Beauty and The Beads

Painter Mark Boedges suspects that in another life, he was a peasant farmer. His wife, Rebecca, teases that he must have been an ancient warrior. Regardless of whether I spent time digging trenches and forging rivers or whether I tilled the earth and fertilized the soil, I do have a connection to the land, Boedges writes in his artist statement, and it is this connection that has always informed my work and to which I continually try to give expression.

Now the 37-year-old artist also has a connection to a more urban spot. In early November, he and Rebecca opened Mark Boedges Fine Art Gallery on Battery Street in Burlington. The goal was to exhibit Boedges richly textured landscape paintings, but the couple will occasionally show other artists also. They want the gallery to be known for its high-quality representational art and plan to offer painting workshops and figure-drawing get-togethers there.

This month, a holiday show features small works by Eric Tobin, Charles Movalli, Gary Eckhart and Katharine Montstream, along with diminutive Christmas-themed still lifes by Boedges. He acknowledges that he knew it might be difficult to sell seasonal paintings (think artful arrangements of Christmas tree balls, poinsettia leaves and miniature snowmen), but he went ahead with them anyway.

For me, its a study in reds, he says. Boedges is an artist who takes pleasure in the study, and its evident in his work.

Two large landscapes (unaffiliated with the holiday series) currently anchor the gallery. One depicts an August sunset tearing through dark clouds over Lake Champlain, which Boedges captured from the grounds of All Souls Interfaith Gathering. Primarily a plein-air painter, he prefers not to work from photographs, he says, because most times I end up just correcting the photo.

The other large piece, a breathtaking view of the Appalachian Gap from a late- afternoon visit last fall, practically glows. Ive tried the Vermont fall hillside many times; its hard, Boedges admits. How do you make them brilliant and still believable?

Boedges candid written descriptions of his process, wall mounted beside a few of the paintings, are almost as captivating as his artwork. Francis Bacon said the job of the artist was to deepen the mystery, he writes. For Boedges, the goal is to walk the fine line between providing too much detail and not enough; to record what he sees while leaving room for the imagination.

In an age when all manner of visual media are easily produced and propagated, a well-crafted painting has one clear advantage: It has a real, tactile surface, he writes in another description. Depth is not just an illusion of pixels but a real quality of pigments layered and smooshed around a canvas. So I attempt to let the paint do what it does best: look like paint.

About the All Souls series which includes several smaller studies of the same sunset view, including one bisected by a thick, vertical pencil line Boedges writes, Sometimes a study done on location feels like an unalterable moment in time. He thought about erasing the pencil line, he explains, but resolved to leave it; the painting should reflect his experience out there by the lake.

Boedges, a native of St. Louis, Mo., has always been artistic, inspired and encouraged by his father, whom he calls a really good draftsman, and his grandfather, who painted and built musket rifles. But it wasnt until after Boedges graduated from college with a philosophy major that he began taking his painting seriously. These days, when hes not perched outside with his easel and paints, hes programming software for National Life.

Im an introvert, Boedges says with a smile, and cites the three interests that keep him blissfully focused inward: painting, programming and philosophy. When a visitor to his gallery points out the acoustic guitar propped against a wall, Boedges laughs at the suggestion that he might serenade gallery visitors. He only plays for his dog, Shelby, who, he says, is in gallery training.

In addition to his landscapes, Boedges paints still-lifes of flowers, eschewing the tendency of some artists to stage the scene. Ive seen guys tape a leaf down, he says. Id rather it be natural.

Lately, Boedges has been experimenting with leaving more detail out of his paintings. When he first moved into the gallery, he set up an easel on his front stoop. (The best marketing is when I just stand outside and paint, he says.) He looked south toward the Burlington railyard a departure from his more pastoral landscapes and painted what he saw, omitting the buildings and road in the foreground entirely.

The resulting panorama of stacked rail cars and rose-colored boulders is augmented with a little spattered paint. Boedges says he was trying out some Pollock.

His preference is still for painting trees and streams in the woods, even though the resulting works are usually a tougher sell than, say, a resplendent lakeside sunset. Chalk it up to his introverted personality or perhaps to his rugged past lives. Boedges says he would always rather be out in nature on his own, walking through the forest, easel in hand.

Mark Boedges Fine Art Gallery, 196 Battery Street, Burlington. Open Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m-7 pm; Sunday, noon-5 p.m; or by appointment. Info, 735-7317. markboedges.com

Divorce is ugly, and when pets get involved it can get downright mangy. I interviewed Steven May amp; David Pisarra, Esq., the authors of What About Wally: Co-Parenting a Pet with Your Ex to learn about what can happen when pet parents split up.

1. Pets are currently seen as a part of marital property division, in the same category as household items like furniture. How does this impact who gets the dog?

David Pisarra: Typically the courts will recognize whoever registered the dog with the city or has listed themselves as the owner during the vaccination process as the lawful owner of the dog. But with many couples, one pet parent may be listed on city records while another may show up on veterinary and microchip records or, in the case of purebreds, with the AKC.

In this case the court will look to who can provide the better home for the dog and consider such things as the amount of time an owner can spend with the dog, financial stability and which pet parent can provide the best overall living situation.

 2. Is it safe to assume that if a person entered the relationship with the dog, then they get to maintain ownership?

Pisarra: Generally yes. Because pets are considered property in most courts – what you came with is what you leave with. However, frequently fights break out over who owned what and then the courts will first consider licenses as a way of proving ownership. They will also consider other circumstances; much the same way they determine child custody. Is there a history of domestic violence which may lead the court to believe an owner would be violent towards a dog? Is drug abuse part of the equation? Extreme financial instability? A gambling problem or jail time?

So if you entered in to a relationship where your partner owned the dog, but feel it would be in the best interest of the dog if you took over ownership, you need to be prepared to prove why you would be the better parent with as much paperwork as possible.  

3. Do custody battles over pets get vindictive?

Pisarra: Oh, yes! I have represented a cop whose wife decided to give his dog to the pound in a city 25 miles away. If that dog hadn’t been micro-chipped and registered to him, the dog would have been euthanized. I’ve had other clients where the dog was put down at the vet by one spouse to get back at the other. 

I’ve seen couples battle just as vigorously and aggressively over custody of their dogs as they do over children. Most frequently this takes place with childless couples for obvious reasons. But what disturbs me is something that I also see play out in child custody cases and one of the reasons I wanted to write this book.

Oftentimes the dog will become nothing more than a tool for one spouse to hurt the other. A spouse may not even care if they take the dog or not but will fight for ownership out of spite. Unfortunately, if the dog ends up with the spiteful pet parent it may become a constant reminder of that person’s ex and be treated poorly. If behavioral problems develop in the dog it then may be given away or worse. One of the goals of this book is to help people avoid that outcome.  

4. Do dogs suffer from any emotional stress when their ‘parents’ go through a divorce or break-up?

Stephen May: As most any pet owner will attest to, dogs can be very sensitive. How many times have you come home from work after a bad day only to see your dog sensing your mood? Or maybe you’re having an argument with your spouse and you see your dog cowering in a corner. So when a break-up occurs usually the dog will have already experienced some stress due to the arguments that have taken place before the actual split-up. Some of the outward signs I’ve seen include hiding, nervous shaking, a loss of appetite, sleeping a lot and sometimes even diarrhea.

5. What is the most important element to ‘co-parenting’ a dog?

May: The most important element to co-parenting a dog is sharing equal responsibilities for their direct care. Actually, the steps aren’t much different than shared custody of a child. It’s all about both pet parents staying on the same page when it comes to acting in the best interest of their dog. This might include sharing walks, trips to the park and veterinary visits. It’s also important to try and maintain some semblance of consistency if the dog is going to be spending time at each of its parent’s houses such as similar feeding and exercise schedules.

One trick that I’ve seen work well is for each parent to either share or buy two sets of the dog’s favorite toys. This provides a sense of comfort to the dog no matter which home it is in.

6. What are the benefits to the pet parents from co-parenting?

May: Co-parenting can be a huge asset to the pet parents in their post break-up relationship. By having a shared interest and responsibility the pet parents create a common ground that can impact many of the other areas of their relationship. But many of the rules that come with co-parenting a child are also at play with a dog.

Oftentimes in bitter divorces something called “Parental Alienation” takes place where one parent will sabotage their child’s relationship with the other parent. With dogs this can be a situation where one pet parent doesn’t follow the training or house rules that have been established, gives the dog whatever it wants to eat and generally doesn’t provide any leadership. When the dog returns to the other parent, and the rules are re-established, this can cause confusion which may manifest itself in behavioral issues. So just like it is with a child; consistency is key.  

TORONTO, Dec 05, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –
TransUnion today announced the promotion of Daniel Smith to vice
president of financial services for TransUnion in Canada. In his new
role, Smith will lead the financial vertical sales team, further
enhancing and growing TransUnion’s presence in Canadian markets.

“Dan has a track record of results that have significantly moved the
needle for TransUnion and our clients. He brings a deep understanding
of the financial services industry and the challenges and
opportunities our customers are facing,” said Ken Porter, president
of TransUnion Canada. “Dan’s promotion is a reflection of
TransUnion’s commitment to developing leaders from within and
leveraging assets and experience to benefit our customers. We are
thrilled to welcome him to our team.”

Smith has nearly 20 years of experience in sales and project
management at TransUnion. Most recently, he served as vice president
of financial services, managing the relationships for some of the
largest financial institutions in the U.S. Smith’s new position in
Canada supports TransUnion’s efforts to improve speed to market and
accelerate market share growth in financial services. Smith will
report to Ken Porter, president of TransUnion Canada.

About TransUnion
As a global leader in information and risk
management, TransUnion creates advantages for millions of people
around the world by gathering, analyzing and delivering information.
For businesses, TransUnion helps improve efficiency, manage risk,
reduce costs and increase revenue by delivering high quality data,
and integrating advanced analytics and enhanced decision-making
capabilities. For consumers, TransUnion provides the tools, resources
and education to help manage their credit health and achieve their
financial goals. Through these and other efforts, TransUnion is
working to build stronger economies worldwide. Based in Burlington,
Ontario, with global headquarters located in Chicago, Illinois,
TransUnion provides local service and support throughout Canada.
Visit
www.transunion.ca to learn more.

Contact:
Clifton M. O’Neal
E-mail: Email Contact
Telephone: +1 312 985 2540

SOURCE: TransUnion

http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=0BE4F23E3F865B6C

Copyright 2011 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved.

BEIJING – Chinas top broadcasting watchdog has banned the TV shopping programs of 19 companies from screens after they were found to have less registered capital than the minimum amount required for such programs.

The registered capital of those companies range from 1 million yuan($157,480) to 5.08 million yuan, less than the required amount of 10 million yuan, read a circular recently posted on the website of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).

Among the companies, five are from Beijing and others are based in provincial regions including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Shanghai, Guangdong, Jilin and Hainan, according to an attached file to the circular.

The SARFT has ordered TV stations to suspend their TV shopping programs and only to renew their contracts when the companies become qualified, read the circular.

TV stations that have lax supervision will risk serious punishment, the SARFT warned.

In China, TV shopping programs are sometimes used by fraudsters to sell shoddy products. Commercials for drugs, medical equipment and health supplements for sexual enhancement used to be rampant on Chinas screens.

While Chinese urban residents are more wary of these TV programs due to constant exposure, TV shopping is relatively novel for people in rural areas.

On Sept 10, 2009, the SARFT put forward a set of requirements for companies that want to have their products sold via TV shopping programs.

Companies are required to have at least 10 million yuan of registered capital, a regular operation venue and distribution channels.

On Feb 20, 2010, the SARFT issued a circular that required broadcasting authorities to tighten their rein on TV shopping programs, and to verify enterprises qualifications before airing their TV shopping commercials.

According to the 2010 circular, the SARFT would name and shame the offending broadcasters and would temporarily ban them from airing all commercial advertisements as punishment.

In serious cases, broadcasters would risk having their broadcasting license revoked.

Band Of Skulls bass player Emma Richardson is set to host a new exhibition of her paintings.

Known for gutsy, blues rock thrills it seems that Band Of Skulls have some hidden talents. Bass player Emma Richardson is a trained artist, graduating with a BA in Fine Art (Painting) from Winchester School of Art in 2004.

The design for the bands debut album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey utilised some of her art works, with the group planning something similar for follow up Sweet Sour.

With this in mind, Emma Richardson has agreed to host an exhibition of her work. Held in LONDONEWCASTLE PROJECT SPACE, Cruisin’ For A Brusin’ will contain paintings constructed during sessions for each of the bands two studio albums.

Richardson’s large-scale abstract paintings make frequent use of oil on canvas, with Lucien Freud an obvious reference point. Fancy an example? Well the painting in yonder corner is by Emma Richardson, and was used as the cover for Band Of Skulls single Youre Not Pretty But You Got It Goin On.

Cruisin’ For A Brusin’ runs between Thursday 2nd February – Sunday 12th February 2012.

- – -

Looking ahead to next year, Band Of Skulls are preparing to launch a full British tour. The band previously announced a number of shows, with a one off concert at the Roundhouse the latest to be unveiled.

Taking place on March 6th, the concert will bring their upcoming tour to a rest. Tickets are on sale now!

Band Of Skulls are set to play the following shows:

February
17 Darlington Inside Out
18 Leeds University
19 Stoke Sugarmill
21 Glasgow Arches
22 Aberdeen Lemon Tree
23 Inverness Ironworks
25 Belfast Limelight
26 Dublin Academy
27 Leicester Academy
29 Norwich Waterfront

March
1 Oxford Academy
2 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
4 Exeter Phoenix
5 Brighton Concorde
6 London Roundhouse

Click here to buy tickets for Band Of Skulls!

As he waited for the Monday night wish-list contingent to make its way to his lap on the Gallery at Market East throne, Santa Claus got to talking about how he got into this line of Christmas-season work.

It started seven, maybe eight, years ago on a Caribbean cruise. People deemed his bushy white beard as being unquestionably Clausian and his wife as being an onboard Mrs. Claus twin. First, the cruise-ship entertainers asked him onstage where he listed his home address as the North Pole. Then, he and Mrs. Claus realized the two front-row center seats were always reserved for their use. At the semi-formal dinner, they got a standing ovation.

That really took me by surprise, Mr. Claus said.

As they walked the decks post-dessert, children were rushing at him, tugging his leg, telling him what they wanted for Christmas. Saying oh thank you, oh thank you as he listened to their every word that Christmas Eve.

In short, it seemed that his holiday life-path was being chosen for him. In the tropics, of all places. Not that he minded in the least. After all, he knew he did look like jolly old St. Nick.

But then, something else happened which stamped his Christmas passport once and for all.

Fate intervenes in casting a mall Santa

The setting: a Santa-less Granite Run Mall the next year.

The elves approached me by the escalators. They said, You know, you look a lot like Santa, and ours is out sick. Can you fill in? Santa recalled. Id never been Santa before. I think I had more fun than the kids.

He donned the suit, loved the experience and has been Santa ever since, if he wasnt all along.

In subsequent years, hes come to relish the smiles and beaming eyes of children when asked what they want for Christmas. Hes come to learn that a simple high five can break the ice with a child whos frightened by bright costumes and ruddy cheeks.

These past three Monday nights at six, though, have been something hes never seen before: Bring your pets to see Santa night at the Gallery. Sure, its been in Santas contract for years, but until this holiday season, he had never discussed Christmas wishes with animals.

Animals like gifts, too

In the first two weeks, Santa said he saw about 12 dogs and one cat. They were all well-behaved. Even the cat, which came as a surprise since felines tend to have independent streaks. But, he does have rules.

I havent had any rhinos or crocodiles or anything like that, so its worked out well, he recounted before chatting with a couple of beaming brother-and-sister tandems and, among a handful of others, a girl wearing a tiara and pageant-like dress.

No, he said when asked whether hed take gift requests from those animals. A rhino weighs too much and a crocodile might take my head off.

He had no problem, however, with Lilly, a Shih Tzu wearing a pink collar and purple jacket. Lillys owner, Jessica Keitt of South Philadelphia, recently brought the five-month old pup home from a breeder in Orlando, Fla.

Shes really good with my five kids, but Im a little scared about how shell react to Santa, said Keitt, who predicted Lilly might ask for some womens shoes since she has a penchant for gnawing on high heels.

Granted, Lilly squirmed a little bit once she got in Santas arms–they waited for a break in the childrens line out of concern for potential allergies–but she settled down, licking his face and trying to nestle in his beard. In fact, the only person who might be the least bit concerned is Keitt, whose holidays might have gotten a little bit more expensive than a $45 photo set and a few pair of heels.

A Maserati, Santa said of the Christmas request from Lilly. And, she wants a Rolex too.

Santa didnt seem to mind, though. After all, hes not buying. He does hope, however, that word gets out so he can meet more pets next holiday season.

Clopton Capital is announcing plans to possibly make semi truck financing a much larger portion of their overall business. This idea is due to the fact that they see the industry as all but recession-proof due to the non stop demand for freight to be moved and semi trucks to be purchased.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) December 05, 2011

Clopton Capital is a commercial lender, provider of many financial services and is located in Chicago, IL. They primarily focus on commercial mortgages, SBA loans and niche financing mechanisms such as gas station loans and owner operator financing. The founder of Clopton Capital is Jake Clopton and this press release is part of Clopton Capitals consistent effort to remain involved with the public, namely their future clients. Clopton Capital can be contacted at CloptonCapital.com.

Clopton Capital is announcing plans to possibly make semi truck financing a much larger portion of their overall business. This idea is due to the fact that they see the industry as all but recession-proof due to the non stop demand for freight to be moved and semi trucks to be purchased. For this reasons the firm has purchased numerous new website domains and devoted a larger portion of their marketing budget to semi truck financing. This part of the company was originally started as a supplemental business, and now it is close to being my primary concern, said Jake Clopton, the founder of Clopton Capital.

The firm intends to become the most well known commercial truck financing provider within the year 2012 by means of PR campaigns and continuous expansion of their web presence. They also intend to expand their client base by wholesaling their solutions to semi truck dealerships throughout North America. We are close to having a stranglehold on the semi truck financing market and intend to use it to our full advantage. We can do this both as a direct provider of loan services and as an indirect provider, said Matt Reed, an associate of Clopton Capital.

Clopton Capital can be contacted at their website CloptonCapital.com or at 866.647.1650 during regular business hours central time. Their website contains more specific information about their commercial loans. Their website dedicated entirely to semi truck financing is SemiTruckSource.com. To join CloptonCapital.coms link exchange visit CloptonCapital.com/link.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/12/prweb9012606.htm

Ophir Yakovian will join Lumenis in February 2011 as CFO.

Yokneam, Israel (PRWEB) December 05, 2011

Lumenis, the worlds largest medical laser company and a global developer, manufacturer and seller of laser and light-based devices for aesthetic, ophthalmic, and surgical applications, has named Ophir Yakovian as Chief Financial Officer effective February 1st 2012. We are delighted to welcome Ophir Yakovian, a versatile and experienced finance executive to Lumenis, said Dov Ofer, CEO. I am confident that Ophir will blend well into Lumenis culture, will further enhance our financial model of combining top-line growth with continuous margin improvement, and will bring significant value to our senior management team.

Ophir Yakovian previously held the position of Vice President of Finance at Verint Systems Inc., a global leader in Actionable Intelligence#174; Solutions and value-added services. Prior to joining Verint, he served as Corporate Controller at Metalink Ltd. Mr. Yakovian has a BA in Accounting and Economics and MA in Business Economics from Bar Ilan University, and is a certified public accountant.

Mr. Yakovian will replace Aviram Steinhart who has left Lumenis in order to join Ceragon Networks Ltd. a leader in the telecommunications industry, as its new CFO. Avirams significant contribution to the design and implementation of Lumenis turnaround is recognized throughout the company, and on behalf of our board of directors and management team I wish him well as he pursues the next chapter of his career, said Dov Ofer, CEO.

About Lumenis

Lumenis, the worlds largest medical laser company, is a global developer, manufacturer and distributor of laser and light-based devices for surgical, ophthalmic and aesthetic applications, with more than 800 employees worldwide. Lumenis has 270 registered patents, over 100 FDA clearances, an installed base of over 80,000 systems and a presence in over 100 countries. Lumenis endeavors to bring the finest state of the art technology products to the market, fulfilling the highest standards of excellence, quality and reliability, delivering premium value and service to its customers. The name Lumenis is derived from the Latin words meaning Light of Life highlighting the light, which is the basis of our technologies, used to enhance life. For more information about Lumenis and its products, please visit: www.lumenis.com.

For further information contact:

Michelle Maydan

Director of Corporate Communications

1-866-569-0597

+972-4-959-9004

e-mail: mmaydan(at)lumenis(dot)com

Lumenis#174; is a registered trademark of Lumenis and its affiliated companies.

# # #

For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/12/prweb9002296.htm

As the weather gets colder, your pet requires special attention. Here are some tips on how to keep them warm and safe during the winter months.

Bringing your pets indoors

Although some pets are conditioned to cold weather, veterinary experts agree that you should bring outdoor pets indoors if the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Puppies, kittens and short-haired pets should come inside anytime the temperature goes below 40 degrees.

Monitor all pets around wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and space heaters. These can cause severe burns.

When your pet stays outdoors

If your pet must stay outdoors, be sure to provide shelter for him or her. A good house will have three enclosed sides, will be elevated off the ground, and will contain generous amounts of bedding such as straw or hay.

In cold weather, bigger is not always better. A house just big enough for your pet will warm up faster and retain heat better than something that is too big.

Your pet will need access to fresh water that isnt frozen. Use heated water bowls and replenish them frequently.

Grooming during the winter

For pets with long hair, proper grooming is essential to help them maintain a layer of warming air within their coat. Pets who are heavily matted cannot keep themselves as warm.

Common cold weather dangers

Antifreeze has a sweet taste to pets, so they will readily lap up any spilled material. If you spill antifreeze, dilute the area well with water and sweep excess water into a rocky or sandy area. Cover area with soil to keep pets from licking at the rocks. Antifreeze is a common and deadly pet poisoning during colder months. If you suspect your pet has consumed any antifreeze at all, you must contact your veterinarian immediately.

Cats love to warm up underneath car hoods. If your car is kept outdoors, or if cats have access to your garage, be sure to pound on the hood of the car prior to starting it. Many cats are killed or injured grievously by fan belts and moving engine parts.

Pets should not be left alone in vehicles due to the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning or hypothermia.

Our pets can suffer from frostbite and hypothermia just like humans do. Consider keeping dogs on a leash when they go outside. Many curious dogs off leash will explore frozen retention ponds, lakes or streams and fall through the ice into frigid water.

Older pets may suffer more from arthritis during these months. Ask your veterinarian about ways to help keep your senior pet comfortable during the winter.

This is a great time of year to see your veterinarian about a winter checkup for your pet. Their advice and expertise can help keep your pet safe and warm.

The North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association (NCVMA) is a professional organization of veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine. For more information, visit www.ncvma.org, follow us on Twitter at @NCVMA, or call 800-446-2862 or 919-851-5850.

Pet therapy isnt just for nursing homes and hospitals — students at the University of Arizona law school are also receiving visits from furry visitors to help relieve end-of-year stress.

University of Arizona News reported that volunteers and animals from the Delta Society, an animal therapy service, are visiting the James E. Rogers College of Law this week, as students prepare for final exams and projects. Some dogs even had Starbucks gift certificates tucked into their vests.

You can just see the stress levels go down, Delta Society volunteer Joan Leslie told UA News.

Pets cant necessarily cure stress or other mental health problems, but they can help because of the comfort and unconditional love they provide, WebMD reported.

Pets just feel good to hold on to, psychologist Teri Wright, PhD, who practices in Santa Ana, Calif., told WebMD.

Other schools also provide pet therapy services for its students. The New York Times reported earlier this year that Yale Law School was doing a trial run with Monty the therapy dog, available for lending to students for 30-minute periods.

And also for finals season this year, the student government at Arizona Western College is offering therapy dogs to students to help them chill out during the stressful time of year, the Yuma Sun reported. Therapy dogs are or were also available at the University of California, San Diego, as well as California State University San Bernardino, according to news reports.

For more health benefits of pets, click through this slideshow from HuffPost blogger Joan Liebmann-Smith, Ph.D: