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How Improved COVID Testing Offers A Promising Path To Live Events
Главная | Новости | News | How Improved COVID Testing Offers A Promising Path To Live Events
Автор Stephan Cartello • 23, Сентябрь 2020
The issue of testing has been a major part of the larger conversation about COVID since the president declared a State of Emergency in March.
The White House issued a statement on July 31 that at that time the U.S. had conducted 59 million COVID-19 tests and the federal government was providing testing supplies to states by distributing more than 44 million swabs and 36 million tubes. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that in one month of July an average of 810,000 tests were being issued per day.
These results were announced as part of the White House's Operation Warp Speed, intended to deliver 300 million doses of a safe COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021. At that time the FDA authorized 193 types of COVID-19 tests under emergency authority, gave States great leeway to experiment with different methods and identified tests by Abbott, Cepheid, BD Veritor and Quidel as greatly increasing volume and speed of testing.
While Vice President Mike Pence admitted in March that the U.S. was initially unable to meet its goals of delivering sufficient COVID-19 tests, the advances referenced by the White House in July have progressed and now offer great promise to the live business.
By October Abbott projects it will be manufacturing 50 million nasal-swab BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card rapid antigen tests at the cost of $5 each, promising the delivery of PPA 97% / NPA 100% accurate results within 15 minutes. This test is paired with a mobile app that is tied to a negative test result, so once someone has passed their COVID test, the app will clear them for entry into a building.
"We intentionally designed the BinaxNOW test and NAVICA app so we could offer a comprehensive testing solution to help Americans feel more confident about their health and lives," Robert B. Ford, president and CEO of Abbott said in a statement. "BinaxNOW and the NAVICA app give us an affordable, easy-to-use and scalable test, and a digital health tool to help us have a bit more normalcy in our daily lives."
Cepheid similarly has developed an Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 automated molecular test; BD Veritor has a chromatographic immunoassay nasal swab test with results in 15 minutes with 1 button functionality; and Quidel's Sofia SARS Antigen Fluorescent Immunoassay test also promises PPA 97 percent accurate results within 15 minutes of a nasal swab. Additional tests from AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer are expected in October.And the U.S. isn't the only country looking to utilize improved testing technology. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also mentioned in a Sept. 9 speech that his government is working on a mass testing solution to help live venues reopen at capacity.
Dr. Andrew Bazos, founder of CrowdRx, addressed in May that testing was constantly improving and would be a key part of venues safely reopening. He said, at the time, that instant saliva tests would solve a lot of the challenges venues would face with implementing standardized tests.
While some might balk at tests' claims of 97% accuracy, Bazos said testing is a key element of reducing risk of COVID transmission at events.
"Ultimately there's always going to be an incremental risk in going to an event," Bazos said. "We are there to make that as low as possible and with more testing we can get that risk lower and lower and ultimately eliminate it as much as possible. There's always a risk, but our goal is to minimize it as much as possible."
Bazos recently told Pollstar that all of the current production for rapid-result tests has been purchased by government agencies, but as the kits become available to the private sector, CrowdRx will implement them in its protocols to allow for the return of spectator events.
Brett Herman and Timothy Monkiewicz, founders of the 8,000-cap Elements Music & Art Festival, have made COVID-testing a central part of their business in recent months, having already organized an In My Elements retreat with electronic music, camping, yoga and meditation programming and art installations for 225 attendees July 10-12, with a second on the horizon Sept. 25-28.
The outdoor event in the wilderness of Northeastern Pennsylvania has made its two-tier COVID testing mandatory for all attendees: all ticketholders will be the week of the event, and again upon arrival on-site.
The first In My Elements retreat went off successfully with zero reported cases of COVID-19 and the organizers said two asymptomatic cases were caught thanks to advance testing.
"Fortunately, the rapid tests have significantly improved over the last month," Elements' Monkiewicz told Pollstar. "As far as attendee compliance, probably 65 percent of people did all of the testing without questing, submitted all of their testing right on time. Another 25-30 percent needed their hand held, we sent some emails back and forth. And then a couple arrived late, so we had to leave the [on-site testing station] open late.
"There was definitely a learning curve and we realized we had to beef up on customer service, especially on the days of the tests. We had to work that out and really have a system now."
On-site at In My Elements the attendees still observe a plethora of precautions: mask wearing is required; maintenance of 6-feet-distances is required when possible; frequent sanitizing is being encouraged throughout the grounds; and regulations are enforced not by on-site security but through an ambassador program, by fans who volunteer to remind people to wear their mask, to keep their distance and to regularly sanitize.
Monkiewicz and Herman are already consulting with other events in different states for the coming months and said it's important to be in touch with local authorities as regulations for large gatherings frequently change.
They said in many states it is possible that up to 1,000 people may soon be allowed at a gathering, and when the authorities do provide that green light, event organizers will need to be ready to operate in the safest way possible.
"Designing this event has taught us that things can change on a day-to-day or a week-to-week basis, and the event has to be able to pivot quickly if there is a sudden change in government regulation and now that is going to be expected of guests as well. We have to be flexible and we ask the same of our venues, vendors and artists."
Despite the importance of making use of testing, even with the recent advances in testing technology, Herman said the added costs of their two-tier system are "substantial."
"We didn't expect to make money on the first one, we were just hoping to break even. We ended up taking a hit but we viewed it as an investment for the future of our events, including larger festivals and all events. It was a financial risk we were willing to take. At the time testing was not covered by insurance, so the overall ticket cost had to be much higher. Now with insurance being covered more widely across the state, we're hoping the cost of a weekend gathering like this can continue to go down," Herman said. "If regular testing was required weekly: to go to a concert, to go to a weekly retreat, perhaps we can encourage people to get tested en masse.
"What would the world look like if every-one was getting tested and we were able to catch these asymptomatic cases? I think it's in everyone's best interest to encourage people to get tested as frequently as possible so we can try to accelerate snuffing this disease out and reopening.
"It's already been six months. How long do we passively wait to resume business as usual? A year? Two years? I don't see anybody taking concrete steps to end this, governments included. Particularly in the live event industry, we feel like we will be the very last, if any, to receive any sort of aid. Most businesses will go bankrupt or collapse in next few months if there is not some sort of relief. We might be in capacity restriction for the foreseeable future, which is why we decided to design a system that can safely put on limited-size events.
"As a live event producer, I don't accept 'Sit around and wait for a vaccine' as a solution for my business. As far as figuring out the metrics for when things are safe, I think our experience can provide insight on how live events can begin to resume safely."
The Hardkiss, Ivan Dorn, ONUKA, and Artem Pivovarov will give concerts in the United States in support of Ukraine.
Американский тур MARUV переносится
TINA KAROL & KAZKA POSTPONE THEIR TOUR UNTIL THE PEACE IN UKRAINE IS REACHED
Юнона и Авось | Seattle in Сиэтл
Четверг, Апр 13 в 20:00 Edmonds Center For The Arts
ZVERI LIve in LA 2019
Key mondays at MariVanna Sep. 26
Jeans Party 90's-200's
https://eventcartel.com/ru/events-and-concerts-guides/news/how-improved-covid-testing-offers-promising-path-l/


After experimenting with point distribution charts for teams and with J.R. Smith's shooting explosion, I thought it'd be fun to apply the same ones for the top 10 players in points per game this season.
As usual, these graphs visualize points per game across six different locations on the floor: restricted area, in the paint (non-RA), mid-range, corner three, above the break three, and three throws. This time however, those graphs of the 10 players will also include the exact points per location below them and where that production ranks among the 480 players to log playing time this season. All of that is according to NBA.com.
Also, the axis for the 10 players will vary depending on the player, but at the very end of the post I'll make a common one to show each of the 10 charts in a single GIF, sorted from the highest scorer to the lowest.
Perk's looks minuscule compared to Durant's, who's just an offensive shark and in the top 25 in every category except corner threes. It might also be worth noting that just behind Durant in points around the rim per game is none other than Tony Wroten, somehow at 7.62 points per game and good for 17th-best.
As for three-pointers, I'm not sure how common this is and how often it's been noted before, but Durant shoots better on pull-up attempts (42 percent) than catch and shoot ones (38.7), according to SportVU. Weird, maybe?
One of the more unusual charts I've looked at, Anthony gets a respectable share of points around the rim but he's in the middle of the pack when compared with the top 10 in points per game. Ahead of him across the league are the likes of Timofey Mozgod, Alec Burks, and Tobias Harris. Melo also gets very little points from the corner three, but that's common for high scorers with range.
As for the above the break threes, Anthony's one of five on this list to crack the top 10 in points from that area of the floor. He also feasts at the line, another common theme with the top scorers.
What makes Anthony's chart so odd is the mid-range game. This is the first chart where I've noticed both a great deal of points in the high-efficiency zones of the floor and the dead zones. Durant's is like that, but not to the extent of Melo's.
Confirmed: LeBron James feasts around the rim. He made me change the range on his chart to a max of 12 points per location, though a couple other players eventually did the same thing so whatever. His graph is a good example of an efficient one, though, and how it should show quite a few points on the left side. In fact, out of the top 10 scorers, James is the second-most Moreyball-like of the top 10 scorers in that 81.75 percent of his points come around the rim, from three, or from the stripe.
Love's the first player on this list to not lead or be near the top in averages from one of the first three shot locations. In terms of non-point guards in this list (eight players), he averages the least amount of points from those first few spots but still gets a decent amount from around the rim.
Nearly 85 percent of Harden's points come from the spots that generate the most points per attempt, though he's still in the top 100 in each of the least-efficient locations. He's also the only player besides Durant to be in the top five in points from both above the break threes and free throws per game, though Kevin Love narrowly misses out on joining that club too.
Just how many of Griffin's points from the non-restricted area part of the paint are from either dunks or near-dunks that turned into double-pump layups? Regardless, we have our first near-triangular chart and the second player to score over 10 points per game from a single shot location. There's also a smidge of blue crossing over the three-point areas thanks to whatever plays were drawn up to get Griffin a score from there.
Arguably the most unusual chart, in my opinion. Curry feasts from outside the paint, one of the stats worth noting being that he averages over one more point per game from the above the break three than third-place Damian Lillard. Ryan Anderson is in second-place at 7.8 but…sigh.
Maybe worth noting, maybe not: It took until Aldridge to get to a player who hasn't made a corner three this season.
And that mid-range game. Aldridge looks like the least-efficient of this bunch as over half of his points come from the dead zones of the floor. In fact, while he scores a whole two more points from mid-range than second-place Dirk Nowitki, he averages nearly six more possible points (25.94 total for LMA) from that area than second-place Carmelo Anthony (20.00) in that stat. Unfortunately, he can't make every one of those attempts and average nearly 40 points per game. Shucks.
9. DeMar DeRozan – 22.7 points per game.
Among this list, DeRozan's chart is my favorite just from the shape his points form.
But, like Aldridge, it's a bit of a weird one. DeRozan sits comfortably in fourth place in mid-range points, but he only makes a shade under 40 percent of his attempts. He does score the most points per game from the corner three among this group, however, and gets a decent chunk from the free throw line as well, more than the likes of Melo, LeBron, and Paul George, among others.
The most triangular chart of the top 10 scorers, Boogie feasts in the paint, at the line and, um, sometimes from mid-range where me makes 41 percent of his attempts.
That triangle, though. It's pretty neat, so there's that.
All but Aldridge score at least half their points on locations in the center or left side of the graph. Harden's chart seems to be the most efficient, though LeBron is just too effective around the rim. Regardless, it's nice to see a variety of charts, especially the triangles. Don't forget the triangles.
← When a prospect slips in the draft, how much salary do they lose?


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Tobias Bonwetsch: Gantenbein Vineyard Façade, Fläsch
Next: Tobias Klein: Glass Entanglement I and II »
« Previous: Tobaron Waxman: Amidah
Tobias Bonwetsch
SIGGRAPH 2008: Design and Computation
Four hundred square meters of the brick façade on a winery were digitally designed and fabricated to serve as a prototype for this process. The masonry façade functions both as a temperature buffer and as protection from direct sunlight. The robotic construction technology, developed at the ETH Zürich by Gramazio & Kohler, Architecture and Digital Fabrication, lays individual bricks according to programmed parameters, precisely at the desired angle and at exact prescribed intervals. With this new digital production method, each wall was constructed to the desired light and air permeability specifi-cations, while creating a pattern of individually rotated bricks.
The façade is made up of 20,000 bricks. Each individual brick reflects light differently, depending on the angle at which it is set, and thus has different light-diffusion characteristics. Much like pixels on a computer screen, the bricks form a pattern on the façade. In contrast to a two-dimensional screen, however, there is a dramatic play among plasticity, depth, and color, depending on the viewer's position and the angle of the sun.
At closer view – in contrast to its pictorial effect at a distance – the sensual, textile softness of the walls dissolves into the materiality of the stonework. The observer is surprised that the soft, round forms are actually composed of individual, hard bricks. The façade appears as a solidified dynamic form.
In the interior, the daylight creates a mild, yet luminous atmosphere. The image of the landscape glimmers through the open gaps between the bricks.
To create the façade, the team designed a generative process using the animation software Maya and its embedded scripting language, MEL. The existing concrete-frame construction was interpreted as a basket and filled with abstract balls (representing grapes) that varied in diameter. By digitally simulating gravity, the process simulated balls falling into a virtual container. The digital basket was then viewed from all four sides, and the digital image data were automatically transferred as a rotation of the individual bricks. The joints were left open to create transparency.
In the built result, the visitor sees gigantic, synthetic grapes, as if they were inside the vineyard building. The wall elements were manufactured as part of a pilot project at the robot research facilities at the ETH Zürich, transported by lorry to the construction site, and installed with a crane.
The Gramazio & Kohler team wrote a script for direct postprocessing of the generated design data into robot control language. The robot is directly activated by the design data, and there was no need to produce additional implementation drawings. As a result, the team was able to continue working on the façade up to the very last minute before starting production.
Architecture Bearth & Deplazes with Gramazio & Kohler
Facade Gramazio & Kohler, Architecture and Digital Fabrication,
Partner Keller AG Ziegeleien

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Acapulco Destination Marketing Office and the Secretary of Tourism for the State of Guerrero reported that that the city of Acapulco and the State of Guerrero welcomed over 1 million tourists during the summer months, resulting in an economic impact of over $283 million.
In an effort to continually increase the number of tourists visiting Guerrero, the Office of the Secretary of Tourism for Guerrero (SEFOTUR) has announced the development of a plan to revitalize the port city of Acapulco, focusing on investment in infrastructure by the state and federal governments, promotion of tourist attractions and new entertainment options for visitors, and development of hotels and resorts through private investment.
ángel Aguirre Rivero, governor of Guerrero, recently announced the investment of $202 million in infrastructure in Acapulco. The investment will be used to build the Avenida Escénica Alterna and the Macrotúnel, both designed to connect the Traditional Zone with the exclusive Diamond Zone. The State of Guerrero also received $20 million from the federal government as part of the Coordination and Reallocation of Resources Agreement of 2011. For more information, visit www.visiteacapulco.com.


The stated polygon count is with turbo smooth applied at 1 iteration. Without turbo smooth the model comes to 4212 polygons. The low poly count means the model can easily be tweaked or modified if needed to suit the desired look.


For the modern curvy woman, our new Curvy Collection features exclusive fashion forward items that will fit & flatter your fuller curves. The S,M,L size range in our new Curvy Collection fits equivalent to a commercial XL,1XL, 2XL or size 10-12, 14-16, 18-20.
The 'CHRISTIE' is a stylish and sophisticated cold shoulder top featuring a faux wrap silhouette with an asymmetrical cut. Designed in a stretchy jersey knit bodice featuring shoulder cut outs with 3/4 sleeves and ruched sides with a form hugging fit. Available in rust, green and black.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Home > 2004 > GDC Technology And Essel Shyam Communication All Set To Transform Indian Film Industry Through Satellite Delivery Of Movie To Electronic Theatres
GDC Technology And Essel Shyam Communication All Set To Transform Indian Film Industry Through Satellite Delivery Of Movie To Electronic Theatres
New Delhi, India (February 03, 2004)— GDC Technology, the leading developer of digital cinema solutions, today announced the successful trial of the satellite delivery of "Tere Naam" musicals held on February 3, using proprietary technologies developed by GDC Technology. GDC Technology and Essel Shyam Communication Limited (ESCL) collaborated to provide satellite delivery of the musicals from Essel Shyam Communication's Teleport to an electronic cinema theatre located in New Delhi.
The event was India's first Satellite delivery of digital content to electronic cinema theatre in India featuring high-resolution images encoded in 4:2:2 colour space. The trial is significant because it demonstrates an efficient and cost-effective way to deliver content to the existing network of hundreds of electronic cinema theatres acrossed India. GDC Technology also takes this opportunity to launch their latest multi-layer encryption DVB-IP delivery solution for digital/electronic cinema theatres.
"By providing the secure DVB-IP communication interface in our server, we reduce the cost of ownership of satellite-enabled digital/electronic cinema equipment by providing direct interface to the satellite demodulator without the need of an additional file server", said Dr Man Nang CHONG, GDC Technology's CEO. "GDC Technology's Server offers the operator the capabilities of monitoring the status of the playout of the movies and condition of the equipment in the digital cinema without the need of visiting the
digital/electronic cinema theatres in person".
Mr. Ponty Chadha, the Managing Director of Chadha Group was present to witness this important milestone in India's film industry. The satellite delivery of the movie took place in one of India's largest and best-equipped "Wave" Multiplex at Khushambi, Ghaziabad owned by the Chadha Group. "We are delighted to see the success of the secure delivery of the content to our Multiplex with such simple and elegant operation", said Mr. Ponty Chadha. "The multiple-layer encryption to protect the content and the cost benefit of satellite delivery are important factors for us in the roll-out of digital cinemas in India".
Mr. Ponty Chaddha and Mr. GD Mehta, both leading distributors in Delhi and UP Territories have joint ventured to launch WAVE DIGITAL PRIVATE LIMITED, which holds the exclusive rights for digital cinema theatres for the territories of Delhi, UP, Punjab, Uttaranchal, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.
"This evolution of satellite content delivery would significantly transform the way the film food chain operates in India. Cost economies of scale through satellite further approves the derivation of tremendous reduction in print cost and print transportation" said Mr. Lalit Kapoor, Wave Digital's Director.
"Satellite delivery is in our opinion a fool proof mechanism to establish a solution to drastically reduce piracy in the food chain. This means a lot to us in the future. GDC's new multi-layer encryption DVB-IP delivery solution is a very innovative development for the digital cinema theatres in Delhi and UP " said Mr. Rajeev Kapoor, Wave Digital's CEO.
GDC Technology possesses rich experience in satellite delivery. In September 2001, GDC Technology conducted a series of successful demonstrations of the satellite delivery of Columbia Pictures' "Final Fantasy" to digital cinema theatres in Beijing and Shanghai.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
About GDC Technology Private Limited
GDC Technology Private Limited is a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Public Listed Company – Global Digital Creations Holdings Limited. GDC Technology pioneers digital post-production, delivery and presentation technologies. Known for its commitment to innovative engineering work, quality products and state-of-the-art technology, GDC Technology offers solutions on film transfer, post-production, delivery and presentation of digital content.
GDC Technology has successfully delivered and installed more than 100 electronic cinema theatres in India with more than 32 full feature film released in digital format.
For more information on GDC Technology, visit www.gdc-tech.com.
Ms Sharon Ang
GDC Technology Private Limited
70 A/B Amoy Street, Singapore 069889


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Hill Air Force Base
Humans of the U: Liz Rogers
Janelle Hanson
"I was born at Hill Air Force Base to a military historian and a Dutch immigrant, and have lived all over the western world. Because of that, I am owned by the love of history and the need to preserve it for future generations."
AIR FORCE ARCHIVE
The U's Marriott Library creates digital access to historic base newspapers documenting 75 years at Hill Air Force Base.


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Family Crimes
Social Media Crimes
Was Rebecca Zahau's Death An Asian Honor Suicide?
While an expert in Asian shame believes it's possible Rebecca Zahau may have chosen to end her life after feeling a wave of tremendous guilt, others don't believe the vibrant 32-year-old died by her own hand.
By Jill Sederstrom
Death at the Mansion: Rebecca Zahau Was Naked When She Died — Is That 'Weird' For A Suicide?
Death at the Mansion: Loni Coombs Seeks Truth About Rebecca Zahau's Mysterious Death
Digital Original
The Many Theories of the Rebecca Zahau Case
Rebecca's Sister, Mary, Describes Their Relationship and Childhood
6-Year-Old Max Shacknai's Accident and Death
Who Was Rebecca Zahau?
Loni Coombs Discusses Oxygen's Limited Series "Death At The Mansion: Rebecca Zahau"
Here Is A Look At Some Of The Evidence In the Case Of Rebecca Zahau
Death at the Mansion: Rebecca Zahau Premieres June 1st
Did Rebecca Zahau's cultural background play a role in her death?
Some have suggested that Zahau may have taken her own life as part of an honor suicide — an act with deep roots in Asian cultures, intended to rid oneself of perceived shame by ending his or her life.
The days leading up to the 32-year-old's death were tumultuous, and could have left Zahau, a Burmese immigrant, with a deep sense of guilt over the tragic events that transpired just before she died.
Her boyfriend's 6-year-old son, Max Shacknai, was gravely injured after falling over a second-story balcony while in her care, leaving him with critical injuries that would claim his life days later.
But was the accident and Zahau's cultural attitude toward shame enough to push her over the edge and cause her to take her own life?
What Is An Honor Suicide?
The concept of honor suicide dates back centuries in Asian cultures and differs from an honor killing. Amnesty International describes an honor killing as violence — most often against women — at the hands of a family member to restore a family's "honor" after a perceived cultural infraction. An honor suicide is carried out by the individual who believes they committed the infraction.
In Asian cultures, some believe that killing themselves will restore a "sense of honor back to the family" after committing an act they feel may have brought shame to the family, according to an article in Psychology Today.
"Present-day Asians, regardless of their differences in ethnicities, languages and religions, are still rooted in the shared values of collectivism, saving face, honor and loyalty to one's family and culture," the article's author, Sam Louie wrote.
Louie told Oxygen that in Asian cultures those who do something deemed "negative by society standards" often either suffer in silence or break out of the shame they feel by trying to reclaim their honor.
"There needs to be a way to release that shame," he said. "Otherwise, you're going to [be] deeply embroiled in it, either with mental health conditions with depression, anxiety and, you know, worst case scenario, suicide, as a means to atone for that level of disgracing your family and or your ancestors."
The concept can be traced back to 12th century Japan, when samurai would commit seppuku, a ritual in which one, often publicly, disembowels himself after believing he had brought shame to himself or others, The Los Angeles Times reports.
While modern-day examples are typically less gruesome, Louie told Oxygen that Asian shame continues to be a powerful force in today's world.
Asian shame can be as mild as somebody not living up to their parent's expectations in terms of grades or relationships, or can be more extreme, in the case of an addiction or committing a crime, Louie said.
"We have behavioral shame," he said. "You may have done something like a scandal, like you've been in an affair, all these different layers, so many different levels of shame that maybe most people … in the West could feel. But in East Asian context, the shame is more than yourself; you are potentially dishonoring your immediate … family."
Could Zahau's Case Have Been An Honor Suicide?
Zahau had been home with Max Shacknai the day he plunged over the family's second-story balcony — leaving Zahau distraught and visibly shaken by the grave injuries the boy suffered.
But did a feeling of guilt after Max's tragic fall later drive her to take her own life?
Shortly after Zahau was found dead, her boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai, suggested to police that his girlfriend may have been experiencing culture-related shame due to guilt over Max's accident.
"She comes from a true Asian background," he said in a police interview from July 13, 2011, played in an episode of "Death at the Mansion: The Case of Rebecca Zahau," airing on Oxygen. "And they just look at things differently in terms of responsibility. I can't help but think that she felt responsible because she was in the house."
Louie believes it is possible that Zahau took her own life in the days after Max's tragic accident, and said she may have been driven to the act by guilt she felt after the accident.
"When I look at Rebecca Zahau's death, I really see what I think is the cultural shame playing into potentially her killing herself," Louie said. "And the reason why I say this is because there's so much tremendous personal shame of having Max accident happen underneath her care, but also the collective shame of knowing this could potentially haunt her, her family and her dead ancestors, going back generations."
Zahau may have also been afraid of the repercussions the accident could have had on her relationship with Max's father, he said.
"You combine that with the potential fear, or the perceived fear … of losing her relationship with Jonah, [and] I think those two losses, compounded with her backdrop in Asian Culture, may have been too much for her to bear," Louie said.
The concept of Asian shame could resonate with someone with a Burmese background, like Zahau.
"It would because the Burmese culture, even though they make up more than 130 different ethnic groups, they still have very common core philosophical or cultural values in terms of what they esteem, and part of that is saving face," Louie said on the upcoming series.
However, Louie said being found naked would have been "very shameful" in Asian cultures, and could be one factor pointing away from an Asian honor suicide.
"I wouldn't understand why she would disrobe," he said.
The Case Against A Shame-Based Suicide
Others have pointed to Zahau's strong Christian faith as a reason she wouldn't have taken her own life.
"Rebecca and I, we grew up as Christian, and our parents raised us to stay glued in our faith," her sister, Mary Zahau-Loehner, told Oxygen.
Zahau-Loehner also doesn't believe her sister would have ever taken her own life in such a public way while she was naked.
"Just the fact that her family would have seen her that way — she would have never done it," she said.
Criminal psychologist Eric Hickey also was puzzled by the way Jonah's brother, Adam Shacknai, reportedly found Zahau. He told police he found the 32-year-old hanging naked from the outdoor balcony of the home, with her hands and feet bound and a gag in her mouth.
"If a person is going to kill themselves, a woman's going to kill herself because she feels badly about something, she's not going to gag herself," Hickey told Oxygen. "It doesn't make any sense at all. They wouldn't do that. This was a staged crime scene to me."
Hickey said his examination of Zahau led him to believe that she was a "well-grounded" person who wouldn't have suddenly chosen to end her life after an accident.
"She didn't have a perfect life," Hickey said. "She made some mistakes throughout her life. But she was finding her way, and she was very self-disciplined."
Hickey went on to assess Zahau as a "very kind person" without any previous issues with depression or suicidal thoughts.
"There's nothing here that would indicate to me that this is a woman who would snap suddenly because she heard bad news," he said. "That doesn't make any sense as an investigator."
Zahau's family also contends that she didn't blame herself for Max's injury — thus raising some issues with the honor suicide theory.
"She was sad, of course, because she loved the boy," Zahau's younger sister Snowem Horwath told KNSD in 2013. "She loved Max, but she never, ever said anything or felt responsible for his fall."
Without concrete evidence, it's difficult to know exactly what the 32-year-old may have been thinking in her final hours, leaving her death a lingering mystery.
"Based on what we know about this case today, and based on the information that we have, it is impossible for us to form a solid conclusion about the death of Rebecca Zahau, because most of the victimology is missing, and without that foundational piece of victimology, we cannot form a conclusive answer in this case," Forensic Criminologist Laura Pettler told Oxygen. "So, we must leave it undetermined."
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Local experts will discuss coping strategies for families involved in caring for loved ones who have special needs.
Aimee Benfield, certified life quality coach, licensed marriage & family therapist-associate of Serenity Family Therapy, will discuss how special needs impact family functioning and how to overcome the stress.
Monica Piper, board certified behavioral analyst and owner of Stepping Stones ABA Therapy, will talk about handling difficult behavior.
A representative from 29 Acres will discuss this proposed housing community for adults who have special needs. 29 Acres is working toward a goal of creating a safe and dynamic supported living community where adults with autism (ASD) and other neuro-diversities can live, enabling them to build relationships, feel value, success and happiness in their lives.
Dawn D. Hallman, JD, a nationally recognized estate and tax planning attorney, will present an overview of the essential estate planning tools for individuals with special needs. You will learn about Special Needs Trusts (first and third party settled), an estate planning tool designed for the care of loved ones with special needs, while preserving eligibility for public benefits.


Are you struggling to think about moving on after divorce? It is a difficult concept, and you may be worried about what you'll be left with when the time comes. Here is what you should know about your assets.
Separate property is property that accumulated either before the start of the marriage, or after the beginning of a divorce action. Sometimes separate property is acquired during the course of the marriage but which the other spouse has no claim to. For instance, if they receive an inheritance and somebody left the money to them, that money is theirs, separate and distinct from marital property, and they get to keep that on their own. In these instances, they should be careful not to comingle or intermix that property with martial property. If that happened, the court very well could say that separate property was turned into marital property and they could end up owing inheritance to their spouse that otherwise they would not have had to give to them.
In most cases, is it expected that each spouse will end up with their own vehicles after the divorce. This means that the car is their property and the expenses of the vehicle, such as loans or leases, will be their responsibility. If there is a significant difference between the equity of one car or the other, that can be taken out and applied as a credit to the marital property in the other aspects.
If you need help with the process of moving on after divorce papers are served, please call our experienced Rochester divorce lawyer today for a free consultation.


text:
A Salute to Celebrity Bodyguards on Instagram, Including Kim Kardashian's German "G" Pascal
Pascal Duvier will crush you if you cross him, but on Instagram he's a hulk with a heart of gold. After a busy week staving off attacks on clients like Kardashian and Gigi Hadid, other hunky celebrity bodyguards have made an impression on social media.
by Emilia Petrarca
It's been a busy few weeks for celebrity bodyguards. Last Thursday at Milan Fashion Week, Gigi Hadid was accosted by a man on the street named Vitalii Sediuk, who tried to pick her up on her way out of the Fendi show. And on Wednesday, Kim Kardashian was pestered by the same man in Paris. And while Hadid defended herself by elbowing Sediuk in the face, Kardashian's bodyguard Pascal Duvier immediately jumped on him, tackling him to the ground in a headlock with the help of an unidentified, dandy-looking man in a boater hat.
Following the incident, Kardashian took to Twitter to shoutout Duvier, calling him a "G," which is when it was brought to the internet's attention that Duvier and other celebrity bodyguards have strong social media presences, including Adele's handsome protector, Peter Van Der Veen, Kylie Jenner's bodyguard Tim Chung, and Justin Bieber's buddy, Mikey Arana.
Because of the craziness of celebrity culture today, these bodyguards need to be with celebrities 24-7, and as a result they've become recognizable faces on their own right, popping up both in paparazzi photos and on social media. It's no wonder that their employers treat them like family, both because of their omnipresence and the role that they play in keeping them safe, as evidenced most recently with Hadid and Kardashian. In many cases, like with Blue Ivy, North West, and the Jolie-Pitt kids, they're not only bodyguards but also babysitters — protecting Hollywood scions when mom and dad aren't around to do so themselves. Also, lest we forget that Heidi Klum felt so attached to her bodyguard, Martin Kirsten, that they dated briefly in 2014. (His Instagram is private.)
Duvier, who can often be spotted in the background of Kardashian paparazzi photos by his recognizable box beard and black leather fanny pack, has over 8,000 followers on Twitter and over 56,000 on Instagram. On Twitter, he shares inspirational quotes and often re-tweets travel advisories from the Department of State. And on Instagram, he documents his many travels, his diet — which is far from Atkins and includes steak and sushi at the same time — as well as his very, very rigorous workout routine. Despite his appearance, however, his online presence makes him come off as a gentle giant.
Adele's bodyguard, Peter Van Der Veen, was immediately noticed for his good looks. The Dutchman is a former bodybuilder and has also been spotted by the side of Lady Gaga. He posts numerous shirtless photos on Instagram, natch.
Justin Bieber's bodyguard, Mikey Arana has taken a page from his employer's book with numerous photos of himself in front of waterfalls, like this one.
This seemingly-idyllic Instagram of Britney Spear's security detail is haunting.
Kylie Jenner's bodyguard, Tim Chung, is also a cop. So, no Snapchatting and driving allowed on his watch.
And last but certainly not least, Beyoncé and Jay Z's bodyguard, Julius de Boer doesn't have his own Instagram, however, this September a fan page was created in honor of his service to America's first family. The photo below demonstrates his unwavering devotion, pun intended.


text:
Q: Trade-offs between longer data context or transaction outside of context? I am writing a Web API Rest service that does operations on a distinct set of entities. I have broken them down like this:
        db = new DBEntities();

        using (var dbContextTransaction = db.Database.BeginTransaction())
        {
            try
            {
                ProcessClient();
                ProcessClientPerson();
                ProcessGuardian();
                ProcessAddress();
                ProcessEmail();
                ProcessPhones();
                ProcessChildren();

                dbContextTransaction.Commit();
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                dbContextTransaction.Rollback();

            etc.

Following the advice that data contexts should live as short as possible, each of the methods creates its own data context, calls SaveChanges(), and disposes of it at the end:
  private ProcessClient()
  {
        db = new DBEntities();
        ....

This obviously does not work - a transaction context created this way is tied to the data context. If something goes wrong in one of the entity operations, only that operation is rolled back (implicitly), but the overarching transaction is not.
I found this approach for creating a transaction outside of EF, but I am wondering if I should follow it or if I should just let my data context live for the duration of the transaction and keep the transaction inside of EF!?
I am not looking for an opinion, but for data around stability, performance, etc.

A: There is no immediate need to keep contexts short-lived. You can do that but you don't have to.
Over time entities will accumulate in a context. If you risk running out of memory it can be necessary to let go of a context.
Otherwise, the usual procedure is to keep the context alive for the duration of the logical unit of work. Here, that UOW is all those methods in their entirety.
This also makes transaction management easier (as you already found out).

dbContextTransaction.Rollback();

This is an anti-pattern. Simply don't commit in case of error.

A: I have mixed feelings about this. I am working against a legacy database that has no foreign key constraints, and I am inserting, updating, and deleting between 20 and 30 objects in one of these service calls.
The problem is that I need to call SaveChanges() frequently to get the identity column values that will become foreign keys.
On the other hand, I have to be able to roll back everything if there is a problem three layers down, so a single large transaction is needed.
For some reason that I have not been able to determine, calling SaveChanges repeatedly on the same data context would result in errors that the connection state is open. So I ended up giving each method its own data context anyway:
var scope = new TransactionScope(TransactionScopeOption.RequiresNew,
new TransactionOptions() { IsolationLevel = IsolationLevel.ReadUncommitted);

using (scope)
{
  try
  {
      ProcessClient();
      ProcessClientPerson();
      ProcessGuardian();
      ProcessAddress();
      ProcessEmail();
      ProcessPhones();
      ProcessChildren();

    scope.Complete();
  }
  catch (System.Data.Entity.Validation.
               DbEntityValidationException ex)
  {
  [...] handle validation errors etc [...]
  }
}

with each section doing basically this, once stripped down to the bare essentials:
private void ProcessClient() {
{
   using (MyDBEntities db = new MyDBEntities())
   {

     [...] doing client stuff [...]

     aClient.LastUpdated = DateTime.Now;

     db.AddOrUpdate(db, db.Clients, aClient, aClient.ClientID);
     db.SaveChanges();

     ClientId = aClient.ClientID;   // now I can use this to form FKs
   }
}

Mixed feelings about locking, because on my development VM the transaction runs for 1-2 seconds and this is a production database with office staff and online customers doing CRUD transactions through web applications at the same time.
Unrelated, but helpful for my AddOrUpdate method was this blog post.


text:
Hoboken Publisher and Author Roxanne Hoffman in New York City This May
Contact: Jack Cooper
atelierprincipen@gmail.com
Poets Wear Prada announced Senior Editor, Hoboken author Roxanne Hoffman in New York this month to promote her new book: Sundays, May 6th and 13th, and Saturday May 19th.
(Hoboken, NJ – May 4, 2012) Poets Wear Prada announced today Senior Editor Roxanne Hoffman will be reading at several literary events in New York City this month. "In Loving Memory," her lyrical ballad chronicling a small-town church congregation from funeral to marriage, features illustrations by Connecticut artist Edward Odwitt.
illustationsby Edward Odwitt
"'In Loving Memory' should be on everyone's shelves as it reflects on one of the darkest human experiences with insight and humanity in a charmingly gothic presentation," said Garth von Buchholz, publisher, member of the National Book Critics' Circle and author. Vampire verse by author Hoffman, a frequent dabbler in the horror genre, can be heard during Dave Gold's 2005 indie flick "Love and the Vampire." Twice included in the "House of Horror" best-of-the-year anthology, her 2010 contribution was nominated for Pushcart Prize.
Hoffman, now making her home in Hoboken, New Jersey, grew up on Manhattan's Upper Westside. A Bronx High School of Science alumna, she lived for several years in Greenwich Village, while attending New York University's Stern School of Business and later when she worked on Wall Street at Chase Manhattan Bank.
Roxanne Hoffman
[Credit: Hugh Thompson]
This coming Sunday, May 6th, Hoffman returns to her hometown where from 6:00 until 8:00 PM she joins The Hebrew Mamita Vanessa Hidary at the JujoMukti Tea Lounge, located at 211 East 4th Street, between Avenues A and B. Five dollars admission buys both a pot of tea and a spot on the roster for anyone wishing to participate in the open portion of the "unplugged" reading hosted by David Lawton, poet, actor and musician. Directions: F train to Second Avenue, 6 to Bleecker, or 14A bus from Union Square along Fourteenth to Third Street at Avenue A.
Host Lawton described the event where Hoffman and Hidary will read round-robin as "Mixed communities. Different backgrounds. Contrasting styles. Two lovely female poets come together to represent the state of the art with good humor and sex appeal." Featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, Hidary, herself a native New Yorker, recently published her first book "The Last Kaiser Roll in the Bodega."
The Hebrew Mamita Vanessa Hidary
May 13th, the following Sunday, Hoffman goes west, to Greenwich Village where she joins Michael Graves, author of four poetry collections, the most recent, "In Fragility," from Black Buzzard, for his Phoenix Reading Series at Scalinatella, 245 Bleecker Street (west of Carmine), from 4:00 until 6:00 PM. An open reading follows two additional features to be announced. There is an $8 food/beverage minimum plus a suggested $3 donation. Take the 1 train to Christopher Street-Sheridan Square; alternatively the A, B, C, D, E, or F train to West 4th Street. (212) 255-5353.
Again in Greenwich Village, Saturday, May 19th, Hoffman will be reading for the Greek American Writers Reading Series at the Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street (off Bleecker). Convening every third Saturday of the month, for poetry, prose — music, occasionally, and song — from 5:45 until 7:45 PM, the series, with Dean Kostos — his latest book, "Rivering," soon to be published by Spuyten Duyvil Press — as host, has a $7 cover charge, which includes one free house drink. Co-featuring with Hoffman on the 19th will be Larissa Shmailo, Tom Fink and Penelope Karageorge.
Roxanne Hoffman worked on Wall Street. She divides her time now between a "night" job, answering the patient hotline for a New York home-healthcare provider, and a "day" one, running the literary press Poets Wear Prada. Her writing has appeared and continues to appear in periodical publication, widely — "Champagne Shivers," "Danse Macabre," "Dark Eye Glances," "Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine," "Hospital Drive," "House of Horror," "Lucid Rhythms," "Mirror Dance," "The Pedestal Magazine," "Scarlet Literary Magazine," "SNM Horror Magazine" among many others, and numerous anthologies including "The Bandana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates" (Soft Skull Press), "Love after 70" (Wising Up Press), and "It All Changes in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure" (Harper Perennial).
"In Loving Memory," by Roxanne Hoffman with illustrations by Edward Odwitt, paperback: 24 pages, ISBN-10: 1468019074 ISBN-13: 978-1468019070, list price: $12.00, is now available from Amazon Books, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers. Signed copies may be purchased directly from the author at readings.
Founded in 2006, Poets Wear Prada publishes beautifully designed, well-crafted poetry chapbooks from Sinatra's hometown, the birthplace of professional baseball.
Labels: Book Tour, books, David Lawton, Dean Kostos, Events, Larissa Shmailo, Literary Events, Mike Graves, Open Mic, Poetry Readings, Roxanne Hoffman, The Hebrew Mamita, Vanessa Hidary
Kiwanis Summer Gazebo Readings Resume in Oceanside...
May 28: Coney Island's On Our MInd: Lawrence Ferli...
Sun., May 27: Phoenix Reading w/ Allegretti, Kolm ...
Sat. 5/19: Fink, Hoffman, Karageorge, Shmailo at C...
Robert Gibbons featured at Go Cat Go, May 14th, in...
Chicago Poet Ice Gayle Johnson at CCNY Poetry Fest...
Poets Wear Prada Furnishes "The Key" by Chicago St...
Hoboken Publisher and Author Roxanne Hoffman in Ne...


Writing for Designers › Should I make the wallet?
For one of my projects in AVT 105, I made this "Chanel" purse out of can tabs. It took A LOT of work and patience to finish, but I'm very proud of the finished result. I've been contemplating making an accompanying wallet for it, so should I? I plan to use this as a portfolio piece in the future, but as a graphic designer I feel like maybe it doesn't belong? I think it definitely showcases my attention to detail and my being a perfectionist, but does it work in a graphic design portfolio setting? I guess that's why I've been putting off the wallet for so long. I just don't want to waste my time making one and not be able to use it as a sample of my work in the future. I know some portfolios aren't just the graphic design pieces, they also show drawings, paintings, or other work by the candidate, but again, is this even something I can include in my own portfolio? Any feedback would be helpful!!
This was written by afolsom. Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2012, at 12:24 pm. Filed under Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Follow comments here with the RSS feed.	Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.
This design looks like it took a lot of hard work. I would suggest keeping up with the design to showcase your other creative ideas. Keep it up!
I can tell that you put a lot of hard work into it. I think that you should definitely make the wallet. It is very unique and I love it too!
I used to collect pop tabs when I was younger. I never made anything like that, but I did make bracelets. I don't know about you, but it took me forever to collect those things! I guess it could be easier when you're in college.
This is cool. How long does it take to finish this? Probably, you could create other bags with can tabs and make your own collections.


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text:
Eero Saarinen's Hill College House Fortified With $80M In Renovations
August 29, 2017 | by Ann de Forest
University of Pennsylvania's Hill College House at 3333 Walnut Street resembled a fortress when it opened in 1960 and it still does today. The dormitory, designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen, has just reopened to students after $80 million in engineering upgrades and interior renovations. | Photo: Michael Bixler
I heard a funny story years ago about the design of Hill College House, the first dormitory at the University of Pennsylvania built exclusively to house female students. The legend goes that when architect Eero Saarinen first met with Penn planners in the late 1950s to discuss the new dorm's requirements, the words, "safety, security, protection" were repeated by the university's administrators ad nauseam. As the Finnish-born Modernist was headed to 30th Street Station on his way out of town, he was overheard shaking his head and muttering, "They don't want a dormitory. They want a goddamn fortress." Whether or not the story is true, a fortress is what he gave them. After 15 months and $80 million worth of renovations, Saarinen's clever display of defensive campus architecture reopens this month to welcome Penn's incoming Class of 2021.
Medieval Modernism
From the outside, Hill College House, isolated on what was the eastern edge of campus when the dormitory opened in 1960, displays all the trappings of a medieval castle translated into a modern idiom. Spiked, metal battlements ring the roofline. Narrow vertical windows, alternating with wider horizontals, suggest loopholes excellent for shooting arrows at intrepid burglars or invading frat parties. A virtual moat circles the foundation, crossed by a narrow bridge that leads to the building's only public entrance. In the original landscaping, thorny honey locusts filled the moat, a thicket that would dissuade even the most valiant Prince Charming.
Hill College House shortly after it opened in 1960. Photo by Philly architectural photographer Lawrence S. Williams. | Image courtesy of The Anthenaeum of Philadelphia.
That the iconography of fortification is presented with charm and wit attests to Saarinen's flair as an architect. The nubby texture of the hand-forged bricks, the musical rhythms of the alternating window shapes, and the graceful curves of the spiked iron cornice temper the forbidding exterior. While the hard-edged Hill College House is decidedly more earthbound than Saarinen's swooping St. Louis' Gateway Arch or the TWA Flight Center at JFK, the dormitory displays a playful, subtle intelligence in its details.
Saarinen carried through the fortress theme on the inside as well. The narrow bridge and single entryway leads to an astonishingly wide, white, soaring space, as airy and light-filled as the outside is impenetrable and dark. The central atrium rises from the basement cafeteria up five levels. At the very top, clerestory windows let in sunlight and glimpses of the sky. Enclosed balconies with louvered shutters overhang the courtyard, and a marble fountain gurgles below. That central space encourages communal interaction, while offering a series of smaller common areas, study nooks, and lounges for more intimate gatherings. Like a castle keep or convent cloister, these communal and contemplative spaces create their own self-contained world, well protected from "menacing" outside influences.
Life inside Hill College House in the early 1960s. Images courtesy of Facilities and Real Estate Services at University of Pennsylvania.
The notion that women students needed medieval measures when it came to their safety became outmoded almost as soon as Hill College House was built. Parietals and curfews quickly became quaint customs, swept aside by protests and the Pill. The dormitory went coed in 1971, exactly a decade after it opened. By then, concrete and glass highrise dorms dominated the west end of campus, making Hill College House, distant from both the Quad and the new residential center, seem a forlorn outpost in student life. Despite the airy central spaces, the cell-like dorm rooms were notoriously dark, damp, and infested with vermin. Lacking air conditioning, the dormitory might as well have been built in the Middle Ages. Hill College House, despite its architectural pedigree, became one of Penn's most maligned residences.
Clean and Saarinen
Mills + Schnoering Architects, the Princeton historical renovation firm hired to restore and upgrade the forbidding, Modernist landmark, faced a formidable challenge. They needed to rehabilitate and upgrade the long-neglected building to meet contemporary students' expectations. At the same time, the new systems and amenities–from air conditioning to gender neutral bathrooms (the first ones on Penn's campus) to an upgraded kitchen and expanded, diversified dining facilities–had to honor Saarinen's original vision.
Light bathes the atrium of Hill College House, a dramatic contrast to the buildings forbidding, exterior walls. With the design of the space, Saarinen aimed to create the bright, airy sensation of a piazza. | Photo: Michael Bixler
The 15-month, $80 million renovation project succeeds spectacularly on both counts. Having previously restored St. Louis' Gateway Arch, lead architect Michael Mills and his team had become adept at channeling the Finnish-born designer and craftsman. "Our guiding question was always 'What would Eero do?'" said project manager Alison Baxter. Immersing themselves in the Saarinen archives at Yale and Cranbrook Academy in Michigan, where Saarinen taught and practiced the whole of his brief career, the design team not only reconfigured spaces honoring the architect's vision, but replicated carpet and upholstery patterns as well.
Saarinen was meticulous in his geometries, even stipulating the layout of chairs and tables in common rooms to correspond with shapes on the exterior. He also guided residents through the building with bold color coding. Michael Mills and his team amplified the color scheme and signaled their own design interventions through explicitly new geometries and materials. Circles, for instance, never appeared in Saarinen's strictly rectilinear layout. Now, the ceilings of lounges and study nooks are adorned with Saturn-ringed LED lamps, a 21st century touch that complements, rather than contradicts, the original design. As a result, the Hill College House renovation reads as a sparkling conversation between past and present, a lively interchange that showcases the intelligence and clarity of the original design muffled and muddled over five decades.
A community room on the second floor takes advantage of the natural light pouring in from the atrium. The furniture's patterns and lighting takes a cue for the building's Modernist era. | Photo: Michael Bixler
David Hollenberg, University Architect at Penn, said the rennovations not only respects the original design, but that they are "A complete refresh… that invigorates Saarinen's design and the community life it so richly fosters."
Aside from the technical sleight of hand required to hide a massive, new HVAC system, the architects' biggest challenge was to reposition a self-effacing loner of a building, designed at a time when Penn's urban location was a liability, as an engaged citizen of the surrounding city. The restored Hill College House follows last year's opening of New College House, which redefined and recharged the once flat, blank grassland called Hill Field into a verdant thoroughfare connecting Penn's campus with Center City. As a companion to New College House, Hill House stands alert, if slightly aloof. The moat, now filled with less forbidding plant materials, still creates a sense of detachment. Together, though, the two make intriguing gate posts to the university's eastern entrance. Symbolically, they embody two aspects of a college education: the active and the contemplative. New College House inclines toward the city, framing vistas of skyscrapers and street traffic in its glassy, transparent rooms. Hill College House, in contrast, offers sanctuary. Inside, only light and sky (and the very tip of the new FMC tower) can be seen through high, clerestory windows. There is no evidence or intrusion from city or campus outside. Some of the dorm rooms do look out onto busy Walnut Street, but small windows and a screen of trees limit their urban view.
New lighting in a student lounge defies Saarinen's original "rectangles only" design, while helping better direct the interior flow of light. | Photo: Michael Bixler
In his all too brief career, Eero Saarinen, who died of a brain tumor in 1961 and never saw Hill College House or many of his most defining works completed, left the world a rich legacy of iconic forms, inspiring spaces, and sensual materials. Although Saarinen is celebrated now as a Modernist master, that label doesn't capture his singularity as an architect.
Hill College House defies categorization. Those rough-textured, chiaroscuro-shaded bricks on the exterior walls look back to Modernism's foundation in the Arts and Crafts movement. Cranbrook, where Saarinen taught, is still today an influential art and design school devoted to developing a contemporary idiom for traditional crafts, from weaving to furniture making to architecture. At the same time, in embracing architectural allusion–those crenellations and other castle references–Saarinen anticipated the antic quotations of Post-Modernism by more than a decade.
A large, open study center with break out rooms takes shape on the second floor. The bright-colored Knolls furniture, a jazzy carpet pattern, and crisp, white light is a contemporary take on the classic 1960s lounge. | Photo: Michael Bixler
Saarinen is also one of those exceptional architects whose buildings appeal simultaneously to emotion and reason. With Hill College House, the architect speaks with precise and ordered geometries, the clear illustration of the building's flow and function through form and color, and an exquisite attention to details that repeat and vary with mathematical elegance. But he also orchestrates breathtaking shifts between closed and open spaces. Surprising vistas, a sudden splash of color, and the musical cascade of falling water from the central fountain all energize, uplift, and inspire. Saarinen's work has certainly affected me. A flight out of his transcendent TWA Flight Center at JFK more than 40 years ago inspired me to write about architecture.
The 500 freshmen who moved into Hill College House last week will likely find the new, air conditioned rooms, flat screen TVs, pool tables, kitchen-equipped lounges, and other 21st century amenities more thrilling than subtle, design interplays of line and color. The students will ultimately judge the building for its comforts and ease. But even if they absorb Saarinen's design, and Mills + Schnoering's intelligent interventions, subliminally, they are in for a treat. The Class of 2021 will be eating, studying, and playing in an environment that stimulates both the left and right sides of the brain. Living in Hill College House, for those who pay attention, will be an education in itself.
Tags: Eero Saarinen Historic Preservation Midcentury Modern modernism student housing University City University of Pennsylvania
Ann de Forest Ann de Forest has written frequently about design, architecture, and the built environment for the Philadelphia Inquirer, ID Magazine, and Attaché, among other publications. Her short stories have been published in Cleaver, The Journal, Hotel Amerika, Timber Creek Review, and PIF. She teaches creative writing to kids ages 8-13 and adults over 70 and is writing a time travel trilogy for middle grade readers involving old maps.
Margo Kutner says:
Loved the article for the details, explanations and commentaries regarding the original design and the modernized improvements.
F Scott Zelda says:
Is this some type of bad joke? The interior looks old and tacky. What the hell did they renovate, and where did that $80 million go?!?!?!
Leave a Reply to F Scott Zelda Cancel reply


What does it take to rebrand a global company?
Take it from us: it's both an art and a science.
Savvy marketing leaders need to understand the ecosystem in which they will rebrand their companies. That means intuiting—at the most basic level—the intellectual and emotional reactions of their teams, of their current customers, and of the customers they have not yet imagined.
It means planting their feet firmly in the ground of their beginning while relentlessly pursuing their future—while having the flexibility and wisdom to know the path to that north star will certainly be winding.
It means understanding that today, every company with a digital presence is global—whether it wants to be or not. It means seizing the opportunity that accompanies that truth.
And it means understanding people—both those with whom they work, and those whom they want to reach with their brand, their message, and their vision.
A successful rebrand takes all of these things and more. Learn more about our CMO Jaime Punishill's approach to rebranding on this podcast from Sweetfish Media, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
You can listen to the podcast via Sweetfish Media or on iTunes.


It's been a while since I updated this ol' blog. As I write this, I'm one paper away from being one semester away from graduating from college. Hopefully with my two degrees, but I haven't heard back on my appeal yet. I just want to let you all know that I'll probably be writing a lot of "holy crap, I'm almost done with school" entries over the next 6 months, so don't say you weren't warned.
In that vein, I'm currently working on putting together my grad school application for New York University. I doubt I'll get in, seeing as it's one of the most elite programs in the country. It's one of the programs in which the faculty are writers that are actually taught in a lot of college lit classes (Sharon Olds, Philip Levine, E.L. Doctorow, etc.). I also don't know if I could afford going there or living in New York. But we'll see I guess. First I just have to make sure all my recommenders get their letters in by the deadline.
So I decided I need to get some Christmas music on my computer. I haven't gotten in a very Christmas-y mood the last few years until I went home for break and I think it's because I don't have many Christmas tunes on my computer. That and all this finals/end of the semester crap. My family has a ridiculous collection of Christmas CDs. We buy 3 or 4 new ones every year, but I've never gotten around to copying them over. I should get on that.
I'm totally rambling and wandering, but it's been like that in my head lately. But you all need to know that Arrested Development is amazing and FOX is ridiculous for cancelling it. Someone else better keep making the show. If not, it should become the first direct to video television show ever, because I just can't get enough of the Bluths.


Travel Through Iceland in Less than a Week.
I was in a van down by the river in Iceland & it was gorgeous!
Iceland is a blast and an extremely safe country to go to if traveling solo!
Traveling is a passion of mine -- my goal is to motivate and empower others to get out there by sharing my trips!
Bring CDs like its 1999! – when you get to the south side of Iceland there will be hardly any reception and the radio will not work – if you enjoy pure silence for 6 hours – cool – if silence for that long drives you bonkers bring CDs!
Roll of Toilet Paper to keep in car (get ready to drop it low in the wilderness) Side note – don't leave your toilet paper outside that's not a nice thing to do to the locals – bring a ziplock bag to put your TP in it and throw it away when you reach a garbage.
loaf of bread – do Ezekiel bread because gluten is for assholes haha just kidding - I don't care what bread you eat.
I flew with WOW air because the tickets are very cheap. However, you have to pay for your bags and also you have to pay for food and drinks on the airplane. Another thing to keep in mind is that baggage is 20 kilograms NOT 50lbs. 1 kilo is 2.2 lbs.
WOW air flies out of Boston, Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Washington DC.
There are campsites around the island where you can shower along your journey. This was very convenient.
Note: In Iceland you cannot park and sleep wherever you want. You need to sleep at a campsite. They started enforcing this rule after tourists started abusing the privilege and driving over beautiful landscape. Don't be that guy. No one likes that guy.
The rental place is roughly 400 meters from the airport. Grab your bag and walk it. You can see it from the airport exit.
Also – If you are a decent driver I would do the basic coverage package for insurance (yes they will charge you for insurance on your vehicle ONCE you get there) If you are paying attention to where you are driving Iceland is a very comfortable safe place to drive.
-Eat puffin at a restaurant!
If you travel my route let me know how it goes and #teamjesbon along the way! I would love to check out your journey!


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text:
Best answer: Who approved the Canadian Constitution?
Who signed the Canadian Constitution?
Who signed the Constitution Act 1982?
Who created the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
Is the Canadian constitution ratified?
Who does the Constitution apply to?
When was the Constitution Act passed in Canada?
Who was the Government of Canada in 1982?
Who serves as the head of state in Canada?
Who was the 23rd prime minister of Canada?
Why did Trudeau make the Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
Which act is granted first in Canada?
Does Canada have a First Amendment?
Who wrote the Constitution?
How many times has the Canadian Constitution been amended?
Why was the Canadian Constitution created?
Queen Elizabeth II gave royal assent to the Canada Act on March 29, 115 years to the day after Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother, had approved the federation act of 1867.
It was signed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, on April 17, 1982. The first Prime Minister of Canada produced the British North America Act, a base document for the Canadian constitution. This rare oil painting is the earliest known portrait of Macdonald at around 27 years of age.
In 1982, the Queen and the Right Honourable Pierre Trudeau, Prime Minister, signed the Constitution Act, 1982, which includes the British North America Act and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The British Parliament formally enacted the Charter as a part of the Canada Act 1982 at the request of the Parliament of Canada in 1982, the result of the efforts of the government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
IT IS IMPORTANT: How much does a family need to live comfortably in Toronto?
Canada did ratify the statute but with a requested exception—the Canadian federal and provincial governments could not agree on an amending formula for the Canadian constitution. … The Constitution Act, 1982, includes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The brief answer is "Yes." When it comes to key constitutional provisions like due process and equal treatment under the law, the U.S. Constitution applies to all persons – which includes both documented and undocumented immigrants – and not just U.S. citizens.
Canada Act, also called Constitution Act of 1982, Canada's constitution approved by the British Parliament on March 25, 1982, and proclaimed by Queen Elizabeth II on April 17, 1982, making Canada wholly independent.
It was controlled by a Liberal Party majority, led first by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and the 22nd Canadian Ministry, and then by Prime Minister John Turner and the 23rd Canadian Ministry.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of Canada and Head of State. The Governor General is the representative of The Queen in Canada.
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. Justin Trudeau (born December 25, 1971) is Canada's 23rd Prime Minister.
The roots of the Charter lie in the desire for Canada to gain full control over the Constitution. Because Canada's original Constitution was an act of the British Parliament in 1867, only Britain had the power to change it.
IT IS IMPORTANT: How warm does Lake Ontario get in the summer?
The Constitutional Act, 1791, divided the original Province of Quebec into two provinces — Lower Canada (now Quebec) and Upper Canada (now Ontario).
The Years Preceding Confederation.
1841 The Province of Canada's Legislative Assembly met for the first time on June 14 at Kingston.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Section 2 (Government of Canada, 2015a), protects "fundamental freedoms," including freedom of expression. … Similarly, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits laws abridging freedom of speech.
The easiest answer to the question of who wrote the Constitution is James Madison, who drafted the document after the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Seven of the eleven amendments passed so far have been of this nature, four being passed by and for Newfoundland and Labrador, one for New Brunswick, one for Prince Edward Island, and one for Quebec. This formula is contained in section 43 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
Where did Canada's Constitution come from? Canada's Constitution was created by the United Kingdom because Canada was originally a colony of the UK. The Constitution Act, 1867 created the federal system of government. Canada could not change or add to this.


70 000 years ago began the last glaciation called "Würm". All glaciers of the Mont-Blanc massif met and formed the wide Arve glacier which covered the whole valley. It carried a lot of granite blocks from the heart of the Mont-Blanc massif and left behind the moraines of Fayet, Domancy and Combloux while retreating.
Combloux's own stone carvers and Granite specialists for three generations; the Laurenzio family has been working in the Mont Blanc area since 1967 and is well known for their working methods, ethics and for their astounding results.
Pathway "the story of the granite men"
The path (approximately 1km long) is located at the entrance of Combloux when you come from Sallanches. It goes along a forest where you will still find granite carried and left by glaciers 15 000 years ago.