Heathrow Terminal 5,
originally uploaded by Speedbird_NCL.

London Heathrow Terminal 5 building is 396 metres (1,300 ft) long, 176 metres (580 ft) wide and 40 metres (130 ft) tall. It is the largest building in the Terminal 5 complex and is the biggest free standing building in the United Kingdom.

Terminal 5 has four storeys, covered by a single-span steel frame roof, with glass facades angled at 6.5 degrees.
The area covered by Terminal 5 roof is the size of five football (soccer) pitches, and each section weighs 2,200 tonnes.

Compared to the last time I saw them live back in 2006 at Islington Bar Academy and Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, there was no Jose Gonzalez or Sia Furler.  This time Eska Mtungwazi and Martha Tilston sang along with Zero 7 and both had amazing performances.  Although I thought at first Sia Furler would make an appearance I realized it wouldn’t be fair as it wouldn’t have been appropriate to steal her successors’ limelight.  Their versions of the older songs were fantastic especially Martha’s performance of “In the Waiting Line.”

Most of the reviews for “Yeah Ghost” have been negative, and even though I wouldn’t go as far as these comments, I must admit their previous albums are better.  But it is still growing on me, and I do appreciate their new direction given that there are new singers who no doubt would prefer to give their own input rather than stick to a previous formula.  In fact my favorite track is “Pop Art Blue.”

Back to the concert, I was disappointed that I couldn’t figure out how to take proper photos even though I was only a few feet away, as oppose to the last time I saw them I managed to take clear photos from the very back of the venue – very annoying.

Martha Tilston with Zero 7 at Terminal 5, 27 Nov 2009

Sia Furler with Zero 7 at Shepherd's Bush Empire, 03 June 2006

And now for your enjoyment, Martha Tilston’s lovely rendition of “In the Waiting Line”

… and Eska Mtungwazi’s “Destiny”

In the white hall of dreams and time passages,
The rare sun glints
through the silver arcs of Terminal 5.

I wait for the passport check
Monsoon peacock scarf wraps around my neck,
like your veneer of globalism.

To you, I am American,
foreign as scarlet poppy fields
I am a shining object to be kept locked and away
from apple pie households
where you don’t remove your shoes.

For nine nights, I vanquish
Trident gleaming through,
Fire in my footsteps,
A lotus flower extended to you

But tonight, I disembark from BA 214
Sweep the dulled passion from my lashes
(So long and so dark!)
Rise from the reverie to answer
the Sikh man at Immigration:

“And how many days will you be in London?”

-K.N. 9/20/2009

Yesterday I wrote about one topic discussed at a recent IACCM executive forum – the use of virtual communication techniques. Subsequently the meeting turned to some of today’s big challenges in structuring deals and forming productive trading relationships.

“Always insisting on competitive bidding and driving for the cheapest means that from day one suppliers have to watch costs. That means we lose the ability to give stuff away and build collaboration,” commented one participant.  The group agreed that collaboration is the only way that new sources of value will be uncovered and that the focus of so many deals on lowest cost and risk avoidance condemns many contracts to disappointment or failure.

By way of contrast, the discussion moved to the UK’s Heathrow Terminal 5 project, hailed by many as a great success. Mark David decribed key aspects of that project and the role that ‘contracting culture ‘ played in its results. The contracting authority – BAA – decided to retain risk and not to appoint a prime contractor. It also formed an approach that guaranteed margins, encouraged and rewarded innovation, offered team bonuses and established a pool of money to protect contractors from errors and oversights. This created an environment of cross-organizational teaming and cooperation, because no one had the need to engage in protective behavior.

So why aren’t similar approaches more common? “Because organizations are driven by a Finance / Procurement partnership that is obsessed by short-term savings and a belief that competition is the only way to achieve them”, commented one seasoned Commercial Director. In his view, relationships and value are sacrificed for these short-term goals. He suggested that many executives recognize the problem – but take the view “You are right, but we have to make this quarter’s numbers”.

The contract tools, models and measurement systems in use at most companies have not adjusted to a service-based world. They simply cannot assess the cost of short-term wins over longer term value. Another aspect of this problem is the ability to build ‘commercial agility’ – that is, being able to adapt to fast-changing business conditions. “For us, the Commercial role is to enable agility within the internal ‘regulatory’ framework,” said a commercial director at a major defense and aerospace company. Participants confirmed that they – and their contracts – must increasingly be capable of applying discipline to what may happen in the future. Change is more frequent, driving many to seek shorter term contracts or increased termination rights.

In the end, the issue of short-termism was felt by all participants to be the biggest challenge of delivering more value and innovation in trading relationships. And although they felt that Procurement practices play a major role in this, they also blamed the overall compensation and reward systems that continue to prevail in most companies. Sales behavior is also driven by short-term gain, and the role of contracts / commercial groups must be to offer an objective view unclouded by commissions or theoretical savings – and to identify bad business, but also to advise management on what would make it good.

Deadmau5 – Live @ Terminal 5 New York City

Mirror

Mirror

Mirror

Mirror

Mirror

Deadmau5 – Live @ Terminal 5 New York City

Mirror

Mirror

Mirror

Mirror

Mirror

Today we’ve continued on our air travel theme – with yesterday’s Luton airport and aeroplane classroom stories leading the way – with a piece on CEM’s IP access equipment in use at Heathrow’s much-loved Terminal 5. Jet-setting!

We’ve also got an article on Mercury Security Management, a company gearing up for SIA-licensing in Northern Ireland by obtaining Approved Contractor Status. Keeping it regulated.

Apparently vehicle ID thefts are on the rise. Is someone impersonating your car? That sounds completely insane to me.

Also today, we’ve got a new Mirasys UK MD; some sporting access from Salto; and a new mid-priced anti-vandal dome from Samsung Techwin.

Well, that’s all absolutely splendid.

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

Stiffarming through a sea of drunken seventeen year-olds, I saw Peaches earlier this month at Terminal 5. I’ve only heard awful reports about that midtown venue, and I can now corroborate those reports.

Peaches, however, looked damn good and damn evil. She entered the stage wearing a large black bulb of lace and human hair above her head. She looked like a pregnant black widow spider. My view was interrupted as some wasted waif with facepaint on bodychecked me in his quest to bulldoze to the front. For three seconds I imagined his death, and then I watched Peaches fearlessly body surf, stepping on hands and crotchplanting faces.

At least Peaches doesn’t get that upset about Lady Gaga. Peaches is more upset with the Jonas Brothers.

http://popdirt.com/peaches-lady-gaga-is-doing-her-own-thing/76634/

No, I’m not referring to  the world-famous London black cab (whose drivers I appreciate the more I travel!). 

This isn’t about the famous Hackney Carriage that offers Londoners the swiftest way from A to B with juicy pearls of cabby related wisdom along the way.  This new-fangled modern one has no driver…

Driverless taxis (guided by lasers / sensors) will soon ferry passengers from the business car park at Heathrow airport, over to Terminal 5. No inane chatter, just a quick driverless ride from car park to terminal in just over five minutes.

It’s great to see further innovation from Heathrow in the run up to 2012. Certainly brings those Blade Runner-esque cars of the future a little closer. To see them in action, watch the short video on the BBC news website…

Iain G. Morrison is a senior marketer in the British Tourism Industry. And although a self-proclaimed petrol head, loves the look of these cabby free carriages…

I just got home from seeing Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Brett Dennen, and Sean Bones at Terminal 5 in New York City.

Grace Potter rocking out

Sean Bones

Sean Bones opened strong enough. He played in a fairly unique pop-rock/ reggae style that successfully held my attention through a thirty minute set. He had a couple songs that were strong enough that I considered buying his CD, but ultimately decided that I probably wouldn’t listen to it.

He’s really young, and pretty talented. If he can find a way to write songs that are a bit easier to distinguish from one another, he could do big things.

Last thought on Mr. Bones… his bassist needs to chill-out with all of the hopping on one foot, it was seriously distracting.

Speaking of distracting…

Brett Dennen

Brett Dennen played his brand of folksy pop/ acoustic pop for a little over an hour, and I found the experience rather painful. Brett’s albums never excited me, but I really was trying to give him a chance.

As it turned out, the biggest problem with his performance wasn’t really his music, but his stage presence. There’s no reason to beat around the bush… Brett comes across as one strange dude. The six foot five, bare foot vocalist/ guitarist danced through his set in the most unbelievably awkward fashion. I couldn’t look at him without laughing, and I wasn’t alone. All six people in my immediate vicinity felt the same way. There was a lot of awkward gyrating.

His band was really talented, but even during their solos Brett’s constant dancing detracted from their work.

The second half of his set he lost the audience. The roar of side conversations overpowered the music.

I won’t be seeing him again.

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

Thirty seconds into their Grace Potter & the Nocturnals’ set, I completely forgot about the first two acts; they killed.

Grace & Co. were my reason for going. I’ve been following them for about two years, and had high expectations. They annihilated my expectations by the third song.

They are serious musicians, and they play in a number of different styles. Blues, rock, jam, and soul are in any combination are all fair game for Grace and her band. Not only are they supremely talented, but Grace has an excellent stage presence, and is really easy on the eyes… come to think of it, no one minded the gyrating when she was on stage.

They played a number of unreleased songs that will appear on their next album Medicine, due out in Spring 2010. Every song they played was good, but Oasis stood out in a major way. The duel guitar melodies in Oasis were incendiary, to steal a phrase from Almost Famous.

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals are talented, inventive, and fun. I wish there were more emerging bands like that.

The encore kicked off with Jefferson Airplane’s psychedelic anthem, White Rabbit. It was great, just like everything else they did, but the stage lighting was pretty trippy; props to the lighting guy.

The night concluded with a long jam on the seriously soulful Nothing But Water. Clearly they blew the audience away because as I walked up 56th Street on my way to Penn Station, I was singing the lyrics, and so was everyone else. The song was haunting on its own, but imagine hearing person after person sauntering through Hells Kitchen quietly singing:

Take me down to the river
Take me down to the lake
Yes, we’ll all go together
We’re gonna do it for the good Lord’s sake

It was the strangest departure from a concert that I have ever had, and it served to illustrate the power of the performance.

This show is pretty early in her touring schedule. If she will be coming through your area, I strongly recommend you see her.

You can find Grace Potter & the Nocturnals’ albums and touring schedules on their website.

Chief Executive Officer’s editor, Michael Jones, is featuring an excerpt from my book, Stakeholder Relationship Management, A Maturity Model for Organisational Implementation. CEO is an online industry resource for senior executives.

The excerpt Why stakeholders matter follows the saga of the Heathrow T5 from construction through to its public opening in 2008, and examines whether the passage of time can alter those perceptions. To read the full article go to: http://www.the-chiefexecutive.com/features/feature68469/

Collectively I’ve seen Saturday’s line up 8 times this year. Peaches: 3, Amanda Blank: 5.

Amanda Blank was first up and after having seen her set four times this year alone, it was clear that Amanda was bringing something bigger something better to the stage this time around. Her 45-minute set began after 9PM and included 2 DJ’s, a drummer, the obligatory Spank Rock guest spot AND a choreography section with background dancers!

Fans were promised a revamped show for the current leg of Peaches‘ tour, which worried/intrigued me after having seen the incredible shows in May and again in June!

Anticipation and excitement was at an all time high at 10PM when Terminal 5 filled up with smoke and 4 figures took the stage shrouded in hairy monster outfits to the Blade Runner theme song. The music then transitioned from Mud to Talk to Me, in which Peaches shed the monster shell to reveal a Rainbow Brite-like leotard before diving into the crowd for her obligatory crowd surf performance.

The absolute highlight (beside the incredible outfits) was the lazer show for Take You On, in which Peaches and her band Sweet Machine played 3 electronic lazers that produced the backing beat for the song. Monstrously epic. Peaches never ceases to amaze and continuously puts on a show that we will never bore of!

More pictures of Peaches HERE (some NSFW), more Pictures of Amanda Blank HERE.

Setlist:
Mud // Talk To Me // Billionaire //Serpentine // Show Stopper // Shake Yer Dix // I U She + Tombstone medley // More //Boys Wanna Be Her // You Love It // Lose You // I Feel Cream // Mommy Complex // Fuck the Pain Away

Encore:
Operate // Slippery Dick //Take You On // Kick It // Rock ‘n’ Roll // Set It Off

MP3: Peaches – I U She or zShare

MP3: Peaches – Shake Yer Dix or zShare

MP3: Amanda Blank – Make Up or zShare

The wait is officially over! With a brand new studio album One Life Stand out on February 9th 2010, Hot Chip are coming back to US + Canada for a short 5-city tour. They’re bringing along one of the hardest working bands The Xx (now a trio), don’t miss out on this highly anticipated tour! Check out the dates + tracklisting for the new album below.

US Tour Dates (All on sale 11/23):
April 16th – Fox Theater, Oakland, CA
April 19th – Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL
April 20th – Koolhaus, Toronto, ON
April 22 – Terminal 5, New York, NY
April 24th – 9:30 Club, Washington, DC

One Life Stand Tracklisting:
1. Thieves In The Night
2. Hand Me Down Your Love
3. I Feel Better
4. One Life Stand
5. Brothers
6. Slush
7. Alley Cats
8. We Have Love
9. Keep Quiet
10. Take It In

MP3: Hot Chip – One Pure Thought or zShare

http://www.spinner.com/2009/10/09/lotus-launch-pay-what-you-will-tour#comments

If Lotus and Radiohead was in a poker game, Radiohead raised mp3, Lotus re-raised with concert, and the fans were super happy! I wanted to get Arctic Monkeys ticket @ Terminal 5, but I didn’t even bother after I saw the price. Lotus is starting a new tour for people like me!  Pay-What-You-Will Tour!

Every ticket can be bought at a price of what you want to pay for. The fans have control over the success of a bands tour. I love the concept of it, but is it sustainable? Music doesn’t grow on trees, and money is a source needed to harvest music. Will the Pay-What-You-Will Tour generate enough money for the cost of the tour and a reasonable profit margin? I hope they do! Good Luck Lotus! This show isn’t a part of the Pay-What-You-Will Tour.

Listen to Lotus’ music @MySpace

YARLY

It’s AWESOME!

So, that is why I’ve hardly been in school. I miss my boyfriend more than anyone. I can’t even kiss him now.

:[

I drew him a picture today. It’s of an amputee mermaid and a dead amputee under the ocean. I like the way it looks in person. I must sound like a gurochan tard but that’s okay. I’ve been pretty lethargic the last few days but I’ve managed to do productive things…like…watch Ace of Cakes.

YOU ARE MY HERO.

I also compiled the second installment of music for my boyfriend, including such lovely artists as Cinema Strange, Tiger Army and Billie Holiday. I also downloaded some music and listened to “Shake the Disease” by Depeche Mode on repeat.

I spent my weekend and this Monday watching the show Daria. It was on MTV from 1997 – 2002.

When i was watching this scene I kind of laughed to myself and realized that I must look like some creepy girl who’s in the bathroom every free chance I get. It was kind of disconcerting. Thanks, Andrea the Goth, for helping me to realize that I should get up at 4:00 in the morning so I won’t be the creepy girl doing her makeup in the bathroom anymore.

Anyway, I got through a season and a half of it. I suck. I also smell like a magical Lavender fairy. I’m seeing Peaches tomorrow at Terminal 5 even though I’m a bit sick. I don’t really like T5, but the only show I went to there was MSI and MSI fans aren’t known for being…

….cool or relaxed.

That’s why I’m an MSI fan, or I was until IF came out.

My friend and I have come to the conclusion that if MSI put on a show of a bunch of their songs pre-IF that we’d  be willing to pay $75 per ticket. We’re serious. We’d need the money but still. That’s a lot of money for a teenage girl with no job.

Anyway, I got some prescription stuff that makes my throat feel better. It’s very nice considering that I wanted to go to the emergency room the other day when my throat hurt so much that I couldn’t sleep.

I also learned some things about Indigo Children today? Hahahah. I’m starting to think I’m an Indigo Child but I might just be trying to find proof for being a creative asshole.

• Come into the world with a feeling of royalty (and often act like it)

• Have a feeling of “deserving to be here,” and are surprised when others don’t share that.

• Do not have an issue with self-worth. They often tell the parents “who they are.”

• Have difficulty with absolute authority (authority without explanation or choice).

• Simply will not do certain things; for example, waiting in line is difficult for them.

• Get frustrated with systems that are ritually oriented and don’t require creative thought.

• Often see better ways of doing things, both at home and in school, which makes them seem like “system busters” (nonconforming to any system).

• Seem antisocial unless they are with their own kind. If there are no others of like consciousness around them, they often turn inward, feeling like no other human understands them. School is often extremely difficult for them socially.

• Will not respond to “guilt” discipline (“Wait till your father gets home and finds out what you did”).

• Are not shy in letting you know what they need.

• Are highly intuitive – can be telepathic and show extrasensory capabilities.

• Will often say seemingly ‘profound’ statements and have an strong interest in God – they often seem wise beyond their years.

• Are very sensitive to the environment, (can include food & additives), energy fields, electrical currents, as well as emotional sensitivity to what is happening around them.

• Are strong willed – have a determination about them, often ‘warrior-like’ in their personality.

• Will often ‘call them as they see them’ and won’t hold back from doing so.

• Can have a fiery temper and demeanor – rarely wavers from the one-track mind.

• Can often be confused with having a defiant attitude – will often do the exact opposite of what they are told to do.

• Have a strong need to help others, individually or globally.

• Are often introverted and a loner.

(I’m not a loner unless everyone else is worthless).

• Like to work alone most of the time or in groups where is there is mutual cooperation and respect.

• Are seemingly antisocial until they meet up with others like them.

• Are very technologically oriented – usually are whizzes at computers or other gadgetry.

• Deal often with depression, insomnia, or bodily issues such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and in extreme cases – energetic mania or freneticness.

• Can be misdiagnosed as ADD or ADHD.

some more – I think I’m bored…

�       Have strong self esteem, connection to source

�       Know they belong here until they are told otherwise

�       Have an obvious sense of self

�       Have difficulty with discipline and authority

�       Refuse to follow orders or directions

�       Find it torture to waiting in lines, lack patience

�       Get frustrated by ritual-oriented systems that require little creativity

�       Often see better ways of doing thing at home and at school

�       Are mostly nonconformists

�       Do not respond to guilt trips, want good reasons

�       Get bored rather easily with assigned tasks

�       Are rather creative

�       Are easily distractible, can do many things at once

�       Display strong intuition

�       Have strong empathy for others or NO empathy

(heh)

�       Develop abstract thinking very young

�       Are gifted and/or talented, highly intelligent

�       Are often identified or suspected of having ADD or ADHD, but can focus when they want to

�       Are talented daydreamers and visionaries

�       Have very old, deep, wise looking eyes

�       Have spiritual intelligence and/or psychic skills

�       Often express anger outwardly rather than inwardly and may have trouble with rage

Sounds quite a bit like me, except that I won’t buy into that New Age crap. I just like Tarot Cards.

El día 5 de noviembre de 2009 a las 20.00 en la Galería x Amor al Arte de Cuenca se inaugura la exposición titulada “Nocturnidad y Alevosía Digital” en la que Subcoolture tiene el placer de participar. La muestra, organizada por la asociación cultural Terminal-5, acoge artistas de distintos lugares del mundo, entre los que se encuentran Marcos Aldeguer, Luis Areñas, Artefactes  (Rubén Tortosa y Francisco Berenguer), Antonio Camba, David Cantera (Vritis), Luis Castelo, Juan de la Cruz Megías, María Gracia Donoso, Ernesto García, Eduardo Marco, José Manuel Ruiz, Óscar Martínez, Francisco Navamuel, Bernardo Rivavelarde y Tomás Zarza. Todos de procedencias tan dispares como Cuenca, Murcia, Madrid,  Barcelona, Nueva York o París y con algún vínculo especial con la Ciudad de Cuenca, ya sea en el ámbito universitario o profesional. La muestra gira en torno a la fotografía y la gráfica digital como sinónimo del cambio hacía la mediatización cultural, la lógica del hipertexto, lo digital y  lo abstracto.

Más información sobre la muestra AQUÍ.

Dossier de prensa AQUÍ.

Boo!

Oh how my festive juices are flowing! Autumn is here and I’m loving every beautifully colored leaf, bundling up in sweatshirts, and sipping coffee on those frosty mornings. Halloween is this weekend and I am very excited about getting dressed up and baking pumpkin-shaped cookies. Before I begin this post, I should warn you that I’m going to start changing things up on this lovely blog. I want to post more. Every post I have made has been in three parts, but sometimes I can’t post for an additional week or sometimes two due to my lack of a third part. I want to start posting every time I find a cool place or band or restaurant. So from here on in, I won’t hold back on you guys. Whether I have one or three things to tell you about, I’m posting! So this time around, I have one wonderful find for you .

Murder By Death

I recently went to see The Gaslight Anthem concert here in New York at Terminal 5. Murder By Death was the opening band and they were fantastic! They are a four member band from Indiana with a very original sound. The lead singer has one of the deepest voices I’ve heard in a while and has an awesome range. Attributing to their unique sound is the electric cello and keyboard which is used in most songs. I would have to say their sound is alternative country punk, but it’s hard to only classify them in those categories because they embody a lot of different styles. They have songs about everything from zombies to drinking whiskey. I bought their newest album Red of Tooth and Claw, and the first song, “Comin’ Home,” has the deepest vocals of the whole CD; its my favorite song thus far. With lyrics like:

“I got that taste in my mouth,
I got a hunger in my gut.
My skin has turned to leather.
My hair is banded rope.
My knees have buckled beneath the weight of doubt
but now i miss the things I have done without.

I’m comin’ home,
but I ain’t comin’ home for you.
I’m comin’ home and there ain’t nothin’ you can do about it.
Ain’t nothin’ you can do about it.”

Murder by Death taps into their life troubles and Midwestern roots for lyric inspiration. While listening to them, I feel like I’m in an old run down town in the middle of nowhere drinking my troubles away.

Photo I took at the Concert

Murder by Death is easy enough to listen to while doing work or painting; yet you may find yourself filled with a little more angst due to the tunes. I can’t write about them and not mention the similarity to Johnny Cash, the same deep vocals and simple ideas for songs but with more intense percussion and some bass and cello. A fantastic listen if you want to let your mind bring you to a dirt road out in Indiana.

Album Cover

I hope that I have satisfied your wandering minds. I know that this is a little different than my usual posts, but I hope you enjoy the more frequent finds. Now it’s almost Halloween, so get your fake spiderwebs out and listen to some band with a creepy name like Murder By Death or break out the classic monster mash . Happy Halloween!

-Kristin ( The Traveling Pickle)

My friend Jason posted these photos I took of Boredoms on his band’s blog.

Check it out and let me know what you think!!

THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS

The main contractors: Sisk, EPR Architects and Tonik Design.

The luxurious Sofitel London Heathrow has opened its doors for business, offering high-quality 5-star accommodation for those travellers flying from Terminal 5.

(PRWEB) August 10, 2008 — By combining first-class service with surroundings of elegance and refinement, the Sofitel London Heathrow – which cost £180 million to construct, offers 605 bedrooms. The glamorous 5 star Sofitel hotel was designed by architect Stephen Williams, who previously created the Conrad Hotel in Chelsea Harbour.

This will be a unique airport hotel due to its extensive landscaped areas, with existing river feature, which make the location not just suitable for the Terminal 5 Airport / Conference users, but also a destination location for the domestic market.
The architecture uses traditional materials of brick, stone and tile, which are appropriate for the landscape surroundings.

The hotel features provide fine dining restaurants and bar areas within an exciting 6 storey internal atrium with conference and leisure space within the wings of the hotel, theatre style cooking, a lobby bar, tea salon and a cocktail bar, as well as a state of the art Health Spa and Gym and extensive undercover car parking.

The hotel is connected to Terminal 5 via a covered walkway.
Should you need terminals 1,2,3,4, we advise you to take the Heathrow Express from Terminal 5 to your required terminal, which is free of charge.
For Terminal 4 you will need to change trains again at Heathrow Central and take the Heathrow Connect train to Terminal 4.
Both Heathrow Connect and Heathrow Express trains run every 15 minutes and are
free for the 5 minute journeys between Terminal 5, Central and Terminal 4.

British Airways’ first woman pilot will fly the first plane to taxi up to Heathrow’s new £4.3billion Terminal 5.

Captain Lynn Barton, 51, who made history when she took the controls in 1987, will be flight commander on BA026 from Hong Kong, due in at 4.50am on Thursday.

Lynn, who got the news after returning from a holiday in Barbados said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s a huge honour.”