our bouquets are absolutely stunning! Packed and shipped the same day the're cut, our tropical flowers will arrive freshly boxed and ready to arrange. Your satisfaction with Garden Flowers is 100% guaranteed.
Includes full color photographs, partial plant list, and history of Onomea Valley
a Member
All Members are admitted to the Garden free of charge for the duration of their membership term. Enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that you have contributed toward preserving a garden of rare natural beauty and supporting an educational institution for the benefit of our future generations. Your contribution is tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.Corporate Donations and Matching Programs with Benevity The Garden is registered with Benevity, the global leader in online workplace giving, matching, volunteering and integrated grant management solutions. Some of the world's most iconic brands rely on Benevity's award-winning solutions to power their Goodness Programs and corporate philanthropy, helping them attract, retain and engage today's workers by connecting people personally to causes that matter to them.
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text:
Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Brookings, S.D. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The airplane was in the landing roll when a gust of wind lifted the left wing and caused the plane to swerve to the right.
The pilot added full engine power to initiate an aborted landing, but the wind increased, lifting the left wing and causing the right wing to hit the ground and the airplane to go off the runway.
Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions while landing.
NTSB Identification: CEN12CA028
This October 2011 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.


text:
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Schön Klinik is among the largest, family-owned hospital groups in Germany. Every year, 88.000 patients are treated in 16 clinics. The hospitals specialize in the medical fields of orthopaedics, neurology, psychosomatic medicine, surgery, and internal medicine and employ 8,500 doctors, nurses, and therapists. Schön Klinik is dedicated to measuring treatment outcome and has developed its own, specialized quality management system.
Every year, more than one million data points are collected and compared between hospitals. By analyzing this data the hospitals are able to further improve their therapies and improve the patients' experience. This quality management system has been met with international recognition.
A high degree of specialization ensures an extraordinary level of quality. At Schön Klinik more than 12,000 patients with back pain and 5,000 patients with depression are treated every year.
Sdpeon Toe cbl S7709 cbl Sdpeon Sebastian Sandals Professional Open Women''s beige Beige Schön Klinik is the leading provider of psychosomatic medicine in Germany and has developed internationally renowned therapies for patients with eating disorders.
The optimal treatment for every patient is a top priority. The hospital group strives to meet this objective with excellent physicians, treatment methods based on the latest scientific research, and a friendly, caring atmosphere.
MasterMind services
The German MasterMind trial offers patients three internet-based treatments for depression. The involved health professionals are mainly psychologists with a background in CBT.
The main component of first two services is the combination of cCBT sessions and video-based consultations with an Online-Therapist while the third is a guided self-help treatment.
Patients who are considered eligible for the treatment are adults suffering from depression.
Depression Online:
The patient needs a referral from the GP or medical specialist (psychiatrist or neurologist).
From then on, patients can receive 25 sessions of a combination of 50-minute video-based consultations with their online-therapists and cCBT elements on the platform
Professional cbl Open Sebastian Toe Women''s Beige Sdpeon S7709 Sdpeon cbl Sandals beige Relapse prevention:
After an inpatient treatment the patient is offered the relapse prevention program with up to 25 online sessions with an online-therapist.
Get.On Mood Enhancer:
The patients are invited to enter their personal information to the secure ProMind website. Afterwards they receive a registration confirmation and can access the treatment platform. There, the client is asked to fill out the screening questionnaire. Within 24 hours, a ProMind employee will provide the client with his individual treatment recommendation. The patient then receives access to the training modules. The training consists of six training modules and 6-7 additional modules.
Within the stepped care approach to patient care, the German MasterMind trial offers 1) guided and unguided prevention and self-help intervention through Get.On Mood Enhancer (ProMind) as a first step, then 2) outpatient diagnostics and the option for a subsequent internet- and video-based outpatient treatment "Depression Online" if patients experiencing an increase in symptom severity can find easy access to acute treatment in a (co-operating) day clinic or acute hospital. And 3) the internet- and video-based Relapse Prevention programme after inpatient treatment. Patients can enter the program at any stage. This figure shows the stepped care model of healthcare.
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The SCHÖN project team:
|Role in project
Management of Schön Clinic MasterMind activities
Specific role in WPs:
In charge of WP5 – Internet based guided cCBT for treatment of depression – 1st wave
|Name: Dr. Christian Raible
Organisation: Schön Clinic Bad Arolsen
Beige Sdpeon Toe S7709 Sdpeon Open Professional cbl Sebastian Women''s Sandals beige cbl Title:Managing Director Schön Clinic; Project Leader for MasterMind at the Schoen Clinic
Email: email@example.com
|Expertise relevant to project
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|Role in projectToggi Jodhpur Leather Kids Short Brown Up Augusta Boots Zip qUwtSTxU
Work-package leader of WP 5, first wave cCBT trials and as such responsible for the implementation of cCBT in five participating countries (Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, UK)
Open Sdpeon Beige cbl Women''s Sdpeon S7709 Sebastian cbl beige Professional Toe Sandals Specific role in WPs:
WP 5 leader
|Name: David Daniel Ebert, PhD
beige cbl Toe S7709 Professional cbl Sdpeon Open Sdpeon Beige Sebastian Women''s Sandals Organisation: Schön-Clinic chain
Title: Head of Research and Development at Schön-Clinic chain, Germany. He is also appointed as Assistant Professor (Akademischer Rat) at the Division for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the Friedrich-Alexander University Nuremberg-Erlangen, Germany and head of the working-group eMental Health.
Email: email@example.com
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Toe Open Sebastian Beige Women''s Sandals cbl Professional cbl Sdpeon beige S7709 Sdpeon
Sdpeon beige Toe Open cbl S7709 Sandals Women''s cbl Professional Beige Sdpeon Sebastian
|Expertise relevant to project
Dr. Ebert's research focuses on the evaluation of internet and mobile based interventions for improving access to evidence based prevention and treatment programs for common mental health disorders. He has received his PhD in Psychology in 2013 from the Philipps-University of Marburg, Germany with special honors (summa cum laude). Together with his team he has developed nine different internet-interventions including interventions for subclinical depression, major depression, depression and diabetes, relapse prevention, panic disorder, work-related stress, insomnia and for improving emotion regulation skills. The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these interventions have been or are currently being evaluated in 19 randomized controlled trials. He is member of the board of directors of the European Society for Research on Internet Interventions and member of the editorial board of the Journal "Internet-Interventions" published by Elsevier. In recognition of his achievements, he has recently received several awards such as the "DGVT-Förderpreis" by the German society for behavior therapy [DGVT], and the Early Career Researcher Award by the International Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ISRII).
|Sebastian cbl Beige Professional Women''s Sdpeon beige Open cbl Sandals Sdpeon Toe S7709 Role in project
Concept, implementation and conduct of cCBT and Video Conferencing at the Schoen Clinic.
Deputy in WP5 leader – Internet based guided cCBT for treatment of depression 1st wave.
|Professional Sandals cbl Beige beige Toe Open cbl S7709 Sdpeon Women''s Sebastian Sdpeon Name:Anne Etzelmueller
Organisation: Schön Clinic
Title: Project Manager
Email: email@example.com
|Expertise relevant to project
MSc in Psychology, specialized in Psychotherapy Research and Methods.
|Role in project
Black Ankle Heels Zwoa kombi 09 Think Sz Strap Women's sz kombi 09 282214 qn1RxUWpAdministrative duties withing WP5 such as logistics, coordination and collaboration as well as finacial administrationSpecific role in WPs:Administrative assistant within WP5 at the Schön Clinic
|Name: Stefanie Schiller
Toe S7709 Sdpeon Sdpeon Beige Women''s Sebastian Sandals Open cbl cbl beige Professional
Organisation: Schön Clinic Bad Arolsen
Title: Administration
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
|Women''s Sandals cbl Open beige Sdpeon Toe Professional Beige Sdpeon cbl S7709 Sebastian Expertise relevant to project:
Working in the Schön Clinic Bad Arolsen since 1994. As the assistant of the clinic head, Stefanie Schiller can handle MasterMind tasks within a narrow time frame.
|Role in project
Part of the project management team. In charge of communication and dissemination activities.
Specific role in WPs:Black Unisex Low red Hiker Boots Hiking Rise Timberland Kids' Euro Sg7xwq8x
In charge of Schön Clinic's dissemination within WP 2
|Name: Jana Meyer
Organisation: Schön Clinic Bad Arolsen
Title: Marketing Manager
Email: email@example.com
|Expertise relevant to project


text:
- Description
ALFI brand Granite Composite Kitchen Sinks are a great choice for any kitchen remodel. Durable material and a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors provide you with a unique and long lasting sink that is sure to make cooking more enjoyable. Modern design and smooth surfaces create a flawless look for years to come.
Granite Composite sinks are well-regarded in industry circles for their extreme resistance to heat, scratches, dents, chips, and for being entirely nonporous! As a bonus, they do not need to be sealed or resealed and come at a fraction of the cost compared to other high-end sinks of this nature.
- The AB4620DI kitchen sink combines a high-end appearance along with long-term durability and low maintenance at an unbelievable value!
- Designed in Italy. Made in Italy.
- Exterior Dimensions : 45 3/4" x 19 3/4" x 9 1/16"
- Inner Bowl Size: 13 9/16" x 16 9/10" x 9 1/16", 13 9/16" x 16 9/10" x 9 1/16"
- Sink does not include pre-drilled faucet hole because this sink is reversible. There is an option for the plumber to punch out a hole on whichever side is desired by the customer, as seen in the dimension diagram. Alternatively, faucet can also be installed on counter top behind sink.
- Includes drop-in installation hardware.
- Withstands severe thermal shocks and very high temperatures without being damaged.
- Drain not included. Recommended Model: ABST35.
- Recommended counter top cut out hole of 44 7/8" x 18 7/8" with a 3/8" corner radius.
- Certified by Uniform Plumbing Code (cUPC).
- Warranty : 1 year warranty against manufacturing defects. 10 year warranty against fading / staining of the glaze.
Also Available In These Variations
Color: Biscuit SKU: AB4620DI-B UPC: 811413025180
Color: Black SKU: AB4620DI-BLA UPC: 811413025197
Color: White SKU: AB4620DI-W UPC: 811413025173
Color: Chocolate SKU: AB4620DI-C UPC: 811413028280
Color: Titanium SKU: AB4620DI-T UPC: 811413028013
- Product Q&A
Expand allCollapse allSort byMost Recent QuestionsQ:Does drainboard require cut out or can it sit on top of counter
1 answersQ:What is your return policy if not adequate?
Thanks!!1 answersQ:If the sink is completely un-satisfactory when received, is there a return policy?
Thanks!1 answersLoading...
- Reviews
- About ALFI brand
About The Company
ALFI brand is a family owned business that is passionate about helping individuals transform their kitchen and bath into gorgeous places to spend time. Dedicated to manufacturing innovative and unique products that are both beautiful and functional, ALFI offers a diverse selection of kitchen and bath products that won't be found elsewhere. While the brands emphasis is on uncompromising quality and distinctive designs, their products are made for budget minded people.
Our fireclay sinks are imported from Israel and Italy, where they are manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities that maintain high eco-friendly environmental standards. This provides you with peace of mind, knowing that the products you purchase from us are crafted from eco-friendly materials and with as little environmental impact as possible. Each fireclay sink is constructed from 100% white clay and glazed with a thick coat to insure durability and long lasting shine. We also offer matching stainless steel grids and strainers to accompany our sinks.
The Leon Collection is an exclusive line of 100% solid stainless steel kitchen faucets. These modern faucets are built tough and made to last, featuring high end ceramic disc cartridges encased in a solid stainless steel body.
The bathroom collection includes a large selection of faucets, tub fillers, shower mixers, one of a kind LED lights and ultra-thin solid stainless steel rain shower heads in a variety of shapes and sizes, in addition to oak and cedar wooden bathtubs that will provide an eye catching twist to any bathroom design. Of course, we can't forget our porcelain wall mounted bathroom sinks and our unique bathroom vanity sets; catered for small or large bathrooms and built to withstand the demands of your busy lifestyle.
ALFI brand is your number one source for high end quality sinks and faucets at affordable prices.
Products Offered
Imported Fireclay, Bamboo, Concrete Farmhouse Apron Kitchen Sinks, Ceramic wall mount basins, Tubs, Vanities, Kitchen and Bath Faucets and Accessories.
Fireclay / Porcelain Sinks
One year warranty against manufacturing defects. Ten year warranty against fading/staining of the glaze.
Cracks or chips are not covered under warranty as they can only happen due to misuse or by owner error and not a manufacturing defect, each sink is thoroughly inspected at the factory and again prior to shipping to insure there are no cracks or chips.
All cracks and chips due to misuse or improper installation whether performed by a plumber, contractor, service provider, or unqualified person, will void the warranty.
Bamboo Sinks / Wooden Tubs / FireHotTubs / Shower Heads & Arms / Strainers / Grids / Vanities/Drains
One year warranty against manufacturing defects.
Alfi Trade Inc. is not liable for cracks/splitting of wood due to improper maintenance, storage or installation.
Kitchen & Bath Faucets / Tub Fillers / Shower Mixers
Limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship.
Mechanical components are warranted against defects for five years from the original purchase date.
Warranty begins from purchase date on invoice. An invoice must be provided in order to file a warranty claim. If a free replacement is granted under warranty, the warranty time frame continues from the original purchase date, and not from the date of free replacement.
ALFI brand products are warranted for normal use and exclude defect or damage caused by or resulting from misuse, abuse, neglect, scratches, dents, abrasives, chemicals, improper installation/care/maintenance (whether performed by a plumber, contractor, service provider, or unqualified person), or alteration. This warranty does not apply to the replacement of components where damage is caused by normal wear and tear, dirt, lime scale, aggressive water conditions, or harsh or abrasive cleaners or materials. If a product is defective, the limit of damage is the cost of the defective material. Our warranties are nontransferable. ALFI brand is not liable for consequential damage, labor loss, or expense of any nature.
This warranty applies to residential applications. Commercial/Industrial/Business applications are warranted for 1 Year from original purchase date.
|Prop 65?
|Item Weight
|Ship Weight
|Ship State
|Ship Zip
|Ship Length
|Ship Width
|Ship Height
|19 3/4
|45 3/4
|8 3/4
|Installation Type
|Drop In
|Inner Bowl
|13 9/16" x 16 9/10" x 9 1/16"
|Drain Placement
|Off Set
|Drain Size
|3 1/2
|Second Inner Bowl
|13 9/16" x 16 9/10" x 9 1/16"
|Faucet Holes
|Bowl Style
|Bowl Type
|Double Bowl


text:
This morning Brian Ward and I recorded episode 33 of the Hinderaker-Ward Experience, joined by our own Steve Hayward as a guest. We talked about the gloom that seems to have settled over many of our fellow conservatives. We are seeing it here at Power Line: a few weeks ago, we were experiencing some of the strongest traffic in the history of the site. It was obvious that conservatives were energized and soaking up news and commentary. But over the last week or two, traffic has declined rather sharply. I am told the same thing has happened at other conservative sites. I am pretty sure the reason is that many Republicans have been demoralized by what I consider to be the Left's latest disinformation campaign, so this morning we set out to do some cheerleading.
Here is how Brian described today's podcast on Ricochet:
It's a Saturday special edition of the Hinderaker-Ward Experience podcast. John Hinderaker of Power Line and me, Brian Ward of Fraters Libertas, joined by our special guest, the great Steven Hayward.
It's a lively discussion on the state of the Presidential race, including the characteristic optimism of John Hinderaker. He doesn't buy into the doom and gloom so many Republicans are feeling with regard to Mitt Romney's chances in November, and he tells us to grab our pom-poms and not to believe the hype.
We also get into the issues surrounding recent political polls and alleged bias with regard to over-representation of Democrats, and we preview the Presidential debate coming up on Wednesday. Finally, we wrap things up with Steve by putting our professional prognostication reputations on the line and predicting what will actually happen on November 6.
Then it's "Loon of the Week", courtesy of the fine folks at the Media Research Center. And "This Week in Gatekeeping" (with an international flavor), as the editors and fact checkers in Iran prove to be every bit as effective as their American counterparts.
You can listen to the podcast by playing it right here, or you can go to Ricochet to download or subscribe to the podcast in various ways, or you can hit the subscribe button in the graphic above to subscribe on iTunes or elsewhere. Or you can use Stitcher. There are many ways to experience the Hinderaker-Ward Experience, but I think the best is by subscribing on iTunes. That way, you never have to worry about missing an episode.


text:
- Ship to an address within the United States (including U.S. territories)
- Place your online order of $25 or more* - after promotions and before tax are applied
- Use "Standard" shipping option at checkout
Orders will be shipped within 48 hours of placement*, pending verification of billing information and shipping method selected. International orders and orders containing gift cards or out-of-stock items will be processed as quickly as possible.
*Excludes all orders placed on major US holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day).
Customers may return any opened, unopened, partially consumed, or fully consumed merchandise purchased from any The Vitamin Shoppe or Super Supplements store or at www.vitaminshoppe.com, our mobile site or any mobile apps to any store or Distribution Center at any time. Click here to see our return policy for more information.


text:
Litchi Faye-Ling vs. Noel Vermillion – Cosplay Clash
Whoops. It looks like Litchi shut out Rachel at the last minute and has taken her place as the victor. Now Litchi begins her journey to the top and goes up against her first opponent, Noel Vermillion.
Vera-Chimera's Litchi Faye-Ling is an amazingly beautiful physician who wears a flowing red outfit and wields a staff. Will she deal out a dose of punishment or two for Noel?
Umi Kani's Noel Vermillion is a soldier with quick moves and even quicker trigger fingers. Her combos with her dual pistols are great, but can they help her win against Litchi?
It's up to you to decide who will win this Cosplay Clash between the girls in red and blue! Voting closes on June 26 10AM PST.
Rules of Cosplay Clash:
Fans can vote once per hour for their favorite cosplayer. If a cosplayer remains the reigning champ for seven straight matches, they are retired to the Arcade Sushi Cosplay Hall of Fame. With so many great cosplayers out there, we have to give other cosplayers a chance.


text:
More Than 850 Plan To Attend Matula Funeral
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) - A funeral for Mandy Matula is scheduled for next weekend, and so far more than 850 people say they plan to attend.
The 24-year-old Matula went missing in May, and her remains were found Oct. 26 in a shallow grave in Stearns County.
Police believe she was shot in the head by her ex-boyfriend, David Marshall Roe. He shot and killed himself after agreeing to meet police for questioning.
Matula's funeral will be at 3 p.m. Nov. 10 at Grace Church in Eden Prairie.
Reports say so far, more than 850 people have confirmed on a Facebook memorial page that they will attend.
Matula's story grabbed public attention as family members, friends and community members joined in search efforts over the last six months.


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text:
Students at Penn Foster Career School can receive advanced academic credit for some courses within a program, which means you can move through your curriculum faster and earn your certificate or diploma sooner. These include transfer credit from a prior college or university, proficiency examination credit (such as CLEP, AP, or DSST), and prior learning credit obtained through military service or employment and documented with an ACE/JST transcript.
Transfer credit may, on approval by the Registrar's office or faculty, be granted to those students who have completed comparable work with a "C" grade or higher from accredited colleges and universities, as evidenced by an official college transcript.
You will need to submit an official transcript from the prior institution where the course(s) was completed for it to be considered for transfer credit. We accept mailed paper transcripts (in the original sealed envelope) as well as electronic transcripts from Parchment and Scrip Safe. Contact your prior school for ordering information and options. If you are mailing a paper transcript, please send it to:
Penn Foster
Student Care Center
925 Oak Street
Scranton, PA 18515
You will need to get your official transcripts to Penn Foster before you start the course you wish to receive Academic credit for.
Some prior courses are evaluated based on the date they were completed and may not transfer if they are considered obsolete. For example, computer courses must have been completed within seven or fewer years for some programs, and three or fewer years for Technology and Graphic Design programs.
To request an evaluation of prior Penn Foster courses into a current career program, please contact Student Care at (888) 427-1000.
Proficiency exams are standardized national exams taken through an official testing service. Prior learning credit may, on approval by the Registrar's office or faculty, be granted toward your career program if you submit an official transcript of your scores from the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), the ACT Proficiency Examination Program, or the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) program. You must meet the ACE designated passing score for CLEP exams and a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam.
A list of exams available through CLEP can be found here: http://www.collegeboard.com
A list of exams available through DSST can be found here: http://www.getcollegecredit.com
You will need to submit official documentation from the testing agency for exam scores to be considered for prior learning credit. Have this official documentation mailed to:
Penn Foster
Student Care Center
925 Oak Street
Scranton, PA 18515
Penn Foster Career School considers the guidelines of the College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT) of the American Council on Education (ACE). ACE provides guidelines for nontraditional education and learning experiences, such as military service and training programs provided by your employer.
For information about military transcripts, go here: http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Transcripts-for-Military-Personnel.aspx
In addition to evaluating military credit, ACE offers a college credit recommendation service that evaluates training courses sponsored by professional and nonprofit organizations, labor unions, the government, hospitals, businesses, and industry. Credit recommendations are published in the ACE National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs. You can access a searchable list of training programs, certifications, and examinations that have been evaluated by ACE here: http://www.acenet.edu/nationalguide
In order to receive VA benefits, it is a requirement that you provide all transcripts from prior colleges and universities to Penn Foster Career School for an evaluation of potential transfer credit. It is imperative that you submit all transcripts to us even if you do not expect to receive any transfer credit toward your program. Failure to provide official transcripts from all prior colleges within the first six months of your enrollment may result in the loss of VA benefits. We are also happy to evaluate military training for potential Prior Learning credit. Please submit a JST Transcript (Joint Services) by logging into this site: http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Transcripts-for-Military-Personnel.aspx


text:
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Colors of Spring
Phipp's Conservatory
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Uploaded on 2/28/2005 9:52:46 AM
Camera: Nikon D70 Digital SLR Camera
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Greg Smith. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
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text:
Ajessup needed a new web page design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 16 designs submitted by 6 freelance designers.
Quotify.com.au is an Australian web based business, that matches customers looking for home improvement or professional services, to high quality service providers who are looking for customers. We've been running since 2006, and to date have matched over 150,000 customers to over 3,000 suppliers.
We operate in 40 categories from painters to printers, and are nationwide across Australia.
We're now expanding our successful site to encourage even more suppliers to join our network, and we're looking for some great designs to help professionally yet compellingly sell our product.
We are currently expanding our online portal for services providers to discover and join our network. Our service providers are typically small business professionals both from "blue collar" industries such as painting and plumbing, and from "white collar" industries such as accounting and lawyers.
This project is for a new feature of our existing website. The feature is designed to show off our product to prospective customers through a series of dynamically generated pages that show our activity in various categories and locations.
We require a design that is consistent with the look and feel of our existing site, for a new page.
Important to note:
* The screens MUST fit within the existing CMS template that we are using for the site at http://www.quotify.com.au/partners/. The attached screenshot shows what areas of the template we can adjust for this project and which ones we can't. Please ask if you're unclear.
* The design must obviously be reasonably consistent with the CMS template we're using, but feel free to be a bit creative :)
* The screens MUST include all the elements in the wireframe provided, although you can be creative about how they are positioned and the various dimensions. Again, please ask if you're unclear.
* The majority text on the page will eventually need to be rendered using web-friendly fonts, particularly those that are likely to change (such as the names of locations, industries, statistics etc.)
Please refer to the wireframe of SCREEN 5 ("Carpet Cleaning in the Petersham Area") in the attached PDF for details.
We are only looking for a design for SCREEN 5 - the last screen in the attached PDF. We do NOT require designs for screens 3 and 4 just yet (but we will later...).
This page will be dynamic, the information on the page such as the location (in this example, Petersham), the industry (in this example, Carpet Cleaning) and all the relevant statistics and graphs will all be dynamically generated depending on the location and industry of interest.
Visitors will approach this page both directly from search engines, and also from browsing within the Quotify site itself.
This page will sit as a new page in the existing website http://www.quotify.com.au/partners.
The screens MUST fit and be consistent with the style of the existing CMS template that we are using for the site at http://www.quotify.com.au/partners/.
The attached screenshot shows what areas of the template we can adjust for this project and which ones we would prefer not too. Please ask if you're unclear.


text:
It is especially those owners who would like to compete with others in regattas who find the CRUISER 41S the right yacht to put them out there with the front runners without having to compromise on comfort. A taller mast and a slightly deeper keel distinguish the outward appearance of the CRUISER 41S from that of her sister, the CRUISER 41.
Three cabins that can accommodate six people, a generous galley, a spacious saloon – on a CRUISER 41S you don't have to give up anything.
Symmetrical rudder with fore balance
Emergency tiller
Steering pedestal
Helmsman seat
Cockpit-shower cold and warm water (only in combination with warm water boiler)
Hatches and side windows
8 hatches to open up
6 port lights to open up
Side window to open in salon and head
Teak on cockpit seats
Teak on helmsman seat
Box for gas bottles, self drained


text:
Special K Shakes It Up With Weight-Management Shakes
One of the most widely anticipated product launches of the season doesn't feature the bells and whistles of most consumer products, such as phones and video games, but consumers can't wait to get their hands on it just the same. Kellogg Co. Battle Creek, Mich., introduces Special K Protein Shakes, the brand's first weight-management shake. The grab-and-go breakfast for on-the-go women is ready to drink and comes in a convenient, single-serve, reclosable plastic bottle – giving women the perfect partner for all-day weight-management.
The shakes are available in three flavors: Milk Chocolate (190 calories), French Vanilla (180 calories) and Strawberry (180 calories).
Each contains 10g of protein and 5g of fiber to help take the edge off hunger plus vitamins A, C, D and E, along with other nutrients such as calcium, which is being linked to weight management.
While the new shakes began appearing in the diet and nutrition aisles of supermarkets nationwide as early as May 1, current supplies already are selling out. Kellogg Co. is working to increase production to ensure avid fans can find the product.
Suggested retail price for a four-pack is $6.29.


text:
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Freshman Sara Feder's goal with 3:25 remaining in regulation pulled UC Santa Barbara even with Pacific and neither team scored in the two overtime periods finishing in a 3-3 tie. The Gauchos battled back from a 3-1 second half deficit, but needed some help from the Tigers to do so.
Just a minute after Zarette Munoz-Aguilar scored a goal on a header at the 55:40 mark to give her team its 3-1 advantage, Pacific gave it right back. When the Gauchos played a ball into the box, a Tiger defender tried to clear it with a header and instead put it past her own goalkeeper, Kathrine Larsen, for an own goal to make it 3-2.
The score remained 3-2 until 86:35 when senior Dyanne Anderson pounded a cross from the left corner and Feder was there to head it home, tying the game and setting up the scoreless overtime.
The Gauchos got on the scoreboard first on an outstanding run by sophomore Indiana Mead. Mead took a pass just over the midfield and drove down the left side of the field, fading right into the top of the box where she unleashed a shot that went just inside the right post at 4:48 of the first half. It was Mead's first goal of the season.
Pacific tied the score and then took the lead during a three minute stretch late in the first half. Maricela Padilla scored first at 31:22 when she took a nice feed from Mirella Mattos and blasted in a shot from 25 yards out. At 34:03, it was Shayda Ansari taking a cross from Kortney Agdeppa and sliding a shot into the left side of the goal.
The match between the Gauchos and Tigers was very physical. The teams combined for 38 fouls, including 23 by the visitors from Stockton.
UCSB will travel south next weekend for two Big West matches. On Friday, Oct. 5 the Gauchos play a 7:00 p.m. contest at Long Beach State and on Sunday, Oct. 7 they travel to UC Irvine for a 1:00 p.m. match. Santa Barbara returns home for its final two home games the following weekend, hosting Hawaii on Friday Oct. 12 at 7:00 p.m. and then Cal State Northridge at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14.


text:
The European Circulation of Nordic Texts in the Romantic Period
Robert W. Rix
From the 1750s until the 1840s, the interest in Icelandic manuscripts of mythology and heroic sagas, as well as various forms of Nordic folklore, entered a new phase. One of the central reasons for this was an emergent attention to vernacular, national, and even primitive literature associated with the rise of Romanticism. Investigations of the Nordic past had been carried out before this time, and a popular craze for all things "Viking" came later in the 19th century, but the Romantic period marks a major juncture in relation to providing the Old North with cultural meaning. If the intellectual history of rediscovering Old Norse texts (i.e., poetry and prose written in the North Germanic language until the 14th century, known primarily from Icelandic manuscripts) and medieval Nordic folklore (found in medieval ballads, sagas, and heroic legends) differed in various European countries, there was also a remarkable sense of common aim and purpose in the reception history as it developed during the Romantic period. This was because European scholars and writers had come to see medieval Nordic texts as epitomizing the manners and literature of a common Germanic past. In particular, Old Norse texts from Icelandic manuscripts were believed to preserve the pre-Christian religion, as this was once shared by Scandinavians, Anglo-Saxons, Germans, and the Franks. Thus, interest in such texts circulated with particular intensity between Scandinavia, Germany, and Britain, as well as, to a lesser degree, France. Paradoxically, if medieval Nordic texts were seen as wild and unwieldy pieces, unaffected by classical learning and sophistication, they were also sought out as triumphant records of the vernacular and national. In addition to this, the untamed use of fantastic and sublime elements in these texts fitted into a new Romantic emphasis on the primitive and imaginative resources of literature.
There are three interrelated areas in which Nordic texts made an impact. The first of these was in the field of antiquarian studies. Scholars had taken an interest in the texts and culture of the Nordic past beginning in the 17th century, publishing their findings primarily in Latin. But efforts were redoubled after Paul Henri Mallet, a professor at Copenhagen, published a popular history of the Old North (1755) and a selection of Norse poetry (1756) in French. These works gained wide European traction and influenced the reception history in fundamental ways during the Romantic period. The second area of impact was the acceleration of translations and/or adaptations of original manuscript texts that began to appear in modern European languages. But, in effect, a relatively small body of texts were repeated and reworked in various national languages. The third area in which the interest in Nordic literature asserted its impact was among writers and poets, who trawled antiquarian works on Norse history and mythology as an ore to be mined for the purpose of creating—or rather reviving—a national literature. This was a literature that consciously broke with classical models and decorum to provide a new poetic orientation that was both more vernacular and imaginative.
The celebration of medieval Nordic literature cannot be treated in isolation, as if it were an independent phenomenon; it was part of a wider revival of ancient national/vernacular literary forms around Europe. To a significant degree, the attention to Old Norse texts was propelled by the phenomenal success that the Gaelic Ossian poetry enjoyed across Europe. Norse poetry was harnessed as a Germanic parallel that could match both the vigor and purported ancientness of the Ossian tradition. Sometimes the Nordic past was invoked as a larger legacy that represented a shared ethno-cultural past; at other times, it was used with a more focused nationalist aim. But, whatever the intent in individual circumstances, the rediscovery of the Old North took place through the circulation of ideas and key texts as part of a wider European exchange.
Periodical Fiction in Denmark and Norway before 1900
Aina Nøding
Prose fiction, poetry, and essays were integral parts of the Danish and Norwegian periodical press from its early modern beginnings to the rise of the modern news media. They range from the 17th-century versified newspaper Den danske Mercurius (The Danish Mercury), to the fables, poems, essays, and stories of 18th-century newspapers and spectator journals, to Henrik Ibsen's plays and the serial novels of the 19th century.
The print markets in Denmark and Norway were closely integrated due to the union of the two states until 1814. They remained so during Norway's union with Sweden 1814–1905, with major publishing houses for Norwegian authors still in Copenhagen until 1925. Danish remained the basis for the primary written language in Norway for most of the 1800s, partly due to the proximity of the two languages. While there was an increased call for more Scandinavian and Swedish–Norwegian collaboration after 1814, the Swedish-Finnish print market remained largely separate from the Dano-Norwegian. While newspapers and journals were local or national publications, their fiction reflected the book market and the Dano-Norwegian literary discourse.
The periodical press served as an important arena for new writers, by offering them a large audience and allowing for experimentation with form and content. Furthermore, the periodical form and the publication context of news pieces informed how fiction was written and read.
The genre of the sketch, a traveling journalist's highly subjective and literary report, exemplifies the blurred lines between fact and fiction. Maurits Hansen, Camilla Collett, and Knut Hamsun were among its Norwegian practitioners; Holger Drachmann and Herman Bang notable Danish ones. Simultaneously, they were all renowned novelist and poets, both inside and outside the press, with some works reflecting the crime stories and exotic tales of the paper columns. Hans Christian Andersen, by contrast, applied the traditional genre of allegory to comment on topical events in the 1850s by producing fairy tales for the press. Ibsen claimed newspapers to be his favorite reading material. While building his career, periodicals served as important publication channels both at home and abroad. They informed his later plays, increasingly concerned with events and issues of his time.
By the mid-19th century, there was a growing movement to introduce a written
Norwegian language more in line with the spoken word. Ivar Aasen (1813–1896) introduced Landsmål (New Norwegian language) in 1853, based on dialects. To prove its applicability, the journalist A. O. Vinje published poems and stories, alongside witty essayistic prose, in his weekly Dølen (The man from the valley; 1858–1870). The author Arne Garborg followed suit in the newspaper Fedraheimen (Fatherland; 1877–1883), publishing both his own fiction and essays as well as translated novels. Newspapers thus became seminal in shaping a new written language and its literature.
The press enabled a speedy introduction of foreign literature and new genres, circulating as part of an international print market. In the 18th century, the Dano-Norwegian press featured literary texts by François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Carl von Linnaeus, Saadi, Joseph Addison, and Oliver Goldsmith. The first feuilleton novel in Denmark was Eugène Sue's The Mysteries of Paris (Les Mystères de Paris), printed from July 1842 in Dagen (The day), while the novel was still under publication in France. In Norway, the first novel came hot off the British press in 1844: Arabella Stuart in Den Norske Rigstidende (The Norwegian national newspaper). The novel by G. P. R. James was typical of the taste for gothic and mystery tales set in historic times that were to fill the feuilleton section at the bottom of the page (termed "the cellar"). Female writers are notably present from the beginning and reached a wider audience than ever before, thanks to serial literature. Often writing under pseudonyms, Scandinavian women entered positions as novelists, journalists, editors, and translators for newspapers and journals. Among the favorite translated authors were George Sand, George Eliot, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, who became household names for newspaper readers. Jane Austen was tellingly introduced in Norway by way of a newspaper serial: Persuasion (called Familien Elliot) in Morgenbladet (The morning paper) 1872–1873.


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No one can escape time—not you, not me, not nobody. Especially not when you're staring it right in the face with this stately and sturdy concrete Swedish clock.
The Tidvis Grandfather Clock by Fosberg Form stands six-foot-four-inches (or one Jeff Goldblum) tall. That's a lot of heavy concrete to drag into your house, but does make for quite the design statement. We're all weighed down by the inescapable burden of time, aren't we? Just don't install this beautiful reminder of the world's harsh reality in a house with toddlers—no sense in them knocking it over and clocking out at such an early age. [Fosberg Form via Contemporist]


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When books are translated to screen, the result is often seriously disappointing. So it makes sense that Fifty Shades of Grey fans have been waiting for some sign that screenwriter Kelly Marcel isn't going to totally suck the soul out of the story or, worse yet, completely sanitize the dirtiest bits for fear of getting slapped with an NC-17 rating. Well, Marcel has spoken, and fans, rejoice! It sounds like she's planning to write the film we're all craving.
The British screenwriter -- who first won Hollywood's heart with her script for Saving Mr. Banks, the upcoming "behind-the-scenes look at how Mary Poppins came to be" -- spoke with the UK's Sunday Times about her plans for the Fifty Shades script: "This isn't going to be Twilight. It's going to be raunchy ... We are 100 percent going there." Hallelujah!
But, wait, there's more!
Marcel confesses that she hears the burning question we've been asking for months -- "Who will play Christian Grey?" -- about 300 times a day. (Oof! That's horrible!) But apparently, she still has an awesome sense of humor about it, saying, "Ha-ha! No actor would sign up to a film without a script. That would be insane." True that.
More from The Stir: '50 Shades of Grey' Author Reveals Her Perfect Christian Grey
And even if she could admit that an actor was "in" without a script, we wouldn't know about it -- at least not from her, because she's been "sworn to secrecy on all aspects of the film," reports the Times. Marcel explains:
This thing is very, very closely guarded. There are shredders arriving at my house at this moment, because in LA my trash was gone through. Who is playing Christian, who is playing Anna -- seriously, people are rabid about this thing.
Wait, back up ... there may have been evidence of who is being considered to play Christian and/or Ana IN THIS WOMAN'S TRASH?! Crazy! Also, geeze, you'd think we were talking about top-secret, CIA material here. But no! Just a "raunchy" flick. Okay, maybe not entirely just "raunchy." Marcel also gave romantics some hope, noting that the film adaptation's not going to be all about the sex.
Regardless of what you may think of the writing, this is a modern love story, involving two complex characters, and that's what I'm interested in. I don't care what anybody says, there is something about Christian that is old-fashioned and romantic.
And there you have it, folks. Sounds like the script is definitely in the right hands.
Does Kelly's interview leave you hopeful about how the film will turn out?
Image via tumblr


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Table Size:
Length: 3600mm
Width: 1200mm
Height: 727mm
Standard Features:
- Tempo chrome base with adjustable feet
- 25mm high pressure laminate top with matching ABS edge
- D-ends, two piece top
- Custom finish from our 16 standard colours
- 5 year warranty
- Inbuilt power and data services, please look under the 'Accessories' page for the options available
- 33mm thick worktop, please contact us for further information
- Three piece top with centre feature colour
As a guide:
3600 x 1200mm, accommodates 12 - 16 people
Looking for a custom finish, size or shape? Please contact us on 1800 263 262 to discuss your requirements.
* Delivery and installation is calculated at 15% of order total, with a minimum charge of $150 per order. A surcharge of $45 applies for projects in the Melbourne CBD. Orders over $5,000 are exempt from the 15% delivery and installation fee. Further volume discounts apply to large orders. We specialise in commercial office furniture and only deliver to commercial business premises. Delivery and installation is within metropolitan Melbourne unless otherwise specified. Installation is based on work in normal business hours and is subject to site access, and excludes stairs. All pricing excludes the GST.


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Renaming your 360fly using an iOS device
Your 360fly was given a default name from the factory. But don't worry, you can change it at anytime.
1. Open the 360fly app on your iOS device.
2. Tap on the "Camera" icon in the lower left corner and connect to your 360fly.
3. Once connected to your 360fly, tap on the "Gear" icon in the top right corner to access the settings menu.
4. Tap on "Rename" and you will be prompted to enter a new name for your 360fly and then click "Done".
Please Note: You can only use the "-" or "_" special characters.
You're done, you have renamed your 360fly!
Turite daugiau klausimų? Pateikti užklausą


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Respawn and PlayfightVFX Team Up for New Titanfall Trailer
This new launch trailer for Titanfall features beautiful cinematics produced by the excellent team at PlayfightVFX.
Playfight is a production team which specializes in visual effects, computer animation and motion graphics. And based on what they have brought to the table in this 'Free the Frontier' cinematic trailer for Titanfall, their work is of the highest quality.
Watch as this pilot charges into battle behind a large Titan. Both the pilot and the Titan wage war on an enemy mech far away, and while the enemy Titan is distracted, the pilot on the ground finally has Titanfall clearance as his massive armored suit falls from on high.
Stay tuned for our review of Titanfall, which should be due in from an orbital drop very soon. Titanfall is now available for Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC.


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The Croatian scored a spectacular effort from long range as Jose Mourinho's half-time changes saw his side turn around a 2-1 deficit with three goals in five minutes
An unorthodox lineup featuring Pepe as a defensive midfielder did not have the intended effect for the home side, who struggled with the high ball as Mallorca ended the first half in front through Emilio Nsue and Alejandro Alfaro, who netted either side of a Gonzalo Higuain effort.
But Jose Mourinho's tactical and personnel readjustments at half-time paid off almost immediately, as three goals in five minutes from Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Higuain sent the hosts into a two-goal lead before the hour mark, an advantage that they would never relinquish.
Karim Benzema added a fifth at the death, as Madrid keep their hold on second spot in the table, moving four points clear of third-placed Atletico Madrid, who visit Osasuna on Sunday.
With Pepe pushed further forward, Raphael Varane returned to displace Raul Albiol in the centre of defence, while Jose Callejon made way for 20-year-old Alvaro Morata out wide.
Mallorca would make the brighter start to the match though, due in no small part to the enterprise of Giovani dos Santos. The former Barcelona winger did brilliantly to beat his man and hang a cross towards the far post, where Nsue was waiting to head home the opener.
But Madrid were soon back down the other end of the pitch, and Higuain would force Dudu Aouate into an unconventional save with his chest from an odd angle.
Higuain would make no mistake on the quarter-hour mark though, smashing into an open goal after Pepe had done enough to harness a Modric through pass and roll the ball into his path, despite suspicions of offside.
But six minutes later, Mallorca were back in front, when Dos Santos' corner was flicked on by Pedro Bigas, and nodded in at the far post by the unmarked Alfaro.
The scoreline did not always reflect the tone of the match, as Mallorca spent large periods without the ball, but their stout defending was enough to frustrate the home side.
However, Ronaldo nearly broke their resilience just before the half-hour mark when his attempt from Morata's lay-off clipped the woodwork on its way out.
But Mallorca's danger lay chiefly in their aerial threat, and they nearly gave Madrid another painful demonstration when Dos Santos' corner was nodded inches wide minutes before the interval.
Mourinho moved quickly to rectify the situation at the break, introducing Benzema and Mesut Ozil for Arbeloa and Morata, while shifting Ramos to right-back and dropping Pepe into his natural position at the heart of defence.
And the effect of his half-time readjustment were seen within moments, when Ozil's corner was guided into the corner by the head of Ronaldo just after the restart.
Barely a minute later, Modric sent the hosts into the lead for the first time with a sensational swerving first-time strike from 25 yards out that left Aouate with absolutely no chance.
The onslaught was not done, as almost straight from kickoff, Ozil meandered to the byeline and cut back for Higuain to turn home Madrid's fourth goal.
By the time the dust had settled, the only question remaining in the game was how many goals Madrid would score with Mallorca completely floored by their ruthless turnaround.
Higuain, Ozil and Ronaldo all spurned chances in the second half, but the fifth goal would eventually arrive at the death when the Argentine squared to Benzema, who made no mistake from barely a yard out.
And that served as the last kick of the game, as a day of experimentation for Mourinho ended successfully, and left him with plenty to ponder for his side's upcoming European clashes with Galatasaray.


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Here's a sneak peek...
I'm currently working on a 6" Hammerhead by Joe Ledbetter.
Do follow Phu's twitter for more info & progress pics.
Final custom pics will be up soon...So Stay Tuned!!!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Custom in Progress
Monday, October 25, 2010
Next-in-line project
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Rebel Yoka - Artist Proof
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Custom in Progress
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Next-in-line project for Sketchbot
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Rebel Yoka - Artist Proof
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Rebel Yoka @ New York Comic Con
The name Phu in short is a self-created lingo. Entirely imaginative and not based upon adherence to actuality.
3D art is his pursuit, especially in vinyl customizing. Phu's Phuturistic concept is a manifestation through his artistic form of thought and personalized treatment in which he exercises the habit of recycling.
And it's with this Phuturistic niche, Phu's customed vinyls have been commissioned and showcased in various international exhibitions and shows worldwide.
: : Deconstruct / Recreate : :
© Phu. All Rights Reserved
: : Deconstruct / Recreate : :
© Phu. All Rights Reserved


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Backstreet Boys Working on 'Backstreet Boys – The Movie'
Backstreet's back … alright!
The Backstreet Boys will be featured in an all-access documentary, dubbed 'Backstreet Boys – The Movie,' which is currently in production. It will follow the fivesome's journey from kid stars to the biggest-selling boy band E-V-E-R to their breakup to their reunion. In effect, it will capture the ups and downs of Nick, Howie, Brian, Kevin and A.J., leading up to their preparation for their 20th anniversary. Two decades of BSB? Holla!
The film will wrap production in late spring, with a early 2014 release date being eyed.
"We always wanted to make a film and now is the ideal time -- with Kevin [Richardson] back, the fact that we are masters of our own destiny, a new album in the works and our 20th anniversary all adds up to being the right time to share our story," the band said. "We are excited that the team from Pulse and Stephen have joined us in what has been a energizing collaboration so far."
The filmmakers said the boys were open and willing to push themselves into uncomfortable places for the sake of the film, and to be vulnerable, honest and trusting. That's going to make it quite an authentic, peel-back-the-layers look at the boys of Backstreet. If you loved 'em way back when, you've gotta see this.
PopCrushers, do you want to see the BSB documentary?
Watch the Backstreet Boys 'As Long as You Love Me' Video


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When I was a kid, kids' music came in several flavors: smarmy, cutesy, annoying, cloying, bad, and painfully bad. I remember with special horror an album called Scouting Breaks the Song Barrier, its back graced with a photo of the Goodtimers, three mop-haired maniacs with poet shirts, acoustic guitars and bandannas. The album may have broken the song barrier, but it left the suck barrier intact, especially when the Goodtimers vigorously harmonized the "Three Jolly Fishermen" refrain "Amster Amster dam dam dam."
That's enough to make anybody gun-shy when it comes to kids' music. So I found myself a little apprehensive when I received a disc for kids from Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. I mean, "Skidoo?" But it was the only thing in the review pile I hadn't spun. Of course, the disc was fantastic. The Secret Agent himself is a member of the very cool band Granola Funk Express who decided to make music for (and sometimes with) his young daughter. He specializes in what is often called "kid-hop," and it's basically hip-hop with a wicked groove, but lyrics about kid concerns. Doesn't seem like it should be revolutionary, yet it's miles from Amsterdam-dam-dam. I guess the biggest leaps seem obvious after they've happened.
Heaven knows why so many musicians in the past found it necessary to pander or adopt absurd voices in order to sing to kids, who are, after all, not an entirely alien species in need of special translation services. My own favorite band when I was five was Creedence Clearwater Revival, closely followed by the Beatles, neither of whom could be accused of making children's music. That kind of experience hardly seems unique.
Maybe it was because rock 'n' roll was already the music of older kids that nobody saw fit to quit pandering to the young set with syrupy nonsense. Maybe it was because rockers were too cool to look backward for the benefit of the pre-cool preschool short set. Maybe it was the then-respectable view that rock 'n' roll was thinly disguised sonic corruption for tender ears. Whatever the case, it's mighty hard to point to old kids' albums that weren't produced by A Mighty Wind-style folkies who'd never heard of a distortion pedal.
The sounds on 23 Skidoo sent me on a quest to find out what had happened in the years between those doofuses in bandannas and the melodious strains of kid-hop. That search quickly revealed that a major expert in kids' music resides in the Valley. Bill Childs and his kids/co-hosts Ella and Liam bring interesting and innovative sounds to young ears from the Northampton studios of WRSI on their Saturday morning show "Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child," which his blog proclaims to be "indie music for indie kids." Childs also writes about kids' music for Minnesota Parent, Little Rock Family and Valley Kids. I recently chatted with Bill, Ella and Liam as they taped their show.
Perhaps, I thought, this transition to more interesting, rock-fueled kids' music finally happened because rockers are having kids.
"But it's not like there weren't adult rock musicians with kids then. They just didn't do it," Childs told me. "I've thought about the same question—why is it different now? I think part of it—I don't know if it's all of it, or a big part—but I think a part of it is the ease of recording and distribution. One of the big problems for musicians, of course, is the ease of distribution of music without paying for it, but even just with that [handheld recorder], you can do a pretty good live recording and throw it up on the Web and there you go. You've got yourself a kids' record.
"One of the people we played earlier, that 'Spring Has Sprung' song, by Frances England—she recorded her first record as a benefit for her kid's preschool in San Francisco. She played guitar and sang, obviously, but she didn't have a real big career prior to that. But she sounded [good] to me and to this guy who does the Zooglobble blog, which is the biggest kids' music review blog. I loved it and started playing it and starting telling everybody I knew about it, and she released another record, and she's not making a living at it yet, I don't think, but she's playing Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza this year on the kids' stage. And that's still just self-released. It's not like she's got a label or anything."
Which perhaps means that there's more room for musicians to rev up a career in kid territory—provided they have that certain savoir faire when it comes to appealing to kids. "There still are the behemoths, Disney and such," Bill tells me, "but even they are doing some interesting stuff—They Might Be Giants is on Disney, Ralph's World's on Disney, and those are both legitimate, interesting artists.
"But yeah, I think there is a little bit more opportunity to make a splash, because it's still a relatively smaller market. I think it is easier to make some money, because kids still like actual CDs, so you actually do sell physical CDs in kids' music. Digital distribution—to date, anyway—isn't as important as it has become everywhere else. You go to a show, and your kid wants that CD. They don't want a gift card to iTunes."
"And there's only a small fraction of the music in the world that you can download," adds Ella.
Her father says, "Somebody's been listening to Turn It Up CD ads." (A side effect of the radio trade for a young host, it seems.)
"But still. That's true!" says Ella.
Having that certain savoir faire to appeal to kids doesn't mean what adults often think it means, according to her. She often likes music made by adults in the regular music world who turn to kid concerns. "I think it makes for very good music," Ella says. "It's usually really cool music, not cheesy music all about princesses and things like that, but interesting subjects and weird subjects, sort of like what they do in their grown-up band. I think that's one of the things that makes them sometimes better."
Bill Childs understands that, and that's part of the reason he puts plenty of "adult" music into his playlists, from stuff like David Byrne's version of "Don't Fence Me In" to tunes by Devo and perhaps the second most surprising group on the roster, Medeski Martin & Wood (the most surprising: the wonderfully monstrous Tom Waits with "Bend Down the Branches"). "[Whether it's good kids' music] is about themes, not the sophistication of the music—whether it's talking to the kids," he says.
"I think that there's no real fine lines between kids' music and adult music," adds Ella. "It shouldn't have swear words and it's not about inappropriate topics. It shouldn't be about smoking and drinking or things that kids don't need to know."
And when it comes to good and bad, Ella has some clear opinions: "To be good, it needs interesting lyrics and to be about something appealing. It shouldn't be all squeaky and high-voiced, like you're talking to a toddler. & A lot of toddler music is good, but not with that in it. [Good music should] limit the amount of kids singing—people think it makes it sound cute, but I think it makes it obnoxious."
Good thing she lives in the era of more adventurous music for kids. Whatever the reason, it is a genre that's throwing off its old cliches and rapidly filling with artists who don't spend a lot of time worrying about what makes kids' music different from the adult kind. They seem to mostly make music they like. That adds up to kids' music that's easier on adult ears and probably a lot more fun for kids.
Both Bill and Ella say you can sometimes judge kids' music by the CD cover—"Pink, fuzzy bunnies? You don't want that," says Ella.
So I guess that means the era of Scouting breaking the song barrier is officially over. And who'll miss it? I mean, besides the Goodtimers.
Get Ready to Melt
Bill Childs says one of the first proponents of a different brand of kids' music was Dan Zanes. Some of the other early innovators include They Might Be Giants, Ralph's World and Justin Roberts.
Having discovered that kids' music was breaking new ground, he capitalized on his experience as a DJ and record store owner in Minnesota and what he calls an "unnatural obsession with radio" by starting "Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child" on Valley Free Radio in 2005. Now he's brought the show to WRSI, where it airs Saturdays from 8-10 a.m.
This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., WRSI is throwing a massive kids' music event called Meltdown, a "Family Music and Book Fest," which will include many purveyors of kids' sounds, with a major emphasis on local and regional musicians. Brooklyn's Deedle Deedle Dees will be on hand, as will Uncle Rock, Ratboy, Jr. and Mariani Iranzi.
In the Valley scene, an ever-increasing number of musicians are taking on the challenge of kids' music, including the usually adult-oriented School for the Dead. Others include Aric Bieganek, Dennis Caraher, The Nields, Laura Cayer (formerly of the Pop Rockets) and Marcy Gregoire, all of whom will play the Meltdown.
Illustrators and authors of kids' books will contribute to the Meltdown as well, including Jane Yolen, Anna Alter, Timothy Basil Ering and Jarrett Krosoczka.
For more information on the Meltdown, Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at JFK Middle School in Northampton, visit wrsi.com.