Sokurov's `Elegy' a tribute to Tarkovsky

August 09, 2002|By Patrick Z. McGavin. Special to the Tribune.

Alexander Sokurov's "Moscow Elegy" is a poetic, experimental documentary by the country's greatest living director on Russia's most important postwar filmmaker, Andrei Tarkovsky (1932-1986).

Sokurov is a formalist, an artist whose rigorous, severe, though often staggeringly beautiful work is grounded in references to painting, literature and music. Unlike an earlier documentary made on the life and work of the Russian director, the conventional, prosaic "Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky," Sokurov's "Moscow Elegy" achieves a spellbinding, haunting quality.

Tarkovsky was the son of a prominent Russian poet, Arseniy Tarkovsky, and he was also Sokurov's friend and mentor who helped Sokurov with his first job at Lenfilm Studios. After Tarkovsky's death, Sokurov was commissioned by the Professional Union of Cinematographers to produce a documentary portrait of him. Sokurov proved as intransigent and uncompromising as his late friend, and this film was withheld for more than a decade.

Tarkovsky ("Andrei Rublev," "Stalker") made enigmatic, haunting, devastating movies (Steven Soderbergh is currently remaking his 1972 masterpiece, "Solaris"). "Moscow Elegy" underlines Sokurov's profound affinity with the late director's films in the densely layered images, sounds and camera placement. We see Tarkovsky in fragments and bursts of imagery, though the movie offers little in the standard grammar of documentaries. "Moscow Elegy" is far more attuned to mood, Tarkovsky's personal meaning to Sokurov, and his significance in the greater Russian culture.

"Moscow Elegy" is defined by absence--Tarkovsky,the man and artist, was harassed by state authorities producing long stretches of inactivity, allowing for only seven movies in more than 26 years. The movie also mourns a national cinema that has never recovered from his forced exile and tragic death. "Moscow Elegy" is structured as an inquiry into the man, what film meant to him, and the profound loss in his work when he was forced by political and economic complications to live his final years in the West.

There is an extraordinary scene where Sokurov displays Tarkovsky's passport photos doubled up, as if copied in a split screen, followed moments later by Tarkovsky passing through a door, in what was the final time--March, 1982--that Tarkovsky would ever inhabit his native country.

"Moscow Elegy" is fraught with images of loss (the most astounding image of the film is an extended tracking shot that moves through the dank, vacant house where Tarkovsky lived with his second wife and two sons). After extracts from Tarkovsky's most autobiographical film, "The Mirror," are interpolated with some of his father's own poetry, "Moscow Elegy" focuses on Tarkovsky's time spent in Italy, making "Nostalgia," and on an isolated Swedish island where he created his final masterpiece, 1986's "The Sacrifice," despite suffering from advanced complications of lung cancer.

Tarkovsky conceives filmmaking in the manner of a novelist or painter. He is completely absorbed and drawn into its complexities, mysteries and wonder. Brilliantly shot in wintry, shimmering black-and-white, Sokurov draws on landscape, cloud formations and open fields, in opposition to the depraved, cold, sterile Moscow street locations (there is an amazing shot of dreary lines of Muscovites attending the state funeral of Leonid Breznev). The film closes with the director in consultation with his technical collaborators, including the great cinematographer Sven Nykvst.

Andrei Tarkovsky was a poet of the cinema. Alexander Sokurov is his aesthetic heir who brings the remarkable man and his work vividly back to elliptical though overwhelming life.

"Moscow Elegy" ((star)(star)(star)(star)) plays at 1 p.m. Sunday at Facets Multimedia, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave.; 772-281-4114. In Russian, Italian, French and English; English subtitled.


Finalist 2016: Isobel Davis, VIC

Home»Finalist 2016: Isobel Davis, VIC

Name: Isobel Davis

Community, State: Balmoral, VIC

School: Balmoral Community College

Age: 17, Grade 11

Why is gender equality important to you and your community?

The word community has various different dictionary definitions, yet the one I found most profound was “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.”

Personally my community is not reserved to my small township of Balmoral, nor to my country, yet my community goes far beyond that due to my involvement and passion for the Agricultural industry, my small community depends on farming.

I believe a community should evoke a sense of safety and love and it should also exhibit equality. All types of equality or lack-of are important in our modern world and have been present in society for many years. One spectrum of equality that is immensely important to myself not only as a female but also as an aspiring influential leader in Agriculture, is gender equality.

My community and the survival of not only our town but our entire country has depended on the Agricultural industry and the people involved in it, however women only make up 32.0% of the workforce in Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry Industries (according to data found by the ABS (2015), Labour Force, Australia, and complied by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency). This means that women hold greatly less power in this area compared to men yet we have so much to offer.

There is a negative stereotype surrounding the Agriculture industry and specifically farming as a career that is very gender specific. A woman’s role has always been restricted to the “farmer’s wife” act, yet women are powerful, strong and knowledgeable and we posses countless great skills to bring to the table as farmers. Unfortunately I believe this stereotype has deterred young girls and women from pursuing such a rewarding lifestyle and career in farming.

Gender equality is important to my community and myself because our future survival depends on it. I hope to inspire young girls and women to join my community and see that being involved in the Agricultural industry is not just a job but a rewarding and empowering lifestyle where women can be treated equally and respectfully because:

“…everyday, three times a day, you need a farmer”-Brenda Schoepp,

 And I believe female farmers make the very best farmers!


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You usually lose access the day you are no longer on the VCU payroll. VCU changes faculty or employee status to 'former faculty' or 'former employee,' and VCU uses faculty or employee status to restrict access to current faculty and employees.

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Monday, July 7, 2014

Dancing with Anxiety

Photo by Kevin Tomasello
Anxiety in writers is like the common cold. It's easy to catch and hard to let go. When I feel anxious, I go to nature. These orchids offer their quiet beauty, reminding me to take a deep breath. Breathe in, exhale slowly...okay, not working. So, I will go to writing. Bear with me, I will try to resolve this issue by the end.

Of course, writers are not the only people to suffer anxiety. Any number of people can carry this affliction at any one time. But, I do believe writers have an edge when it comes to this problem. We may turn it into a character: Anxiety is a sharp-chinned rogue, too restless--or afraid-- of being ripped open with all its entrails hanging forth. Or Anxiety crept up behind her, its icy tendrils slithering up her back , encircling her throat until her breath was a gurgle. Or even: Yo, b*tch, Anxiety here, that's right, I'm baaaack. Yes, Anxiety is usually an antagonist.

But, couldn't Anxiety be a good guy (or gal, let's not discriminate)? What if it is simply The Spark? The effects of anxiety often come from indecision or lack of knowledge or lack of confidence, right? Maybe that tremor in your voice or the sweat on your palms is a sign. Maybe your heart is beating out of your chest to make you pay attention. Maybe--shall I go out on that thin limb--maybe it's a gift. That's right, you heard me. A gift.

Oh yes, I know, it's not a good feeling. Anxiety and I have a long relationship, but that doesn't mean we are soul mates. I am still learning how to dance with this bastard, er, gift. But, how, you may ask? How do we tame the savage beastie? Natalie Goldberg talks about alleviating writer's anxiety in her powerful book THUNDER AND LIGHTNING: CRACKING OPEN THE WRITER'S CRAFT. She suggests (for writers, at least, it is a book for writers, after all) that we not beat ourselves up for missing a day of writing, or two, but instead, SCHEDULE IT IN. If you only have a free half hour on Friday after the kids go to bed, put that time on your calendar for writing. Anxiety hates structure. It thrives on chaos and disarray. Turn the lion into a purring kitten. Goldberg reminds us that if we structure our time for writing, we won't be thinking about it while we're at our kid's soccer game or talking to our spouse or consoling a sick friend. We can focus on the present thing. We know we will have that time, no matter how small, to devote to the thing we are compelled to do. I think this could work for anything we want to do: writing, painting, meditation, working out, researching things we are passionate about, animal welfare, thinking up cool crafts for the kids, designing the perfect tattoo--whatever! Why not?

Don't give up your dream. If you are passionate about something, if you can't stop thinking about it, if it wakes you up at two in the morning or even if it's long buried, but kicks to the surface at odd times, it is worth putting it on your "to do" list and marking time on your calendar for it. I've had a burning desire to write all my life. I wasn't sure what to write exactly, but I knew I was meant to do it. I kept journals on and off, started articles and short stories I never finished, and  puttered around for years doing other things that I was also passionate about, but writing always bobbed its little head out of the water. I finally put it on my schedule. And I wrote a novel. I get to see it published next year. I can't wait to see what Anxiety has in store for me then! But, the point is, I went for it full throttle despite my anxiety. Keeping some structure allowed me to stay in my stride so Anxiety couldn't step on my toes. Perhaps you will do the same. I would love to hear how you manage anxiety and your plans for following your dreams.

And don't forget to breathe! Thank you for scheduling a moment with me.


Assemblywoman wants to review how sexual harassment claims are handled in state government

In the wake of the flood of sexual harassment accusations against powerful men in politics, entertainment and media, Assemblywoman Sandy Galef is calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to immediately convene a task force charged with reviewing existing policies and making recommendations for a uniform standard to handle claims and investigations involving state workers and elected officials.

Galef’s proposal for a coordinated task force would include representatives from the Assembly, Senate, and the offices of the Governor, Attorney General and state Comptroller. It would be required to develop a recommendation for a consistent sexual harassment policy spanning across all state agencies and departments within three months of its formation.

Both houses of the Legislature and the Executive Branch, which includes all state agencies, have workplace rules to address sexual harassment complaints. However, different systems are in place for each institution and no clear standards exist for all government workers and elected officials, Galef said.

“We have seen only the very beginning of these charges as more people feel braver about coming forward,” said Galef, D-Ossining. “Performing thorough investigations will be hard enough. Compounding the challenge will be how we apply different processes to investigate these allegations.”

Assemblywoman Galef

A comparison of the Assembly and Senate sexual harassment policies show marked differences in how both manage employee grievances, including investigation procedures and time frames for the entire process once a complaint is formally filed, the assemblywoman notes.

“If you are a member of the Assembly, the Senate or are employed by the DMV, you still work for New York state, and as such you should have the same standard apply and to know there is a straightforward process,” she said.

“The goal of the task force will be to consolidate the … policies and provide an unambiguous policy for anyone who receives a paycheck from the state.”

Workplace harassment is illegal in New York and is a violation of the state Human Rights Law and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which forbids discrimination and harassment based on a person’s sex. Every employee in New York is entitled to a working environment free from sexual harassment.

In 2015, the governor signed into law Galef’s legislation that allowed all workers to file a complaint of sexual harassment with the state, regardless of the size of their employer.


Donuts and Milkshake Isabella Belly – healthy living

Nourish the brain, make it better able to concentrate and absorb, so it is better to eat balanced food for students; because they need constant nourishment of their mind

Increase the ability of the immune system to cope with diseases; it increases the production of antibodies in the blood capable of resisting bacteria and microbes.

Build muscle and cells properly; protein found in large amounts in balanced food gives this benefit. Strengthen the digestive system and help digest food quickly, so that the availability of fiber in it significantly


The Gamesmen: PiXelTraX – Season 3, Episode 2

Want to win $20 worth of PSN, XBL, or Wii points? This is the Season 3, Episode 2 of The Gamesmen: PiXelTraX, the show where YOU put your video game soundtrack knowledge to the test against your peers in order to win fantastic digital currency!

Here’s how PiXelTrax works:

Each episode, you, the listener, will be given six audio tracks from various software titles across a vast array of platforms. Every aural example will be accompanied by a verbal clue as well and each correct answer is worth one point, thus making a pure perfect score for each show a total of six. But, that’s not all- collectively, all of the tracks together will share a corresponding “theme” of sorts. Guessing the correct answer for what ties the music together is worth an additional two points. How do you submit your entry sheet, you ask?

Send your numbered responses to [email protected] and they will be incorporated into the leaderboards as they arrive.

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Talk 28

4th February, 1935
Talk 28.

D.: What is the interrelation between regulation of thought and regulation of breath?

Thought (intellectual) and respiration, circulation, etc. (vegetative) activities are both different aspects of the same - the individual life. Both depend upon (or metaphorically `reside' or `inhere' in) life. Personality and other ideas spring from it like the vital activity. If respiration or other vital activity is forcibly repressed, thought also is repressed. If thought is forcibly slowed down and pinned to a point, the vital activity of respiration is slowed down, made even and confined to the lowest level compatible with life. In both cases the distracting variety of thought is temporarily at an end. The interaction is noticeable in other ways also. Take the will to live. That is thought-power. That sustains and keeps up life when other vitality is almost exhausted and delays death. In the absence of such will-power death is accelerated. So thought is said to carry life with it in the flesh and from one fleshy body to another.
D.: Are there any aids to (1) concentration and (2) casting off distractions?

Physically the digestive and other organs are kept free from irritation. Therefore food is regulated both in quantity and quality. Non-irritants are eaten, avoiding chillies, excess of salt, onions, wine, opium, etc. Avoid constipation, drowsiness and excitement, and all foods which induce them. Mentally take interest in one thing and fix the mind on it. Let such interest be all-absorbing to the exclusion of everything else. This is dispassion (vairagya [?]) and concentration. God or mantra [?] may be chosen. The mind gains strength to grasp the subtle and merge into it.
D.: Distractions result from inherited tendencies. Can they be cast off too?

Yes. Many have done so. Believe it! They did so because they believed they could. Vasanas (predispositions) can be obliterated. It is done by concentration on that which is free from vasanas and yet is their core.
D.: How long is the practice to continue?

Till success is achieved and until yoga-liberation becomes permanent. Success begets success. If one distraction is conquered the next is conquered and so on, until all are finally conquered. The process is like reducing an enemy's fort by slaying its man-power - one by one, as each issues out.
D.: What is the goal of this process?

Realising the Real.
D.: What is the nature of the Reality?

(a) Existence without beginning or end - eternal.
(b) Existence everywhere, endless, infinite.
(c) Existence underlying all forms, all changes, all forces, all matter and all spirit. The many change and pass away (phenomena), whereas the One always endures (noumenon).
(d) The one displacing the triads, i.e., the knower, the knowledge and the known. The triads are only appearances in time and space, whereas the Reality lies beyond and behind them. They are like a mirage over the Reality. They are the result of delusion.
D.: If `I' also be an illusion, who then casts off the illusion?

The `I' casts off the illusion of `I' and yet remains as `I'. Such is the paradox of Self-Realisation. The realised do not see any contradiction in it. Take the case of bhakti [?] - I approach Iswara and pray to be absorbed in Him. I then surrender myself in faith and by concentration. What remains afterwards? In place of the original `I', perfect self-surrender leaves a residuum of God in which the `I' is lost. This is the highest form of devotion (parabhakti), prapatti [?] , surrender or the height of vairagya. You give up this and that of `my' possessions. If you give up `I' and `Mine' instead, all are given up at a stroke. The very seed of possession is lost. Thus the evil is nipped in the bud or crushed in the germ itself. Dispassion (vairagya) must be very strong to do this. Eagerness to do it must be equal to that of a man kept under water trying to rise up to the surface for his life.
D.: Cannot this trouble and difficulty be lessened with the aid of a Master or an Ishta Devata [?] (God chosen for worship)? Cannot they give the power to see our Self as it is - to change us into themselves - to take us into Self-Realisation?

Ishta Devata and Guru are aids - very powerful aids on this path.
But an aid to be effective requires your effort also. Your effort is a sine qua non. It is you who should see the sun. Can spectacles and the sun see for you? You yourself have to see your true nature. Not much aid is required for doing it!
D.: What is the relation between my free-will and the overwhelming might of the Omnipotent?
(a) Is omniscience of God consistent with ego's freewill?
(b) Is omnipotence of God consistent with ego's freewill?
(c) Are the natural laws consistent with God's free-will?

Yes. Free-will is the present appearing to a limited faculty of sight and will. The same ego sees its past activity as falling into a course of `law' or rules - its own free-will being one of the links in that course of law. Omnipotence and omniscience of God are then seen by the ego to have acted through the appearance of his own free-will. So he comes to the conclusion that the ego must go by appearances. Natural laws are manifestations of God's will and they have been laid down.
D.: Is the study of science, psychology, physiology, philosophy, etc. helpful for:-
(1) this art of yoga-liberation.
(2) the intuitive grasp of the unity of the Real?

Very little. Some knowledge is needed for yoga and it may be found in books. But practical application is the thing needed, and personal example, personal touch and personal instructions are the most helpful aids. As for the other, a person may laboriously convince himself of the truth to be intuited, i.e., its function and nature, but the actual intuition is akin to feeling and requires practice and personal contact. Mere book learning is not of any great use. After realisation all intellectual loads are useless burdens and are thrown overboard as jetsam. Jettisoning the ego is necessary and natural.
D.: How does dream differ from waking?

In dreams one takes on different bodies, and they re-enter this body when one dreams of sense-contacts.
D.: What is happiness? Is it inhering in the Atman or in the object, or in the contact between the subject and the object? But we do not see happiness in our affairs. When does It actually arise?

When there is contact of a desirable sort or memory thereof , and when there is freedom from undesirable contacts or memory thereof, we say there is happiness. Such happiness is relative and is better called pleasure.
But men want absolute and permanent happiness. This does not reside in objects, but in the Absolute. It is Peace free from pain and pleasure - it is a neutral state.
D.: In what sense is happiness our real nature?

Perfect Bliss is Brahman. Perfect Peace is of the Self. That alone exists and is conscious. The same conclusion is arrived at: (a) judged metaphysically, and (b) inferred by Bhakti Marga [?] (Path of Devotion). We pray to God for Bliss and receive it by Grace. The bestower of bliss must be Bliss itself and also Infinite. Therefore, Iswara is the Personal God of infinite power and bliss. Brahman is Bliss, impersonal and absolute. The finite egos, deriving their source from Brahman and then Iswara, are in their spiritual nature bliss only. Biologically, an organism functions because such functions are attended with happiness. It is pleasure that helps our growth; food, exercise, rest, and gregarious qualities. The psychology (and metaphysics) of pleasure is perhaps this; Our nature is primarily one, entire, blissful.

Take this as a probable hypothesis. Creation is by the entire Godhead breaking into God and Nature (maya [?] or prakriti [?]). This maya is of two parts: (para [?]) - the supporting essence and (apara [?]) the five elements, mind, intellect, and ego (eightfold). Ego's perfection is suddenly broken at a point and a want is felt giving rise to a desire to get something or do something. When that want is cured by the fulfilment of that desire, the ego is happy and the original perfection is restored. Therefore happiness may be said to be our natural condition or nature. Pleasure and pain are relative and refer to our finite state, with progress by satisfaction of want. If relative progress is stopped and the soul merges into Brahman - of the nature of perfect peace - that soul ceases to have relative, temporary pleasure and enjoys perfect peace - Bliss.

Hence Self-Realisation is Bliss; it is realizing the Self as the limitless spiritual eye (jnana dristi) and not clairvoyance; it is the highest self-surrender. Samsara [?] (the world-cycle) is sorrow.
D.: Why then is samsara [?] - creation and manifestation as finitised - so full of sorrow and evil?

God's will!
D.: Why does God will it so?

It is inscrutable. No motive can be attributed to that Power -
no desire, no end to achieve can be asserted of that one Infinite, All-wise and All-powerful Being. God is untouched by activities, which take place in His presence; compare the sun and the world activities. There is no meaning in attributing responsibility and motive to the One before it becomes many. But God's will for the prescribed course of events is a good solution of the free-will problem (vexata quaestio). If the mind is restless on account of a sense of the imperfect and unsatisfactory character of what befalls us or what is committed or omitted by us, then it is wise to drop the sense of responsibility and free-will by regarding ourselves as the ordained instruments of the All-wise and All-powerful, to do and suffer as He pleases. He carries all burdens and gives us peace.

Talk 27 Talk 29


Archive for July, 2008

Music Piano and Life Skills

I am bilingual.  My second language is music, specifically piano. It has taught me life skills. To play or sing on an accomplished level requires a commitment to working daily, focusing  only on the task at hand, setting daily practice goals, and sticking with it until it is right.  It really is grunge work.  Once the piece is learned it becomes “play”.

Practice is lonely.  It is just you and the instrument.  It is tedious.  You have to do the passage right 3 times.  It is rewarding.  No one can understand unless they are a musician the feeling of hearing yourself ‘do it right’.

Commitment, goal setting, determination, learning to hear what I was doing and maintaining the standard of the music are just a few of the life skills I have learned and polished through my music.  We’ll talk about the brain training in a later post.

All music is a language.  Like any language if we can’t understand what is being said it just becomes gibberish to us.  Those who love complex music are born with the ability to hear and understand it.  We study music just like we study our native language to get a deeper understanding of its intricacies. The longer I study and teach piano the more I appreciate the miracle that any of us can play, hear and comprehend the beauty of complex music.

 I knew at the age of 12 that I wanted to be a piano teacher.  That is one of my core values.  I have discovered on this journey that it is complex music that I enjoy.   I am grateful that the gift of complex music was given to me and that the desire to use it, develop it and enjoy it were also given to me.

To all musicians of complex music thank you for contributing to global beauty.


BY: Bill GertzFollow @BillGertz
November 23, 2016 5:00 am
TOKYO—China is escalating a campaign of military maritime coercion against Japan’s Senkaku Islands, according to Japanese intelligence data disclosed as part of a joint Pentagon-Japan research program.
Additionally, China is doubling the size of its coast guard forces over the next five years to prevent the disruption of oil supplies that travel from the Middle East through the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, according to Pentagon-sponsored reports about the joint U.S.-Japan collaboration. Two reports produced by a contractor for the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment, a secretive research group, provide a rare glimpse of Japanese intelligence assessments of Chinese military activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
In addition to adding large numbers of new coast guard and navy ships to its fleets in Southeast Asia, China is building military facilities on newly created islands in the South China Sea. It …


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Logistics Partnering Lessons

While deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) 07–09, the logistics training and advisory team (LTAT) of the 47th Forward Support Battalion (FSB) “Modern Pioneers,” 2d Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, executed numerous partnership events. The 47th FSB (now the 47th Brigade Support Battalion) was tasked with the mission of training and mentoring the 9th and 17th Iraqi Army (IA) Divisions on logistics. The objective was to teach a method of self-reliance that would enable the Iraqi logisticians to sustain and equip their army.

Over the course of the deployment, the Pioneers conducted more than 55 classes and trained more than 300 IA soldiers from the two divisions. The LTAT provided weekly training to the divisions based on the logistics priorities of their G–4s and motorized transportation regiment (MTR) commanders. Training topics included maintenance operations, supply management, driving, convoy security, staff development, and medical support.

Introduction to the Command Team

Before initiating each partnership, the Pioneers participated in a key leader engagement—one of the most critical initial steps in any partnership. Through these engagements, the command team built a bond and a sense of mutual respect with the IA command team. Establishing a relationship with the leaders ensured that the IA trusted the Pioneers and felt comfortable working with them to determine how best to use the LTAT personnel to train, give advice, and make recommendations to the IA command, staff, and soldiers.

Getting Started

The first step was to create the LTAT, which comprised subject-matter experts from all fields of logistics. The LTAT members were required to attend a 5-day course at the Phoenix Academy in Camp Taji, Iraq. There they learned how to provide relevant and viable sustainment training packages for maintenance, supply, medical, and other readiness support in order to achieve IA self-reliance. The attendees also learned the logistics policies and procedures of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense.

Next, the Pioneers provided the 9th and 17th IA Division G–4s and the 17th IA Division MTR each with an embedded liaison officer (LNO). The LNOs served as liaisons among the command teams. They were beneficial for situational awareness, planning, and tracking procedures. The LNOs provided a constant presence for mentoring and training the division G–4 and his staff on a daily basis. It was vital for the LNO to support and show faith in the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense procedures throughout all training and assistance.

The embedded LNOs took the lead in finding the IA’s daily logistics problems and then provided the IA with recommended solutions to their problems. The LNOs advised IA personnel on how the IA system should work and helped them build the confidence needed to address their problems through the IA system, using the coalition force only for reporting and follow-up procedures.

Best Practices

The LTAT initially trained each IA soldier separately from the officers and senior noncommissioned officers (NCOs). But the LTAT personnel soon discovered that the more they interacted with the IA soldiers, the more the lower enlisted soldiers came to the LTAT instead of their own leaders for guidance.

The LTAT eventually focused on developing strong, confident leaders. One method used was to train the leaders for a day or two and then have the leaders present the class they had just attended to their soldiers. This worked very well with the developmental staff courses and the supply classes, but it did not work as well with other classes that had more technical information. For example, the senior leaders were unable to teach the maintenance course with confidence, so the LTAT had the senior leader assist the LTAT trainer in presenting the information. Although it was not IA led, this kept the IA leader in the front of the class, which built the confidence of the IA soldiers in their leaders.

The LTAT often used a “crawl, walk, and run” method of training for the IA soldiers. Since all of the personnel had a different level of knowledge in different areas, it was easier to start with the basics to ensure that all personnel learned the necessary tasks.One procedure the LTAT found to be useful was to use a sign-in roster. The IA platoon leaders and junior staff officers had a hard time planning and managing personnel for future training and missions. On many occasions, the LTAT would start a training series with one group of personnel and end it with an entirely different group. The implementation of sign-in rosters helped the trainers assist the staff officers and platoon leaders to more accurately manage their personnel training. This also kept the LTAT from training the same person twice and allowed the students to move on to training that was more technical.

Because the sign-in rosters could be used to verify course completion, the LTAT was able to present the IA personnel with certificates during an awards ceremony. The certificates, which were signed by the 47th FSB commander and command sergeant major, certified the recipients to train their soldiers in a formal training environment. The award ceremony gave the IA soldiers a great sense of pride and accomplishment, which made them eager to continue training at the next level. The IA leaders and soldiers wanted the coalition forces to know they were capable of performing their missions, and for some, this was the first certificate of schooling that they ever received. The IA was proud of the things that they learned and would constantly request feedback from coalition forces. It is important to always let the IA know how well both the leaders and soldiers are doing and how much their efforts are appreciated.

The LTAT often used practical and written examinations during training. The IA students were required to pass the practical exams to advance to the next training event. This allowed the LTAT to monitor their progress and ensure that they were retaining the material being covered. After implementing this step, it became evident that the IA personnel were following English instructions and understanding coalition force equipment better than the trainers thought. During after-action reviews, the IA soldiers expressed how intimidating the English instructions had initially been to them because most of them did not speak or read English. (Many did not even read Arabic.) Yet with the training they received, they were able to understand the instructions clearly. This was vital because most technical manuals for their equipment have not yet been translated into Arabic.

Staff Development Course

Another beneficial event was the Staff Development Course, which was a 2-day block of staff-related training for 17th MTR instructors (usually two or three officers or NCOs). The course was led by the 17th MTR military transition team (MiTT), which was partnered with the MTR in January 2009 to mentor and train them alongside the Pioneers. After attending the course, the IA instructors presented a 3-day block of instruction to their staff officers and NCOs.

Each MiTT facilitator structured the class presentation to meet the content of the course. For example, during the staff estimates class, each student was required to develop an estimate for a mission and apply the concepts learned to a hands-on application. The most difficult constraint was keeping the students enrolled in the class. However, after adjusting the program of instruction to allow leave opportunities within the 17th MTR, the program flow was much smoother.

During the Pioneers’ partnership with the 17th IA Division MTR, one of the most beneficial events was the staff visit to Camp Striker, where the Pioneers hosted selected MTR command and staff members at a site visit of their shops and commodity areas. Each visitor was matched with his coalition force counterpart. The visit gave the MTR staff a firsthand view of the situations that a coalition force logistics battalion faces while providing support to its BCT and the courses of action that have been either effective or ineffective. The Pioneers also wanted to illustrate to the 17th MTR how they conducted sustainment operations for the 2d BCT, coalition, and Iraqi Security Forces during OIF 07–09. The visit gave the MTR a firsthand explanation of why and how the Pioneers train and advise the MTR.

The train-the-trainer concept was very beneficial because it removed the language barrier from IA soldiers’ primary instruction. The ease and accessibility of the class placed the LTAT and MiTT one step closer to transitioning ownership of the training to the IA leadership, which is one step closer to the IA’s self-reliance.

Chief Warrant Officer (W–2) Julian Price is the brigade ammunition officer for the 24th Brigade Support Battalion. He served as the logistics training and advisory team officer in charge while deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom 07–09. He is a graduate of the Warrant Officer Candidate School and the Warrant Officer Basic Course.

WWW Army Sustainment


Do a Meatzvah!

Passover is just around the corner. Kick this year off right!
Pick up a whole delaney barbecue brisket for this year's dinner.

This year we'll be preparing a limited number of whole briskets for pickup or available for delivery to Brooklyn or Manhattan.
Quantities are limited, so ordering will be on a first-come, first-served basis.


The Gasification Process

Gasification comprises the heating of a solid in a very low-oxygen environment, so that all the organic elements turn into a mixed gas, called a “syngas”. This is the process used by the Victorians to produce town-gas from coal. The process operates in a partial vacuum and the amount of oxygen introduced is carefully controlled to be just sufficient to maintain the temperature at the right level (350 to 550 degrees Centigrade) to produce a rich syngas.

Because the conversion of the organics in the biomass is so complete in the gasifier (5), there is very little solid matter left. Most of this falls to the bottom of the gasifier where it is removed, and any remaining gas borne particles are removed by a cyclone (6) as the syngas exits the gasifier. This solid is an inert vitreous material and can be used for the production of aggregates for the building industry.

The syngas is then burnt in a conventional boiler (8), which raises steam (9) to drive a steam turbine (not shown) and generate electricity in the conventional manner.

Because the boiler is burning a gas, the air conditions can be easily managed to control the production of nitrous oxides and the flame temperature can be controlled to eliminate the production of pollutants associated with burning solid matter. This makes the overall process extremely clean and emissions are well below the required maximum levels. Just to make sure that any lingering traces of nitrous Oxides (a product of burning anything in air) are properly dealt with, there is a final stage filtering system (10, 11) for the outlet gases.

News & Updates

Global demand for energy grew by 5.6 per cent last year, the fastest rate since 1973

The amount of carbon dioxide released from the use of energy grew at its fastest rate [...]

Energy challenge: Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party

Short-termism is bad for us and the planet. The Government should use the Green Investment Bank [...]

Low carbon energy: vast potential rewards for a greener UK says Chris Huhne

The transition to a low carbon UK will be a mammoth task and will in time [...]

Middlebury College’s biomass plant, USA

Middlebury College in the USA shows how gasification generates clean, green energy with this short virtual [...]


Senior Recruiter

Amazon - Seattle, WA

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Job Description

To be great in this role the candidate must be able to successfully manage, prioritize and close searches against a timeline and have experience setting benchmarks, metrics, and understand how to prioritize to hit all customer SLAs. They thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment, can roll up their sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done. Additionally, this person should possess ability to influence and drive outcomes spanning the team. The best candidates will draw on extensive knowledge of Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Acquisition and functional areas of the business, forging dynamic relationships with business leaders, hiring managers, recruiting peers and HR business partners. They have a reputation for being exceptional at candidate generation, client/account management, organization, possess strong verbal and written communication skills, have an ability to prioritize their time, demonstrate push back and a sense of urgency, and understand the value of providing amazing customer service.

Duties and Responsibilities

-Partner with Recruiters and hiring teams to build effective diversity sourcing, assessment, and closing approaches with an ability to manage customer/partner expectations through a deep understanding of return on investment.
-Be able to understand how to recruit passive diverse candidates and share your knowledge across team.
Build and maintain network of potential passive diverse candidates through pro-active market research and on-going relationship management; conducts in-depth interviews of potential candidates, demonstrating ability to anticipate hiring manager preferences through high offer-to-interview ratios.
-Recommend ideas and strategies related to diversity recruitment that will contribute to the long-range growth of the company, implementing any new processes and fine tuning standard processes for recruiting that fits within Amazon’s mission to deliver the highest quality results to the customer.
-Articulate in writing a plan with deliverable timelines and a formal tracking process.
-Interview candidates within the framework of the position specification. Possess strong ability to screen, interview and prepare an ideal candidate slate within an appropriate and consistent timeline.

· 8+ years of recruiting experience in a tech environment
· MS Office- including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

· experience with passive candidate generation using a variety of techniques.
· Passion for and proven success creating and implementing successful diversity strategies
· Experience managing and prioritizing multiple searches, projects and client relationships.
· Strong communication skills, organizational and negotiation skills.
· Self-sufficient and able to work with little direct supervision.
· Bachelor’s degree.

[mc4wp_form id="178"]


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시간 제한 메모리 제한 제출 정답 맞은 사람 정답 비율
1 초 256 MB 19 11 10 55.556%

You are the manager of a chocolate sales team. Your team customarily takes tea breaks every two hours, during which varieties of new chocolate products of your company are served. Everyone looks forward to the tea breaks so much that they frequently give a glance at a wall clock.

Recently, your team has moved to a new office. You have just arranged desks in the office. One team member asked you to hang a clock on the wall in front of her desk so that she will not be late for tea breaks. Naturally, everyone seconded her.

You decided to provide an enough number of clocks to be hung in the field of view of everyone. Your team members will be satisfied if they have at least one clock (regardless of the orientation of the clock) in their view, or, more precisely, within 45 degrees left and 45 degrees right (both ends inclusive) from the facing directions of their seats. In order to buy as few clocks as possible, you should write a program that calculates the minimum number of clocks needed to meet everyone’s demand.

The office room is rectangular aligned to north-south and east-west directions. As the walls are tall enough, you can hang clocks even above the door and can assume one’s eyesight is not blocked by other members or furniture. You can also assume that each clock is a point (of size zero), and so you can hang a clock even on a corner of the room.

Figure D.1. Arrangements of seats and clocks. Gray area indicates field of view.

For example, assume that there are two members. If they are sitting facing each other at positions shown in Figure D.1(A), you need to provide two clocks as they see distinct sections of the wall. If their seats are arranged as shown in Figure D.1(B), their fields of view have a common point on the wall. Thus, you can meet their demands by hanging a single clock at the point. In Figure D.1(C), their fields of view have a common wall section. You can meet their demands with a single clock by hanging it anywhere in the section. Arrangements (A), (B), and (C) in Figure D.1 correspond to Sample Input 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

The input consists of a single test case, formatted as follows.

n w d
x1 y1 f1
xn yn fn

All numbers in the test case are integers. The first line contains the number of team members n (1 ≤ n ≤ 1, 000) and the size of the office room w and d (2 ≤ w, d ≤ 100, 000). The office room has its width w east-west, and depth d north-south. Each of the following n lines indicates the position and the orientation of the seat of a team member. Each member has a seat at a distinct position (xi, yi) facing the direction fi, for i = 1, . . . , n. Here 1 ≤ xi ≤ w − 1, 1 ≤ yi ≤ d − 1, and fi is one of N, E, W, and S, meaning north, east, west, and south, respectively. The position (x, y) means x distant from the west wall and y distant from the south wall.

Print the minimum number of clocks needed.

예제 입력

2 10 6
4 4 E
6 4 W

예제 출력

예제 입력 2

2 10 6
2 4 E
6 4 W

예제 출력 2

예제 입력 3

2 10 6
3 2 S
6 4 W

예제 출력 3

예제 입력 4

6 10 6
1 5 N
7 1 N
8 2 E
9 1 S
4 4 S
3 3 W

예제 출력 4

예제 입력 5

4 10 6
4 3 W
2 4 N
4 4 W
3 3 S

예제 출력 5

예제 입력 6

4 100000 40000
25000 25000 S
20000 30000 S
75000 25000 S
80000 30000 S

예제 출력 6


Jack Spade

JackSpadeFunction and style are both foundations of Jack Spade’s philosophy. Beginning with bags, Jack Spade created a line of functional bags that made sense of the bag’s most essential utility. Expanding into a full collection, the clothing and sportswear is both stylish and sophisticated, while staying simple.

Brands Include


God of the impossible

This might seem like a strange verse, but my focus is that with God nothing is impossible. Even death could not keep its hold on Him. Acts 2 ver & PicNow I don't know about you, but I have never seen someone rise from the grave. I have stood at gravesides and have even watched a loved one take her last breath, but I have never seen life revived from someone who has died. (I'm not looking to get into a near-death or death-to-life experience here. I'm talking about end of life reality.) As Scripture puts it, "It is appointed to men once to die and after that the judgment."

Judgment is another topic also, which I believe is coming in either reward or wrath, because our Creator does hold the right to judge based on the fact that He created us and He makes the rules. In a sense that can be comforting, can't it? We know that someday evil will meet its end. But we don't always like the idea of being judged ourselves.

But the one who conquered death (that's a pretty big deal) is also the One who does the judging. He didn't come the first time to judge or condemn but to save. And if we are in Him, meaning if we know Him at a heart level (not just with an "I believe" intellectual level) but where it transforms our hearts, then we do not have to fear judgment or condemnation. He came to free us from that fear and He conquered death to prove He could.

How about you? Do you fear death? Do you fear the One who has the power over death--fear Him in the way that we all should--with deep reverence and awe and humility and a cry for mercy and grace?

Because when it all comes down, it's not about what we can accomplish in our lives or how much better we can make the world. It's not about us at all. It's about the only One who can do the impossible. The one who can save us from death. Not an earthly death as most all of us will face that someday, but an eternal one, which can so easily be avoided by a simple act of childlike faith.

Do we trust Him enough to do the impossible in our lives and set us free from the fear of death and judgment? Because if He could raise Jesus from the dead, or anyone else from the grave, He can do anything.

Selah~ #liveloveprayhope #withgodallthingsarepossible #mygodcandotheimpossible #trusthisheart


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Shedding light on the moon’s dark side

Image via US Naval Observatory

Tonight – October 27, 2017 – the moon is at or near its first quarter phase, which means the portion of the moon we see from Earth is 50% illuminated by sunshine and 50% engulfed in the moon’s own shadow.

First quarter moon arrives on October 27, at 22:22 UTC (at U.S. time zones: 6:22 p.m. EDT, 5:22 p.m. CDT, 4:22 p.m. MDT and 3:22 p.m. PDT; translate to your time zone).

Half the moon is always illuminated in space. In other words, the moon has a day side and a night side, just as Earth does. Due to the angle between the sun, Earth and moon, we’re seeing about equal portions of its day side and night side tonight. Because the moon is now waxing, we’re bound to see more of its day side each evening until the night that the moon turns full on the night of November 3-4, 2017.

The part of the moon that isn’t in sunlight is often called the moon’s dark side. Just realize that – because of the moon’s motion around Earth – the portion of the dark side that we see from Earth constantly changes.

There is a permanent far side of the moon. But there is no permanent dark side of the moon, because any given lunar location experiences night for about two weeks, followed by about two weeks of daylight.

The moon does rotate on its axis. But billions of years of Earth’s strong gravitational pull have slowed it down such that today the moon takes as long to rotate as it does to orbit once around Earth. Astronomers would say that the moon is tidally locked with Earth. For that reason, one side of the moon always faces Earth, but it is not always dark – as you can see just by looking at the sky tonight.

Incidentally, the moon’s gravitational effects on Earth are much smaller, but – given billions of years of time – the Earth will slow down and keep one face always toward the moon.

Bottom line: A far side of the moon remains hidden from Earth, but doesn’t stay permanently dark.

Larry Sessions


Depopulation and Education in a Mexican Migrant Town: Schools in Villa Juarez, San Luis Potosi, 1942-2000

Magda Banda, Loyola University Chicago

While educational systems have been governed by the policies of the nation-state and have been contained within state borders, the transformations brought about by the economic, social, and political repercussions of globalization have added layers of complexity to issues in education. This is true in particular of agrarian communities, such as Villa Juarez, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. National educational policies have led to new challenges in agrarian societies as they undergo not only ideological exchanges but the movement of populations that have led to international and national demographic shifts. One of the main issues that this research will investigate is the relationship between education and migration, and whether the changing conditions of that rural setting have had any effect on how locals perceive the purpose of education.

This study examines the way teachers, students and government officials view the purpose of education in the agrarian village of Villa Juarez that, like other communities in central Mexico, is undergoing the influence of globalization, manifested most notably in emigration to the United States. If post-basic education competes with international migration as another form of economic mobility, as William A. Kandel discusses in his study of traditional migrant communities, then what is the purpose of education as

viewed by teachers, students and government officials in a rural community? Villa Juarez, a town with a long-standing history of migration to the United States, has experienced continually diminishing depopulation and school closings since the Bracero Program of 1942, which marked the onset of a pronounced trend of migration to the United States for temporary employment opportunities. The effects of a culture of migration and globalization on education in the municipality and town of Villa Juarez have led to the undermining of education as a vehicle to social and economic mobility for future generations of students.


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ePostersLive® by SciGen® Technologies S.A. All rights reserved.

The management of a traumatic foot wound using an enzyme alginogel

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The management of a traumatic foot wound using an enzyme alginogel

Crush injuries constitute a force applied to the tissues caused by the impact of a blunt force. They carry a higher risk of infection than simple lacerations because of the amount of devitalised tissue present. Once the blood supply is compressed, healing is impaired as the immune system's effectiveness is reduced. In traumatic wounds there is the added risk of anaerobic organisms gaining access to the deeper tissues and finding the perfect conditions for their multiplication.1

This case study assesses the treatment of a 60 year old woman who had a trauma wound at the top of her left foot after an accident with a ladder whilst putting a Christmas tree away in the loft. She had no relevant medical history, was mobile, living alone, independent, and worked part time.

She was assessed in the emergency department and there was a suspicion that her wound was infected and she may need admission for intravenous antibiotics. She had an x-ray at the minor injuries unit and sharp debridement of the wound by the orthopaedic team in an outpatient clinic. Following a wound swab she was commenced on clarithromycin. Regular analgesia was taken for pain relief and she had just started taking sleeping tablets. The patient was depressed as she felt isolated due to being unable to go out because of her pain and she was unable to wear shoes.

On presentation to the tissue viability nurses the wound had been present for approximately 4 weeks and measured 6 cm by 5 cm at the surface, but nursing staff were unable to determine the depth. Wound exudate levels were low and the wound tissue consisted of 75% necrotic tissue, 5% slough, and 20% granulation tissue. There were no signs of infection or odour.

The treatment plan aims were to hydrate the dry necrosis in order to debride the wound and liaise with the orthopaedic team. Flaminal Hydro was commenced, in conjunction with a non-adherent, non-adhesive foam dressing, which was held in place with a bandage.

The patient was under the care of the tissue viability nurses from 21st January until 21st April for a total of 13 weeks. Dependent on the wound exudate levels the dressing choice varied between Flaminal Hydro and Forte. Both dressings are enzyme alginogels, Flaminal Hydro contains 3% alginate and is indicated for low to moderately exuding wounds, whilst Flaminal Forte contains 5.5% alginate and is indicated for moderate to heavily exuding wounds. The patient was taught to dress the wound herself and both dressings were used until healing.

Throughout the course of treatment the wound remained infection free and pain was reduced allowing the patient to wear slippers, regain her independence, and resume her normal activities. She was able to stop her sleeping tablets and analgesia on week 2.

The patient stated “when I went to Hayley I was in a very bad state but as soon as she started treating my wound with Flaminal the results were amazing from day one…Every single day I could see the wound closing and healing, the relief was wonderful. A miracle treatment in my opinion.”

Autolytic debridement is the breakdown of the devitalised tissue by the patient’s own enzymes and this can be promoted by maintaining a moist environment at the wound bed.2 Flaminal is an enzyme alginogel which manages the bacterial bioburden of a wound in three ways: the enzyme complex kills bacteria, while the alginate component removes bacteria from the wound bed by debridement, creating a moist wound environment, which stimulates the host’s immune system. Only absorbed bacteria are destroyed by the enzyme complex and not the cell walls of human cells within the wound bed.3

An open-label case series by Durante (2012) assessed patients with a variety of conditions treated with Flaminal (n=23), including 3 patients with traumatic wounds. The percentage of wounds covered by necrosis and fibrin decreased during the 60-day evaluation period, whereas percentage of wound area covered by granulation and epithelial tissue increased. Pain scores in all groups also decreased over the evaluation period.3

This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of an enzyme alginogel in assisting autolytic debridement, wound healing, and reduction in pain in the treatment of a traumatic foot wound enabling the patient to become independent again.

Enter Poster ID (e.gGoNextPreviousCurrent


The following is abstracted from Drewes & Altig, 1996. Anuran egg predation and heterocannibalism in a breeding community of African frogs. Tropical Zoology 9: 333-347. When the rainy season begins in a tropical area that is normally waterless, do all the frog species that live there emerge at the same time and all breed at once?

During the long rains of 1992 in the Arabuko-Sokoke, scientists were able to document frog species in this forest emerging at different times to begin breeding; thus, there are "early" breeders and "late" breeders. On the night of August 27, 1987 Academy scientists watched as a spiny reed frog approached a foam nest as it was being constructed by two male and a female foam-nest treefrogs, about 8' above the water.

The spiny reed frog actually thrust the entire forward half of its body into the foam nest and appeared to be eating eggs within the nest. This behavior was unexpected as frogs usually eat living insects. the stomach contents of this frog and other spiny reed frogs collected during that season, plus more collected during the rains of 1992 were examined.

The scientists found some insects but mostly the eggs of other frogs, embryos of other frogs and something they called "mystery stuff".

Synopsis of What Scientists Found.

Excised spiny reed frog stomach containing eggs of tinker reed frog. In some stomachs, eggs of other spiny reed frogs were found.

Excised spiny reed frog stomach containing embryos of foam-nest frog.

Scanning electron micrograph of "mystery stuff" from spiny reed frog stomach. This turned out to be the spiny reed frog's own shed skin. Frogs often eat their own shed skins when recently emerged from long periods of inactivity like hibernation or estivation.

These results indicated that the spiny reed frog is the first terrestrial amphibian known to be a predator on the eggs and larvae of other frogs species. It is also the first African frog known to prey on the eggs of members of its own species, a phenomenon called "heterocannibalism".


Should Everton really be selling their best players if they want to progress?

Everton's John Stones

Following the departure of John Stones to Manchester City, should Everton be selling their best players if they want to be challenging for Europe?

After a summer of speculation, it was finally confirmed today that John Stones would be joining Manchester City from Everton for a record fee of £47.5 million.

Although the news came as no surprise to Everton fans, losing the defender who has the potential to be one of the best centre-backs in the world will come as a blow to the Toffees.

Everton's John Stones

Since the arrival of new manager Ronald Koeman, Everton have been relatively quiet in the transfer market. The Toffees will be looking for a replacement and reinforcements elsewhere to strengthen the squad.

With Ashley Williams set to join Everton from Swansea for £12 million and Yannick Bolasie from Crystal Palace for £25 million. Koeman will be determined to add more depth into the squad before the transfer window closes.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman

Losing Stones will no doubt divide opinion - the defender under-achieved last year, he frequently lacked urgency and fans were left frustrated by unnecessary risk-taking which often saw Everton concede late goals and throw away points. With an offer of £47.5 million and a player who wanted to leave, Everton had no choice in letting Stones go.

However, losing a player like Stones just days before the start of the Premier League season is an unwanted distraction for any team. Koeman's next task will surely be ensuring that he can prevent Romelu Lukaku from leaving the club.

Everton's Romelu Lukaku

It has been heavily rumoured that Lukaku could follow in Stones' footsteps and leave Goodison to re-join former club Chelsea. According to the Express, Chelsea are willing to wait until deadline day if it means re-signing the striker.

However, Everton are determined not to let their leading goal-scorer go. Koeman will be hoping to lead Everton back to the top half of the table and challenging for a European spot. Without their star striker that will be a difficult job for the new manager.

Despite a new billionaire investor and a seemingly bright future for the club, it seems that Everton are still not able to prevent their top players from leaving and that doesn't send the best message long term, even if they are acting quickly to buy replacements.

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• Network with the leading players in the market and hear about new opportunities....
  • Record audience expected at the 11th Annual London Resi Development Conference on 7th March....

Events Diary

The conference takes place on Tuesday 7th March 2018 at ETC Venues in the heart of the City of London

The leading conference for the London Residential Development Market returns in March, with hundreds of the leading organisations and investors attending.  The Event combines high level market analysis with excellent networking opportunities, and is now in it's 11th year.

The agenda completely updated to allow delegates to be fully up to speed on all the key issues in London Resi Development and offer a look into the future of the New Homes Market. We always look to move beyond the usual topics with a more holistic approach.

There will be a detailed market update, looking at what the political landscape means for the market, plus detailed analysis of sales, supply and demand, rental values, delivery and investment. The event will also examine which areas are performing well, and provide case studies of key developments in the current London Market, to understand what the sector is looking for and delivering. The event also looks towards innovation, why the market is changing and how this is an opportunity area for those involved in Resi Development. We will look at modern collective/micro living models, technology in property and modern methods of construction. We will also look at the blurring on the lines between traditional development, and emerging 'alternative' residential sectors - Build to Rent, Student Housing  and Retirement Living, and where these now fit in the London Resi Market.

The conference provides a packed agenda of crucial information and is likely to sell out again so please book early to guarantee your place.

To see who attends please click here

Conference Timetable

Morning Session – Includes Networking Coffee Break

Housekeeping and Chairman’s Opening Address

What is happening in the Current London Residential Development Market?

Challenges and Opportunities in development in the current market

Where are we, what is happening with demand and which sections of the market are performing and which aren’t?

Are we really worried about Brexit?

What do we see happening to values in London in the next 5 years and why?

Is this really an opportunity for the canny operator?

Where should an investor in the London market put his money?

The Mayor’s Strategy for Delivering New Homes in London – The Progress so far & The Plan Going Forward

Is it going to take longer than first thought and if so what are the obstacles?

Understanding both Policies & the Practicalities of how they will work

Where does the Mayor stand on PRS, Land Policy, Planning, Viability & providing funding & land for development?

How will the GLA accelerate delivery and what opportunities are there for developers?

Given the wider uncertainty Politically, what certainty can the GLA offer Developers to mitigate their risk?

Housing White Paper, Government Policy, Planning, Starter Homes
Government Housing Policy - what does this mean for development in London?

How much political will is there to really deliver housing? Where does it really stand on the political agenda and how many votes does it win?

The Suburban Spread – is this now the real opportunity for a developer?

Is Outer London and the Home Counties the solution to actually building the Housing London needs?

What is happening with Outer London land prices, sales & end values?

What should developers be looking at and what are the key features of this market?

First time buyer and second stepper markets

Aside from Transport, what are the key driving factors for buyers in 2017 and beyond?

What is happening with rents in the current London Resi market?

Which areas are seeing the best rents and rental growth?

Rent Levels - how can we get reliable Rental statistics and values to support investment in the London Market?

Looking at Modern Methods of Construction – what is happening and what is their potential?

What is the real relevance of off-site construction and how will this evolve?

Understanding the key link between delivery models and tenure models

Where is the opportunity to significantly reduce costs & deliver more?

How seriously should contractors & developers now be taking it and where does it fit in the overall construction picture?

With types of project does the off site method work best?

Who are the big players in this market and what are they planning?

Looking to the Future - The Evolution of Technology in the Property Sector
Products that enhance the building & delivery process

Technology that enhances the professional & sales process

The role of Technology in the modern market - what opportunities are there and what is available?

What are the new millennials and other target markets now looking for & what is important to this growing group of customers?

How can technology disrupt the sector & take it into a new era?

Networking Lunch Session

Afternoon Conference Session

The Future of Residential Development & Regeneration - Is the way we live changing?

Do Co-Living, Private Rented Sector & Build to Rent Properties really hold the big future opportunities and where do they fit in with private sale?

How can a developer integrate PRS, Student Housing & Retirement Living into a Scheme? Should this be something that more developers really consider?

What are the drivers for a developer to include these ‘Alternative Residential’ tenures into a regeneration? Is this 'mixed community' a key to success?

Understanding the Alternative Residential Markets - where do these fit in with Traditional Market Sale Models and where is the growth?

How are Student Housing, Micro/Co-Living, PRS & Retirement living now performing?

How have these asset classes grown in the last 5-10 years and where will they be in another ten years time - Which Alternative Residential Assets are growing fastest?

Who is investing and on what kind of scale?

Panel session on the future of the Changing Nature of the way we live.

The modern PRS market & the evolution of the Micro Living & Co Living Markets

What is capacity for growth?

Understanding the Micro Living, Grad Living & Collective Living markets – what are they?

Where has this come from and why is it a key growth market?

Why is innovation and communal living now such an attractive proposition?

Is flexibility, service and style now important than pricepoint?

How is the product evolving to fit modern lifestyles?

How important is technology and what kind of products are we seeing used?

What kind of innovations are we seeing and what can we expect going forward?

What are the rental aspirations of the operators involved in the micro living & collective living markets?

What kind of scale might be achieved?

Logistics & Management - What is required to make large scale PRS  & Collective Living actually work?

What really matters to renters and where do Technology, Facilities, Communal Areas and Management fit in to the jigsaw?

What is happening in the Private Residential Sales market and what are the key factors to getting a scheme sold in 2018?

Who is buying in the current London Resi Market?

What does the discerning buyer look for and where are they coming from?

Which markets are selling and which products are not hitting the mark?

Why Life style & convenience are now key to sales – how should they impact design?

Understanding the key role that service and amenities play when selling a Residential Development

What do the market leaders produce?

Case Study – Goodluck Hope: Delivering a new Riverside Island Location in London for New Homes & a Cultural Hub

How do we deliver Innovative & Modern places where people want to live in 2018 & how can developers deliver a desirable area to live and maximise value

Case Study Two – Delivering ‘Barcelona on Thames’ and Beyond – a new Mixed Use Town Centre for Barking

How can we deliver real homes, for real people and a fantastic new location to drive supply in East London?

What other aspects need to be delivered to make it work and how do technology & innovation fit in?

Along with Transport, what other Infrastructure are needed to make Barking and it’s River Banks a desirable location and one where people want to visit?

What is the ideal modern mix of tenure to make it all work?

Close and Networking Drinks Session

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latest news

London Residential

Hugely Popular London Resi Development Event will return for a 11th Year on 7th March 2018

London Residential

The leading players in the sector will attend the Annual London Resi Development Conference on 7th March

London Residential

Superb panel taking shape at the Annual London Resi Development Event. Likely to be a very popular event once again #LDE Property #LondonResidential


Frequently Asked Questions

We've prepared a list of questions and answers that reflects most of the things guests want to know

If this list doesn't include your question, just ask!  We'll be happy to answer it, and who knows -- maybe it will end up this list too!  Here goes:

No, bedding is provided for all beds in our cabins, including clean sheets, blankets, comforters, and pillows. Exception: If you plan on using the Pack-and-Play crib, you will want to bring bedding suitable for your baby's age and size.

What cooking/eating utensils will I need?

Do you provide gas for the grill?

If your cabin is equipped with a gas grill, it is either piped to a fixed tank, or propane canisters and spares are provided. In the unlikely event you should need a third canister, you can call the contact numbers in the cabin and one will be brought out for you. There is no additional charge for this amenity.

Do you provide charcoal for the grill or campfire pit?

Do you provide wood for the fireplace or campfire pit?

Where can I fish, and what licenses do I need?

Virginia state law allows fishing without a license from private property with the permission of the property owner; the booking instruction/confirmation email that you receive constitutes this permission. If your chosen property is directly on the river, you can fish from the property's riverbank without a license. If you want to wade out into the river or fish from a canoe, or fish from a public access point elsewhere in the area, you'll need a state fishing license, which can be purchased from the Luray Walmart. You will have to provide your own fishing equipment.

What are the river conditions?

Will my cellphone work in your cabin?

Probably not, unless it is a modern smartphone that can use WiFi – all our cabins (except Echo Valley, Deer Forest Lodge, and Heaven's Hideaway) offer free high-speed Internet and WiFi. Most of our cabins (except Echo Valley and Deer Forest Lodge) have a private telephone landline with unlimited national long-distance.

Are there any limits on Internet usage?

We do not actively throttle or block any particular websites or Internet protocols. Our Internet connections can be used to stream Netflix and hold Skype conversations. However, please bear in mind that our properties are in a mountainous rural area, and Internet connection speed and reliability cannot be guaranteed. In the event of any problems, please contact us and we will work with the provider to get the issue resolved as quickly as possible. Also, please be aware that Echo Valley, Deer Forest Lodge, and Heaven's Hideaway do not have internet access, though it is being worked on.

Do I have to clean up after myself?

We do not expect you to do your own laundry; you didn't go on vacation to clean house, after all! However, we may assess an extra cleaning charge if the cabin is left in an unusually filthy state, e.g. mud tracked all over the carpets, dirty caked-on dishes, etc. If you're reasonably decent, there won't be a problem.

Will I be hit with charges for consumables or minor damages?

Is horseback riding available?

What do I do for food?

Can I check in early/check out later?

Possibly, depending on when the next guest will be arriving, but you need to specifically ask and receive an answer beforehand. You must ask within 1 week of your arrival, and at least 24 hours ahead of the extra time you want.

If there is a guest arriving/departing on the same day, no early/late check is possible.

If there is no other arrival or departure, we usually permit up to 2 extra hours. Beyond that requires payment of an additional fee. Taking early/late checkout without arranging it with us beforehand and obtaining written permission, will incur a sizable additional fee.

Please note: early check-in and late check-out may be rescinded later on if a different group reserves the nights immediately before or after your booking. If that happens, we will contact you and let you know that your early check-in or late check-out is no longer possible. While rare, this does happen from time to time, so please be aware of the possibility. If you wish to lock in your early check-in or late check-out, we offer an "All Day" check-in and check-out option, for a fee, that blocks off the preceding or following nights so that others cannot book that time. Please let us know if you wish to have this option.

Can I bring my pet?

Yes, you may bring your pet to most (but not all) of our properties. There is an additional cost per pet that you see under the Rates section of each cabin's main page. Please note that this is a pet rent fee, not a cleaning fee; you may still be charged an excess cleaning fee if your pet leaves a mess. Also, if your party is renting multiple properties, your pet must stay at the property for which you have paid the pet fee, and is not permitted at any properties that do not allow pets.

Sometimes our guests invite friends to come and spend the day, but not overnight, and those friends bring a pet. Since the pet isn't spending the night, there is no pet fee. However, please be aware that we may assess an excess cleaning charge if necessary.

The extra-guest charges are for guests staying overnight. You do not have to pay to have people visit for the day as long as they do not stay the night.

Is there an extra charge to use the hot tub?

Do your cabins allow smoking?

When will the fall foliage be the prettiest?

Do you have hiking trails?

What is your cancellation policy?

Our policy in our Renter's Agreement is:

How do I get into the cabin I rented?

About a week before your scheduled arrival, we send you an email with directions and an access code to a lockbox at the door of the cabin. This way, you can arrive however late suits your schedule and you don't have to worry about meeting anyone in person. If you have multiple cars coming, you can give everybody the code, and whoever gets there first can unlock the door and get in.

If for some reason you don't receive this email, check your SPAM folder or write us to have it re-sent to you.

Are your cabins handicapped accessible?

As private single-occupancy residences, our cabins are not required to meet ADA accessibility standards, and so most of them do not. Some of them would be flat-out impossible for the wheelchair-bound. However, Westcott House is wheelchair accessible and handicap friendly, depending on the extent of the handicap. If you're not sure, feel free to contact us.

Several of our properties are usable by people with limited mobility who can handle one or two steps, and use a spacious toilet or shower stall with assistance.

It is best to discus your specific needs with us before you make your reservation so you'll know what to expect.

What if my guest numbers change after I make a booking?

No problem! You can simply change your guest numbers up or down by letting us know, and we'll adjust the charges accordingly.

Please note that we cannot allow reduction of guest numbers within 2 weeks of arrival (and 30 days for Westcott House), because we've already started stocking and preparing for the numbers you gave us. We may, however, still be able to increase guest numbers right up to arrival. Please contact us for confirmation.

Who counts as children?

When counting guests at our cabins, children are defined as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. This includes infants but does not include those yet unborn.

Do you accept service animals?

Any of our properties which accept pets can also accommodate service animals by prior arrangement, for which there will be an additional cleaning charge. Documented, government-issued proof of service animal status is required.

How can I get to the river?

If your cabin rental is advertised as riverfront, you will have a private stretch of riverbank for your own use. We do not provide boat launching ramps, but small craft like canoes and kayaks can be carried down to the river.

If you do not have a riverfront cabin, or you want to go on a longer, one-way river trip, you can find a map of publicly-accessible boat launching facilities here:

Why do you charge extra for additional guests? We're renting the whole property anyway, aren't we?

Our cabins can vary greatly in size, sometimes housing only 3 or 4 and other times 15 or 20 or more. It isn't fair to charge one couple the same as for a whole group. So based on the size of the house, we include a few people in the rate, and then charge beyond that.

In effect, smaller groups are given a discount off of what the normal rate would be. If you have a larger group, the rates you see for extra adults aligns with the normal rate of a full house.

This system may not be perfect but it seems to mostly work out reasonably well for everybody.

Can I park my bus/RV at the cabin?

You are welcome to park any vehicle that you can make fit. However, our cabins are designed as private residences and not as commercial parking lots. You will generally have a very difficult if not impossible time squeezing very large vehicles into the driveways, and of course you would be liable to any damages to the property or grounds.

Basically, if it's larger than a 15-passenger van - don't count on it.

How deep is the river?

At the shoreline, the water is very shallow - just a few inches or feet in most places.  It is very easy to wade out or push the canoes out into the water.  At its deepest, the river is 5-9 feet deep in most places, but that can vary depending on many factors, including winter melts and heavy rains.


Studying a metal asteroid for insights into planet formation

Karin Valentine

An ASU-led proposed mission to the asteroid Psyche was featured in Sunday’s London Times. Lindy Elkins-Tanton, School of Earth and Space Exploration director and principal investigator of the proposed mission, is leading a national and international team of scientists and engineers who propose to travel to the metal asteroid to map it and study its properties.

As a metal asteroid, Psyche differs from the ice and/or rock worlds explored so far by humans. Deep within the terrestrial planets, including Earth, scientists infer the presence of metallic cores, but these lie unreachably far below the planets' rocky mantles and crusts. Psyche, located between Mars and Jupiter, is most likely the survivor of violent hit-and-run collisions, common when the solar system was forming. As such, it may be able to tell us how Earth’s core and the cores of the other terrestrial planets came to be.