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prorevenge · 5 years ago

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I end up working for the scammer who conned my parents.

So, this tale starts twelve years ago in 2007. Both my parents had retired at the same time and had received a large cash lump sum and would have a decent pension income for the rest of their lives. Dad was ex-Army, doing his national service and staying for another 8 years before travelling the world. He served with the Royal Engineers and moved into an engineering/maintenance role when he returned to the civillian life. Mum was a teacher, and with careful savings and multiple pensions they had more money coming in individually than I did in a salary.

The first thing they did was to renovate their house. They got several quotes for new windows, some minor building work, a new kitchen and a block-paved driveway. I helped them with researching the companies involved and with all the information at hand, they settled on a local company that we'll call Bad Company. Bad Company had membership of all the relevant professional bodies, had some good feedback and importantly was not the cheapest but their sales guy explained to my parents why a cheaper quote wasn't always better. They agreed on the £35k work and paid a 10% deposit. Work started, and they weren't asked for a single penny more until it had been completed. There were a couple of minor snags which were easily corrected, and it went £500 over budget due to the bad drainage of the house (something that had been mentioned before) but it looked satisfactory.

As it turned out, the windows had massive gaps in them that leaked water when it rained and you could actually hear the wind whistling through. Heating became expensive. Within a month, weeds and grass started poking through the block paved driveway and the electical work that was done in the new kitchen caused blown fuses if both ovens and the hob were turned on together. If you touched the plate around the light switch, you'd get an electric shock. After three months, water burst through the newly laid kitchen floor and the "Secured By Design" doors could simply be lifted out of their frame even when locked. We also noticed that they keys to the new doors were not the originals, and they were extremely difficult to lock especially as both parents had arthritis. The icing on the cake was that most of the windows were supposed to be argon filled, but the seals had already blown allowing air inside and condensation on the inside was apparent.

Dad asked a friend, Bob, to estimate the extra cost of fixing it. Bob said that to correct the now evident defects would cost nearly £20k as almost everything would have to be ripped out and re-done. Dad immediately contacted Bad Company, and the guy they sent round was rude, arrogant and blamed everything on the builders who had originally constructed the house doing a bad job. He wrote a report stating that none of the defects were down to the work carried out as the work had been done according to current best practices. That evening, one of the window frames fell out.

Dad spent a month after that trying to get Bad Company back to fix the issues, then he called all the regulatory bodies to find that Bad Company wasn't a member but just used the membership logos on their documentation. Around a year after the work was originally completed, Bad Company simply vanished. Phone numbers were disconnected emails bounced back and their office was now a conservatory showroom. Dad had already paid a well estabished window company £3k to fix the immediate window and door issues, and was left to pay another (much better) company £22k to fix the issues. This time we checked everything and made sure they were registered. We even got a warranty.

Cut to 2018, and I'm looking for a new job. Dad passed away quite unexpectedly in 2015 and Mum wasn't too good either (although she's a lot better now) so I needed a job closer to her house than the 2 hour commute to the next city that I currently had. As luck would have it, a local kitchen manufacturing company (lets call them Local Kitchens) was looking to expand and wanted an IT technician/developer. The pay was about £1k more a year than I was currently making, but I didn't have to spend £500 a month travelling to and from work (busses and trains are expensive). I interviewed, liked what I heard, and was accepted for the role. All the time, I thought that I somehow knew the boss of Local Kitchens.

Having worked in factory environments before, I arrived in a hi-viz vest, toecapped boots and with my own ear defenders. No-one else wore any P.P.E. - not even masks and goggles. When all the machinery ran, the factory floor hummed and buzzed along at a noise level of 105dB, well over the required minimum for wearing ear defenders or plugs. The boss, who we'll call John, also attempted to cut corners everywhere. My workstation was barely powerful enough to run the development software let alone the CAD/CAM software required. When the CPU fan died, he said that he couldn't afford to replace the fan. A new computer keyboard took 3 weeks to arrive and although we were paid on the 28th of each month, the pay was often not in the bank until 9pm, well after he had chased people who owed him money.

There were more lies that I uncovered, and bad business practices. It was like John had read a book on running a business then did the exact opposite. I spent the first six months between designing kitchens - something that I knew nothing about but suddenly fell under the remit of IT technician - maintaining the factory machines, driving the forklift (something that requires a specialist license that I don't hold) and doing IT work on his personal home computer equipment and mobile phones of him, his trophy wife, his kids and his parents. I also wrote several small computer programs, wired up the factory network, ensured that machinery could connect to the office computers and re-wrote most of the configuration for the industry specific software he used - which was not only unlicensed but also used on five separate machines despite the single (lapsed) license.

Also working at the company was Dad's friend Bob. Bob was a decade and a half older than me and had served his time "working the tools" making and fitting kitchens, bedrooms, and had spent a good fifteen years as a shopfitter on some very prestigious contracts. Bob was hired originally to do my job but he moved back to the manufacturing side when the expansion started as it was easier to employ an IT tech than it was a shopfitter. Bob had read an eulogy at Dad's funeral and was often round helping mum with bits around the house, so I knew Bob well and he looked after me at work. We got talking one day and I found out that Bob was earning less than me, even though he had a highly skilled and experienced role, and that despite being given more responsibility, John refused to pay Bob what Bob was worth.

Honestly, if Bob wasn't there, most of the knowledge was lost. Bob and I had frequently told John better ways to do key tasks, but John refused simply because there would be a small cash outlay. I should have seen the writing on the wall at that point, but no.

Running up to Christmas, John tells us all that he's giving us all a bonus, and will pay us early for the christmas to new year shutdown period. We soon discover though that the bonus was a £5 tub of sweets - which Bob can't eat because he has type 1 diabeties, and I can't eat because I have this really strange sugar allergy. I was going to mention it to John, but Bob tells me not to as it's Christmas and it will be something for my kids to enjoy. I actually ended up with three boxes of sweets because he over-ordered.

That day, despite being an IT technician, I had to chase an order with a company, order some materials from a supplier, and supervise a fitter as he attempted to install some new showroom units. John is nowhere to be found until just as we're about to leave. He asked Bob for a moment of his time and I go home.

The next day, Bob tells me that he and John talked until 7pm (an extra 3 hours) about the business. Bob was asked to invest £10k for a quick capital injection as winter is always a bad time for people buying kitchens, so income is slow but there are a number of large orders in the pipeline. Bob told him what he thought of the shady business practices and the poor management, and he said that he could walk out of this job today and be earning double before the year is out. He refused to invest. Other things were said, and Bob dropped the first bombshell, explaining that every job they did for a new client was actually making a loss. The new client had been Local Kitchens only revenue stream since mid October. Apparently John was genuinely shocked and didn't realise that it cost him £200 per hour just to run his business, jumping to £300 if the machinery is running.

The day before we're due to finish for Christmas, I get called into the nearly complete new showroom. I thought John was going to show me what needs finishing and which units need designing, but no. He's worked out the finances and states that there's only enough money to keep me on for another couple of months. He even tries to turn it around by saying that he's sorry and that I'm a good employee but the income isn't there, and he wanted to give me enough time to find something else. I felt my entire world crumble. The rest of the day was a daze, but just before I left, I overhear him ordering some materials from a supplier. His exact words were: Yes, it's John from Local Kitchens. You might have us down as Bad Company.

That's when all the pieces fell into place. It finally clicked why I knew his face. He was the one who scammed my parents.

The last day of work before Christmas arrives, and John had taken his family away over the christmas / new year period. We had to ensure that the factory was powered down, locked off and secure. No-one else wanted the responsibility so I volunteered. With only Bob and myself still left in the factory, I set about gathering evidence and investigating his finances. I already know about the losses, but digging deeper I find that the company actually has no cash flow. Everything is done on credit. His house, his wife's Range Rover, his Jaguar and several other assets are registered as company assets but they're all on finance through Local Kitchens. He owed at least £750k in credit, loans and mortgages.

Bob advised me against doing anything rash as it would only come back to me and agreed that John needed to be taught a lesson not just for the way he treated his empolyees, but for conning my parents and several others out of their life savings. Bob had found a set of files from 2005 to 2008 with customer complaints for shoddy work in the name of Bad Company. It was far too late to legally do anything about the complaints, but we could bring down John and his smug attitude. Bob suggested I read up on health and safety over christmas, and perform some observations in the new year.

January and February I spent making notes, taking photographs and researching legislation. By the time the end of February rolled around, I had a thick folder full of breaches of health and safety, environmental issues, data protection (or lack thereof) and the lack of software licensing. John was well aware of the software issue, but he said that "as long as the software keeps running, it'll be ok". I had emals from him to back this up, and requests for purchases of software and hardware that were turned down so he could dine out at fancy restaurants or stay in 4 star hotels.

My last day rolls around. I have a much better development job lined up thanks to some recruiter contacts I have, and as the current day was a Thursday and I didn't start my new job until Monday, I planned on sleeping in on Friday. John is strangely absent all day but arrives just as we're all leaving for the day. HE SAYS NOTHING as he watches me leave. I got the impression immediately that he wanted me to stay until Friday, but he said that my last day was "the end of the month" and not "Friday". Unsuprisingly, the pay is late. It's 10pm before it appears in the account.

I went to see my mum that evening and told her who my boss was, the way he simply cast me aside when he was done with me, and that I wanted to break him as revenge for the bad work and what we have always considered as a scam. Now, my mum is the sweetest lady you could ever meet, and I was completely shocked when she actually said "bury the bastard". She even let me use her garden incinerator to destroy the personal hand-written instructions that Bob and myself had created since I started. The knowledge of how to fix issues with the specialist software now only existed in our memories.

Friday rolls around, and I have no reason to get up early. My phone is ringing constantly becuase John is trying to get hold of me and it's soon evident that things are going south, rapidly. Bob sent me a text telling me that he gave John a final invoice at 8AM and walked out. Now, had this been petty revenge then the tale would have ended here with him not being able to use his business-critical unlicensed software, and hiring new people, but this is Pro revenge and my mother did tell me to "bury the bastard" so despite feeling sorry for the one other genuine employee that I had a lot of respect for, I enacted my totally legal if not a little underhanded plan.

I reported Local Kitchens and John to the Federation against Software Theft for illegal use of licensed software, giving them information regarding which software was illegally used and how. Just to be safe, I also reported them directly to those software companies too. I supplied the emails as evidence where I had explained to John that he was breaking the law by not having the correct and valid licenses.

I then called a friend at the local government Health and Safety team, reporting no fewer than thirty rule breaches, sending him the supporting images and video. One of Local Kitchens professional memberships had lapsed, but John was still using the logo on paperwork, email signatures, website and the company van, in addition to the signage on the building. I reported that to the professional body in question. I honesly considered reporting GDPR breaches, but I don't think that he had done anything that could be considered a breach.

A week later, John sent me a message stating that If I was still looking for work, he would pay me £50 per day to do "IT work" for him. It came across as if he was trying to do me a favour. I told him that I was previously on £90 per day, but as I was now a freelance contractor, the going rate was closer to £200 per day. He didn't send me another message.

Three weeks later, and the showroom saleswoman - who we'll call Jane (the one remaining staff member I respected) called me to tell me that John had closed Local Kitchens and declared bankruptcy owing nearly a million pounds. I asked about fines, and she said that Health and Safety were behind a building closure which stopped production causing the bankruptcy. In the same week, he had legal notices for illegal software.

As this unfolded, I kept Bob in the loop and Jane kept me informed. As of the start of July, the final figure for fines was levied. £932k debts to the business, £876k fines too. On that same day, purely by chance I was helping a friend deliver pizza and John placed an order My friend was driving and doing the shop work, and I was going to the door to hand the food over, so I actually got to deliver his food. He was nice enough to me when he opened the door, and stated that if I had done the extra "IT Work" for him then I wouldn't have to deliver pizza. I told him that it was what it was, and questioned the fact that there was only enough for 1 meal - didn't his wife like pizza? He told me that she'd left him and taken the kids back to her parents, and that he wasn't OK with that but he had no choice. I agreed, an then decided to twist the knife even more.

I told him that it was a good job he got rid of me when he did, because I now had a fantastic well-paid job that I'm good at, and that if I had stayed, then I would have brought myself down as well as him. That's when he realised that I had called in all the agencies that had eventually shut him down. He demanded to know why, as he had "given me everything" and "taught me how to work in the kitchen industry". I simply replied with my parents address and the year 2007. I saw the colour drain from his face as he realised that his past had caught up with him. Then I told him how much he had to pay on his pizza, and he threw £40 at me and snatched the food out of my hands, slamming the door in my face. His food was only £21.50, so I got a nice £18.50 tip from him that night.

(source) story by (/u/tac-21a)

#prorevenge #by /u/tac-21a #pro revenge #revenge stories #pro revenge stories #pro #revenge #last10

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utopia-dystopia-meganfmpwsc · 4 years ago

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MM6 Maison Margiela

MM6 Maison Margiela's Autumn Winter 2018 show was presented inside a silver-lacquered pub. Set designer Derek Hardie Martin covered every element of The Running Horse pub in Mayfair in tin foil. The futuristic backdrop was intended to represent the collection's concept – that something classic can be completely reinvented when recreated in silver metallic. The collection was updated versions of the brand's most popular garments, which had been lacquered in silver. Guests were encouraged to take their own images on 15 polaroid cameras. These images where resewn into five MM6 staple garments and placed inside transparent plastic pockets sewn in the garments. To coincide with the theme, the brand has also released a limited-edition silver foiled T-shirt and has similarly decked out its London showroom in foil.

Here every piece is very dramatic and I like how everything is covered in in foil but you can at the same time see the outlines and different objects at the pub. I think how the foil creates the different lighting and the way they have used foil on to create clothing is so interesting and unique. I think the clothing goes well with the style of the the shoot location because even if its silver you can still see the typical fire place and chair etc.. every clothing is typical and original but very very cool and unique which I love.

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authors-dumpster · 5 years ago

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Cottage in the Middle of the Woods

Any place labeled as “up north” in Michigan is almost always perceived to be a certain type of place. Often times, when a Michigander hears the words “up north”, they’ll either think of their cottage (or lakehouse for the more prestige), or think of cities like Charlevoix, Petoskey, Traverse City, Boyne City, or East Jordan. They are bustling with activity during the warmer months of spring, definitely throughout summer, and still through the warmth that lingers into the fall months. They are perfect cities in which to live the “Lake Life” dream. But as the warmth fades, so do the people. Namely, the summer-loving tourists that have their lives to return to, and these up north cities become desolate, boring, dull. There are also smaller, lesser known “up north” places such as Walloon, Alpena, and Thunder Bay that see less action, but are no less enjoyable. The winter decline is on a smaller scale, but still common. Lesser known for a non-Michigander, that is. Gaylord, Michigan is also one of these lesser known “up north” places.

In northern Michigan just east of I-75, where M-32 intersects with this freeway, lies a city called Gaylord. This city is in between Boyne City and Lewiston. If you were to ask a Michigander where the city of Gaylord is, then they would probably say something along the lines of, “Well, it's in the upper part of the mitten, probably by the middle finger. If you look at my fingers, it’s somewhere along the space in between my middle and ring finger, and just around the second knuckle of my middle finger.” The classic tactic of using one’s hand as a map is probably the most fascinating part about living in Michigan. What’s even better is the lengths that people will go to to use their other hand to represent the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I suppose that us Michiganders believe it is a reliable map.

Traveling to Gaylord Michigan from my home near Detroit was a 220 mile adventure. The trip took about four hours. This time includes at least two bathroom breaks (one being a stop for gas and one being a most necessary McDonald’s pit stop). After spending just under 200 miles on the freeway, exiting was a relieving escape. My two siblings and I- more specifically my younger brother, older sister, and myself- would almost always fit in one Lord of the Rings movie and a few episodes of Scooby Doo, or two Harry Potter movies. There wasn’t really much else that we wanted to watch on the built-in DVD player of the army green GMC Yukon that my mother drove for at least five years of my adolescence.

After exiting the freeway, the drive through Gaylord seemed endless to my young mind. But then again, sitting in a hair salon waiting area for five minutes also seemed endless to me. I never really paid much attention to the drive through the hustle and bustle of city life in Gaylord, mainly because there wasn’t much anyways. Gaylord was and is a small town. There is approximately one or two movie theaters (sometimes, one of the cinemas would not be showing any movies for noticeable periods of time). There is one bookshop worthy of visiting, while the other is more like a book showroom and very difficult to find a book that was published after the year 2000. There is a very small selection of original restaurants, including names like the Bearded Dog and the Alpine Grille, all of which serve good quality food and are exactly what one would expect from a small town in northern Michigan: Hearty American food, with the occasional seasonal catch sprinkled in. Once there, we would spend the first day unpacking the car, our suitcases, and opening the cottage itself. Opening chores include: spider check, mouse check, water pipe check, temperature check, and of course making sure my father had “turned on the toilets” so we could take care of business. The second day was spent “on vacation”. We would have lazy mornings, lay out on our small beach or play in the calm lake for a majority of the afternoon, and then enjoy a home cooked dinner that all five of us had helped with. My mother was the head chef and did most of the work, but I like to think I helped greatly by setting the table with my brother and sister minutes before the food was served.

The drive becomes more and more rural passing into Otsego County until eventually the pavement disappears and you are left to your devices with dirt roads, small hills, and forest patches that all look the same. Going up north to visit my cottage with my family was something that was just part of our regular schedule. Unfortunately, as the years went on, the time we spent at our cottage in Gaylord slowly decreased. As my siblings and I grew up and my family became more busy, going to the cottage to hang out “up north” was not a priority anymore. We were becoming the summer-loving tourists who just wanted a slice of Lake Life once in a while.

The driveway to our cottage was a dirt path serpentine of 100 meters. A clearing opens up and the first thing to see is a two-story brown structure that can only be described as a 1,580 square foot, chalet style cottage, and a matching shed only 10 meters to the right hand side. The main structure was built in 1984, and renovated in 2002. Walking beyond the cottage and around to the other side from the driveway provides a lakeside view from a 557 square foot deck, or from the wooden double lawn glider on the left hand side. This lake, however, is more like a pond. Navajo Lake, or Long Lake, is a whopping 2,000 meters from north to south end, 300 meters from east to west end, and about eight feet deep in the middle of September after the summer rain has done its job. The main inhabitants of Navajo Lake are Walleye, Pike, Bass, and Bluegill. There have been many Bullfrogs that hopped across the sandy waterline, but none stayed to sunbathe long enough to be captured by my little brother and his trusty blue bucket from Glenn’s, the only grocery store in the city my mother trusted.

The city of Gaylord, also known as the Alpine Village of Michigan, was founded in 1872 under the name “Otsego Lake”. Otsego county, however, was originally called Okkuddo in 1840. This word comes from an unnamed Native tribe meaning “sickly”. Three years later, it was named Otsego after the county in New York. The word Otsego also comes from Native Americans meaning “clear water”, which is the same name of the biggest lake in the county: Otsego Lake. The city name Gaylord comes from Augustine Smith Gaylord, who was an attorney for the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad, which ran right by Navajo Lake for some time. It is only now, three years after the very last time we vacationed in Gaylord, that I understand why there are railroad tracks under the sand of our humble beach. My parents made the executive decision to sell the lovely chalet cottage in 2016. I have only revisited the place in photographs and memories.

At some point I have to wonder, when does nostalgia start? And for what, exactly, am I nostalgic for? Perhaps the feeling is not nostalgia at all, but something else entirely. Something like a protective instinct. My family’s lovely cottage in the middle of the woods was a perfect escape from the stressors of daily life. Nature, however, can only be an escape if you make time for it. And I can no longer call this place mine. These up north cities are seeing the more unfortunate portion of a seasonal situation. I have observed the average population of the more vacationed up north cities dropping by nearly half every winter for the six years that I have actually been noticing this phenomenon. It was brought to my attention by my mother, who was disappointed one winter day in 2013 to find the American Spoon in Petoskey was closed, and on restricted “winter hours”. This has undoubtedly been happening long before I noticed it, but I cannot rid my mind of these seasonal influxes seen by bigger up north cities, and often I think about how locals have had to adapt their lives to this annual occurrence.

In the summer of 2018, my family was the perfect summer tourist. We rented a Boyne City house on Lake Charlevoix like so many others. We took our small speed boat onto the lake and spent hours putzing around, blending in with the countless other boaters dotted around the surface of the dark blue water like Welsh sheep on a grassy hillside. In the city of Charlevoix, at a quaint café called Hardwood Gold, I had a conversation with the barista about seasonal tourism. After voicing how devoid of people the city becomes during winter months, he replied, “It is what it is. Have a nice day!”

I would hope that this is not all there is for up north cities that vast amounts of people undoubtedly adore. What is it about these big up north cities that make them so desirable? Where is the same sentiment for the lesser known up north cities? Is it a muddled desire to be closer to nature? If someone is making time for nature, it should be a frequent occurrence, not a seasonal one. Gaylord has thus far escaped this fate, which seems to only befall the “hot” destinations, but as the city slowly grows and the beaches of Otsego Lake become more visited, Gaylord may follow in the footsteps of cities.

#my work #my writing #drabbles #environmental essay #nostalgia

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rz-jocelyn · 6 years ago

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Hello 👋 1st I wanna say to you that I love your blog a lot. Thanks for all the updates you are providing about Ryuji Satou. You know a lot about him and I’d like to ask your opinion about his absence from Shinken Ranbu 2018. From your experience do you think he will graduate from Touken Ranbu Musical or he is getting a new project? And what kind of project would it be? I am curious about your opinion in the matter🤩

Hiya! :D

And *blushes* Thank you! ♥ I’m really happy that you love the content of my blog! I’ll confess though that I’m still learning about Ryuji; he continues to surprise me every time I learn something new. Ha!

To nobody’s surprise, my response became quite long *is bricked* so please find the rest of it below the cut xD

About his graduation from the Musical Touken Ranbu (Toumyu)

Honestly? I really don’t know. LOL!

The last time the topic came up with such intensity was during the time that he did the solo Touken Ranbu 2.5D Cafe SHOWROOM, and speculations abound that his important announcement was his graduation from the franchise. As it turned out, it wasn’t a graduation, but instead a huge surprise that fans didn’t even dare dream of, which was the “Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin 2017″, the first ever solo live for a 2.5D character.

Taking various factors into consideration, Ryuji is actually primed for graduation (ie. he’s one of the Toudan who was part of the founding team and has been in the franchise since the Trial Performance, he’s one of the Toudan who has completed two main musical productions, he’s the only Toudan to have done a solo live etc.), but his popularity shows no sign of waning (not only were the tickets for the “Musical Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin 2018″ sold out, even the additional tickets that were made available were also sold out, and currently, the replaceable Kashuu Kiyomitsu penlight tube is one of the “Musical Touken Ranbu ~Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018~ Paris” goods to consistently sell out). In addition to that, he’s also considered by both the cast and the fans to be the pillar of the franchise, which is why his absence from the “Musical Touken Ranbu ~Shinken Ranbu Sai 2018~” caused quite the commotion.

TL;DR it really could go either way? xD Certainly there are speculations for both sides of the argument. On one hand, there are speculations that his absence from “Shinken Ranbu Sai 2018″ might mean his graduation from the franchise with another actor replacing him as Kashuu Kiyomitsu. On the other hand, there is also talk that he’s been active as Kiyomitsu for two productions in a row (”Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018″ and “Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin 2018″) and that this is a break for him to do something else because he’s one of the Toudan who will be in the next main production.

Personally, I feel like both sides have their points, so I’m very much on the fence? Haha!

About his new project

I’m super excited about this because there are so many options xD To my knowledge (at least, at the point of writing this post), his schedule is completely clear after the “Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin 2018″, which ends on October 13, 2018, which means that he has yet to announce anything for the end of the year.

One of the more popular speculations that have come up is the speculation that his next project might be something new for The Brow Beat. The only thing about this is that PENICILLIN will be having their winter tour during those months (beginning in November 2018), and so this might affect any Burobi activities because HAKUEI (the producer of Burobi) has been a constant presence in the band (I would just like to add @housekini‘s comment here about how there is the possibility that PENICILLIN might take Burobi along as a support band for their tour).

Considering the boy’s schedule is completely blank for a solid three months, there is a chance that it might be a stage play/musical, a major production at that. Fans have been hoping for a re-run of the “Live Spectacle NARUTO ~Akatsuki no Shirabe~”, but Matsuoka Koudai (who plays Uzumaki Naruto) has a stage play running until November 2018. Which means that it could very well be an entirely new production and/or franchise.

A bit more far-fetched is that his new project could be a TV series. The months of October to December is actually the Fall/Autumn season for TV series in Japan, and this timeline kind of matches the blank in his current schedule, so… xD

Or, we could all be completely off base, and maybe the boy just wants some time off because he’s been working on a tight schedule the entire year:

The Brow Beat - Release of his first album “Ragnarök”

The Brow Beat - The Brow Beat Live Tour 2018 “Ragnarök”

The Brow Beat - The Brow Beat Live Tour 2018 “Ragnarök” Talk Live events

The Brow Beat - The Brow Beat ‘Extra “Ragnarök” ~Welcome to after party at Yaon~’, including the release of two new songs

Reception - Release of his 3rd photobook “Reception”, including the photobook release events

Ochanomizu Rock

Ochanomizu Rock -THE LIVE STAGE-

Bilibili World 2018 Talk Stage in China

Eerie Mienai Kao (two episode guest starring role)

Double Drive ~Ookami no Okite~

Double Drive ~Ryuu no Kizuna~

Musical Touken Ranbu ~Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018~ Paris, with performances in Paris and Tokyo

Musical Touken Ranbu Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin 2018

LOL!

#Sato Ryuji

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refashiongallery · 6 years ago

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CUNNINGTON & SANDERSON

A fashion designer duo from the UK

CUNNINGTON & SANDERSON

Let me present you one of my favorite recent finds in terms of fashion designer.

I saw the work of Cunnington & Sanderson a few seasons behind at Morozzo Communication’s beautiful showroom in Paris. I was planning to shoot this brand with other models wearing the clothes but never managed to find the time and opportunity to do those editorial shootings. So, finally, when my agenda gave a green light, I borrowed some pieces and took some photos with me as the model.

I just have to show you how beautiful their clothes are !

This brand has a strong signature. They work with exquisite fabric and build interesting volume. They use a lot of draping and layering. Styling and cut are the result of extensive research with the aim to reach that perfect silhouette.

I LOVE this brand. Their clothes are slightly edgy but they are still very easy to wear. What do you think ?

The clothes I’m wearing (the top and the skirt) are from autumn & winter 2018 collection.

#refashion #personallook #personal look #cunningtonandsanderson #cunnington and sanderson #fashion designer #autumnwinter2018 #parisianblogger

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ulyanastreetgame · 6 years ago

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Ulyana Sergeenko at her showroom at the Le Bristol hotel during Paris Fashion Week, July 2018.

#UlyanaWears Ulyana Sergeenko Couture exclusive suit, Fall-Winter 2018/2019 Ready-To-Wear bag; Ulyana Sergeenko x Faidee pearl, diamond and ruby earrings, pearl and ruby necklace; Christian Louboutin “Pigalle” satin shoes.

#Ulyana Sergeenko #ulyana street game #ulyanawears #Ulyana Sergeenko Couture #Faidee #christian louboutin #paris fashion week #pfw #paris #2018

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latvian-spider · 2 months ago

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Cats in the Barn!

Originally Uploaded on DeviantArt as WinxPossible on Jan 28, 2018

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Original Description:

Maybe I should put these in the Cat Pics…

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#Riga #Riga Zoo #Animals #KITTY #Winter #Photo #Spiders Scribbles #Snapshots #2018 Winter Showroom

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nextsundayprivate · 6 years ago

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2018.12.14 (Fri)

アコースティックとエレクトロニクスの室内楽 38 「ふたり」 2018年12月14日（金） @ Next Sunday (Tokyo / Asagaya) http://nextsunday.jp 18:30 / 19:00 ¥2000 + drink (¥500) http://acoele.tumblr.com http://acoele-en.tumblr.com

10年ほど前、ぼく ( 澤田 ) がネクストサンデーで働きはじめた頃、山崎店長が「ふたり」というタイトルで、4組のデュオを��めた企画を組んでいました。その着眼点が面白くて、普段ソロで活動しているアーティストがデュオで演奏する場合のスタンスや、「ふたりだから出来ること」を考えるきっかけになりました。そのアイディアを受け継ぐ形で、店長へのリスペクトを込めて、同じタイトルの企画を組んでみました。今回出演する4組の音楽性はすべて異なっていますが、デュオという形態は共通しています。ぼく自身のユニットを含め、4組とも、何らかの形でネクストサンデーに関わってきてくれたアーティストさん達です。そして、どのユニットもふたりだからこそ生み出すことの出来る音楽を演奏しているように思います。

友達、恋人、結婚、誰かを助けたり、協力し合ったり・・・

社会を構成しはじめる最小単位である「ふたり」について、何かを感じていただけたら幸いです。

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KOMOREBI https://www.shizukuaosaki.com/komorebi

蒼咲雫（アイリッシュハープ、ボーカル）とSAWADA（スネアドラム）のアコースティックデュオユニット。自然の情景や空気感をテーマに楽曲を作り、即興的な演奏を交えながら聴く人のイメージを広げてゆきます。 2015年から2017年にかけて渡欧。ヨーロッパ各地で演奏活動を行うと同時に、現地の自然の中で五感を広げられる様な表現を模索しました。変わった楽器の組み合わせから生まれる不思議な音世界をお楽しみください。

UZAWA / INOUE http://uzawainoue.wixsite.com/uzawainoue

宇澤とも子(ピアノ)と井ノ上孝浩(ギター)による、作曲と即興の狭間をコンセプトにした音楽ユニット。共に違うフィールドで活動していた二人が、2015年、元ピナ・バウシュ舞踊団のメンバー達と創り上げた舞台「SOMAプロジェクト」にて初共演。以来ライヴ、ダンス公演などで演奏。 2017年、1stアルバム「Bound & Dots1.2」発表。

BLUEHOUR + タカスギケイ https://www.dewfallrecords.com/artists/bluehour/ https://takasugik.jimdo.com/

BLUEHOUR：東京を中心に活動しているシンガーソングライター。アコースティックギターによるシンプルな歌。静と動、否定と肯定、相反する感情と哀愁を擁する楽曲と歌声。2015年11月4日Dewfall Recordsより「The Winter」発売中。

タカスギケイ：1 974年生まれ。17歳で渡米。Berklee College of Music卒。在学中Mick Goodrickに師事。2005年ブラジルに渡り活動。帰国後ソロ活動を開始。背景しか描けない絵描きみたいなギタリスト Púca https://pucapuca.jimdo.com

2011年元旦より始動。それぞれシンガーソングライターとしてソロで活動していた二人によるユニット。関東を中心に、全国のライブハウスやイベントで精力的にライブ活動を行う。ラジオ番組のパーソナリティや番組MCとしても活躍。毎日配信している動画配信アプリSHOWROOMでは、SHOWROOM AWORD2017に2部門ノミネートされるなど活動の場を広げている。 2017年10月にはアルバム『プロペラパンチ』を初のメジャーリリース。 2019年より新体制での活動をスタートさせる。

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meetiquell · 6 years ago

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@goodpartandco continues its Something Like a Showroom series with a special Fall/Winter 2018 capsule collection release entitled "A City in Bloom". "A City in Bloom" is inspired by the process of simply planting seeds and watching them grow. This concept is reflected in our brand in multiple ways - we harvest the produce from planted seeds for our cold-pressed juices; our apparel design is rooted in streetwear which has blossomed to the forefront of today's fashion; and our brand is growing alongside other Baltimore brands turning our city into a nice garden of creativity. We'll be debuting new merchandise in limited quantities as well as a new fall juice recipe. RSVP and bloom with us! • • • • #goodpartandcompany #streetwear #streetfashion #streetstyle #streetwearfashion #streetstylefashionlooks #lifestylebrand #fashiondesign #hypebeast #baltimore #mybmore #thebmorecreatives #healthystyle #baltimorestyle #baltimoreart https://www.instagram.com/p/BorvVEalmBA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8q85baitb29i

#goodpartandcompany #streetwear #streetfashion #streetstyle #streetwearfashion #streetstylefashionlooks #lifestylebrand #fashiondesign #hypebeast #baltimore #mybmore #thebmorecreatives #healthystyle #baltimorestyle #baltimoreart

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market-research-industry · 3 years ago

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Hydronic Underfloor Heating System Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2018 - 2026

Hydronic Underfloor Heating System Market: Overview

The term ‘underfloor heating’ implies a type of central heating that helps in gaining thermal comfort by using convection, conduction, and radiation by controlling indoor climate. In underfloor heating, the radiant heating technology is used. In radiant heating, thermal energy is released from a warm element such as wall, floor, or ceiling. Heat is transferred to people and other objects in the room, instead of directly heating the air. Hydronic underfloor heating is a type of underfloor heating system that uses water or mixture of water and anti-freeze as a heat transfer fluid that is circulated between the floors. Key components of a hydronic underfloor heating system are a manifold, pipes, and an energy source.

Hydronic underfloor heating is an efficient and feasible solution for heating homes or offices. It can be applied under floor surfaces made of timber, marble, stone, slate, or varieties of tiles. Heating is carried out centrally. Hydronic underfloor heating systems are designed to operate continuously during winters. However, these systems should not be used for irregular heating requirements. In hydronic floor heating, water is heated to up to 50°C and circulated at a low pressure through a grid of pipes, manifolds, valves, and switches, which operated simultaneously to heat the desired zone. Hydronic floor heating is a closed system, as water is circulated between the floor and the energy source.

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Hydronic Underfloor Heating System Market: Drivers & Restraints

Pipes used to carry the fluid are generally made from polyethylene such as PEX, PEX-AI-PEX, or PERT. In some of the applications, copper and steel pipes are also employed. The heat source for heating water can be gas (natural gas or LPG) boilers, electric heat pumps, solar collectors, or geothermal heat pumps. The most preferred source of energy is natural gas, as the upfront cost of gas boilers is less than that of heat pumps and gas boilers more reliable than solar collectors.

A manifold is one of the essential parts of the overall circuit. It controls the overall functioning of the system. The manifold manages the water flow to every circuit and regulates heat with the help of an actuator, which starts and stops the flow within the circuit. Actuators are operated with the help of thermostats. Manifolds are placed with a mixing shunt, which can be used to mix the return cold water with the supply water so as to reduce temperature of the supply water. This can be used for the hybrid system. The manifold should be located centrally and in an accessible location such as garage, cupboard, or laundry cupboard.

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Hydronic Underfloor Heating System Market: Key Segments

Based on end-use application, the hydronic underfloor heating system market can be segmented into residential, commercial, and industrial. For residential purpose, hydronic underfloor heating system are mostly used in low-temperature regions. In such regions, temperature of the overall residence can be maintained as per the requirement by using hydronic underfloor heating system. For commercial purpose, hydronic underfloor heating systems can be used to maintain the temperature of multi-storied offices, educational institutes, showrooms, theaters, etc. For industrial purpose, hydronic underfloor heating system can be used in calibration and testing laboratories to maintain the desired temperature.

Hydronic Underfloor Heating System Market: Regional Outlook

Based on region, the global hydronic underfloor heating system market can be segregated into North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific. North America is projected to lead the global hydronic underfloor heating system market during the forecast period, followed by Europe. The hydronic underfloor heating system market in Asia Pacific is likely to expand at a rapid pace during the forecast period. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are expected to hold a moderate share of the global hydronic underfloor heating system market during the forecast period.

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Hydronic Underfloor Heating System Market: Key Players

Some of the key players operating in the global hydronic underfloor heating system market are Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US LLC, Underfloor Heating Plus Ltd, MYSON, Thermosoft International Corporation, Flexel, Schneider Electric, Bosch Thermotechnology Division, and Robert Bosch (Australia) Pty Ltd.

Companies in the Hydronic Underfloor Heating System market have increasingly shifted gears with wide application of digital technology across the continuum, from raw material sourcing to manufacturing to generation of final output, to warehousing to final distribution operations. Among the various affects, the market is witnessing new growth economics due to thinning of line between specialty and commodity businesses that are associated with the larger ecosystem. At the same time, new growth parameters are being vigorously being debated as industry stakeholders put greater emphasis on the circular economy processes.

More Trending Report-

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/growing-packaging-automotive-and-construction-industries-creates-promising-growth-avenues-in-performance-minerals-additives-market-states-tmr-301349253.html

#Hydronic Underfloor Heating System Market

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nudemm · 7 years ago

Photo

NUDE:MM HOMME/FEMME/UNISEX 2018-2019 AUTUMN/WINTER EXHIBITION JANUARY 18th - 24th 10:00 - 19:00 LAKIC Showroom (Galerie DIX9) 19 RUE FILLES DU CALVAIRE 75003 PARIS APPOINTMENT/INFO: [email protected] [email protected] #nudemm #nudemasahikomaruyama #aw18#aw1819 #pfw

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architectnews · 4 years ago

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Quartz Co Boutique, Montréal

Quartz Co Boutique, Montréal Commercial Development, Canadian Interior Architecture Photos

Quartz Co Boutique in Montréal, Quebec

3 Nov 2020

Quartz Co Boutique

Design: Quartz Co., Blanchette Architectes and Rainville Sangaré

Location: Montréal, Québec, Canada

Quartz Co, a company specializing in Canadian-made winter jackets, enlisted Blanchette Architectes, Rainville Sangaré, and A+ to develop its first retail space located at 5445 avenue De Gaspé, in Montréal. The furniture was designed and built by Rainville Sangaré, while Blanchette Architectes was responsible for space design. The two firms worked in conjunction with the marketing team at Quartz Co. as well as the project-management team at A+.

“We see this first space as a sort of laboratory; our goal is to open more Quartz Co. stores around the globe in the coming years,” said Francis Guindon, Director of Global Marketing and Communications at Quartz Co. “As part of this exercise, we had to take into consideration the new reality of retail, including a multi-channel brand experience, a high-end approach, a showroom-like physical atmosphere, and a personalized-service strategy.”

“At the architectural level, our mandate was to develop a unique universe by focusing on minimalism, timelessness, and innovation,” said Patrick Blanchette, Architect and President of Blanchette Architectes.

On one side of the space is the workshop. Visible from the street, it proudly highlights the fact that the brand’s wares are manufactured locally. On the other side is the boutique, which features an interplay of lights, mirrors, grids, and screens developed by Blanchette Architectes as well as custom-made furniture by Rainville Sangaré. The mirrored walls, which are punctuated by displays of coats in alcoves, offer an alternate perception of the space, and the double reflection provides the customer with multiple views — useful when trying on clothes.

Rainville Sangaré used its expertise in noble materials and manufacturing processes to create harmony between the presentation of products and the physical and visual comforts sought by the customer. In addition to the furniture, the studio designed a system of stainless-steel poles that don’t need to be attached to the walls; instead, friction and tension hold them in place. Hardware and fastening pieces were left visible to demonstrate the accuracy with which the job was carried out. Ash – locally sourced and FSC-certified – was used because its texture contrasts with the other materials and because it adds a touch of warmth to space.

“It is an approach to design that reveals the quality of materials and the rigor of the workmanship; this aligns with the vision of the company, which also develops its products with this approach,” explained Lambert Rainville, Industrial Designer and Co-founder of Rainville Sangaré.

A combination of industrial precision and artistic sensibility, the design is a reflection of how Quartz Co. creates and manufactures its coats. The interior details speak to the brand’s quest for handmade high-end products. Since the coats are made locally, the design choices for space also had to tell this story, which is why the teams opted for materials such as ash, the most common wood species on the island of Montreal, and solid industrial materials such as concrete and stainless steel.

Quartz Co Boutique in Montréal – Building Information

Interior design:Quartz Co, Blanchette Architectes and Rainville Sangaré Client: Quartz Co. Furniture and shelving system: Rainville Sangaré et Mesure Design and construction management: A+

About Quartz Co. Founded in Québec in 1997, Quartz Co. has earned a leading position in the premium winter coat industry in Canada and abroad. Led since 2015 by three brothers, Jean-Philippe, François-Xavier, and Guillaume Robert, Quartz Co. is growing at a remarkable pace. Its coats are lightweight, recognized for their exceptional reliability and resistance to northern climates. They are now sold in over twenty countries, primarily in Canada, the United States, Germany, France, Japan, Norway, and Greenland, with major fashion banners and outerwear stores.

Solidly established in Québec with two factories in Victoriaville and Montréal and a boutique and design studio in Mile End, Quartz Co. is part of the new generation of Canadian winter coat manufacturers, driving our tradition of excellence to new heights.

About Blanchette Architectes Blanchette Architectes, founded by Patrick Blanchette and Kevin Lavigne in 2018, has completed nearly 50 architectural projects. Blanchette Architectes works on everything from single-family and multi-unit residential developments to corporate and retail projects. The founders’ sensibilities have led them to assemble a collegial, multi-disciplinary team focused on developing carefully crafted architectural narratives. The winner of the Grand Prix de la Relève (best newcomer) at the 13th annual Grands Prix du Design, one of the ten Merit Awards at the Shenzhen Design Award for Young Talents (SDAY 2019), as well as the German Design Award 2021, Blanchette Architectes has quickly made a name for itself in the architecture community.

About Rainville Sangaré Rainville Sangaré is based in Montreal, Canada. They are a team of multidisciplinary thinkers executing futureproof projects. Every project is client-driven and enables a focused approach combining avant-garde design and sustainability. They collaborate with local industry to bring to life vibrant interiors, crafted furniture, and desirable products. With international recognition for their work in the commercial and private sectors, Rainville Sangaré has collaborated with clients such as Goodee, Quartz Co., EQ3, and Umbra.

Photography: Rainville Sangaré

Quartz Co Boutique in Montréal, Québec images / information received 031120 from v2com newswire

Address: Montréal, Québec, Canada

Montreal Architecture

Contemporary Architecture in Montréal

Montreal Architecture Designs – chronological list

Montreal Architecture News

Montreal Restaurants, Cafés & Bar Lounges

Heirloom pizzeria, 30 Saint-Catherine St W Architects: Ménard Dworkind Architecture & Design – MRDK photograph : David Dworkind Heirloom pizzeria

Bar VinVinVin, 1290 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal Architects: Ménard Dworkind architecture & design photography : David Dworkind Bar VinVinVin in Montreal

Ryù Restaurant, 1474 Peel St, Montreal, QC H3A 1S8 Architect: Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind (MRDK) photo © David Dworkind Ryu sushi restaurant Peel Street, downtown Montreal

Miss Wong Chinese Restaurant, Avenue Pierre-Péladeau, Laval, Quebec Architect: Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind (MRDK) photo : David Dworkind architect Miss Wong Laval Restaurant

Montreal Architecture Walking Tours

Canadian Architecture

Canadian Architecture Offices

Comments / photos for the Quartz Co Boutique, Montréal page welcome

Website: Montreal, QC, Canada

The post Quartz Co Boutique, Montréal appeared first on e-architect.

#e-architect

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xeford2020 · 4 years ago

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Mcity Driverless Shuttle: The Human Side of AV Tech

The Mcity Driverless Shuttle arrives at The Henry Ford. Thanks to a generous gift from the University of Michigan (U-M), The Henry Ford recently acquired its second autonomous vehicle: a driverless shuttle used by U-M’s Mcity connected and automated vehicle research center. Readers may recall that we acquired our first AV in 2018 – a 2016 General Motors Self-Driving Test Vehicle. While the GM car was an experimental vehicle focused on technology, the Mcity shuttle took part in an intriguing project more focused on the psychology of consumer trust and acceptance of driverless vehicles. From June 4, 2018, through December 13, 2019, Mcity, a public-private research partnership led by U-M, operated this driverless shuttle at U-M’s North Campus Research Complex in Ann Arbor. The project’s purpose was to understand how passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers interacted with autonomous vehicles. In effect, the project was a way to gauge consumer acceptance of a decidedly unconventional new technology. The shuttle donated to The Henry Ford is one of two fully-automated, electrically-powered, 11-seat shuttles Mcity operated on a fixed route around the research complex throughout the course of the study. The shuttles were built by French manufacturer Navya. In late 2016, Navya had delivered its first self-driving shuttle in North America to Mcity, where it was used to support research and to demonstrate automated vehicle technology. In June 2017, Mcity announced plans to launch a research project in the form of an on-campus shuttle service that would be open to the U-M community. The Mcity Driverless Shuttle operated on a one-mile loop around the North Campus Research Complex at speeds averaging about 10 miles per hour. The service ran Monday-Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM. While its route avoided heavy-traffic arteries, the shuttle nevertheless shared two-way public roadways with cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. It operated in a variety of weather conditions, including winter cold and snow; but was not used in more extreme weather, such as heavy snow or rain.

The Mcity Driverless Shuttle on its route at the University of Michigan’s North Campus Research Complex. (Photo credit: University of Michigan) While the shuttle and its technology are impressive enough, the impetus behind its use is arguably more important to The Henry Ford. The Mcity research project was the first driverless shuttle deployment in the United States that focused primarily on user behavior. Mcity’s goal was to learn more about how people reacted to AVs, rather than prove the technology. The two shuttles were equipped with exterior video recorders to capture reactions from people outside the shuttle, and interior video and audio recorders to capture reactions from passengers inside. On-board safety conductors, there to stop the shuttle in case of emergency, also observed rider behavior. Mcity staff monitored ridership numbers and patterns throughout the project, and riders were encouraged to complete a survey about their experience that was developed by Mcity and the market research firm J.D. Power. Survey questions ranged from basic inquiries about age and relationship to the university, to more specific inquiries about reasons for riding, degree of satisfaction with the service, interest level in AV technology, and – most significantly – degree of trust in the shuttle and its driverless capabilities. The survey data was then analyzed by J.D. Power. You can learn more about the results through Mcity's white paper, "Mcity Driverless Shuttle: What We Learned About Consumer Acceptance of Automated Vehicles." Along with the shuttle itself, U-M has kindly donated examples of the special signage installed by Mcity in support of the shuttle project. There are no current government regulations – at the federal, state, or local levels – for signage along a driverless vehicle route. Mcity developed its own signs to alert other road users to the shuttle’s presence. Samples include signs proclaiming “Shuttle Stop” and “Attention: Driverless Vehicle Route.” Autonomous vehicles are coming to our streets – it’s no longer a question of “if,” but of “when.” Indeed, the Mcity shuttle project proves that AVs are, to an extent, already here. These driverless vehicles promise to be the most transformative development in ground transportation since the automobile itself. Self-driving capabilities will fundamentally change our relationship with the vehicle. The technology promises improved safety and economy in our cars and buses, greater capacity and efficiency on our roads, and enhanced mobility and quality of life for those unable to drive themselves. The Mcity Driverless Shuttle represents an important milestone on the road to autonomy, and it marks an important addition to The Henry Ford’s automotive collection.

youtube

See the Mcity Driverless Shuttle in action in this video. (Video credit: University of Michigan) Matt Anderson is Curator of Transportation at The Henry Ford.

#1 Ford Daily | Đại lý – Showroom ủy quyền Ford Việt Nam 2019 Ford Daily là showroom, đại lý Ford lớn nhất Việt Nam: Chuyên phân phối xe ô tô FORD như: EcoSport ✅ Everest ✅ Explorer ✅ Focus ✅ Ranger… [email protected] 6A Đường Trần Hưng Đạo, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 711240 0901333373 https://forddaily.com/ https://forddaily.com/xe/ https://forddaily.com/dai-ly/ https://forddaily.com/bang-gia/ https://forddaily.com/tra-gop/ #forddaily #dailyfordhcm #fordshowroomhcm https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ford+Daily/@10.7693359,106.696211,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x1f188a05d927f4ff!8m2!3d10.7693359!4d106.696211

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