Greetings, all! (I hope it will be an "all." I always fear nobody will read my posts.) Anyway, I can't tell you how many times I've looked at a render and thought... "Hmm, this option or that option?" My husband tries to offer advice, but is generally useless. ("They're both nice, honey." ) So, I thought I'd ask you guys for help! I don't have an Art Studio thread yet. Well, I didn't. I guess I do now!
BTW, feel free to nitpick and offer other suggestions. I should warn you that I frequently make compromises with texture quality and subdivision (and often number of items in a scene) to preserve GPU rendering my aging card. Sigh.
So... Latest WIP. (I have a few OCs rattling around in my brain. These two are "Lara Croft/Indiana Jones" genre treasure hunters who have convinced themselves that they are rivals, not potential romantic partners. But, c'mon. Feel the love there. ANYWAY... Warm? Or Cool? If I went with Cool, I'd postwork the orange flame/glow back in the areas around the candles with some overlay layers in Photoshop. Oh, and I changed her hair color between draws. (I like the darker shade featured in Warm.) Also, I still need to add some backlight and fiddle with highlights/blacks in tonemapping. I'm also still (trying) to add more stuff to the scene, within the limitations of my GPU. (Thank goodness for Scene Optimizer. I literally cannot render 2 people with hi-res maps without it.) Warm shows the lighting as it acually appears in the scene. Cool has had the white point adjusted.
Which do you like? Other advice? I've got a thick skin. So long as you don't throw rotting fruit at me (or fresh fruit, for that matter, as I imagine it would hurt more since it isn't as squishy) I can take it.
I like the cool version, but what would a blend of the two make? Perhaps copy the blue piece over the warm and lower the opacity just enough to get some of the warm coloring in some areas?
Think I should selectively reduce opacity so that Warm appears more around the candles? Let me open Photoshop and see what that looks like.
Quick and dirty Photoshop fiddling. Ignore lack of any precision on candle glow effects. They'd look better if I tried.
This is: Cool with candle glow, Warm/Cool blend (60% warm over 100% Cool), and the same blend with candle glow.
Of the two embedded in the last post, I prefer the top one, but they don't look much different to me.
That is some great posing work! Great image. Of the original two, I prefer the first (cooler) version. Of the blends, I still prefer the cooler (first) version, which is my over all favorite. However, the difference between it and the second blended version is a lot slighter, so it is very difficult to choose. The first has a slightly more dangerous feel to it.
I have a question about the knives. I'm no knife expert. One knife has the serrated edge toward the neck and the other one has it away from the neck. Is one right and one wrong, or are knives just different in that respect? Which is the sharp edge of a knife like that?
Thanks, all, for your input!! I think I prefer the cooler versions myself. And I've been staring at the blends so long that I'm cross-eyed! I usually putter around in Photoshop until I'm satisfied with the results, so chances are the final version will look lots different than the initial, but I definitely think that the foundation will be the cool-toned one.
Definitely! The final version will undoubtedly include a "screen" of just the rim lights (which I haven't added yet.) Right now, the glow from the candles is actually an orange "overlay" layer with a yellow "lighter color" layer on top. I'll also fiddle a lot with masked adjustment layers -- I can probably modify some of the color temperature that way. I just never know what I should be bringing into Photoshop and I hate rendering more layers than I have to... My GPU makes me sloooooooowwww. Lol!
Thank you! And yay for seeing the fingernail details!
Thank you. I fiddled with that pose FOREVER. It started out as a headlock position. It took a LOT of adjusting. Just getting them looking at each other (as opposed to "off into space" or "eyes rolled back in head" was a nightmare!
That is a darn good question. I think I just went with whichever orientation that the knife appeared when I added the smartprop. (I wonder what kind of government watch list I'll be on when I start googling which way one should hold a knife to a throat...) I need to check this out now.
Upon first glance, I prefer the cool one. I see that is mostly the cocensus. I really like the posing and the tension in the scene.
Well, for better or worse, I'm tired of staring at it.
These two have been yelling at me to finish their darn render for like 2 weeks now. I'm not at all sure where they came from, but they refused to leave me alone until I finished! I'm betting I'll be hearing more from them soon.
Well well Welcome to the Art Forum @Karibou !!
All I can say is I am so glad they came into your life because what would your life be without them (It would be so dull and boring) *giggles* and sits back waiting for more of your amazing renders to appear on this thread!!!
I really like the fact that you combine the 2 together it really gives it a new feeling of LOVE!!
That's pretty amazing! Put the 'photo' in photorealistic.
If I tried it, render would take 4 hours and *still* have tiny amount of grain in grayish shaded areas.
Only question is probably stupid, but only been at this 6 months. Dark streak on his nose by design, or what would be causing it? Need to learn decals or however they make grunge looking characters.
Anyway, asking questions might be selfish, so will shut up. Hope you find time for RRRR!
Still have no idea what they're doing. Except not getting murdered. Yet.
Components for the new PC are on order and it's a beast!! Hopefully I'll be able to render whatever they're fighting as soon as it's built!
I like the attention to detail regarding the head tilt- the fact he is so much closer and needs to manuever more to see whatever is to our right. Her posing shows alertness and both show determination. Very nicely done!


text:
Coronavirus at-home testing kits to be provided by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for Seattle area residents
By Chevaz Clarke
March 9, 2020 / 1:26 PM / CBS News
How Washington is responding to coronavirus
What Washington is doing to stop coronavirus spread 01:34
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is preparing to roll out at-home coronavirus testing kits to residents of the Seattle area — the community hardest hit by the virus in the U.S. so far.
More than 500 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the U.S. so far, and at least 24 people have died, the majority of them in Washington state. The Gates Foundation hopes that these new test kits will improve the detection of the disease and help mitigate the impact of the epidemic.
"Early detection plays an essential role in helping public health authorities identify and treat people with COVID-19, take steps to safely isolate them and reduce transmission within the community," said Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman.
The foundation will team up with Public Health-Seattle & King County, the Washington State Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "to help them enhance their capacity to detect and treat COVID-19 and guide public health efforts to reduce transmission," the foundation announced in a press release.
According to the Seattle Times, in order to get a kit, residents who believe they may have been infected with the coronavirus will first complete a questionnaire online. If their symptoms are consistent with COVID-19 — the illness caused by the coronavirus — they may request a kit, which would be delivered to their home within two hours. The test requires you to swab inside your nose and then send the sample back to the lab for analysis. Results should be available in one to two days, and local officials will notify those who test positive.
Scott Dowell, the leader of coronavirus response at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, told the Seattle Times that they plan to "eventually be able to process thousands of tests a day."
The foundation has already pledged $100 million to improve detection, isolation and treatment of coronavirus patients and to "kick-start the development of vaccines and treatments."
"Covid-19 has started behaving a lot like the once-in-a-century pathogen we've been worried about," Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder turned global philanthropist, wrote in an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine last month. "I hope it's not that bad, but we should assume it will be until we know otherwise."
Earlier this month the foundation donated an additional $5 million to aid the efforts in the greater Seattle region. Dowell told the Seattle Times that the distribution of testing kits could expand beyond Seattle and eventually "statewide and beyond."
Coronavirus: Responses around the world 73 photos
Pharmacies CVS, Walmart and Walgreens to cut pharmacy hours
Former monk who called Putin a "traitor" sentenced to 7 years in Russia
FDA advisers vote to simplify COVID vaccines, retire original "monovalent" shots
Heart-related deaths rose sharply in first year of COVID pandemic, report shows
Is North Korea quietly grappling with a COVID resurgence?
Chevaz Clarke
Chevaz Clarke is a social media producer and trending reporter for CBS News.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Mike Graff is a Sacramento-based photographer. For more, visit his website, Facebook page or Tumblr.
Russell Nichols
Russell Nichols is a freelance writer who focuses on technology, culture and mental health. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Governing Magazine and Government Technology.
@russellnichols
Laurie Lauletta-Boshart
Laurie Lauletta-Boshart is a contributing writer and editor for consumer publications, Fortune 500 companies, small business and higher education. She has written for Dwell, ESPN, Wall Street Journal, SI.com (Sports Illustrated) and others. On Twitter @laurieboshart or www.wordplaycommunications.com.
Jennifer Montgomery
Placer County Supervisor
Jennifer Montgomery has served as a Placer County Supervisor since 2008. Raised in Redwood City and Palo Alto, Montgomery earned her bachelor's degree from Mills College and then studied horticulture at Sierra College.
Lisa Montanaro
Lisa Montanaro is a productivity consultant, success coach, business strategist, speaker and author who helps people live successful and passionate lives, and enjoy productive and profitable businesses and careers. Lisa is the author of several books, including The Ultimate Life Organizer and DECIDE to be Organized.
Courtney McKinney
Courtney McKinney is a writer and communications manager in Sacramento. Her writing has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Salon and the Huffington Post, among others. Courtney graduated with a bachelor's degree from Yale University in 2011. Courtney once worked at A24 Films in New York — the company that released Lady Bird the same year she moved to Sacramento.
Al Eby
Al Eby is a professional photographer and the owner of Blue Wing Gallery in Woodland. Growing up, Al's love of photography was inspired by his father. As an adult, photography became a natural way for him to reflect on his adventures and share them with other people.
Julianna Boggs
Julianna Boggs is a journalist, nuclear mechanic and amateur space historian living in Sacramento. She specializes in food, arts, culture and pop-science writing, and has been working on a single book about all these things for many years. Keep up with her at juliblogs.wordpress.com or on Twitter @Juliboggs.
Brad Branan
Brad Branan has been a journalist for 27 years, most recently as the cannabis reporter at The Sacramento Bee. Branan is the son of an investigative reporter. He is also a backpacker, skier, whitewater rafter and a certified California naturalist (UC '16.) Before moving to Sacramento, Branan worked for newspapers in Fresno, Tucson and elsewhere.
Graham Womack
Graham Womack is a freelance writer based in Sacramento. His work has appeared in a variety of publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee and Sacramento News & Review. Follow him on Twitter @grahamdude.


text:
2017 Top 10
Colliding neutron stars, gene editing, human origins and more top stories of 2017
This year's neutron star collision unlocks cosmic mysteries
CRISPR gene editing moved into new territory in 2017
The Larsen C ice shelf break has sparked groundbreaking research
The story of humans' origins got a revision in 2017
Seven Earth-sized planets entered the spotlight this year
A quantum communications satellite proved its potential in 2017
Worries grow that climate change will quietly steal nutrients from major food crops
Approval of gene therapies for two blood cancers led to an 'explosion of interest' in 2017
Brains of former football players showed how common traumatic brain injuries might be
Zika cases are down, but researchers prepare for the virus's return
View all Search Results for "2017 Top 10"
Science News' Articles
Most Popular Newest Oldest
Sort by NewestMost ViewedOldest
New books about Apollo 11 and the mission to the moon offer something for everyone, from astronomy lovers to fans of graphic novels and self-improvement buffs.
Planetary Science,
History of Science,
Watch the March for Science in Washington, D.C.
Watch the live stream of the March for Science in Washington, D.C. on April 22.
Meet 10 scientists who are making their mark
In a special report, Science News features 10 early-career scientists on their way to more widespread acclaim.
Science & Society,
Bright Young Minds
Readers respond to jellyfish, goalkeeping and off-kilter planets.
Animals,
SSP's new leader has a habit of making things happen
Maya Ajmera takes the helm as the president and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public and publisher of Science News.
Huge Galactic Explosion
An excerpt from the October 5, 1963, issue of Science News Letter.
Readers respond to glowing plants, fracking worries and space hookups.
Porpoises Can Teach Man Marine Diving, Detection
Excerpt from the September 7, 1963, issue of Science News Letter
Seeing ice
In the photo series shown in "Taking Antarctica's temperature"
(SN: 7/27/13, p. 18), the ice appears to be increasing from January to April as one would expect in the Southern Hemisphere. How does this demonstrate the rapid collapse of the Larsen B Ice Shelf?
William Meadows, Dripping Springs, Texas
The satellite images show a large area of the Antarctic Peninsula; the Larsen B Ice Shelf is a small area near the center. A closer view of Larsen B (above) from March 7, 2002, reveals that what looks like a solid sheet of ice in


The Meadows Surgery offers improved access appointments with other practices within the CLICK federation. Please read the attachment above for frequently asked questions regarding this service.
We are generally open on alternate Thursday evenings with appointments being offered with a GP or HCA between 18:30 - 20:00.
Our practice nurse offers improved access appointments every Thursday between 18:30-19:00.
Langport, North Street Surgery, Langport.
Crewkerne, West One Surgery, West Street, Crewkerne.
Chard: Essex House Medical Centre, Springmead Surgery & Tawstock Surgery.
One or more of the named practices will be open between 18:30 - 20:00 Monday - Friday evening and Saturday Mornings until 12:00 for booked routine appointments with a primary care clinician, this could be a GP, HCA, Nurse, Pharmacist or Paramedic.
Please note appointments have to be pre-booked up to 2 weeks in advance through the receptionist, you will be asked to given verbal consent if an appointment is booked outside of the Meadows, a reason for the appointment must be given to ensure you see the most suitable clinician available. Not all procedures will be available if you are seen outside your normal surgery but the clinician will have full access to your medical record.


text:
@interface JKTabBarController ()

@property (nonatomic, strong) UIView * customTabbar;
@property (nonatomic, strong) UIView * slipView;

@end

@implementation JKTabBarController

#pragma mark - Init

- (void)viewDidLoad
{
    [super viewDidLoad];

    self.tabBar.hidden = YES;

    [self initTabBar];

    [self initViewControllers];
}

- (void)initViewControllers
{
    JKJokeController * newJokeController = [[UIStoryboard storyboardWithName:@"Main" bundle:nil]instantiateViewControllerWithIdentifier:@"JKJokeController"];
    newJokeController.jokeType = JokeTypeNew;

    UINavigationController * newNavationController = [[UINavigationController alloc]initWithRootViewController:newJokeController];

    JKJokeController * hotJokeController = [[UIStoryboard storyboardWithName:@"Main" bundle:nil]instantiateViewControllerWithIdentifier:@"JKJokeController"];
    hotJokeController.jokeType = JokeTypekHot;

    UINavigationController * hotNavationController = [[UINavigationController alloc]initWithRootViewController:hotJokeController];

    JKJokeController * truthJokeController = [[UIStoryboard storyboardWithName:@"Main" bundle:nil]instantiateViewControllerWithIdentifier:@"JKJokeController"];
    truthJokeController.jokeType = JokeTypekTruth;

    UINavigationController * truthNavationController = [[UINavigationController alloc]initWithRootViewController:truthJokeController];

    JKAboutController * aboutJokeController = [[UIStoryboard storyboardWithName:@"Main" bundle:nil]instantiateViewControllerWithIdentifier:@"JKAboutController"];
    aboutJokeController.jokeType = JokeTypekAbout;

    UINavigationController * aboutNavationController = [[UINavigationController alloc]initWithRootViewController:aboutJokeController];

    self.viewControllers = @[newNavationController, hotNavationController, truthNavationController, aboutNavationController];
}

- (void)initTabBar
{
    CGSize screenSize = [UIScreen mainScreen].bounds.size;
    UIView * tabbarView = [[UIView alloc]initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, screenSize.height - kTabbarHeight, screenSize.width, kTabbarHeight)];
    tabbarView.backgroundColor = [UIColor orangeColor];

    [self.view addSubview:tabbarView];
    self.customTabbar = tabbarView;

    [self initSlipView];

    [self initTabBarButton];
}

- (void)initSlipView
{
    UIView * slipView = [[UIView alloc]initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, 0, [self tabBarItemSize].width, [self tabBarItemSize].height)];
    slipView.backgroundColor = [UIColor whiteColor];

    [self.customTabbar addSubview:slipView];

    self.slipView = slipView;
}

- (void)initTabBarButton
{
    for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {

        CGRect buttonFrame = CGRectMake(i * [self tabBarItemSize].width, 0, [self tabBarItemSize].width, [self tabBarItemSize].height);

        UIButton * tarbarButton = [UIButton buttonWithType:UIButtonTypeCustom];
        tarbarButton.backgroundColor = [UIColor clearColor];
        tarbarButton.frame = buttonFrame;
        [tarbarButton setTitleColor:[UIColor whiteColor] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
        [tarbarButton addTarget:self action:@selector(tabbarButtonClick:) forControlEvents:UIControlEventTouchUpInside];

        long buttonTag;
        switch (i) {
            case 0:
                buttonTag = kNewButtonTag;
                [tarbarButton setTitle:@"最新" forState:UIControlStateNormal];
                [tarbarButton setTitleColor:[UIColor orangeColor] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
                break;
            case 1:
                buttonTag = kHotButtonTag;
                [tarbarButton setTitle:@"最热" forState:UIControlStateNormal];
                break;
            case 2:
                buttonTag = kTruthButtonTag;
                [tarbarButton setTitle:@"真相" forState:UIControlStateNormal];
                break;
            case 3:
                buttonTag = kAboutButtonTag;
                [tarbarButton setTitle:@"关于我" forState:UIControlStateNormal];
                break;
        }

        tarbarButton.tag = buttonTag;

        [self.customTabbar addSubview:tarbarButton];
    }
}

- (CGSize)tabBarItemSize
{
    NSInteger tabbarItemCount = 4;
    CGSize screenSize = [UIScreen mainScreen].bounds.size;

    return CGSizeMake(screenSize.width / tabbarItemCount, kTabbarHeight);
}

#pragma mark - Event

- (void)tabbarButtonClick:(UIButton *)sender
{
    JokeType jokeType = JokeTypeNew;
    switch (sender.tag) {
        case kNewButtonTag:
            jokeType = JokeTypeNew;
            break;
        case kHotButtonTag:
            jokeType = JokeTypekHot;
            break;
        case kTruthButtonTag:
            jokeType = JokeTypekTruth;
            break;
        case kAboutButtonTag:
            jokeType = JokeTypekAbout;
            break;
    }

    [self setSelectTabbar:jokeType button:sender];
}

- (void)setSelectTabbar:(JokeType)jokeType button:(UIButton *)button
{
    NSInteger selectedIndex;
    switch (jokeType) {
        case JokeTypeNew:
            selectedIndex = 0;
            break;
        case JokeTypekHot:
            selectedIndex = 1;
            break;
        case JokeTypekTruth:
            selectedIndex = 2;
            break;
        case JokeTypekAbout:
            selectedIndex = 3;
            break;
    }
    [self setSelectedIndex:selectedIndex];

    [UIView animateWithDuration:0.2 animations:^{
        CGRect slipViewOriginalFrame = self.slipView.frame;
        slipViewOriginalFrame.origin.x = selectedIndex * ([self tabBarItemSize].width);

        self.slipView.frame = slipViewOriginalFrame;

    }];

    [self resetTabbarButtonColor];
    [button setTitleColor:[UIColor orangeColor] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
}

- (void)resetTabbarButtonColor
{
    UIButton * tabbarButton = (UIButton *)[self.customTabbar viewWithTag:kNewButtonTag];
    [tabbarButton setTitleColor:[UIColor whiteColor] forState:UIControlStateNormal];

    tabbarButton = (UIButton *)[self.customTabbar viewWithTag:kHotButtonTag];
    [tabbarButton setTitleColor:[UIColor whiteColor] forState:UIControlStateNormal];

    tabbarButton = (UIButton *)[self.customTabbar viewWithTag:kTruthButtonTag];
    [tabbarButton setTitleColor:[UIColor whiteColor] forState:UIControlStateNormal];

    tabbarButton = (UIButton *)[self.customTabbar viewWithTag:kAboutButtonTag];
    [tabbarButton setTitleColor:[UIColor whiteColor] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
}

@end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Badur Travel?is?the leading customer oriented travel agency network and ranks one amongst the top travel companies in Kuwait. We are proud and privileged to be serving corporate houses in Kuwait. We offer and meet client expectations for all their travel requirements. Badur Travel has achieved the confidence and success over past years through competent staff, efficient management with fully computerized worldwide reservation system and best business & leisure travel services.?Badur Travel, in recognition of their commitment for excellence,? have earned several Prestigious Performance Awards from Airlines such as: Kuwait Airways, British Airways, KLM, Emirates, Alitalia, Gulf Air, TAROM, South African Airlines,? Indian Airlines, Air India, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa etc..


text:
Q: Delete and replace the last line in ScintillaNET I need a code snippet to delete the last line of ScintillaNET control
and append a line to it. I tried this but didn't work:
        scintilla1.GoTo.Line(scintilla1.Lines.Count);
        int nowPosition = scintilla1.Caret.Position;
        scintilla1.Text.Remove(nowPosition);

A: Sorry about being late. I found this post and was sad to see nothing good (not your fault) so I kept looking around and found this:
((INativeScintilla)scintilla).DeleteBack()

This will simulate a backspace key press (remove 1 character on the left of the cursor). It isnt pretty but it could get the job done for you. Worked for me :)
For you, you could store the cursor position in an int, set it to the end, 'backspace' all the characters you want, then set it back.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


NOW WORD: Sow your seed with joy, then eat your fruit. (2 Kings 4;5,6) The prophet told the widow to close the doors behind her and pour the little bit of oil she had into the empty vessels. The principle here obedience to the Word. The door behind you, are the voices of your past, and empty the vessels around you, are the people for whom nothing is prepared. The Lord will bless the works of your hands and the fruit of your tongue, when you apply the Word of God to your life. You will eat the fat and drink the sweet and you will be called the blessing of the Lord to those you sow seed to.


this ring is so much better in person! it has an amazing rainbow patina that looks so pretty in the sun. square rope design band is 6. sterling silver. ready to ship. refer to worn photos for rainbow colors.


Employers demonstrated the strength of the U.S. labor market in February as it continued to shrug off lingering global economic uncertainty and softness in oil and gas industries. Jobs were created in multiple service sectors of the economy and at government agencies during the month, helping to maintain gauges of labor market capacity at tight levels. While wage growth continues to search for a stimulus that will impart greater traction, the U.S. labor market nonetheless appears in sound condition in advance of a Federal Reserve meeting in March.
U.S. employers added 242,000 positions in February, and upward revisions were made to the preceding two months. Job growth during February also left the unemployment rate unchanged but reduced the under-employment rate to 9.7 percent, the lowest reading in nearly eight years. Employment sectors requiring considerable interaction with consumers grew substantially during the month. Recently hired employees continue to land on healthcare rolls, supporting a gain of approximately 57,000 healthcare workers. Retailers, meanwhile, created nearly 55,000 jobs, primarily at food and beverage stores, while changes in lifestyles that favor dining out supported hiring at bars and restaurants that accounted for most of the 48,000 leisure and hospitality jobs created.
A sizable volume of multifamily and hotel projects, and a resurgence in other commercial property development, is spurring growth in construction payrolls. Builders brought on 19,000 new employees in February, primarily in subcontracting trades. Despite the gain, a shortage of workers leaves subcontractor employment nearly 700,000 positions below the pre-recession peak, thereby straining the ability of developers to staff new projects and placing upward pressure on costs. An index of construction costs rose in February and is up 2.2 percent from one year earlier.
Elevated completions will place upward pressure on U.S. apartment vacancy in 2016, while the rising costs of building will sharpen developers' focus on higher-end, amenity-rich projects that offer returns that align with the required investment. Class A apartment construction in a few major metros will account for a large portion of the 285,000 units slated for delivery this year and contribute to an uptick in national vacancy to 4.2 percent. Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and New York City headline the list of major metros due for significant supply growth this year.
Professional and business services, and financial services maintained a steady pace of growth in February, adding a combined 29,000 positions. As new workers are hired, the amount of underutilized spaces in office buildings continues to dwindle. Further staff expansions may necessitate a reconsideration of tenants' space requirements, providing a lift to space demand as leases for larger layouts are executed and move-ins take place. New space demand will trim U.S. office vacancy to 14.8 percent in 2016, while the average rent will increase 3.9 percent.
This entry was written by marcusmillichap, posted on March 8, 2016 at 9:35 pm, filed under Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.


Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas - Board - Who Are We?
Board - Who Are We?
The Southeast Texas Workforce Development Board, dba Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas, is one of 28 Workforce Boards in the state of Texas that is responsible for leading and governing the regions workforce system. As an administrative body, it provides oversight for employment and training programs in our area. Additionally, the Board is responsible for strategic planning to address workforce issues for a three county region. The Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas region consists of the counties of Hardin, Jefferson and Orange.
The Workforce Development Board consists of up to thirty (30) members. Of these members, fifty-two percent (52%) are employers from the private sector who consistently provide input regarding the needs of employers. The other 48% is comprised of representatives from other entities, such as education, economic development, and other community-based organizations, which ensure that other workforce needs, are also addressed regarding jobseekers and other targeted populations. Members are appointed by the Chief Elected Officials of the region with final approval by the Governor. The regions chief elected officials are the County Judges of Hardin, Jefferson and Orange and the Mayor of Beaumont.
The Board employs twelve staff who are responsible for program planning, monitoring and reporting. The Board staff may be reached at 510 Park St, Suite 500, Beaumont, TX 77701 or by phone at 409.719.4750. The Board meetings are normally held on the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30am at the above address. Meeting dates are posted on this website.
There are many services available through our website and we invite you to explore, as well as, chat with Workforce Solutions staff if you have questions or need assistance.


text:
Helping People Live Better
We ♥ what we do!
See Our Story »
"I love being a part of something special."
Western Window Systems is focused on helping people live better through remarkably beautiful moving glass walls and windows that blend the indoors with the outside. Powered by an ambitious business model, proprietary technology, and some of the most amazing people on the planet, we're in a position to challenge norms and inspire new thinking.
By giving people access to products that remove boundaries and expand space, we're revolutionizing the way people live — and changing construction in the process.
Stories About Us
Meet the Phoenix Manufacturer That Thinks More Like a Tech Company
As Scott Gates says, few people are born dreaming about working in the window and door industry.
What Do You Like Best About the New Building?
Western Window Systems employees reenact the moment when they first saw their brand-new facility.
Have You Been Down the Slide?
Western Window Systems employees share their experiences — as well as offer a few tips — about their new building's biggest attraction: a bright red, two-story corkscrew slide.
We don't settle for anything less than the best. In every aspect of our business we strive to excel, approaching every challenge with courage, honesty, and a determination to succeed. We take pride in what we do and work together to achieve outstanding results.
By challenging stereotypes and existing norms, we create unique products and solutions that delight our customers. We dare to take risks. We are exceptions to the rule. We promote collaboration across teams and with our external partners to allow us to innovate in ways others cannot.
We believe in treating others the way we wish to be treated. By being respectful of our coworkers, customers, suppliers, and community, we maintain a high level of professionalism and encourage openness to new ideas. We believe in giving back whenever we can and strive to make the world a better place by reducing our ecological footprint.
Western Volunteers
We're passionate about giving back to the community.
Here at Western Window Systems, we're passionate about giving back to the community. Since we started Western Volunteers, our volunteer program for employees and their families, we've hand-packed over 20,000 meals for malnourished kids, helped to feed over 600 needy families, and donated our foosball table to the local Boys & Girls Club.
When you work at Western Window Systems, you're not just joining a team of amazing individuals, you're also joining a family who believe in making a difference in and out of the workplace.
WWS Marketing Team Pitches In to Help Group's Holiday Effort
Five members of the marketing team gathered on the morning of Thursday, December 6, to…
WWS Ninth Annual Toy Drive Biggest Yet
The holidays will be a little happier for some children of the Valley after Western…
WWS Donation Drive Benefits Those in Need
Last month, a group of us at Western Window Systems lent a helping hand to…
Scott Gates
Heather Zorge
Dean Seger
Scott Gates is the president of Western Window Systems.
Prior to beginning his role as president in August 2015, Scott served as Western Window Systems' president and chief operating officer following assignments as vice president and general manager and marketing director. He played a key role in growing sales over 800% over a five-year period, an increase that led to Inc. magazine naming Western Window Systems as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
As president, Scott oversees the strategic direction of the company, including delivering on record-breaking sales and overseeing growth enablers such as new products, market expansion, development of sales and marketing strategies, leadership initiatives, and development of company culture.
Scott, who joined Western Window Systems in 2011, holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and an MBA from Arizona State University. In 2015 and 2017, Scott was selected for Arizona State University's Sun Devil Select, an award celebrating the achievements of leaders that demonstrate innovation, growth, and entrepreneurial spirit. In 2015, he was named one of 30 exceptional executive MBA (EMBA) graduates from the class of 2015 by Poets & Quants, a business school news website.
In 2016, Scott was selected by Professional Builder magazine as one of the nation's top building industry leaders under the age of 40.
Scott enjoys spending time with his family and serves on the boards of the Sun Valley Community Church and the nonprofit charity Orchard: Africa.
Heather Zorge is Western Window Systems' chief financial officer (CFO) reporting to president and chief executive officer Scott Gates. She is responsible for overseeing the company's financial activities and operations.
Heather has over 20 years of experience leading and building finance teams. Prior to starting her career with Western Window Systems in 2016, she was CFO for American Traffic Solutions, senior vice president of finance for Petroplus, and business assurance manager for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Heather graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in accounting. Heather serves on the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Blind Children. She enjoys watching her boys play soccer, working out, and spending time with family and friends.
In his role of vice president of operations, Dean Seger directs all activities associated with the manufacturing of Western Window Systems' exceptional products, including developing key supplier partnerships and ensuring the highest standards of quality. Reporting to president and chief executive officer Scott Gates, Dean is a key contributor to the company's lean production and quality control practices, which have resulted in shortened lead times, the elimination and reduction of waste, and meeting and exceeding quality standards.
Prior to joining Western Window Systems in 2014, Dean held a number of executive roles at Schuff Steel and John Deere. He holds a bachelor's degree in welding engineering from Ohio State University and enjoys woodworking, metalworking, and home improvement projects.
Chet Willis
Vice President of Production Builder Sales
Andrew Darr
Vice President of Custom Sales
Laura Hahnefeld
Vice President of Marketing
Chet Willis is Western Window Systems' vice president of production builder sales, reporting to president and chief executive officer Scott Gates. He is responsible for the business operations and management of the company's Volume Program, designed to help production builders differentiate their homes and drive sales.
Under Chet's leadership, his team grew production builder sales to nearly 500% in 2013 and 2014. He joined Western Window Systems in 2011.
Chet has over 20 years of experience in the fenestration industry. Prior to joining Western Window Systems, he was chief executive officer at Paramount Windows Corporation, one of the largest privately held window and door manufacturers in the Southwest. He enjoys playing music and is a motorcycle enthusiast.
In his role of vice president of custom sales, Andrew Darr is responsible for Western Window Systems' custom sales and development efforts. He reports to president and chief executive officer Scott Gates. Andrew has been instrumental in developing sales metrics and conducting competitive market research that helped the company achieve a sales growth of over 200% over a three-year period.
Prior to this assignment, Andrew, who joined the company in 2011, was a custom sales manager and territory representative for Western Window Systems. Andrew holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas and played for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team. He loves to travel and is an avid fan of college football.
In her role as vice president of marketing for Western Window Systems, Laura Hahnefeld is responsible for establishing and implementing strategic communications plans. She reports to president and chief executive officer Scott Gates.
Prior to joining the company in 2014, Laura held advertising positions in Fortune 500 companies such as Sears, Kohl's, and PetSmart. Also a published writer, she has worked as a staff writer at Phoenix New Times and as a freelance writer at Phoenix Magazine.
Laura graduated from Kendall College of Art & Design with a bachelor's degree in communications. She serves on the board of the Phoenix chapter of the American Marketing Association and is a volunteer for Girls Rock! Phoenix, a nonprofit organization that empowers girls through music, education, and creation.
Brian Leizerowicz
Commercial Sales Director
John Engelstad
Chief Information Officer, PGTI
Cameron Wyatt
Vice President of Design and Supply Chain, PGTI
Brian Leizerowicz is Western Window Systems' commercial sales director, reporting to Scott Gates, president and chief executive officer.
He has spent his entire 28-year career in the fenestration industry. Before joining Western Window Systems in 2018, he worked for companies such as EFCO, TRACO, and JE Berkowitz.
A native of the suburban Philadelphia/South New Jersey area, Brian holds a business management degree from Rutgers and a marketing degree from Stockton University in New Jersey.
Brian has lived since 2013 in Southern California, where he is a member of Impact Club Temecula, which pools member funds to make game-changing donations to support four local charities each year. In his free time, he enjoys the incredible Southern California weather and scenery. And in a house full of instruments, he likes to play, teach, and learn music with his teenage kids.
John joined PGT Innovations in 2018 as chief information officer. He is responsible for setting the objectives and strategies for the IT department, overseeing the selection and implementation of new technology to streamline internal operations, and identifying technological opportunities to improve the customer experience across all brands for PGT Innovations.
Prior to his current role, John served as Chief Information Officer for Western Window Systems, a PGT Innovations business, from 2015 through 2018. He also held several senior positions at Bank of America, including Senior Vice President and Senior Technology Manager of Service Delivery, as well as Vice President of Application Design and Systems Engineering.
John earned a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from California Lutheran University.
Cameron joined PGT Innovations in 2018 as vice president of design and supply chain. He maintains key supplier partnerships and coordinates with vendors and designers on new product development including numerous patent-pending products.
Prior to his current role, Cameron served as vice president of design and supply chain for Western Window Systems, a PGT Innovations business, from 2013 through 2018. Before that, he spent seven years in the renewable energy industry, focusing on solar panels. Born and raised in Flagstaff, he earned a degree in engineering management and mechanical engineering from the University of Arizona. Over the course of his tenure with WWS, Cameron has won numerous industry awards for innovative manufacturing processes and was at the helm of Western Window Systems' new Series 7000 Performance Line, launching 14 new products over the course of 12 months.
Cameron's interests include Formula 1 auto racing, muscle cars, and electric vehicles. He also enjoys computers and once had a Bitcoin farm in his garage.
Valerie Herdman
Director of Human Resources, PGTI
Ty Cranford
Architectural Director
In her role as director of human resources for PGT Innovations, Valerie's duties include talent acquisition, payroll and benefits administration, employee engagement and retention initiatives, performance and workforce management, and safety training.
Valerie has spent her entire career in human resources. Prior to joining PGTI, she led HR departments and initiatives at companies in a variety of sectors including aerospace, tech, finance, and education. She holds a bachelor's degree in applied psychology from Queens College, City University of New York.
A native of Long Island and a nature lover, Valerie loves hiking, especially in national parks. She and her husband are animal advocates and have adopted several animals in need.
Ty Cranford is Western Window Systems' architectural sales director. He reports to Andrew Darr, vice president of custom sales.
As architectural sales director, he oversees a team of architectural consultants across the country.
Shortly after joining Western Window Systems in September 2007 as an architectural representative, he was promoted to business development manager. In that position, he established dealer partners in 38 states and managed the company's expansion in two Canadian provinces, all while playing a significant role in Western Window Systems' 850 percent growth since 2007.
Ty serves on the board of directors for the Town Meadows HOA in Gilbert, Arizona, and is active in the Mission Community Church of Gilbert. He enjoys boating with his family, friends, and coworkers.
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Working at home sounds like an ideal situation. No commute. Greater flexibility. The list of work-at-home perks is long. However, working at home isn't for everyone. Before you send your telecommuting application or start your home business, ask yourself the following questions to make sure you understand what's involved and can make the commitment.
1) Why do you want to work from home?
More than how, the why is crucial to your success. It is the fuel that keeps you going when you don't hear back on your applications or don't get any sales or clients in your home business. The truth is, working at home takes time and tons of effort, and it can take a lot longer than you'd like to see results. All these factors can lead some people to quit. Successful home-workers have a why that burns in their gut. It's not a wish or something that would be nice. It's burning desire that HAS to become a reality.
The biggest mistake work-at-home-wannabes make is in searching for work-at-home options without understanding what work-at-home is or how to avoid scams. Doing a search of "work at home jobs" on Google can lead to scams and crazy schemes.
Instead, spend some time learning about working at home. What types of jobs are common in working at home? What's involved in starting a home business? How is money made online? Learn how to ferret and weed out scams. Knowledge is not only power, but also it will help you find the right work-at-home opportunity faster.
3) What do you have to offer an employer or customer/client?
Getting hired in a job or building a successful home business depends on how well you can meet an employer or client/customers needs. No one cares how great you are. They only care how you can make their lives better. That starts by inventorying your skills, experiences, talents and passions and then finding or creating opportunities to use them to help others. The secret to success is finding a need and presenting yourself as the best person to fill the need.
4) What are your expectations for working at home?
When I first wanted to work at home, I had a fantasy that my house would be spotless and I'd spend hours at the park with my kids. The reality is much different. If you're goal in working at home is to have flexibility to parent or attend to family members, you need a wake up call, especially if you need to earn a full-time income. You can't expect to pay all your bills working a couple of hours a day (unless you're able to hire virtual support to do the work for you). Depending on what you decide to do from home, you may have flexibility in terms of when you work and the ability to set your schedule, but you still need to put in the time. If your goal is to get a work-at-home job, you may not have much flexibility at all. You may be required to work 8 to 5 and have child care.
5) Are you self-motivated and able to finish what you start?
Working at home means no boss standing over your shoulder to make sure you're working. You need to develop a schedule and routine that allows you to meet your responsibilities. You can't flake off due dates or sacrifice quality of work, at least not if you want to be successful.
6) Do you have support for working at home?
While not a requirement, family support goes a long way. If you're family isn't supportive, it can make the process more difficult.
7) What are you willing to do to work-at-home?
This is where the rubber meets the road. If you're searching for something fast and easy that you can simply sign up to do, you're probably going to have a tough time finding legitimate work-at-home opportunities. If you're the type of person that gives up easily, you won't succeed. Working at home requires stepping outside the comfort zone, learning to toot your horn in a way that attracts employers/customers/clients, dealing with and moving beyond set-backs and failures, and staying the course until you get what you want.
I worked at home for years as a medical transcriptionist. Some days I put in 15 hours to get the job done. I am willing to work long hours and know what it takes. I just need to find the right job and a company who is willing to hire me and partake of the knowledge I have acquired over the years.
There are many places the take medical transcriptionist from home. Most require experience, which you've got. You should check over at MTDaily.com where she has information about MT jobs and more. Good luck!
I`m leaving my 9-5 job next week and this was a great read! I think that I`m ready to do it by myself.
I have also started my own blog some time ago which is bringing me some income allready. Hope to make many more income streams soon.
Congrats! Good luck on your ventures in the future!


Sourav loves art. It's the one field that he's found that has let him match his passions of science and fantasy together. Painting and designing concepts are especially enjoyable because you're not limited by any of the current scientific thinking.
He got started in concept art and matte painting by first doing some crash courses. By the time he posted his first public work he was featured and approached by CG Society to create a tutorial on his work.
It may seem like he was a natural born talent, but like many other artists he worked extremely hard before posting anything publicly. Before posting anything, there was an intense year and a half of study where Sourav produced 12 to 13 paintings just for himself to practice.
The recognition from CG Society was the turning point for him where he got the confidence to push his career further.
Sourav continues to keep his skills sharp and pushing his matte painting further and further by learning new software and breaking into 3D.
He really enjoys the freedom of working at home and has a very serious approach to his painting. His family members know to respect his time and let him continue his work so that he can focus. This even applies to the time that he spends thinking on the couch! They know when he's deep in thought about a concept piece and not to disturb him.
Go and watch a good movie.
Read good literature like detective and crime stories…or anything that inspires you!.
Take his bike and camera and go for a ride and get inspired by the countryside.
Take part in matte painting challenges and do your best, but don't post your work just yet. Instead – look closely at the work that other artists are doing and compare that to your own. See what they are doing differently and how people are reacting to those other artworks.
When Sourav was comparing his work to other artists he found that he was trying to do everything too neat and this left the painting with an unnatural feeling. You need to find and fix your weaknesses to improve.
Examine photography and study it closely to learn what you can incorporate into your own paintings.
Pay close attention to the lighting and overall color harmony of the image – this will really make your work stand out.
You're also going to need to create a demand for your artwork. This means becoming known for a certain type of work. When you're feeling self-doubt, and when you're feeling unsure, one way that you can reassure yourself that you're on the right track and that you are improving is to take a look back at your existing artworks and see how far you've come.


text:
Winston Watchman (https://winstonwatchman.com/ws-fc-school-systems-proposed-location-for-a-new-brunson-is-actually-closer-to-ashley/)
WS/FC School System's Proposed Location For A New Brunson Is Actually Closer To Ashley Academy
By C.P. Tew | November 11, 2019
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Late Sunday night, I stumbled upon a friend's Facebook post. She shared that the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System has found a potential site for a new Brunson Elementary. Sometimes a friend reports news that our paper of record fails to deliver.
If the proposed location is approved, the former Thomasville Furniture factory at 1245 Ivey Avenue (and adjoining properties) will one day produce kids reading at or above grade level.
The Thomasville Furniture site on post-industrial hill will be presented at Tuesday afternoon's Building and Grounds Committee meeting, then discussed at the full school board meeting later that evening. The WS/FC School System "would also like to conduct a Community meeting the week of November 18, 2019, at Brunson ES for the purposes of receiving input from Brunson staff, parents, and other community members."
The Thomasville Furniture site has a long way to go before the school board approves it. I'd like to hear the school system's rationale for proposing that site. Was that location chosen because it's in the best interest of students, parents, and teachers? Or is the school system trying to help spur development in "Industry Hill?"
The Thomasville Furniture factory site's brownfield status is one potential grounds for rejecting it. If the site's environmental contamination can be remediated, the next objection to overcome is the location. The Thomasville Furniture site is "within the boundaries of the existing Brunson ES district." But it's in a completely different neighborhood.
Back in 2011, the Bruson parent group identified available properties much closer to Brunson, in the West Highlands and West End neighborhoods:
Spring 2011 The Brunson parent group compiled a list of public properties available in the downtown area. Five suitable sites were identified. These included the former YWCA site on Glade Street; a site at the Children's Home; the hill next to Reynolds Auditorium; and two options adjacent to Hanes Park between Wiley school and the Reynolds gyms. WS/FCS planners presented drawings for relocating Brunson to the three sites property already owned by the district. WSFCS Brunson Relocation at Wiley or Reynolds.
-Save Hanes Park, February 24, 2019
The school board's proposed site for a new Brunson Elementary is actually closer to Ashley Academy. According to Google, Brunson is 2.3 miles away from the former Thomasville Furniture factory, while Ashley is a mere 1.4 miles away. Both schools are practically the same distance by car.
Both Brunson and Ashley are long overdue for new schools. It's a scandal that the school board has kept Brunson and Ashley waiting for years, while Wiley's $10 million gym was fast-tracked. A new school has been approved for Brunson-part of the 2016 bond package, while the school board has only funded design plans for a new Ashley. But Ashley needs a new building more urgently than Brunson.
If the former Thomasville Furniture factory on Ivey Avenue is the site of a new school, it should go to Ashley. Ashley could enjoy the new school for a brief time. Then when a new Ashley is finally built in the Cleveland Avenue neighborhood, Brunson can move into the school at the former Thomasville Furniture plant.
In addition to the fact that environmental conditions at Ashley demand action, Brunson is thriving academically, while Ashley is at the very bottom of the state's rankings (1114 out of 1114). Building a new school for Ashley can be justified based on poor academic achievement alone.
How long can we allow the worst schools in Winston-Salem to be the worst schools in the state of North Carolina? Action4Equity has tirelessly advocated for Ashley Academy for some time now. They've brought a considerable amount of attention to the mold and poor air quality at Ashley. Their civil rights complaint against the school district is still making its way through the courts. But let's not wait for a court order before we do the right thing. The next new school building in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County needs to house Ashley Academy.


text:
Norops megapholidotus är en ödleart som beskrevs av  Smith 1933. Norops megapholidotus ingår i släktet Norops och familjen Polychrotidae. IUCN kategoriserar arten globalt som livskraftig. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

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megapholidotus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A Muppet museum in small-town Mississippi honors the roots of Jim Henson's most beloved creation.
Born in 1936 in nearby Greenville, Mississippi, famed visionary and puppeteer Jim Henson grew up and played among the swamplands of Leland. The small-town has now proclaimed itself the birthplace of his most famous creation with a permanent exhibit devoted to the man and Kermit the frog.
Pink, packed sanctuary and home of the world's fullest-time Elvis fanatic.
Giant novelty guitars now mark the spot where Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the devil.
Installed across two rooms in the Leland Chamber of Commerce, the small museum holds puppets and memorabilia that honor Jim Henson's creation of Kermit the Frog. As the story goes, Henson spent his childhood playing among the local flora and fauna (which included frogs) of Leland and eventually made acquaintances with his boyhood friend Kermit Scott, who it is said the character of Kermit the Frog is based on.
When the city of Leland established their small Muppet tribute they were actually given three original Muppet figures (Dr. Teeth, The Swedish Chef, and Chester the Rat) to display in addition to tomes full of Muppet facts and a collection of merchandise, dolls, and memorabilia. Unfortunately, the trio of puppets originally housed in the museum had to be returned to the Jim Henson Company, but an original Kermit the Frog puppet was later donated to the exhibit by Henson's wife Jane.
The proud birthplace is still open for visitors to come and explore the roots of the amphibian showman and the city even features a permanent plaque marking Kermit's creation. Guests to the exhibit can even cuddle up to a giant stuffed Kermit for photos.
The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM until 4 PM, and on Sundays from 2 PM to 5 PM. Admission into the museum is free.
The body of an unidentified woman, visible through a glass coffin, was discovered by accident.
Four-Hour Holy-Rolling, Hallelujah-shouting, Southern Gospel Service, rendered as a country market where "All Is Welcome, Jews, and Gentiles."