The “Talkin’ Trash” volunteers, in consultation with the EVOA board, have extended the collection period for the Eagle Valley Trash Hauler Investigation survey until Friday, December 4, 2009, at 11:59 p.m. The survey was set to close on Monday, November 30, 2009, but we wanted to give folks who may not have filled the survey out prior to attending the annual meeting more time to do so.

Feel free to share the link to the survey with your neighbors in Eagle Valley:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LXBMW8X

Just a quick update for all you snow enthusiasts…It’s snowing at Alpine Meadows. NOAA is calling for several inches at the 7000′ level. keep doing your snow dance and let’s home for some feet!! Enjoy the turns.

Last time I have promised to put my works in this blog, on the last project in my Design 102 module of the whole semester, called as Project ‘…for the…’. It is a project which we design a dwelling for our specific client in Malacca.

My chosen client through a lucky draw, at first is Christie Brinkley, a famous model. However, I am given a second chance of lucky pick since there is not much thing can be done on model. Hence, my second and final pick is Amadeus Mozart, a famous musician.

Part 1: Client and Function.

I need to get to know deeply onto the personalities and characteristics of Mozart. What is special about him? What is interesting about him? Mozart is addicted to music when he was only 3 years old, and he was able to write music when he was aged 5 only. He completed his works very fast, but stress was his main problem. His most famous work is ‘Requiem’, which is incomplete, as he felt into severe illness and died before even he could finish it. I am trying to design a place for him to complete the music and perform it.

Client and Function poster (1 A2 size board)

Part 2: Site Analysis.

We had conducted a site visit at Malacca Old Town area. I have chosen a water edge area, a very spacious empty area in the region of new development. Many modern buildings are built and being under construction there, and my dwelling will be notified as part of it, proudly. The calm atmosphere from the peaceful surrounding, flowing water, and windy breeze will surely be effective in reducing stress by Mozart while writing his marvelous piece of work. My site faces the Maritime Museum, a museum built in a form of Portuguese ship and Taming Sari Tower, an observation tower basically for tourism.

My chosen site sits right beside a newly-built park, in a geometrical pattern. My dwelling will be an extension of the park, benefiting the existing pedestrian walkways, which will direct visitors from the tourist center nearby, to the square, next to the park, and finally, to my dwelling. It will be able to attract visitors in such a strategic location of tourist hotspot.

Site Analysis board (1 A0 size board)

Part 3: Design.

The name of my dwelling will be very grand, ‘Performing Center of Amadeus Mozart’. Malacca has many museums, many cafes, many tourist spots, but don’t have a proper performing center. There are many spaces in my dwelling, making it as multi-purpose, such as lobby area to welcome visitors, gallery to display his masterpieces, outdoor platform for audiences to enjoy the surrounding, private working space for Mozart to write his music, and staff area for performers to prepare for performances. The main space will be the performing hall, with a stage and concrete terraces as seating area.

Two concepts are chosen based on Mozart’s personalities.

1. Emphasis on external appearance

My dwelling will have a grand and modern outlook appearance, and is easily visible from afar, especially from the Taming Sari Tower and Maritime Museum. It is located on the spacious empty land in the middle of the reclaimed land (Malacca River Square) on Malacca River. The large scale of the project making it more distinctive. The interior is very plain, with no decorations or ornamentations. The seating area of performing hall is just of concrete terraces, and all the floor, wall, and roof have no finishes. Even the stage is simple, with a background of glass screen.

Mozart emphasized on his outer appearance. He loved to wear elegant clothing. However, he was very poor and has financial difficulties. Hence, this concept suits him the most, and shows that this place is dedicated for him, while not letting the others know (also not letting the others know that he was actually poor).

2. No distinction between exterior and interior.

As I have mentioned just now, there is so much difference between exterior and interior look of the building. Now, there is another concept of linking them back, harmoniously, by using one material: glass. Mozart should not be enclosed by solid walls when he was writing his music, as this will lead to stress easily. Hence, his private working space is built mainly of glass, four walls of glass to separate him from the outside weather, while combining the area with the surrounding. He will be enjoying the time of writing his music with the surrounding at a high level. Imagine, how comfortable he will be…

Usual backdrop of current performing center is a plain black wallpaper. For my performing center, it will be different. The backdrop will be the lively background showing the Maritime Museum and Taming Sari Tower with the surrounding. By this way, audiences will feel different kind of atmosphere at different time of performances. It will not attracts the eyes of the audiences during performances but will affect the mood of the audiences. They have entered a boring, dull and plain hall, hence, their focus will be just on the music, while the backdrop plays a role to regain their feeling of being carried away by the music performed by Mozart. The glass backdrop will also provides natural lighting during daytime of performances. The side facade of the gallery is also built of glass, but of two different glass. There are no nice views visible from that side, hence translucent glass will be used, so that the visitors will only enjoy the music sheets displayed. The upper facade will be of transparent movable glass, which allows sunlight to enter for natural lighting, and for air ventilation, supporting the idea of a green building, in a clean, unpolluted and historical city of Malacca. The facade which faces the park will be of solid wall and glass wall. Solid wall separates the performing hall from the outside, so that the activities occuring in the park and square will not disturb the performances. However, the visible lobby from outside will be able to attract visitors to enter.

The entrance to the private working space is small, and short, specially dedicated to Amadeus Mozart. He was s short and small person. However, as soon as he enters the area, the large volume of the space will provides greater freedom and movement for him, thus, giving him more space and less pressure to complete his music. He can went out to the nearby park to enjoy the scenery too.

I have explained almost all of the things related to my design.

Part 4: Interior space.

I have chosen a portion of the performing hall, to be investigated on its finishes, lighting, and construction details. The foundation will be simple, since there is already an existing concrete surface on the ground and the site sits on a reclaimed land (reinforced and stabilized). The portion is on the side showing part of the seating area, stage, and entrance to the outdoor platform, accompanied by the glass backdrop. Among the most interesting feature of my design is the glass backdrop. There is no finishes on it, as i have explained earlier. The lighting during the day is provided with aid of the glass screen. The materials used to built is mainly of concrete and glass.

My overall presentation board (5 A1 sized board combined together):

My final model (sectional) on the site model (scale 1:100):

My interior model (scale 1:20):

This is overall of the project, which ended by a verbal presentation during review by external panels, and the whole semester successfully ended with submission of box containing all the works and portfolio…

I want to let you people know of a great board that is somewhat similar to HikiCulture; the board is called A Lonely Life.

I don't think that the people at ALonelyLife are quite as reclusive as the people on HikiCulture, but it's still a pretty similar board.

Posted via email from HikiCulture – A Forum for Reclusive People (and Hikikomori) {hikiculture.com site blog}

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The next Aston Public Library Board Meeting will be held at Hennessy’s at 6PM on Tuesday, December 8th!

Hennessy’s is located at 3050 Pennell Rd, Media (Aston), PA 19063. (Near Five Points)

Photo credit-

by Association of British Insurers, November 26, 2009.

Responding to the Walker Review into Corporate Governance in UK banks and other financial industry entities released today, Peter Montagnon, the ABI’s Director of Investment Affairs, said:

“This is a well-balanced and useful report, in which Sir David has paid close attention to practical points made by respondents to his consultation.  The result is a useful indicator of the way forward, though there are, of course, some areas where further thought is needed.  It is very important that the overall conclusion is on the side of comply-or-explain, and against statutory regulation, on the way boards behave and how shareholders engage.  We will do our best to deliver as investors.”

Role of shareholders

“Shareholders did not cause the crisis, but they recognise that they could be more effective in their dealings with companies.  They have already taken steps to do so, notably through the recent publication by the Institutional Shareholders Committee of the first ever national code on investor responsibility.

“We are pleased that Sir David Walker is positive about the Code. The ISC is already taking further steps towards implementation. The ISC’s Chairman, Keith Skeoch, has now completed the formation of a committee to review its constitution and role. This Committee will meet in the coming weeks…(continue reading)

by Tracy Idell Hamilton and Anton Caputo, for mySA, November 25, 2009.

CPS Energy trustees took no action Wednesday morning after deliberating for nearly 11 hours over the fate of several top executives connected to a nuclear cost estimate — much higher than expected — that was kept from the utility’s board and the City Council.

The board came out of executive session shortly before 1 a.m. to announce that it would continue deliberation Monday.

“The seriousness of this issue warrants that this board takes care, takes caution,” Chairwoman Aurora Geis told the sparse crowd that waited. “People’s lives are at stake.”

Tuesday’s meeting was a continuation of Monday’s nearly five-hour session, during which the board heard results of an internal investigation into how contractor Toshiba Inc.’s high cost estimate for the multibillion-dollar nuclear expansion was kept under wraps.

The board is under pressure to take action in the face of crumbling public trust and a City Council that has largely lost faith in the utility’s leadership.

“They need to be decisive,” said Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce President Richard Perez, who called CPS one of the city’s main economic drivers…(continue reading)

Add CLUE to your collection at the Black Friday price of US$1.99.

From $7.99 back in Dec ‘08, to $4.99 in Jan ‘09, and now to $2.99 for Black Friday, it’s never been a better time to pick up EA Games MONOPOLY in the App Store.

A resident of East China Township, MI, has requested that the Board of Trustees consider implementing BSL similar to that of Mt. Clemens. The same resident is pushing St. Clair County to pass similar legislation.

East China, MI

Next East China Township board meeting: December 7 and December 21, 7:30 PM
Township Hall, 5111 River Road, East China, Mi., 48054
(810) 765-8879

Contact info per http://www.eastchinatownship.org/feedbk.html:
Township Supervisor John A. Randolph, jack@eastchinatownship.org
Township Clerk Gary Arnold, gary@eastchinatownship.org
Township Treasurer Donald K. Beaudua, cindon1978@comcast.net
Township Trustee Richard Bober, vajar@sbcglobal.net
Township Trustee Larry J. Simons, simonslj@hotmail.com
Township Trustee Angelo Patsalis, vajar@sbcglobal.net
Township Trustee Donald Horn (no email available)

St. Clair County, MI

Next Board of Commissioners Meeting: December 2, 6:00 PM
St. Clair County Administration Building, 2nd Floor – Board Room, 200 Grand River, Port Huron, MI 48060

Commissioners Office
200 Grand River, Suite 203, Port Huron, MI 48060
Phone: 810-989-6900
Fax: 810-985-3463

District 1 Steven L. Simasko
ssimasko@stclaircounty.org

District 2 Dennis M. Kearns
dkearns@stclaircounty.org

District 3 Howard Heidemann
hheidemann@stclaircounty.org

District 4 Patrick W. Quain
pquain@stclaircounty.org

District 5 Jeff Bohm
jbohm@stclaircounty.org

District 6 Wallace R. Evans
wevans@stclaircounty.org

District 7 Pamela Wall
pwall@stclaircounty.org

Link to the opinion article that prompted this alert: http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20091124/OPINION03/911240325/-1/NEWSFRONT2/County-must-move-to-contain-pit-bull-threat

by Robert Teitelman, for The Deal, November 24, 2009.

The busy folks at the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation — the name keeps getting longer – posted a paper Monday with the provocative title: “Do Envious CEOs Cause Merger Waves?” The study, by DePaul finance professor Anand Goel and Washington University in St. Louis finance prof Anjan Thakor, puts forth the theory that CEOs engage in merger activity out of envy of other CEOs who have boosted their company’s size through M&A and thus succeeded in raking in more pay for themselves. Not only that, but that powerful engine of envy is perfectly capable, they argue, of being set off by what they describe as an “idiosyncratic shock,” which seems to be defined as anything that’s not envy-driven, and which then creates a kind of cascade of greedy longing, as one CEO after another engages in a feverish attempt to keep up with the Joneses.

The envy theory is very au courant, taking a bit of behavioral economics, mixing it with some populist stereotypes about CEOs, pay and M&A and some sociological studies on envy and consumption choices. Now does anyone not believe that some CEOs do M&A transactions to get larger, drive the share price up and get paid more? Probably not, though as far as I know, no one can quantify how much exactly M&A is shaped by compensation. And most observers of the M&A scene would say that envy jostles with a small army of other factors when it comes to making the decision to acquire (not to say requires approval presumably from a board, which may not fully share in the CEOs envy drive; in fact this theory only works if shareholders and boards are effectively neutered.) This paper though assumes that envy supersedes all other factors, from the desire to acquire new products and technologies, to the imperative to grab market share or simply take out a rival. Some M&A deals are rational exercises in generating growth; others attempts to drive change…(continue reading)

Just wanted to pass on this comprehensive checklist geared towards helping churches/charities minimize their legal risk. It helps you identify where you are strong and where you need improvement.

Check it out here.

My experience, limited as it may be, suggests that most churches fall woefully short in their policies, procedures and risk management. We have been working hard at CWL to sharpen this area and have made some tremendous progress but there is still a lot of ground to cover. If you are a pastor/charity leader this list may be a little overwhelming at first but it does help us understand the due diligence that is necessary.

I believe that in the coming years we are going to see massive church growth as revival impacts our nation – this is even more the reason to prepare now so we are structurally/legally ready for the growth.

we are consistently bombarded with stories of fear and terror in the media. yet all of it is in vain if there isn’t a call to action.

this short-film represents a glowing example of a call to action. in this case, it was for nuclear disarmament, but it really can be applied to any cause.

Dr. Helen Caldicott gives a powerful lecture that starts with describing the medical effects and societal consequences of an atomic war, which, she argues, would not be a “war” but more accurately, “extermination”.. then she leads into what she has personally done to help save lives, and then urges the audience to do their own part.

the final few minutes of this film are extremely powerful in its expression of love and passion. it is a truly inspiring Oscar-winning film.

click on the image below to watch the film from the National Film Board’s website for free.

City Fans United have received nine nominations for the Board.

As the number does not exceed the number of places available (nine) there will be no need for an election.

In accordance with the CFU’s rules as a registered Industrial Provident Society, they do need to hold a ratification meeting.

The Special General Meeting to ratify the nominees below will be held at 8pm on 10th December in the Home Guard club. Full agenda to follow.

The nominees are: Jeff Banks David Evans James Green Mark Howell Keith Musson Chris Pilsbury Campbell Smith Mike Vickers Richard Wightman

Personal statements from nominees

Jeff Banks

I would like to put myself forward to be elected to the committee of City fans United as I believe I have the enthusiasm, drive and experience to help take the supporters group forward. Having been involved with the City Fans United working group since August, I believe that I have gained an understanding of how the group functions and also been able to build links with the local media which I believe is essential to the future initiatives of CFU. I have also been responsible for taking on the membership details of the CFU along with the setting up of the group’s Facebook and Twitter sites to help to broaden the appeal to a wider range of supporters, and would love to continue to do this. My own website, Chester City TV, has also proved a benefit to the CFU by installing a link to enable fans to become members online, donate online, buy tickets for CFU events and also helped set up the forthcoming Legends Night, all of which helped boost funds by over £400. Securing professional football in the City of Chester is of course the main objective and on a personal note I would do anything to help satisfy that aim being a supporter of the Blues for nearly 30 years.

David Evans

It would be an honour to serve on the Board of CFU. As an exiled Chester supporter living in south London my availability to attend meetings would be more limited than Chester based members. But if elected I would undertake to attend as many Board meetings as possible and I believe I could add value to the Board in the following ways: As a member of the Exiles Committee I could provide a direct link with the Exiles, harnessing the support of fellow exiles to support the aims of CFU where appropriate In the late 1990s I was involved in the establishment and subsequent activities of the ISA. That experience was invaluable and I learned a great deal about the potential of supporter led activity and crucially the pitfalls of working with owners. Developing the strength of the supporters voice is essential for us to move forwards. I work professionally in communications. I would like the opportunity to support the exciting CFU priorities of building a support base for the future. I have been involved in campaigns for three decades. I hope I have developed expertise that could be of value to CFU.

James Green

I was born and bred in Blacon and still live within a stone’s throw of the Highfield. I first became a regular at the Deva at the age of 10 in 1993 and believe that in order to progress it is imperative that our club embraces the community and strives to restore its reputation with the people of Chester. Aside from being a football nut I also enjoy darts and Rugby League. I am a regular on the terraces at St Helens RLFC during the summer and I’m the chairman of Chester Gladiators RLFC. Through my involvement with Chester Gladiators I have forged strong relationships with the local press, businesses and key stakeholders which I believe can benefit the future development of our club. City Fans United represents a fantastic opportunity for our fan base to work towards building a strong football club that the city of Chester can be proud of. We cannot afford to waste this opportunity and I hope that you will give me the opportunity to contribute to the future success of CFU.

Mark Howell

Fan for 31 years, I live in Blacon, where I was born and bred, with my wife and two sons. I have graduated from the Sealand Road End to the back of C Block, via the Harry Mac and the Bramble End at Moss Rose. I am a fiercely proud Cestrian, and find the current situation absolutely heartbreaking. I have a strong desire to try to bring back the soul and spirit that sadly seems to be lacking at the Deva, and try to reignite the links between the Club and the communities of Chester, West Cheshire and Deeside that will hopefully see it bloom once more, and make those communities support the Club like they used to do. We owe it to our children and our grandchildren to act now, before it is too late.

Keith Musson

I am 57 years old , a resident of Ellesmere Port and work as a process operator at the Shell oil refinery at Stanlow. I saw my first City game at the age of 9 back in 1961 and have supported the club ever since. For the last 3 years, I have been treasurer of the ISA and as their bank account is still ‘live’ I still hold that role. I am also treasurer of the Junior Blues, the children’s section of CFU. I believe that the long term future of Chester City Football Club is as a community based club owned by the supporters in partnership with the locally based business community. For too long we have been at the mercy of individuals with their own agendas and I believe that the CFU should take necessary steps to be in a position to take control should the opportunity arise.

Chris Pilsbury

Having supported City for longer than I care to remember – since the days of Stan Pearson’s time as manager – the current problems have been a cause of great concern to me. My background is in teaching – something that perhaps has little to do with the possibility of helping to save a football club. However, I have had a range of administrative experiences both in my professional role and as for ten years or so the school’s representative of the NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters, Union of Women Teachers); the Secretary of the Chester Cathedral Old Choristers Association; currently I am the Chairman of our residents association and the membership secretary of our local CAMRA branch.

Campbell Smith

I am currently on the working committee of CFU and had previously served on the Board of the old Trust for most of its duration. I have a good knowledge of Supporters Direct rules and have attended Supporters Direct events as a representative of Chester City fans. My expertise is in Information Technology. I am the webmaster of the CFU website and have previously been involved with the Trust and club’s websites. I also run Devachat, the main fans forum for city fans. Following 20 years of disastrous stewardship under a number of owners, I believe that Chester City fans should have the ambition to take charge of their own destiny when the correct opportunity presents itself to invest in or even own the club outright. CFU should aim to raise a large capital sum which should be ring-fenced for this purpose and should not under any circumstances be used to bail out or prop-up a failing regime. I believe we need to move away from the sugar-daddy ownership to build a community- focussed, sustainable club which works with the authorities to protect the club for the long-term and restore our pride in our club.

Mike Vickers

I am 50 years of age and currently employed as a community liaison officer. I have been a supporter of the club all my life and started going to matches at Sealand Road in the early 1970’s. I believe that a successful City Fans United is vital to the chances of the club existing in some form in the future. In my professional life I have gained experience in finance, local government and communicating with the public. I have developed skills from this experience which I believe could be put to good use. Being employed part-time I have the time to give the role of Board member the commitment it deserves. Chester is a city which should have a well-run and relatively successful football club. I would like to be given the chance of helping to make this a reality and provide all Chester supporters with a club they can be proud to support.

Richard Wightman

I would really like to be considered for a place on the board as I am very passionate about the future of Chester City and want to be able to take my future children and grandchildren. I have supported the club for many years and they have always struggled, but nothing like this and it is heartbreaking. I have served on a number of boards in the past when both the ISA and the Supporters Trust were formed. I have also in the past tried to set up a disabled supporters association but unfortunately, despite my best efforts, struggled to lift this off the ground. I have recently started a Facebook group with over 1,800 members. This has not only had local publicity but other clubs have been in contact in support of our plight due to the publicity of the Facebook group. I would love this chance to be able to serve on the board of this group so that I can try and spread the word and encourage people of this city that we do have a football team. We do care and we want to see it go from strength to strength.

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to send in your proxy form for the annual meeting to Durand & Associates, or give it to a neighbor who will be attending the annual meeting on Monday, November 30, 2009, at 7 pm. In order to elect the new board member and officially hold the meeting, there has to be 10%, or 51 households, of the neighborhood represented, either through attendance in person or by proxy. Registration for the meeting begins at 6:30 pm.

All seven candidates for the Board of Directors were easily elected for the 2010 calendar year.  In the accompanying referendum, the club unanimously approved a by-laws changed shifting the terms of the board members to coincide to the calendar year.  Russ King is expected to be named Club Administrator.

Here at SAPP, we’ve spent some time talking about board service at charitable organizations – for example, at the SAALT Summit here.  We’ve also talked about religious giving and how this is one of the main areas of charitable giving among South Asians in North America – for example, from Ramya here.

(c/o Globe and Mail)

Well, here’s a story that brings those two threads together – and from my new home country of Canada!  The Globe & Mail reported last week on the front page that Gursimran Kaur, a 19-year-old Canadian Sikh, and a slate of 18 other young Sikhs (mostly in their 30’s) won a contentious election to board leadership at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in Surrey, B.C., one of North America’s largest Sikh temples.

A few interesting things…  The youth candidates ran on a platform of returning to traditional Sikh customs at the temple, plus a focus on women’s rights and youth programs.  I thought it was intriguing that the young candidates committed to a more traditional agenda – while at the same time raising “progressive” issues such as women’s rights and combating domestic violence and youth gang activity.

As far as the areas they’ve identified for the gurdwara to take an active role, these include:  programs to combat drug use and gang violence; workshops on Sikh scripture and rituals in English to appeal to the younger generation; new community services programs at the temple; a safe-house for women; and, workshops on violence against women and on women’s rights.

I will be curious to see how the young slate of directors does on the job – Will fundraising go up?  Will the group use new technologies to raise money and volunteers?  Will more young people be inspired to get involved?

Wahrscheinlich EHER NICHT!

Aber trotzdem haben wir alles daran gesetzt die

neusten Insider-Informationen für euch zusammenzufassen!

http://feelfreak.kilu.de/u-bahn-surfen-der-ice-surfer-t235.html

U-Bahn-Surfen ist einfach NUR KRANK!

1912 Titanic Mystery (62 MB download)
A bomb is aboard the Titanic II on its maiden voyage, launched on the one-hundredth anniversary of the fatal Atlantic crossing. Find the bomb and save the ship and all aboard. Interact with different characters, discovering hidden diary entries and a century old mystery from the original Titanic. This multifaceted storyline offers a tale of lost love and reunion, challenging puzzles, and imagery lovingly recreated from original photographs!

Mui bueno jaja xD ta creativo el we, i cura