These are real inventions: self healing concrete…airport sleeping pods…DIY drones and that’s just for starters. So much incredible technology and cool imagination at work. Watch this video and tell us below which is your favorite by using our live video uplink from your smart device.
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Against a backdrop of horrific crimes and devastating natural disasters, 56 percent of Americans surveyed believe in the devil, 53 percent believe in hell and 43 percent believe in hell as “a place of suffering and punishment where people go after they die,” according to a poll of 1,218 Americans conducted over Memorial Day weekend back in 2013.
The survey also found that Americans don’t hold God responsible for these tragedies with 86 percent believing natural disasters such as the Oklahoma tornado and Hurricane Sandy are a function of nature. Sixty-one percent believe recent terror and crime episodes, such as the London terrorist attack, the Cleveland kidnapping/imprisonments and the Sandy Hook massacre are caused by “the evil in people’s hearts” rather than “divine retribution.”
Equal numbers of respondents (38 percent) believe that people who commit violent criminal acts go to hell, as well as those who don’t ask God’s forgiveness for their sins before they die. More than 61 percent believe they’re going to heaven, while less than 2 percent believe they will go to hell.
Commissioned by the True Life in God Foundation (TLIG), www.tlig.com, established by international humanitarian Vassula Ryden (author of the bestseller Heaven is Real But So Is Hell; released in March 2013), the poll was conducted online from May 23-27, 2013 among 1,218 Americans age 18 and older with a margin of error of +/-2.9%. Respondents were equally split (50 percent) between male and female.
The new survey shows that while a majority of Americans still believe in hell (54 percent), the number is declining. A 2008 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life / US Religious Landscape Survey showed that 59 percent of Americans believed in hell, and an earlier Pew study reported that 71percent believed in hell as of 2001.
Other key findings include:
• 62 percent believe in heaven and think they are going there.
• 44 percent believe in hell as “a place of suffering and punishment where some people go after they die;”
• The 56 percent overall belief in the existence of the devil and 53% belief in hell was consistent across all the four survey age groups;
• With regard to what causes evil in the world, i.e., the Boston Marathon bombings, Sandy Hook school shooting and 9/11, older respondents (45-60) say people are evil while younger respondents (18-29) say people are sick;
• 41 percent identify the devil as “Satan the fallen angel who rebelled against God and now tempts humans to do the same;”
• 47 percent believe heaven is “God’s dwelling place” while 44 percent believe heaven is “a spiritual dimension where good people go when they die.”
The True Life in God Foundation conducted the survey to help Americans explore the existence and causes of evil in the world. The foundation commissioned Survey Monkey, one of the leading polling companies in America, to survey a cross-section of Americans from every age group, region, ethnicity, religion and household income.
The survey follows the release of Heaven Is Real But So Is Hell , which hit No. 1 on Barnes & Noble online, as well as No. 1 in Christian Orthodoxy on Amazon.[ following its March 16, 2013 release CP] The book details Vassula Ryden’s spiritual journey in which she received visions of heaven, hell, demons and angels, and the battle between good and evil in the world.
Vassula cautions skeptics who scoff at the existence of the devil: “The devil’s most powerful tool is convincing us that he – and hell – do not exist. He works subtly and silently, feeding our doubts and inadequacies, sowing dissension and creating chaos and confusion in our lives. Evil is real, and we have to know how to respond to it.”
Crossroads(1986) Guitar duel between the Devil’s guitarist (Steve Vai) and Juilliard trained “Lightning Boy” (Ralph Macchio)
Vassula believes prayer, forgiveness, reconciliation and service to others are the main tools to overcome the forces of evil.
About True Life In God Foundation
Founded by International author and humanitarian Vassula Ryden, is an international non-profit organization that funds 25 Beth Myriam homes serving the poor in six countries. A Greek Orthodox Christian, Ryden has more than 1 million followers on social media, and has spoken to millions of people in 80 countries, including more than 500,000 in the Philippines alone. An internationally-acclaimed advocate for peace and unity, Ryden was twice awarded Bangladesh’s 2003 Gold Medal Peace Prize for her work in religious tolerance and aid to the poor. She has been endorsed by many government and religious leaders, and has met with leaders at the United Nations, the World Council of Churches and the Vatican, including Pope Francis and his two predecessors. Ryden advocates “unity in diversity” between Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christians, and reconciliation between all world religions. For more information visit: www.tlig.com. GG
Supplemental- What Canadians are believing- http://www.canadianmennonite.org/articles/heaven-trumps-hell-canadian-poll
Indeed, the prevalence of roadside memorials has increased significantly over the past several decades and there is little doubt that each of us has encountered them at some point. Roadside memorials are essentially visual manifestations of profound suffering and loss. They mark the site where a motor vehicle accident has occurred and the death that resulted from it (however , many memorials, especially in major cities, have little to do with motor vehicle accidents and more to do with cycling accidents, innocent bystanders or anything else that faithfully marks the site of passing).
In areas where large gravestones or plaques cannot be placed, for a variety of reasons, makeshift memorials take their place. These sites grow with each flower, ribbon or object and deplete with the wind, rain or snow; they are in a continuous state of flux. The organic quality of roadside memorials may directly reference the very epehemerality of life itself. Moreover, in their various forms and inclinations, they challenge Western society’s visual seperation of the living from the dead; therefore, as they subsist, roadside memorials carry the spectre of mortality into the public sphere, a space where even speaking of death remains taboo.
Post-mortem/momento mori photography during the Victorian age is a fascinating though dark and unsettling movement.
Encountering the idea of death may be one of the reasons why people take issue with the appearance of roadside memorials. For them, they represent a veritable “distraction” while driving, are considered “unsightly” or a “vandalism of public property”. For the families of the deceased, roadside memorials allow the opportunity to mourn their loved one(s) at the very place of their passing. The level of emotion generated by being near the actual site where a loved one has died is different from standing beside their final resting place in segregated communities of loss that are the modern cemetery.
Not only are roadside memorials, as markers of loss, important to the families and groups that maintained a relationship to the deceased, but they powerfully address the living by acting as memento mori (reminders of death). It is through them that one may better appreciate the present.
Toronto-based photographer Erin Riley’s series of photographs depicting roadside memorials in and around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) specifically engages the publicization of loss and its visual manifestation. Riley’s images are strikingly beautiful and skillfully composed, yet they raise ethical questions precisely because they aestheticize markers of death sites by transforming them into visual objects to behold. This theme was explored in Jarrod Barker’s April 2010’s Umwelt at the Norfolk Arts Center with a central piece depicting a virtual gallery memorial in conjunction with projected audio/video loop of a recently deceased Deer- struck down by a motorist, the piece becoming essentially a rural memento mori.
Another question concerns the identification of deceased individuals and whether or not their names should be made public through the vehicle of art. That being said, Riley’s photographs do provide an eloquent record of roadside memorials within the GTA and speak to their social and cultural value. Ask yourself: where do you stand on this issue?
It would seem that, for the families of the deceased, roadside memorials serve the purpose of exactly that: the memorializatin of a life. [ “even” an animal life CP ] They also serve a function for the living, reminding us that life is fleeting and that the dangers of the road are real. Ultimately, rather than causing drivers to collide, roadside memorials may force drivers to more aware of the consequences of speed, negligence and drunk driving. May roadside memorials continue to stand where lives have fallen. For the Silo, Matthew Ryan Smith.
Supplemental– http://www.rideofsilence.org/memoriam.php
Working abroad is an exciting and appealing prospect, but for the medical field there are differences that are worth considering. This infographic compares the top 5 countries in which to be a Doctor and looks at the cost of living as well as the quality of life to be found there.
It’s important to make a well-informed decision if you choose to work in another country and this infographic is a fun and helpful place to start. *quoted funds are in US dollars.
Brought to you by our friends at Gap Medics, the world’s leading provider of hospital work experience placements for school and university students.
Dear Silo, I share with you and your readers both good news and not so good news. The Province has launched a consultation process on expanding the Greenbelt to protect critical water resources. Several hydrologically significant areas are included in the proposal, but vulnerable areas are missing.
We need to get this right. Ask the Ontario government to expand their proposal and protect a “Bluebelt” of 1.5 million acres to ensure clean water supplies for future generations.
Over 1.25 million people in the region rely on groundwater for their drinking needs. And, our lakes and wetlands are home to numerous at-risk species of fish and wildlife. We urgently need features like moraines, wetlands and headwaters that filter and store water protected from development.
9 in 10 Ontarians support the Greenbelt’s protection of water, farmland and nature. You can be one of them.
Together we can grow the Greenbelt to protect our precious resources.
To learn more, you can read our latest blog.
Susan Lloyd Swail
Livable Communities, Senior Manager
On December 4, the New York Times ran an article about how Facebook just introduced a new app called Messenger Kids. According to Facebook, this app makes it easier for kids to safely video chat and message family and friends. Per their privacy policy, the app collects registration details from parents such as a child’s full name. It also collects the texts, audio and videos children send, as well as information about whom the child interacts with on the service, what features they use and how long the children use them. In launching this new app, Facebook has ignited a fierce debate about how young is too young for children to use mobile apps and how do parents deal with the creep of technology into family life.
One mother has stepped into the debate with an alternative. Janice Taylor created a website and application called Mazu, which teaches children and families how to use digital media responsibly and become positive digital citizens. She cautions parents and says they need to ask themselves, “do you trust Facebook as a medium to protect your children?”
“Facebook’s only goal is to monetize a new user base and beat SnapChat at it. Children should never be used as ammunition in the Social Media war for dominance.” Taylor explains.
Based on the concept that “It takes a village to raise a child,” Taylor takes the position that every adult has a role to play in the well-being of the child and society. Taylor created Mazu to build a healthy digital village for families that is founded in love and core values. “Traditional social media preys on our desires to be liked, to be validated, and to be rewarded. That’s why the ‘Like’ button is so addicting and why we at Mazu don’t have one.”
Since its inception in 2010, Mazu, with over 250,000 users and growing, has evolved and now, through partnerships with professional sports teams, has brought the ‘it takes a village’ mentality online. With a suite of family friendly apps, Mazu connects kids to their family, friends, and teams/ brands they love in a way that is safe, healthy and fun. To date they have raised more than $6 million from non-Silicon Valley companies.
“We believe that parents matter in the digital lives of their children, that’s why our COPPA-certified apps are created with parents in mind. We believe in the power of family and staying connected,” says Taylor. “By building our products around a set of values and using the community to build each other up, we believe we can create better digital citizens.”
Janice Taylor is a social entrepreneur, mother, inspirational speaker, author, and online safety advocate. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an Honors thesis that focused on self-esteem and self-efficacy among women. It was from this research that she sought to create a solution to the issue of social media addiction and how it was affecting women, children, and families. For the Silo, Trina Kaye. Have something to say about this article? Leave us a video comment by clicking record below or use the comment section at the bottom of this page to type us a response.
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NEWS from The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change- Ontario has announced the results of the province’s fourth auction of greenhouse gas emission allowances, held Nov. 29, 2017. A total of 20,898,000 current (2017) allowances were sold at a settlement price of $17.38 CAD and a total of 3,116,700 future (2020) greenhouse gas emission allowances were sold at a settlement price of $18.89 CAD. The auction generated an estimated $422,081,073 in proceeds, which by law will be invested in programs that will reduce greenhouse gas pollution and help families and businesses reduce their own emissions through the Climate Change Action Plan.
Proceeds from the province’s carbon market auctions are funding programs in 2017-18 that help people and businesses across Ontario reduce pollution, including:
$64 million to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases and redirect savings into patient care at 98 hospitals across the province
Up to $377 million to establish the Green Ontario Fund to help homeowners and businesses save money and fight climate change through programs and rebates
Up to $657 million for repairs and improvements to social housing apartment buildings over five years, contingent on carbon market proceeds
$200 million for public school energy improvements
Up to $100 million to support municipalities in fighting climate change through projects such as renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements
$93 million for cycling upgrades
$25 million to establish the Low Carbon Innovation Fund to help create and commercialize new low-carbon technologies
These recent investments build upon $100 million to help homeowners make home energy upgrades, $20 million to install a network of fast-charging electric vehicle stations, $92 million for social housing upgrades, nearly $100 million to help businesses adopt low-carbon technology, and $13 million to support clean economic growth in First Nations communities, $8 million to launch a new pilot program to help fund the purchase of electric school buses, over $1 million to improve ecosystem health in urban and rural communities across the province.
The auction was administered by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change using services contracted by the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) Inc., with oversight from an independent market monitor to ensure the integrity of the process. The summary report of the results has been made available to the public. For the Silo, Anna Milner. Disponible en Français.
QUOTES
” The goal of Ontario’s carbon market is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our largest
sources of pollution. The proceeds generated are being invested into Ontario’s economy
through programs and projects that will do even more to reduce greenhouse gases, and help
people in their everyday lives.”
– Chris Ballard
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
QUICK FACTS
On May 18, 2016, Ontario passed landmark climate change legislation that ensures the
province is accountable for responsibly and transparently investing proceeds from the
cap and trade program.
The Climate Change Action Plan and the cap and trade program form the backbone of
Ontario’s strategy to cut greenhouse gas pollution to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by
2020.
On September 22, 2017, Ontario signed a cap and trade linking agreement with Quebec
and California. The linkage will become effective on January 1, 2018.
After introducing its cap and trade program and putting a price on carbon, California’s
economy grew at a pace that exceeded the growth of the rest of the U.S. economy.
The number of jobs in California grew by almost 3.3 per cent in the first year and a half
of the program, outstripping the national rate of job creation, which was 2.5 per cent over
the same period.
In the United States, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) has invested more
than $1.3 billion of auction proceeds since 2009 in programs that include energy
efficiency, clean and renewable energy, greenhouse gas abatement and direct bill
assistance.
RGGI investments are projected to return more than $4.67 billion in lifetime energy bill
savings to more than 4.6 million participating households and 21,400 businesses.
With Streetinsider.com recently reporting that Apple sold an estimated 6 million iPhone X units this past Black Friday weekend alone, as calculated by an analyst with Rosenblatt Securities, and with untold millions more sure to sell throughout the holiday season, it’s clear the marketplace is embracing this new iPhone iteration. In fact, the analyst firm is so optimistic that it increased December quarter iPhone X shipment estimates from 27-28 million to 30 million units.
Given each new iPhone model launch ushers in an abundance of equipment and accessories hell-bent on helping users make the most of their prized smartphone, I began wondering what extras are on tap for the eagerly anticipated iPhone X. In the event that your own curiosity is piqued just the same, or if you’re one of the multi-millions of customers for whom iPhone X marks the spot in your heart (and wallet), here’s an array of accouterments that can help ensure smartphone satisfaction for any X-phile. All prices are in US dollars and are msrp.
ALLDOCK USB Charging Station (www.Alldock.com) – Starting at $129.00
The ALLDOCK is a multi-port USB charging station that offers consumers a piece of technology that looks like anything but, allowing them to embrace their electronics and avoid the cable chaos. This interior design-friendly gadget gives users the ability to charge all devices you’re your iPhone X, as well as other smartphones and tablets, all in one place. Accessory add-ons include a docking mount for the Apple Watch, Fitbit Wearables, Apple Pencil and Apple AirPods (more charging add-ons are to be released the company says). It offers all around compatibility for both wireless and quick charge phones, and delivers a 40% quicker charge as compared to using a standard charger. ALLDOCK is available in two sizes and is offered in various premium materials such as Bamboo, Walnut and Aluminum.
Skyroam Solis (www.SkyRoam.com) – $149.99
Skyroam Solis is a dual 4G LTE global WiFi hotspot and power bank. It satisfies the most significant needs of travelers with super-fast LTE speeds, long-lasting battery and mobile charging that will keep users powered-up all day long. Skyroam service seamlessly connects users with mobile WiFi on-the-go through its proprietary global WiFi network that’s powered by patented virtual SIM (vSIM) technology. With instant access to secure, unlimited data in over 100 countries, Skyroam Solis offers the convenience of going from one country to another without configuring local SIMs, updating plans, or incurring roaming charges or overage fees. Plus, it’s shareable on up to five devices simultaneously.
Mophie Wireless Charging Base (www.Mophie.com) – $59.95
Mophie makes charging your iPhone easier than ever. This wireless charging base includes the latest Qi technology and delivers fast charging speeds of up to 7.5W to your phone on contact. In fact, it delivers safe charging speeds 50% faster than standard wireless chargers. The non-slip finish ensures perfect placement, and the included wall adapter means you get everything you need right in the box to start charging right away. The wireless capability also allows users to be clutter-free and take the base with them while they’re out and abut; making it a portable option for those indelibly on-the-go.
Tech Armor ActivePower External Battery Dual USB Power Bank (www.TechArmor.com) – $39.99
Compact and lightweight, the Tech Armor 6000mAh Power Bank will boost your smartphone’s battery life, ensuring you’re charged up for your entire day. You’ll get not just one, but two full charges for your smartphone. And, it boasts a built-in flashlight. The Power Bank also has dual USB ports to charge two devices at once, such as a phone and a tablet. Tech Armor’s high performance ActivePower external battery packs use only the highest quality, Grade A Korean battery cells available on the market. With four models to meet anyone’s power needs, Tech Armor ActivePower series his sure to have something for you. This 6000 model is covered by a hassle-free two-year warranty. The company even says that they are committed to your satisfaction and will send you free replacements for defective or unsatisfactory product.
Ventev Mobile Powercell Chargers (MobileAccessories.Ventev.com) – $54.99 – $74.99
Ventev Mobile’s Powercell 6000+ is a useful device for frequent travelers who hate carrying multiple chargers to keep all of their gadgets and gear juiced up. The Powercell 6000+ is a 6000mAh, dual output portable backup battery that provides a full 25 hours of talk, 18 hours of Internet, 20 hours of video or 100 hours of audio playback power. It features 1A and 2.1A ports that allow for optimal and simultaneous charging of phones and tablets, and built-in folding AC prongs that make recharging the battery extremely easy. Also from Ventev Mobile is the Powercell 3015c, a 3000mAh portable battery with a built-in Apple Lightning cable. The slim, wallet-sized device provides 12 additional hours of talk time and features an on/off button with LED battery indicator light. The attached cable eliminates the need to carry around pesky removable cords to charge your devices while on-the-go.
For the Silo, Merilee Kern.
As the Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee Kern is an internationally-regarded consumer product trends expert and hospitality industry voice of authority—a travel, dining, leisure and lifestyle expert who spotlights noteworthy marketplace innovations, change makers, movers and shakers. She reports on exemplary travel destinations and experiences, extraordinary events and newsworthy products and services across all categories. Reach her online at www.TheLuxeList.com, on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/LuxeListEditor, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TheLuxeList and on Instagram at www.Instagram.com/LuxeListReviews.
Here’s the fineprint- ********Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost and/or sponsored to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.********
Featured image- ALLDOCK
Sources:
More than half of the world’s population made an online eCommerce purchase in 2016, and these numbers are only expected to increase.
This means establishing an online presence is more crucial than ever if you want to keep up with the competition, continue to expand your brand, and generate more annual revenue.
Luckily, we are here to show you how to start a successful eCommerce business, so that you can begin attracting, converting, and retaining loyal customers in no time.
After deciding what you want to sell, you’ll need to choose a business name that will withstand the test of time. Make it easy to remember, relatable to your target audience, and personal – to give your business an edge against the competition.
Typically, people aim to use their business name as their domain name. However, if that’s not possible, register a domain name that is at least compatible.
At the same time you are registering your domain name, you should be considering the platform you want to build your eCommerce site on. There are plenty of options including Shopify, which is an all-in-one solution, or other more customizable options such as WooCommerce (which is built on the WordPress CMS).
You will need products to sell in your eCommerce shop. And sometimes, this can be a challenging process because startups can be expensive.
However, for those looking for an affordable way to get an eCommerce shop up and running, there is always the dropshipping method.
With dropshipping services you can find products you would like to include on your eCommerce shop and import them directly.
From there, customers purchase those products, you place an order with a third-party supplier, and they ship the item straight to your customer.
The dropshipping method is popular because it eliminates the need to stock and deliver inventory yourself.
It is not enough to have an online presence. You need to invest some time into marketing your brand so your target audience learns you exist.
Here are some great ideas to get you started:
In addition, you will need to work on a concept called retargeting. This means finding ways to encourage those that visited your online shop, but didn’t buy anything¸ to come back and make a purchase after all.
According to Kissmetrics, the number one reason people abandon their shopping cart is unexpected shipping costs. Make sure to address all of the reasons people fail to finalize purchases and urge them to come back and try again.
Final Thoughts
In the end, starting an eCommerce shop is relatively easy to do. There are plenty of services and tools available to guide you through the process and make the startup process easier. As a result, you are able to focus on the important things, like getting customers to visit your shop and make purchases. For the Silo, Dimitry Karloff.
Featured image – https://pixabay.com/en/ecommerce-shopping-credit-card-2607114/
Despite a production history spanning several decades, the number of exceptionally fine and large specimens that have been recovered at Elmwood is actually quite small. The mine is known for specimens combining Fluorite, Sphalerite and Baryte in aesthetic combinations which play off the different colors, forms and surface luster that each of these minerals brings to the mix.
Here, we have a significant Fluorite cluster of cubic form composed of pale yellow core material overlain with a thin veneer of violet color. Next to it is a radiating group of dark red Sphalerite crystals of pyramidal form and adamantine luster. To complete the ensemble, there are rounded Baryte aggregates of an off-white hue and granular texture, artfully arranged around the edges of the Fluorite, which is quite transparent, as any side or back lighting will prove, while the Sphalerite displays an almost metallic luster with glints of deep red that serves as a counterpoint to the two other minerals.
This museum quality specimen was hidden away in a private collection for many years and has just recently been cleaned with modern cleaning techniques to reveal the top level caliber of the piece. This is fresh to market, as it has never been offered to the public for sale. Condition is excellent with only minor nicks and chips. The specimen managed to captivate noted Dallas artist: J.D.Miller enough that he immortalized it via a acrylic painting reminiscent of the Impressionist works of Van Gogh and the like. The specimen is accompanied by this amazing painting, as well as a custom acrylic stand.
Opening bid with buyer’s premium was $125,000 (usd).
Overall Measurements: 10 x 12 x 8.5 inches (25.4 x 30.48 x 21.59 cm)
Painting Measurements: 52 x 64 inches (132.08 x 162.56 cm)
Estimate: $200,000 – $250,000.
| CineHome HT2550 Makes Stunning 4K Picture Quality Available to Any Home With Exclusive CinematicColor™ Technology |
| COSTA MESA, Calif. — November, 2017 — BenQ America Corp., an internationally renowned provider of visual display solutions, today announced the launch of the CineHome HT2550 DLP® projector, offering movie aficionados 4K UHD HDR cinematic quality right at home and at an incredible value. The HT2550 comes fully loaded with true 8.3-megapixel UHD 4K resolution, 96% Rec 709 CinematicColor™ accuracy and projection-optimized HDR for stunning true-to-life image quality.
Stunning 4K Comes to Life Advanced Technology for Uncompromising Entertainment Contemporary Design and Easy Setup to Fit Any Space The BenQ HT2550 will be available in North America in Jan. 2018 for under $2,000usd retail. To find out more, please email: [email protected] or visit http://www.benq.us/product/projector/HT2550 |
| About BenQ America Corp. The BenQ digital lifestyle brand stands for “Bringing Enjoyment and Quality to Life,” fusing lifestyle with technology, ease of use with productivity and aesthetic design with purpose-built engineering. It is this mantra that has made BenQ the No. 1-selling projector brand powered by TI DLP® technology in The Americas(1). BenQ offers an extensive line of visual display and presentation solutions that incorporate the latest technologies. The company delivers a broad range of CinematicColor™ projectors, ZOWIE eSports gear and monitors, interactive large-format displays, mobile audio products, cloud consumer products and lifestyle lighting for any application and market — education, home, gaming, enterprise, government, house of worship, digital signage, A/V and IT — with cutting-edge models that lead the industry in performance, reliability, environmental sustainability and aesthetics. Whether it’s interactive projectors or digital whiteboards for conference rooms or classrooms, high brightness projectors for auditoriums or houses of worship, short-throw projectors for schools, 4K UHD projectors for home cinema, interactive flat panel displays for collaboration, or digital signage screens for public spaces, BenQ continues to defy the limits of digital displays. The company’s products are available across North America through leading value-added distributors, resellers and retailers. More information is available at www.BenQ.us. (1) Based upon CY2016 data from the Quarterly Projector Shipment and Forecast Report from PMA Research About BenQ Corporation |
Nancy Talbot writes, “On Saturday night, July 12th, 2014, Robbert and I were on Skype and Robbert said he felt that three formations were coming all in one night in different villages—one in corn (maize) and two in “grain.” He told me he “saw” (in his mind’s eye) that one would come in Roosendaal, one in Etten Leur and the other near Zevenbergen in the next few days, and he also “saw” that when their locations were plotted on a Google map they would make a “perfect” triangle”.
Location: Etten Leur, Holland Crop: Maize (corn) Found by: Robbert van den Broeke (http://www.robbertvandenbroeke.nl/home) Photos: Roy Boschman
Around midnight on July 15-16, Roy happened to be with Robbert when Robbert’s familiar “restlessness” forced him to ask his friend to once again drive him out to find what he was certain would be the three new formations. As they prepared to leave the house Robbert had a clear “vision” of a circle in a corn (maize) field near Etten Leur, and got the street name of “Ettense baan.” As they neared this area Robbert suddenly knew they musts turn left onto a narrow sandy road; when they turned both men started to feel very dizzy and Roy noticed that his mobile phone began acting “weird.” Robbert felt a “UFO was directly over Roy’s car,” almost immediately after which they found a maize field.
As they parked the car Robbert became aware of a “massive” presence of what he felt was a “master-society race” and got the impression that these were the beings he has felt were involved with previous circles in his are)—and felt an additional presence he describes as being “loving and divine guardian angels.” As the men began walking through the 2.5m-tall corn they both became so dizzy they thought they might lose consciousness.
Because the maize circle was deep inside the field and the stalks were high above both men’s heads Robbert says he was guided as if he “were a robot…go here…turn here…stop here,” and they did eventually find the new circle, with all of the corn stalks gently bent over and swirled around, with none broken.
Since he had never been to this field before he began to feel real anxiety as he and Roy stood for awhile on the edge of the circle—fearing that the farmer might come and be angry with them. Robbert also experienced an “electric-like energy” so intensely that his whole body began to shake—and “knew” he was being “once again told” to stay calm…that everything was OK. While still in the maize field Robbert got another “vision” and knew they had to now drive to Roosendaal. For more photos of this Etten Leur circle (#12 Dutch circles of 2014), see Robbert’s website, “graancirkelarchief”: http://www.robbertvandenbroeke.nl/graancirkelarchief
The 2nd of the three new formations discovered the night of July 16th was in Roosendaal, not too far from where Roy & Robbert found the one in Rapeseed/Canola on March l7th, 2014.
As the men were leaving the maize circle at Etten-Leur Robbert again had a “vision” (he apparently literally sees, in his mind’s eye, not only what the new circle will look like, but the area—and often the exact field—where it will be), this time of a ring with 3 circles placed around it.
Once in the right area the men found a field of ripe barley and almost immediately found this 2nd formation, which indeed was made up of a ring with three circles placed around it—just as Robbert had “seen” in Etten Leur. Robbert also clearly saw an “aura” hanging over this circle as they approached it and felt a “welcome” sort of energy and an intense tingling on his arms, as if he had entered an electrostatic field of some sort, and got the impression that this formation was a “preparation” for something bigger.
He also “saw” an area near Roosendaal where there was a “rotating energy” over this grain field. He told Roy he felt that this circle had just formed only minutes before. As they approached this formation both men became very dizzy again; his phone was also again acting strangely, When they then came to a grain field Robbert saw an “energy UFO” in this case one of a “classic” UFO shape sitting directly over this field, and then told Roy to stop. This circle has an incredible feature—the very thin inner ring is only 10 cm. wide–so thin that no adult human foot could possibly have created it.
They could both feel the intense energy which Robbert described as being both “strong” and “gentle,” and he felt he must go and stand in the center (being very careful not to squash the center standing tuft) for a few minutes. His sense was that he was supposed to function as an “acupuncture point” in this circle also. When they returned home just before 3 am Roy did plot the location of the three new formations on a Google map, and it does look as if the connecting lines form an isosceles triangle….just as Robbert had “seen” they would. For the Silo, Nancy Talbot.
The crime genre has always been a favorite of Hollywood filmmakers and cinema-goers. The juxtaposition of a glitzy, glamorous lifestyle with the ill-gotten gains that fund it makes for compelling heist stories.
Within this niche there are few things more thrilling than a well-executed heist. Regardless of whether you’re backing law enforcement or a charming crew of thieves, the excitement of the event itself is often worth building an entire film towards.
Following the twists and turns of a complicated robbery plot has proved popular enough with audiences to churn out countless variations on the theme with heists taking place everywhere from banks and jewellers to high roller casinos and sports stadiums.
Even if the attempt is ultimately unsuccessful, it’s great to be along for the ride. So, without further ado, here are five of some of the most criminally good heists in modern movies…can you think of any others? Leave us a video comment by clicking the record button or by using the comment section below. [vidrack align="center" ext_id="345" desc="some description"]
For the Silo, Hazel Ramsell.
Oral and periodontal health are significant parts of the overall well-being of a person. As such, when you find yourself having issues with your teeth or gums, it is important to seek help right away.
A periodontist is best suited to treat problems with your gums as they have received specific training and experience in dealing with periodontal issues. It is actually quite easy to find periodontists in Brossard and nearby areas. But how do you know if you need to see a periodontist as soon as possible? Here are some situations where their expertise will be invaluable.
The most common way for people to know if they need to visit a periodontist is when their dentist refers them to one. Your dentist will often be extremely familiar with your periodontal condition. If they find that something warrants a more in-depth check or if they need to confirm their initial thoughts about the condition of your periodontal health, he will often refer you to a local periodontist. There is usually a good professional relationship between periodontists and their referring dentists, so you know you will be getting the best care from both of them.
It is also highly recommended for patients to visit a periodontist even without being referred to one by a dentist. This is because there a lot of cases where an initial evaluation by a periodontist will be the only way to detect a particular disease or condition of the gums and other related organs.
This is especially relevant to those who have conditions that have been linked by scientific studies to an increased susceptibility to periodontal diseases. These include the use of tobacco products, malnutrition, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. People with these conditions should make it a habit to have their gums checked by a periodontist regularly.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that many adults above the age of 30 may have some form of gum disease, so it makes sense for everyone to have an evaluation scheduled to ensure the health of their gums and prevent gum disease.
Nigel John Stanford
Published on 14 Sep 2017
► Album & 4k Video: http://NigelStanford.com/y/a-/Automatica
► Spotify: http://NigelStanford.com/y/Spotify
Subscribe and like to see more Robot videos, as I release them for my album Automatica.
Robots rock, they were fun to work with. My favorite is the robotic drummer. More work to be done, and maybe I could play with them live. Stay tuned 🙂 Thank you to Kuka, Sennheiser and Roland
Cinematographer
Timur Civan
Collaborator
Roman Bilichenko
Director
Shahir Daud
Category
Music
Licence
Standard YouTube Licence
Music
“Automatica” by Nigel Stanford (iTunes)
November 2017—Phoenix, Arizona | Visionect, the maker of the award-winning JOAN meeting room scheduling solutions, has joined forces with Heckler Design, the creator of commercial-grade products for design-conscious consumers and businesses, to create a custom wall mount for JOAN. The powder-coated steel VESA bracket fixes the 6-inch JOAN digital office devices securely into place without distracting from their seamless look and feel for the perfect combination of quiet design and heightened safety.
JOAN from Visionect is a simple, easy-to-use device that helps organize and reserve meeting room spaces, displaying real-time meeting information outside of meeting rooms and eliminating confusion, meeting interruptions and double bookings.
Previously, the cordless JOAN displays, ranging in size from 6 to 13 inches in diagonal, could be installed with the Magnetic Mount adhesive strip located at the back of each device. This allowed for effortless installation on any surface, even glass, brick or steel, all without drilling or expensive wiring.
Furthering the high functionality and effortless design of the JOAN product line, Visionect has now teamed up with Heckler Design, the makers of commercial-grade products for design-conscious consumers and businesses, in order to create a wall mount for JOAN, offering an additional, more secure mounting option for the room booking solution.
Created by Visionect after a decade of market-leading expertise in building energy-efficient digital signs, JOAN was developed in close collaboration with its early users, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
The result of this customer-influenced approach is a device that features a battery life of up to 12 weeks and combines the elegance of electronic paper with an intuitive, quiet design that won the CES Innovation Award for eco-design as well as the Red Dot Design Award, the highest distinction for design quality.
Laser cut from powder-coated steel, the new JOAN Secure Wall Mount offers an additional installation option for the 6-inch JOAN Manager and JOAN Executive devices, fixing them safely into place and preventing unauthorised removal. The minimalistic wall mount is a custom-built anti-theft VESA bracket that can also be attached via a Double-Sided Adhesive Pad, and represents the perfect blend of quiet elegance and enhanced security.
The Secure Wall Mount continues the tradition of effortless JOAN installation and can be attached to all surfaces, easily.
Fixing the Mount on drywall is a matter of installing the drywall anchor screws, while installation on glass is enabled with the use of a Double-Sided Adhesive Pad that the Secure Wall Mount is adhered to. A special locking bracket then fixes JOAN into place and prevents anyone from detaching it.
“With JOAN, the Visionect team has created a desirable and elegant meeting room scheduling solution. We designed the JOAN Secure Wall Mount to reduce the temptation and likelihood of theft while carefully maintaining the beautiful aesthetics of the JOAN hardware,” commented Dean Heckler, CEO and Head Designer of Heckler Design. “We can’t wait to see how enterprise and institutions will benefit from this complete solution.”
About Visionect | Visionect is the world leader in deploying digital signs in environments impossible before, setting a new standard in versatile, energy-efficient displays. The result of a decade of market-leading expertise, Visionect technology is unparalleled in versatility, ultra-low power consumption, ease of installation and simplicity of use. The force behind the breakthrough Place & Play signage concept and the maker of the award-winning JOAN room scheduling solutions.|
About Heckler Design | Heckler Design, known for its renowned OneLessDesk and WindFall Stand, creates beautifully simple, commercial-grade products for design-conscious consumers and businesses. Heckler Design’s products currently include office furniture, desk accessories, secure iPad stands, and point-of-sale hardware. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., all of Heckler Design’s products are made in America. |
About JOAN | JOAN is a simple, easy-to-use device that helps organize and reserve meeting room space. It shows meeting information, the meetings coming up and eliminates meeting interruptions by clearly signalling the room is occupied and until when. It is a cost-effective meeting room solution which helps modern, busy workplaces be more productive. |
COSTA MESA, Calif. — BenQ announces the ZOWIE EC1-B and EC2-B which come equipped with the 3360 sensor, providing gamers with a different mouse tracking feel.
In addition to a different sensor, the EC-B series has a USB report rate switch with indicator lights at the bottom of the mouse. This makes adjusting your settings more convenient and allows you to check your mouse rate without the need for additional software.
Two other changes in the EC-B series are the position of the DPI indicator light and the mouse feet. The DPI indicator light is now on the bottom of the mouse while the two large mouse feet have been replaced with four smaller ones.
On top of the EC-B release, we have another piece of good news to share. In our continuing commitment to the Counter-Strike series, we have collaborated with Valve and will release a CS:GO version of EC-B series for fans of both CS:GO and ZOWIE later. Please stay tuned to our social media for information regarding both versions in your region.
About ZOWIE
ZOWIE is a brand dedicated to the development of professional e-Sports equipment.
Sonnet Technologies recently announced its latest Thunderbolt™ 3 product, the Thunderbolt 3 to Dual HDMI™ 2.0 Adapter. This compact bus-powered device enables users to connect up to two 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) HDMI monitors with just one Thunderbolt 3 port on their computers.
Many desktop computer users enjoy dual-display or multi-display setups: with the added screen space, a main work window can be expanded to fill one screen, while tool bars and palettes, plus other applications, occupy the second screen.
With Sonnet’s Thunderbolt 3 to Dual HDMI 2.0 Adapter plugged in, users of notebook and all-in-one computers with limited available ports may also easily connect two displays while using only one Thunderbolt 3 port. The Sonnet adapter is a plug-and-play solution for adding dual HDMI port connectivity to computers with Thunderbolt 3 ports. Users simply plug the Thunderbolt adapter into their computers, connect the monitors with standard HDMI cables (sold separately), and then configure the displays through the operating system.
The Sonnet Thunderbolt 3 to Dual HDMI 2.0 Adapter supports up to two 4K HDMI monitors at 60 hertz, but it also can support monitors with lower resolutions, such as full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080) and 1920 x 1200, making it well suited for different home and office work space applications. Plus, the Sonnet adapter’s built-in audio support ensures that there’s no need to connect additional cables to hear sound from the monitors.
The Sonnet Thunderbolt 3 to Dual HDMI 2.0 Adapter (part number TB3-DHDMI) is available now with an MSRP of $89.90 USD. For the Silo, Elisabetta Fernandez.
Have you ever wondered how you’d mine an asteroid? Not many people have. But you may be interested to discover that scientists are actually attempting to achieve this, seemingly impossible, feat. You may even remember reading about an asteroid mining company here at The Silo. That company is still in business.
Why? Well, an asteroid can hold many materials that are considered to be very valuable back here on earth. And, bearing in mind how many asteroids there are, asteroid mining could turn into being a far more “earth-friendly” way to gather resources.
So, check out this infographic from our friends at fuelfighter.co.uk and discover how scientists are planning on mining Asteroids and how much it could cost in US dollars/British pounds to do so.
H. Richard Milner, a professor, noted researcher and expert on race in education at the University of Pittsburgh believes that “education is the key to addressing inequity and racism in society” and if we are not “working in education to combat racism, we are complicit in maintaining inequity and the status quo.” Are teachers prepared and willing to take this on? Milner notes that teachers “can struggle with tools to advance justice-centered curriculum and instructional opportunities that work against racism” and therefore education programs for teachers must support them “in developing knowledge and skills in ways that centralize race so that students can examine both localized and global perspectives and worldviews.” Additionally, school administrators and policies must be in place that “advance agendas that encourage and expect race-central learning opportunities and especially discourse.” Beyond these stakeholders, Milner recommends that students, community members, families and parents be part of the learning discourse “providing perspectives about their own worlds and experiences.”
This month we opened up the conversation on racism in education to our global Millennial Bloggers. The Millennial Bloggers are based all over the world. They are innovators in entrepreneurship, journalism, education, entertainment, health and well-being and academic scholarship. We asked them: Do we need to talk more about racism in Education?
“When I was 14, in our first class of Literature in English, I remember our teacher saying, rather solemnly, that our subject is called Literature in English, rather than English Literature,” writes Bonnie Chiu. “It was a moment of enlightenment for me. It instilled in me this critical mindset, this yearning to challenge the status quo; and it gave me a sense of agency.”
“We can’t afford to defer the conversation about white supremacy for even a single moment longer. It has proven itself to be the most obstinate social institution in the entire history of America,” writes Francisco Hernandez. “How could we even possibly think we could fight something so tough if we can’t even talk about what it means to fight it?”
“Any nation that can stomach the principle of caste, which is the most brutal ‘classification’ of human beings based on birth anywhere in the world, cannot help but differentiate, and differentiate repeatedly, on the basis of every parameter society can construct in a desperate and insular bid to separate ‘us’ from ‘them’,” writes Harmony Siganporia. “Nothing short of critical pedagogical interventions which would overhaul what we consider to be the very purpose of our educational system, and the resources to channel these interventions into more meaningful curricular design, can help us change these terms of engagement.”
“Textbooks were created by people who lived in a racist society,” writes Jacob Navarrete. “I’m telling you there are better tools. I’d be happy to help you learn how to use them. There is a big world to build outside the cave and we could use your help. It might hurt at first, just like the light does when you exit a dark cave.”
“Racism cannot be explained or understood properly without incorporating a discussion about privilege,” writes Dominique Dryding. “Until educational institutions take the lived experiences of their student bodies seriously and recognize that racism does not only include name calling and physical exclusion, racism in schools and universities will not end.”
Guest Blogger Salathia Carr writes, “Racism is not something that can be swept under the rug. After so much sweeping, your rug becomes distorted. People have become so desensitized regarding racism and injustices because they truly do not know what it is like. Judgment is very easy to make when you’re not living that way. But, if we force discussions about inequality from the very first history class we take, you cannot avoid it.” For the Silo, C.M. Rubin.
The Millennial Bloggers are Alusine Barrie, Sajia Darwish, James Kernochan, Kamna Kathuria, Jacob Deleon Navarrete, Reetta Heiskanen, Shay Wright, Isadora Baum, Wilson Carter III, Francisco Hernandez, Erin Farley, Dominique Alyssa Dryding, Harry Glass, Harmony Siganporia and Bonnie Chiu.
Top Row: C.M. Rubin, Alusine Barrie, Sajia Darwish, James Kernochan
2nd Row: Kamna Kathuria, Jacob Deleon Navarrete, Reetta Heiskanen, Shay Wright
3rd Row: Isadora Baum, Wilson Carter III, Francisco Hernandez, Erin Farley
Bottom Row: Dominique Alyssa Dryding, Harry Glass, Harmony Siganporia, Bonnie Chiu
History is made in moments, often of crisis and uncertainty, and the wisdom with which we meet them. This is one of those moments.
ISIS goal is to split the human family. To divide the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims from everyone else. Those in our societies who sow fear, suspicion and hatred of Muslims are the best allies the extremists who attacked Paris and Beirut could ask for.
Muslims are almost one quarter of humanity, and 99% are as horrified by the ISIS attacks as everyone else. They have been the greatest victims of ISIS, and have the greatest power to help defeat it. So let’s answer hate with humanity, and seize this chance for transformative change. For all of us – Muslims and Non-Muslims everywhere – to fiercely welcome each other into our one human family like never before.
Sign the global “Undivided” message, add your own, and share the page with everyone – If enough us join now, we can start a global wave of solidarity, and make the pain of these attacks the birth pangs of a more beautiful world. When we get to 500,000 signatures Avaaz will run ads in Muslim community papers and online, as well as key right wing papers that spread fear and division:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/loving_transformation_loc/?bsOTIab&v=69561&cl=8992696952
The real front line of this war is not just in the dusty towns of Syria and Iraq, but in the media and social media forums where the stories we tell ourselves compete. There is a fraternity of ignorance and hatred and it stretches across borders, in which extremists on all sides work together to drag the rest of us down into their backward world of spiraling brutality.
Our governments will need to increase their vigilance in preventing attacks, and support military efforts to defeat ISIS. But our job as people, and our leaders’ jobs as moral leaders, is to ensure that love, the transformational antidote to ISIS’ hate, blooms between Muslims and everyone else everywhere. THAT would be ISIS’ worst nightmare – it might even give some of the angry young men they recruit cause to hesitate – a chance to see an alternative as inspiring to them as the backward brand of faith that ISIS markets.
At the darkest times, our light as humanity can shine brightest. Human rights were not recognized until after the second world war. The world got it wrong after 9/11, when leaders play into Al Qaeda’s hands by stoking Islamaphobia. This time, let’s be wiser, come together as Muslims and non-Muslims more closely than ever before, and brightly shine the light of the world we’re building:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/loving_transformation_loc/?bsOTIab&v=69561&cl=8992696952
From a place of love, we might begin to listen to our brothers and sisters among Muslims that have lent ISIS some support. First and foremost those Sunnis from Syria and Iraq, who have been treated unjustly by Iraq’s government, and incredibly brutally oppressed by Syria’s dictator Al Assad. We might begin to understand that when we failed to offer their families protection and relief from the horrors they faced, ISIS offered that protection, and some accepted it. We might focus on learning from this, and offering them a better deal.
With that lesson, we might see the stories of the peoples around the world that ISIS fighters come from. From Chechnya, where generations of Muslim families were horrifically murdered while the world looked away. Or from Egypt, or Algeria, or dozens of other countries, where sickeningly brutal state security police have tortured and murdered countless Muslims who dared to stand up to their venal corruption – something that is a religious responsibility for Muslims.
And maybe then we will understand that while ISIS is a monster that we must defeat, the monster is more than just the group itself. It’s the desperation of millions of people suffering under horrific conditions, and looking for a way out. And the rest of us in the human family, Muslims and non-Muslims, have either looked away, failed to effectively address, or often, backed and supported these horrors.
So let’s seize this moment with wisdom, to bring down the monster we face, the one we all have lines of responsibility for. Let’s see the human family united like never before to defeat ISIS – not just on the battlefield, but in our own societies, in the media and social media, and most of all in the thousands of Muslim communities that live today around the world in fear. Let’s encourage Muslim and Non-Muslim communities everywhere to embrace each other, welcome refugees with compassion, escalate our pressure on Egypt and other brutal governments to stop brutalizing opponents and creating the ISIS’ of the future, redouble our efforts to achieve a peace deal in Syria, protect at-risk communities like the Rohingya, stop constant terrifying drone attacks on communities, and ensure that the military actions we support are scrupulously careful to avoid traumatizing the civilians who are suffering enough already under ISIS’ boot. If we do these things, we’ll do far more than defeat ISIS, we’ll defeat the misery that has given rise to them, and in a way that takes the human family one wiser step further on our journey together.
With love and gratitude for this amazing community,
Ricken, Luis, Ben, Alice, Rewan, Elana, Mohammed, Steve, Emma and the whole Avaaz team.
We live in one of the most politically heated times in history. Expressing your point of view is a personal decision and can be tricky. Although conversations may start out benign, they can quickly become a toxic dialogue.
Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette expert, author, and the founder of Access to Culture, says there are several “do’s and dont’s” to make sure polite political discourse doesn’t turn into hostile debates.
DO
Show respect for differing opinions
It can be challenging to listen to those with different opinions. It’s important to show respect and take time to listen, giving the other person the opportunity to share their viewpoints. The Platinum rule encourages treating others as they wish to be treated. Stay calm, collected and respectful.
Agree to disagree
If their opinions are different from your views, you can agree to disagree. Try saying something along the lines of, “I respect your perspective, but I think we may need to agree to disagree” or “That’s a different way of thinking about the issue, but I’m comfortable if you and I can agree to disagree.”
Ask questions
If someone asks you a question about your political beliefs, you can reciprocate by asking them about their own beliefs. Let the other person do the talking while you listen. Try to ask open-ended questions such as, “What are your thoughts on the current political atmosphere?” or “How do you feel about the media’s portrayal of …?”
Change the subject
DON’T
Get angry, cross or upset
It can be difficult to keep your temper, but don’t get angry or upset if you don’t agree with someone’s viewpoints. Expressing sarcasm, bitterness or passive aggressiveness won’t change any minds. It will only damage your reputation.
Talk over them
The worst thing you could do is interrupt conversation and start talking about your own opinion. Be respectful of other opinions and views. Listen attentively, especially when you don’t agree with that viewpoint. It gets easier the more you practice.
Overshare
Politics is a difficult conversation, particularly with family members and close friends. If you are speaking to someone you’ve just met, refrain from oversharing. In this case, less is more. Avoid saying something you will later regret.
Make assumptions
We make mental notes when we first meet someone new. We make a first impression based on hair, shoes, watch, clothing, mannerisms, etc. However, political views are hidden unless they are shared verbally or by wearing a revealing detail. It’s important to approach people with an open mind to avoid awkward and potentially toxic conversations.
For the Silo, Scott Jones.
Featured image- http://ashleylewis-oldmeetsnew.blogspot.ca/
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – New footage released by In Defense of Animals reveals horses, sheep, and wild turkeys who fled the California wildfires. In Defense of Animals has banded together with six other North Bay animal organizations to rescue and care for fire victims. The disaster continues to cause vast amounts of damage and massive loss of human and animal life.
Terrifying video footage shows In Defense of Animals’ Nicole Otoupalik leading a horse to safety in Orange County while huge, angry smoke plumes approach. Otoupalik was caught in the Irvine Park blaze and got straight to work evacuating horses.
“It was pretty scary, as the fires were right there, and they were moving fast,” reports Otoupalik. “The poor horses were scared, too. It was amazing to see people just running to help the horses at Irvine Park. They didn’t have enough staff to evacuate the horses, and so members of the public who had come to get a look at the fire just started running back into the park to help lead the horses out. Strangers were just offering their time, trailers, and trucks to help get the animals out of there. Others in cars stopped to offer rides to help everyone get there more quickly.”
The horses were evacuated safely from Irvine Park to a grocery store parking lot, and from there to an evacuation camp at the Orange County Fairground.
“Although the danger is over in Orange County, so many animals were injured and killed. Now, their homes are destroyed. It’s so sad, and northern California is even worse with many animals still at great risk. It is just a tragedy and so sad for so many people and animals. Please give what you can now to ensure the animals get the help they need.”
In Defense of Animals based in San Rafael, Marin County, has been coordinating aid to animal victims of the wildfires in concert with local organizations. Emergency relief from In Defense of Animals’ disaster fund has benefited Sonoma Humane Society, Lost Hearts & Souls Horse Rescue, and Forget Me Not Farm in Santa Rosa; Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue in Petaluma; Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch in Napa; House Rabbit Society in Richmond; and Otra Mas horse rescue in San Juan.
5,700 homes and businesses are reported destroyed, with at least 41 confirmed human deaths and untold animal casualties. 217,000 acres have been consumed by the flames and wild animals have no choice but to simply run as fast as they can from the terrifying blazes consuming their homes. Tens of thousands have perished, and many more are injured and need help.
Many families forced to flee the burning onslaught had very little preparation or warning. Some barely made it out alive as they dashed to find and secure their animals. Now these family members – four-legged, winged or hoofed – must find shelter and hope for the best as 11,000 firefighters battle the blaze. For the Silo, Fleur Dawes.
Donations made to In Defense of Animals’ Disaster Relief Fund help provide emergency supplies and resources to thousands of displaced victims of this sudden unexpected crisis. Support California’s wildfire victims here: www.idausa.org/californiawildfires
photos courtesy of F. Dawes/IDA.
Giftgowns, a Toronto based company specializing in redefining the archaic hospital gown, announced today the release of a limited-edition gown to raise funds and awareness for the Canadian Cancer Society in celebration of October Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The alternative hospital gown features graphics driven to motivate and inspire patients with quotes such as “You are Magic” and “Warrior”, available online at WWW.GIFTGOWNS.COM throughout the month of October.
“This October, we are pleased to partner with Giftgowns in the fight against breast cancer,” states Zahra Karimi, Corporate Development Officer at Canadian Cancer Society. “At the Canadian Cancer Society, we are taking action against the disease by funding high-quality breast cancer research, educating women about early detection and providing information and support services to those living with the disease.”
Founded by Jackie Moss under two years ago, Giftgowns’ inspiration originates from Moss’ own experience within some of Canada’s finest medical facilities. As a former patient, Moss recognized the need to create a modern, humourous and functional gown designed with snap enclosures on the backs and sleeves. The gowns are designed to make patients feel more comfortable in pyjama-like pieces that they might wear at home and aid healthcare practitioners easy access for medical needs.
“Breast Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to not only raising awareness but working to save lives and we wanted to be part of this national effort,” says Jackie Moss, Founder, Giftgowns. “10% of the proceeds from the sale of the special edition gown will be donated directly to the Canadian Cancer Society.”
Moss consulted with breast cancer survivors who gave positive feedback on the gown especially after a mastectomy. One survivor noted the function of the gown as an asset, with the easy access during the recovery period at home as more useful than a traditional robe or housecoat that cannot accommodate drainage tubes. For the Silo, Dani Matte.
MORE ABOUT GIFTGOWNS
Made with purpose, Giftgowns give patients an opportunity to share an active sense of their personal character with what they wear – even when dealing with less than ideal medical situations. Designed with the intention to bring positivity and a fresh take on the archaic hospital gown, Founder Jackie Moss believes creative and colourful hospital gowns give patients of all walks of life the ability to find individuality and joy through something as simple as a dressing gown.
Giftgowns ships worldwide daily through the e-commerce platform, www.giftgowns.com, as well as through Amazon and Etsy.
About the Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life of people living with cancer. Thanks to our donors and volunteers, the CCS has the most impact, against the most cancers, in the most communities in Canada. For more information, visit cancer.ca or call our toll-free bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1-888-939-3333 (TTY 1-866-786-3934).
Recently, one of my readers wrote that “there is another kind of generosity that comes much harder to me. I know I shouldn’t be stingy in this way, but I find myself stubbornly so. It’s the generosity of sharing my ideas, my connections, or giving a leg up to those who could benefit sometimes from my knowledge – whether that’s contacts, networks, tips, or the meat of my ideas themselves.”
This concern, of course, is not unique and strikes at the heart of something that all those in creative professions fear and must face. The ownership of ideas is difficult to prove. If you tell someone your plan in confidence and they, in turn, use it for their own purposes, there is very little you can do to show that you are the originator. Spreading this rumor is likely to make you look like the bad guy. It’s no wonder that this sort of generosity is cause for concern.
Arguably, no one would really offer up their original ideas before they have been fleshed out and no one would expect this from another artist. Talking about work in progress in general terms is one thing, but detailing the entire plan is another altogether. There is nothing wrong with being a little protective of your creative capital, it is the lifeblood of what you do.
But what about sharing your networks or some trade secrets that helped you get to where you are today? While you may have worked tooth and nail for everything you’ve gained, there were surely people along the way who said yes at the right moment and assisted your progress. No one can ask more than this, and as an artist of a certain standing, there is nothing wrong with offering this sort of help.
It’s important to ask yourself what you may gain or lose by offering your assistance in any way. While this may not sound like a very altruistic way of thinking, remember that you are indeed running a business and there is nothing wrong with a bit of shrewd thinking. Further, though, when you stop and think about the outcome of sharing your network, it is unlikely that helping an emerging artist by introducing people who might be able to help will in any way affect your position as a more established artist.
No one exists in a vacuum. Even you, who may have scraped and fought your way to where you are today, benefited from the acceptance and help of others. Sure, you may have pounded the pavement endlessly in order to secure your position but that is no reason not to pay forward the success you have achieved. It is too easy to forget, once you have achieved a certain status, the myriad small moments that led you there. While it may seem as though hardly anyone was out to help you in the early days, surely there were some, otherwise you could not be where you are today. Even if it was just a few gallerists who were finally willing to take a chance, there are always rungs of assistance in the ladder to every success, no matter how small.
In our present times, we live in a world where community is very much at our fingertips. The rules of social engagement have definitely changed. This is both a benefit and a burden. While the new landscape of online social engagement can absolutely open up opportunities that didn’t exist prior to this revolution in social connection, the online community can also present a world of its own difficulties. It is impossible to know who you are actually dealing with and with virtually everyone in the entire art world present online, it can easily overwhelm a newcomer to the scene.
For these reasons, there is a lot to be said for good old-fashioned face-to-face interaction. Being the sort of artist who is willing to mentor in the real world sets you apart. Establishing this sort of reputation, for being the one who will gladly share the bounty you have created, seldom reverses one’s own success and frequently opens new doors you may never have considered.
Getting back to the idea of sharing artistic ideas and concepts, this is a bit trickier. As I said before, it may be unwise to give away your nascent, unfruited plans to just anyone. On the other hand, allowing others to view works in progress isn’t likely to cause too much harm.
Arguably, there is no such thing as original art. Even some of the most contemporary artists’ work is derivative of past creations. Marina Abramovic, in her unique style, has absolutely drawn from (and occasionally been accused of copying) works by other artists. Pablo Picasso (and perhaps more famously, Steve Jobs who quoted him) said, “good artists copy, great artists steal.” This doesn’t mean that you should open yourself up to idea theft, but it does mean that perhaps being stingy with your concepts, your network, your position as an established artist, doesn’t count for as much security as you might think. Be smart about things, but in general, it is always a good idea to reach down the ladder and help those coming up behind you find the next rung. For the Silo, Brainard Carey.
Brainard is currently giving free webinars on how to write a better Artist bio and statement and how to get a show in a gallery – you can register for that live webinar and ask questions live by clicking here.
Featured image: Jarrod Barker.
If you’ve been paying attention to the races so far, it’s no surprise the United Kingdom’s Lewis Hamilton (team Mercedes ) , Finland’s Valterri Bottas (team Mercedes) and Germany’s Sebastian Vettel (team Ferrari) are poised to battle for the crown and the odds continue to get more interesting.
Back and Forth
Hamilton, a 3 time F1 crown winner, currently sits with a 28 point lead after winning the race in Singapore. It’s a slim lead and until the last two races, Vettel was the front runner in points.
It’s this sort of drama and excitement that makes F1 an edge of seat experience. Wagering on one factor alone does not necessarily mean a sure cash in. In Singapore a mistake at the starting line left Vettel, a 4 time F1 crown winner,who had the Pole Position, unable to finish and pointless. This can only mean added pressure as he chases back the lead- one that he held over Hamilton for most of the 2017 season.
Valterri Bottas is not to be taken lightly. Two weeks ago he was rewarded by Mercedes with a contract extension for his consistently impressive driving this year- having won both the Austria and Russia GP. Complicating matters is the fact that he is a team member of Hamilton’s and considered a very fair and sportsmanlike driver. Will he help Hamilton win if he can’t close the gap and compete for the crown? Here’s the latest odds from Sports William Hill.
Not Long to Go
There are only 6 races to go- with the last ever Malaysian Grand Prix coming up next. That is most certainly a favorite track of Vettels and a race he has won 4 times.
Starts below are in Toronto, Canada local time.
Malaysian Grand Prix, Kuala Lumpur ( 2.7601, 101.7370) Next 1 October 03:00
First Practice Session, Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur (2.7601, 101.7370) 28 September 23:00
Second Practice Session, Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur (2.7601, 101.7370) 29 September 03:00
Third Practice Session, Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur (2.7601, 101.7370) 30 September 02:00
Qualifying Session, Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur (2.7601, 101.7370) 30 September 05:00
Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka ( 35.3689, 138.9256) 8 October 01:00
United States Grand Prix, Austin ( 30.1328, -97.6411) 22 October 15:00
Mexican Grand Prix, Mexico City ( 19.4028, -99.0986) 29 October 15:00
Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo ( -23.7014, -46.6969) 12 November 11:00
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina ( 24.4821, 54.3482) 26 November 12:00
