Assisi
Paolo Mic asked:
Assisi, Italy can be found is the Perugia province in the Umbria Region. This area is known for its breath-taking countryside and rich history.
Assisi is also known as the birthplace of St. Francis that founded the Franciscan religious order in 1208 and St. Chiara d’Offreducci that founded Poor Clares. During the 19th century, Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was also born here.
Visitors flock Assisi every year to capture a bit of the past by visiting such historic landmarks as the two medieval castles. The most popular is the Rocca Maggiore. It is a very large castle that was built in 1367 by Cardinal Alvornoz and then later Popes Pius II and Paul III added other sections.
The main attraction of Assisi, Italy is the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi or St. Francis. The monastery and the upper and lower church construction was began shortly after his canonization in 1228; however, it took until 1253 to complete. Today, the lower church is a museum that houses such medieval artists as Giotto and Cimabue. The upper church includes frescos of scenes that depict the life of St. Francis by Giotto and others.
Other attractions include:
The Porziuncola Museum situated within the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
The Cathedral Museum and Crypt of St Rufino, which is home to archaeological remains, religious vestments, and unique paintings is adventure through time.
The Municipal Art Gallery is located in the Palazzo Vallermani. Some of the artwork was created by artists such as Andrea d’Assisi, Puccio Capanna, and Giotto.
The Treasure Museum and F.M. Perkins collection can be found in the Basilica of Saint Francis. Here you will love all the unique paintings, wooden sculptures, medieval glazed majiolicas, sinopiae, ivories, cloths, tapestries and unique gold work.
As you can see, Assisi, Italy has much to offer anyone that steps into this charming and historical town. From majestic beauty to artwork, from history to modern restaurants with exquisite cuisine, Assisi has something for everyone.
Assisi, Italy can be found is the Perugia province in the Umbria Region. This area is known for its breath-taking countryside and rich history.
Assisi is also known as the birthplace of St. Francis that founded the Franciscan religious order in 1208 and St. Chiara d’Offreducci that founded Poor Clares. During the 19th century, Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was also born here.
Visitors flock Assisi every year to capture a bit of the past by visiting such historic landmarks as the two medieval castles. The most popular is the Rocca Maggiore. It is a very large castle that was built in 1367 by Cardinal Alvornoz and then later Popes Pius II and Paul III added other sections.
The main attraction of Assisi, Italy is the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi or St. Francis. The monastery and the upper and lower church construction was began shortly after his canonization in 1228; however, it took until 1253 to complete. Today, the lower church is a museum that houses such medieval artists as Giotto and Cimabue. The upper church includes frescos of scenes that depict the life of St. Francis by Giotto and others.
Other attractions include:
The Porziuncola Museum situated within the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
The Cathedral Museum and Crypt of St Rufino, which is home to archaeological remains, religious vestments, and unique paintings is adventure through time.
The Municipal Art Gallery is located in the Palazzo Vallermani. Some of the artwork was created by artists such as Andrea d’Assisi, Puccio Capanna, and Giotto.
The Treasure Museum and F.M. Perkins collection can be found in the Basilica of Saint Francis. Here you will love all the unique paintings, wooden sculptures, medieval glazed majiolicas, sinopiae, ivories, cloths, tapestries and unique gold work.
As you can see, Assisi, Italy has much to offer anyone that steps into this charming and historical town. From majestic beauty to artwork, from history to modern restaurants with exquisite cuisine, Assisi has something for everyone.
The Ultimate Problem Solving Technique
James Roche asked:
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to move forward on a project and getting stuck. It’s frustrating because you may spend days, even weeks, spinning in your head with no solution in sight. Maybe you have to write an article, deal with a high-maintenance vendor or produce an info product, if you feel stuck, don’t worry. There is a proven five step problem solving technique that can get you unstuck and give you fast clarity on the issue you’re facing.
Finding That Eureka! Moment
Last month, I was working with a multi-million dollar client who was stuck trying to fit all the components of her new program into a cohesive whole. She had binders full of great content and even more info spinning in her head. As I stood listening to her on the phone I went into creative problem solving mode – it’s a mini version of the five steps I’m going to show you.
Here’s what I did…
My eyes glazed over as I listened intensely to my client for 20 minutes. Then I asked lots of questions and poked at the problem with her for another 20 minutes. Nothing resolved itself – but that’s okay because I knew one of the five steps was to be confused and overwhelmed.
I then stopped listening. My client kept talking but I was thinking of doing my laundry and what I would make for dinner. (I used to feel guilty about this until I realized how important this step is.)
Then in a flash it struck me! I saw all the pieces fit together in a beautifully laid out map in my mind’s eye.
I blurted out the idea. She was silent for a moment. Then she shouted, “That’s it!”
The Myth about Problem Solving
One of the greatest myths about problem solving is that you have to wait for inspiration to hit you. Nonsense! The production of new ideas is as definite a process as getting up in the morning and preparing for work. The key to getting unstuck is following a proven formula that artists, inventors and scientists have used for centuries.
How to Come Up with New Ideas Quickly
Italian sociologist Vilfredo Pareto defined an idea as “nothing more or less than a new combination of old elements.” The secret to problem solving is developing the skill to see relationships between old elements so that new ideas and solutions flow in.
When Picasso combined the flattening of perspective started by his mentor Cézanne and the disjointed shapes of African wooden sculptures he created a completely new style of art – Cubism.
When Einstein solved the greatest problems facing science at the time he said he would work extremely hard on the problem until he exhausted all mathematical possibilities. He would then go to sleep and forget about it. Then in his dreams everything fell into place. When he awoke, all he had to do was translate everything his sub-conscious mind showed him.
Problem solving isn’t hard. Simply follow these five steps:
1. Gather Raw Materials
There are two types of knowledge you want to research – specific and general.
Start by actively researching the specific parts of the problem you’re stuck on. If you want to create a new info product, ask your target market what their greatest challenges are. If you want to write a novel, go to places your characters would hang out. The more you understand the details of a problem the easier a solution will come to you.
You also want to explore areas outside of your main topic or industry. Imagine you’re a painter – you want as diverse a color pallet to draw from as possible. My field of expertise is marketing and information products, but I only spend one-third of my research time on that topic. The rest of the time my “research” consists of reading novels, studying philosophy and psychology, renting classic movies and sitting in coffee shops people watching.
You’d be surprised how effortless problem solving becomes once you pull from sources completely outside of your normal field of knowledge.
2. Think Hard
After you’ve done your research spend time digesting all you’ve seen and learned. If you’re creating a special report for your web site, what are all the possible emotional trigger points that will get a reader to call you for help? If you’re problem solving a title for your info product, write out dozens of possibilities.
As you’re thinking hard, little ideas will start to pop up. Write them down!
Keep processing in your head and keep taking notes until you’re exhausted. You’ll reach a hopeless stage where everything is jumbled in your mind. That’s good! You’re ready for the next step.
3. Stop Thinking!
Drop the issue from your mind. Let it all go and let your subconscious mind work on the issue out. Literally, sleep on it. After I’ve thought really hard on an issue I’ll blast music and start cleaning my house. Or I’ll get in the car and drive to the beach. I’ll do anything but focus on the problem at hand.
4. Let the Eureka Moment Pop In
If you did the last three steps correctly, the forth step should happen automatically…and even surprise you. Maybe you’ll be putting away groceries or washing your hair when all of a sudden, “POP!” A brilliant solution will flash all of a sudden in your mind. Go write it down!
5. Put the Idea to Work
This is a fun step. Once you “see the light” take your idea out into the real world for some testing and tweaking. Show your idea to people you trust and get their feedback. They’ll see things you missed, which you can integrate so the solution becomes even stronger.
Practice these five steps over and over for any problem solving challenge you face. Once you get in the habit of problem solving like this the whole process can happen very quickly.
Take action now and pick a problem you are currently dealing with. Ask yourself, “What do I need to research regarding this problem?” Analyze the problem from many different angles. Once your brain is saturated – let it all go. The flash of inspiration will happen soon enough. And finally, test the solution in the real world and adjust as needed.
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to move forward on a project and getting stuck. It’s frustrating because you may spend days, even weeks, spinning in your head with no solution in sight. Maybe you have to write an article, deal with a high-maintenance vendor or produce an info product, if you feel stuck, don’t worry. There is a proven five step problem solving technique that can get you unstuck and give you fast clarity on the issue you’re facing.
Finding That Eureka! Moment
Last month, I was working with a multi-million dollar client who was stuck trying to fit all the components of her new program into a cohesive whole. She had binders full of great content and even more info spinning in her head. As I stood listening to her on the phone I went into creative problem solving mode – it’s a mini version of the five steps I’m going to show you.
Here’s what I did…
My eyes glazed over as I listened intensely to my client for 20 minutes. Then I asked lots of questions and poked at the problem with her for another 20 minutes. Nothing resolved itself – but that’s okay because I knew one of the five steps was to be confused and overwhelmed.
I then stopped listening. My client kept talking but I was thinking of doing my laundry and what I would make for dinner. (I used to feel guilty about this until I realized how important this step is.)
Then in a flash it struck me! I saw all the pieces fit together in a beautifully laid out map in my mind’s eye.
I blurted out the idea. She was silent for a moment. Then she shouted, “That’s it!”
The Myth about Problem Solving
One of the greatest myths about problem solving is that you have to wait for inspiration to hit you. Nonsense! The production of new ideas is as definite a process as getting up in the morning and preparing for work. The key to getting unstuck is following a proven formula that artists, inventors and scientists have used for centuries.
How to Come Up with New Ideas Quickly
Italian sociologist Vilfredo Pareto defined an idea as “nothing more or less than a new combination of old elements.” The secret to problem solving is developing the skill to see relationships between old elements so that new ideas and solutions flow in.
When Picasso combined the flattening of perspective started by his mentor Cézanne and the disjointed shapes of African wooden sculptures he created a completely new style of art – Cubism.
When Einstein solved the greatest problems facing science at the time he said he would work extremely hard on the problem until he exhausted all mathematical possibilities. He would then go to sleep and forget about it. Then in his dreams everything fell into place. When he awoke, all he had to do was translate everything his sub-conscious mind showed him.
Problem solving isn’t hard. Simply follow these five steps:
1. Gather Raw Materials
There are two types of knowledge you want to research – specific and general.
Start by actively researching the specific parts of the problem you’re stuck on. If you want to create a new info product, ask your target market what their greatest challenges are. If you want to write a novel, go to places your characters would hang out. The more you understand the details of a problem the easier a solution will come to you.
You also want to explore areas outside of your main topic or industry. Imagine you’re a painter – you want as diverse a color pallet to draw from as possible. My field of expertise is marketing and information products, but I only spend one-third of my research time on that topic. The rest of the time my “research” consists of reading novels, studying philosophy and psychology, renting classic movies and sitting in coffee shops people watching.
You’d be surprised how effortless problem solving becomes once you pull from sources completely outside of your normal field of knowledge.
2. Think Hard
After you’ve done your research spend time digesting all you’ve seen and learned. If you’re creating a special report for your web site, what are all the possible emotional trigger points that will get a reader to call you for help? If you’re problem solving a title for your info product, write out dozens of possibilities.
As you’re thinking hard, little ideas will start to pop up. Write them down!
Keep processing in your head and keep taking notes until you’re exhausted. You’ll reach a hopeless stage where everything is jumbled in your mind. That’s good! You’re ready for the next step.
3. Stop Thinking!
Drop the issue from your mind. Let it all go and let your subconscious mind work on the issue out. Literally, sleep on it. After I’ve thought really hard on an issue I’ll blast music and start cleaning my house. Or I’ll get in the car and drive to the beach. I’ll do anything but focus on the problem at hand.
4. Let the Eureka Moment Pop In
If you did the last three steps correctly, the forth step should happen automatically…and even surprise you. Maybe you’ll be putting away groceries or washing your hair when all of a sudden, “POP!” A brilliant solution will flash all of a sudden in your mind. Go write it down!
5. Put the Idea to Work
This is a fun step. Once you “see the light” take your idea out into the real world for some testing and tweaking. Show your idea to people you trust and get their feedback. They’ll see things you missed, which you can integrate so the solution becomes even stronger.
Practice these five steps over and over for any problem solving challenge you face. Once you get in the habit of problem solving like this the whole process can happen very quickly.
Take action now and pick a problem you are currently dealing with. Ask yourself, “What do I need to research regarding this problem?” Analyze the problem from many different angles. Once your brain is saturated – let it all go. The flash of inspiration will happen soon enough. And finally, test the solution in the real world and adjust as needed.
Shipping Labels Can Be Funny
Mark Trumper asked:
Shipping labels come in all shapes and sizes and many are not made from what you may at first sight believe! It is not only how some of them are made that may give you pause for thought but sometimes, a shipping label originating from one part of the globe can give a wry smile when it ultimately arrives at its final destination.
Vintners for example have been working on numerous ways to accentuate the look and feel of their wines and packaging, notably concentrating on the bottle and labeling which has itself become big business within the industry. California is typical of the developments in marketing wine by concentrating on the packaging even when they have an already excellent wine inside. A good example is the 2006 Retour Willamette Valley Pinot Noir with a bottle that weighs in at 2 pounds 5 ounces and that’s empty! The weight is in large part due to the metal label applied to the bottle which simply adds a significant amount of weight (almost a pound) which may be great if you are into that sort of thing but buy a case of the stuff and you are quite literally shipping 12 pounds of shipping label!
In a case of cultural differences playing their part, an Australian firm manufactured the country’s leading brand of sticky tape under the brand name “Durex”. In an export drive, millions of rolls of the stuff were shipped overseas but a degree of consternation occurred when the initial shipments arrived in the UK – perplexed customs officers were confronted by shipping labels and manifests declaring the goods to be “Rolls of Durex” – in the UK, Durex is the leading brand of prophylactic!
A near marketing disaster was created when Johnson & Johnson chose a cutesy little baby as the poster child for a baby food they were selling into certain African countries. Unfortunately, in Africa many of the people are illiterate and in any event there are so many languages and dialects spoken that labeling a food package is almost irrelevant. Instead, what you see on the tin is what you expect to find when you open the container and while here at home, the Johnson baby may be as cute as button, in Nigeria consumers were put off the product because they thought they were actually buying cutesy white babies ready for the pot!
When it comes to language and translation, shipping labels are a wealth of funny stories and incidents. Customs inspectors in New Jersey were confronted with a shipment imported from India which the shipping labels declared to be full of “Burned Cow” and they certainly had an aroma of bad BBQ emanating from it too. A team from the Center for Disease Control arrived and after establishing a quarantine and mobile laboratory to conduct tests and deal with the contents they proceeded to treat the packages with rubber gloves. Opening the packages revealed nothing more innocuous than hand carved wooden sculptures of cows in various poses (the cow being the most sacred animal for many Indians) and which had been charred as part of their finishing.
Shipping labels may be the source of fun and controversy for some but they are in fact simple to produce and source as well as performing a valuable function. You can design your own shipping labels easily in a custom format to suit your needs or simply source pre-designed ones for a special message such as “Fragile” – cheap and fast, it’s your choice but try to avoid the funny mishaps too!
Shipping labels come in all shapes and sizes and many are not made from what you may at first sight believe! It is not only how some of them are made that may give you pause for thought but sometimes, a shipping label originating from one part of the globe can give a wry smile when it ultimately arrives at its final destination.
Vintners for example have been working on numerous ways to accentuate the look and feel of their wines and packaging, notably concentrating on the bottle and labeling which has itself become big business within the industry. California is typical of the developments in marketing wine by concentrating on the packaging even when they have an already excellent wine inside. A good example is the 2006 Retour Willamette Valley Pinot Noir with a bottle that weighs in at 2 pounds 5 ounces and that’s empty! The weight is in large part due to the metal label applied to the bottle which simply adds a significant amount of weight (almost a pound) which may be great if you are into that sort of thing but buy a case of the stuff and you are quite literally shipping 12 pounds of shipping label!
In a case of cultural differences playing their part, an Australian firm manufactured the country’s leading brand of sticky tape under the brand name “Durex”. In an export drive, millions of rolls of the stuff were shipped overseas but a degree of consternation occurred when the initial shipments arrived in the UK – perplexed customs officers were confronted by shipping labels and manifests declaring the goods to be “Rolls of Durex” – in the UK, Durex is the leading brand of prophylactic!
A near marketing disaster was created when Johnson & Johnson chose a cutesy little baby as the poster child for a baby food they were selling into certain African countries. Unfortunately, in Africa many of the people are illiterate and in any event there are so many languages and dialects spoken that labeling a food package is almost irrelevant. Instead, what you see on the tin is what you expect to find when you open the container and while here at home, the Johnson baby may be as cute as button, in Nigeria consumers were put off the product because they thought they were actually buying cutesy white babies ready for the pot!
When it comes to language and translation, shipping labels are a wealth of funny stories and incidents. Customs inspectors in New Jersey were confronted with a shipment imported from India which the shipping labels declared to be full of “Burned Cow” and they certainly had an aroma of bad BBQ emanating from it too. A team from the Center for Disease Control arrived and after establishing a quarantine and mobile laboratory to conduct tests and deal with the contents they proceeded to treat the packages with rubber gloves. Opening the packages revealed nothing more innocuous than hand carved wooden sculptures of cows in various poses (the cow being the most sacred animal for many Indians) and which had been charred as part of their finishing.
Shipping labels may be the source of fun and controversy for some but they are in fact simple to produce and source as well as performing a valuable function. You can design your own shipping labels easily in a custom format to suit your needs or simply source pre-designed ones for a special message such as “Fragile” – cheap and fast, it’s your choice but try to avoid the funny mishaps too!
Wooden Handicraft Reflects the True Indian Culture
Kirthy Shetty asked:
Handicrafts reflect the tradition of a particular place. It carries tales dated back to 1000 years of the kings and queens, and tells stories about a particular culture and its heritage. Wooden handicrafts such as wooden figures, gold painted figure, wooden chess set, wooden animal figure and other Indian Wooden Handicraft Items are designed beautifully by the craftsman. The vast range of handicrafts showcasing the rare artistry skills and innovations comprises of handicraft jewelry, handicraft home furnishing items, handicraft decorative items, handicraft table accessories, handicraft antique armory, handicraft paintings, handicraft garden accessories, toys, etc.
When one has a close look at these wooden items, they truly reflect spirit of Indian Craftsmanship along with the right shades of traditional beauty and style. They are popularly used as gift articles due to their beautiful appearance. Indian handicrafts are well known for its ethnic and traditional designs. Handicraft is quite flourishing in the Indian industry due to its vast diversity and rich cultural heritage. Sculptural handicrafts are displayed in an exquisite range of sculptural moulded figures made from varied bases like metals, stones, wood, etc. Macrame handicraft items obtainable as ladies bags, napkin holders, telephone mats and related paraphernalia designed artistically are specimens of excellent craftmanship. The handcrafted costume jewelry embellished in gold, silver, platinum, white metal, crystal, glass, etc. and studded with precious and semi-precious stones is another feature that add to the rich repertoire of Indian handicraft and gift items.
A wide array of handicraft items ranges from stone, metal, wooden, glass, papier mache, bamboo, clay, cane, ceramics, textiles, terracotta etc brings home its uniqueness. A major portion of it gets exported to other countries, the most popular items among those Indian handicrafts are candle stand, pen holder, vases, brass ware, Christmas ornaments, ceramic pots, papier mache and other paper products. Different part of India is popular for its unique collection of handicrafts right from the north eastern Manipur, Tripura, Northern States of Rajasthan, Gujrath, Kashmir or the southern part, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala etc.
Each of these States has a wide collection of handicrafts to offer, with its own individuality. Such handicraft design, carvings and finishes represent excellent craftsmanship and experience of creative craftsman. Metal handicrafts make use of metals such as gold, silver, white metal, iron, semi precious stones and sand stones which have embossments and etchings in beautiful designs. All those handicraft lovers, do not miss the handicraft trades and exhibitions which offer you a plethora of handicraft items. Take a peek into the handicraft world!
Handicrafts reflect the tradition of a particular place. It carries tales dated back to 1000 years of the kings and queens, and tells stories about a particular culture and its heritage. Wooden handicrafts such as wooden figures, gold painted figure, wooden chess set, wooden animal figure and other Indian Wooden Handicraft Items are designed beautifully by the craftsman. The vast range of handicrafts showcasing the rare artistry skills and innovations comprises of handicraft jewelry, handicraft home furnishing items, handicraft decorative items, handicraft table accessories, handicraft antique armory, handicraft paintings, handicraft garden accessories, toys, etc.
When one has a close look at these wooden items, they truly reflect spirit of Indian Craftsmanship along with the right shades of traditional beauty and style. They are popularly used as gift articles due to their beautiful appearance. Indian handicrafts are well known for its ethnic and traditional designs. Handicraft is quite flourishing in the Indian industry due to its vast diversity and rich cultural heritage. Sculptural handicrafts are displayed in an exquisite range of sculptural moulded figures made from varied bases like metals, stones, wood, etc. Macrame handicraft items obtainable as ladies bags, napkin holders, telephone mats and related paraphernalia designed artistically are specimens of excellent craftmanship. The handcrafted costume jewelry embellished in gold, silver, platinum, white metal, crystal, glass, etc. and studded with precious and semi-precious stones is another feature that add to the rich repertoire of Indian handicraft and gift items.
A wide array of handicraft items ranges from stone, metal, wooden, glass, papier mache, bamboo, clay, cane, ceramics, textiles, terracotta etc brings home its uniqueness. A major portion of it gets exported to other countries, the most popular items among those Indian handicrafts are candle stand, pen holder, vases, brass ware, Christmas ornaments, ceramic pots, papier mache and other paper products. Different part of India is popular for its unique collection of handicrafts right from the north eastern Manipur, Tripura, Northern States of Rajasthan, Gujrath, Kashmir or the southern part, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala etc.
Each of these States has a wide collection of handicrafts to offer, with its own individuality. Such handicraft design, carvings and finishes represent excellent craftsmanship and experience of creative craftsman. Metal handicrafts make use of metals such as gold, silver, white metal, iron, semi precious stones and sand stones which have embossments and etchings in beautiful designs. All those handicraft lovers, do not miss the handicraft trades and exhibitions which offer you a plethora of handicraft items. Take a peek into the handicraft world!
