WTVS News

Archive for May, 2010

In the Fitzroy Gardens of Melbourne, Australia, visitors will find an unusual site: the 255 year old cottage of Captain James Cook , originally built in England in the village of Great Ayton, North Yorkshire. His parents, James and Grace Cook, were the ones who actually lived in it; it’s possible one of the world’s most famous navigators never lived here, although certainly he must have visited it several times. If he were to arrive today, he’d certainly be confused that the family home changed locations.

The explanation of the hemisphere hopping cottage, though, is fairly simple. In 1933, the cottage owner wanted to sell it but with the provision that the home remain in England. Eventually, she was talked into broadening this provision from keeping it in England to keeping it within the British Empire, thus making it possible for her to accept a bid of 800 pounds, a bid that was five hundred pounds higher than any local offer.

The home, constructed in 1755, was taken apart, brick by brick, and packed into 40 barrels and 253 cases and shipped aboard the Port Dunedin from Hull. Cuttings were taken from the ivy that surrounded the house and re-planted when the home was re-erected in Melbourne. The new owner, Russell Grimwade was a businessman and philanthropist and he donated the cottage to the people of Victoria at the centenary anniversary of Melbourne’s settlement in October of 1934. The cottage quickly became a tourist attraction and landmark for the city.

To visit the cottage today gives visitors the opportunity to step back in time to the 18th Century. The home are now a part of the Fitzroy Gardens . The cottage contains a Discovery Center, where people can learn about the life of Captain James Cook — navigator, explorer, and cartographer, the first to map Newfoundland and the first to make European contact with the eastern coast of Australia.

While the 18th Century may be enticing to some, others will welcome stepping back into contemporary Melbourne and into a modern Melbourne hotel for the night.

There is something of the wild west that comes to mind whenever southwestern law is discussed. It might have something to do with various kinds of legislation that have been overturned in recent years, along with the history of very colorful politicians in Arizona and Colorado. It’s also important to keep in mind that these are still young states in terms of the history of the nation, Colorado entering in 1876, and Arizona in 1912 . The ideas that relate youthfulness and lawlessness are still very much at work in the popular imagination.

The view from the ground, however, is a lot different. Living in the Southwest does not mean a constant struggle with swinging saloon doors and gunfights, although there are still some elements in place that serve as reminders of a not-too-distant past. Among the historical places, like ghost towns and graveyards, there are also reminders that the history is still very recent here, and not all of the symbols of the wild west are a thing of the past. It’s one of the great attractions of the big cities, actually, where there may be an office for a law firm in one block, and the next block there are houses where the families are raising sheep or llamas in their back yard.

For lawyers working in the Southwest, then, there are some interesting challenges that might not be present in other places. There are populations that are very new here, and first-generation residents are very common, but there are also populations that have been here for thousands of years. In terms of laws, there are some very interesting cases, where there may be disputes that relate to something happening hundreds of years ago in northern Arizona, or a new issue raised in the arena of business law. Denver and Phoenix can be alike in many ways, but there are also central differences that only arise when the subtleties start to work themselves out. This unusual combination makes it a very interesting place for issues concerning the law.

It is a different time for organizations and businesses, and there are some rules that have radically changed from the previous generation. Many, if not most, of these changes are reflections of a world that’s become very rapidly built around cyberspace, and all the changes that this has brought. There is certainly an increase in information, where ideas become global very quickly, and this makes the entire world much smaller than it used to be. It also makes it vastly more interesting, because, in many respects, the playing fields are more level now than they ever were.

People have increasing access to these flows of information , and they are also becoming more increasingly deft at managing the flows. This is one of the factors that makes presentations such an important part of any kind of business model. A solid presentation is something that everyone strives for these days, because it’s something that everyone has to do. It’s almost become its own mode of communication, and in many respects is like another language. The greatest benefit to the presentation, ironically, is that the language is one that can be reinvented and redesigned for nearly any purpose, and any occasion.

An effective presentation can be helped by all the usual, and unusual, bells and whistles that make the audience want to sit up straighter and pay attention. But it’s also largely determined by the speaking skills of the presenter. Like in the old days, this depends on the speaker’s ability to deliver polished presentations, while also being flexible to the moment, and that means certain improvisation skills are involved. More than anything, however, it depends on the speaker’s ability to make connections, presenting what’s likely to be familiar material, in a very interesting and provocative way.

Here, the central skills that are taught for high-impact presentations also find their roots in sales training . This is where the common elements of information come together to reference a common language between the speaker and the audience, and the salesperson and the client. The situations might look different, but the underlying relationships are the same.

For many of us, dealing with salesmen—especially the ones that go door to door— is an uncomfortable experience.  Not only can they be pushy but it is often hard to tell just what they want and what they are selling.

Fortunately things are changing with the help of the Direct Selling Association (DSA).  Although the DSA has been around for nearly a hundred years, more companies are joining all the time; ensuring a positive experience for both the seller and customer.

The DSA holds companies, like the Southwestern Company, accountable with a Code of Ethics for dealing with customers and the direct selling company.  This includes ensuring customers privacy as well as thoroughly explaining who you are, what company you work for and what you are selling.  The full guidelines can be found at The Southwestern Company Blog. 

Always leave it to the French to add style, even when there is already style in evidence to everyone. As the world starts preparing for another French Open , the events of the past year come into a new perspective. It’s always interesting how these annual events cause people to reflect on what’s passed, and it’s part of the fascination with tennis in general. History has a way of reawakening interest in more history, and when the tennis games come around again, it’s a great time to look at the origins of the game.

It began in 1891 , and its present location was constructed in 1928. Since that time, Roland Garros has been synonymous with the French Open, and this is one of the most watched sporting events around the world. Tennis has a natural appeal to those who are prone to elegant touches and flourishes. The sport lends itself to players who have a certain something that extends beyond, sometimes far beyond, an ability to hold a racquet and hit well. It’s very difficult to find another sport even remotely like tennis in terms of the elegant balance of simplicity and complexity, and France is a culture that understands the balance better than anyone.

It’s no surprise, then, to find that the real Roland Garros was a spectacularly vibrant figure historically. He was the first pilot to cross the Mediterranean, and died in a battle in the air when he was just entering his late 20s. That particular combination of bravery and a short life is the stuff that romantic heroes are made of. He also developed a means of coating the propellers of his plane so that they would deflect bullets, so that he could shoot right through. This made for some very effective spontaneous attacks, and it stunned the Germans, unused to fighting in the air head on.

Why his name would be associated with the game is a great puzzle. There are some easy connections to make with bravery in the air to bravado on the court. But there is also a certain revolutionary appeal here, with the contradiction of doing things sideways by going straight forward speaks to contradictions in the game that also make it very appealing, year after year.

Finding a new house or apartment to rent can be a long yet exciting process. Sometimes it only takes a couple weeks, while others times it can take months to find the right place. But once you find the perfect place to call home, it’s hard not to rush through the paperwork and get everything signed so that you can get moved in. It is easy to keep in mind all of the important factors when you are looking; location, price, amenities, quality. However, the most important thing once you found a new place is signing the lease. It is vital that you understand and agree with everything that you are signing because once you put your name on the line you are financially and legally obligated and will be held to everything that it says. So before you get in over your head, let’s take a few steps back and make sure that you understand just what it is that you are signing.

Most of the time when you are considering renting a property you will be working with a property manager , not the owner. It is the property manager’s job to stay up-to-date on the laws and codes for the area, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be informed as well. Many states have regulations on how much can be charged for a security deposit and the conditions under which they will or will not return it when you move out. If you go in with this knowledge, you will have a better understanding and facts to back you up if they are charging too much.

Before you sign the lease it is important that both you and the property manger are on the same page. Discuss how much the rent will be, when it is due, and what happens if it is late. Also, you can should discuss daily things like who is responsible for repairs, what about pets, and who do go to if there are problems. If there is anything that you don’t agree with or decide to change, put it in writing in the lease before you sign it.
By making sure that you understand and agree with everything that the lease says, not only will your stay be more enjoyable but you’ll be making the property manager’s job easier as well.

Car repair does sometimes seem to be a lot like medical science. There are way too many complicated parts for the ordinary person to handle, and it’s best to leave it to the professionals. But there are certain key differences that are greater than the parallels, that make learning car maintenance a good idea. Jeeps are made of steel and other kinds of metal, and the parts are much more replaceable than the ones on the human body, so even a mistake here and there can be easily remedied.

It’s a kind of learning, like anything, where even mistakes can be educational. Sometimes the mistakes are more educational than doing everything right the first time. Just ask anyone who’s ever filled their car with diesel by accident. With a good repair manual, it’s possible to learn and avoid some of the more obvious errors, and it’s a great exercise in thinking. Like the human body, getting to know your vehicle inside and out doesn’t just have a practical benefit, although that’s certainly a big part of it. Cars, like the body, have systems , and getting to know how each system works eventually creates a bigger picture of how it all works together.

There’s no reason not to get more familiar with a vehicle, even though it might be daunting at first. With a Ford Bronco repair manual , or a Jeep Wagoneer repair manual , even these complex machines can become demystified. There’s a logic to how everything is put together, and there’s a logic in how things run. It does take a little time, and a lot of effort, but eventually, this logic will work its way into learning how to diagnose problems. Because like the body, the infinite parts eventually become revealed as not so infinite, and that’s when the learning curve takes hold, and suddenly things all start to make sense. That’s the road to learning how to keep your own Jeep alive longer than you may have imagined.