Monday, March 23, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
French country
Everyone has his or her own particular style when it comes to the interior design of a home or a particular room. There are so many different styles and elements to choose from when you are doing a kitchen remodel the kitchen or any other room for that matter, but the hard part is choosing what style fits with the rest of the house and with your own personal interests. Some people like clean lines and simplistic furniture, which go with a contemporary or modern style of decorating where others may prefer upholstered furniture and floral patterns that go along with a traditional style of decorating.
One particular style of decorating that is becoming more and more popular is the French country style. This particular type of decorating incorporates rustic and old-world elements into any room. The many design elements and finishing touches incorporated with this particular style offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere that helps guest to relax and feel welcomed into your home.
There are many different ways to incorporate this particular type of style into kitchen renovations. One way to incorporate the French country feel in your kitchen design is by incorporating certain colors. These colors include sunny yellows, rustic golds and bright and dark greens. By painting the walls or incorporating these colors into the design through decorative elements, you can create a cohesively styled kitchen.
Another way to incorporate this theme into a kitchen is by investing in French country cabinet handles. These particular cabinet handles tend to have a rustic and antique look to them. Some of the finishes of these cabinet pulls might include oil rubbed bronze, weathered nickel, antique copper or burnished brass. The kitchen hardware tends to be made from iron, copper and other rustic antique types of materials. These particular metals give an old-world feel that fits with the French country theme.
The finish and the material that it is made from are not the only elements to home hardware that fit with the French country style of decorating. There are other elements incorporated into the design of cabinet handles that can also create the French country style. Intricate floral and woven designs fit into the French country design and there are many kitchen cabinet hardware pieces that fit into this style.
In addition to kitchen cabinet hardware, you can also incorporate this theme in your kitchen with the flooring and counter tops. There are many types of flooring options out there to choose from, but to fit with the French country theme you want to go with more rustic types of flooring. These flooring materials include stone, clay and brick. These particular materials are a charming addition to any kitchen with the French country them. In addition to these materials, you can also choose hardwood floors if you prefer, but you want to make sure that it has an old, antique finish to it.
Tori works for Your Home Supply (YHS) the definitive website for home improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of french country cabinet handles and cabinet knobs. Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com
One particular style of decorating that is becoming more and more popular is the French country style. This particular type of decorating incorporates rustic and old-world elements into any room. The many design elements and finishing touches incorporated with this particular style offer a warm and welcoming atmosphere that helps guest to relax and feel welcomed into your home.
There are many different ways to incorporate this particular type of style into kitchen renovations. One way to incorporate the French country feel in your kitchen design is by incorporating certain colors. These colors include sunny yellows, rustic golds and bright and dark greens. By painting the walls or incorporating these colors into the design through decorative elements, you can create a cohesively styled kitchen.
Another way to incorporate this theme into a kitchen is by investing in French country cabinet handles. These particular cabinet handles tend to have a rustic and antique look to them. Some of the finishes of these cabinet pulls might include oil rubbed bronze, weathered nickel, antique copper or burnished brass. The kitchen hardware tends to be made from iron, copper and other rustic antique types of materials. These particular metals give an old-world feel that fits with the French country theme.
The finish and the material that it is made from are not the only elements to home hardware that fit with the French country style of decorating. There are other elements incorporated into the design of cabinet handles that can also create the French country style. Intricate floral and woven designs fit into the French country design and there are many kitchen cabinet hardware pieces that fit into this style.
In addition to kitchen cabinet hardware, you can also incorporate this theme in your kitchen with the flooring and counter tops. There are many types of flooring options out there to choose from, but to fit with the French country theme you want to go with more rustic types of flooring. These flooring materials include stone, clay and brick. These particular materials are a charming addition to any kitchen with the French country them. In addition to these materials, you can also choose hardwood floors if you prefer, but you want to make sure that it has an old, antique finish to it.
Tori works for Your Home Supply (YHS) the definitive website for home improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of french country cabinet handles and cabinet knobs. Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Detox
1. Start the Detox Day Right
• First thing in the morning, drink one lemon squeezed in 12 ounces of warm filtered water. Lemon activates your liver to release toxins and helps to cleanse and move the roughage that stays behind in your intestines.
• Take acidophilus or a probiotic supplement. Acidophilus is one of the many "good" bacteria and yeasts known as the probiotics. Probiotics balance our intestinal functions, helping to break down food and control the "bad" bacteria that is also in your system—all of which optimizes the detoxification process. Always take probiotics on an empty stomach.
2. Your Detox Meals
These meals are designed to jump-start your body into becoming healthier.
• Breakfast: Eat oat bran cereal, brown rice, or any other whole grain cereal as long as it is unbleached and does not contain any added sugar or chemicals. Pair with unflavored soy milk.
• Lunch or Dinner: Eat any combination of beans, brown rice, oat bran, vegetables, and organic chicken, turkey, or soy-products. When you eat, notice how your food affects you. You should feel satisfied and energized. If you feel tired and sluggish, try eating smaller meals so that you don't overwhelm your digestion and interfere with the detoxification process.
3. Eat Green to Spring into Health
The green pigment in plants, chlorophyll, is structurally similar to the hemoglobin in the human body—the iron-containing element in blood. It increases red blood cell production and improves oxygenation, detoxification, and circulation. Be sure to eat several servings of fresh green vegetables every day during your detox. Try this super-cleansing broth and juice as a quick way to up your veggie intake.
Detox Broth: Add as many of these ingredients as you can into a large pot of filtered water: collards, Swiss chard, kale, mustard greens, cabbage, dandelion, Brussels sprouts, daikon radish, watercress, seaweed, shitake mushrooms, cilantro, garlic, leeks, fresh fennel, anise, fresh ginger, and turmeric. Boil until all ingredients are soft. You can make in a large batch and refrigerate for up to three days.
Detox Juice: Juice the following together: Aloe vera juice (which can be found in most health food stores), apples, asparagus, beets (including greens), cabbage, carrot and carrot greens, celery, cucumbers, and parsley. You can also purchase vegetable juice from the store, but be sure that it has no added salt or chemicals.
4. Supplement Your Detox
• Take a daily supplement of 1 tablespoon of flax seed oil, walnut oil, or deep-sea fish oil.
• Green Tea is a strong antioxidant, and a great beverage choice for your detox. Be sure to drink decaffeinated green tea.
• Dandelion and Milk Thistle both protect and restore the liver. According to Chinese medicine, the liver is most active in the detoxification process during spring.
• Ginger is a bowel and kidney cleanser. Make yourself tea from fresh ginger root during your detox.
A popular herbal formula among my patients is Internal Cleanse, a special combination of natural herbs to detoxify, calm nerves, clear the mind, promote emotional balance, and ease digestion. For more information, click here.
5. Take an Invigorating Herbal Soak
Soak for 20 minutes in a revitalizing herbal bath. Help draw out toxins by infusing your bath water with eucalyptus, wintergreen, peppermint, fennel, cinnamon, and epsom salts.
Spring may be the best time to cleanse your body, but you don't have to wait until spring to start. Detoxification and cleansing is a healthy maintenance program for all seasons.
May you stay healthy, live long, and live happy!
• First thing in the morning, drink one lemon squeezed in 12 ounces of warm filtered water. Lemon activates your liver to release toxins and helps to cleanse and move the roughage that stays behind in your intestines.
• Take acidophilus or a probiotic supplement. Acidophilus is one of the many "good" bacteria and yeasts known as the probiotics. Probiotics balance our intestinal functions, helping to break down food and control the "bad" bacteria that is also in your system—all of which optimizes the detoxification process. Always take probiotics on an empty stomach.
2. Your Detox Meals
These meals are designed to jump-start your body into becoming healthier.
• Breakfast: Eat oat bran cereal, brown rice, or any other whole grain cereal as long as it is unbleached and does not contain any added sugar or chemicals. Pair with unflavored soy milk.
• Lunch or Dinner: Eat any combination of beans, brown rice, oat bran, vegetables, and organic chicken, turkey, or soy-products. When you eat, notice how your food affects you. You should feel satisfied and energized. If you feel tired and sluggish, try eating smaller meals so that you don't overwhelm your digestion and interfere with the detoxification process.
3. Eat Green to Spring into Health
The green pigment in plants, chlorophyll, is structurally similar to the hemoglobin in the human body—the iron-containing element in blood. It increases red blood cell production and improves oxygenation, detoxification, and circulation. Be sure to eat several servings of fresh green vegetables every day during your detox. Try this super-cleansing broth and juice as a quick way to up your veggie intake.
Detox Broth: Add as many of these ingredients as you can into a large pot of filtered water: collards, Swiss chard, kale, mustard greens, cabbage, dandelion, Brussels sprouts, daikon radish, watercress, seaweed, shitake mushrooms, cilantro, garlic, leeks, fresh fennel, anise, fresh ginger, and turmeric. Boil until all ingredients are soft. You can make in a large batch and refrigerate for up to three days.
Detox Juice: Juice the following together: Aloe vera juice (which can be found in most health food stores), apples, asparagus, beets (including greens), cabbage, carrot and carrot greens, celery, cucumbers, and parsley. You can also purchase vegetable juice from the store, but be sure that it has no added salt or chemicals.
4. Supplement Your Detox
• Take a daily supplement of 1 tablespoon of flax seed oil, walnut oil, or deep-sea fish oil.
• Green Tea is a strong antioxidant, and a great beverage choice for your detox. Be sure to drink decaffeinated green tea.
• Dandelion and Milk Thistle both protect and restore the liver. According to Chinese medicine, the liver is most active in the detoxification process during spring.
• Ginger is a bowel and kidney cleanser. Make yourself tea from fresh ginger root during your detox.
A popular herbal formula among my patients is Internal Cleanse, a special combination of natural herbs to detoxify, calm nerves, clear the mind, promote emotional balance, and ease digestion. For more information, click here.
5. Take an Invigorating Herbal Soak
Soak for 20 minutes in a revitalizing herbal bath. Help draw out toxins by infusing your bath water with eucalyptus, wintergreen, peppermint, fennel, cinnamon, and epsom salts.
Spring may be the best time to cleanse your body, but you don't have to wait until spring to start. Detoxification and cleansing is a healthy maintenance program for all seasons.
May you stay healthy, live long, and live happy!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Plants Apr. 24
The due date to submit orders is April 14. Completed order forms can be mailed to the following address:
Natural Areas Division - CMNH
Attn: Garrett Ormiston
1 Wade Oval Drive
Cleveland, OH 44106
All plants must be picked up during one of the two scheduled pick-up times. Pick-up times are Friday, April 24 from 4pm to 8pm, and Saturday, April 25 from 10am to 2pm here at the Museum.
Natural Areas Division - CMNH
Attn: Garrett Ormiston
1 Wade Oval Drive
Cleveland, OH 44106
All plants must be picked up during one of the two scheduled pick-up times. Pick-up times are Friday, April 24 from 4pm to 8pm, and Saturday, April 25 from 10am to 2pm here at the Museum.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thank you
1. Thank you to God
2. Thank you for all that gets me through a day
3. Thank you for bone stimulators and a good report from Dr. Sharkey
2. Thank you for all that gets me through a day
3. Thank you for bone stimulators and a good report from Dr. Sharkey
Perfect pizza
From food blog Serious Eats - how do you achieve that sacred balance of puffy, chewy crust with oozy cheese and an acidic tomato sauce sweetness? Behold the 6 Commandments of Great Pizza-Making.
1. The Oven: Places that tout "brick" ovens need an extra layer of investigation. Don't fall for a brick facade (they could be faux, or just be a few slapped on to encase the outside). For an oven to reach 800 degrees -- the magical number -- and stay there, it needs to be lined along the top and floor with bricks (and/or stones).
2. The Fuel Source: Coal-fired and wood-fired ovens seem to produce the best charred-to-perfection texture and smoky flavor. Conventional gas ovens linger at 600 degrees (not hot enough).
3. The Crust: A superior crust is neither cracker-thin nor bread-thick. It should be puffy, chewy, pliant, and like a great football defense—able to bend but never break.
4. The Sauce: Uncooked canned tomatoes, specifically from California or Italy, are what you want. After being strained, they just need a touch of salt. Maybe some oregano. Some people throw in sugar, but if the tomatoes are truly fresh, they don't need that nonsense.
5. The Mozzarella: Fresh cow's milk mozzarella will have a clean, milky taste. And how do you know it's fresh? It's white. Aged mozzarella, on the flip side, found at most American pizza joints, is a sort of "pizza yellow."
6. The Toppings: Always fresh. Always worth the extra calories. If all the mushroom slices or sausage pieces look exactly the same, that's a bad sign. Fresh foods don't look cookie-cutter perfect, and in toppings, fresh makes all the difference.
1. The Oven: Places that tout "brick" ovens need an extra layer of investigation. Don't fall for a brick facade (they could be faux, or just be a few slapped on to encase the outside). For an oven to reach 800 degrees -- the magical number -- and stay there, it needs to be lined along the top and floor with bricks (and/or stones).
2. The Fuel Source: Coal-fired and wood-fired ovens seem to produce the best charred-to-perfection texture and smoky flavor. Conventional gas ovens linger at 600 degrees (not hot enough).
3. The Crust: A superior crust is neither cracker-thin nor bread-thick. It should be puffy, chewy, pliant, and like a great football defense—able to bend but never break.
4. The Sauce: Uncooked canned tomatoes, specifically from California or Italy, are what you want. After being strained, they just need a touch of salt. Maybe some oregano. Some people throw in sugar, but if the tomatoes are truly fresh, they don't need that nonsense.
5. The Mozzarella: Fresh cow's milk mozzarella will have a clean, milky taste. And how do you know it's fresh? It's white. Aged mozzarella, on the flip side, found at most American pizza joints, is a sort of "pizza yellow."
6. The Toppings: Always fresh. Always worth the extra calories. If all the mushroom slices or sausage pieces look exactly the same, that's a bad sign. Fresh foods don't look cookie-cutter perfect, and in toppings, fresh makes all the difference.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
windows
anderson tu march 10 - 6
stanek th march 12 - 6 30
pella mon march 23 6pm
regency
home depot
infinity by marvin
stanek th march 12 - 6 30
pella mon march 23 6pm
regency
home depot
infinity by marvin
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Figaro
1. Grateful to God
2. Grateful to all that gets me through a day, like good food
3. Happy to be looking forward to Figaro at the end of March
THis is to be the first time in over 30 years that the Cleveland Orchestra will be in the pit at Severance Hall. This is to be production of Figaro, a full-staged opera.
Franz Welzer-Most is to conduct. The Zurich Opera is also involved. There are to be English subtitles or surtitles.
What is the story? It is supposed to involve comedy, infidelity, etc. Per wikipedia, that play is from the late 1700's. It was banned because of the satire of the aristocracy. It is considered to be a precourser of the French Revolution.
Beaumarchais is the author. He uses main characters from The Barber of Seville.
Mozart turned the play into an opera. Because of the popularity of the Barber of Seville the opera when it first opened was very successful.
Figaro is engaged to Suzanne. The Count of the house where Figaro and Suzanne work wants to have an affair with Suzanne. Suzanne tells everyone. Everyone gets mad at the Count as they should and then he reforms. I think.
Or, maybe he doesn't reform. He is bad like it seems the artistocracy was. Thank good ness for the French Revolution. It sounds like the drat aristocracy really was awful. I think the redistribution of wealth really was something that needed to be done for the betterment of all of society.
Staged production of The Marriage of Figaro
March 23, 25, 27, and 29: An international cast onstage and music director Franz Welser-Möst with The Cleveland Orchestra in the Severance Hall pit, performing the Zurich Opera production of Mozart’s comic opera. Related free lecture, “What Kind of Crazy Day is The Marriage of Figaro?” on March 22.
2. Grateful to all that gets me through a day, like good food
3. Happy to be looking forward to Figaro at the end of March
THis is to be the first time in over 30 years that the Cleveland Orchestra will be in the pit at Severance Hall. This is to be production of Figaro, a full-staged opera.
Franz Welzer-Most is to conduct. The Zurich Opera is also involved. There are to be English subtitles or surtitles.
What is the story? It is supposed to involve comedy, infidelity, etc. Per wikipedia, that play is from the late 1700's. It was banned because of the satire of the aristocracy. It is considered to be a precourser of the French Revolution.
Beaumarchais is the author. He uses main characters from The Barber of Seville.
Mozart turned the play into an opera. Because of the popularity of the Barber of Seville the opera when it first opened was very successful.
Figaro is engaged to Suzanne. The Count of the house where Figaro and Suzanne work wants to have an affair with Suzanne. Suzanne tells everyone. Everyone gets mad at the Count as they should and then he reforms. I think.
Or, maybe he doesn't reform. He is bad like it seems the artistocracy was. Thank good ness for the French Revolution. It sounds like the drat aristocracy really was awful. I think the redistribution of wealth really was something that needed to be done for the betterment of all of society.
Staged production of The Marriage of Figaro
March 23, 25, 27, and 29: An international cast onstage and music director Franz Welser-Möst with The Cleveland Orchestra in the Severance Hall pit, performing the Zurich Opera production of Mozart’s comic opera. Related free lecture, “What Kind of Crazy Day is The Marriage of Figaro?” on March 22.
Crime, Punishment
1. Grateful to God
2. Grateful to all that gets me through a day
3. Grateful for a good play like Crime and Punishment
4. Grateful that I have a good life, not like that of the people in Crime and Punishment
5. Grateful that I have a family that helped and can help me and that we can help each other
Prepare to be enthralled by a new, award-winning adaptation of this great Russian novel. Dostoevsky’s masterpiece has been transformed into a gripping 90-minute thriller, a psychological journey into the mind of a brilliant but desperate young man whose struggle against poverty drives him to the ultimate crime of passion.
adapted by Marilyn Campbell & Curt Columbus
directed by Anders Cato
New York stage and Emmy-nominated actor Paul Anthony Stewart stars as Raskolnikov in a gripping 90-minute adaptation of Dostoevsky's CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.
In one scene Raskolnikov puts his head into a basin of water. This was supposed to be a baptismal. I did not put this together until I read about it in a review afterward.
2. Grateful to all that gets me through a day
3. Grateful for a good play like Crime and Punishment
4. Grateful that I have a good life, not like that of the people in Crime and Punishment
5. Grateful that I have a family that helped and can help me and that we can help each other
Prepare to be enthralled by a new, award-winning adaptation of this great Russian novel. Dostoevsky’s masterpiece has been transformed into a gripping 90-minute thriller, a psychological journey into the mind of a brilliant but desperate young man whose struggle against poverty drives him to the ultimate crime of passion.
adapted by Marilyn Campbell & Curt Columbus
directed by Anders Cato
New York stage and Emmy-nominated actor Paul Anthony Stewart stars as Raskolnikov in a gripping 90-minute adaptation of Dostoevsky's CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.
In one scene Raskolnikov puts his head into a basin of water. This was supposed to be a baptismal. I did not put this together until I read about it in a review afterward.
Friday, March 6, 2009
NYC Master Chorale
Calendar of upcoming NYC Master Chorale Events
> *Wed., March 11: rehearsal (NEW call time 6:45) at
> Jewish Home &
> Hospital (120 W. 106th St). There will be a post-rehearsal
> gathering that
> night!
> *
> *Thu., March 12: Adopt-a-School Day (2-5 pm) at
> KIPP Star (Harlem:
> 433 W. 123rd Street, between Amsterdam and Morningside, on
> the 2nd floor).
> *
> *
> Sat., March 28: Outreach concert at Larchmont
> Avenue Church (call
> time 1:30, performance 3 pm)
> *
> Wednesdays, April 1-15: rehearsal for those singing
> the Lauridsen at
> Carnegie Hall and/or Avery Fisher Hall
> *
> Thu., April 16: Carnegie Hall concert (call time
> 6:20, performance 8
> pm)
> *
> Sat., May 23: rehearsal for Avery Fisher Hall (1-5,
> call time 12:45)
> at Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center (165 W. 65th St.,
> 10th Fl.).
> *
> Sun., May 24: rehearsal for Avery Fisher
> Hall(9-12:30, call time
> 8:45) at Kaplan Penthouse
> *
> Mon., May 25: dress rehearsal TBA (at Avery Fisher
> Hall),
> performance 8 pm (Avery Fisher Hall)
> *
> Thu., May 28: dress rehearsal 3:30-6, location TBA
> *
> *Sat., May 30: No dress rehearsal
> *
>
> *Wed., March 11: rehearsal (NEW call time 6:45) at
> Jewish Home &
> Hospital (120 W. 106th St). There will be a post-rehearsal
> gathering that
> night!
> *
> *Thu., March 12: Adopt-a-School Day (2-5 pm) at
> KIPP Star (Harlem:
> 433 W. 123rd Street, between Amsterdam and Morningside, on
> the 2nd floor).
> *
> *
> Sat., March 28: Outreach concert at Larchmont
> Avenue Church (call
> time 1:30, performance 3 pm)
> *
> Wednesdays, April 1-15: rehearsal for those singing
> the Lauridsen at
> Carnegie Hall and/or Avery Fisher Hall
> *
> Thu., April 16: Carnegie Hall concert (call time
> 6:20, performance 8
> pm)
> *
> Sat., May 23: rehearsal for Avery Fisher Hall (1-5,
> call time 12:45)
> at Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center (165 W. 65th St.,
> 10th Fl.).
> *
> Sun., May 24: rehearsal for Avery Fisher
> Hall(9-12:30, call time
> 8:45) at Kaplan Penthouse
> *
> Mon., May 25: dress rehearsal TBA (at Avery Fisher
> Hall),
> performance 8 pm (Avery Fisher Hall)
> *
> Thu., May 28: dress rehearsal 3:30-6, location TBA
> *
> *Sat., May 30: No dress rehearsal
> *
>
Grateful, orchestra
Grateful to God.
Grateful that Cleveland Orchestra has this coming up for Russian Easter.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
at 8:00 PM
Severance Hall
Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
The Cleveland Orchestra
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
Jamey Haddad, world percussion
Michael Ward-Bergeman, hyper-accordion
Schumann: Manfred Overture
Golijov: Azul (for cello and orchestra)
Ives: Ragtime Dances
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Concert Previews: “Meet the Composer” – Osvaldo Golijov in conversation with Frank Dans, Cleveland Orchestra artistic administrator
Grateful that Cleveland Orchestra has this coming up for Russian Easter.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
at 8:00 PM
Severance Hall
Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
The Cleveland Orchestra
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
Jamey Haddad, world percussion
Michael Ward-Bergeman, hyper-accordion
Schumann: Manfred Overture
Golijov: Azul (for cello and orchestra)
Ives: Ragtime Dances
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Concert Previews: “Meet the Composer” – Osvaldo Golijov in conversation with Frank Dans, Cleveland Orchestra artistic administrator
Sunday, March 1, 2009
STE
Could Simplified Technical English Work For You?
Can Simplified Technical English (STE) be a good choice for certain applications or for process improvement initiatives? Could STE work for your group or application? Could it help you improve information delivery or other issues? What process can you use to determine if STE could work for you?
If you are looking to improve information delivery processes and considering the use of STE, consider moving as we did in evaluating solutions to help improve our processes and more quickly distribute product update information in a number of languages, considering in the process the use of STE.
Getting Information Out Quickly
Distributing important product update information in a number of languages and many locations quickly with improved readability may be an issue in your organization. It was the issue that our team addressed. While your organization may not use the type of Six Sigma team approach that we did, you could still benefit by using a team or similar approach to looking to address similar issues. Our team took the approach of improving a business process using Six Sigma techniques, with a similar approach or adaptation being something that could work for you.
Your team may know or be aware, as we were, that our upper management considers updating our customers throughout the world with the correct information in a timely manner important to business.
Our team originated from our corporate quality organization and had the goal of moving quickly toward a resolution and improved process, within 90 days. The composition of the team could consist, as was similar in our case, to the following:
. a product integrity manager chair
. frequent authors of product safety advisory documents, for example, a product marketing manager and technical writer
. individuals responsible for resolving customer issues associated with product safety advisories in the field
. a product liability attorney if, as in our case, you are dealing with product safety information
. individuals who can provide research support, as in our case, an intern
What is the Six Sigma team approach and what is Six Sigma? Six Sigma is a business management strategy that involves identifying and removing the causes of defects and errors in manufacturing and business processes. It uses quality management methods and statistical tools. It also creates a group of people such as Six Sigma Black Belts who become experts in Six Sigma methods and processes. A Six Sigma project follows a set of steps and has quantified financial targets such as cost reduction or profit increase.
Historically, in Six Sigma, defect is defined as anything that could lead to customer dissatisfaction. Many Fortune 500 organizations have used Six Sigma programs in the last dozen or so years to assure customer satisfaction. If you do not have such a program at your company, you could adapt the principals easily if you think it could work for your group.
--
SIDEBAR?
Could STE Help Your Process?
Based on research done by our quality group, working with technical communication representation, you could determine that STE would help with your process. Based on our research, our quality representative contacted several STE vendors to see if they could work with us to develop a process that would be more effective than our current process.
Our group met with various STE vendors and evaluated their products and services. We also submitted numbers on costs to management. The case would slowly build toward accepting STE as a way to address our issue.
What more specifically is STE and how could it help? Wikipedia explains with an entry that calls STE a language originally developed by the aerospace industry, using a limited subset of English that proponents claim will:
. Reduce ambiguity
. Help make foreign language translation more cost effective
. Facilitate computer-assisted and machine translation
When you use STE, words can be used in certain ways only. For example, you can use the word close in the phrase close the door. You cannot use the word in the phrase do not go close to the landing gear.
Our team research identified STE as a tool that could help us make the foreign language translation process more effective and shorter to achieve the goal of delivering the information products in a more timely way.
--
What Kind of Process Can You Use?
Following a predetermined set of steps, as for example, those used by Black Belt teams, can help. Adhering to quantified targets as is customary for these types of teams can also be helpful. Steps you could use include:
1. Define the scope of the project and begin analysis
A focus that can be valuable during early efforts is to be sure the team has an understanding of the baseline metrics and what problem(s) you are working to solve. Our project charter defined these.
---
What is SIPOC?
SIDEBAR?
One of the Six Sigma tools used to perform analysis is SIPOC, an acronym that stands for Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers. An example from Wikipedia is:
Suppliers - grocers and vendors
Inputs - ingredients for recipes
Process - cooking at a restaurant kitchen
Outputs - meals served at a restaurant
Customers - diners at a restaurant
--
Careful analysis of the problems and issues associated with each step in our processes can include the request for information, gathering inputs, generating drafts, working with authors and reviewers, reviewing, approving, translating, and delivery to the end-user customer.
The particular update information we looked at often involved safety-related information. The current process also involved many authors and reviewers. The current process did not always achieve a uniform end product. Some of the end products were created by tech writers and some not. This lack of uniformity created an uneven result for the end reader. Our team learned that some readers were not able in some cases to quickly understand action items after looking at their documents. In addition, the information was getting to readers longer than the team determined was optimum.
2. Discuss solutions and quantify
Your team can at this point discuss techniques that could be uniformly applied to documents to make them quicker and easier to translate as well as easier for readers to understand. In addition to a STE program, we identified two items that all authors should do -
. Use active voice if possible.
. Keep sentence length at fewer than 15 words per sentence.
Team members in our case understood that these techniques would be a start at a "clear language" effort. Our process, however, required a qualitative analysis of this. Our team decided that a before and after analysis could provide the qualitative data we needed. We would take before documents and compare them to after documents. The after documents would be easier and quicker to translate and not be harder to understand.
We already had data for documents on Flesch-Kincaid reading levels that were very high, well above our tech communication goal of 8th grade. We reworked four problemmatic and representative documents to make them more readable using the Flesch-Kincaid model, available through Microsoft Word.
Our testers confirmed with the before and after analysis, using a questionnaire to evaluate the before and after, that the after documents were not harder to read. These were part of the metrics we used to proceed.
3. Identify the solution and implement
Identifying a solution in our case involved going beyond a simple rework based on Flesch-Kinkaid scores. Our team looked at STE vendors and what they could offer and at what price.
We evaluated three vendors who offer software to assist with the clear language efforts. They also offered translation services to see the whole process through.
We also needed a control phase as part of our requirements. This phase validated that improved readability would reduce translation cycle time and cost. We also determined that a software tool would assist in the quest for an improved process.
We presented the proposal to management concerning the new process and pricing using STE. When the proposal was accepted, we pushed out the process with new documents, dovetailing with other initiatives. Our team leader created a map showing the new process.
What Kind of Ongoing Analysis Would be Helpful?
This type of Six Sigma project officially ends when data verifies a process/cost improvement.
Future and ongoing analysis should tell how effective a solution such as STE is for a group over a longer period. Based on current analysis, we are hopeful the results will meet our expectations and important information will get out to our global customers in a more effective and timely manner.
Perhaps a similar approach could work in your group.
Can Simplified Technical English (STE) be a good choice for certain applications or for process improvement initiatives? Could STE work for your group or application? Could it help you improve information delivery or other issues? What process can you use to determine if STE could work for you?
If you are looking to improve information delivery processes and considering the use of STE, consider moving as we did in evaluating solutions to help improve our processes and more quickly distribute product update information in a number of languages, considering in the process the use of STE.
Getting Information Out Quickly
Distributing important product update information in a number of languages and many locations quickly with improved readability may be an issue in your organization. It was the issue that our team addressed. While your organization may not use the type of Six Sigma team approach that we did, you could still benefit by using a team or similar approach to looking to address similar issues. Our team took the approach of improving a business process using Six Sigma techniques, with a similar approach or adaptation being something that could work for you.
Your team may know or be aware, as we were, that our upper management considers updating our customers throughout the world with the correct information in a timely manner important to business.
Our team originated from our corporate quality organization and had the goal of moving quickly toward a resolution and improved process, within 90 days. The composition of the team could consist, as was similar in our case, to the following:
. a product integrity manager chair
. frequent authors of product safety advisory documents, for example, a product marketing manager and technical writer
. individuals responsible for resolving customer issues associated with product safety advisories in the field
. a product liability attorney if, as in our case, you are dealing with product safety information
. individuals who can provide research support, as in our case, an intern
What is the Six Sigma team approach and what is Six Sigma? Six Sigma is a business management strategy that involves identifying and removing the causes of defects and errors in manufacturing and business processes. It uses quality management methods and statistical tools. It also creates a group of people such as Six Sigma Black Belts who become experts in Six Sigma methods and processes. A Six Sigma project follows a set of steps and has quantified financial targets such as cost reduction or profit increase.
Historically, in Six Sigma, defect is defined as anything that could lead to customer dissatisfaction. Many Fortune 500 organizations have used Six Sigma programs in the last dozen or so years to assure customer satisfaction. If you do not have such a program at your company, you could adapt the principals easily if you think it could work for your group.
--
SIDEBAR?
Could STE Help Your Process?
Based on research done by our quality group, working with technical communication representation, you could determine that STE would help with your process. Based on our research, our quality representative contacted several STE vendors to see if they could work with us to develop a process that would be more effective than our current process.
Our group met with various STE vendors and evaluated their products and services. We also submitted numbers on costs to management. The case would slowly build toward accepting STE as a way to address our issue.
What more specifically is STE and how could it help? Wikipedia explains with an entry that calls STE a language originally developed by the aerospace industry, using a limited subset of English that proponents claim will:
. Reduce ambiguity
. Help make foreign language translation more cost effective
. Facilitate computer-assisted and machine translation
When you use STE, words can be used in certain ways only. For example, you can use the word close in the phrase close the door. You cannot use the word in the phrase do not go close to the landing gear.
Our team research identified STE as a tool that could help us make the foreign language translation process more effective and shorter to achieve the goal of delivering the information products in a more timely way.
--
What Kind of Process Can You Use?
Following a predetermined set of steps, as for example, those used by Black Belt teams, can help. Adhering to quantified targets as is customary for these types of teams can also be helpful. Steps you could use include:
1. Define the scope of the project and begin analysis
A focus that can be valuable during early efforts is to be sure the team has an understanding of the baseline metrics and what problem(s) you are working to solve. Our project charter defined these.
---
What is SIPOC?
SIDEBAR?
One of the Six Sigma tools used to perform analysis is SIPOC, an acronym that stands for Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers. An example from Wikipedia is:
Suppliers - grocers and vendors
Inputs - ingredients for recipes
Process - cooking at a restaurant kitchen
Outputs - meals served at a restaurant
Customers - diners at a restaurant
--
Careful analysis of the problems and issues associated with each step in our processes can include the request for information, gathering inputs, generating drafts, working with authors and reviewers, reviewing, approving, translating, and delivery to the end-user customer.
The particular update information we looked at often involved safety-related information. The current process also involved many authors and reviewers. The current process did not always achieve a uniform end product. Some of the end products were created by tech writers and some not. This lack of uniformity created an uneven result for the end reader. Our team learned that some readers were not able in some cases to quickly understand action items after looking at their documents. In addition, the information was getting to readers longer than the team determined was optimum.
2. Discuss solutions and quantify
Your team can at this point discuss techniques that could be uniformly applied to documents to make them quicker and easier to translate as well as easier for readers to understand. In addition to a STE program, we identified two items that all authors should do -
. Use active voice if possible.
. Keep sentence length at fewer than 15 words per sentence.
Team members in our case understood that these techniques would be a start at a "clear language" effort. Our process, however, required a qualitative analysis of this. Our team decided that a before and after analysis could provide the qualitative data we needed. We would take before documents and compare them to after documents. The after documents would be easier and quicker to translate and not be harder to understand.
We already had data for documents on Flesch-Kincaid reading levels that were very high, well above our tech communication goal of 8th grade. We reworked four problemmatic and representative documents to make them more readable using the Flesch-Kincaid model, available through Microsoft Word.
Our testers confirmed with the before and after analysis, using a questionnaire to evaluate the before and after, that the after documents were not harder to read. These were part of the metrics we used to proceed.
3. Identify the solution and implement
Identifying a solution in our case involved going beyond a simple rework based on Flesch-Kinkaid scores. Our team looked at STE vendors and what they could offer and at what price.
We evaluated three vendors who offer software to assist with the clear language efforts. They also offered translation services to see the whole process through.
We also needed a control phase as part of our requirements. This phase validated that improved readability would reduce translation cycle time and cost. We also determined that a software tool would assist in the quest for an improved process.
We presented the proposal to management concerning the new process and pricing using STE. When the proposal was accepted, we pushed out the process with new documents, dovetailing with other initiatives. Our team leader created a map showing the new process.
What Kind of Ongoing Analysis Would be Helpful?
This type of Six Sigma project officially ends when data verifies a process/cost improvement.
Future and ongoing analysis should tell how effective a solution such as STE is for a group over a longer period. Based on current analysis, we are hopeful the results will meet our expectations and important information will get out to our global customers in a more effective and timely manner.
Perhaps a similar approach could work in your group.
Alphabet
Alphabet Juice: The Energies, Gists, and Spirits of Letters, Words, and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips, and Secret Parts, ... With Examples of Their Usage Foul and Savory (Hardcover), by Roy Blount Jr. List price $25 (available new from amazon.com from $14.77).384 pages. Published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, New York. Published October, 2008.
Author Roy Blount is a regular panelist on NPR's Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me! He is also a member of the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel. In addition, he was a staff writer for Sports Illustrated and contributed to publications such as The New Yorker. He is also author of over 20 previous books covering subjects from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Robert E. Lee.
With 13 customer reviews when I last checked on Amazon, 7 reviewers gave this book the highest 5-star rating. The 6 remaining reviewers gave the book equal numbers of 4-, 3-, and 2-star ratings. I give it a 4. It is probably not going to be one of my all-time favorite books on language. But, it is a fun and interesting read.
The book is arranged in alphabetical order with Blount giving comments on words that he finds worthy of thought. It is the type of book I would like to have written in many ways, as words sometimes strike me as interesting, worthy of commentary, and funny.
As an example, Blount includes in the book the word e-mail. By the way, part of what I like about Blount is that in many cases he observes and does not pass judgement on what is right and wrong. He says he does not feel qualified to pass judgement. I can identify with that. I don't feel qualified to even write this review. But, if I don't do it, I'm afraid that no one will. And, that would be wrong.
In the entry for e-mail, Blount discusses placing a hyphen in words like A-bomb or C-section, but not email. Advocates of email without the hyphen, argue that it conserves space. This, according to Blount, is the kind of topic and word worthy of commentary that is often humorous, light, and thoughtful.
Blount also comments on letters. He has a lot to say about letters as well as words. About the letter Q, Blount considers the capital letter to be "an upside-down apple, but much depends on type-face." He compares the q in Braggadocio, Goudy Old Style, American Typewriter, and Onyx, among others, and has often hilarious commentary.
"If Ramirez stayed in Cleveland, the Indians may not be seven victories shy of their first World Series title since 1948." What Blount says about this sentence from USA Today is amusing. The sentence is a good example of language use worthy of commentary.
Do we really need or want another book about language and usage? I suppose that since language is endlessly changing, there will always be something new to write about, especially when it comes to English, which you could argue is a huge collection point for words, constantly assimilating words and ideas from various cultures, fueled by the immigrant history of America and America's constant acceptance of new words and I think at its best America's openness to new ideas and reinvention. Now that was a rambling thought and rambling sentence. The book is making me think these kinds of thoughts and ideas.
Utne, McWhorter
1. Grateful to God and all that helps me get through a day
2. Grateful for nice visit to NY
3. Grateful to reprint in Utne of Secondhand Syndicate from www.politemag.com
4. Grateful for interesting books on language
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue
Author John McWhorter
22.50 list price
ISBN: 1592403956
ISBN-13: 9781592403950
Format: Hardcover, 197pp
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: October 2008
Called a survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, this book provides a focus on English grammar and its history. This is in contrast to Alphabet Juice, the recent Roy Blount book that has a focus more on usage (and was recently reviewed in Lines and Letters). Both books are an interesting read.
Author John McWhorter is an American linguist and political commentator. He is the author of numerous books on language including The Power of Babel. A senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor to The New Republic, he has also taught linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley.
This book covers a subject that reminds me of Baugh and Cable's standard History of the English Language. Surprising to me was that the voice of Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue is so different. The Baugh and Cable book is textbook-like and almost stuffy - but likeable and not necessarily stuffy in a bad way. McWhorter's voice comes more from a study of creole languages and linguistics that show underlying changes in language - not just a study of new words that enter the language. The resulting book is more conversational and not textbook-like. However, McWhorter's voice is as enjoyable and authoritative as that of Baugh and Cable.
McWhorter's book covers the Celtic and Welsh influence on English, as well as the impact of the Viking raids, Normal Conquest, and Germanic invasions. He also describes reasons for the simplicity of English - with it lack, for example, of declensions - as it became a type of universal vehicle of expression during the early formation of Britain.
When I checked on amazon.com, 10 reviewers gave the book an average of 4. Five reviewers gave it a 5. Four reviewers gave it a 4. One reviewer gave a 1. I give it a 4 as the topic is fascinating and the treatment original. However, I can understand that reviewer who gave the 1. The author does tend to dwell on the particular idea that English grammar was influenced by Welsh and Gaelic. His argument is convincing but at times tedious, bordering on what I would call overkill.
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A relatively short book at 197 pages, it is in a small and very readable format.
2. Grateful for nice visit to NY
3. Grateful to reprint in Utne of Secondhand Syndicate from www.politemag.com
4. Grateful for interesting books on language
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue
Author John McWhorter
22.50 list price
ISBN: 1592403956
ISBN-13: 9781592403950
Format: Hardcover, 197pp
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: October 2008
Called a survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, this book provides a focus on English grammar and its history. This is in contrast to Alphabet Juice, the recent Roy Blount book that has a focus more on usage (and was recently reviewed in Lines and Letters). Both books are an interesting read.
Author John McWhorter is an American linguist and political commentator. He is the author of numerous books on language including The Power of Babel. A senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor to The New Republic, he has also taught linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley.
This book covers a subject that reminds me of Baugh and Cable's standard History of the English Language. Surprising to me was that the voice of Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue is so different. The Baugh and Cable book is textbook-like and almost stuffy - but likeable and not necessarily stuffy in a bad way. McWhorter's voice comes more from a study of creole languages and linguistics that show underlying changes in language - not just a study of new words that enter the language. The resulting book is more conversational and not textbook-like. However, McWhorter's voice is as enjoyable and authoritative as that of Baugh and Cable.
McWhorter's book covers the Celtic and Welsh influence on English, as well as the impact of the Viking raids, Normal Conquest, and Germanic invasions. He also describes reasons for the simplicity of English - with it lack, for example, of declensions - as it became a type of universal vehicle of expression during the early formation of Britain.
When I checked on amazon.com, 10 reviewers gave the book an average of 4. Five reviewers gave it a 5. Four reviewers gave it a 4. One reviewer gave a 1. I give it a 4 as the topic is fascinating and the treatment original. However, I can understand that reviewer who gave the 1. The author does tend to dwell on the particular idea that English grammar was influenced by Welsh and Gaelic. His argument is convincing but at times tedious, bordering on what I would call overkill.
javascript:void(0)
A relatively short book at 197 pages, it is in a small and very readable format.
Crime/Punishment
http://www.playbill.com/events/event_detail/15042.html
Performances from 27 Feb 2009
Closing 22 Mar 2009
Crime and Punishment
Cleveland Play House
Wildly theatrical and rich in language, Columbus and Campbell's Crime and Punishment condenses the action down to 90 minutes, and features a cast of three performers in an acting tour de force. This conversation on the nature of evil is set in the mind of a murderer where he relives and explores - through the urging of a detective and a young prostitute - the thoughts, ideas and feelings that drove him to his horrible crime. The play is a psychological landscape, a thrilling journey into the mind of a killer and his search for redemption. Raskolnikov, the murderer, speaks directly to the audience at times, making his case and taking us on a spiritual journey that seeks to unveil hidden dimensions of the human condition.
Performances from 27 Feb 2009
Closing 22 Mar 2009
Crime and Punishment
Cleveland Play House
Wildly theatrical and rich in language, Columbus and Campbell's Crime and Punishment condenses the action down to 90 minutes, and features a cast of three performers in an acting tour de force. This conversation on the nature of evil is set in the mind of a murderer where he relives and explores - through the urging of a detective and a young prostitute - the thoughts, ideas and feelings that drove him to his horrible crime. The play is a psychological landscape, a thrilling journey into the mind of a killer and his search for redemption. Raskolnikov, the murderer, speaks directly to the audience at times, making his case and taking us on a spiritual journey that seeks to unveil hidden dimensions of the human condition.
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