When questioned about the audience for whom she writes, Toni Morrison replies: “Only me.” This is not to say her writing is a self-serving practice. In fact, Morrison primarily sees the act of writing as a social obligation in an age of despair. In a recent article for The Nation, she recalls the wisdom of a friend: “This is precisely the time when artists go to work—not when everything is fine, but in times of dread. That’s our job!”
Morrison feels socially obliged to write for “only me,” because she—as an African-American woman—is an audience whom many writers have ignored, and continue to ignore. In an interview this month, with the New York Times she says, “What I’m interested in is writing without the gaze, without the white gaze […] In so many earlier books by African-American writers, particularly the men, I felt that they were not writing to me.” In her fiction, therefore, Morrison does away with the problematic assumption by writers that the reader is white and male, and in so doing undercuts the white privilege that violates—in countless ways—the lives of people of color.
By averting the white gaze, and writing instead for an African-American woman, Morrison affirms that her own experience of life is a valuable one; “African-American culture and people—good, bad, indifferent, whatever […] that, for [her, is] the universe.” By limiting her audience to herself she also claims responsibility for her work, and so harnesses the potential of her writing to enact social change. She explains, “After all, this is my work. I have to take full responsibility for doing it right as well as doing it wrong.”
By averting the white gaze, and writing instead for an African-American woman, Morrison affirms that her own experience of life is a valuable one.
Writing responsibly is a theme about which Charles Johnson, author of National Book Award-winning novel Middle Passage, has written at length. In Turning the Wheel, a collection of essays, Johnson describes ‘responsible’ fiction and why it is necessary. “Truly responsible storytelling […] then, may do no more than rotate around various perspectives, treating each truth as if it were the truth (which it is for a character) and settle on no position at all […] We are responsible for the way the world appears before us […] and for the impact our vision has on others.”
Morrison’s 2008 novel, A Mercy, like the entirety of her work, is responsible fiction according to Johnson’s standards. She eschews one-dimensional characters and narratives in favour of a varied complexity. “It’s important not to have a totalizing view. In American literature we have been so totalized—as though there is only one version […] I try to give some credibility to all sorts of voices, each of which is profoundly different.”
Morrison’s embrace of complexity does not, however, make A Mercy an easy read. The reader must navigate her way through the book on her own, passing through, taking on the perspectives of numerous characters. Florens the slave-girl, Lina the Native American orphan, and Jacob and Rebekka—their white colonial owners—are just four of the minds Morrison would have her readers inhabit.
Morrison’s demand that we find our own way through the narrative is the novel’s triumph; it is what gives A Mercy the potential to enact lasting change in her readers. She provides readers with an authentic vision of the world—alternately free and enslaved as it is—and so invites us to struggle with the questions such a vision raises.
By focusing on the distinctive situations of her characters during the early development of America, Morrison obliquely calls attention to the continuities between that time and our own.
In some ways, Morrison’s representation of freedom and slavery in America is highly specific to the 17th century period within which A Mercy is set. Florens casually comes into the ownership of Jacob Vaark, a Dutch tradesman, as payment for a debt by the owner of an estate called Jublio. Lina, too, is a slave belonging to Jacob and his wife Rebekka; she is one of the few survivors of a tribe devastated by measles. In spite of these historical details, Morrison’s representation of slavery and freedom is in no way limited to this era. By focusing on the distinctive situations of her characters during the early development of America, Morrison obliquely calls attention to the continuities between that time and our own.
Jacob did not originally see himself as a slave-owner.When, early on in the novel, he is offered a slave, Jacob winces: “Flesh was not his commodity.” Once he learns about the pecuniary gains of using slaves in sugarcane farming, however, his discomfort melts away. “There was a profound difference between the intimacy of slave bodies at Jublio and a remote labor force in Barbados. Right? Right.” The ease with which Jacob enslaves people who are far away speaks to a form of enslavement that so many of us endorse today: the ongoing slavery of sweatshop workers and farmers—whose existence abroad is well known, who are grossly underpaid. Morrison shows us that the neither the thought processes that perpetuate slavery, nor slavery itself, are phenomena constrained by the temporal limits of the 17th> century.
In a fashion typical of her “responsible” writing, Morrison does not limit her depiction of slavery to the laborers. Jacob himself is enslaved to capitalism, and to the idea that owning things will bring him a definitive happiness. We see this as we watch Jacob build three houses, each bigger than the last. His wife Rebekka tracks the course of Jacob’s increasing greed: “It was some time before she noticed how the tales were fewer and the gifts were increasing, gifts that were becoming less practical, even whimsical. […] ‘We don’t need another house,’ she told him. ‘Certainly not one of such size.’ ‘Need is not the reason, wife. Understand me […] I will have it.’”
Florens, too—who suffers the cruel status of a slave in the Vaark household—is also denied freedom in ways other than her literal slavery. In an argument between Florens and the Blacksmith, her beloved, he refuses to speak to her any longer because she is a slave. Florens begs him to stay, saying, “I am adoring you […] You alone own me”; he replies, “You have become [a slave]… a slave to that.” In her infatuation with the Blacksmith, then, Florens has again been enslaved—but this time, to this man, by choice.
In her depiction of slavery as pervasive and multi-faceted, Morrison calls into question the form of freedom. All her characters, legally enslaved or not, suffer the absence of freedom. The book closes axiomatically: “to be given dominion over another is a hard thing; to wrest dominion over another is a wrong thing; to give dominion of yourself to another is a wicked thing.” Dominion in A Mercy is the same as slavery when it is seized or given up, whereas freedom appears to be the result of achieving, or receiving, dominion over another.
Her emphasis on dominion—a strikingly religious term—harks back to Morrison’s own relationship to her writing, which must be written with only herself in mind. Writing, she says, “is control […] It’s mine, it’s free.” She has been given dominion over her words, and Morrison retains that control by acting from a sense of responsibility.
It is by exercising dominion over her writing, then, that Morrison engages her freedom. Freedom from the white gaze; freedom to open up new and revelatory ways of seeing for her readers; freedom to enact social change. Because, in her own words: “There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.”
Eloise Blondiau currently studies religion, literature, and culture at Harvard Divinity School. Her interests include social justice, contemporary literature, and madness.
 Toni Morrison, interview by Elissa Schappell with additional material from Claudia Brodsky Lacour, The Paris Review n. 134, Spring 1995.
Image from Flickr via la Biblioteca de la Facultad de Derecho y Ciencias del Trabajo.


Having a wide dynamic range in your camera can be a game-changer when it comes to capturing stunning photographs. With a wide dynamic range, you have the ability to capture a wider range of both bright and dark areas in your photos, resulting in images that are rich in detail and true to life. This means that even in challenging lighting conditions, such as a bright sunny day or low-light setting, you can still achieve beautifully balanced and well-exposed shots. So, whether you’re a professional photographer or just a hobbyist looking to take your photography to the next level, incorporating a wide dynamic range into your camera can truly elevate your shots to new heights.
Highlight and Shadow Details
Having a camera with a wide dynamic range enables you to capture more detailed highlights and shadows in your photographs. With a wide dynamic range, your camera can accurately capture the bright areas without overexposing them, allowing you to retain the texture and color in those areas. Similarly, the camera can also capture the details in the dark areas without losing them to shadows. This means that you can capture a scene as close to how your eyes see it, with all the intricate details in both the brightest and darkest areas.
Reduced Noise in Shadows
One common issue with photographs taken in low-light or high-contrast situations is the presence of noise, particularly in the shadow areas. However, cameras with a wide dynamic range are designed to handle such situations better. By capturing more detail in the shadows, they also reduce the noise that can often be seen in those areas. This means that even when shooting in challenging lighting conditions, your camera will produce images with cleaner, smoother shadows, and less distracting noise.
High Contrast Scenes
Preserving Details in Bright Areas
One of the challenges in photographing high contrast scenes is retaining details in the bright areas. The human eye has a remarkable ability to perceive a wide range of brightness levels, but cameras often struggle to capture the same level of detail in both the bright and dark areas of a scene. However, cameras with a wide dynamic range excel in preserving details in the brightest areas, maintaining the texture and color that might otherwise be lost in overexposed highlights. This allows you to capture the intricate details of a scene, even in situations where there is a stark contrast between the brightest and darkest areas.
Retaining Details in Dark Areas
On the other end of the spectrum, a wide dynamic range also enables you to retain details in the dark areas of a high contrast scene. Instead of losing the details to black shadows, a camera with a wide dynamic range can capture those details and deliver images that showcase the textures, shapes, and colors found in the darker parts of the scene. This gives you the ability to capture scenes with a full range of tonal values, resulting in more visually engaging and compelling photographs.
Improved Image Quality
Enhanced Color and Tone
Wide dynamic range cameras not only excel in capturing a wide range of brightness levels but also greatly enhance the color and tone in your photographs. With their ability to capture more highlight and shadow details, these cameras can accurately reproduce the colors and tones present in the scene. This results in images with more vibrant and true-to-life colors, as well as a wider gamut of tones. Whether you’re photographing a vibrant landscape or a subtle portrait, a camera with a wide dynamic range will bring out the richness and depth of the colors, adding an extra level of visual appeal to your images.
More Flexibility in Post-processing
Another significant advantage of cameras with a wide dynamic range is the increased flexibility they provide during post-processing. Since these cameras capture a wider range of brightness levels, you have more room to adjust the exposure and tonal balance in your images without sacrificing detail or introducing noise. This gives you greater control over the final look of your photographs and allows you to achieve the desired mood or style. Whether you prefer a bright, airy aesthetic or a moody, dramatic look, a camera with a wide dynamic range provides you with the flexibility to achieve your vision in post-processing.
Better Handling of Backlight
Avoiding Overexposed Subjects
Backlit scenes can pose a challenge for photographers, as the bright background often leads to the subjects being underexposed or silhouetted. However, cameras with a wide dynamic range excel in handling backlight, allowing you to avoid overexposing your subjects. With their ability to capture a greater range of brightness levels, these cameras can properly expose both the subject and the background, resulting in well-balanced photographs. This means that even when shooting against a bright light source, such as a sunset or a window, your subjects will be properly exposed, preserving their details and ensuring they are the focal point of your image.
Maintaining Background Details
In addition to properly exposing your subjects, cameras with a wide dynamic range also excel in maintaining the details in the background of backlit scenes. In traditional photography, shooting against a bright background often results in a loss of detail and texture in the background, as the camera tries to properly expose the subjects. However, with a wide dynamic range camera, you can capture both the subject and the background with rich detail. This provides a sense of depth and context to your photographs, allowing the viewer to appreciate the entire scene, including the background elements that add to the overall story or atmosphere.
Greater Flexibility in Challenging Lighting Conditions
Balancing Exposure in Mixed Light
Photographing in mixed lighting conditions, such as a room with both natural and artificial light sources, can be tricky. However, cameras with a wide dynamic range offer greater flexibility in balancing exposure in such challenging lighting scenarios. These cameras can accurately capture both the bright natural light and the warmer artificial light, ensuring that the final image maintains the correct tonal balance and color accuracy. This means that you can capture scenes without one light source overpowering the other, resulting in a more visually pleasing and natural-looking photograph.
Reducing the Need for Additional Lighting
Cameras with a wide dynamic range also help reduce the need for additional lighting equipment in challenging lighting conditions. With their ability to capture a wide range of brightness levels, these cameras can perform exceptionally well in low-light situations. They can retain the details in the shadows while accurately capturing the highlights, allowing you to shoot in low light without the need for additional flash or continuous lighting. This enhances your shooting experience, making it easier to capture candid moments or work in environments where using additional lighting might be impractical or distracting.
Wide Range of Shooting Scenarios
A wide dynamic range is particularly beneficial for landscape photography, where capturing the full range of brightness levels in a scene is crucial. Whether it’s a sunset over the ocean or a snowy mountain range, landscapes often contain a vast difference in brightness between the sky and the land. A camera with a wide dynamic range allows you to preserve the details in both the bright sky and the darker land, resulting in breathtaking images that showcase the natural beauty and grandeur of the landscape.
Indoor photography can present its own set of lighting challenges, particularly when dealing with mixed lighting from various sources. With a wide dynamic range camera, you can capture indoor scenes with accuracy and fidelity. Whether you’re photographing a well-lit room or a cozy candlelit setting, a camera with a wide dynamic range ensures that the details in both the bright and dark areas are preserved, resulting in photographs that accurately represent the atmosphere and ambiance of the indoor environment.
Photographing in low-light conditions can be demanding, as the lack of available light can result in noisy and underexposed images. However, cameras with a wide dynamic range excel in low-light photography. By capturing more detail in the shadows and accurately exposing the highlights, these cameras allow you to shoot in low light with confidence. Whether you’re capturing the city lights at night or the stars in the night sky, a camera with a wide dynamic range helps you achieve sharp, noise-free images, even in the absence of ample illumination.
Reduced Requirements for Multiple Exposures
High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography is a technique where multiple images of varying exposures are blended together to create a final image with a wider dynamic range. However, cameras with a wide dynamic range can reduce the need for multiple exposures in HDR photography. With their ability to capture a wide range of brightness levels in a single frame, these cameras can deliver HDR-like results without the need for extensive post-processing or merging multiple images. This saves time and effort while still allowing you to achieve the desired tonal balance and detail in your photographs.
Bracketing is another technique used to capture a wider dynamic range in photography. It involves capturing multiple images at different exposures and then combining them in post-processing. However, cameras with a wide dynamic range reduce the need for bracketing by capturing a wider range of brightness levels in a single exposure. This means that you can capture a scene with optimal exposure and detail in a single shot, avoiding the extra steps and potential issues that come with bracketing. This simplifies the shooting process, allowing you to focus more on capturing the moment rather than spending time capturing multiple exposures.
Increased Dynamic Range in HDR Imaging
Capturing a Wider Range of Brightness Levels
Perhaps one of the most significant benefits of having a wide dynamic range in a camera is the ability to capture a wider range of brightness levels, particularly for HDR imaging. HDR imaging aims to capture the full tonal range of a scene, from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights. A camera with a wide dynamic range excels in this aspect, allowing you to capture images with a broad range of brightness levels, resulting in stunning and visually captivating HDR photographs.
Creating More Realistic and Eye-catching Images
By capturing a wider dynamic range and preserving highlight and shadow details, cameras with a wide dynamic range enable you to create more realistic and eye-catching images. When viewing a photograph, our eyes are naturally drawn to areas of brightness and contrast. By accurately reproducing the highlights and shadows, a wide dynamic range camera allows you to create images that immediately grab the viewer’s attention. Whether it’s the play of light and shadow in a portrait or the dramatic contrast in a landscape, a wide dynamic range camera helps you capture images that are visually impactful and captivating.
Preservation of Highlight and Shadow Detail
Retaining Texture and Color in Bright Areas
Preserving the texture and color in bright areas is crucial in photography, as overexposing those areas can lead to loss of detail. However, cameras with a wide dynamic range excel in this aspect by retaining the texture and color in the brightest areas of your images. This means that even in challenging lighting conditions, you can capture scenes with bright highlights, such as the sun or artificial light sources, without sacrificing the detail and richness in those areas. The result is images that accurately represent the scene and allow you to appreciate the intricate details even in the brightest parts of the image.
Maintaining Detail in Dark Areas
In addition to retaining detail in bright areas, cameras with a wide dynamic range also excel in maintaining details in dark areas. In photography, the shadows can often hide interesting textures and details that add depth and complexity to an image. However, with a wide dynamic range camera, you can capture the details in the shadows and ensure that they are not lost to darkness. This allows you to bring out the subtle nuances and textures in the dark areas, giving your images a sense of depth and dimension.
Advancements in Sensor Technology
Improvements in Pixel Design
The wide dynamic range capabilities of modern cameras are made possible by advancements in sensor technology, particularly improvements in pixel design. Sensor manufacturers have developed sensors with high pixel counts, which allow for better capturing and differentiation of light intensity. Additionally, advancements in backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor technology have improved the overall performance of cameras, resulting in higher image quality and better handling of dynamic range. These advancements in pixel design and sensor technology provide photographers with the tools to capture images with a wide dynamic range and high-quality detail.
Increased Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Another advantage of advancements in sensor technology is the increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in cameras with wide dynamic range capabilities. SNR refers to the level of desired signal (image detail) compared to the level of unwanted signal (noise). With improved sensor technology, cameras can capture images with less noise, even in challenging lighting conditions. This means that even when shooting in low-light or high-contrast scenes, you can expect cleaner and more noise-free images, allowing you to focus on the details and overall quality of your photographs.
In conclusion, having a wide dynamic range in a camera offers numerous benefits for photographers. From better exposure and handling of high contrast scenes to improved image quality and flexibility in challenging lighting conditions, cameras with a wide dynamic range excel in capturing a wide range of brightess levels. The preservation of highlight and shadow details, advancements in sensor technology, and reduced requirements for multiple exposures further enhance the overall image quality and creative possibilities. Whether you’re capturing landscapes, shooting in low light, or exploring HDR photography, a camera with a wide dynamic range empowers you to capture stunning, true-to-life images with enhanced depth, detail, and visual impact.


Pamela is not only one of the Forbes 30 under 30, but also Europe's fitness icon. She is a woman full of power and energy - her creative mind blooms with new ideas. Her long blond hair and perfectly trained body have a high recognition effect. She inspires her community daily with her positive vibes, daily fitness guides, and creative food ideas. Day by day, she shares glimpses of her fitness routine, healthy recipes, and daily life.
Noel is THE dance icon on TikTok. He inspires an audience of millions with his signature dances and his amazing afro.
His personality and talent have earned him a loyal fan base and his videos always reach a high number of views and shares. His presence on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube has also earned him a place on the international social media scene.
Avemoves - the dancer with the mask. Not only is his mask a recognizable feature, but also his extraordinary dance moves. In a very short amount of time, Avemoves managed to become one of the most relevant dance creators on social media. He uses his influence to collaborate with other top-notch artists, bringing trends to life. Avemoves is one of the biggest faces for the brand Adidas.
Millane is one of the biggest German TikTokers with international content. Her content is very personal - she talks a lot about her faith, values and inspiration. She expresses her creativity in her famous Outfit Inspirations Reels and TikToks. Besides fashion, she also inspires her community with GRWM's, beauty hacks and comedy videos on TikTok.
Emilia is a real power woman who motivates her community daily to become the best version of themselves. She's always here to give some tips and tricks when it comes to fashion, lifestyle, as well as fitness and health. Her ambition is to constantly deliver high-end and authentic content. The result is an above-average performance and a broad target group.
Lisa is Germany's Booty Queen - her biggest passion in life is fitness, she even has her own fitness supplements. Being the power woman that she is, she inspires her community to work hard for a healthy and sporty lifestyle. Day by day, she shares impressions of her workouts so everyone can follow along. She is not only committed to her female community, but to many men as well.


A Night of Dances: PGMO Conducts Dancesport Competition
The night glittered with all the sparkling costumes and dazzling moves from the participants of Dancesport Competition last November 25, 2015 at the Provincial Cultural and Farmer’s Training Center as part of the commemoration of the 86th Provincial Anniversary and 6th Pas’ungko S’g MisOcc Festival.
The competition was categorized by level – elementay, secondary, and college/open level. The preliminary rounds were divided into four dance derbies. In each dance derby, a kind of dance was assigned to every level. The contenders danced cha-cha, samba, rumba, and jive. After the declaration of the top 3 contestants in every level, Provincial Vice-Governor Aurora Virginia M. Almonte conveyed her delight upon seeing the talented dancers in Misamis Occidental. She also shared how the biggest stars of today such as Jennifer Lopez started their career through dancing. Of course, she also stressed its health benefits.
In the final rounds, the top 3 contenders from the elementary level danced cha-cha, samba for the secondary level, and jive for the college/open level. Awarding of prizes was headed by Provincial Governor Herminia M. Ramiro together with Vice- Governor Almonte, Schools Division Superintendent Jonathan dela Peña, and Chairperson of the Dancesport Committee, Ms. Elma Gula. Thereafter, a dance for all ensued.


On the evening of February 9, 2016, Rod Webster passed peacefully in his sleep, after having lived a rich 87 years. He is survived and missed by his wife, Laura; his sister, Edith Stiles; his children, Bob, Tim, Matthew, Becky, Sarah, and Chris; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is also predeceased by his first wife, Faith (with whom he raised his family and shared a musical life), and his sister, Dorothy Befus.
From his childhood at a small farmhouse in Westcott, Alberta, to his job delivering telegrams during WWII, Rod gained the tenacity and compassion that would guide his personal life. His ear was as equally attuned to socio-political nuance as it was to music, and he pursued a knowledge and understanding of both with equal vigour, caring deeply for his fellow humans, especially the disadvantaged. He passionately believed and practiced the message of Schiller’s “To Joy”: “All men become brothers.” (Although Rod would have resisted this gendered language in favour of human equality.)
Professionally, Rod had a long and distinguished career:
*Public school teacher in Saanich for 10 years
*Music Director at Fairfield United Church for 10 years
*Director and arranger for the Varsity Singers (later named the Amity Singers) for 7 years
*Director of the Victoria Choral Society for 17 years
During his 21 years as Head of the Ear Training and Theory department at the Victoria School of Music, and the subsequent Conservatory, Rod developed a music pedagogy that went beyond theory as it was then taught, recognizing music as a language, a way of being rather than just a mental concept. The result was a program called Music Language, which became his life work, continued now by Laura.
As a music teacher for over sixty years, Rod has nurtured the development of many teachers, performing musicians, and lovers of music. Through them, his musical legacy lives on.
Rod requested no service to be held, but that his ashes be spread at Brotchie Ledge in the Juan de Fuca Strait, between James Bay and South Fairfield, where he lived much of his life, and overlooking Dallas Road, where he loved to walk.


Albany State University Student’s Design Featured in Target Stores
Albany State University (ASU) senior visual and performing arts major, Cameron Burnam is one of three winners of the 2023 Target HBCU Design Challenge. Burnam’s design is featured on t-shirts sold in Target stores nationwide.
“The entire ASU campus community celebrates Cameron’s national debut and Target’s recognition of his work as part of its Black History Month Celebration,” said ASU President Marion Ross Fedrick. “Our goal is to provide students with access to opportunities that will ensure their success. Cameron is an excellent example of the game changers and innovators whom we are preparing to live out their dreams and compete in the global marketplace.”
The design, which features an illustration of six women with varying hairstyles and skin tones atop the word “CULTURE,” showcases the power, strength, and diversity of black women.
Burnam credits ASU for preparing him for a successful career as an artist, saying, “All my art professors have been there to guide me and push me creatively. They help me realize my place in the art world. They give me the confidence and support one could only hope for from professors.”
His inspiration comes from analyzing artwork on social media. “Seeing all the different styles, techniques, and mediums that these artists use pushes me to improve and helps me find my own style,” added Burnam. “I can use my art to speak on matters that are important to me.”
As a graduating senior, he is looking forward to attending graduate school, starting his career, and posting more of his art on social media.
The HBCU Design Challenge is part of Target’s eighth consecutive celebration of Black History Month, an effort that focuses on “celebrating and elevating the voices of Black artists, creators, entrepreneurs, team members and communities through authentic storytelling, content, and products that honor the cultural influence and intersectionality of the Black community.” The campaign builds upon the company’s commitment to spend more than $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by the end of 2025.
In addition to the design being added to the collection, he also received a cash prize, an exclusive one-hour consultation with Target senior design leaders, and the opportunity to apply for a six-week paid virtual apprenticeship with the Target Owned Brands Product Design team.
The shirt with Burnam’s design can be purchased at Target retail stores or online.


The Build a Better Book Project is all about developing and making stories using anything but written words. These stand alone weekend workshops will utilize different maker technologies to develop multi-modal means of story telling. Technologies covered: 3D design and printing, laser cutting, simple machines, electronics, and pop-up books.
This week: 3D Printing
Have you ever read a picture book and wondered what it would be like if you couldn’t see the pictures? What if you could feel the pictures instead? Work with engineers and artists to design and produce 3D-printed elements to enhance the picture book experience. We’ll learn about 3D design using Tinkercad and print our designs on the 3D printer as we create new tactile elements for children's books. Tech Focus: Tinkercad, 3D printing
Appropriate for ages 11-18. Space is limited, registration required.
All attendees must fill out our Acknowledgement of Risk and Release Form prior to use of makerspace.
This program is funded by the National Science Foundation. Documentation during the program will be used for research purposes.


WHat we offer
Alchemy Landscape Design and Construction can service all of your hard and soft landscaping needs to make your dream garden a reality.
Our professional team are dedicated to creating gardens tailored to your lifestyle through hard work and attention to detail, communicating with you through every step of the design and construction process.
Alchemy Landscaping was born from a desire to create stunning gardens that become an integral part of your lifestyle. With more than 50 years combined experience in the landscaping industry, our designers, construction managers and head landscapers assist you through every step of the design and construction process to achieve the result you desire.
Alchemy Landscaping prides itself on hard work, honesty and communication with our clients. Working in partnership to create your perfect space.
WHAT our clients say
"Alchemy created our garden from the design process all the way through to completion of construction and couldn't have been happier with the final result. Xavier and his team were nothing but professional throughout and their workmanship and attention to detail went beyond our expectations".
Valued client- Melissa


Sunshine Coast Libraries Writing Workshop
17/07/2022 Nambour RSL
Proudly presented by Sunshine Coast Libraries in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Creative Writing Institute, the fun and interactive memoir writing workshop will be held at the Nambour RSL on Sunday, July 17, at 9am.
Aspiring writers are invited to join the hands-on session with award-winning authors Paul Williams and Shelley Davidow.
The six-hour workshop will reveal trade secrets on memoir writing, learn techniques to use dialogue to develop characters and how to push the plot along.
2017 -2019 Events
Sunday, July 31, 2019 Noosa Alive! Book Launch of High Infidelity and Panel Discussion
Sunday, July 31, 2019 Noosa Alive! Your Writing Life Workshop. Details here:
Saturday, August 17, 2019: QLD Writers Centre 10.30 a.m-1.30 p.m: Writing Your Life. Also available via LiveStream. Details here:
Saturday, August 18, 2019: QLD Writers Centre 10.30 a.m-4.30 p.m. Finding Your Voice. Details here:
Thursday November 29, 2018: Outspoken – author event. Sharing the stage with Kerry O’Brien in Maleny QLD.
September 13-15, 2018: Lines in the Sand Writers Festival, Hervey Bay, QLD
Tuesday September 11: Literary Lunch at the Grandview Hotel, Cleveland, QLD
Sunday August 26: Sydney Jewish Writers Festival. Panel ‘Making Peace with the Past’ and creative writing
workshop ‘Finding Your Voice’ Book here https://www.shalom.edu.au/event/sjwf/
Saturday, June 17: Lord Mayor’s Writers in Residence event: author talk Brisbane Square Library.
Tuesday March 28: Outspoken – with philosopher and author AC Grayling in Maleny QLD. For more info and bookings: http://www.outspokenmaleny.com
Friday March 17: 9-4pm Sydney NESA teacher professional development day: The Stressproof Classroom
Wednesday February 22: 4.30-6.30pm Twilight Seminar at the University of the Sunshine Coast The Stressproof Classroom
Saturday February 11: Sign up for the resilient parenting online forum. http://yourmusicalchild.com/parentingwithresilience/
Saturday, October 29 (6pm) Playing with Words – book launch an evening of word fun and book signing with Shelley Davidow and Paul Williams Homegrown Cafe, Palmwoods QLD
October 15th – Writers Speak, Springfield, QLD
March 16th 2016 6pm – Annie’s Books on Peregian, QLD: book signing and author conversation
March 17th 2016 1-2pm University of the Sunshine Coast Art Gallery, QLD: book signing and author conversation
May 1st 2016 10 am The Avid Reader, Brisbane QLD: author conversation and book signing
July 19th 2016 Noosa Long Weekend, QLD: author discussion ‘in conversation.’
July 25 & August 3rd ‘Finding Your Voice’ workshops at Noosa and Cooroy libraries (both events sold out).
August 27th & 28th 2016 Sydney Jewish Writers Festival, NSW: author discussion
September 10 & 11 2016 Brisbane Writers Festival, panel discussion, book signing, author conversation


Written by: Sarah Tesfasion
I had the opportunity to exercise my desktop publishing skills by localizing an astronomy infographic about how massive stars produce elements. I chose to localize this infographic because it comes from the website for the James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope represents an important scientific advancement achieved through the collaboration of NASA and the ESA, so I thought this infographic should exist in multiple languages. I also felt that it might present some interesting flat-image localization challenges, particularly in recreating the text treatment of the title, replacing the text while preserving the background, and managing text expansion from English to French.
Creating Editable Text Layers
Since the source image is a .png file, the first step of the localization process was to create editable text layers in Adobe Photoshop. I used Adobe Fonts to find the correct font, Futura PT, and recreated all of the text which appears in the graphic. Luckily, the chemical element symbols are universal and did not need to be localized.
I spent a great deal of time trying to recreate the text treatment for “Massive Stars:” and “Multi-Shell Core” before learning that Photoshop does not support sharp corners on the stroke of a text layer. I needed to convert this text to a shape and then add the stroke, so I left this to be completed after the text was translated.
I also needed to create an overlay which hides the text from the original infographic. The background image looked complex in some areas, such as on the supernova, so I thought this might prove challenging. However, I was able to use the Magic Wand tool to select all of the text that will be replaced, and the Content-Aware Fill feature to cover it up.
Once the graphic had editable text layers, it was ready to be translated. I used a script from blogger Bramus Van Damme to export all of the text strings from the Photoshop file into a text file. This useful tool saved me from having to copy and paste each text layer into a text document for translation. I used Phrase TMS to create a project and translate the text. Then I used another script from Bramus to import the text back into the Photoshop file.
The Bramus import script took care of replacing the text in the Photoshop file with their translations, so all that was left to do was to clean up the infographic. Some text boxes needed to be adjusted to accommodate English-to-French text expansion, and I needed to recreate the gradient stroke on “Étoiles massives :” and “Noyau multi sphérique.” The result was a fully localized infographic, shown below.
Having completed projects similar to this one in the past allowed me to accurately envision the steps necessary to localize this infographic. Therefore the general steps in my process closely resemble the workflow I put forth in my proposal. I still had the opportunity to experiment with the methods I used to actually complete these steps, particularly when it came to the visual elements of the project. It took considerable effort to figure out how to recreate the gradient stroke on two of the titles. Due to a limitation of Photoshop, I had to undo this effort and repeat it again later in the workflow. Having to complete this text treatment after translation would be time-consuming for multiple languages, so I’d be curious to know if there is an easier way. Overall, this project was an exciting opportunity to apply my Photoshop skills and to witness potential challenges in flat-image localization. The infographic below summarizes the steps I took during the localization process.


Easter 2018- very excited to announce that Canons Ashby, a tranquil Tudor manor house run by the national Trust, will be selling a new and exclusive collection of Hagstone pottery - "The Cocktail Set" and "The Coffee Set". Glazed in white, green and lilac, the colours of the Women's Sufferage Movement, thse pots have been especially designed to help celebrate 100 years of Wonderful Women! The sets will be on sale from easter, along with a brand new collection of white and black pottery.
In February 2018 Blackwell, The Arts and Crafts house near the shores of Lake Windermere in Cumbria, invited me to include a collection of ceramics in their award winning contemporary craft shop. Taking inspiration from the sublime pottery made by William De Morgan in the early part of the last century , I hope my collection of contemporary lusterware sits in harmony with the spirit of the Arts and Crafts movement which Blackwell promotes and preserves in this absolutely gorgeous house.
Read all about Tews Farm in the January 2018 issue of Country Living magazine, which carries an interiors feature about Tews Farm, and also features Hagstone Pottery in its 'Emporium' pages.
The Hagstone Christmas Studio Sale was a great success this year with money being raised for Katharine House Hospice, mulled cider and mince pies aplenty, and lots of pottery sold at half the regular gallery prices.
Watch this space for future studio sales, but if you would like to look around the studio shop while you are in the area, just give me a call on 07903 717247 for opening times.


Newborn sessions have my heart! I have experience with nearly 400 newborns and offer a professional, safe, and comfortable environment. I am also the first in our area to become a certified newborn photographer through APNPI (Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International.) Newborn sessions include everything you need, such as the use of high end props, delicate wraps, unique hair accessories and more. I want my clients to show up at my studio feeling at home with everything they need at their fingertips. All Newborn sessions take place in my studio located in Valdosta, GA Monday-Thursday. I take a limited amount of newborns each month, so please book your session as early as possible (ideally in your second trimester) to ensure a spot. If your baby is already born, please contact me because I may still be able to fit you in!


Today is National Pie Day! To celebrate, the American Pie Council (APC) would like to encourage all members of the baking industry and pie lovers everywhere to teach someone to make a pie in honor of this special day. Passing on the tradition of pie making is an important part of our culture and a mission of The American Pie Council.
This year APC has partnered with Paramount Pictures and its new film, “Labor Day.” “Labor Day,” starring Kate Winslet in a Golden Globe-nominated performance, Josh Brolin and Gattlin Griffith and directed by Jason Reitman, features a pie-making scene that becomes an important theme in the story and shares the APC’s message of passing down skills from generation to generation. The movie will be released nationally on January 31, 2014, a week after National Pie Day, offering a unique way for pie lovers to celebrate their favorite holiday. So, on National Pie Day, make a date for January 31st to see Paramount Picture’s new film, “Labor Day.” Watch a clip from the movie!
APC would love for you to share photos of your pie teaching experiences. You can post photos on our Facebook Page or send them directly to APC President Linda Hoskins (a.k.a. “Pie Queen). In addition, look for ticket giveaways for “Labor Day” on our Facebook page starting soon!
Please feel free to use the National Pie Day poster, featuring “Labor Day” on your own Facebook page or promotions.


Dying Easter Eggs
Kids love to decorate and paint their own easter eggs. It is really easy for them to do. Here are some ideas on how to get them started.
To start, cover a table with layers of old newspaper to soak up any spills. You can also use empty egg cartons as drying racks. Paper towels are really handy to blot off any dye that collects underneath the eggs. It is easier to use food coloring for your colored eggs than homemade dyes. For colorfast egg dyes, mix 7-8 drops of food coloring into 1 cup of hot water. Stir in 1/4
cup vinegar. For more intense colors, use small amounts of professional-quality food coloring gels or pastes, available at craft, cake decorating and kitchen supply stores.
To make your own natural dyes, boil ingredients in water with a tablespoon of vinegar until the desired shade is reached. Strain to remove solids.
Yellow: Yellow onion skins, ground turmeric
Orange: Same as yellow, with added beet juice
Pink: Cranberry juice concentrate
Red: Beets, paprika
Blue: Canned blueberries, red cabbage, grape juice concentrate
Green: Spinach and/or kale
Brown: Strong brewed coffee or tea
For spattered eggs, dip egg in a base color and let dry completely. Dip a clean toothbrush in a contrasting liquid color and carefully flick bristles with your fingers to make paint splatter onto egg. You can also dip eggs with a base color on one end and then dip with another base color on the other end and let dry. Hand decorating is also great. Start off with a base color for the whole egg and once it is dry take some kids paint and create your own picture.


Named for the Zentangle® pattern, “Umble,” this cutout design of interwoven bands comes in two colors, a rich red or sand color. They are laser cut on locally sourced fine hardwood. The circular earrings measure 1.5 inches in diameter and are 1/16 inch thick.
Each piece is finished with nickel-free quality jewelry fittings and a coat of shellac. All jewelry comes mounted on a hand-crafted genuine leather tag that is made of our remnants. Because our products are hand-made, each one is unique with slight variations.


Post Logic Studios Director of Audio Terrence Dwyer has been nominated for a 2009 Creative Arts Emmy® Award in the category of Outstanding Sound Mixing For Non-fiction Programming for his contributions to reality show “Survivor.” The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) will announce the winner at the 61st Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 12 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles.
As Director of Audio/Supervising Re-recording Mixer at Post Logic Studios, a division of Prime Focus Group, industry veteran Dwyer boasts an extensive background in reality television and over three decades experience as an audio mixer and sound designer. For the last 12 years Dwyer has worked on top reality television shows including “Survivor,” “Fear Factor, “Kid Nation,” “American Gladiators,” “Wipeout” and “Dating in the Dark.”
In 2001, Dwyer received his first Emmy Award for outstanding sound mixing on “Survivor,” and went on to garner three additional nominations. In 2008, Dwyer received his second Emmy in the news and documentary category for “Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience.”
“I am extremely pleased to be recognized once again with a nomination from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences,” commented Dwyer. “I have enjoyed working on high profile programs throughout my career and will continue to strive for excellence on ‘Survivor’ here at Post Logic.”
About Post Logic Studios
A leader in digital intermediate and feature film restoration, Post Logic Studios is a part of the Prime Focus Group family, an integrated global network of visual effects and post-production companies servicing clientele around the world with technologically advanced facilities in Hollywood, New York, London and India. With access to hundreds of talented visual effects and 3D artists from within Prime Focus Group, Post Logic has continued to expand into new and emerging arenas within the post-production realm, providing unmatched digital intermediate, digital mastering, editorial assembly, restoration, visual effects and audio post production services to feature film and television clients from its flagship Hollywood facility and Manhattan-based satellite, Post Logic Studios N.Y. For more information, please visit www.postlogic.com or call 323-461-7887.


"You know the worst thing is freedom. Freedom of any kind is the worst for creativity. You know, Dalí spent two months in jail in Spain, and these two months were the most enjoyable and happy in my life. Before my jail period, I was always nervous, anxious. I didn’t know if I should make a drawing, or perhaps make a poem, or go to the movies or the theatre, or catch a girl, or play with the boys. The people put me in jail, and my life became divine. Tremendous!"
Current Residence: Israel
Favourite genre of music: Rock & Alternative
Favourite photographer: Felix Lupa, Alex Webb
Personal Quote: You too, Bluetooth, my son?


Psalm 23 1-2 NLT
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
Matthew 11:28-29 NLT
Come to me, you who are weary and carry a heavy burden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you.
Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart,
and you will find rest for your soul.


Saturday, April 22, 2017
As part of the Newark Symphony Hall 'Arts on Stage' Series The Newark Greek Council presents
The New Jersey Step Show Classic
Doors Open at 6pm / Begins at 7pm
Advance Tickets $15
$20 at the Door
Over $3,000 in cash and prizes!
NOW ACCEPTING STEP TEAMS!
To sign up and for more information please e-mail the Newark Greek Council at [email protected].
As part of Newark Symphony Hall's 'Arts on Stage' series Thee Newark Greek Council in association with Greek Shenanigans presents The New Jersey Step Show Classic & Stroll Competition hosted by Travque with music by DJ MPURE. The evening will feature sororities and fraternities from universities throughout the state of New Jersey. The New Jersey Step Show Classic & Stroll Competition is sponsored by Greater Newark Convention Center.
'Arts on Stage' is a monthly event series that takes place in Newark Stage, that showcases original productions by thriving local artists. The 'Arts on Stage' series is sponsored by Newark Celebration 350. Tickets for the Arts on Stage series events can be purchased at the Newark Symphony Hall Box Office or by calling 973-643-8014 during regular hours of operation.


Measured against its peers, there is no finer audio ambassador than the majestic PL500 II. Here you’ll discover the essence of Platinum II engineering: silken layers of the finest high frequency definition suspended on an explicit midrange, seamlessly underpinned by a deep, clean and responsive bass foundation. More than ever the sound has a physical authority, conveying the ‘live’ character of instruments, voices and atmospheres as if they had materialised three-dimensionally in the air around you. This is fidelity in the raw, magnificent in stature, seductive for its rhythmic subtlety and utterly captivating in the sheer magnitude of its dynamic impact. Our most sophisticated system of no fewer than four 8” RDT®II bass drivers, twin 4” RDT II midrange transducers and MPD tweeter will render the entire harmonic sweep of every work with pin sharp timing and accuracy. Your music and film sound alive, immersive and uncompromised.
- 4 x 8" RDT®II long throw bass drivers
- 2 x 4" RDT II mid-range drivers
- MPD (Micro Pleated Diaphragm) high frequency transducer designed specifically for Platinum II
- 4 x HiVe®II ports
- New patented 'DCF' (Dynamic Coupling Filter) mechanism for more natural sound
- Bespoke speaker terminals and footings
- Underhung, edge-wound voice coils: greater driver efficiency and lifelike dynamics, less distortion
- Bolt through drivers: clearer sound and cleaner aesthetics
- Anti-Resonance Composite (ARC) mid-range housings and baffle components: reduced cabinet vibration, purer sound quality
- TLE (Tapered Line Enclosure) sealed internal enclosure for mid-range drivers: greater sound accuracy and reduced cabinet vibration
- Hand-upholstered front baffle: the very highest quality Inglestone leather supplied by Andrew Muirhead
- Individual driver grilles
- Finish options: Santos Rosewood or Ebony natural wood veneers with clear gloss piano lacquer, or Piano black gloss lacquer
- Flagship 3-way, 7 driver floor-standing loudspeaker featuring four 8” RDT®II long-throw bass drivers, dual 4” RDT®II TLE-loaded midrange drivers in an M-T-M configuration with an MPD high frequency air motion ribbon transducer. 4 x HiVe®II High Velocity reflex ports, ARC® mid-range driver housings and baffle components, ‘DCF’ mechanism for more natural sound. Rhodium plated, solid copper bespoke terminals. Hand-upholstered front baffle with Inglestone leather and individual driver grilles.
- Dimensions (including plinth & feet): 72 3/4” x 19 13/16” x 24 5/8” (H x W x D)


In this challenging time due the Covid-19 pandemic, manufacturers have helped in several ways like producing medical equipment, spreading precaution messages, and now they are also trying to help lighten the mood.
Car manufacturers have always been rather cheeky in their social media posts, be it rivalry or just having fun. This time, it began with Audi posting the “Four Rings Challenge” and as its name suggests, it is creative ways to basically create the Audi logo with 4 four rings.
As shown in the video, it can be as simple as drawing four circles with a crayon or aligning four hats together. By the end of the video, followers were asked to join the challenge.
Mercedes-AMG obliged and posted a video of a C63 Cabriolet making donuts, creating circle skid marks and ultimately creating the iconic four rings Audi logo.
The video was captioned, “As we're all united in the same passion, here we go with our creative contribution. Audi, we hope you like the result and show us how your handwriting looks like.”
We, too, would like to see how Audi responds. Who says Germans don’t have a sense of humour?