Greetings, sports fans!

Thank you to those who have entered the competition to win a signed copy of Alan Dunn’s book, Gospel Intimacy in a Godly Marriage.  Good to see a little zest in the entries (sportive accusations of cheating included!).

There is still time to enter, so please do – we need at least one more entry to make it truly a competition, and at least two to make it a healthy competition.  The deadline is close of play this coming Monday (Mon 30 Nov) so you have a good three days left in which to make your play.

So, leap across to THE COMPETITION and meet the challenge:

Please identify a particular marriage – either in your own experience or one from church history – which you believe demonstrates true gospel intimacy.  Please briefly explain how this is manifested in the marriage, and what you have learned (e.g. of Christ and his church, the nature of gospel love, how to demonstrate a genuinely Christlike love, etc.) as a result of learning about or observing this marriage.

Please leave answers in the comments section of the original post.

As I’ve been apart of Xtival since the very beginning back in 07, the response has definately snowballed into something quite popular.

The steward program was put in system to help people out during the Xtival event when the second Xtival was launched in 08. Back then, the Stewards had it relatively easy as Xtival was still a new thing. The Summer Xtival in mid 09 however was a sign of things too come. This one, the Winter event is even more relentless with the onslaught of gamers and questions, which is great, its what we signed up for. We’re here to help.

Strangely enough the entire UK team of Stewards are…XBLA staff, which makes things easier in a way, cos we all know that everyones working hard, and its better than last time when i was just working with one other person who wasnt really pulling thier weight.

So, this seasons Steward team consists of Myself (Mechanical R), Kristian2008, BDRDaz, NBKRooney and xXR4GT4GXx.

So feel free to ask us a message, you can get hold of us either through our Gamertags, Xboxliveaddicts.co.uk or Xbox.com, where theres a help thread that I and Kris work through.

Either way, theres plenty more to do for the weekend, more comps and tournaments to host and take part in, and obviously more questions to answer!

Previous Xtival Involvement: (For my relcolection more than anyone elses )

Xtival 07 – Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare FFA Tournament

Xtival 08 – Steward (First started)

Xtival 08 – Burnout Paradise Tournament

Xtival 08 -  Rock Band 2 Battle of the Bands

Xtival 09 (Summer) – Steward

Xtival 09 (Summer) - Lips Battle of the Vox Tournament

Xtival 09 (Winter) – Steward

Xtival 09 (Winter) -Tekken 6 Knockout Tournament

Xtival 09 (Winter) – Beatles Rock Band Competition

Practice writing headlines that play off visuals.  We may not get to use this skill much seeing how copywriting is getting the shaft.  However, just because you don’t live by the ocean doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn how to swim.

So practice by writing cartoon captions for The New Yorker.  Each week the magazine posts a new cartoon and asks its users to submit captions.  The winning entries end up in The New Yorker magazine and website.  If yours gets published, it’d make a good talking point in an interview (any Creative Director out there would like to confirm this?).

It’s also a nice break from class assignments.  Since you’re doing it out of your own initiative, you’ll have more fun and be more creative.

Click here for the latest cartoons.

This week's captionless cartoon.

Good luck!

By the way, I got this idea from Roger Ebert and Dan Pink, though each recommends it for different reasons.  Personally, I think it’s great practice for copywriters.

Tuan is a Copywriting Grad Student at the Academy of Art School of Advertising, follow @copytuan

Download the full poster/application form

PUBLIC COMPETITION FOR A PAINTED MURAL ON A RENTED GHETTO WALL
The wall portrayed and detailed on this poster has been rented in order to be painted by an artist. It is located in Mathare Valley, Nairobi, at an important open space alongside Juja Road. This open space and the wall are an urban landmark for many villages in Mathare and for passengers and passers-by using Juja Road. The idea is to hold an open competition among local artists asking for proposals for an artistic painting to be executed on this wall. It’s a free-theme competition: artists are not being requested to include any particular content on their proposals. The winner will be chosen through popular vote: a Voting Day will be organised in which the different proposals will be displayed on the wall and Mathare dwellers and passers-by will choose the one they like by giving it a vote. The most voted proposal will be actually painted on the wall and it will last until the renting time has expired.

Artists interested in participating are requested to follow the conditions stated below:
1. This poster works as a sketchbook and as the competition’s ‘application form’: artists need to collect two (2) copies of this poster in order to illustrate their proposals on it: on one copy using the picture on the front, on the other one using the technical drawing at the back. It is not allowed to use only one poster. Even if is an unavoidable condition to present the ideas using this poster, bigger drafts can be submitted not exceeding 85cms long and keeping the wall’s proportions as they appear on this technical drawing.
2. Proposals need to be realistic: artists need to prove the feasibility of actually painting their ideas. Any proposal considered unpractical will be disqualified.
3. It is highly recommended to visit the wall before developing the proposals.
4. An only prize of 27,000/- (twenty seven thousands) Kenyan Shillings will be given to the winner plus daily allowances while painting
the mural; the winner artist is committed to actually paint the wall as part of the conditions of participating in this competition.

Additional clarifications and information about where to submit proposals at these phones: 0710292966-0714145561

Here is your chance to win a boxed set of beautiful angel cards.

Angela McGerr’s bestselling “Harmony Angel Cards” have sold over 250,000 copies worldwide since they were published 2002. They were designed to help people onto the way of Love and Light by inviting angels into their everyday lives. Now Angela presents a wonderful companion set to these cards, “Heart & Soul Angel Cards”, which will provide angelic guidance to link the heart’s desire with the soul’s purpose. “The Heart & Soul Angel Cards” can be used in combination with the “Harmony Angel Cards” for a double reading to learn your next steps from the angels, or on their own to identify your true heart’s desire and soul purpose and work to achieve them. The beautifully illustrated cards are divided into 4 suits of 12: Heart’s Desire Angel Cards, Mystical Animals Cards, Soul Purpose Cards, and the Sacred Hallows Cards. The suits can be used for readings in various layouts either separately or together, for either a quick overview or a more in-depth look at your life or a particular situation. The accompanying book describes the overall meaning of the four suits, the inherent meanings of each and every card, as well as several different ways to lay them out with sample interpretations.

http://www.stairway-of-life.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=152&t=14455

samedi 28 novembre
animation petit tigre
pour les 2000-01 fille et garçon
au gymnase Rabelais de Maromme
responsable : Yves Le bouffant
-30kgs : 13h30 ; +30kgs: 15h30.
ne pas oublier le passeport avec licences et certificat médical.
faire inscire ces points aprés l’animation par le responsable

dimanche 29 novembre
district minime (1996-97)
dojo de Forges les eaux pesée : 8h30-9H

district cadet ( 1995-94)à maromme (gymnase rabelais)
-60kgs: 13h30; +60kgs: 15h

tournoi de pont st maxent : Duboc Marion

sep présenter à yves à votre arrivée.

Il est un phénomène non attendu qui bouleverse le monde du sport. En effet la grippe A commence à frapper, et commence à être de plus en plus virulent dans toute la France. Et maintenant, elle atteint de plus en plus les compétitions sportives.

            Pour être plus précis, les compétitions sportives commencent à être menacées par cette grippe qui s’avère très puissante avec le temps. Cela fait maintenant 2 mois que certains clubs sont touchés par cette maladie. Notamment le club de football de Montpellier où deux joueurs ont déjà été touchés, notamment le cas d’Emir Spahic, le défenseur serbe.

            A l’aube d’un nouveau week-end sportif, des matches de sport en tout genre ont déjà été annulés. C’est le cas de la rencontre de pro D2 de rugby français opposant Pau à Colomiers. Il y a aussi la rencontre de football de ligue 1 opposant le club de Monaco à…Montpellier, encore une fois.

            On craint que dans l’avenir, certaines compétitions sportives soient carrément suspendues pour une date illimitée en raison de cette grippe A. Cela serait très dérangeant pour le sport en général.

Sources : http://www.eurosport.fr/football/ligue-1/2009-2010/montpellier-encore-grippe_sto2135116/story.shtml

Et http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/breves2009/20091127_143347_pau-colomiers-reporte.html

Date: 27/11/09

Some days ago we published the first of a serie of projects from the the President’s Medals for Students Projects organized by theRoyal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The winning entries will be published on December 2, so in the meanwhile, we continue publishing some of the students projects that are participating. This time the project is called SERVER and it was presented by Alastair Parvin from The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK.

We have talked before about food problems in cities and the different solutions that can be developed, such as vertical farming or urban farming. This time Parvin’s proposal has more similities to MVRDV’s Pig City than with skyfarming and the project speculates upon whether we can redefine what is actually meant by the term ‘local’.

Oil and Food crisis : The case for a large scale agricultural experiment in the way we feed cities.

The project takes a section of the M1 motorway in the Midlands and investigates its redesign as a self-sufficient farming system; a belt of knowledge-intensive agriculture, producing no waste and consuming minimal external resources. Based on existing processes, prices and capacities, it begins with the production of biodiesel from algae, and the residual biomass which is used as a cattle feedstock. These become the generators for a more complex choreography of mutually-supportive programmes.

Satellite view of the Server belt and surrounding farmland.

Although to most of us they are invisible, we are all dependent on a few highly-complex, energy-intensive systems which ensure the continuous supply of food to cities. The increasing concentration of those systems and the first effects of global peak oil production will mean we can no longer afford to take them for granted.

The result constitutes a challenge to some of the narrow political dichotomies which currently dominate green politics, and hints at a profound shift in the way that we, as citizens and consumers, relate to the rural landscapes, communities and infrastructures upon which we depend.

Algae farming: Replacing the food vs fuel dichotomy with a doubling-up of productive land.

The field structure is adapted to accommodate other server programmes, bringing in rent to mitigate the capital cost to the farmers.

Taxonomy of Species: Classification of man-made types according to processing functions.

Watford Gap Service Area: Our capacity to farm mobility rather than mine it implies a new freedom to redefine what we mean by ‘local’.

In the tutor statements [Dr Renata Tyszczuk and Mr Satwinder Samra], we can read:

“The project proposes a radically different approach to sustainability issues from that usually offered by contemporary design culture. It suggests farming as a ‘world-view’ and architecture as the business of farming resources. Server architecture is usually ‘the architecture of stuff before it arrives’. In this project SERVER is acutely aware of the interdependencies of the UK built environment. It therefore engages with the wisdom of farmers and the skills of agricultural workers allowing a particularly resilient point of departure from which to explore our relationship with resources, technology, economics and the processes and people that nourish our cities. Alastair’s proposal investigates the entire UK in terms of a possible Industrial Evolution.”

By shifting our relationship with food and energy, Server generates – and absorbs – cultural choices which have hitherto been seen as mutually exclusive.

More interesting student’s projects here.

Congratulations are in order for Mr. Richard Hardy!

Richard is one of several members of Scimitar Wargames Group that game DBM on a regular basis, and he attends the Society of Ancients DBM tournaments around the country.

The latest national rankings have been published, and Richard is the No. 1 ranked DBM player in the country!

Very well done mate – excellent stuff!

Click the picture to enlarge

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Hi,

Today is our last Christmas inspiration day and a chance for you to win several of our Christmas Kadoodle stamps. All you have to do is to

• make make a card inspired by one of the cards posted this week (choice of colour, design, stamp … as you wish…).
• Post it on your blog, linking to our blog and saying which card inspired you to make your own.
• Copy the link to your blog post in a comment below.

The  winner will be announced next Thurday , December 3rd.

Have fun!!

————————————————————————–

Bonjour,

Aujourd’hui c’est le dernier jour de notre “semaine inspiration de noel” et vous pouvez gagner plusieurs tampons Kadoodle de Noel en faisant une carte à votre tour. Tout ce que vous avez à faire, c’est:

• faire une carte inspirée de l’une des cartes postée cette semaine (même couleurs, même design, même tampon etc… comme vous voulez)
• Postez-la sur votre blog, ajoutez un lien vers le notre en précisant quelle carte vous a inspirée
• Copiez le lien de l’article de votre blog dans un commentaire ci-dessous

La gagnante (ou le gagnant) sera annoncé jeudi prochain, 3 Décembre.

Amusez-vous bien!

————————————-

You could win the following stamps - Vous pouvez gagner les tampons suivants:

***

Card by Dawn

Kadoodle Nativity Stamp coloured with Distress Inks
Bazzil Card

Prima flowers

****

Kadoodle stamp: Carolling

Basic Grey 6 x6 Paper Pad – Eskimo kisses

Prima pearls and crystals

Ranger Archival Ink pad Jet Black

Glimmer Mist – olive vine

Smooch pigment ink: Molasses

Stickles – Glitter Glue – green

Craftworks cards

*****

KDL Holly Cottage,

Copic markers,

BasicGrey Eskimo kisses 6×6 pad,

Ranger distress ink black soot,

Craftwork Cards die cut Christmas sentiments,

Stickles glitter glue stardust

***

Kadoodle stamp: holly sledge

Craftworks cards – Oh my word! – Festive messages (gold-silver)
Beadazzles
Craftwork Cards Card Candy – Sherbet Pips
Prima flowers

Martha Stewart edger punch: Scallop 2-dot
Basic Grey 6 x6 Paper Pad – Eskimo kisses

Mr Gregson asked this and the answer is that of course they can!  The Mind Mapping Competition is open to all students and staff at Ashlawn. It seems only fair though to have a later closing date for staff entries – after all students have already had about three weeks to work on their ideas in school and at home.  So, let’s say 8th January for staff. The same rules apply of course (see earlier Posts for all the details and links to examples of great mind maps by people like Paul Foreman).

Over the Christmas holiday Mrs Mills and I will have a think about  a few additional prizes for the best staff entries.

The leaflets about the  Victorian Christmas Weekend on the 5th & 6th December are now being distributed to local residents.

The timetable of events for the weekend includes the Victorian Costume Competition, which is being organised by the Trust.

Prizes, which have been donated by the local businesses, will be awarded each day for the best dressed adults and children. Judging will take place in the village square at 4.15pm on Saturday and 2.45pm on Sunday.

World Dance Champion, Margaret Burns, opens new dance studio in Bradenton, Florida. DANCE WITH CLASS is a large beautiful facility with a stunning dance floor. 4069 Cortez Road West.

Sunday Tea Dance at 3pm. Every week dance foxtrot, salsa, waltz, tango, swing and other ballroom dances. West Coast swing is on Mondays followed by a practice. Tuesday is International Technique class. Wednesday is Beginner Class with a Public Dance after. Thursday will be Salsa. Join the fun.

Learn to dance.  941-896-8834

dancewithclass.usa@hotmail.com or visit www.purpletigerdance.com for contact info

So it’s currently 1:32 am and I’m still sitting at the computer, the lack of school has turned my brain to mush, and instead of getting an early night preparing for tomorrow, I am looking up writing competitions and using my newly aquired facebook for entertainment.
How lovely it would be if I were good enough to win money for my writing, so, so good.
I’m really looking forward to the formal and after-party, I don’t know how many times I might need to say this, but I’ll definately say it again.
I’m damn excited.
I’ve found lately I’m finding it hard to tell people how I actually feel, I’m thinking it’s probably because I don’t want to, or because there’s not much to talk about. Everyone’s lives are fairly mediocre these days, and are disappointing me with their lack of entertainment. Good work, everyone.
I also miss Georgia, who for the past two. whole. bloody. weeks, has gone off to be a master chef and cook strudels and linguine and all types of fancy foods with cute chefs and nice people, bastard. Not that I’d be able to pull that off anyway, I have trouble coo
king microwavable popcorn without burning it and I have to force tegan to come over to cook me rice.
Pathetic, yeah?
I need to save up a fair amount of cash and then blow it all on expensive high-heeled shoes, like, dead-set, zero out my clearly filled-with-loads-and-loads-of-cash (not) bank account.
Don’t judge me though, I do work at Fays, not exactly a high paying job is it?
I’m thinking bed would be a good idea for soon, as my eyes are drooping and I keep typing the wrong thing, to everyone who says the blogging world has died, huzzah! You are wrong, as I shall never ditch my lovely little wordpress.

Tumblr, you can shove it.

Trying to watch The Loneliness of The Long-Distance Runner (1962) as research for Runners my Blank Slate application script. The disc has a bloody error on it and has now died in two machines. I’m nearly at the end so it’s a little frustrating at the moment. Got a little bit of business from it with the handcuffs at the beginning of the film being translated into office fob entry bracelets in my film. I’d never seen the film but had read the book years ago. The tone, attitude of the it’s main character and his rebellion was what led me to dig out  the film. There are oppportunites as with the handcuffs/bracelet to visually reference the Richardson film. I’ve finished the script and was looking for these little touches to enhance it. Might have to try and speed read the book as I intend to upload the script to the B3 site tomorrow or Friday.

Also this is my 200th post. I try to do two a week but not sure if i’ve managed that. 200 sounds good to me though.

Each year, a corporate sponsor provides an assignment or case study outlining the history of its product and current advertising situation. The case study is always candid and reflects a real world situation. Students must research the product and its competition, identify potential problem areas and devise a completely integrated communications campaign for the client. Each student team then “pitches” its campaign to a panel of judges.

This competition is also one of the most well known advertising competitions in the industry, and creates great exposure for advertising students! University advertising or marketing clubs that are AAF affiliated are eligible to join. Regional NSAC competitions are held each spring in 15 districts throughout the U.S. The winning team in each district and one wild card team then advances to compete on the national level at the AAF National Conference in June.

For more information go to the NSAC Competition Website

Well its been a while since the last challenge was due I was expecting by new we will have heard about this new half challenge but as yet nothing. MMMh maybe they are concocting something truly outstanding for the last one. I was pondering over what it might be. Style an outfit in twenty mins?? Creat a mini show of our own with three outfits for a runway walk?? A Miss America style q and a show?? Maybe to create our own walk up and down the runway in a three min time slot? What they have in store is a true surprise. Many of the girls have been working so hard for Miss Refined. Lots of them keeping up with their blogs, some of them finding friends and family from far corners of the SL world to vote on the site. And just a few have posted their interviews with a variety of people from friends to imaginary Oprah appearances and like me interviews with real SL journalists for SL magazines. All in all I am sure like me they are hanging on tenterhooks. Things have been a little slower for me of recent days which has been good as it has allowed me to do my blog regularly and to make sure I have things up to date. I did however manage to pick up two shows which I am pleased about and through my store modeling I have been meeting more and more contestants for Miss Refined with the different things I have been doing and it is lovely to chat with most of the girls about the challenges we have been set as well as their experiences. It really feels like they are part of a little family on SL

TTYL

Keeley ~~~~~~~~~~~@

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is one of the oldest and most influential architectural institution in the world and has been awarding the President’s Medals for students projects since the 1850s and the awards were established in their current format in 1984. 2009 Winners will be announced on the 2 December 2009, but in the meanwhile, we’ll be presenting here some of the most interesting projects.

This project was presented by the student Philip Turner from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Newcastle-Upon-Tyne UK

From the student statement:

“The project is situated within the uneasy and abrasive concrete fabric of Gateshead, in an anxious time of government redevelopment and public uncertainty; the infamous and centrally located ‘Get Carter’ car park that defines the skyline is currently being demolished, making way for a contemporary multi-use sprawl in an attempt to re-address the community’s burgeoning recreational needs. The focus of the project is to address this particularly ambiguous and lengthy time period to provide a new socially responsive public realm as a counter balance.

Using the annual Gateshead Food Festival as a recognised catalyst for social exchange in the area the project looks to expand upon this to create a permanent venue for the festival located upon an existing supermarket car park. The initial phase of the scheme involves the reallocation of car parking space and the reinterpretation of disused sites within Gateshead as social platforms, allowing festival activities to emerge.”

“The aesthetic principles of the venue construction are closely integrated with the context of uncertainty. A wild, dense growing wall shrouds the external envelope, this is not only an attempt to soften the impact of the stern surroundings but acts as an indicator of time; as the context is demolished the aesthetics progress, with colour, density and form. The horizontal inner-environment is similarly progressive; a non-hierarchical approach was sought to encourage programmatic merging, allowing functions to swell, producing an exciting, kinetic environment that can be physically reinterpreted by an individual.”

At the tutor’s [Daniel Mallo] statement we can also read: “Palate’s Palace project proposes to activate the heart of Gateshead centre through a temporary community-based food festival. Temporary infrastructures for this festival which are precisely located throughout the city centre will encourage social exchange and transform misused, underused and disused spaces into moments of delight, fun and encounter. More than just a temporary festival, Palate’s Palace project includes a fixed base, a permanent structure, which supports the festival and widens its scope throughout the year whilst carrying out activities that celebrate food.”

We will keep you updated about the winners and will be posting 2 or 3 projects during the week. or more info about all entries you can go here.

Here’s my first of two competitions for the Xtival weekend this November over the 27th-30th.

Xtival Sponsored event Tekken 6 Knockout Tournament!

The Iron Fist tournament hits Xboxliveaddicts! Prepare to battle it out in a knockout competition over the weekend to not only be the Iron Fist Champ! But the Champ of XBLA!

To take part in the event you’ll need to have a registered account with Xboxliveaddicts, a valid Xbox Live Gold Membership and of course a copy of Tekken 6!

Sign ups will begin from today until Thursday 28th November. Applicants must follow those rules above to take part and sign up via this thread with your forum username and your Live Gamertag.

The following Friday morning the thread will be updated with the first round so you can see who’s fighting who. Depending on the response, the event should run over Friday evening (7.30pm), Saturday evening 7.30/8pm and hopefully the final on Sunday about 7.30/8pm again to crown the winner who will win some great prizes (prizes TBC)

Prizes:

1st Place – 12 Months Free Gold Membership to Xbox Live and 6,000 Microsoft

Points!
2nd Place – 12 Months Gold Membership and 4,000 Microsoft Points!
3rd Place – 2,000 Microsoft Points

Rules:

- No characters are banned, though please refrain from using custom characters.
- The matches will last over 5 rounds, then both (or the winner) must report back to either myself (Mechanical R) or back on this thread who won so that I can prepare for the next set matches.
- Players are expected to be promt and on time, players may wait for their opponent to come online and join the match for as long as they like, but no shows are forfeits and the person who showed up will go through to the next round.
- You’ll be expected to keep an eye on either this thread or any threads on the site regarding this competition to ensure your kept up to date on the rules and who your opponents will be.
- Normal Microsoft Code of Conduct also applies, any reports of breaking of either our or MS’s rules will lead to disqualification.
- This competition is open to UK residents only.

These rules are subject to change at any time and will be added upon within the next 7 days along with more details so keep posted!

Sign up now by visiting here!

The Beatles Rock Band High Score Competition

Relive those classic tracks! Play through on your own or with friends to earn the highest points. The higher the points, the better your chances!

With the Beatles taking the world by storm again in video game form, what better way to bring everyone together but with a big competition with Xtival. Take part in the event by just playing with your friends, grab the high scores and you could win some great prizes! (prizes TBC)

To enter, all you need is a band. Your band can be 1-4 players full, the more people you have the better chance you got at winning! Play the select songs given for the competition, grab a screenshot/take a picture of your groups highest scores on each of the songs and submit them to myself over the weekend. Don’t rush yourself though! Entries will be accepted from Friday 27th November starting 10am through to Sunday 30th Nov at 10pm. All I need is the images of your points and your team and its that simple!

Rules-

- 5 songs will be chosen before the event and these will be posted up Friday morning. (No DLC will be used)
- Bands must be signed up before Thursday 26th November.
- You and your band mates must be members of Xboxliveaddicts.co.uk and have valid Xbox Live Gamertags.
- Signing up requires posting in this thread with your forum username(s) and gamer tags.
- Score entries must be sent to the email address (mechrxbla at live. dot co dot uk) within the allotted time of the weekend event, please try to bunch the images together in one email rather than sending separately.
- Substitutes are not allowed. If someone doesn’t show up, you must continue with the group you have.
- Difficulties can be set to what your comfortable with, remember the harder you try, the better chance you have!
- Microsofts Code of Conduct and our forum rules apply.

-Prizes

For the winning team, theres up to 12,000 Microsoft Points and 2 years worth of free live to share between your band!