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Illuminating York
11:53am Friday 29th October 2010
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* By Charles Hutchinson »
WHOEVER had the bright idea to create Illuminating York should have their name up in lights.
Whoever decides that York’s autumn festival should run for only four days deserves to sit in a dark corner.
No doubt, financial strictures and health and safety requirements necessitate that this nocturnal nirvana should pass as quickly as the life of a dragonfly. So, as we’re all in this together, just make the most of its radiant beauty, surprise and wonder before it disappears with the final curtain for British Summer Time.
The centrepiece has returned to the towering edifice of York Minster, where Patrice Warrener’s The Heart Of Yorkshire embedded itself in the memory and on a thousand screen-savers in 2005.
So much so that those expecting to see the West Front lit up once more should be alerted to projection artist Ross Ashton and sound artist Karen Monid’s son et lumiere installation being on the Rose window and South Transept instead.
The clue is in the title, Rose, an audio-visual celebration of the Yorkshire rose that complements ever-changing imagery of roses and religious iconography with a soundtrack of choral music and poetry testifying to a rose’s symbolism of purity and love.
The sheets of rain and the psychedelic cascade of tumbling white roses are particularly striking but one tip: stand as close as possible to the centre to hear the sound that otherwise drifts on the wind.
You decide whether to see Rose first or save it for last, as nearby in Dean’s Park is a handful of smaller-scale works, a couple of them that may well require you to queue to enter their inner sanctum.
Impossible Theatre’s ChromaVan seats five or six in its warm womb where colours will play off your clothing while a computer will interpret the meaning of your three favourite colours in a twist on reading horoscopes.
Introduced to the festival organisers by Theatre Royal artistic director Damian Cruden, The Ice Book is another inner haven, this one seating eight at a time as a pop-up animated story of an ice-hearted princess luring a man into the woods to warm her comes to life in “possibly smallest show in the world”, made from sheets of paper and light.
Look out for Julia Spall’s panel of stained glass too, but give most time to LightWeight, Impossible Theatre’s new four-metre-high sphere, a luminescent globe, not with a snowstorm, but films of York from the Yorkshire Film Archive and a roving eye that follows you.
Apparently burglar-alarm technology is involved in a magical and moving 360-degrees experience created by the Slaithwaite sleight of hand of Chris Squire.
Comments always appreciated, as long as you keep it clean - I love to hear your feedback! xx
We went to Cognac for Rebekah's birthday and had a lovely meal!
It was a weeknight so we had the whole place to ourselves. And the food was amazing as always!
Everypne digging in to Rebekah's birthday dessert, ha ha!
I wanted to comment on this.The feet and bill are very sharp. I waited until he got in this position before I shot. I have shot so many OOF BIF shots of big birds. I have got to where I think of the shot a drawing on a piece of paper. If it is at right angles to me or head and toe are the same distance to me then I try to take the pic. I have not gotten good enough to use spot focus on the eye and shoot yet. That would be the ideal way to shoot these guys.
New research suggests that ’likes’ and clicking links online are not enough to ensure long-term sales. Brands need to get people typing comments and more involved with content if they are to turn them into actual customers.The consumers who most actively use branded social media content are the ones most likely to maintain a relationship with those brands in future, claims new research for Marketing Week.
Seventy-eight per cent of people visiting and interacting with a brand’s Facebook page are likely to continue the relationship by visiting its website or considering it for purchase. Just thirty-four per cent of the people who say they are unlikely to interact with a brand’s social media presence on Facebook are likely to do the same.With the role of social media under question, Starcom MediaVest Group’s strategic development director Jim Kite explains: “The deeper the interaction with social media, the greater the likelihood of moving the consumer from enquiry to brand preference.”
The research draws on a study using a representative sample of 6,000 regular Facebook, YouTube and Twitter users in June. They were asked to spend several minutes interacting with content on brands’ Facebook and YouTube pages in product categories where they had already registered an interest. Respondents were asked to participate in activities requiring a range of involvement, from watching videos, posting comments, playing games and following brands on Twitter or tweeting about them.
The study claims that it is not just being aware of brands on social media platforms that leads people to continue that relationship or buy goods. It is the level of interaction or “doing something” with branded content that has a bearing.
To read the full article visit Marketing Week.
" My intervention this evening will be difficult as I may not be able to match the comments of the two preceding speakers, Chairman Dr John Guneratne, and "Madam-Sir" Manel, to give her honourable designation. Let my comment this evening be something like a trailer for an exciting movie. Movie-trailers should entice viewers to decide definitely to see the full movie, the complete works. My trailer tonight I trust would compel people to read the real thing: the uncensored "Madame-Sir" in its entirety. John and I are, of course, under instructions from Manel to "indulge in friendly banter" so that this book launch is not an exercise in pious literary criticism and international relations theories but rather "a fun event to relax and enjoy" as she said a while ago.
Many of you lawlessly broke queues to have the book endorsed with a "Triple A" status ("authentic-author-autographed"). The title of the book , embodies, in a way, its predominant theme song - sex. I do not mean this in the conventional sense as many of you would have it, but rather in its global connotations as an issue involving the role, status, prejudices and human rights of both sexes - "Madame" the female appellation, and "Sir " the male appellation are combined. This is not a struggle between Women on one hand, and we-Men on the other. It a situation in which parity of rights and benefits between the two are sought to be ensured.
As all of you are aware, Manel was the first female Ambassador of our island and therefore a pioneer. She fulfilled all the tough criteria and tests that we men have to establish before approval and appointment as Ambassadors or High Commissioners in the Diplomatic Service. I speak now as in a sequence of a movie trailer. At page 36, she is cleared by her first Interview Board which had consisted of a trio including the Permanent Secretary of what was then the Ministry of Defence and Foreign Affairs. After the second interview, before the Public Services Commission, she had insisted that her father also comes along for the final test as she was scared of the "what-will-people-think-no-aney" syndrome had she been seen going for it alone. This was of course the VD test which she also passed. There were then no DVDs to record such special events.
With such achievements, she was able to attend the first UN Conference on Women held in Vienna with the then Prime Minister of Ceylon Madame Sirimavo Bandaranaike who had become the world’s first woman PM. Although the PM, justifiably and effectively made the keynote address, Manel acidly comments that the Conference was chaired ( not even shared) by a man, the Attorney General of Mexico. However, on her return home, Manel with the assistance of Miss Sunethra Bandaranaike (who is here watching this trailer), was able to get our Information Department to publish the first book where the starring roles are played by women. Other scenes of the tender often slender gender balance embellish the book, including a scene where Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, encountered her in Thailand when she was Charge d’affaires of Ceylon (the first such female). His Royal Highness observing this Madame-Sir had, a trifle in doubt perhaps, enquired (page 103) from her, "Are you really the Charge d’ affaires of Ceylon?"Manel replied, "Yes Your Royal Highness, God help us, I am!"
Beyond those majestic moments, Manel has done much to prove her mettle. She has helped to advance women’s rights when Prime Minister Premadasa set up Sri Lanka’s first Women’s Ministry – or to use its proper title ( I am not being funny or punny), the Ministry for Womens’s Affairs.
My first meeting with Manel was way back in 1966 when Jayantha Dhanapala and I (accompanied by our respective wives, Maureen and Chitra) flew to London. Jayantha was to take up duties as Third Secretary at our High Commission. I, foolishly, on swallowing faulty commercial intelligence, was to buy suits for my skinny body in London, in the heretic belief that all Germans were of very large girth and that I could not therefore buy, cheaper ready-made clothes to fit me in Bonn, my maiden posting, as I could in London. Alas, in London, the hotel bookings requested for Chitra and me had not worked out and it was Manel (who had come to the airport, officially, to pick up the Dhanapalas) who rushed about and patiently worked wonders in London to secure a room for me and Chitra which was well within our meager budget. She saved us from a daze in a maze of a city which we had seen only in the movies. That was our close encounter of the first kind with Manel.
Incidentally, her memoirs recall a German Shepherd called "Fuzzy", as well as a "Nihal" on her staff in Bonn. It must be noted that the Nihal she mentions should not be confused with Maalu Nihal, Nawala Nihal, or me, who some people persist in calling "Borella Nihal". The title applies only to my place of residence and not to any corporate connectivity.
A decade later we worked together on parallel duties for the 5th Non-aligned Summit in Colombo. It was the first Summit, significantly, to be chaired by a woman Head of State, and a Summit facilitated by the first woman Chief of Protocol – and this despite the Chief of Protocol claiming, in her book, to have got her legs "aligned" from a non-aligned status. I was on the political side. She recalls experiences she had with Kings, Presidents and Prime Ministers the likes of Tito of Yugoslavia, Gandhi (India), Boumedienne (Algeria), Sadat (Egypt), Gadafi (Libya), Kaunda (Zambia), Makarios (Cyprus), Birendra (Nepal) and many other political stars. Apart from the over 80 states which participated in the Colombo Summit, there were around 30 Observers, including Western countries and liberation organizations which later emerged as the independent states of South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Her script leaves out how she pitched her arguments on the request made by President Gadafi that she pitch a tent on Galle Face Green as his preferred accommodation rather than at a conventional hotel suite. She never lost her cool even when another VVIP was lost… and found later in a small hotel, well away, from the designated Summit hotels. There were other sensitive protocol duties like reducing the effect on blouses and cholis, worn by Sri Lanka’s own female assistants caused by excessive exposure to air-conditioning at the BMICH as well as the stares and glares that were provoked by the innocent ladies.
The protocol aspects, including the complex ceremonial opening session with scores of VVIP motorcades arriving and departing in well-timed sequence from the BMICH, were handled very efficiently and in an expeditious manner. In fact, when I was posted to our Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York to assist our Permanent Representative, Ambassador Shirley Amarasinghe in follow up work on the Summit, some Cuban colleagues sought our advice and some demonstrative film-footage recordings of the ceremonies for receiving Heads of State in order to help planning for the next Summit in Havana. Pages 129 onwards provide more footage on the Colombo Summit which was a great success. Lessons were learnt on practical protocol procedures and are reported from page 138.
A few more comments would be of interest on the issue of the "hit list" side of foreign affairs management about which John has already spoken. The political work of the Summit was excellently handled by Ambassador Shirley Amarasinghe who may have been, for reasons unknown, unfortunately on some "hit list". I should perhaps focus a close-up on that theme. In addition to being our Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York, Shirley was at the same time also the President of the UN General Assembly for the Sessions in 1976, as well being Chairman of the Law of the Sea Conference which was reaching its most decisive stage about that time. Shortly after the NAM Summit, in 1977, there was a major change of Government in Sri Lanka. The New York Times reported President J.R. Jayewardene’s considered opinion that "there were only two Non-aligned countries in the world" - the United States of America and the USSR. He felt that Sri Lanka continuing to function as the Chairman of the Non-aligned movement until the next Summit (in Havana, Cuba in 1979) was not justified and even risky. He also decided that Shirley Amarasinghe needed to be replaced by a well-known lawyer, B. J. Fernando who was thus appointed Permanent Representative at the United Nations.
B.J. Fernando, on arrival in New York was convinced that there was great benefit to be derived by Sri Lanka continuing as Chairman of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM). The pros and cons were patiently explained to a cynical President by all of us. To President Jayewardene’s credit, he saw reason and eventually decided that Sri Lanka should continue on its full 3-Year term as Chairman of the NAM without quitting.
However, on the other hand, at a particularly crucial stage in the negotiations on the Law of the Sea, the President refused to permit the continuation of Shirley Amarasinghe as Sri Lanka’s nominee for the post of Chairman of the Conference. All advice went unheeded. Perhaps someone had Shirley nominated for membership in the "Hit List". Eventually, the entire international community felt that the services and sagacity of Shirley Amarasinghe were too precious, even indispensible to be rejected. I was personally approached by some UN member states on the issue including by one Permanent Representative who asked me, on behalf of his own Government, to inform Amarasinghe that diplomatic rank and nomination for continued Chairmanship could be provided, if necessary, by his own Head of State. Shirley’s sole obligation would be to make one, I believe, symbolic address annually to the Parliament of that country. I reported the offer to Shirley who expressed strong indignation and anger, berating me for "even listening" to what he called an "unacceptable offer" as he would continue to remain a Sri Lankan and not ride on foreign nominations or credentials. To fast forward the drama, eventually the entire international community represented at the United Nations decided, by consensus, to retain Shirley even without diplomatic rank….and thus he continued as LOS Chair. There was no precedent, nor I think any repetition of such an international consensus as far as I am aware.
Manel’s Memoirs describe also her involvement as perhaps the first woman to successfully cope in handling not one, but two hijacking attempts, combining a firm hand, a smiling face and a hard-working brain ( where ever she claims it is located). The first case involved an Indonesian aircraft that had been hijacked by some Islamic fundamentalists who were hoping to fly, transiting Colombo, to a destination in the Middle East. See the details from page 174 onwards. The second incident was one (early globalization of hi-jacking processes?) where a Sri Lankan, Sepala Ekanayake, had boarded an Alitalia Boeing aircraft holding 170 passengers hostage, as many of you would recall. Here Manel was helped by her own sex , meaning two women, one working in Royal Nepal Airlines and the other employed in a Travel Service company. I leave it to this audience to read all about it as Manel describes the encounter from page 186 onwards.
Eventually, like Chairman John and I, having hit three score years and 10 not out, Manel was re-cycled into various activities which she covers in the concluding chapters of "Madame-Sir"
Lakshman Kadirgamar (whose maiden speech as President of the Oxford Union was listened to in days long gone by a rapt Manel, as a maiden wrapped-up in saree seated on the ground), when Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka decades later, entrusted her with key assignments. They included updating of all the Foreign Ministry’s protocol circulars in order to streamline them and render them more practical, effective and, most important, relevant to changing times. She was also involved in working out training programmes for our new Foreign Service recruits including at the Sri Lanka Institute of Foreign Relations which came to be known as the Kadirgamar Centre. It is currently the venue of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission which includes, among its eminent members, two of the top-most retirees of the Foreign Ministry, Siripala Palihakkara and Rohan Perera who are both present here despite their busy schedules.
One of the Lessons Manel learnt and now seeks to teach and preach perhaps through the outreach of her book, are that there be nothing really "foreign" to a Sri Lankan Foreign Service officer’s work. Following the horrible events of 1983, she also served under Bradman Weerakoon who was Commissioner General of Essential Services when she learnt much about organizing temporary camps for violently displaced persons and what she describes as "the depths to which human misery can sink". She also deals with our relations with India in the aftermath of 1983.
In the final chapter of her book she lists 14 Lessons she has learnt. Two of them are particularly vital to anyone in any State Service. They are numbers seven and eight the essence of which I thought I should read out: Number seven urges that "unprincipled actions even if (one is) ordered" to take them by bosses should never be taken. Number eight urges one "to speak up to seniors" even of the highest ranks especially if they are "about to embark on a wrong track". Her experience, she states, is that leaders would "understand if matters are explained politely and with confidence and (they) realize that it is for their own good that you have spoken". She mentions proof for these assertions as provided by a lady. Read all about it in Chapter XI.
Have fun".
(The Island - 19/12/2010)
please comment or make it a fav if you like the picture :-) That makes the photographer happy
Kommentare oder Favoriten sind immer Willkommen und machen den Fotografen glücklich ;-)
Comments and criticism welcome but awards or animated gifs will be deleted.
Although usually lacking the supporting cast of clouds, the sunsets of the back of "Let's Talk Trash" are beautiful! This was the last day on vacation and had a great day at the beach.
A Little bit of HDR in this one to make the clouds pop.
Passer by: "C'est tres jolie"
Me: "Merci beaucoup"
Drawing": www.flickr.com/photos/33427270@N05/3204134301/in/set-7215...
© www.adamclutterbuckphotography.com
Ilford XP2
A few words about this camera here.
Please no graphics in your comments or invites!
Christine commented on how it looked natural with some left unwrapped, so I left some of them "naked" this time, and they look lovely
Comments always appreciated, as long as you keep it clean - I love to hear your feedback! xx
Gemma was visiting, and we had a brilliant and unexpected night out on Prince's Avenue in Hoi.
There was a live act on - Smooth Operator, a vocal and sax 80s tribute band and they were brilliant! Lots of 80s classics. And what lovely people they were!
Hoi has booked them again for the end of August so we're very much looking forward to seeing them again!
Also we bumped into the lovely Elle who works at Humber Social. She was in with a few family members. Lovely to see them!
Comment trouvez-vous cette photo? Je crois qu'exclure les yeux du cadre va devenir une nouvelle manie! xD
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comments by CR:
Skirmish - Clifford D. Simak [589 2014-02-11]
"Skirmish"(1977) is a collection of ten stories by the noted science-fiction author Clifford Simak (1904-88). The stories were all previously published during years 1944-75.
In addition to the stories there is a very informative 5-page author's forward. Simak details the themes he uses, the type of characters that appeal to him and his use of southwest Wisconsin as a local for many of his stories.
The following are comments on the stories in the order they appear in the book:
"Huddling Place"(1944) and "Desertion"(1944) may be familiar to some readers since they are chapters from the author's future history novel "City". The stories can be enjoyed individually but interested readers should read them again in the context of the book "City".
"Skirmish"(1950) originally published under the title "Bathe Your Bearings in Blood" features a newspaper editor as the protagonist - interestingly that was author Simak's day job for most of his working life. Alien beings animate machines - typewriter, sewing machine etc. prior to an outright invasion and the subjugating of mankind. This 60 plus year old story has not aged well.
"Good Night, Mr. James"(1951) a vicious alien being is let loose in a Midwestern city and must be apprehended before they reproduce. A nasty twist of fate for the protagonist awaits readers in the stories last sentence.
"The Sitters"(1958) the location for this thoughtful story of human aging and benevolent alien beings is the town Millville - a local used frequently in Simak's fiction and the name of the town where he was raised.
"The Big Front Yard"(1958) this story won the Hugo award for best novelette published during 1958. I found this story just too cute and overflowing with SF stereotypes and full of logical impossibilities but many Simak fans think this is one of his better stories.
"All the Traps of Earth"(1960) one of the best stories in the collection in my estimation. The two themes that permeated much of Simak's fiction, robots and mankind's intellectual evolution, are thoughtfully parsed out in this absorbing tale.
"The Thing in the Stone"(1970) a man retreats to a dilapidated farm in southwest Wisconsin to heal from an accident that killed his family. In this geological pristine location he become aware that a head injury gives him a view into the ancient past where he discovers an enigmatic mystery.
"The Autumn Land"(1971) an old town in a hidden Midwest valley serves as a metaphor for an indeterminate rest stop after death. In his introduction to this collection Simak states he was very pleased with this story - and so was this reader.
"The Ghost of a Model T"(1975) another metaphoric story of life after death. A model T automobile drives two presumably dead individuals around reliving some prior life experiences.
If you are curious or new to the writings of Simak this collection is well worth reading.