text:
How to Dominate A Boring Industry with Content Marketing

It’s difficult to admit that you work in a boring industry but it’s okay if you do. In fact, if your industry is considered boring by most than it’s probably an industry that’s ripe for content marketing disruption. The BBB’s (Big Boring Brands) are usually the best industries for doing something that is against the norm because it quickly allows them to stand out.

It’s not often that you hear people talking about how you can use content marketing for textile businesses or fishing supplies. That’s because they aren’t as sexy as brands like Warby Parker or Old Spice. But that doesn’t mean they cant use content marketing to stand out and become a leader in their industry.

Whenever I speak at an event where there are a few content marketing newbies in the audience, I tend to be met with the same rebuttal time and time again:

“No one cares about our product and what we have to say – Why would we create content?”

And as usual, I disagree. Every industry can be made interesting when it’s met with a unique and compelling story to associate with a brand. Prescription glasses were a boring industry until the Warby Parker came around and Old Spice was a boring deodorant before the Old Spice guy came around. It’s all about developing a unique and compelling story that targets an audience that can be influenced.

In reality, if you’re passionate about your product or have customers asking you questions; you’ve got an opportunity to create content. If you have employees and an organizational culture; you have an opportunity to create content. I’ve never met a company or organization that is too boring to develop content. I’ve met hundreds that require a bit of an adjustment in their brand story but I’ve never met one that couldn’t benefit from content marketing.

General Electric Content Marketing

It’s a brand that has boring wrapped throughout it’s DNA. It’s a brand that people see as dinosaur because in reality, it is. General Electric has been around for over 130 years and continues to be a leader in a wide variety of industries. At the same time, much of the success associated with General Electric is connected to their legacy.

After digging a bit deeper into the General Electric bag of tricks, you quickly realize that this brand isn’t your grandfathers General Electric. The brand is slowly moving into content marketing using channels like Pinterest, Blogging and Facebook to lead the way and help them succeed.

On Pinterest, you can find them using reactive storytelling to better connect with their audience and create content that goes viral. As an example, they used the meme “Hey Girl” featuring Ryan Gosling to create their own version of the meme:

As a brand that has been seen as boring and dull, they have recently used content to truly differentiate their brand and become more of a thought leader and innovator. After launching a website called, they released a wide range of blog posts that promoted innovation, efficiency and resources. Whether they were highlighting A Tool to Help Keep CO2 Locked Away or asking thought provoking questions to stir up discussion like Can we make Power Outages a thing of the past?

Yet, that’s not where it ends. General Electric has also embraced content as it relates to Facebook. Unlike most brands who struggle to generate fresh ideas that are worth sharing; General Electric understands the psychology behind why people share content on Facebook. As such, they constantly deliver and share content that drives users to engage and interact with the 100 year old brand in a new and dynamic way. So how can your brand get to the level of General Electric and stand out as a leader?

Let’s get to it.

Your Product Doesn’t Have to Be Cool But Your Story Does

It’s important to recognize the value of telling a compelling story. In the example above, GE has embraced a story focused on the power of science, technology and innovation which together continues to push our society forward. The story triggers your emotions as it’s focused on providing us with a sense of inspiration, hope and pride while making us smile. It’s a story filled with emotion.

Stories that play on our emotions are stories worth sharing. Whether it’s a story that makes us laugh, cry or reminisce; stories that connect with us as humans are able to spread like wildfire.

When you develop your story, you need to go back to the basics of marketing 101. Think about who it is you’re talking to and what messages will resonate best with that audience. Don’t fall into the age old trap that many marketers do and believe that the target audience is the person they see in the mirror. What drives you, doesn’t necessarily drive your customers decisions.

“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” – Bill Cosby

Once you’ve identified the group you’re going to be targeting with this story, start thinking about what topics and triggers will catch their attention. Based on what I’ve seen, I would guess that the folks at GE are targeting people who are highly affluent, professional and have an appreciation for smart humor. What attributes define your audience? What pages do they like on Facebook? What blogs do they follow? All of these questions and more will help create the persona for the people you want to share your story.

Understand The Three Types of Content

The triple threat of content is framework in which your content marketing will be built. The combination of these three elements drive success for the campaigns and initiatives that we can consider content excellence.

When I work with brands, the first thing they want to talk about is the content that we will develop as a brand. It’s the right approach but thinking about the other types of content and the role brand developed content plays in influencing it; is a key piece of the puzzle. Brand developed content includes things like videos, tweets, ebooks, webinars, white papers, blog posts, facebook updates and Pinterest pages to name a few. It’s any type of content that is delivered and delivered by a specific brand.

As everyone should know, the goal of content is to influence stakeholders. Whether it’s to influence them into liking the product enough to buy it or develop a sense of brand affinity that drives loyalty, the goal is always anchored in influencing users perception.

An additional goal for content is to create content that the users find compelling enough to share, engage or interact with.  A user commenting on a GEO fridge status update saying it’s the best product they ever had, is user developed content. This content has the potential to influence other users which is why I highlight the user circle in blue above.

When a user has direct interaction with a piece of brand comment and creates content as a result of it, that content that they created becomes a part of the brands overall story. What’s often forgot about though, is the influence that media plays on the brands story.

One of the best examples of a brand who controlled media with their brand story was Redbull and their Stratos Jump from Space.  Red Bull made a commitment to creating a piece of content that was so amazing, so out there, that the media had no choice to talk about them because the rest of the world was whether they liked it or not. Media channels connected to the Red Bull live stream and aired it from their stations free of charge.

It was the best example of the power of compelling content I’ve ever seen.

Create Content & Resources with Value to your Audience

I wanted to express one addition I’ve found very valuable when it comes to content strategy – that the final consumer of the product/service doesn’t need to be the key target for content. In fact, it’s often easier to influence the influencers simultaneously or as part of a campaign.

When planning your content, always think about the solutions to your clients pain and problems. When you focus on these issues you can deliver them with content that they are looking for through search but also content that will help them and build a deeper connection with your brand. The power of providing your audience with valuable content cannot be overstated.

When I work with clients, I strive to always create value for our target audience. Whether it’s in the development of an application or the content created in shared on a blog; injecting value into that content is key. Brands from any industry can create content that provides their audience with value they just need to embrace the idea of giving away their knowledge.

When launched a blog sharing industry tips and tricks there was a huge rift in the Real Estate industry about them sharing too much information. What recognized that many organizations did not, was that people were going to Google for answers whether the industry liked it or not and the only way to win in this new game was to start playing by the new rules. Further demonstrating the value of providing valuable content that can be found through search, Hubspot released a study showing that organic search leads have a 14.6% close rate, while outbound marketing leads have a 1.7% close rate.

Recognizing the power of providing value, started creating content that would be relevant to first time home buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords so they could find them during search. Whether it was a post titled 5 Secrets Your Contractor Doesn’t Want You to Know or How to Fake a Fire and Put Some Spark in the Bedroom, they ensured the content was relevant, compelling and valuable.

Infographic from the AllState blog that shows their readers how to create the Ultimate Secure Shelter. The post was shared hundreds of times and even brought AllState, an insurance company, a content marketing award for creating a compelling and resourceful infographic.

But it doesn’t have to end with creating guides, ebooks, infographics and other information products to deliver value.

At the end of the day, there are tons of different approaches you can take to differentiate your brand and stand out with content marketing. These tips will give you a good foundation to ensure you’re delivering great content but there’s definitely more that can be done to take your content marketing to the next level.

I’m currently working on a content marketing eBook that will help people looking to find success in social media. If you wan’t to get on the mailing list and be the first to receive any updates on the progress and launch; sign up today.

Also, please let me know if there are any specific things you’d be interested in me writing about in the comments. I’m hoping to create a resource that you will look back at time and time again for helping you in achieving content excellence.  So let me know what you’re interested in learning and I’ll try to squeeze it in!

This article “How to Dominate A Boring Industry with Content Marketing” first appeared on

Ross Simmonds
Ross Simmonds is a digital strategist, public speaker and entrepreneur. He's currently writing  Stand Out: A Content Marketing Guide for Entrepreneurs which highlights how businesses can use content marketing to drive meaningful and measurable results
Ross Simmonds

There are 4 comments.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Truncated: length

WARC-Type: response

text:
Are you Lazy enough?

The lazy project manager has taken it up a notch by introducing the new program on how you can become one. Check out and be lazy and twice as productive.

Be served with the science of productive laziness and get your work- life balance better for your and your team.

So why the online course- I ask Peter Taylor.

“I started the eLearning program because a number of people wanted more information about productive laziness. More beyond the book and more beyond the presentations I have delivered around the world on being ‘lazy’ and being a better project manager.
Since I do have a full time job with Siemens PLM heading up a PMO, and even taking in to account that I am incredibly productively lazy, I did not personally have the bandwidth to offer actual consultancy or classroom style training. The solution seemed to be eLearning.
With The Lazy Project Manager eLearning experience students get to learn more about being a ‘lazy’ project manager through audio visual lessons, get to complete some supporting workshops and even get to take a ‘productive lazy test’. All in the fun manner that you come to expect from The Lazy Project Manager.”

Sounds wonderful, so if this is what you like check out the site.

Peter Taylor said...

Thanks Soma

warcinfo:
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-179-60-89.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2015-27
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for June 2015
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf


text:
Sony CDP-101 Compact Disc Player

Our long-awaited laser-audio disc player (usually called the CD, for "Compact Disc") finally arrived, along with a real bonanza of software: two discs—a Polygram classical sampler of material from Decca, Deutsche Grammophon and Philips, and a Japanese CBS recording of Bruckner's 4th Symphony, with Kubelik.

The player is not the same one we saw in Chicago last summer. That unit was deep and had a square front, played the disc on edge, parallel to the front, and had a minimum of controls. This one is lower and wider, has a horizontal drawer that slides out to accept the disc, and has much more flexibility of control. Audiophiles will however be dismayed to note that there is nothing on it to adjust; there isn't even a knob to diddle. But there are plenty of buttons.

After the unit is turned on, a touch of a button opens the loading drawer. The disc goes in label-side up, playing-side down. To close the drawer, you can push the same button again or simply select a band for playing.

There are three fast-forward program-seeking functions in each direction. One (for each direction) moves to the beginning of the next or last (or currently playing) selection or, if the button is pressed 2 or 3 times, to the beginning of the second or third selection in each direction, and so on. A Reset button cancels any selection that is playing and puts the unit back to the start of Band 1, but does not start it playing until told to. Other buttons make it repeat the selection it is playing, repeat the entire disc when finished, or repeat any segment of any program that you have previously "marked" by delimiting its beginning and end via a frontpanel button. Four other buttons provide fast or very fast forward or reverse, in which modes the sound level drops and the music speeds up in tempo but without changing pitch! (This is done by sampling brief bursts of the passing digits; D/A conversion yields the original sounds minus the omitted segments of time.)

Also supplied is a cute little remote control module which duplicates the main unit's controls including Play, Pause, and all the program-seeking functions. The remote unit also allows for individual selection of each track, by track number. (For instance, each movement of a symphony constitutes a track; any one can be selected at will.) Track changes take but a few seconds, and in total silence. There are a few other functions on the remote control, such as a beeper and an automatic pause, whose raisons d'etre I have yet to figure out (the unit came without instructions), but I'll try to find out about them by next month.

The remote control uses a modulated infrared carrier to communicate with the main player but, unlike some such (the B&O remote, for example), this one is like a typical television remote in that it must be aimed directly at the main unit in order to communicate with it. (The B&O would work when bounced off a wall or ceiling—aiming from any direction and from any part of the same room as the control unit.)

Share | |

Enter your username.
Enter the password that accompanies your username.


text:
School of Engineering Relaunches its Online Research Magazine

Stevens Institute of Technology announces the relaunch of Nexus, the university’s online research magazine for the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr.  School of Engineering & Science,

Nexus is a publication for people interested in learning more about engineering research and news in four major research areas including: energy & environment; systems & security; nano-technology & multiscale; and biomedical & health. The Spring issue is the first to showcase a new site design that’s more visual and user-friendly and includes more technical research articles than before.

“Readers want and need to see a more complete picture of how much good work is happening in the School of Engineering and Science,” says Michael Bruno, Feiler Chair Professor and Dean, School of Engineering and Science. “Nexus serves as the window into our research for the campus community, our external partners, journalists, and our alumni.”

Each issue focuses on a topic or domain area that is of current national/global interest, or that highlights an emerging area of strength within the School.  The Spring issue is centered on the issue of information assurance or privacy and the work of Stevens’ researchers in this area.

A Sneak Peak into Nexus’ Spring 2014 Issue

As the digital age has transformed our lives for the better, connecting us in ways unimaginable only 10 years ago, so, too, has it ushered in an era of widespread concern for the safety and security of these connections, and the privacy on which so much of our personal and professional lives depend.

Stevens researchers are leading several different initiatives aimed at providing information assurance for both transmitted and stored data; ensuring the security of wireless networks, machines, and software; and enhancing the privacy protections of essential systems and processes, including our healthcare networks.  In this issue of Nexus, you will learn about many of these initiatives.


text:
Stevens Undergraduate Awarded Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Dylan Hutchison, a computer engineering junior at Stevens Institute of Technology, has been named a 2014-15 Goldwater Scholar, recognizing his research potential across theoretical and applied computer science.  He is particularly recognized for his work with Assistant Professor Samantha Kleinberg on “Combatting Uncertainty via Weighted Causal Inference,” where he strove to strengthen inference algorithms by using finer uncertainty representations.

The premier undergraduate award of its type, the scholarship program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering.

The 283 Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,166 mathematics, science, and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide.

Hutchison’s award follows Stevens chemical engineering major David Monteiro’s award from last year for his goal to eradicate arthritis.

 “More than a decoration for past academic results, I take the Goldwater scholarship as a green light to continue my research routine,” says Hutchison.  “I will simultaneously dive deep into research projects and broadly explore new topics.”

Through internships in industry and two national laboratories, Hutchison gained significant experience in big data analytics via distributed and parallel computing. He’s published one work on uncertainty in causal inference and has broad interests in graph theory, probability and formal methods.

“On a more practical note, I hope Goldwater will show graduate schools that I am serious about pursuing a research career,” says Hutchison.

During the Spring 2014 semester, Hutchison has studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh, where he finds time to play on the Quidditch team, debate in the philosophy society, and take up ceilidh dancing, in addition to his studies.

“I enjoy philosophic debate, an avenue where I can address the why’s of science and society and consider public policy’s impact,” he says.  “Where is the world heading if we as a society continue researching, consuming and living as we do today?”

Hutchison has organized those discussions into a ModelTalk titled “Our Aims as Modelers: Predictions, Explanations, Interventions and their Ultimate Implications,” which he presented in technical seminars at Stevens and Sandia National Laboratories.

This summer, Hutchison accepted an internship in Cambridge, UK to work at Microsoft Research on new algorithms for Tabular, a schema-based probabilistic programming language.

According to Hutchison, “being a researcher doesn't just mean reading papers and thinking about narrow problems all day.  It's more a mentality: actively making connections in all your endeavors, in and out of your research area.  So to spot a researcher, look for the student perpetually wearing his thinking cap.”


text:
Becoming a Professional Photographer Articles

3 Tips to Start a Career in Baby Photography

Baby photography is second only to wedding photography as the most lucrative photographic career in the photography industry. Mothers, father, aunts and uncles all want a photograph of the little darling. When you decide...[more]

3 Benefits and Pitfalls of Freelance Photography

Freelance photography is a great field to work in because you get to do what you love while being your own boss. Of course, the trade off is that when you're not working you're...[more]

Digital Photography Classes: Prepare for a Successful Business

While you already may be a good photographer, digital photography classes can help you improve your skills. These classes are especially helpful if you are breaking into a certain type of photography field. These...[more]

Fashion Photography Tutorial: 3 Secrets of the Pros

Fashion photography is a very fast paced and exciting photography field. There is nothing better than capturing the perfect shot of a celebrity wearing the latest piece of clothing. Fashion photography is also a...[more]

Learn the Basics of Professional Photography in 10 Simple Steps

It is quite interesting to learn photography and take shots befitting a professional. Here are 10 simple steps which will guide you through the basics of professional photography. Step 1: Know Your Camera It...[more]

10 Advanced Digital Photography Tips

The innovations in digital photography have enhanced the quality of images, and now even amateurs can take some stunning photos. Here are 10 tips for advanced digital photography. Tip 1: Focusing It has often...[more]

Retouching Nature Art Photography Images

When working with nature art photography, some aspects of the shoot cannot be controlled. Retouching can help enhance the photograph’s overall look. The following are a number of aspects that can be retouched when...[more]

Stock Art Photography: How to Use

Stock art photography is generic images that are available for individuals or businesses to use as opposed to hiring a photographer. While you will have to pay for these photos, you may use them...[more]

Stock Art Photography: Where to Find

Stock art photography provides you with the opportunity of having a picture of an object, place or person without having to take it yourself or hire a photographer. But, you also need to know...[more]

Editing Black and White Art Photography in Photoshop

Anyone who is serious about becoming a professional photographer will need to learn how to touch up and edit black and white art photography. Black and white photography might seem simple at first. However,...[more]

Landscape Art Photography: Taking Pictures of Snow

Landscape art photography involves taking pictures of nature in an artistic way. This often means capturing winter scenery or animals in the snow. But, there are special tricks to ensure that your winter pictures...[more]

Using a Landscape in Art Photography

Landscape Art Photography is an essential skill in being a professional photographer, and it can take some time getting used to. However, it is very easy to understand and has the unique advantage of...[more]

Framed Art Photography Techniques

Framed art photography is very easy to display on walls and tables. By framing a piece of artwork, you are instantly protecting it from danger while still being able to enjoy it. There are...[more]

Displaying Your Framed Art Photography

Framed art photography is a great way to get your photos off your computer. Once your photos are liberated from your computer, they can then they can then be displayed somewhere where everyone can...[more]

2 Ways to Make Your Art Photography Gallery Unique

If you are looking for ways to make your art photography gallery unique, you should know that there are a lot of ways for you to do it. However, almost all of them have...[more]

3 Ways to Make Nature Art Photography Better

Nature art photography requires a special eye in order to make the most of it. No one wants to take just another postcard picture. When traveling, you should always try to capture the scene...[more]

How to Display Fine Art Photography Prints

Fine art photography prints used to spark controversy in the professional industry. Photojournalism and commercial photography were primarily the more recognized branches in the profession. But, now, fine art photography is slowly carving its...[more]

Making Great Fine Art Photography Prints

State of the art photo printers make it easy to produce fine art photography prints at home. If you want to create these prints, then you will need to ensure you have the right...[more]

What to Look for in an Art Photography School

Picking an art photography school is a tricky process. There are not many art photography schools out there, and the ones that are out there are scattered all over the place. When you are...[more]

3 Good Art Photography Schools

Finding a good art photography school is easier said than done. There are only a handful of schools out there that focus on art photography. When you are looking for good art photography schools,...[more]

Ways to Make Great Art Nature Photography

If you are looking to become a nature photographer, then you need to know how to take great art nature photography. To do this effectively, you will need a good digital SLR camera, a...[more]

What to Look for in an Art Photographer

Finding an art photographer can be a very tricky process. It is much easier to find an art photographer online than it is to find an art photographer in person, but it is all...[more]

3 Tips for an Art Photographer

There are a lot of things that an art photographer can do to make his photos look more creative and eye catching. Although there are some styles that are ineffective, there are others that...[more]

Understanding the Digital Depth of Field

The digital depth of field refers to the distance that is shown across the photograph or image. This actually refers to what is in focus and what is not. Depth of field can be...[more]

Mini Professional Photography Course: Depth of Field

Enrolling in a photography course will be a great way to start work as a professional photographer. There are many different skills that you will be required to master to take good photographs. Although...[more]

Tips for Event Photography Coverage

A great opportunity for photographers is event photography. Sometimes, people want to capture a big personal day, and other times they may want to record a sporting event. There are various events people want...[more]

Professional Digital Photography: How Techniques Differ from Film

As technology and innovation advances, professional digital photography has largely replaced film photography. Until recently, one might argue that film was better than digital in terms of quality. However, digital cameras now have image sensors...[more]

How to Name a Photography Website

Creating a photography website is a big undertaking. In today's digital age, however, anyone who is serious about a photography business needs a website to show off his portfolio. It doesn't matter if you...[more]

How Much to Charge for Baby Photography

Knowing how much to charge for baby photography can be tricky, especially if someone is new to the field. But, pricing services correctly can ensure that the freelance photographer gets what he is worth...[more]

Digital vs Analog Lux Light Meter Comparison

A lux light meter is an essential piece of equipment for any serious photographer to own. It's a tool that allows you to see how bright parts of your frame are and what f/stop...[more]

Freelance Photographer Tips: Children's Sports

As a freelance photographer, it is important to be ready for almost anything. Regardless of the subject being photographed, the weather conditions, as well as a host of other factors, professional photographers must be able...[more]

Baby Portrait Photography vs. Candids

Taking baby portrait photography can be an ideal way to make a regular income from photography. Babies can, however, be very difficult to take photos of because they don't stay still for long. If you...[more]

Education Photography Jobs

There are a lot of photography jobs out there and most of them are very competitive with long hours and sometimes low pay. That being said education photography jobs are highly desired by a lot...[more]

How to Get your First Graduation Photography Job

There are a lot of photographers out there making some pretty nice money from graduation photography gigs. They're fairly simple and easy to set up, and there is always a guarantee of customers wanting a...[more]

Darkroom Photography Equipment: Canisters

If you're serious about shooting with a film camera, then you should invest in darkroom photography equipment. Among the most important pieces to own are canisters, which are lightproof containers with traps on the top...[more]

Stock Photography: Notes on Photographing Children

Stock photography is a very useful way to make some extra money on the Internet. Stock photography is extremely popular because it's useful for use on websites or in various documents. One very popular type...[more]

Travel Photography: Socializing

An important part of travel photography is capturing people while they're socializing. Photographers will need a good digital camera, lots of memory cards and a wide angle lens for most of these activities. Step 1:...[more]

How To Take Great Celebration and Holiday Stock Photos

You can take great celebration and holiday stock photos with just a little bit of know how. You've been taking pictures for years, everything from graduations to birthday parties. Use your hobby to put extra...[more]

Stock Photography: Understanding Royalty-free (RF)

When we're talking about stock images or stock photography, a term that is often bandied about is "royalty-free" or RF images. But, what does the term actually mean? Essentially, stock images are images that are...[more]

How To Film Outdoor News Stock Footage

Stock footage, also known as archive footage, is video footage that is not shot for a movie or a film. Filmmakers like to use stock footage, as it cuts down production costs. Examples of stock...[more]

How To Take Great Health and Beauty Stock Photos

Selling stock photos can be a good source of income if you know the ropes. One of the most in demand categories in stock photography is health and beauty. Because it is highly in demand,...[more]

How To Take Great Fashion Stock Photos

Fashion and lifestyle is one of the most in-demand categories for stock photos. With a number of women's magazines and websites devoted to this, unique photos that cater to fashion and women's lifestyle will most...[more]

Travel Photography: Asia

Few places feature the variety of images that Asia offers to a travel photographer looking to shoot travel photography. From historical sites, to religious shrines, to everyday life, one does not have to look hard...[more]

How To Take Great Business Stock Photos

As an amateur photographer, taking stock photos might be the easiest and most successful way of making money from your hobby. Stock photos are uploaded to a website and can be sold much easier than...[more]

Stock Photography: Understanding Rights-Managed (RM)

There are two main ways to sell stock photography. Most people sell royalty free stock photography, which simply means that these photographs can be used for as long and however the person decides. Right Managed...[more]

Stock Photography: Signing Away Your Rights

Stock Photography is a useful way to make some money from your camera. There are many stock photography websites on the Internet, and this is a very easy way of selling photographs quickly. While you...[more]

Film Festivals: Getting Your Film into SxSW

Getting your film into various film festivals can be a difficult task. The SxSW Film Festival is held on a yearly basis in Austin, Texas. Many people do not realize that the SxSW Film Festival...[more]

Film Festivals: Getting Your Film into Telluride

Having your film featured in film festivals can be an exciting experience. The Telluride Film Festival is held in Telluride, Colorado every year. They typically accept 15 short films and 20 feature films for their...[more]

Production: How To Set Up a Casting Call

When your film or play requires a lot of character spots that need to be filled quickly, you will need to do a casting call. This event allows the director to gather talent, meet the...[more]

Production: How To Use Screen Direction

Screen direction is a term used in video production and editing that refers to the direction an actor or object moves in relation to the camera position. One of the basic rules of editing states...[more]

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13


text:
November 2013

Strength Training Can Pump Up Your Health

When you think of strength training, your first thought may be of a bodybuilder laboring to lift heavy weights. It need not be so extreme, though. Everyone can reap the health benefits of muscle strengthening. Unfortunately, too few Americans are minding their muscles, according to a recent government study.

A weighted statistic

In a national telephone survey, researchers asked nearly 500,000 adults about their physical activity. They wanted to know the types of exercise people engaged in, the frequency of such activity, and the duration. They then compared those responses with the recommended guidelines for physical activity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Investigators found that just over half of Americans fit in enough aerobic activity, such as walking, running, and biking. The statistics for strength training were even weaker. Less than one-third of adults managed to meet the national guideline. Not surprising, men more than women reported adequate muscle-strengthening time. Those between ages 18 and 24 did strength training most often.

Muscle-strengthening benefits

HHS experts recommend adults do strengthening exercises on all major muscle groups at least two days a week. That can mean more than simply lifting weights. You can strengthen your muscles with resistance exercises, such as pushups, sit-ups, and leg lifts. Heavy gardening and yoga count, too.

When done properly, muscle strengthening shapes up more than muscle. It can fine tune flexibility and balance. It can also boost bone density — a valuable asset in older age. We naturally lose muscle and bone as we grow older.

Muscle strengthening can help with weight control, too. That's because muscle burns more calories than fat. Like aerobic activity, strength training can also improve your sleep and your heart health. Plus, it can ease the symptoms of often-disabling conditions, such as arthritis and back pain. Research has shown it's also beneficial for people with diabetes, depression, and osteoporosis.

Tips for Strength Training

 If you want to add some muscle-strengthening activities to your exercise routine, follow these tips:

  • Talk with your doctor first before starting any new physical activity, especially if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or heart disease. Your doctor can help you pick activities that are appropriate for you.

  • Choose the right equipment. Make sure you wear properly fitting shoes and comfortable clothing. If you work out at home, select an exercise space with ample room for movement.

  • Alternate muscle groups. Try not to exercise the same muscles, such as your legs, on consecutive days.

  • Use weights properly. Lift and lower them slowly. Avoid jerking movements and don’t hold your breath. Inhale as you lift and exhale as you relax.

  • Build your strength gradually. Start with one or two sets of a certain exercise — a pushup or a side arm raise, for example. Do that activity eight to 10 times, or repetitions, per a set. If you need to rest after 10 repetitions, you are working out at a good intensity. Add more sets or weight as the activity becomes easier to do.

Still not sure if strength training is for you? Read this article

Online resources

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This is Your Hospital

Tell Us Why St. Jude is Your Hospital.

Tell My Story
This is Your Hospital


text:
» » »

Infant Lyrics

Infant by Sopor Aeternus

CD  ·  DVD  ·  Sheet music

Infant Would your bare your neck ... to the walking dead ...
Secretly, at least, within the safety of your head?
Tell me, isn't it nice - every once in a while -
Being the centre of attention of a loving,
Handsome ... Parasite,
Answering your call, the invitation of the scar,
For being wanted - accepted - for the way you feel you are ?!

CD  ·  DVD  ·  Sheet music


text:
Newsletter Header
SSI Home · Update Subscription · Forward to a Colleague · Contact Us
Research and Analysis
A National Security Staff for the 21st Century, by Dr. Jack A. LeCuyer. This monograph offers a new model for the management of the national security system—at the strategic level—which is the first step in transforming our national security system to meet the challenges and opportunities of the global security environment of the 21st century. This monograph provides a proposed response to Section 1072 of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires the President to report to Congress on the organizational changes required to implement the National Security Strategy of May 2010.

Venezuela as an Exporter of 4th Generation Warfare Instability, by Dr. Max G. Manwaring. We must adapt our approach to the overwhelming reality that just as the world has evolved from an industrial society to an information-based society, so has warfare. The reality of this evolution demonstrates the need for a new paradigm of conflict based on the fact that information—not firepower—is the currency upon which war is now conducted. The new primary center of gravity is public opinion and political leadership. The “new” instruments of power are intelligence, public diplomacy, media, time, and flexibility. The one thing that remains the same is that one level or another of compulsion still defines war.

India's Changing Afghanistan Policy: Regional and Global Implications, by Dr. Harsh V. Pant. India's perpetually reactive foreign policy ensured that India has been reacting to the actions of other actors in Afghanistan for the last decade without developing an autonomous posture. This will have serious consequences for Indian security once Western forces depart Afghanistan in 2014.

Insanity: Four Decades of U.S. Counterdrug Strategy, by Lieutenant Colonel Michael F. Walther. The author provides context to the former DOJ Drug Intelligence Chief’s declaration that the U.S. 40-year national drug strategy is a failure. He argues that the expensive and largely-ineffective supply-reduction strategy should be abandoned in favor of a new, science-based, demand-reduction model.

The Impact of President Felipe Calderón’s War on Drugs on the Armed Forces: The Prospects for Mexico’s “Militarization” and Bilateral Relations, by Dr. George W. Grayson. The ever wider involvement of the armed forces in Mexican life is examined by addressing the question: “Is Mexican society being ‘militarized’?” If the answer is “yes,” what will be the probable impact on relations between the United States and its southern neighbor?
Coming Soon
Talking Past Each Other? How Views of U.S. Power Vary Between U.S. and International Military Personnel, by Richard H. M. Outzen

Strategic Stability: Contending Interpretations, by Elbridge A. Colby and Michael S. Gerson, eds.

Monthly Op-Ed
The Need for a “Half-Pivot to the Americas,” by Dr. Robert J. Bunker

2012-2013 KSIL
The 2012-13 Key Strategic Issues List (KSIL) Update No. 02 is now online. The purpose of the Key Strategic Issues List is to provide military and civilian researchers a ready reference for issues of special interest to the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense.

SSI Opportunities
For opportunites within SSI, continuously check our pages here.

Upcoming Events
Around the War College
Join SSI on facebook and twitter.

Keep an eye out for upcoming news on the USAWC Strategy Conference. Registration for the conference should start at the end of the month. This year's conference will begin with registration day activities and a hosted reception ice breaker on April 9; the actual conference takes place from April 10 - 11. The theme of this year's conference is "The Future of American Landpower," a continuation of last year's theme "The Future of U.S. Grand Strategy in an Age of Austerity: Challenges and Opportunities." The Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College will provide more detail on its webpage and in upcoming newsletters. For now, put the dates April 9-11 on your calendars.

The views expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. This newsletter is cleared for public release; distribution is unlimited.

U.S. Army War College · Strategic Studies Institute · Privacy & Security Policies · Publications · Opportunities · Contact Us

External Link Policy · Last Modified: January 10, 2013


text:
Skip to main content

Stratis Health Twitter Stratis Health LinkedIn Stratis Health YouTube Stratis Health Facebook
Nurse at computer

Section Links

Toolkit Menu

Various federal and state mandates are requiring health care providers to have interoperable electronic health record (EHR) systems and to use e-prescribing. Stratis Health is helping providers meet these mandates—and most importantly, helping providers select and use HIT to improve the quality of care delivered and increase patient safety.

In 2007, the Minnesota Legislature mandated that all Minnesota health care providers must have an interoperable electronic health records (EHR) system in place within their clinical practice setting by January 1, 2015.

Health Information Technology Toolkit for Critical Access and Small Hospitals

The Health Information Technology Toolkit for Critical Access and Small Hospitals can be used for implementing a comprehensive HIT or EHR system, for acquiring individual applications, or for overhauling existing systems. While an overall organizational strategy is strongly recommended and supported through use of all the tools in the toolkit, each organization should construct its own timeline based on the applications, technology, and operational activities being undertaken.

For critical access and small hospitals a carefully constructed foundation and the right tools to plan and implement HIT can mean the difference between systems that are not well-used or even add administrative burden, and those that achieve value. The purpose of this toolkit for is to supply tools, tested in this environment, that will help you plan and make the right choices, as well as to avoid having to re-invent the wheel.

Much like a carpenter's toolbox, the HIT Toolkit supplies a variety of tools for use at different points in your HIT adoption. Each tool includes:

  • Brief statement of purpose - so you will know when to use the tool and what it should help you accomplish.
  • Instructions for use of the tool - so you will be guided in effective use of the tool.
  • Tool structure - depending on the tool itself, you may find you can customize the tool to help you perform a task or use it as a model to modify for your own needs.

The Health Information Technology Toolkit for Critical Access and Small Hospitals consists of seven stages categorized into three main sections. Descriptions of the individual tools are available on the Web pages for each section.

Section 1. Adopt: Assess - Plan - Select
Section 2. Utilize: Implement - Effective Use
Section 3. Exchange: Readiness - Interoperate

Stratis Health developed the toolkit, tested in the critical access hospital environment, using our extensive experience in helping providers adopt HIT, working with CAH and small hospitals on quality improvement and patient safety, and developing toolkits. An earlier version of this toolkit was distributed nationwide on CD-ROM through the Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program.

Medication Bar Coding

Stratis Health worked with hospitals across the state to integrate patient safety-related technology—such as computer bar codes on patient wrists and computerized physician orders—into their systems of care to reduce human errors and avoid dangerous medical mistakes.

For example, hospitals can reduce medication administration errors by effectively using health information technology (HIT) for bar coding, improving patient safety. Bar coding verifies that the “five rights” are confirmed: the right patient, right medication, right dose, right time, and right route of administration. In 2004 (latest year data available), only two to six percent of hospitals were using bar coding.

Case study highlight: eMaR = “safety net”

One Minnesota critical access hospital implemented the use of bedside medicine verification through an electronic medication administration record (eMAR).

  • Significant impact on the hospital’s patient safety measures
  • Flagged and prevented 64 potential medication errors in January 2008, 1.7% of orders
  • Patient’s account number did not match the medication The hospital served as a mentor to other hospitals, sharing lessons learned and successes

Stratis Health has extensive experience in working with health care facilities to help them adopt and utilize EHR systems and to prepare them for exchanging information.

For more information or support using the toolkit, contact:
Stratis Health - Health Information Technology Services


text:
Cutting-Edge Audiovisual Design & Consulting Services

TV Icon

Design & Integration
Street and Company offers technology design and integration that caters to your specific needs. We focus on designing systems that not only meet your requirements now, but also in the future.

Training Icon

Support & Training
Our experts provide the technology support necessary for operators to feel completely comfortable with the day-to-day operation of their systems. We offer on-site and ongoing training programs for your complete peace of mind.

Map Pin Icon

Service Area
Serving Virginia, including Henrico, Richmond, Alexandria, & Lynchburg; North Carolina, including Garner & Winston-Salem; Washington, DC; South Carolina, & Parts of Maryland

Learn About Street and Company

Take your business or organization to the next level with advanced audiovisual design and consulting services from Street and Company of Henrico, Virginia. We have been providing audiovisual design, system integration, and support solutions for the state, federal, and commercial sectors for more than 15 years. Our firm operates across five states in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions and has a portfolio of projects around the United States. We provide consulting, engineering, procurement, and installation of all types of audiovisual equipment. Backed more than 25 years of experience, our team excels at working within federal, state, commercial, and private sector projects throughout the world. We are also members of Infocomm™. Street and Company offers the unique advantage of having technicians that are certified in both AV and IT protocols. Our attention to detail is second to none, and we respond quickly to your needs.

Contact us in Henrico, Virginia, at (804) 386-0664 for audiovisual consulting services. We develop solutions that are right for you.


text:
More on SIRI

- Summary
- Chart
- Profile
- Historical

- Earnings
- Ratings
- Holders
- Dividends

Income Statement
Balance Sheet
Cash Flow Statement

Upcoming Events

- Earnings (7/29/15 *Est.)

- Analyst Ratings
- Earnings Related
- Guidance
- Insider Trades
- Mgmt Changes
- M & A
- Retail Sales
- Rumors
- Stock Buybacks

SIRI Income Statement

Click line-items for a historical chart and %
Subscriber revenue 911.47M
Advertising revenue, net of agency fees 26.87M
Equipment revenue 24.84M
Other revenue
Total revenue
Cost of services:
Revenue share and royalties
Programming and content
Customer service and billing
Satellite and transmission
Cost of equipment 8.85M
Subscriber acquisition costs 122.26M
Sales and marketing 78.74M
Engineering, design and development 14.96M
General and administrative 79.82M
Depreciation and amortization 65.03M
Restructuring, impairments and related costs
Total operating expenses 767.18M
Income from operations 313.81M
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized -69.91M
Loss on extinguishment of debt and credit facilities, net
Interest and Investment income (loss) 981K
Other income (loss) -258K
Total other income (expense) -69.19M
Income before income taxes
Income tax expense -138.93M
Net income 105.69M
Net income per common share:
Basic 0.02
Diluted 0.02
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 5.57B
Diluted 5.64B


text:
Sonny Watson's Homepage
Ballrooms | Blog| Burlesque | Contests | Dances | Dancers | Dance History | Marathons | Movies | Music | Posters Store | Sheet Music | Troupes || Refresh Page
Dancers: INDEX
Music Lists: Contemporary WCS| Trad'l WCS| C/W Swing| Big Band| Disco| Gospel| Holiday| Hustle| Late Night| Latin| Latin WCS| Mash-Ups| NC2S| Techno
You Are here: Search Streetswing Site Site Search --->

Ann Pennington

Stage Name

Birth Name

Ann Pennington

Anna Pennington

Aka: Anne, Penny, Tiny

         Ann Pennington was very popular and known as the most petite (4' 9" tall) of what was then called the " Shake and Quiver dancers." Became famous for her rendition of The Black Bottom. She began her career on Broadway as a member of the chorus in The Red Widow (1911) and made her debut in the Ziegfeld Follies in 1913, She actually stopped the show when she danced for Flo Ziegfeld in his 1913 Follies. It was no wonder that she quickly rose as one Ziegfeld's top stars of the show and sometimes earning a salary of $1000 per week at one point in her career.

   Ann Pennington danced many dances as well as the Black Bottom, Charleston and could tap dance as well as any male performer. She was also a limber dancer and could do splits and High Kicks as well. She also danced in some of the George White's Shows ("Scandals") and was a " Gold Digger Girl."

Ann Pennington Autograph
   Miss Pennington also tried her hand at acting and played a few minor supporting roles on film in the early 1940's and continued dancing and appearing on Stage, Vaudeville and even performed in the 1939 Worlds Fair continuing well into the late 1940's then finally retiring.

Birth Place

Birth Date

Wilmington , DE 12/23/1893 - 11/4/1971 n/a n/a

Dance Types

Dance Partners

Music Titles

The Black Bottom Allen Kearns 1927 - George White Scandals (Black Bottom)
The Charleston Brooke Johns 1929 - Those Tanned Legs
Snake Hips George White 1930 - Believe Me (sang)
Tap Dance/ Soft Shoe Tom Patricola 1930 - I'm Getting Myself Ready For You
Tangorilla Diaghilev 1931 - Is Rhythm Necessary
  June Clyde 1929 - Snake Hips
        1929 - You're Responsible

Night Clubs

Various N.Y. Clubs Cumberland Theatre (1930) 1913 to 1924 - Ziegfeld Follies
      New Amsterdam (1913) 1915 - Passing Show ( Ned Wayburn)
            1917 - Miss
            1919 to 1926 - George White Scandals
            1925 - Pretty Ladies
            1929 - Gold Diggers Of Broadway
          1930 - Is Everybody Happy
            1930 - The New Yorker
            1931 - Everybody's Welcome
        1931 - the New Yorkers
        1939 - NY Worlds Fair (clip)
            Diaghilev Ballet Company
            Tip Toe through The Tulips

video clips

Films / Clips

Television / Clips

Clip not available 1916 - Susie Snowflake n/a 12/29/1918 - Chicago Tribune
Clip not available 1916 - The Rainbow Princess       4/1926 - Film Fun Magazine
Clip not available 1917 - The Little Boy Scout       1/1927 - Photoplay Magazine
Clip not available 1917 - Antics of Ann       12/1928 - Dance Magazine
Clip not available 1918 - Sunshine Nan       9/30/1929 - Photo Play Magazine
Clip not available 1924 - Manhandled       ?/1929 - Night Parade Magazine
Clip not available 1925 - Mad Dancer       3/1/1938 - Look Magazine
Clip not available 1925 - A Kiss in the Dark*
Clip not available 1925 - Lucky Horseshoe*
Clip not available 1925 - The Pretty Ladies
Clip not available 1925 - Madame Behave
Clip not available 1925 - Golden Strain, The
Viewable thru a Youtube Video Pop-up window.
1929 - Gold Diggers of Broadway*
Viewable thru a Youtube Video Pop-up window.
1929 - Happy Days ( Does snake Hips)
Clip not available 1929 - Is Everybody Happy
Viewable thru a Youtube Video Pop-up window.
1929 - Roof Garden Dancer* ( From Tanned Legs)
Viewable thru a Youtube Video Pop-up window.
1929 - Night Parade* ( Aka: Sporting Life)
Viewable thru a Youtube Video Pop-up window.
1929 - Tanned Legs*( Those Tanned Legs)
Clip not available 1929 - Hello Baby!
Clip not available 1930s - Pepper Shaker (short)
Clip not available 1936 - The Great Ziegfeld [DVD]*
Viewable thru a Youtube Video Pop-up window.
1939 - Worlds Fair
Clip not available 1940 - Texas Terrors*
Clip not available 1941 - The Unholy Partners
Clip not available 1942 - China Girl*
Clip not available 1991 - Best of Burlesque [DVD]

NOTE:* = danced


text:
Theme Parties!

by Roberta P.

Related Articles

Party Ideas

Happy Birthdays on a Budget

Barney Toddler Party

  • Invitations: burn the edges, have pirate on front, use words like "aye, aye matey", make a map with a red 'X' on it and a trail etc showing how to get to the party. Say it is on the S.S. (your child's name) and the party sails at (time party starts) and docks again (time party finishes). RSVP...have your parrot call my parrot...etc, roll paper up and wrap with old string

  • Decorations: To make pirate flags I took black cloth (bought or even old clothes)...cut into many triangles and hang from a string, sew/tape a triangle onto a long/short drinking straw and tape straw to backs/sides of table chairs. You can usually get (for free) the long hard cardboard tubes that the material comes on at most fabric stores. The tube shall be the pirate ship's mast. Hang one "triangle string" from each side of the long tube. Tape ends to opposite walls. Make a look out on your mast with cardboard and tape, put one of your kids stuffed toys (parrot) up there too. You can even paint/sew white skulls + cross bones on the flags.

  • Chocolate candy coins on the table, or dollar store fake coins.

  • The material tubes are even great to make a palm tree with. The leaves are paper or green material (an old green t shirt) Under the palm tree you make a cardboard treasure chest, sand around the bottom or even in the chest and the kids can dig for their individual treasures.

  • They can make their own treasure necklaces with beads, buttons or those iron on beads.

  • Ship shaped cake (excuse the pun)

  • Water balloons make great pretend cannon balls to throw......outside of course. Divide the kids into two teams of mean pirates and let them throw them at each other. Or make a cardboard Captain Hook face the can throw them at, or different size cardboard boxes made to look like treasure chests, each having a different point value if they get it in.

  • A blue sheet (looks like water), paint/sew a big shark's head or mouth on the sheet and an octopus etc. Then put a kitchen chair on each end of the sheet and lay a long board across the chairs....now the kids can walk the plank! Watch out for the shark! (adult supervision so they do not fall)

  • Pinatas can be made for any party theme, fill with ripped paper and candies and beads etc. Hit it with a toy pirates sword.

Take homes: Each child gets to take a flag on the straw home. Make them a pirate sash to have around their wastes....just a strip of old black cloth! Toilet paper/paper towel rolls cut into smaller lengths and then inserted into each other and taped together and you have a pirates looking glass for each child.

  • A backwards one (make sure the invites state the kids will get messy and dirty....no fancy clothes allowed....pants/shirts/socks on backwards or inside out!)

  • Make the invites with lots of colors and balloons and make the text backwards so they have to read it in a mirror! Maybe include a balloon.

  • Decorations: I am sure you can come up with something. Balloons are always a must. They are cheap and plentiful. Turn the table upside down, let the kids sit on the floor and eat on the bottom of the table. Tape balloons to the legs of the table. Paper streamers are also cheap.

  • Water balloons to throw at a clown face. And Pinatas. Pin the tail on the donkey (use velcro instead) or pin the nose of the clown face.

  • Dress up a clown. Greet the kids at the door saying "Bye, thanks for coming!" (It is a backwards party!)

  • Hang up a string, hang one of your kids Barbie dolls or super heroes upside down on the string. VOILA! An upside down tight rope walker.

  • Take toilet paper rolls and paint/color or wrap colored paper around them. Stack them in a tower. Let the kids stand with their backs to the tower and throw a little ball under their legs and try to knock down the tower. Each paper roll should have a number value written on it.

  • Make a strong man weight: stick/broom handle in the middle, cardboard or styrofoam weights on the ends and write 100 lbs. on them. Have each child lift it but they have to make their strongest grimace while doing it.

  • Burping contests cost nothing.

  • Ice cream cake or cupcakes with lots of sprinkles on them. Confetti on the table.

  • Have them sit in a circle with their backs towards the middle. Place a raw egg behind them. They shall roll their egg with their bums, backwards, towards a bucket placed in the middle of the circle. She/he who does not break their egg gets to smash it in the bucket afterwards! They love this. One kid at my son's party could not stop laughing.

  • Gift: Most of us have pearl/plastic iron on beads and the forms they fit on. Take one small round one and make a Pokemon ball (red, black and white), happy faces (yellow and black). Or something else...there are lots of ideas on the net. Cheap gift!

My advice: surf the net and use your imagination!

"My Story" is a regular feature of The Dollar Stretcher. If you have a story that could help save time or money, please send it to MyStory@stretcher.com

Stay Connected with TDS

Subscribe to TDS Newsletters

All subscribers receive Dollar Stretcher member perks!

The Dollar Stretcher
Dollar Stretcher Parents
Dollar Stretcher Tips
After 50 Finances
Surviving Tough Times
Financial Independence
The Computer Lady

Join over 250,000 other subscribers
to get your member perks!

Your Email:

View the TDS Privacy Policy.

Get Out of Debt


text:
12 frugal tips for home heating

How to Keep Your Home Warm This Winter

by April Borbon

Related Articles

Free Firewood

Choosing a Space Heater

How to Reduce Home Heating Bills

Some people dread the coming of winter because of the cold, stormy weather. Other people dread the coming of winter because they have to work in the above-described weather. But many people this year will be dreading the cold winter because they know how expensive home heating is and they simply can't afford it. Here are some ways to keep your family warm without breaking the bank this winter:

  • Check with your local community service agency or electricity provider to see if there are any free winterization programs available in your community. These programs often target the elderly and low income and can provide everything from insulating strips for your doors, to plastic to seal out the drafts around your windows, to a full-fledged insulation package that adds extra insulation to your attic and wall spaces.

  • Use a wood stove or fireplace to heat the main room of your house and have everyone gather there. Fireplaces are much less efficient than wood stoves, but both can be an option if you have no other source of heat.

  • If you have a wood stove or fireplace, check with your local national forest office for free or low cost permits that allow you to go and harvest your own firewood at no charge. Please note that this can be dangerous if you have never chopped up your own wood so go with a knowledgeable friend the first time and be careful with chainsaws and other tools used to harvest firewood.

  • Do like the old timers used to do before central heating was common. They would open the curtains to let in sunshine during the day and then close the curtains as soon as the sun went down to keep the heat in. They would gather in one heated room to watch TV, sew, and read together instead of each person going to their own rooms, thus limiting the number of rooms that needed to be heated. They would drape heavy blankets over the windows to keep drafts out, and they would also drape heavy blankets over doorways that lead out of the heated room in an effort to keep the heat contained to that room.

  • Check with your community service agency to see if there are programs available to pay your utilities during the winter. Some communities offer programs where if you are a senior citizen or qualify as low income they will pay one month's worth of your electric or gas bill in order to help you keep your heat on during the winter.

  • If you are a veteran, check with your local veteran's services program to see if they provide for similar assistance programs that cover everything from your utility bills to winterization services for your home.

  • Check to see if your electric or gas utility offers a "budget" payment plan. Instead of sky-high bills in the winter and miniscule bills in the summer, the utility company will average out your usage over the course of a year and you pay a set price each month so that your budget won't take a hit from high swings during the coldest months.

  • Wear extra clothing so you can keep your thermostat lower. By just putting on an extra sweater or sweatshirt, you will be able to keep your thermostat a bit lower than usual and thus save on the cost of heating. Also, when you are sleeping or watching TV, you can lower your thermostat considerably just by tossing on an extra blanket to keep you warm.

  • Instead of heating your whole house, consider turning down the thermostat and using a space heater to warm up just the room you are using.

  • Change the filter on your furnace and consider having your furnace tuned up. This can help your furnace work much more efficiently and economically.

  • Spend more time out of your house so that you can keep your home's thermostat at a minimum. The library and the mall can offer a warm place to hang out if you have limited or no heat in your home.

  • During the coldest days of winter, many communities provide "warming shelters" for those without heat to come in and warm up.

And a few reminders:

  • NEVER use outdoor appliances (barbecue grills, outdoor kerosene heaters, etc.) inside your home to provide heat or a place to cook. The carbon monoxide from these appliances can be deadly.

  • If you are using a space heater to keep warm, be sure that the cord is not frayed and it is plugged directly into the wall instead of into an extension cord to prevent fires.

  • Candles are fine for the occasional special dinner or to light your way during a power outage, but they shouldn't be used to provide heat and should never be left unattended.

  • Make sure your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector are in good working order. Both of these devices help prevent injuries and deaths commonly associated with heating your home during the winter.

April Borbon is a traveler, freelance writer, and business consultant based out of Las Vegas, NV.

Take the Next Step:

Discuss "Heating Your Home" in The Dollar Stretcher Community

Share your thoughts about this article with the editor.

Stay Connected with TDS

Subscribe to TDS Newsletters

All subscribers receive Dollar Stretcher member perks!

The Dollar Stretcher
Dollar Stretcher Parents
Dollar Stretcher Tips
After 50 Finances
Surviving Tough Times
Financial Independence
The Computer Lady

Join over 250,000 other subscribers
to get your member perks!

Your Email:

View the TDS Privacy Policy.

Get Out of Debt


text:
What you need to know about window tint

5 Tips for Auto Window Tints

by Michael M. Dickson

Related Articles

Prepare Your Car for Summer Driving

8 Ways to Keep Your Car Cool

There's no question adding window tint to your vehicle improves appearance, but it does more than just improve looks. When applied by a professional, window tint can help increase resale value, passenger protection from flying glass, and more. The trick is to do some research before getting it completed.

Jared of Detail Wiz Window Tinting believes tint can add to the value of your vehicle. He suggests five ways that's true.

Why Tint Your Windows At All?

Sure, you could ask that question. In a difficult economy, why would you spend additional money on something that is just for looks? The answer is that it's not. Over the life of your vehicle, window tint can actually save you money. Did you know that running the air conditioner in your vehicle actually causes it to burn more gas? When you flip the switch engaging the air conditioner, your engine works harder to make up for the additional workload and increases gas consumption. Output can increase as much as 20%. That means up to a 20% reduction in your MPG (miles per gallon). Window tint reduces the need for air conditioning and saves you valuable MPG!

State Window Tinting Laws

Of course, before you actually get the windows tinted, you'll need to understand your state's laws regarding the tint level. Each state is different, and in some situations, each window can be different. For example, in Florida, you can tint the front side windows up to 28%, but the rear side windows can only be tinted 15%. In Vermont, you can't tint the front side windows, but you can tint the rear side and back window to any darkness you wish.

It's important to note the tint laws are susceptible to change at any time so research your state's window laws on a state website for the latest regulations.

Choose the Right Installer

Window tinting has become big business. Consumers are doing everything they can to save money in this tough economy, and window tint is just another way to save. However, you should always look for the most reliable professional installer you can before jumping in. Some things to look for in a reputable installer are:

  1. Do they have multiple locations? Often having multiple locations is a great sign they do quality work and their business is growing.

  2. Does the tint they sell have a warranty included by the installer? Most window tint has a warranty for the product through the manufacturer, but if the installer makes a mistake or the tint doesn't last, check to see that the installer stands behind their installation.

Avoid the $99 Fly by Night Window Tint Offers

These guys are often standing on street corners holding large signs or advertising their great deal online, but it's usually anything but a great deal. Window tint doesn't need to be expensive to be good, but in most cases, the tint itself is worth more than $99 if it's top shelf. Look for brand names used by the reputable professional installers such as Llumar, CPFilms, and Huper Optik to name a few.

Maintenance and Cleaning Instructions

Just like anything else on your vehicle, window tint lasts longer with regular maintenance. A couple of quick steps are all you need to keep your window tint in the best shape possible.

First, go over your window, looking for any bubbles that may have surfaced. Use a credit card under a soft towel and push the bubble towards the side of the window. Be careful not to push to hard. Lubricating the tint with water may help. Second, do not use any cleaner that contains ammonia on window tint. Ammonia is harsh on the tint and can eat through the film over continued use. Instead, visit your local professional installer or auto parts store for a "window tint safe" glass cleaner.

Michael M Dickson is a freelance writer, blogger, and aspiring novelist. He specializes in automotive and insurance related articles and blog posts. He has fifteen years experience in a highline automotive dealership in sales and finance positions and as an agent/owner of Michael M Dickson Insurance Agency Inc.

Take the Next Step

Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here

Stay Connected with TDS

Subscribe to TDS Newsletters

All subscribers receive Dollar Stretcher member perks!

The Dollar Stretcher
Dollar Stretcher Parents
Dollar Stretcher Tips
After 50 Finances
Surviving Tough Times
Financial Independence
The Computer Lady

Join over 250,000 other subscribers
to get your member perks!

Your Email:

View the TDS Privacy Policy.

Get Out of Debt


text:
Learn to Make Beautiful Greeting Cards:
Lessons Held at Three St. Tammany Libraries

St. Tammany - Ever had trouble finding the perfect greeting card for someone special? Why not make one yourself? Kathy Marquar will teach a Crafty Cards Course consisting of three classes from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays, August 4, 11, and 18, at the Mandeville Branch Library, 844 Girod St., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  on Tuesdays, September 2, 9, and 16, at the Covington Branch Library, 310 West 21st Ave., and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, October 7, 14 and 21, at the Slidell Branch Library, 555 Robert Blvd.

Registrants should plan to attend all three classes, as the assembly of cards will become increasingly more complex though the course. Please register online at register.stpl.us/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp or call the library hosting the course. Call the Mandeville Branch Library at (985)626-4293, the Covington Branch Library at (985)893-6280 or the Slidell Branch Library at (985)646-6470.  Registration opens two weeks prior to the event.

Last updated/7/21/2014
Copyright © St. Tammany Parish Library
All Rights Reserved.
Unofficial and external sites are not endorsed by the St. Tammany Parish Library.


text:
Sunday, April 25, 2010

A lot of things happen when you take on the government. You don't sleep very much. You have no time to update your blog. And worse, you stop paying attention to the outside world, and hence you have little to share on your blog after said taking on the government is complete.

But what is all this talk about taking on the government? Think less conspiracies and angry militias and more along the lines of competing to win an architectural contract for a major federal building - which, now that I think of it, sort of involved conspiracies and angry militias, otherwise known as a 'team strategy'. This being the first federal competition I've ever taken on was not very easy. It required long work days, coordination of a huge consultant team, the production of enormous books and presentations, traveling, hotels and far too many scotches on the rocks. And now, I find myself with a body that only wants to sleep and a brain that refuses to work. Not for architecture, nor for this blog - except for this post, which is meant to fill the gap of inactivity. These are the government doldrums.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Congratulations are in order for two fantastic people. First and foremost, a big high-five to Chris Shusta, a member of Studio Office and this year's winner of the 2010 Rotch Traveling Scholarship.

The Rotch contest winner was Christopher Shusta, who sought to soften the building’s imposing presence while also adding attractions to bring more visitors to the site. He would build the museum in a horizontal stretch along Congress Street, adding above it an outdoor terrace that faces the area of the plaza where concerts and other public events are currently held. Then Shusta would extend City Hall’s interior courtyard, a dark, disused space, out through the side of the building, connecting to the terraced area. The interior glass walls would look onto a newly brightened courtyard, which would be draped with geometrically shaped wooden shutters in natural finish. “The thought is to bring some human scale to the building that people see as missing now,’’ said Shusta, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Design who lives in Princeton, N.J. He received a $37,000 scholarship to travel the world studying architecture for a minimum of eight months. Boston Globe

Way to go, Shusta! I want a postcard from each of your destinations!

The second congratulations goes to Fabian Cancellara, who solo'ed to victory today in the spring classics race, Ronde von Flanderen (Tour of Flanders). Only the second Swiss rider to ever win the Ronde (and the first since 1923), Cancellara pulled away from Tom Boonen on the race's final climb, riding the final 15km alone until the finish line. Next week, the spring classics hits its crescendo with the so called "queen stage," Paris-Roubaix.

The worlds of design and cycling are alive with celebration. Kudos!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

It was a busy fall, so I’m catching up on some old reading a bit late. But in Log 17, I came upon an interesting article by David Ruy, “Lessons from Molecular Gastronomy,” which I found oddly pertinent to some of the issues and questions recently addressed here, in some of my own writing. In his article, Ruy gives a vivid and in-depth account of the famous Spanish restaurant elBulli, the most consistently top-ranked restaurant in the world, where a 36-course meal will take you six hours to complete, where your senses will be engaged beyond saturation, and where you will only have access if you are one of the few selected out of the 2-million-plus that apply every year. Its popularity is a result of its extremely unique method of food-preparation - including the use of molecularly-generated ingredients, chemical reactions and scientific devices used as cooking utensils - and the food’s capacity to expand our comprehension of both its physical capability and as our own sensorial range.

By describing the elBulli experience, Ruy establishes a captivating parallel in the way we consume architecture – a process that engages the basic senses (sight, smell, taste, etc.), plus, as Ruy points out, our cognitive sensibility, including both the magic or mechanics of that process, terms that are ostensibly spectral opposites but necessary complements in the gastronomic or architectural experience. For Ruy, the key term is technique (a synonym for mechanics), and the key question is how to position technique within the more generalized goals of food or architecture. We might see this question as basic, but within its simplicity it challenges our assessment of the components of design, most notably the qualitative weight we attribute to generative technique versus consumption. Ruy’s position on this issue is clear:

At elBulli, the technology that goes into producing the work is often extremely complex. However, the staff prefers to keep all of that hidden during presentation at the dinner table. They sublimate the technology and the burden of its implications to allow the diner to focus on the sensations alone. The sublimation of technology brings about a magical effect – “how is this done? It seems impossible!” In the sciences, technology is never sublimated within the hypothesis. To do so would obviously obscure the validity of an investigation’s results. In the arts, the problems are different. As the material world continues to lose its magic through the knowledge of its causes, it becomes the burden of artistic practices to reintroduce magic into the world by obscuring material causes once again.

Ruy’s valuation of sensorial magic over mechanics is reflective of his generation's rising practitioners (whose leaders form the bulk of Log 17’s contributors), a group that conquered the introduction of digital technique in architectural practice and are currently seeking its maturation into something new. The natural reaction, after so many years of technique-based research and subsequent critique, is to return to the more fundamental agenda of sensation, which in this case is well served (albeit discretely) by the collective application of complex techniques and digital mechanics. The sublimation of technique and the emphasis on sensation is a refreshing perspective beyond an obsession with process and into the matter that engages our sincere and emotional capacities. It has nuances of the expressive modernism of Saarinen and Utzon to the transporting environments of disco. What’s missing, however, is a vision for its endgame – an agenda for the morning after, when the sensations have worn away, gotten old or grown tired. The same could be said of a meal at elBulli. After we leave the restaurant and return to our own kitchens, what role would an elite evening of sensational molecular gastronomy play in our daily lives, other than to know food’s ultimate capacity beyond the mundane? Is there a “trickle-down” effect of sensations in food or architecture, perhaps even towards an ethical design agenda? Perhaps Log 18 has all the answers, and at this rate I might get to that by the fall. We shall have to wait and see.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

It isn't quite springtime yet (temperatures in France are still below freezing), but already the European peleton is charging out of its gates, racing from the French capital to the Mediterranean in what has become known as the annual "race to the sea." Paris-Nice. A picturesque slog of 1,288 frigid kilometres. Completed in 8 days. While wearing spandex. Such is the devotion of the springtime racer to his or her sport.

And then, things can get a little hot, as in the 1984 edition of Paris-Nice, when a large group of protesting French shipyard workers blocked the race route. As the peloton collided with the protestors, several riders either dismounted from their bikes or fell onto the road. However, Bernard Hinault (aka "The Badger"), a 5-time winner of the Tour de France, took things one step further, throwing punches at the closest shipyard worker within reach. And of course, someone caught it all on film.

Fights in cycling are incredibly rare, as they should be, but when they do happen, whether it's because of the riders' wiry physiques or the lack of protection in their spandex, they are awkward and off-balance little episodes that prove why professional boxers do not wear cycling cleats.

Still, whether it's the sight of a cyclist charging into the cold with whatever protection he can find, or the image of Hinault delivering the full emotion of his off-season anxiety to someone's face, I can't help but feel the excitement of spring's impeding arrival. In the coming weeks and months, layer by layer, the winter gear will come off exposing my pasty legs to the light of day, and soon it will be summer.

Friday, March 12, 2010

With regards to ideology, is there any way to differentiate our attitude towards a mathematically-driven architecture versus that of automatic art? In particular, consider the wall paintings of Sol LeWitt or the Drawing Restraints of Mathew Barney (especially 1-6, 10). Does either example establish a stronger connection between the idea and the idea-made-manifest? The rule and the drawing, the code and the building. Of course, the pivotal and unavoidable question is why we would circumvent the will of the creator and his or her direct connection to the consumer. But in return, we should also question whether or not the rule constitutes a will, and whether or not it is intelligent enough to generate something valuable for the consumer.

Monday, March 1, 2010

It's fitting (to me at least) that in the midst of (my) recent events the GSD will be hosting a conference this Friday, March 5th, titled "The Mathematics of Sensible Things." Organized by Georges Legendre of IJP, the conference will also include Ben Aranda, Dennis Shelden, Antoine Picon and keynote speaker Bernard Cache. Incidentally, Antoine's talk is called "Architecture and Mathematics: Between Intuition and the Quest for Operative Techniques." I find Antoine's interest in digital architecture surprising, and his insight refreshing, so it will be interesting to hear his comments on the relationship between mathematics and intuition. Perhaps his view will shed light on the supposed opposition between automation and ideology (still not sure about the effectiveness of those terms, but will go with it for now).

No word on whether the conference will be web-cast, but keep an eye on the GSD's events website for any updates.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

It's been brought to my attention that the Eisenman debacle, which I described in a previous post, is a bit more extensive than I expected*. In addition to his lecture at the AA, he has apparently made reference to GreyMatters on several other occasions. In an introduction to Anthony Vidler's Histories of the Immediate Present, Eisenman writes the following:

Of all the terms in the architectural lexicon, or, for that matter, those of painting and sculpture, the one most laden with social and political opprobrium is formalism. To be a formalist is to be a target for everyone who feels that architecture is a social project full of rhetorical symbolism. Yet I was struck, while on a recent jury at a prestigious East Coast architecture school, by the pervasive influence of a new, perhaps more virulent breed of formalism, more virulent because it was posed under the banner of a neo-avant-garde technological determinism. The nexus of this formalism lay in advanced computer modeling techniques generated out of complex algorithms that produced parametric processes of enormous complexity and consistency, replete with their own variability and distortion. The range, variety and energy of this work should have appealed to me personally, not only because of my memories of that particular institution as a bastion of intellectual conservatism, but also because this cutting-edge-process work was close to an idea of autonomy inherent in such authorless processes. Instead, I felt that something was radically wrong, something that speaks to a more general problem of architecture today. It was an autonomy freed from any passionate or firm ideological commitment.

He goes on to describe a more satisfactory definition of autonomy, which can be categorized under the rubric of the word "formal," and which he differentiates from a passionless and voided sense of "formalism." "Any internally generated forms," he writes, "that are part of a critical system in one sense could be considered as autonomous, independent of social or market forces, while still offering a critique of these forces." In other words, Eisenman clearly sees the value of autonomous systems within architecture, and respects them as a formal device with the capacity to react and respond to non-formal issues surrounding the discipline. Perhaps he is imagining these systems as a kind of grammar or visual language that indexes these non-formal issues and changes according to a predetermined set of controls. I might be misinterpreting his definition of autonomy as such, but oddly enough if it in fact has anything to do with indexicality, it seems that he has incorporated a more recent line of architectural research into a line of thinking that he established as far back as the beginning of his academic and professional career.

To stay on the topic of autonomy, I cannot contradict Eisenman's definition, especially with regard to a critical formal autonomy. But I would like to argue against the notion that the present line of digital research in architecture lacks an ideological commitment, or that it is laden with a technological determinism. In the right hands, this kind of autonomy can be tied to a true architectural criticality and a passionate intuition. The only impediment to accomplishing this ideology is the author's experience and fluency with digital technique, similar to any architect gaining fluency with the generative tools and intellectual media of his or her time. A clear ideology can only be expressed with control over those tools and an experience with those media. More importantly, a recognition of this ideology requires one to be able to discern between those with this ability and those without it. These two skills, experience and recognition, are inseparably tied to each other, both requiring curiosity, passion, ideology and, of course, practice, practice, practice.

* If anyone has access to a video archive of Princeton's lecture series, apparently there is another reference in a recent lecture he gave there. Thanks to EG for sharing her colorful memory of that event.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Photos have recently surfaced showing the present condition of the Ordos Project. What was originally conceived as an urban development, including residences, municipal facilities and cultural institutions, now seems to be hanging indefinitely in the balance, while all things political and economic sort themselves out. The experience of seeing these images is two-fold. On the one hand, the natural reclamation of architecture by sand and wind is alluring. While the decay and open parcels is simultaneously disappointing, especially as we have so much to look forward to in the designs from many young offices, including residences by I|K Studio, Studio Rocker, MOS and Scott Cohen. Let's hope the trade winds reverse their direction.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Excerpted from Peter Eisenman's lecture at the Architectural Association, February 5th, entitled "Lateness and the Crisis of Modernity":
What you find at least with students in America, and that’s why State of the Union, basically, the people that I deal with, the younger generation, is they’re beginning to behave like computers and they begin to believe that they are a computer. They have lost a capacity to intuit and to intelligently respond to conditions in a way to develop grammars. And the grammars that they have come out of the computer. So, we’re now tied to computer programs which weren’t designed for space-time architectural environments. The algorithms were for animation, for other kinds of issues, for media, and not for producing space and time in an architectural sense. And we now have something which is a disease, the parametric process disease, which, you know, has taken over in all leading institutions.

And, I was at a review at Harvard last spring and I met a very bright student, I was on his review. And it’s a year-long project at Harvard. And I said, “what did you do?” He said, “I wrote an algorithm that could produce any x-amount of variation.” I said, “oh my god, x-amount of variation. How do you choose?” He said, “choice is no longer the issue.” Right? I said, “oh, ok”. “Any one will do.” And of course, all of these things looked like weird chicken coops, when you see parametrics operating, right? And they all look the same. And so I thought, well, here I go, I’m going to be Mr. Genius Loci, I’m going to ask, you know, “what’s the function?” Or, “what’s the site?” And so I said, “so, there’s this great parametric process.” And then he showed all of the variations, all of them chicken coop, you know, punch surfaces, Alejandro. Right? Since you’re one of the problems in this area. Well, he’s going to be teaching with me, so I’m happy that I have somebody to play with - the source of the problem. In any case, I said to this young student, “well, what was the site?” He said, “oh, it was a wonderful site in Hong Kong Harbor.” I said, “oh, that’s nice, on an island in Hong Kong Harbor.” And I said, “because it’s in this island, you can choose any one of these chicken coops, since there’s no place, in a sense, but there is.” And I said, “well, what’s the program?” I couldn’t believe it, you have to understand, a year at Harvard, right? $50k for this. And he said, “my project,” hear this, “is a golf driving range.” I said, “a golf driving range?” I said, “what kind of social program is this?” He said, “well in the east, in Hong Kong, golf driving ranges are really important, there’s no place for people to play golf, so they go to golf driving ranges.” And he said, “you know what’s amazing about these chicken coops,” sorry, he didn’t use the term, “is that you can drive the golf balls out into the bay, because there’s no limit to how far you can hit the golf balls. You can hit them through different holes. You can have different size holes. You know one makes 100 yards, 200 yards, 300 yards, etc. depending on the surface.”

And I just, I gave up. I said, “I can’t deal with this. This, to me, isn’t what architecture is about.”

Maybe none of you have that problem yet, but the State of the Union in America, we call it the University of the North, where I live, but anyway it is a disease that is certainly spreading. And students today, for example, some of the students that I know at Yale, are afraid to take courses with people like Greg Lynn and others because they don’t have the computer skills. And they say, “well if we don’t have the computer skills, how can we do a Greg Lynn studio?” So I think one should be aware of this kind of thing.

I'm flattered that somehow my work made him question the discipline's limits. The only thing I ask is that he not give up. Keep up the good fight!

NB: Excerpt taken from the mid-point of the lecture. Thanks to Volkan for bringing it to my attention.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Prora, an architecture of walls, not too dissimilar from Le Corbusier's plan for Algiers. According to Wikipedia's entry on Prora:

The massive building complex was built between 1936 and 1939 as a Kraft durch Freude (KdF) project. Designed to provide affordable holidays for the average worker, Prora was designed to house 20,000 holidaymakers, under the ideal that every worker deserved a holiday at the beach. All rooms were planned to overlook the sea. Each room of 5 by 2.5 metres (16'5" x 8'3") was to have two beds, an armoire (wardrobe) and a sink. There were communal toilets and showers. Hitler's plans for Prora were ambitious. He wanted a gigantic sea resort, the "most mighty and large one to ever have existed", holding 20,000 beds. In the middle, a massive building was to be erected, able to accommodate all 20,000 guests at the same time, plus two wave-swimming pools and a theatre.

As with any residential mega-project, such as Corviale outside Rome or Karl-Marx-Hof in Vienna, the images of Prora are sublime. Just a hop-skip-and-a-jump from Hamburg, and you can be on the walls and beaches of Prora in no time.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal
Pier Luigi Nervi
New York City, 1963

I would like to think that the root of problem solving in architecture is in some way tied to the notion of a structural module. The reason for this is that the structural module, if it is carefully designed as such, implies an understanding of depth, from perimeter to the center, and from space to space. And by this it potentially mediates a transition between conditions, which is itself the root meaning of problem solving. To allow the transition to occur is not necessarily a solved problem, yet if the transition puts forward a productive exchange between the two conditions, as in the problems solved by mathematics or biological species, this is the point at which architecture achieves a productive interaction with its context and discipline.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The new Studio Office site is up and running. A temporary placeholder for an even newer site (currently being developed), this one has some new media content and an interface that serves to link the network of the other Studio Office identities scattered about the web - including the blog, JD homepage, contact info, etc.

Enjoy, and please send feedback!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Vornoi study by TheVeryMany/Marc Fornes

Is architecture capable of problem-solving, or simply a symbolic representation of problems being solved? In other words, do the formal systems we deploy today - in both the digital or physical world - go beyond spatial and material organization, and into the realm of productive problem-solving?

Saturday, January 30, 2010

When visiting the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, VA (home of Pierre Luigi Nervi's only domed building in the US, the Scope), I stumbled upon a great collection of Art Nouveau furniture and prints. The highlight of the collection was an elegant daybed by the Thonet Brothers - who were most likely the pre-incarnations of Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, either in practice or spirit.

Designboom's "rocking chair and "daybed" timelines situate their work into a chronology of those pieces, featuring several other well known pieces as well. Of course, these chronologies leave me wanting them all, but given the humble dimensions of my abode, this could be the thing that officially gets me on the tv show Hoarders.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Writing about the early Twentieth-century transition from mechanical energy systems to electrical ones, Manuel De Landa writes:

Transforming power would not depend as much on its role in communications or illumination as in the creation of a new breed of motors that, unlike steam engines, could be miniaturized, which permitted a new degree of control over the flow of mechanical energy. The miniaturization of motors allowed the gradual replacement of a centralized engine by a multitude of decentralized ones (even individual tools could be motorized). Motors began disappearing from view, weaving themselves into the very fabric of reality.

The time period to which De Landa refers is roughly the same as when Le Corbusier wrote about turbines, silos, airplanes and automobiles - all objects that fall within De Landa's category of the centralized motor. However, very soon after Le Corbusier initial observations, the centralized motor is replaced by the miniature motor, making these objects technologically obsolete. This potentially impacts the notion that the motor itself is the principle driver of visible form and material, or that machines for living in be equated to finely-tuned mechanical contraptions. The problem with extending this metaphor of the motor is that a miniaturized motor - which requires a housing to adapt it to the human body - implies an irreducibly small and unoccupiable contraption disassociated with its cladding. All this time and the machine for living, it can be said, is effectively impossible to live in.

But what if we reconsider the scale of the metaphor's application, by zooming out so that the motor is not an isolated object but a module within a field? At the urban scale, the decentralized motor has more potential, regardless of the issue of cladding. Within a networked system of miniature machines, we have a variety of applications - interrelated spatial systems, coordinations across space.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Much has been made about the difference between the experience of ascending or descending through a museum's collection. This is typically an urban phenomenon, where vertical movement is one of the only means for an architect or curator to control circulation. Such is true for the Guggenheim, pictured here (from the top and the bottom), the Whitney, the Pompidou and, more recently, the New Museum. For each of these examples, the technology of the conveyance - the escalator or the elevator - becomes a key component of the attraction, an odd mechanical complement to the elegance of the works on display. At the new MoMA, for example, our experience of its collection of 'masterpieces' is veiled by the odor of the escalator's grease, the thump of its treads, the humming of its motor and the general awareness of how many it has herded there before us.

If the diagram of up or down is what we accept as the compelling generator of the museum experience, as dictated by the city and its constraints, and the conveyance is the feature that results as a critical urban necessity - it's curious that there are few equally compelling diagrammatic alternatives. The subtleties of moving up or down certainly evoke an interesting counterpoint, and the Guggenheim is its key proponent. But since when did we stop at this point, and since when the city demand anything so subtle?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

From the "Murmur" series. By Richard Barnes.

JD // V2.2

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Concert hall head gear

Protesting Utzon's removal

I recently picked up two issues of the "Architecture in Detail" series at the Phaidon store (good warehouse sale going on now), one of which covers the Sydney Opera House. Like all good buildings, the back-story is just as juicy, including political tensions, Utzon being forced to leave the job, protests, ridiculous cost overruns and geometric analysis well ahead of it's time.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

After a nice hiatus from the blog, I'm back. Refreshed, relaxed, well-rested and fully recharged for tackling the massive and hyperlinked network of the internet.

So, where have I been of late? Here, mostly. At my desk. At work. Finishing a very large competition at Asymptote for a project in Zurich. Teaching a studio at Princeton. Reading. Writing. Traveling to see family. And otherwise biking, a lot of biking.

Where will I be as of the future? A few items are in the works. Two articles (on antiseptics and power). Asymptote monographs (with AADCU and another TBD). Major domestic overhaul of seating technology (ie, buying a sofa). Indoor biking. Outdoor biking - this depends on a temperature threshold and the availability of hot coffee.

Where should we be, in the land of hyperlink, until we meet again? I leave you with this, a nice video on how soccer balls are made. I love how the air valve is such a critical part of the production process, and is one of the first parts to be made. It's like a belly-button, and yet it remains functional after it's complete. Unlike my belly-button which just collects a bit of lint.