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Midwest newspapers anti-up $30K to eye for-profit collaborative to monetize Internet content

mediagiraffe — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:52:37 +0000

Three Midwest newspaper associations — Kansas, Missouri and Iowa — met Nov. 20 and forme

CICOSI : Le consortium PABEG sur les chantiers des microprojets

pabeg — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:26:52 +0000

Le consortium du PABEG constitué du DED, de la SNV, de l’ong DEMI-E et de Alternative Espaces Citoyens a entamé ce 24 novembre 2009 une tournée qui les conduira dans les communes de Gamou, de Dogo Dogo, de Matameye et de Zinder 4. Il s’agira pour le consortium de constater de visu le demarrage des microprojets financés par le PABEG et d’en discuter avec les acteurs impliqués dans la réalisation.

La commune de Gamou va constituer la première étape. Les étapes suivantes conduiront l’équipe à Dogo Dogo, puis à Matameye et Zinder4.

la commune de Guidiguir n’est pas concernée par cette mission de suivi des premiers microprojets octroyés lors des premières assises du comité intercommunal d’octroi des subventions d’investissements au cours desquelles les propositions de microprojets de Guigiduir ont été ajournées pour complement d’informations.

ijp — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:14:06 +0000

Learning HTML:A Report on the Evaluation of

Three Educational Resources

Description of Audience

The audience for this resource evaluation is represented by a college-educated person who wants to learn basic Web design, in particular HTML and CSS. The person has no prior experience whatsoever with Web design or coding for the Web. Rather than attempt to learn Web design through software like Adobe Dreamweaver, this person wants to learn the fundamentals of Web design, i.e. creating Web sites from scratch. Although her main goal is not to become a professional Web designer, this person wants to become proficient enough to put these skills on her resume.

Resources Evaluated

http://www.w3schools.com

Castro, E. (2007). HTML, XHTML & CSS. Visual quickstart guide. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.Online Course, e.g. University of Washington – INFX 503

Evaluation

Quick Summary of Pros and Cons of the Three Resources

Resource #1: http://www.w3schools.com

Cons: The Web pages are a little cluttered with extra text, which can be distracting when you are trying to learn. The description of concepts in HTML are sometimes too sparse and fail to give enough context for the learner to gain a full appreciation of the interrelationship of concepts.

Resource #2: Castro, E. (2007). HTML, XHTML & CSS. Visual quickstart guide. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.

Pros: The book provides a comprehensive introduction to (X)HTML and CSS in an accessible format and layout at a relatively low price.Cons: Because it is a paper book, it doesn’t have the same interactivity and concomitant benefits as the W3Schools Web site. Also, it will go out of date, whereas Web sites will be updated.

Resource #3: Online Course, e.g. University of Washington – INFX 503

Pros: The HTML course is the most accessible and interactive resource and, for most learners, would be the most effective resource for learning HTML.

Cons: The course is by far the most expensive resource and would require significant justification to spend thousands of dollars.

Evaluation Criteria

1) Is the resource accessible to a beginner? (Accessibility)

This criterion encompasses a number of components of the resource, including the level of language used (i.e. lay speak or technical jargon) and the design of the information presented (e.g. page layout in the book and on the Web site).

2) Does the resource facilitate hands-on learning/interactivity? (Interactivity)Since learning to hand code Web sites requires hands-on training, it’s imperative that educational resources include an interactive component. Although it would seem the book would surely fail in this regard, this criterion doesn’t necessarily preclude the book from a positive evaluation.

3) How much does the resource cost? (Cost)

A simple cost-benefit analysis of these resources in the context of our audience’s desired goals is essential to a thorough evaluation.

Resource #1: http://www.w3schools.com

Quick Evaluation Summary

Pros: The W3Schools are quite accessible to the beginner and, since they are Web pages, they provide a number of interactive features for learners of HTML. In addition, they are free of cost, which makes them a very good value for what they provide.Cons: The Web pages are a little cluttered with extra text, which can be distracting when you are trying to learn. The description of concepts in HTML are sometimes too sparse and fail to give enough context for the learner to gain a full appreciation of the interrelationship of concepts.

Detailed Evaluation

Accessibility

The HTML section on the W3Schools Web site begins with a very brief, but plain-spoken introduction to what HTML is and how it works. The writing throughout the site is clear and concise and appears to be without grammatical errors. In fact, the HTML tutorial keeps descriptive text, or body copy, to a minimum and uses “Try It Yourself” in-browser HTML text editors (see Interactivity section of Evaluation). There could be a negative aspect to the sparse description on the site. More description of the concepts could provide useful context and help the learner gain a more comprehensive understanding of HTML concepts.The W3Schools HTML tutorial layout is simple and functional (one would hope so, since the whole point is to teach Web design). One negative aspect of the Web page layout is a disorienting amount of text that surrounds the main body of the Web pages where the tutorial information is located. Although the navigation menu on the left, under the heading “HTML Basic” is useful, the banner advertisements and those on the left hand side of the screen are distracting. Also, the links to other tutorials for CSS, XML, Javascript and more are not needed. It would be easier to focus on learning HTML if superfluous text were removed.

Nonetheless, if the user focuses on just the tutorial information, the Schools have created a logical, step-by-step process to gradually familiarize the reader with HTML and related concepts. The Web site’s pages are short and the user can utilize the navigation menu on the left hand side of the page for links to other parts of the tutorial, as well as buttons that are present on every page labeled “<<Previous” – to go to the previous page of the tutorial – or “Next Chapter>>” – to go to the next page in the tutorial. Furthermore, within each page, the Schools have utilized easy-to-read headings, such as “What is HTML?” “HTML Documents = Web pages” and “What You Need,” which contextualize the text that follows and aid the reading process. Overall, the site follows a simple formula: it briefly introduces a concept in HTML and then provides a “Try It Yourself” text editor to apply the concept. Although coding jargon is used on other parts of the site, if the user follows the step-by-step process through the tutorials, it explains the terminology well.

Interactivity

First, the most useful and often used interactive component of the HTML tutorial is the “Try It Yourself” in-browser text editor. Once the user clicks the “Try It Yourself” link, he is shown a page such as the one below. The user then edits the text in the left hand box and clicks “Edit and Click Me>>” and the box on the right displays how the markup would look in a browser.

This text editor is extremely useful because it gives the user a tool for the concept in question and see the result. Of course, there could be improvements. For example, there are no recommendations on the page for alternatives or supplements to the simple concept that the user is practicing. In the example image above, it might be useful if the page provided a quick tip on how to make horizontal lines extend only 75 percent across the page. In any event, the ability to see one’s markup instantly rendered is a very useful educational tool.Although the in-browser text editors are the most important interactive component, the Web site also has other useful functions by virtue of its status as a Web site. The functionality of hyperlinks to quickly take the user to another site for information is an important component of a Web page’s interactivity. In addition, the navigation menus mentioned earlier allow the user to jump back and forth to different parts of the tutorial with ease.

Cost

The W3Schools are completely free, because they were created by individuals in the non-profit organization the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Because they are free and provide useful tools like the text editor, not to mention that the Schools were created by the governing body for Web standards, this is an invaluable resource that should be at least one part of an educational toolkit.

Resource #2: Castro, E. (2007). HTML, XHTML & CSS. Visual quickstart guide. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.

Quick Evaluation Summary

Detailed Evaluation

Accessibility As the title suggests, this book is a “visual quickstart guide” to learning HTML and related concepts. As such, the language of the book and the visual design of the book’s pages both create an accessible resource for beginning learners.

First, Castro spends a number of pages in the introduction to the book explaining very broad concepts like the histories of the Internet, the World Wide Web, Web browsers, and HTML. Even for those who have spent a lot of time on the Web, this is useful background information that provides context to the more technical content that follows. In addition, the level of the language is well within the reach of a college educated person. Furthermore, the book also has a section entitled “How This Book Works.” All of this background information on the topic of the book as well the book itself is useful for a beginner.

Second, the main body of the book is well organized in a logical manner from chapter to chapter, and even within chapters. Chapter 1 begins with the very rudimentary concepts of HTML like what is an element, a tag, and an attribute, among others. Chapter 2 explains how to begin writing an HTML document, how to save it, and how to upload it to a server. These are crucial aspects of Web page creation that weren’t covered as much in the W3Schools site. The subsequent chapters continue to unveil important concepts. Here, I want to note a design aspect of the book that distinguishes it from the W3Schools. Whereas the W3Schools separates the tutorials for HTML and CSS, Castro intermingles HTML and CSS as she discusses concepts like tables, lists and forms. This choice reflects Castro’s methodology for Web design, a methodology in accordance with current Web standards created by the W3C. Current standards state that HTML should only be used for rudimentary page structure, while Style Sheets should be used for style and page layout. For a beginner, this is a difficult concept to understand; suffice it to say, this is a positive attribute of this book, in my estimation.

Finally, I want to examine the accessibility of the book on the level of the book page. The book’s pages are relatively uniform in design and layout. For the most part, there are two columns per page. Imagine the graphic below is the book laid open on a table; the center line is the spine of the book.

Written Description of Concept and Description of Usage

Images and Visual Display of Concept and Usage

Written Description of Concept and Description of Usage

As shown, the page is horizontally symmetrical. The written content on the far left and right side describes the concept and its application with words; the columns adjacent to the two text columns show images and visuals of the textually described content. In other words, visual and textual learners are accommodated. Since the point is to learn written languages, i.e. Hypertext Markup Language and Cascading Style Sheets, it is important to have a textual component as well as a visual one.

In summary, the language and layout of the book enables the beginner to access the book without fear of drowning in terminology and inane details. I will highlight a few interactive features next; it’s important to note that these features also contribute to the book’s accessibility.

Interactivity

Obviously, it is difficult for a bound, paper book to achieve the same interactivity as a hypertext Web page. Nonetheless, there are a few important components to the book that lend it an interactive dimension. These components allow the learner to interact with the book out of the sequence of the chapters.

The book has a series of reference sections in the back of the book. There is an (X)HTML and CSS Reference section. These are quick and useful references for someone who is in the process of creating her Web pages. Next to the referenced tag, attribute, property or value, the author has provided references to the appropriate pages where more detailed information can be found. Second, there is a list of special characters that require special coding in the HTML document. The author shows the character and how to put in the document. She also has a section on HTML tools and how useful she thinks they are. Finally, the inside back cover of book has sample colors and their hexadecimal code that is used in HTML documents.

Despite some very useful reference sections, finding content in a book can be more difficult than clicking on a link on a Web page. The functionality of the W3Schools site cannot be matched by this book.

Cost

The retail price of the book is $34.99, though it could be possible to get it used or on sale. Given the comprehensive treatment of the material by the author, $35 dollars is a good value.

Resource #3: Online Course, e.g. University of Washington Course – INFX 503

*Note: I am treating this course as an example of a beginning HTML course. There will be variations on course design depending on the instructor and the institution. I am currently enrolled in the course, which provides me access to the resources and the unique perspective of having experienced how the class design unfolds week to week.

Quick Evaluation Summary

Pros: The HTML course is the most accessible and interactive resource and, for most learners, would be the most effective resource for learning HTML.Cons: The course is by far the most expensive resource and would require significant justification to spend thousands of dollars.

Detailed Evaluation

Accessibility

First of all, the INFX course uses the two previous resources as parts of the curriculum. So, the online class, as a resource, is on a slightly different level from the other two.The INFX course has been very accommodating for beginners. Rather than having to code from scratch and perhaps get tripped up by small details, which is common in writing HTML, the course assignments for the first half of the quarter often require you to read already written HTML and correct mistakes. Then, later in the assignment for a particular week, the student might be asked to write a little HTML himself. This gradual introduction to the topic allows the student to wade into the shallow end before diving into the deep end, as it were. In short, the design of the class and how it unfolds from week to week is very conducive to learning. Rather than aimless learning, the class provides the student with direction and constraints that allow him to focus and learn more efficiently.

To examine a few of the particulars of the course design, I want to first look at the video lectures recorded by the instructor that the students are assigned to watch each week. The lectures consist of a slide presentation, sometimes with moving images, and a narration of the slides and content by the instructor. After reading the book chapters, and perhaps using the W3Schools site to apply some concepts, the lectures provide an extra layer of context as well as a slightly different take on the content. It’s always useful to compare how different sources describe a piece of content, because often the comparisons and contrasts can be illuminating and allow for a deeper understanding. On a practical side, the lectures directly deal with the content of the course’s assignments, which is important for meeting the requirements for the class.

The assignments for the course almost always include downloadable HTML files that are used for that week’s assignment. Again, the students would probably find it more accessible to deal with HTML that is already written than writing it from scratch. With these downloadable HTML files come downloadable worksheets in the form of PDFs that describe the steps to take for that week’s assignment. Overall, the tools for each week’s assignment are readily available and allow the student to focus on learning.

The class’s Web site is very well laid out and easy to use, as would be expected from a class on creating Web sites. The Web pages enable easy navigation to the desired content, and also have a Key Terms and Concepts box on every page that provides quick and useful definitions and recommendations related to Web design.

Although the class is exclusively online, i.e. there are no meetings in the “real world,” there is a social component to the class. First, every student is required to pair up with another student, or “study buddy.” In addition, the class uses the UW’s Catalyst Web Tools liberally, where there are discussion forums for asking and answering questions. This social component sets the class apart from the other two resources in this evaluation. Knowing that there are others out there who you can speak with and who have the same issues you have is a boon to a student struggling over a particular concept. This also contributes to the interactivity of the class (see next section).

All of these components to the class design make it perhaps the most accessible resource. The fact that you can talk to other human beings is the single most important aspect to its accessibility, and no other resource has that.

Interactivity

Many of the aspects of the class discussed in the Accessibility section also contribute to its interactivity. The video lectures, downloadable assignments and HTML documents, Catalyst Web Tools, and the class’s Web site are all interactive in nature. As discussed earlier, the ability to speak to other human beings about the content is invaluable and contributes to both its accessibility and interactivity.In addition, the class requires the student to complete a final project, i.e. a simple Web site. This component is extremely important because it allows the student to come away from the class with something tangible. Creating something new is perhaps the most interactive task a student can undertake. Overall, the class is the most interactive resource among the three.

Cost

If the class wins the accessibility and interactivity competition, it comes at a cost – literally. Because the class at the UW is acting as an example of a more general resource of online courses, it would be difficult to pin down one price for the class. But, suffice it to say, that any classes at a university or community college that last for a full quarter or semester are going to cost thousands of dollars. On the other hand, taking classes that progress toward a degree could have a long term benefit. Assuming the audience for this report has already completed college, it would be difficult to justify spending thousands of dollars unless it effected a promotion or change to a new job with a higher salary.

Internships with Creative Control

georgiamcbride — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:25:02 +0000

Creative Control Company Bio

Film & TV Music Internship

Idea #266 for November 11th, 2009: Spirit of Cooperation or Drug Companies Setting Competition Aside For Patient Safety

health365 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:59 +0000

It’s rare that competing drug companies team together to work on a common problem. But that’s just what Biogen, Elan, and Roche are doing right now. The problem is a condition called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and two different drugs have been found to increase the risk of the rare neurological condition. So these three drugmakers are coming together and sharing data to find out why their drugs might be causing PML in some patients.

The drug Tysabri, which is used to treat multiple sclerosis, is sold by under a joint venture between Biogen and Elan but was taken off the market this year because of its link to PML. Also pulled this year due to ties to PML was Roche’s psoriasis drug Raptiva. The drugmakers involved will create a global database of PML cases that will be used to predict, prevent, and treat infections. While their motivation for this collaboration might be driven in part by a desire to get their drugs back on the market, it’s still nice to see drug companies put patients ahead of secrecy and competition. More of these collaborations would be welcome in the future, whenever multiple drugs are linked to a common debilitating side effect.

Read more about this in the Wall St Journal.

Microsoft Joins Energistics

petrocomputing — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:19:13 +0000

Microsoft Corp. announced it has joined Energistics, a global, not-for-profit consortium designed to explore ways to facilitate exploration and production (E&P) information sharing and business process integration. This membership continues the momentum that Microsoft and its nearly 500 oil and gas partners have built in driving a common platform as the “unifying language” and a force for innovation across the industry.

Microsoft, along with its ecosystem of partners, has proven experience in bringing technologies and solutions to the mainstream oil and gas industry. This expertise will be used to deliver the reference implementation of Energistics’ standards such as the Wellsite Information Transfer Standard Markup Language (WITSML) and Production Markup Language (PRODML), enabling oil and gas companies to increase the implementation of standards while lowering adoption hurdles.

Energistics’ founding objective was to unite the oil and gas industry and foster an environment of collaboration. Across multiple industries, Microsoft is the trusted advisor and go-to company for developing and implementing the use of a unifying language as a common platform, for example, as a founding member of OPC (OLE for Process Control). By joining Energistics, Microsoft adds this expertise in helping the consortium meet its goal of uniting people, issues and ideas to facilitate E&P information sharing and business process integration.

“E&P companies are relying on development of standards such as PRODML to provide a common set of definitions and thus improve data exchange and work process efficiency,” said Catherine Madden, senior research analyst at IDC Energy Insights. “Companies that can help facilitate the development and deployment of open data exchange standards such as PRODML will play a vital role in ensuring the industry can maximize potential cost savings.”

“The oil and gas industry is undergoing massive changes,” said Ali Ferling, managing director, Worldwide Oil and Gas Industries at Microsoft. “By helping the industry adopt standards, Microsoft believes the industry can drive down cost by improving interoperability and building a platform for collaboration and communication. Our customers benefit when standards are implemented because their software prices decrease, interoperability increases and adoption hurdles are lowered. As a result, they will be able to better execute their E&P information sharing and business process integration strategies.”

“We are pleased to have Microsoft on board to help us to deliver the reference implementation for our standards,” said Randy Clark, president and CEO of Energistics. “As a body that facilitates an inclusive user community for collaborative technologies, we are keen to draw on Microsoft’s experience in the industry to help facilitate the development and deployment of open data exchange standards in addressing information challenges.”

“Having Microsoft as a member of Energistics is very positive news for the oil and gas industry,” said Jaap Van Ballegooijen, leader of Royal Dutch Shell’s Smart Fields group. “Microsoft will be able to contribute its experience and expertise to help drive the adoption of Energistics’ standards. Microsoft has demonstrated ongoing commitment and support of the Energistics standards through its participation and sponsorship of the latest PRODML specifications presentation at the Microsoft Global Energy Forum. Shell, Microsoft and Energistics also collaborated to explore new and innovative solutions through the software-plus-services approach by implementing a PRODML proof of concept utilizing Microsoft’s Windows Azure platform.”

www.energistics.org

www.microsoft.com/oilandgas

Scholarship Offer through The Emmys and Ernst & Young LLP

georgiamcbride — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:25:57 +0000

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation, in association with Ernst & Young LLP, is offering three scholarships in honor of Fred Rogers, the creator and long-time host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The scholarships are intended to support and encourage aspiring undergraduate or graduate students to pursue careers in children’s media and further the values and principles of Fred Rogers’ work. Get details and applications here (http://www.emmys.tv/foundation/rogersscholar.php).

Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation | 5220 Lankershim Blvd. | North Hollywood, CA 91601

Internship and Job Openings with New Orleans' Young Leadership Council

georgiamcbride — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:13:35 +0000

Young Leadership Council Seeks Spring Semester Intern and Full Time Membership Coordinator

The Young Leadership Council (YLC) is seeking an intern and membership coordinator to work on its staff.

The primary objective of the internship position is to offer a college undergrad (seniors preferred) an opportunity to learn hands on skills in a fast-paced nonprofit. Responsibilities will include support of event planning, fundraising and database management and administrative duties. We would like candidates that can keep a regular schedule of 10 to 15 hours per week in the YLC office from January through May 2010.

The primary objective of the membership coordinator is to recruit and retain YLC members. A successful membership coordinator will motivate and encourage YLC’s membership to get active in projects and volunteer opportunities.

The formal job description for the membership coordinator position follows. All interested candidates for either position should send their resume and letter of interest to Amy Collins at amy@youngleadershipcouncil.org.

The Young Leadership Council (YLC) is a non-profit, non-partisan civic organization created to develop leadership through community projects.

Membership Coordinator Job Description

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED CHARACTERISTICS:
Bachelor’s degree or comparable experience
Attention to detail, quality and accuracy
Capable of maintaining effective relationships with volunteers
Exhibit sound judgment with the highest ethical standards
Experience with volunteers, boards and committees in nonprofit organizations a plus
Database management experience preferred but not required

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
•          Create, develop, implement and evaluate strategies to expand membership.
•          Ensure all membership renewals are distributed to expiring members in a timely, consistent manner. Be diligent in follow up to maximize renewal rates.
•          Maintain membership records in the YLC database, including up-to-date contact information, payment details and volunteer hours.
•          Identify, cultivate and solicit corporate members, including doing informational meetings at potential corporate member’s place of business.
•          Plan, promote and staff key member events, including JumpStart and General Membership meetings.
•          Work with VP of Volunteerism to support all membership committee activities.
•          Work with VP of Projects and directly with project leaders to support project activities.
•          Work with director of finance & administration to ensure membership payments are processed through the accounting system accurately.
•          Act as the primary person in the office to answer incoming phone calls and greet office visitors.
•          Maintain the YLC website and e-weekly newsletter under the supervision of the VP of Communication and Executive Director.
•          Represent the YLC in a professional manner to the at-large community. In professional situations, this includes dress and conduct.
•          Perform any other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Amy Boyle Collins
Executive Director
Young Leadership Council
(504) 585-1500
FX (504) 585-1511
1840 Euterpe Street
New Orleans, LA 70113

www.youngleadershipcouncil.org <http://www.youngleadershipcouncil.org>

Volunteers Needed for Art Docs Event Nov. 19th

georgiamcbride — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:40:36 +0000

Please see the information below regarding ArtDocs and their upcoming benefit event. They are looking for volunteers for their Nov. 19th event. Please contact Greg Gremillion if you’d like to volunteer. It looks like it will be an incredible event!

Contact: Greg Gremillion, Executive Director | ARTDOCS 2646 Dumaine St.New Orleans, LA 70119 504-239-9557  www.artdocs.com

ARTDOCS New Orleans announces Benefit Art Auction on November 19, 2009 ARTDOCS (Artists Receiving Treatment Doctors Offering Crucial Services) is a 501c3 charitable organization founded in New Orleans in 1999 by artist / gallery owner Jonathan Ferrara and Dr. Vincent Morelli.   For over ten years, ARTDOCS has provided medical care to visual artists, writers and perfomring artists in New Orleans who lack health coverage. Since 1999, ARTDOCS has seen over 2500 artist patients providing routine care and other important medical services.    Caring For The Creative Soul ARTDOCS offers much-needed medical care to visual artists, writers, musicians and other performing artists in need of routine and urgent health services. ARTDOCS is one of the first programs of its kind in the country. ARTDOCS gives members of the New Orleans creative community a place to turn to address their often-overlooked medical concerns.   The cultural economy is a oft-heard buzzword these days. ARTDOCS plays an important role in that economy.  In order to have healthy culture, we need to have healthy artists and in order to have healthy artists, we have to have a place for artists to turn to for their medical needs. As most artists fall into the category of the uninsured, ARTDOCS provides a place for them to be seen and develop a relationship with doctors who care.     ARTDOCS New Orleans Currently, artist patients in New Orleans are seen at the Daughters of Charity Health Center at St. Cecilia’s in the Bywater (4201 North Rampart Street) by Drs. Coleman Pratt and Sarat Raman, medical director.   Patients seen by ARTDOCS New Orleans physicians are provided routine primary care, acute care treatment, chronic disease management and preventive services at no cost to them. Access to specialty services is also provided, usually through Louisiana’s University/Charity system.   The ARTDOCS Benefit Art Auction will take place on Thursday November 19th at the Hefler Warehouse at 851 Magazine Street in The Arts District and feature music, food, and a live art auction of over 50 of New Orleans’ top contemporary artists.   The event is from 630pm til 1030pm. There will be music by DJ SOUL SISTER. The live auction will begin at @730pm and feature over 50 local and nationally renowned artists auctioned off by auctioneer Adam B. Marcus.    CONFIRMED ARTISTS Skylar Fein, Sidonie Villere, Dan Tague, Sandy Chism, Miranda Lake, Paul Villinski, Sally Heller, Steve Martin, Dawn dedeaux, Michalopoulos, Stan Strembicki, Nini Bodenheimer, Maria Lopez, Thomas Mann, Luis Cruz Azaceta, Diego Larguia, Stephen Paul Day, Bob Compton, Sybille Perretti, Jeffrey Pitt, Alex Podesta, Stephen Collier, Krista Jurisich, Raine Bedsole, Anita Cooke, Stephen Colliier, Mel Chin, Michel Varisco, Gina Phillips, Tony Fitzpatrick, Jacqueline Bishop, Mary Jane Parker, Anastasia Pelias, Kyle Bravo, Jenny LeBlanc, Troy Dugas, Nicole Charbonnet, David Sullivan, Senan O’Connor, Elizabeth Shannon, Robert Tannen, George Dureau, Carlos Zervignon, Adrian Deckbar, Rachel Jones, Mark Bercier, Elizabeth Fox, Tina Girouard, Teresa Cole, David Bradshaw, Auseklis Ozols, Adam Mysock, Douglas Bourgeois, and Brian Guidry. All of the artworks in the auction will be able to viewed online prior to the live auction so that absentee bids can be placed.   For more information on ARTDOCS New Orleans, contact Greg Gremillion  Executive Director | ARTDOCS 504-239-9557

www.artdocs.com For information on becoming a patient, please call 504.827.2833.

Please note that on October 15, 2009 ARTDOCS Nashville opened a clinic in conjunction with Meharry Medical College. Another cultural export of New Orleans, LA

CARING FOR THE CREATIVE SOUL

This Friday: Theatre and Arts Administration Presentation!

georgiamcbride — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:42:53 +0000

Follow the link below for more information on this presentation by Howard Sherman of the American Theatre Wing and Lauren Doll of New Time Productions:

Updated ATW Invitation

AGL sells another wind farm

asx200 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:12:20 +0000

(CFD.net.au – Contract for Difference, Share, Forex, ETFs, Commodities Traders) –

Updated

October 1, 2009 17:47:00

AGL has sold another of its windfarms near Burra. (ABC News)

Map:

Burra 5417

The energy business AGL has sold another of its wind farms near Burra.

It has finalised a deal with the Energy Infrastructure Investments consortium which w …

Updated

October 1, 2009 17:47:00

AGL has sold another of its windfarms near Burra. (ABC News)

The Energy business AGL has sold another of its wind farms near Burra.

It has finalised a deal with the Energy Infrastructure Investments consortium which will earn AGL $88 million in development fees.

The deal also saves AGL about $160 million in capital expenses for development of the Hallett-4 wind farm and recovers $150 million already spent.

The wind farm has 63 large turbines.

Tags:

company-news

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electricity-energy-and-utilities

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alternative-energy

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wind-energy

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sa

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adelaide-5000

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burra-5417

Source: AGL sells another wind farm

Tipitina's Internships

georgiamcbride — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:34:23 +0000

INTERNS NEEDED FOR TIPITINA’S

Promotions, Box Office, and Special Events Intern
Interns needed at Tipitina’s Uptown (501 Napoleon Ave), primarily in the fields of Music, Promotions, Marketing, & Office Management. Intern will assist in answering phones & fielding phone calls, preparing ad packs, keeping office organized, faxing documents, processing contracts and proposals, etc. This is a non-paid internship but many perks/benefits involved such as free concert tickets. Fun working environment. Car not needed, as long as intern can get to office with no problem. Personal computer/laptop preferred but not required.
Tipitina’s Foundation Intern
Interns needed at Tipitina’s Fountainbleu office at 4040 Tulane Avenue. Students will be answering phones, filing, helping prepare paperwork and mailers, and other Foundation related projects. Great for a student looking for non-profit experience, particularly in the music field. Non-paid internship but perks involved such as free concert tickets. Car preferred, as office is in mid-city and easier for a student to get to by car. Computer/laptop not necessary.
To apply, email your resume and cover letter to Lindsay Adler: lindsay@tipitinas.com
Lindsay Adler
General Manager and Talent Buyer
Tipitina’s
501 Napoleon Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 895-8477 ph
(504) 891-7996 fax
www.tipitinas.com
www.tipitinasfoundation.org

Voodoo Catering Interns Needed

georgiamcbride — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:57:04 +0000

The position of catering intern would include being assistant to the Catering Manager, Keith Fernandez, in running the site catering areas as well as floating to other departments that require help.
These areas include PR, Production, Artist Relations, and many more.
Keith is looking for 2 students that can help this week. Time time commitment is October 26 – November 3rd, 2009. Keith would like to conduct interviews immediately. His contact information is below; please call or email him ASAP if you are interested!

Keith Fernandez
504.251.8098
kbfernandez@live.com

Voodoo Festival Services Volunteers Needed

georgiamcbride — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:53:38 +0000

Department – Voodoo Festival Services – This department is responsible for
planning, developing and implementing all guest, VIP and staff services
within the Voodoo Experience. Some of these include Sponsor/Partner
promos/VIP-LOA Lounge/Information/Lost and Found/First Aid/ATM’s/Parking.

Position – The Brand Ambassador position will engage with Voodoo attendees
with open arms as they file into the Voodoo grounds and provide pertinent
information via printed collateral and verbal key messages. The end goal
is to make personnel connections and make attendees know that we are
attentive to making their experience a great one.

Other Information – The work would be done under a tent structure so the
working location will be covered in case of inclement or warm weather.
They may be asked to go out from under shaded structure and connect with
guests if deemed appropriate. Collateral (maps, schedules, etc.), general
information and key messages will be provided to each individual so there
is minimal need for any improvisational skills. No computer required but
will want to review information prior to Friday either in person or over
phone while looking at computer.

Days/Hours
Thursday, October 29 – informational meeting only – one hour – can be done
via phone

Friday, October 30 to Sunday, November 1 during Voodoo event days we are
looking to fill two shifts which times are:

– 9:30am to 4 pm
– 4 pm to 11:30 pm

There is flexibility to change the shift times based on individuals
availability.

Parking – Individuals who have cars will be provided with a staff parking
pass for the days they would be supporting Voodoo.

Skill Set – Strong interpersonal skills with ability to communicate to
general public verbally. Ability to learn event essentials – general
information, location of stages, sponsor initiatives and all other
activities. Great communication.

Application Process – A general email with any relevant work experience is
OK due to timing of request. If any interested candidates have resumes or
other backgrounders that would be great to see as well.

Application Deadline is this Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Interested Candidates should send an email to info@trueexperience.net and
address to Dan West and he will follow up with you directly from there.

Celebrity, Consortium style

pvhicks — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:41:44 +0000

So as many people know, I love the game Celebrity, learned when I visited my sister Mallory at Middlebury.

Basically, it’s a multi-round game of taboo/charades. Every member of the two teams writes down 10 celebrities/well-known people and puts them into a bowl. The team members alternate pulling names out of the bowl and getting their teams to guess the character names. In the first round, the actor can use as many words/actions as possible. The second round, the actor can only use one word. The third round is charades: no words.

So I had wanted to play the game with my friends in the program for a little while, knowing that everyone in la Residencia Onix would be appropriately competitive and spirited. We played tonight, as a primer to going out in Barcelona, and had a blast.

For the first time in the recent history of Celebrity with Paige Hicks, my team won. Even better, everyone enjoyed the game and had a blast. I love sharing my favorites with others.

Internship with Scene Magazine

georgiamcbride — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:55:12 +0000

Scene Magazine is Louisiana’s Entertainment Publication with a focus on film, music, and fashion.
Our magazine is a free monthly publication circulated throughout Louisiana and into the Hollywood Market.
We are looking for interns who may be interested in working within a publishing environment handling various task around the office. This is a none paying intern position but may lead to an employee position within the company. The duration of the internship can last 3-6 months, working up to 3 days a week, average of 4-5 hours a day.
Requirements are :
transportation to the office located 824 Elmwood Park Blvd., Harahan, LA 70123
writing and computer skills are a plus
graphic design / photography skills are a plus
A personal laptop is required.

Please send resumes to intern@scenelouisiana.com
We are looking for interns immediately

Voodoo ADA Volunteers Needed

georgiamcbride — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:17:29 +0000

Students, please click Voodoo ADA Assistant Application for the Volunteer Application form. The deadline is Monday, Oct. 26.

Email Joe at ada@thevoodooexperience.com (which is also listed on the bottom of the application) or call the number listed on the application to apply.

IT Interns Needed for Voodoo Festival

georgiamcbride — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:07:56 +0000

IT Interns Needed for Voodoo Festival

Job Description: Interns needed to be a key part of the IT infrastructure at Voodoo Music Festival. Duties will include wiring trailers, setting up modems and printers, and helping to troubleshoot computer issues. Some previous experience in these areas is advantageous but not required. Interns must be positive and willing to work to solve problems.

Time Requirements: Interns are needed NOW Until November 4th, with emphasis on October 25th, 26th, 27th, 29th, 30th, and November 2nd. If you are available some or most of these days please contact us with your availability.

Benefits include being able to attend Voodoo Music Festival, getting the connections and experience of working at a major music festival, and learning valuable IT skills.

Please contact Michael Girardot at michaelgirardot@gmail.com or 512-468-2471 if you are interested.

Backbeat Foundation Internship

georgiamcbride — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:43:43 +0000

229 N. Genois Street, New Orleans, LA 70119

T: (504) 301-4602 F: (504) 301-4603

www.backbeatfoundation.org

INTERNSHIP

Programming – Events: assist in the development, planning, marketing and execution of existing and new events and activities presented by Backbeat throughout the year. (i.e. Backbeat Jazzfest Series, Rhythmic Roots: Community Music Project, Mardi Gras Funkstravaganza, and Garden Party)

Resource Development

Market Research for Cultural Tourism in New Orleans and other potential markets for our programming.

Expanding advertising mediums (internet, print, video, database building, etc.)

Foundation Growth

Membership Program

Grant and funding Opportunities

Marketing and promotion campaigns

MISSION: The Backbeat Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt Louisiana non-profit corporation whose mission is to foster support of the rich New Orleans cultural heritage through the presentation of innovative cultural arts and music programming and community based events and projects.

If you are interested in applying, please email Paige Patriarca

Twizzy's Top Ten - 07.10.2009

twizm — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:35:14 +0000

It’s time again to whip out the scissors and glue to make up a collage ’cause it’s Twizzy’s Top Ten!

1. Singer Design Porsche 911

Taking the retro cool looks of the original 911 Porsche and updating it in a fashion that isn’t too gaudy. Aside from maybe the headlights I think this is a wicked modernisation of a classic Porsche. The upside is that if you squint really hard it almost looks like a brand new 997! Gotta love those lazy Germans.

You can read a run-down of the car and check out a hi-res gallery over at Autoblog.

2. Crooked Tongues Rod Laver Consortium Report

With the rate adidas is cranking out the consortium releases you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Rod Laver pack was dropped years ago. The lads at Crooked Tongues sat down with nearly all of the partners involved in the project and discussed their adaptations of this classic silhouette. Aim your mouse pointer here to check out the report.

3. Nose Projects New Balance 670

New Balance has been cranking out the collaborations the last few years, which has resulted in a dilution of the ’special’ feel of them. Low and behold Norse Projects come out with a simple yet effective colourway highlighted by some great material choices. Lush suede, check; 3M Scotchlite, check; classic simple mesh, check. Just a pitty the 670 model was used, it’s not my most favourite shoe in the NB lineup and it reeks havoc on my knees for some reason.

If you’re interested though, Hanon will be stocking them.

4. Toki Doki Karl Lagerfeld

I’m not a toy guy, I’ve never really got the idea of it. Once I saw this though, I couldn’t help but giggle. It’s uncle Karl, but in mini form. Everything’s there and he’s ready to ruin your self esteem.

5. BMW 3.0CSL

Just though I’d remind everyone just how badass this car was and still is. Built back when manufacturers actually made cars to go racing. Rules stated that the car needed to be homologated with certain parts of the bodykit, so what’d BMW do? Why they put them in the boot to be put on at the owner’s discretion of course!

6. Chinese 60th Anniversary Celebrations

What would a communist regime be without celebrations of immense military might? Check out The Big Picture and marvel at the insanity that is the Chinese demand for perfection… I know I sat slack jawed for a good 10 minutes. Truly mind boggling stuff, but I suppose you need to look the part when you own the U.S.

Taz edit!

7. The Art of Mauro Perucchetti

I don’t consider myself to be any kind of art aficionado, but I know what I like. Mauro Perucchetti’s work falls under this category. I know art’s very subjective and interpretive, but on the same note I like something to be aesthetically pleasing. This stuff does both for me. You can check out his website with some nice shots of his work here.

8. Lamborghini Estoque

Caught in the wild. There’s actually very little more to report other than this being the first time the Estoque has braved the outside world in public. I personally think this is the best adaptation of the large 4 seat supercars that have popped up the last year. Very reminiscent of the brilliant Espada as seen for the first time in the flesh by myself at the Noosa Classic which we reported on last week.

9. Honda CRZ

Yes another car. This time it’s in a different light though. The little Honda CRZ (offspring no doubt of the famous CRX) could be one of the best eco-box cars to come out since the Fiat 500 and new-gen Honda Civic. The difference being it bypasses the affeminate tone of the 500 and its hard edges make even the space-age Civic seem sloppy in design.

Most importantly though is the talk of using a hybrid drivetrain in this little bugger. I personally hate hybrids (they’re a marketing tool and nothing else) but hey, I’d be happy to own one of these. A full electric version would be killer, instant torque and cheap to run. Make it happen Honda! There’s a full report and gallery of the CRZ on Autoblog.

10. Converse x Huf Skidgrip

I quite like these, they’re simple yet interesting. Although I’m usually not one to be drawn to a high cut sneaker, the proportions on this shoe seem to be spot-on. You can still pick up a few leftover pairs from sneakers’n’stuff.

I’m not gonna lie, I had to troll pretty hard to find 10 things that took my interest these past weeks. Until next time though, flippit.

Volunteers Needed for Vooboo@Voodoo

georgiamcbride — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:41:26 +0000

Leah Dyer, manager for the Vooboo Children’s Stage at Voodoo, needs help with the following:

Stage manager:

Time Requirements: Must be available to work the entire weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well as any additional set-up/ familiarization time required.

People Required: 1 but not opposed to team who work intuitively together.

Duties: To manage stage, flow and assets and liaison with the Sound crew.

Visual Artists:

Time Requirements: Self determined, the end result is what is important

People Required: Undetermined, but will most likely work independently or on self-appointed teams.

Duties: To Design and create the signage for the booths within VooBoo and possibly the stage if someone has the interest to submit and produce something interesting. Will be given some materials. No restriction on media but must be weather (water) proof. Will have the freedom to work independently but must submit a rough sketch for approval and be able to adhere to a deadline of October 25th.

Event Day Volunteers:

Time Requirements: Full event Days including set-up and daily break down. Can be one day but multiple days are preferred and requested. VooBoo is open only from 11am to 4pm daily. Voodoo itself operates from 11am to 11pm.

Duties: VooBoo is the children’s section of Voodoo so volunteers must be comfortable working and interacting with children. Volunteers will be expected to help where necessary whether it be wrangling talent, doing tattoos with the kids, assisting the kid’s Sponsors or working with the kids on art projects.

Pre-Event Set-up:

Time Requirement: Varied but Beginning on or around the 24th.

Duties: To help set-up the entire VooBoo footprint, arranging all assets.

Please see AboutVB09sm for more information regarding Vooboo!

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Leah Dyer at leahdyer@gmail.com