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Tag: vadim yusov
Soviet/Russian cinematographer (1929-2013) (Wikipedia entry)
Criterion Sunday 164: Solaris (1972)
Published on 31 December 2017 10 July 2017 by Ewan MLeave a comment
Undoubtedly ponderous in its pacing, for me this still feels like Tarkovsky's weakest film — which is to say, a lot better than most other films, but somehow thin, especially in comparison to his later science-fiction Stalker (1979). That said, it's a film about grief and memory that happens to be partially set in space, as astronaut/psychologist Kris Kelvin (Donatas Banionis) is sent to figure out what's going wrong on board the space station orbiting the title planet. It is beautifully shot, and it's not even the pacing which mars it for me, so much as the sense of it being this choreography of people walking into and around the frame while grappling with some portentous metaphysics. Give me a few more decades on this one and I may come round.
Director Andrei Tarkovsky | Writers Fridrikh Gorenshtein and Andrei Tarkovsky (based on the novel by Stanisław Lem) | Cinematographer Vadim Yusov | Starring Donatas Banionis, Natalya Bondarchuk | Length 166 minutes || Seen at Embassy, Wellington, Thursday 23 December 1999 (also before that on VHS at home, Wellington, June 1999, and most recently on DVD at a friend's home, London, Sunday 9 July 2017)
Categories Classification: 12(A), Country: USSR, Criterion Sunday, Rating: *** (3)•Tags 1001 films, 1972, andrei tarkovsky, criterion collection, donatas banionis, drama, film reviews, films seen at home, natalya bondarchuk, rosenbaum 1000, science fiction film, sight & sound 2012, soviet union, space, ussr, vadim yusov
Criterion Sunday 34: Andrei Rublev (aka The Passion According to Andrei, 1966)
Published on 26 July 2015 11 June 2018 by Ewan MLeave a comment
Russian auteur Andrei Tarkovsky is certainly no stranger to grand portentous overlong films that seem to hold within their allegorical narratives some statement about society and the world, and in many ways this 1966 film (not released until 1969 due to problems with the Soviet censors) is the first of those to break through to an international audience. It did so in a series of increasingly shorter cuts of around 2.5 to 3 hours in length, but the full 205 minutes is restored here by Criterion and, assuming you're already in for meandering stories about wandering monks in 14th century Russia, then it won't disappoint. Although Rublev was a famous painter of icons in Russian Orthodox churches, there's relatively little of that actually in the film (possibly the creation of art isn't quite as compelling). However, it enacts a narrative of divine inspiration challenged by atheist philistines, and one can already sense why perhaps the atheist Communist Party of 1960s USSR might not have taken too kindly to Tarkovsky's themes. The film is split into eight chapters, set in chronological order and dealing (if sometimes tangentially) with episodes from Rublev's life — encountering a sarcastic jester, discussing art with his mentor Theophanes, enacting Christ's passion, dealings with pagans and Tatars, et al. It's probably best to think of these as each illustrating some allegorical lesson about Russia, but they are also quite often handsomely mounted and beautifully shot in sinuous long takes. The final section is perhaps the most impressive, wherein a young boy, the son of a bellfounder, is called on to forge an enormous bell for the Grand Prince, and does so by submitting blindly to faith, while Rublev watches from a distance in silence, having at this point given up on his art. Its message of the importance of artistic creation even under oppressive regimes is a valorous one, and though it may take some time to sink in, the film is a grand achievement.
Director Andrei Tarkovsky | Writer Andrei Konchalovsky and Andrei Tarkovsky | Cinematographer Vadim Yusov | Starring Anatoly Solonitsyn | Length 205 minutes || Seen at home (DVD), London, Sunday 3 May 2015 (and earlier on VHS at home, Wellington, September 1997, and at the university library in September 2000)
Categories Classification: 15, Country: USSR, Criterion Sunday, Rating: **** (4)•Tags 1001 films, 15th century, 1966, 1969, anatoly solonitsyn, andrei tarkovsky, black-and-white and colour, criterion collection, drama, film reviews, films seen at home, painting, rosenbaum 1000, russia, sight & sound 2012, soviet union, ussr, vadim yusov, very long film


Kevin Hayward says, in the past six months, he's developed a chronic stutter. You might think it sounds far-fetched, but Kevin believes he's being tormented by demons. "Somehow these things have attached themselves to him without invitation so, by command, they're going to go." Enter Anglican priest of 40 years, Father Barry May.
Father Barry used to have a very different job.He was the first chaplain of the WA Police force."So I was called out to all the dramatic stuff, all the suicides, murder scenes, coppers being run over."For 15 years, Father Barry counselled the coppers who dealt with so much grief. Now, he's assisting people in a more unconventional way."If we remember the film the Exorcist...forget all the coloured vomit and the head twisting but a lot of that is very real and I've cast demons out of one person of up to 10 or 12 of them."
Tonight, far from Hollywood, Father Barry hopes to remove Kevin's stutter. "It got so severe two of the attacks put me in hospital."The priest begins by blessing every room in the house. Then, it's down to business, with nothing more than a candle, a crucifix, some scriptures.. and belief. The cleansing ritual takes about ten minutes.. no spinning heads or levitating bodies.
"Kevin how do you feel? -Starting to feel much better, much much much better. -What were you feeling during that process? -Something, whatever it was was being dragged down and out." Kevin believes the evil spirits are gone."It has been absolute hell. -It sounds like the stutter's not there. -Yeah, no, stutter's gone, yeah. -Are you confident that's it, it's gone? -Yep, I tell you, the last 6 or 8 months have just been absolute hell."
"We cannot dismiss this because there are still question marks." Hamish Jamieson is a retired Anglican bishop. "Some people don't want to know about it, some people would want to explain it away, some people find it too scary to get involved in." He says exorcisms are a legitimate part of religion, but there's a good reason the Anglican and Catholic churches don't talk about it. Hamish says "If you look at the Biblical record Jesus didn't go out looking for them, they came to him, if you read the stuff it's there, he didn't go seeking it but he certainly when it did happen then he dealt with it, very calmly, very cooly and that was that, full stop." The former Bishop of Bunbury has a warning for Father Barry.Hamish says "He needs to be careful, very selective in the sense of objectifying the situation and seeing what it's about, looking into the background as much as possible and taking all factors into account, you've got to be very careful about this, not rush into it."
Father Barry says "If they say I've got a demon in the house well I don't believe that necessarily so we discuss things, some call it interrogation but being an old copper I suppose I do that anyway, but I want to find out what's going on." And tonight, says the paranormal priest, has been a success."There is certain satisfaction that you're actually helping people in a very different way."


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You are here: Home / News / National News / Obamas' Filipina chef at home with healthy ways
Obamas' Filipina chef at home with healthy ways
August 27, 2009 By Northwest Asian Weekly
Cristeta Pasia-Comerford
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — For the White House chef, serving homegrown vegetables straight from the garden is just like preparing food in her native Philippines — healthy and simple.
Filipino American Cristeta Pasia-Comerford, the first woman and first minority to serve as the executive chef in the White House, credited the first lady for making sure her family eats steamed, organic vegetables from the garden she planted in April.
"Mrs. Obama is a very hands-on person when it comes … to knowing healthy meals for the family," Comerford told a news conference Aug. 24 in Manila.
She is one of three to be honored this year by the Bank of the Philippines as an outstanding Filipino overseas.
The honor was formally awarded on Aug. 25.
The naturalized American said that picking food from the garden reminds her of summers spent at her grandmother's house in the Philippines' Bulacan province.
"They like simple meals, they like simple food," she said of the first family.
The first lady had said earlier that she and Comerford shared a "perspective on the importance of healthy eating and healthy families."
The chef refused to answer specific questions about the Obamas' favorite foods and eating habits.
Comerford, who also served under former President George W. Bush, studied French cooking in Vienna, Austria, and specializes in ethnic and American cuisine. ♦
Filed Under: National News Tagged With: 2009, Austria, Filipino, MANILA, Obamas Filipina, Philippines Bulacan, White House, vol 28 no 36 | August 29 - September 4

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Indian Art in the Ashmolean Museum
A catalogue of the Ashmolean's collection of Indian art by J. C. Harle and Andrew Topsfield (published Oxford, 1987).
I thought you might be interested in this Ashmolean object: Figure of Surya, the Sun god , 5th century AD (AD 401 - 500) http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/object/EA1972.45
Figure of Surya, the Sun god
The udīcya (northern) costume, featuring boots, a sort of tunic and a soft cap, its point tilted forward, first appears in Gandhara and Mathura around the first century of our era in depictions of the foreign people to whom the Kuṣāṇa rulers belonged. The squatting position makes a similar appearance at Mathura at this time, adopted by images of Sūrya, Hārītī [see EA1971.36] and some little figures of mother-goddesses (mātṛkās).
The figure holds a small bowl (?) topped by a lotus blossom in his right hand; his left probably held a sword, of which only the bottom of the scabbard remains. Two little sitting lions, in profile on either side, recall the lion throne of some Kuṣāṇa princes or kings, whereas Sūrya is associated with the seven horses who draw his chariot, thus raising the question, as to whether some other images of the period, as to whether or not this is the Sun-god. Later, Sūrya is unmistakably identified by the presence of two attendants.
The sculpture is notable for its detail and the crispness of the carving. Whether the deeply cut lines around the sides and lower parts of the face outline a beard (some Kuṣāṇa kings are shown bearded on their coinage) or a faceguard, it is difficult to say.
Surya is shown in the costume of a Kushan ruler, with boots, tunic and cap.
Asia › India › north India › Uttar Pradesh › Mathura district › Mathura	(place of creation)
Gupta Period (AD 320 - 600)
red sandstone
23.5 x 15 x 5.5 cm max. (height x width x depth)
inorganic › stone › sandstone
formed › carved,
sculpture › figure › figurine,
sculpture › relief,
architecture › relief,
religious/ritual equipment
Harle, J. C., and Andrew Topsfield, Indian Art in the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 1987), no. 25 on p. 20, pp. 12 & 26, illus. p. 20
Harle, J. C., Gupta Sculpture: Indian sculpture of the Fourth to the Sixth Centuries A.D. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1974), fig.51
London: Asia House Gallery, Autumn 1978, The Ideal Image: The Gupta Sculptural Tradition and its Influence, Pratapaditya Pal, ed. (New York: Asia Society in association with J. Weatherhill, 1978), no. 5
Vienna: Kunsthistorisches Museum, 2 April-16 July 1995, Buddha in Indien: Die frühindische Skulptur von König Asoka bis zur Guptazeit, Deborah E. Klimburg-Salter, ed. (Vienna: Kunsthistorisches Museum and Milan: Skira, 1995), no. 222 on p. 231, illus. p. 231 fig. 222
Ahuja, Naman, 'Early Indian Art at the Ashmolean Museum - Catalogue in progress', 2016, no. 104.3
Ground floor | Room 12 | India to 600
India 2500 BC-AD 600 gallery


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8 November 2018 · Ray Molony	·
All regions · Retail
Human-centric lighting boosts supermarket sales by 28%
The trial of the technology at an Edeka store in Lower Saxony saw total sales increase by 12 per cent compared to a nearby reference store, with confectionary sales rising by 28 per cent, fruit and vegetables by 26 per cent, wines and spirits by 23 per cent and pre-packaged meat by 23 per cent.
THE INSTALLATION of human-centric lighting has boosted sales at a German supermarket by up to 28 per cent.
The influence of the human-centric lighting on the experience and behaviour of the customers was primarily determined via the atmosphere, mood and well-being while shopping.
The scientific study, conducted over 10 months, also saw customer dwell times boosted by 21 per cent and employee absence tumble by 35 per cent.
The sensational results will provide tangible evidence to proponents of human-centric lighting can it can give clients a significant return on investment.
In the morning the lighting is a neutral-white colour temperature of 4000K with a horizontal illuminance of 700 lux. At midday and in the afternoon the colour temperature rises to a cool white 5000K and the illuminance to 1,000 lux horizontally.
Towards evening the horizontal illuminance drops to 600 lux and the colour temperature falls to a warm 3000K.
The phase shifts take place over a long period of time and are not directly perceptible for customers and employees. The progamme of changes is adapted to the seasonal course of the sun.
The settings were designed to have a positive effect on staff and customers by 'activating' them during the day and reducing daytime sleepiness, and 'deactivating' them in the evening, all using the lighting's colour temperature and intensity.
In three waves, both employees and customers were surveyed in the two stores with regard to wellbeing, satisfaction and perception of the environment in the course of the day.
As well as the sales' increase, the human-centric lighting had other positive effects including an improvement in sleep quality among employees. Staff who work mainly at the check-out counter at the reference store had, on average, a higher number of sickness-related days of absence in the first six months of the trial than employees in the same position at the human-centric lit store.
The number of sickness-related days of absence was reduced by more than 35 per cent given constant exposure to circadian lighting.
The influence of the human-centric lighting on the experience and behaviour of the customers was primarily determined by feedback about the atmosphere, mood and wellbeing while shopping.
The results show that the light in the human-centric lit supermarket is assessed as significantly more natural compared to the more artifocially perceived light in the reference store.
Customers appreciated the natural atmosphere of the lighting that simulates the natural course of the sun.
The programme was designed to have a positive effect on staff and customers by 'activating' them during the day and reducing daytime sleepiness, and 'deactivating' them in the evening, all using the lighting's colour temperature and intensity.
To assess the shopping experience, customers were additionally asked the reason why they decided to shop at the respective supermarket.
The study found that 35 per cent of the customers decided in favour of shopping at the human-centric lit store because of the 'special atmosphere' and 23 per cent because of the 'good service'.
This indicates that customers appreciate the lit environment and are therefore even willing to travel longer distances.
Hitting the 250 lux level
For the activation and suppression of the release of melatonin in the morning and during the day, it's accepted that occupants should receive at least illumination of 250 lux at the eye. A comparison of the melanopic daylight equivalent illuminance between the two stores shows that the figure at the checkout counter in the human-centric lit store during the day in both measurement directions is above the proposed limit of 250 lux. The lighting is thus regarded as activating. In the early morning and in the evening a figure below 200 lux was measured. During this time the lighting is therefore considered to be no longer activating. In the reference store the figure is below 200 lux at all times. Thus, the lighting here does not have the necessary biological effectiveness to support the circadian rhythm of the employees.
Moreover, the customers were asked to assess the mood or atmosphere in certain sections of the supermarkets.
It's evident, say the researchers, that all sections asked about in the human-centric lit store were assessed more positively than in the reference store.
The biggest difference emerged in connection with the checkout counter section. There customers appreciate the circadian light control, which supplies the right light at every time of the day and thus neither appears too bright nor too dark nor too warm or too cold as compared to daylight.
Results regarding recommendation to others in the form of the net promoter score (NPS) show a generally very high customer satisfaction in both supermarkets.
Under human-centric lit conditions, however, the NPS of 99 per cent is considerably higher than the reference store of 82 per cent. Circadian light control here provides for higher customer satisfaction and recommendation rate. Well-being and satisfaction are also reflected in the time spent in the store by customers.
The lighting and control system was supplied by Cologne-based retail lighting specialist Oktalite.
The reference store also boasts high-quality LED lighting and is located 3 miles away.
There's no significant differences between the two supermarkets and both stores continued to be run by the same management with the same shift times and a similar clientele and range of products.
Guido Fox, head of export at Oktalite will discuss the remarkable findings of the Edeka trial of human-centric lighting at 5.05pm on Wednesday 14 November at the Lighting for Retail and Hospitality Conference track at LuxLive 2018. Entrance to the conference is free - see the full programme HERE. LuxLive 2018 takes place on Wednesday 14 November and Thursday 15 November 2018 at ExCeL London. Register for your free place HERE.
Human-centric lighting delivers 800 lux boost to bankers
Official: How to implement human centric lighting
Learn from Europe's biggest human-centric office
Gymwear brand unveils human-centric lighting
Lux Awards 2018: Winners revealed
10 mistakes people make when upgrading their lighting
LuxLive: What visitors say
How Bluetooth Mesh is transforming lighting


Three tier mobile storage trolley, ideal for storing a variety of different fruit and vegetables. The trolley features castors to allow easy movement around the kitchen, and to slide under worktops for storage. Simple assembly required.


Fact: Breast cancer is not one disease.
Fact: There are many different types of breast cancer. Ductal, the most common, accounts for approximately 80% of all breast cancers.
Fact: The most common in the other 20% would be inflammatory, for which mammography is useless as there is no lump and is mostly "rash-like" and lobular which is also a bit tricky with imaging. Lobular is the sneaky cancer.
Fact: Now that research is on the molecular level, further subtypes can be defined based upon hormone receptors and specific proteins. ER/PR/HER neu status aren't really types of breast cancer but rather, a means of better understanding the characteristics of a cancer type. Having the ability to identify these receptors allows for more targeted treatments. Ductal cancer can be triple negative or HER positive. Lobular cancer is tested for the same receptors.
Fact: Metastatic breast cancer is NOT a type of cancer. It's a stage. The last stage to be precise.
Fact: DCIS is NOT a type of cancer either. It's also a stage. Technically, it's stage zero because it's still confined to the duct. A more accurate stage would be "Stage ?" since there is no way of knowing which DCIS lesions will become invasive and which ones will go away without any intervention.
Fact: Metastatic means the cancer has spread beyond the cancer site to another part of the body. Thus, most or all cancers (lung, colon, prostate, melanoma etc etc etc) have the potential to become metastatic. If breast cancer spreads to the lung, it's NOT lung cancer. It's still breast cancer that has now taken up residence in the lung. If lung cancer spreads to the brain, it's NOT brain cancer. It's still lung cancer that has now found a spot in the brain.
Metastatic Breast Cancer is not a TYPE of cancer.
Any type of breast cancer with any molecular signature can metastasize. Some breast cancers are more likely to metastasize because they are more aggressive. In plenty of cases, a metastasis is a crapshoot. Off the top of my head and in less than a millisecond, I can think of five people who developed what might be considered an unexpected metastasis. If I allow myself a full minute, I'm sure I could come up with a list that is far too long.
And the reason for this chat? We are taught, as advocates, that it's not about our type of breast cancer. It's about the community at large.
Since any type or subtype of breast cancer can and does metastasize, those of us who are staunch advocates for those who have metastatic disease are not advocating for a particular group. We are advocating for all. Any one of us has the potential to develop a distant metastasis.
To be chastised or to be accused of selecting a particular group of patients over another is off the mark. Metastatic patients are patients whose disease fits into any type or category. They can be ductal or lobular, inflammatory or triple negative. They can be HER2 positive. Or not.
In other words, it's not a type of disease, nor is it a population of patients with uniform diagnoses. Their disease fits into every nook and cranny. It's just that their needs are far more urgent than the needs of the rest of us.
It's high time we, as a community, address this urgency.
I often state (and restate) these facts, but not in such a succinct way. Thank you for this post. It is well worth repeating, and I will be sharing.
Thanks Heather. I saw someone say, "she had inflammatory, that person is triple negative and the other one is metastatic." (Paraphrasing) I remember thinking the statement made no sense. Those three things could be the SAME person.
Inflammatory is the type, triple negative is the "signature" and metastatic is how far the cancer has traveled. Reading those words sparked this post. I hope it helps and I hope my (not usual) efficient use of words, rather than my long winded rants will punctuate an important point!
Thank you so much for clarifying. I still find that so many people don't understand what metastatic breast cancer is. And you're so right, we advocate for all affected by this disease because, well, you know... Thanks again! Sharing.
Thank you for this clarification. To tell the truth, I hadn't realized this confusion exists. Since it does, kudos for setting things straight.
Thank you for continuing to be a staunch advocate for all AnneMarie. It continues to suprise me how many people lump(pun intended)all breast cancers together, and who also don't understand what metastatic means. I understand it because it is my biggest fear. MBC patients need our help. Your posts help bring more people along to help. Thanks!
Thank you for this great clarification post.
Thanks for bringing this up. As a newly metastatic gal I have discovered the grim reality of medication coverage in canada. Yes we have universal medical but I discovered some really upsetting news when my medication funding was withdrawn recently.
A drug can be approved by Health Canada. This does not mean its funded. It first goes to a federal board for review and recommendations to the provinces on it's effectiveness and to determine if it should be funded. When this is complete, it goes to the provinces for review. In my case it's BC. It takes a couple of years to go from approved for use to funded. In 2 years they estimate 80% of metastatic cancer people will not survive. New drugs are extending survival rates by over 6 months and into the years. So if you don't have funding, you could die waiting for it to be approved. Yikes.
My Pejeta was, at first, funded by my extended medical (additional insurance to basic) but then it was taken away when my employer and union negotiated a new contract and benefits. It costs $7000 per treatment. I have wrangled about 10 treatments out of my benefits, my husband's benefits and the drug company combined. Then who knows.
Another well written and very clear to the point post! Keep a up the great work!
People around me have no clue. No clue at all. Thank you for this.
time and time again i find that hardly anyone understands that though i have achieved NED, i can never be deemed "cured", because when i was first diagnosed, the cancer was already metastatic. thank you for spelling out the distinctions and misnomers. thank you also for reminding us that we are a community, and of the importance of focusing on the issue of urgency to advocate for MBC patients.
Another informative article from you! Me and my alternative treatments to cancer center appreciates this so much. Please do not stop sharing the things you know about it. Have a nice day!
Great post, yes we are all in this together!
Well said. And this is one of many reasons why I have a problem with the "pink cause" and those who march and celebrate survivorship. It's so short-sighted, exclusive and isolating. It's a denial of those who are metastatic who live with cancer every day.


Home›Contributors›Who and what is an estimator?
Just because you say something, it doesn't make it true. Brian Seymour explains exactly who and what an estimator is and why some people simply aren't what they claim to be.
It's amazing the number of industry people that say they are estimators.
After a couple of questions it turns out that they count the number of outlets, use their company's standard 'price per point' formula, add the cost of the feeders then submit the quotation.
Such people cannot be considered estimators, or even 'count and measure' clerks, because any trades person should be able to carry out this basic task.
In a small electrical contracting business the estimator is usually the owner. In a medium-size business the estimator is the owner or a member of the management team. In a large contracting business the head estimator is a member of the senior management team or a company director.
In any contracting business it is essential to have a competent estimator if the business is to stay viable. Any trades person working on familiar projects should be able to list material quantities, but they often come up short when it comes to labour and myriad other obligations.
Accountants, lawyers and bookkeepers are available if you need help in conducting your contracting business. But unless your business is based primarily on cost-plus jobs, you will go broke without a proficient estimator.
Statistics show that more than 55% of new contractors go into liquidation in the first year of operation, mainly because they did not allow enough money to complete a project.
An estimator's job is not only to produce an accurate estimate but also to protect against risk.
The size of the company is irrelevant – someone must assess the risk associated with signing a contract and performing the work.
Avoid – eliminate the threat by eliminating the cause.
Mitigate – Identify ways of reducing the probability or the effect of the risk.
Accept – Nothing will be done.
Transfer – Make another party responsible for the risk (insurance, outsourcing, etc).
For each risk, the estimator should take into account probability, prevention or mitigation. This may include prototyping, adding tasks to the project schedule, adding resources, etc.
However, even on the most straightforward projects, the estimator is faced with numerous ambiguities and risks. It is crucial to assess the viability of a new project and consider whether it is in the company's best interests to price the job.
Who authorises variations, claims and payments?
Use standard processes and accurate take-off procedures to ensure that no portions of the estimate are omitted, and make comparisons with similar projects.
Ensure access to detailed documentation and historical data.
Conduct a risk analysis – known costs should be included and allowance made for costs not yet established.
Conduct an independent review to establish confidence in the estimate.
Project duration – be wary of long-term programs.
Dealing with developers – they don't have to be licensed, many have a $2 paid-up capital structure and you will be an unsecured creditor.
Working in accordance with, but not limited to, various Standards – do you know them or have access to them?
Outdated data – economic conditions are continually changing and must be considered when referencing historic information.
Lack of supporting documentation – all estimates should be linked back to the relevant data.
Shortage of historical data on similar projects for comparison.
Starting with the tender documents, estimators need to read the entire specification.
This is more than the electrical section. It includes the tender invitation, closing date and time, instructions, scope of works, construction schedule and parts of other non-electrical sections.
You must assess the variation requirements and determine whether any clauses are unacceptable. You must navigate and understand the language assigning fault if anything is wrong with the documents, or if anything is missing, and look for inclusions in the specification that are not shown on drawings.
Next is to read the electrical section of the specification and make reference marks with a pencil or sticky notes against items or clauses that may differ from the average job.
On a second reading of the specification note the reference mark with page and paragraph number and record it on the title sheet.
If unfamiliar with a clause, reference or Standard, it should be followed up to safeguard what could be a costly omission.
Many years ago I came second on a multimillion-dollar project. As it transpired, the winning tenderer had left out the reference to an international Standard shown on one line in the general section of the specification. That was worth $800,000, and it put them into liquidation.
Check the plans to confirm you are familiar with all aspects of the job. If necessary, make comments on sticky notes. If the specification and plans are not clear and understandable, another read through should be carried out and all contentious points discussed and agreed before starting the take-off.
In the case of an existing building it may be advantageous to visit the site to get the correct understanding and appreciation of the job. You may also be able to take a few check measurements.
So the take-off begins, and although it is the most basic of the estimator's job it requires great concentration and diligence to ensure there are no omissions. You must count light fittings and wiring accessories, measure cables, conduits and ducts, and record the quantities on pricing sheets.
During this phase, contact suppliers to find the most acceptable prices for materials and ensure that they are including the total quantities. Any suppliers outside Australia will need to account for import duties and exchange rates.
If subcontractors are required for specialised sections of the project, the estimator must ensure that the subcontractor has covered all the requirements in the scope for that section of the works. It is crucial to confirm that all suppliers and subcontractors are capable of meeting the building schedule.
Although the take-off of material and subcontractors has been counted, measured and priced, and the company's labour rates have been applied, the estimator's job is still not finished. There are 'incidental Items' not always shown in the tender documents that can be minor or major costs.
It is common to refer to these Incidental Items as project overheads. However, it should be noted that these are direct costs specific to the site. In many instances they are not fully covered in general overheads.
Finally, it is important during the progress of the job to keep abreast of any substantial differences between the estimated cost and the budget for remaining work. There may be work phases or tasks with no budget left.
A competent estimate is the foundation of project profitability.


They're just so… annoying, right?
We've all lived, worked and generally existed around said people, which means you'll be aware of the various bad habits many of them have.
From making too much noise to not cleaning their dog doo-doo up and the worst crime in the world – leaving the dishes – people really do have a knack for ticking us off.
But while some of us remain silent in our annoyance, other bastions of honesty respond by leaving tiny passive aggressive notes around to let the serial offenders truly know how they feel.
And as it turns out, they're pret-ty funny.
Here's the best from t'web.


What is better in the world than feeling relaxed and balanced and stress free? Nothing. Stress is every bodies number one enemy, originally though stress was not a risk to our health or a serious disruption to our quality of life. In fact in early civilization it was vital to help us survive if we came under threat.
The difference between then and now though is that in those times we would only experience a few minutes of stress which would help give us a quick boost of energy so we could make a rapid get away, the adrenalin would be used up and we would return back to our natural relaxed and balanced state.
Today there are very few genuine threats except ones to our ego and pride, yet we spend so much time worrying over things or change what we cannot always control.
This keeps us stuck in a fear based state, these days our stress is not caused through fear of being attacked by lions, it is self created by our negative thought patterns and the social pressures we heap upon ourselves and the way we have learned to react to situations which are out of our control.
The more harmful long term chronic stress is caused by the unnecessary pressures we put on ourselves, worrying turns on the same physical stress responses has a physical threat to our safety would, the big difference is we cannot find the off switch to negative thinking and to make matters even worst most people are doing it continually.
Responding stress-fully to a traffic jam is not life threatening, being late for work is not life threatening, not getting a job done on time is not life threatening yet we still respond with the same physical symptoms as we would if we were being attacked by a lion and because there is nothing to run away from the stress response is not turned off so the harmful stress hormones are not used up.
The very thing that once helped us to survive has turned into the single biggest threat to our health, well-being and our quality of life. Scientist, healers and doctors are all telling us the same thing which is, stress is not something you should just ignore or put off doing something about it must be attended to immediately yet still so many people are still ignoring the messages at a huge cost and risk to their health.
If you are suffering with stress then you simply cannot afford to just carry on regardless, stress is a killer. The impact of stress can be devastating to our bodies, stress in the mind manifests into defects and diseases in the body.
The scientist are now admitting that the effects of chronic stress are now even worst than they first thought, it will destroy your body, relationships, well-being and health.
Most people have got their own problems with stress, the first thing you need to find out is what's causing it and secondly you need to know how to lower stress. To many people resort to taking a tablet, this just mask the problem, what you must do is deal with the root source of your stress and change the way you respond to the triggers.
We all face uncertain times in our life, we all have our own mini crisis's, traumas, personal problems and challenges we have to endure, the problem really starts when we make mountains out of mole hills.
The biggest causes of stress are our negative thinking patterns, how we respond to situations and challenges and poor time management. To lower your stress it is essential to deal with the mind and body as they are both inter connected.
Just by adopting a upright, relaxed and aligned balanced posture you can instantly calm both the mind and body, your will feel more energized, your tension will melt away and you will experience less stress related and anxious thoughts, a relaxed and balanced posture is fundamental to feeling good.
Worrying and negative thinking is probably the biggest cause of chronic stress and because people do not know how to eliminate those needless and pointless worries they stress is permanently ongoing, the long term effects of worrying can be catastrophic and very damaging on your health and well-being.
Why do we worry so much ? Because we are focusing our attention on thoughts and things we don't want to happen or we are thinking about something going wrong. What most people fail to realize is you have total control of what you choose to think, so focus on things and thoughts that make you feel good, secondly ignore any thoughts that cause you any negative resistance.
There is always something going on in our mind whether it is a good related feeling or a bad one, we tend to find something that is troubling us, something that gives us negative resistance and that's all stress is, then we give the concern our undivided attention, if you adopt the same approach by thinking about thoughts that make you feel good then you will have no time to to feel worried.
If you have a problem, try to spend as little time as possible on the problem and think about finding a solution or focus on everything going well for a change, you don't have to always think the worst. If you want an answer to your problem, either to some research or just ask yourself a question.
It states in the bible ask and it is given, there is an answer and a solution to every problem, get your mind and the universal intelligence to find you a solution, ask yourself or write it down on a piece paper, "how can I" then state what you want a solution for.
But it's not just our thought patterns which evoke a stressful response, another problem is the tone or pitch of our inner voice. When you use a harsh and stern or critical inner voice it can immediately start to trigger a stressful response.
This connection and association probably stems from our childhood when are parents would shout at us in a harsh and motivating tone of voice like you're going to be late for school etc. Allow more time to get ready, try and changes your inner voice to a more calm mellow and soft tone of voice.
We cannot always control the circumstances and the situations that happen in our environment or world, but we can control how we respond to external events and people.
"I have got to get - - - - - - - done."
"I am going to be late"
All you will do is activating an immediate stressful reaction, get up a bit earlier, if you are running late, accept it and let it go, there is nothing you can do so let it go.
Although it is important to set goals and to get motivated to do things try and avoid at all costs on putting deadlines on your goals or pressure on yourself. This is a mistake many people make on two accounts, firstly deadlines cause stress and frustration.
One of the worst time for stress is usually first thing in the morning, especially if you are planning to do something like a bit of DIY or even a hobby and you have over motivated yourself or you getting ready for work, attending a business meeting or you are going somewhere and you have not allowed ample time.
It is important to become aware of the fact that how we begin the day can determine how we feel during the rest of our day, so a few simple precautionary measures and good time management you can prevent a lot of unnecessary stress.
A simple way to reduce your stress levels is to find some where quiet close your eyes and spend about five minutes or more humming a tune, this is believed to calm your mind and stabilize the rhythms of the body, just hum a tune at a pitch that feels comfortable to you.
Exercising is very good at burning of the excess energy and ridding your body of some of the toxins that can build up in your body from bouts of constant stress.
You need to get into the habit of exercising on a regular basis, especially any aerobic type of exercise where your heart rate increases, this will reduce the physical symptoms of stress and help rid the body of the stress related harmful toxins, exercise will also help calm you by aiding the release of the bodies feel good endorphin's.
Eating regularly will help stabilize blood sugar levels and help reduce irritability and improve you concentration levels, and it is important to eat healthy and balanced diet, which includes good carbohydrates like whole meal bread, pasta and brown rice along with meat, eggs, fish, and vegetables, and cereals and do not skip breakfast, also it is wise to cut down on caffeine and alcohol, and avoid too many sugary snacks as these are all stimulants.
Allow some quality time for yourself, spend some time doing something for you alone, you could simply get in touch with nature because being around nature is relaxing in itself and research suggest that taking a walk in the park or county is an effective therapy for reducing stress and depression, or listen to a relaxing cd or read a book, or just find somewhere on your own.
Having a power nap especially at mid afternoon will help reduce stress and tension, and try to laugh more often, watch a funny movie or comedian and try and laugh more in you every day life, because laughing will also help reduce stress by producing endorphins and lifting your mood.
It is also essential to get some quality restful sleep, and it is believed that getting less than five hours sleep is not very good for your stress levels, try and go to bed and get up roughly the same time, if you are having trouble sleeping a hypnosis relaxation cd or download will relax you and help you drop off, you also need to deal with your worries.
A lot of stress starts first thing in the morning and a certain amount of the stress hormone cortisol is released into our blood stream in order to wake up and prepare us for the day ahead. However if you are constantly running behind and rushing about you can over produce the amounts of the hormone cortisol.
You need to spend a minimum of thirty minutes a day deeply relaxing, hypnosis and meditation are two excellent ways of achieving this.
This is not an option we have it is fundamental requirement that our mind and body needs which is absolutely necessary to allow the body to rest properly and repair itself from the day's events and challenges. Deep relaxation will calm the mind and body, reduce harmful stress and tension and restore balance.


There is room for the whole family in this 11/2 story home located near Amboy schools. 5 bedrooms, main floor laundry, and spacious living and dining rooms. 75' x 210' lot provides room for expansion and the potential for addition of a large garage. All appliances stay. With a few improvements, this could be a great investment property or forever home. Motivated seller is offering a home warranty.


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Growth and popularity of American football in the sports world
Just about the most popular sports in the United States and Canada is American football. This contact team sport is a combination of physical play in conjunction with strategic motion together with the ultimate objective of scoring points by furthering the ball in the opponents goal line or reaching their end zone by either carrying the ball and running along with it or passing it to a team member. The team which scores the maximum points in the stipulated time is declared the winner.
American football has its origins in rugby football but has adapted itself with a few changes into the American and Canadian system. Though Canadian football and American football are predominantly quite similar there are some differences in the forms such as in the team size, playing area, number of downs, time rules etc. The differences are not major and each may be adapted into another with some amount of tuning.
There are two major forms of American football played in the United States, namely, collegiate football and professional football. With the growth as well as the ever increasing popularity quite a few football leagues were born in the nation. Two of the most powerful and prestigious leagues which are around in the United States presently are the National Football League as well as the United Football League.
American football games that see the participation of student athletes from the various colleges, military academies and universities across the country is known as collegiate or college football. It was through college football the American football came into the news and became as big a sport as it's today. Though football or rugby was played mostly in schools in England, the sport was exported to America. The 1st American football game to be played in America was in 1874 between Harvard University and McGill University, Montreal. The 1st collegiate football competition was held the following year in 1875 in the match played between Tufts University and Harvard.
Present day college football is in the sports news from the first kick off during the football season on the first Labor Day weekend a week prior to the NFL games and continues until the beginning of December. The penultimate weekend in the college football season sees most of the rivalry matches and conference games being played.
The professional football players are those teams that play American football at a professional level. These professional teams really are a section of the two leagues within the U . S called the NFL and the UFL. The NFL enjoys the status of being the biggest professional football league in the world. Formed with eleven teams this league has now grown in strength and now includes thirty two teams. The league is further split up into the American Football Conference and the National Football conference and the conferences contain four divisions consisting of four teams each respectively.
The NFL season particularly the Super Bowl, which is the final championship game is followed by sports enthusiasts and news providers equally as it is the most significant games among the Americans.
sports American football news


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Often, small groups of people are better able to interact and learn about a topic than larger groups are. For that reason, our church has small Bible studies held in member homes and on the Church campus. The size of the group often varies. At a time designated by your group leader you can participate in the small group study. We have a variety of groups available meeting throughout the week.
Each Sunday morning at 9:15 am, children get to participate in their own Worship experience with Illuminate Children's Ministry. Bible lessons are taught in such a way that every child gets to participate and learn. Each of our teachers is carefully screened and thoroughly trained in children's instruction. Sunday evenings, Illuminate Connect offers the children opportunities for more worship through music, dance, art and other exciting outlets. Illuminate is open to all children from age 3 up to grade 5, and a nursery is available in rooms 11 and 12 on Sunday mornings for our Infants and toddlers.
The youth ministry of our church is recognized for their love of missions, dedication to community and support of Church activities. We have many different opportunities available to help our teens grow in their faith. Every Sunday, our Youth attend Sunday school during the 9:15 am worship service, and then return at 5 pm for a time of fellowship, faith and fun at the United 4 Him Youth Group meeting. The youth group is open to all students in grades 6 through 12.
Women's groups give the ladies in our church family special times of interaction. Our monthly women's Circle groups are times of Bible study, prayer (and, of course, food). These groups provide a refreshing discipleship opportunity for the women in the church and help to make up the United Christian Women which meets several times throughout the year. Through events such as the Ladies' Tea, Ladies Gathering, the Thanks-Offering gathering and Game Day, the ladies have the opportunity to fellowship with each other, and help raise awareness about ministries and outreaches in our local community.
The Men's Ministry at 1st United Methodist Church is focused on encouraging and developing men of all ages. The men meet monthly from October through April to share a meal together, and learn from a variety of special speakers and programs. They also sponsor a monthly Community Pancake Breakfast on the second Saturday of the month, where you can get an awesome breakfast for only $6 per person.