Archive for July, 2010

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Planning to give a new look to your house? Sliding glass doors and French doors are surely a factor in increasing the beauty and looks of the house. Not only this, they also provide a wide look to the house with providing enough sunlight inside the house. French doors at front yard or backyard can provide a pretty view of the outside.
Usually people need a clear outdoor view along with privacy. So sliding glass window doors can be modified according to requirement. Many window treatments for <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.slidingwindowpanels.net/sliding-glass-patio-doors.html”>Sliding Doors</a> and French doors areavailable in the market. Various glass door shades not only provide enough privacy but also give a new look to these sliding doors. Many of these shades are made of soft fiber and engineered in such a way that they prevent heat from entering in allowing the light to pass through it. Though there are many single layered blinds also are in market in different styles but if double layered blinds or shades are used they can provide complete privacy along with the facilities of sliding glass doors.
Although there are manywindow treatments for French doors and sliding glass doors, but when you look for an economic treatment, there is no better option than dealing the things at home only. If you are creative then all you need to do is get some paints and start your artistic journey on the door itself. You can also consult experts for some expert comments to find the better and best alternative to protect your doors.
If you don’t have time for this homemadewindow treatment for sliding glass doors then help can be taken from some professional too. In order to increase privacy one can hang blinds or curtains with the slide door window. One can use simple blinds, honeycomb blinds and many others for more privacy along with adding beauty to house with colors.
Bamboo window treatment has been used in China since early ages. These shades provide a natural look allowing you to create a blissful environment at home and at work place. These bamboo window’s treatments are cheap and provides a natural beauty to your room. The elegance added to your room due to this bamboo window’s treatment would leave a very pleasing effect on the inmates and each and every person who pays you a visit. These shades are available in many styles. Also one can find embroided or painted bamboo curtains and shades as well can be used as <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.slidingwindowpanels.net/french-door-window-treatments.html”>window treatment for French doors</a> and sliding doors. These bamboo treatments are so lite in weight that you can easily hang them on any sliding door. Not only this, these window hangings are washable too. One can surely improve the looks of house with these simple window treatments.

I share information about about<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.slidingwindowpanels.net/sliding-glass-patio-doors.html”>Sliding Doors</a>,<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.slidingwindowpanels.net/french-door-window-treatments.html”>window treatment for French doors</a>.One can use simple blinds, honeycomb blinds and many others for more privacy .

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Country Curtains Ads

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Window treatment is an important aspect of your home decoration, which needs your passionate attention.  Blinds and curtains can make your window treatments unique to turn your home into a fresh and intimate place for comfortable living. You do not have to make a great expenditure for the makeover of your room if you are able to reach the correct place for your need of window treatment. You can use different class of fabrics and elegant colors to grace your room with your own personality.

You need special attitude for the different places of your house. The intimate environment of your bed room will require a particular touch whereas the kid quarters will require the soft but bright dressing of the window in the shape of curtains and blinds. There are variety of materials like suede, silk and cotton blends to select for your approach of window treatments of your house. You can make a room look wonderful only with matching curtains with different shades in your choicest fabric.

Valances are also used to make your idea of window treatment acceptable. There are different varieties of them to suit different corners of your house. You will get those decorative rods for putting them in proper places, which are available with the widow dressing stores or home decor stores.

You have a wide range of curtains, blinds and shades to work out your window treatment activity and create a new atmosphere in your house. They are all reasonably priced and you will find them in varieties in the home décor store in your vicinity including the roll up blinds. You can select either the country type or custom type window curtains and shades for your window treatment plan.

Silk draperies and silk curtains are there in abundant quality, which you can choose from. These days, new kinds of introductions have been made in the market as fashion trends or revolution in window treatments.  A material like bamboo is being used in the creation of blinds along with paper, jute and grass for window shades and they have made a revolution in style and designs.

Normally you can use the vinyl roll up blinds that are available with eco-friendly materials and color to suit your taste and need. Paper, bamboo and jute are also being used to make up for blinds. They create a natural beauty and coziness in the house. The eco-friendly materials used in these blinds are biodegradable.

Window treatments also include glass. It being a good conductor of light creates a unique beauty of the room with different colors used in designing them. Blinds and shades of this kind are immensely popular. The plastic or polyethylene or plated shades have the mechanism of lowering them either from the top or sideways to allow light. This offers a technical control on the amount of light you need in the room through windows. Curtains and draperies make wonderful decoration of the window as well as of the wall. You can get them prepared in matching sizes from the store with matching fabrics or colored linens as preferred by you.

It is not only important to buy a good window blinds, but also to maintain and treat them. You can learn excellent tips and practices for your window treatments at shadesshuttersblinds.

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Decorating shower curtains

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Hi all, originally had a video on how I painted shower curtains, but it gave me problems my video editor and I had to take pictures of the video and make this montage, so don´t look very good, sorry :o ( .And pardon me if I wrote something wrong, I have not had much time to review my spelling. ;oP take care!!

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A Brief Story On Silk Fabric

Among all fabrics available silk fabric is the most expensive and rich. It is considered in all countries irrespective of the culture and dressing sense. Silk may vary from countries to countries, name can be changed but the main material of the fabric that is silk is unchanged and maintains the elegance throughout ages and styles. There are many other types of fabrics like Cotton, Crepe, Georgette, Faux, Art silk, Viscose, Soft Crush, Satin, Chiffon fabric, stretch fabric, Tissue, Brasso ,organza& Jacquard types. Apart from cotton and Silk all others are man made fabrics.

Here are some talks on silk fabric. Silk fabric can be used as a clothing fabric or an upholstery fabric. Silk is simply unmatched when its sensuous touch and softness counted. When you will decorate your home, choose the curtains you will like to have silk fabric as your curtain maker. Silk fabric has the natural luster and softness. This natural fabric is also one of the most durable fabrics that are made from silk fibers. Associated with luxury and style, silk fabric has its own style statement. Not only in past but today also silk is the symbol of richness, wealth and success. The durability of silk is proved and tested. Among all natural fabrics used for clothing silk fabric is strongest. The test is simple. At first take a steel filament of a diameter and take a silk fabric of same diameter. You will experience the steel filament getting destroyed earlier than the silk fabric. The other advantages of buying silk fabric is it is lustrous in look and gives all clothes either it is a wedding dress or an evening gown or a party dress. You can choose silk fabric as bridal fabric. You can make beautiful embroidery on the fabric or wear it simple without any embroidery work.  Silk fabric is also comfortable and airy as its moisture absorbing capacity is great which makes it cool in summers and warm in winters.

Silk fabric is actually protein fabric and its high lustrous quality and softness is because of protein. Silk fabric is such a fabric which is made from threads and it is spun by the silk caterpillars. To produce silk fibers, silk worms are cultivated in large numbers. Silk caterpillars live on some specific tress and eat their leaves to live. These tresses are cultivated in order to cultivate these worms. Before hatching of silk worm into moth the cocoons are soaked in hot water to produce filaments. These filaments are then spun to form silk fibers which are processed to silk fabric.

You can find number of silk in market like chiffon fabric, china silk, cotton silk, organza; crape silk, satin silk etc but they are all chemically made. There are mainly four types of natural silk fabrics. These are mulberry silk, taser silk, muga silk and eri silk. Among these mulberry silk is the most popular and expensive one. It is produced by Bombyx mori L that completely feeds on the leaves of mulberry plant.

Like Silk Fabric or Chiffon Fabric, Bridal Fabric is also needed by people. The best place to shop for these materials is Redtex. Inc.

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There are lots of benefits of buying from mega retailers. You can buy almost anything there and they usually offer cheaper prices than you find other places, but the quality is often lacking. When you’re looking for blinds or window treatments, doesn’t it make more sense to buy ones that aren’t going to fall apart in the first year? Constantly replacing blinds will end up costing you more than buying quality blinds in the first place. Custom window treatments are made to order and with independent retailers moving online, the process is fast, simple and convenient. When you decide it’s time for window treatments for your home, think about the following:

1.    One of the reasons people shop in super stores is because they offer a little bit of everything, so you can shop in one place, which is convenient. The only problem is you end up sacrificing quality for quantity. If you want quality mini blinds and window treatments, then head on-line where you get better products for the best prices on the market. Because independent stores specialize in one line of products, they order in bulk and get the best deals to pass on to you. They will custom create your window blinds so they fit your window, even the odd-shaped ones. No more extra slats hanging down.

2.    Shoppers are always looking for the cheapest price because window treatments are an investment. On-line stores don’t have the expensive costs of downtown retail space. They can operate out of smaller more affordable sites and every dime they save becomes savings they can pass on to you. Custom stores have a larger selection of goods than the big guys and they stand behind their products.

3.    When you want knowledgeable people that can give you advice or help you decide what fabric shade or window liner you need, there’s no competition. Independent stores train their staff on their products. With thousands of items in all categories, the employees at huge stores are lucky if they even know all the products they have.

4.    Finding the best custom window treatment for your home can be tricky if you are trying to work within a specific color scheme. Independent stores will let you order samples. These are small swatches of the color and fabrics you want to try out, so you can hold them up against your furniture and paint and see if they will match.

5.    Another benefit of independent stores operating on-line is they are easy to use. With a click of a button, your mini blinds, drapes, roller shades and more are delivered right to your home. Free shipping will help you save money as will sales tax exemption for those ordering out of the state of the company.

As a consumer, you have a ton of choices of where you can spend your money. So when you decide to make an investment in something like window blinds or treatments, be sure you are getting not only the best price, but the best quality window treatments out there. You will save money if you buy a blind that will last for ten years instead of ones that only go to filling up the landfills after a year.

It doesn’t matter whether you have a new home you want to stylize or if you have a home that you want to update and make feel new, there is a window treatment that will compliment your unique style, from drapes to blinds to wood and faux wood blinds, single and double cell shades and more. Find an independent retailer near you.

Want to find out more about custom window shades, then visit Blinds Chalet for the best selection on blinds, shades and window treatments.

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Michael Saruski talks about simple and manageable tips on how to create professional window treatments for any home.

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Perth Fabrics’ N More HC

Brought to you by homecentregroup.com Perth Home Fabrics N More is located Downtown Perth Ontario. We sell all types of fabric; Ontarios largest mixed retailer. Needlecrafts Drapery Rods & Supplies Notions Trims Yarn DMC Tole Painting Flowers Bridal Alterations Custom Sewing Sewing and Quilting Classes Beads and Supplies. We fill large institutional and commercial orders.

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How to Invitingly Accessorize Your Home

Popular Home Collections is a family-owned business that was established in 1995.  Specializing in high quality bathroom accessories, bedroom accessories, and kitchen accessories, Popular Home Collections offers an abundance of home décor solutions to complement any style.

Beginning with the bathroom, Popular Home Collections offers a plethora of uniquely themed bathroom accessory sets.  Items are available as pre-packaged sets, or “Bath in a Bag” sets, full or partial ensembles, and individual pieces.  One of the more unique features that the site offers is the option of mixing & matching in order to create your very own bathroom accessory set.  From shower curtains to toilet seats, contour rugs, soap dishes, toothbrush holders & other bath accessories, Popular Home Collections carries the selection you need to make your bathroom a calming retreat.  With the Holiday season rapidly approaching, Popular Home Collections also boasts 4-piece holiday-themed bathroom accessory sets.  Print options consist of snowman, Santa, & paisley patterns, among several others.  Each bathroom accessory set includes a 70” x 72” polyester shower curtain, 12 shower curtain hooks in matching fabric design, a 21” wide x 34” long printed, acrylic rectangular bath rug, and a 20” x 20” acrylic contour rug. 

Moving on to the bedroom, Popular Home Collections offers quality bedroom accessories ranging from bedding to comforters, window treatments, and valances.  Bedroom décor accessories can be purchased as comforter sets or as individual pieces.  Additionally, the mix and match feature is also available for creating comforter sets particular to your vision as the bedroom should be a home’s sanctuary. Comforter sets are available in a variety of styles including country, striped, modern, floral, transitional & traditional bedding patterns.  Chocolates, teals, and turquoises are a color scheme that has remained popular for quite some time, and doesn’t seem to be losing any steam within the decorating world.  Jewel tones always help in creating a more inviting ambiance.

To complete the look of your home, Popular Home Collections boasts a variety of kitchen accessories.  From potholders to oven mitts, towels, place mats, chair pads, and accent rugs, the site also includes window treatment inventory.  Find tiers, valances, and swags to beautifully adorn your kitchen windows.  The Kitchen Textile Collections offer an assortment of country décor patterns & unique prints including Napa Valley, Christmas Paisley, French Garden, Pineapple, & Tropical themes among others.  Themed decor has become quite prevalent in many suburban homes.  A kitchen does not have to be a place many people simply associate with more chores.  Adding a new vibe to this environment can make the mundane acts of cooking & cleaning a bit more enjoyable.  Allow yourself to drift away to a far off place with the encouragement of unique decor.

It might sound cliché, but by adding more depth, color, and personality to the most highly trafficked rooms in your home, you’ll likely experience feelings of both solace & accomplishment. 

Popular Home Collections strives to provide a place for those with a passion for home decor and interior design to share & develop home decorating ideas.

The Popular Home Collections team has been proudly providing home decor solutions and interior design tips from its Brooklyn-based service since 1995.

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If you are interested to give shape to your ideas and thoughts in the home décor area, give importance to window blinds. Because they have the power to change the flavor of your room and you will be surprised to find your room with a totally new look. Unless and until you take up this challenge to replace or put new blinds, you will possibly not realize the fact.

Window blinds are capable of offering a fresh dimension to your room and uplift the status of the house. They not only add beauty to the room but also help to control the outside light to come to your room so that you can totally shut the light as well as heat on a summer day.

The conventional use of curtains and draperies for window coverings are being replaced these days by the more functional window blinds. The latest designs of blinds are quite absorbing and some of them are highly expensive. Your lifestyle will change with the switching over from curtains to blinds. Window blinds are being preferred by many to have them fitted in their offices as well as in homes due to some basic advantages over the conventional curtains and draperies.

The main advantage of the blinds is that it maintains the privacy of the particular room from outsiders in a better manner. It helps the outside light to enter into the room as per the choice of the inhabitants of the room by the use of mechanism it comes with. The cleaning of window blinds can be done easily and stains are not retained. Window blinds are freely available in variety of materials and shades and colors to suit your taste.

You can get your choicest blinds from the home décor store nearby and in a variety of styles. The usual styles are known as roller blinds and vertical blinds and so on. Venetian blinds are not new ones but are immensely popular among people.  You can get the cheap kinds of wooden blinds, which many people prefer for their country houses to match the style of the environment. The different styles are normally required for varied reasons and purposes.  Pleated window blinds for instance are used for beatification of the room. The trendy ones are the roller window blinds, which are for keeping pace with the modern style.

There are various colors that make stunning decorations for windows of your house. You need to have proper maintenance of window blinds to keep them attractive. You can get solutions specially prepared for window blinds cleaning from the local store.

Since window blinds are made of metal alloys, you should clean them at regular intervals with dusters daily and with cleaners periodically. A gentle wash will do good to keep them clean and gleaming always. You can consult the local décor store for further information about the cleaning of blinds so that you keep them glossy all the time to have a fresh look of the room.

A visit to shades shutters blinds will help you get a fair idea of choosing the right window blinds for your home. They have specifications and recommendations for each room that can help you considerably with your interior decoration.

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Classic Touch Windows Treatments

In carrying out home improvement applications, covering, or window dressing is one way of providing a significant impact on the overall finish of a certain number. Depending on the choice of window treatment, this may create a new atmosphere in your home. This can create a new and fresh spirits, and can complement the feel and look of the room. And finally, it can create a view from the outside, which will include a lovelier and more interesting experience.

When choosing the type of treatment the application window, you should think about a particular kind of atmosphere that you want awarded as you cover or dress up your windows. You should be aware if a classic, traditional, modern and more feel that you want. And the next thing that you should understand that if your choice will be to identify the best in your family, if she would even make it look drabber.

If you do not want to completely hide your windows, you can do this by selecting a window treatment that is not heavy, dark and vast. You can choose the kind that covers only the width and length of the window or you can choose to cover it, but not to the type, which completely prevents the view from outside or inside.

You can fill out an application by adding a valance window treatment to each of the windows. It will provide a general harmony with the applicable tender box at the top of the window. Window treatment valances are great for Windows, which dressed only in part, and does not cover the full in order to avoid blocking some beautiful view. These valances will make these windows are not looking too bare.

With such a large window to the treatment valances is that they can complement almost every room in the household. If you want it installed on the bathroom windows, kitchen windows, living room or bedroom windows, valances are ideal for use in the design and decoration of these rooms, as they add to their visual aspect. Topping of your windows with this treatment even hide certain flaws, or in the treatment that your windows are.

Classic Touch Window Treatments brings that luxury and quality right to your home. Whatever your design or budgetary considerations Classic Touch has the optimal answer- window fashions that are the last word in aesthetics and performance. To get more info visit www.classictouchwindowtreatments.com

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No One(Aly & AJ) karaoke/intrumental

this is one of our fav songs to sing soo we made it for all you to hear!!!hope u hate it!! just joke hope u love it!!! I am moving through the crowd Trying to find myself Feel like a guitar that’s never played Will someone strum away? [Chorus:] And I ask myself Who do I wanna be? Do I wanna throw away the key? and invent a whole new me and I tell myself No One, No One Don’t wanna be No One But me.. You are moving through the crowd Trying to find yourself Feelin’ like a doll left on a shelf Will someone take you down? [Chorus:] And you ask yourself Who do I wanna be? Do I wanna throw away the key? and invent a whole new me Gotta tell yourself No One, No One Don’t wanna be No One But me.. Your life plays out on the shadows of the wall You turn the light on to erase it all You wonder what it’s like to not feel worthless So open all the blinds and all the curtains No One, No One Don’t wanna be No One But me.. We are moving through the crowd…

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Mediterranean style interior design is popular all over, not just within the Mediterranean itself. People associate the Mediterranean countries, such as Spain, Italy and Greece, with a laidback style of like and want to replicate this is their own homes. These areas are popular amongst Northern European holiday makers, so this style of living reminds them of being on holiday, meaning they want to recreate this feeling at home.

To Northern Europeans Mediterranean interior design is a simple, relaxed, traditional style, something that many like the look of. The feel of the home is important and it can make a genuine difference as to how people feel when they are in a room. Some rooms can be dark and depressing while others can be bright and breezy, and most people feel happier when sitting in a room with the latter style. It can be compared to the weather; most people feel better when outside in the sunshine with clear blue skies than when there are dark clouds and thunder.

Light colours are usually used in Mediterranean style interior design; colours such as yellow, orange and terracotta. This reflects the sunshine areas they live in and it is uplifting to be in such as room. Wrought iron fixtures are common place, especially on the exterior of buildings. Mosaic tiles are commonly used instead of the wallpaper used in other areas, and walls are often textured.

Furniture tends to be more simple and minimalistic in Mediterranean countries. This fits in with the whole simple design and is also practical. Indoor plants are also much more commonplace, and play an important role in the makeup of a Mediterranean home.

One area where Mediterranean homes differ from Northern European homes are the window decorations. Blinds and window shutters are used much more often than curtains. This is mainly for practical reasons, although many would argue blinds and shutters look better as well. They allow for temperature control which can be an advantage in warm climates, and they have louvers, or slats, that can be opened and closed to let in air and to either let the sunlight in or keep it out. Curtains have been generally more preferable in Northern Europe due to the weather as they can help insulate, although with the thick wooden materials used, so can shutters.

Like many areas of interior design, the differences here began due to practical reasons. This is not so necessary now though due to central heating and air conditioning. Wallpaper has traditionally been used in Northern Europe to help insulate, while tiles have been used in Mediterranean areas as they help keep a home cool in the summer. It is the same with the colours that have been used, with darker colours giving more or a warm feeling than lighter ones. The differing weather between Northern and Southern Europe is also part of the reason for the traditional furniture’s used. In Northern Europe lots of furniture, with big comfortable seating areas are used as lots of time in the winter is spent indoors. The more minimalist traditions in the Mediterranean are more reflective of the time spent outdoors in the longer, warmer summers.

Andrew Marshall (c)

Plantation Shutters produce quality bespoke shutters, and have been in the business for over 25 years.

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Churchill ? Right or Wrong ? an Analysis

“We are shaping the world faster than we can change ourselves, and we are applying to the present the habits of the past.” (W. Churchill)

To warrant a citation as one of the most influential or the most influential man in our century, entails a convincing description of a long term devotion and impact on the direction of society and history. This author submits that in the 20th century the intractable flow of events has been towards the liberation of people, both in spiritual and material terms, and that the defining principles of some type of Liberal Democracy now hold true in many regions of the globe – many more than at the start of the century. Let us not underestimate this fact. For the first time in human history, more people have control over their own lives as a % of the population than ever before. It is too be expected that this shall continue, but of course such a trend is not certain.

There are people enough who would like to derange the liberation of the mass, and pass us back to the days of centralised or oligarchic control. However in toto there is no intellectual or economic challenger to the Liberal Democratic model at this time. One of the great new situations and driving forces of our world today is international economic interdependence. Further world-wide integration is unstoppable. There will be fits, regressions, complaining and pauses, questions, arguments, harangues, and resolutions, but always over time a forward movement towards what may be termed unshackled and fair trade and cross border integration will proceed. What needs to be addressed is how can we fairly develop the markets and the economic strength of less developed nations whilst still maintaining the economic growth and market access of more developed nations. The balancing act will be marvellous to behold. Adam Smith infused with both Galbraith and Greenpeace.

In this regard and given that the values and concepts of Liberal – Democratic society are subtle and complex, we need then to go back and ask ourselves, “How did we get here and why.” Thus the perspective of history is necessary. If we look at how this century evolved it can be determined that very few leaders have had such a imposing and sincere belief in Liberal Democracy and the accumulated spoils produced by such a society: freedom, self determination, security and a healthy standard of life, as did Churchill. He was not a corrupt politician interested in the pursuit of power for its own sake, but a statesman interested in power for its intelligent application to better the lot of the common citizen.

The program that Churchill followed in his life, and I speak here of his Liberal-Democratic program, was, with the exception of 1 occurrence (the independence of India, which will be discussed later), remarkably consistent with the theme of expanding Liberal Democratic principles. This is due in large part to his upbringing in the Liberal Aristocracy of the British Empire; due in part to his political father’s Liberal ideals and his American mother’s robust (and extremely adulterous) New World energy; and due in part to his experiences across the world as a young man, where he witnessed the power and relative success of the Liberalised (though not really democratic) British Empire, in comparison with other orders that lacked the discipline to generate and project wealth and power. As a prophet of Liberal Democracy, there could have been no better trained or indoctrinated messiah than Churchill. The man whose family history had been formed around the development of British Parliamentary, and Liberal Orthodox supremacy.

Again as with other outstanding humans he still achieved much more, than his contemporaries; many of whom were as intelligent, dedicated and immersed in the achievement of moral and political prestige as Churchill. This is where then Churchill’s story becomes interesting. What set him apart from the others ? Chance, money, dumb luck, patronage ? In human destiny all of these play a role. But to climb a pinnacle these are not enough. I would submit that Churchill provides illumination and support to many of Bennis’ leadership notions. Or how else could he have scaled the heights ? He had definite views on how a society should be structured and shaped. The love of a tempered democracy, the creation of a system to ensure proper leadership and guidance, the development of systems to allow prosperity, peace and support, occupied the mind of this man throughout his whole life. Churchill was obsessed with improving the lot of mankind and consumed by the proper use of power and leadership. And like Bennis he believed in a set of management and leadership principles that propelled him to greatness.

For those who write, think and practice true leadership, Churchill possessed radical views. Not of the immoderate, intolerable type. But those of classical, orthodox, Liberalism. Churchill believed in the need for the State to take an active part, both by legislation and finance to ensure that minimum standards of life, labour and social well-being for all citizens were maintained in an atmosphere conducive to fair trade and entrepreneurialism. Among the areas where Churchill during his varied career, took an active part were; prison reform, unemployment insurance, state-aided pensions for widows and orphans, permanent arbitration for labour disputes, state assistance for the unemployed, shorter hours of work, improved retail shop conditions, a National Health Service, wider access to education, taxation of excess profits and employee profit-sharing. Quite a list from a man who was supposedly one dimensional – the World War II embodiment of victorious unconquerable Britannia.

Other great men and women could be analysed and presented. But Churchill, one of the most complex, energetic and effective of history’s leaders, stands as an unparalleled example of leading and dealing with crisis, while defending, developing or discerning the limitations, values and concepts of political leadership and importantly freedom and democracy. He was unique. His style, mode of governance, deeply rooted and strongly held system of beliefs, and importantly his gaping weaknesses, should serve as a serious model upon which to reconstruct the training and choosing of our political leaders and governmental workers. It is not a perfect model. But certainly it is better than the ad-hoc, clandestine, shaded political leadership system we have today. Let’s then take a cursory look at Churchill’s skills according to the framework laid out in the last chapter. A fuller explanation of his skills will follow in Chapter Four when we discuss his actions during World War Two.

Character:
In reading any volume about Churchill’s life the most blinding aspect in understanding his success, is the quality, depth and strength of his character. Many other men would long have given up, or perished in their chosen professions, if they had been subject to the same trials as Churchill. In general from studying his life I can safely state that he never took the easy route. He was certainly never offered the easy spoils. Yet he never bowed his knee to opinion polls, party whips, or popular expressions that ran contrary to his own judgement and sense of purpose. In comparing Churchill with other great’s of this century there is no one that had to endure the opprobrium, distrust or number of setbacks as did Churchill. Even the witch hunt instigated against William Clinton, is pretty mild stuff compared with what the press had to say about Churchill during the first half of this century. I am always amazed that Churchill was able not only to survive through it all, but survive with a smile.

This is not to romanticise his or anyone else’s macho strength and egotism. Both in large doses are negative. However, without strength of character change is impossible, adversity cannot be overcome and good never triumphs over evil. In the dawning age of ‘Principle Parties’ as replacements for the outmoded ‘Political Parties’ trained individuals, relishing and brandishing these 3 traits will be needed to cut through the Gordian knot of the insoluble political drift we have today. We must remember the tenets of evolution and that change is not always progressive or better. To advance the human species needs change and conflicting ideas. These are necessary — not lobby groups, supine presidents and empty suits.

Upon the scarred field of politics Churchill stressed strength and magnanimity as the cornerstones of his behaviour. If impatience was his great weakness than offering magnanimity to the defeated – whether a local political opponent or Germany after World War II – casted Churchill as a strong but gallant knight and a man raised above the normal dash and din of political conflict. He fought all battles with limitless reserve and strategy. He offered friend and foe alike illimitable goodwill and respect after the conflict. His ideals imbued with history and coupled with a vision of where his country should be in the world were marked by a sense of fair play. Principles and not parties dictated his actions. For these reasons he is a man to be honoured and acclaimed as a defendant of democratic right and privilege.

To be effective statesmanship must lay on established principles and constraints rather than on emotive impulses and frayed passions. We should not forget that nations have no permanent friends, only semi-permanent interests, a covenant that often offends popular sympathy and belief. For it is these realism’s, that politics is a game of shifting fortunes, relationships and situations, that disgusts the great majority in democratic lands. Politics is like making love– natural, necessary and enjoyable– only if it is done properly. What is discernible about Churchill is his hard-headed realism and practicality in accepting such truths. Consequently he looked ahead a great deal more carefully and cautiously than many of his contemporary observers thought mutating viewpoints and re-evaluating some of his opinions. Of course some cried that he was too fluid and perhaps could not be trusted and other criticasters weary of Churchill’s rhetoric, would delight in emphasising that Churchill was a product of the late 19th century immutable and intractable. Thus from both sides – conservatives and liberals – Churchill received a drubbing, regardless of the integrity of his actions.

Churchill’s bellicosity caused much of the drubbing. One should consider the weight and purity of Churchill’s virtue and charity to all he contacted – friend or foe – even though he received the most acidic and heavily concentrated attacks of any politician in any era. Critics never tired of chopping at the tree of Churchill’s accomplishments. It began when he crossed the floor in 1904 to join the Liberals. It received a great accretion in strength during the winter of 1913-4 when Churchill was the subject of a broad protest by pacifists, economists, and social reformers who thought that as First Lord of the Admiralty he was too profligate and was promoting the arms race. At the root of the discontent and many to follow, was the fact that Churchill was not a good party man. As such the image of the war mongering pirateer was born and created by an aspersive socialist press. Churchill was not a war monger, “his thought has always been, between the wars, upon the means of making peace among the peoples.” For his critics such distractions were carefully ignored. It was during 1913-14 that the apparati to hang Churchill politically was established and raised for action.

What is inestimable is the fortitude and resilience of mind and body to withstand such brutal, crabby treatment that Churchill received at the hands of malcontents and frustrated plotters. His closest friends recognised clearly the political courage of Churchill. On November 11 1922, T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), wrote to a friend; “The man is as brave as six, as good-humoured, shrewd, self-confident and considerate as a statesman can be and several times I’ve seen him chuck the statesmanship course and do the honest thing instead.”

The honest thing included enacting proper change. When we view the broad balance of Churchill’s career and factor in the jealousy inherent in the political field and the degree of envy held by many of Churchill’s excessive successes we observe that many of his greatest contributions to the establishment of public welfare and governmental responsibility were initiatives driven from within, without concern to reputation, personal circumstance or fortune. Most were decidedly modern and far sighted. This is quite clear in his advancement of ‘Tory Democracy’ – economic growth with general support for the masses. Tory Democracy is another prescription for centrist governance. Often times this led him to advocate the dismemberment of party politics and the establishment of a broad nationally based governance: “Parliamentary debate has become largely meaningless. All the time the two great party machines are grinding up against each other with the utmost energy, dividing every village, every street, every town and city into busy party camps. Each party argues that it is the fault of the other. What is certain is that to prolong the process indefinitely is the loss of all…Once it can be seen that a great new situation or great new issues lie before us, an appeal should be made to the people to create some governing force which can deal with our affairs in the name and in the interest of the large majority of the nation.”

Part of Churchill’s trajectory to statesmanship can be seen in the light of time. First accumulate a reputation for outspoken principled action. Second, accumulate power via alliances, learning and public positioning. Then state a vision resplendent with clear principles, meanings and images while solving local problems. Lastly accede to great affairs and the devising of solutions in a national and international context. This trajectory needs to be buttressed by character, skills (verbal and technical), vision and power accumulation and recognition. To have these skills imbedded in action is not enough. A person must also have as a bedrock a clear and clean sense of duty and morality.

Importantly Churchill was clean. Adultery, conspiracy, or treachery were never a part of Churchill’s character. Loyalty, aggression and impulsiveness were the main exciting agents in Churchill’s life. His extreme ambition bordering at times on foolhardiness but always driven by an abnormal energy galvanised all around him. Churchill was always a contrarian thinker, and a statesman of the highest order, but he was not a Machiavellian posturer. His success rested on energy, innovation and positive thinking, all in a consistent framework employed in over 50 years of statesmanship.

Skills:
Churchill personified the well instructed and knowledgeable Leader. He was a self-developed man. As a youth he immersed himself in governing, leadership and policy. He never ceased learning and improving all of his life. He spent a great deal of time learning skills from his contemporaries such as Lloyd George, Lord Fisher, Herbert Asquith, F.E. Smith, and Max Beaverbrook amongst many others. On a political level this education led to a vision not only of strong morality but of rationality. In very few instances did Churchill compromise his personal code of morality for the sake of political gain. In this he was exemplary. But he was also a realist. He was adept at combining power and ethics in a compelling package. Very few understood the effective use of political leverage better than Churchill.

Compare Churchill’s self-education program with the political elite today. How many are steeped in history, philosophy, and the rigours and tribulations of historical notables ? What percent of our esteemed political masters exhibit such a rounded appreciation of the conditions and matters that shaped and will continue to shape the human story ? As Churchill sourly commented to then Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin in 1928 concerning the ease with which World War One could have been avoided: “Think of these people, decent, educated, the story of the past laid out before them. What to avoid, what to do etc. Patriotic, loyal, clean — trying their utmost. What a ghastly muddle they made of it ! Unteachable from infancy to tomb — there is the first & main characteristic of mankind.”

In looking at his life nothing can sum up the traits and skills of Churchill in short pleasing verbiage. He was patently too many people, a definite renaissance man, engaging in politics, writing, reporting, painting, farming, hunting, polo playing, warring and investing. Besides a massive intellect and memory Churchill possessed a spirit spurred with the whips of energy. It was unrelenting. His was the creed of action and contempt for delay. Mission was founded and achieved by exploring, questioning, trying, failing and trying again. During the 1930’s when the Stanley Baldwin and Ramsay Macdonald governments neglected the build-up of British war making strength and sought the treacherous path of appeasement to satiate the Nazi beast, Churchill who had long criticised the insipidity of such a program exclaimed in 1936 the memorable words about Baldwin’s government revealing his contempt for hiding inactivity in political closets; “The government simply cannot make up their mind, or they cannot get the Prime Minister to make up his mind. So they go in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful to be impotent.”

Brilliant diction summing up the most hated of Churchill’s dislikes – inaction. But we have still to reach that quality in Churchill, which warrants us in calling him great. For a man may be gifted far above the ordinary, without earning the emblem of true greatness. Churchill had brilliant gifts. He was, in addition, driven by a limitless, borderless, shifting, resolute ambition. Without such magnificent ambition, men never have, and never will accede to the summit of power, prestige and greatness. “Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise (that last infirmity of noble mind), To scorn delights, and live laborious days.”

But unseemly ambition is insufficient to earn the appellation of great. It has to be elevated by noble principles (‘that last infirmity of noble mind’), to allow a man to rise above the supine mass. Flaming pertinacity is dangerous without the fibre of moral strength. Credibility rests on the broad shoulders of honesty and reliability. No Leader can shrug off those characteristics of success. Genius and energy do not necessarily shape the epiphanies of leadership. They have to combined in harmony and strength with the skills and qualities that we discussed in the last chapter, and which illuminate true leadership.

Intelligence:
But character, skill and morality are not enough for leaders. Intelligence is necessary. It does us no good having a clutch of well intentioned clods fouling up the process. Intelligence can only really be measured by verbal capacity and skill. IQ measures and tests are inaccurate. Churchill owned the English language and he owned the skill of persuasion. As such he commanded the heights of leadership. He could communicate the moment, the mission, and the energy. Churchill was one of the few politicians in our century that had a beautiful, lucid communication and vocabulary. Emboldening this was his common sense, technical skill and creativity. Above all the dynamism of his verbal adroitness lied in the desire for action and not drift.

A baser form of intelligence is what can be termed ‘Political Antennae’. In most political circles this skill is usually too overdeveloped. In the case of Churchill it was surprisingly weak and poorly unused. Churchill’s rhetoric was maybe too developed and at times not flexible enough for his audience or plainly inappropriate. But this weakness is still overshadowed by his capacity at conciliation and political problem solving and more vitally by his verbal capability. Churchill engineered delicate dispute resolutions over South Africa, Ireland, and social reform in England to name but a few, quickly striding across political boundaries and ideologies and involving himself intimately with those who had the greatest grievance in order to solve the conflict. Coupled with his strong array of communication skills he achieved a political pre-eminence that darkly shadowed his companions.

His oratory and conciliatory skills were allowed to flourish due to the mastery of technical details. Churchill was one of those rare politicians that actually knew what he was talking about. This dedication to lucidity ties in with persuasion and compromise and the knowledge of details leads to flexibility because plans can be made for each situation. Churchill always had three or four contingency plans for every situation. Strategy and vision thus sprung from intelligence and from being able to see the whole picture and from the confidence that one way or another the vision would be achieved.

This vision coupled with creativity gave Churchill adequate resources to enact change and innovation. In political spheres Churchill was light years ahead of his companions in collecting, analysing, and synthesising information at the micro level and relating it to the big picture. His innovation stemmed from patient practicality and discipline and not inspired genius as romantic novels about great change would like us to believe. This vision included fair economic trade and economic liberalism, adequate welfare for the population, peace and democratic governance, classical and scientifically or technically based education, and a powerful security apparatus to combat evil and aggression.

In achieving his aims, and in using his native and educated intelligence Churchill consciously chose to be nobody’s knave. He flaunted his independence, not only in action, but also in flamboyant dress and style. Yet his romantic urges were touched by the humbleness of most people’s lives, but to those at the summit where power corrupts, contracts are broken, lies are purveyed as half-truths, the issue of spirit and mores takes on a different colour. Basically Churchill trusted his own counsel and that of a half-dozen friends. To the rest of the world he looked like a recluse. To those who knew him well, he was defending himself against the often wicked and spiteful attacks of political banditos. Hence sympathy for the mass, trust for the few.

In this regard Churchill was exceptionally callous and rough to friend and foe alike in his early years. But as time tempered and beat down the baser impulses of searing rhetoric, Churchill acquired another skill — that of informal networking and interpersonal persuasion. He became as he aged refreshingly human. However, it was not until the 1930’s when he was in his late 50s and early 60s, that strident verbal missives were shelved for moderate expositions (with some notable exceptions) of the situation at hand, and fair treatment was meted out to friend and foe alike.

As Churchill matured so did his attention to friendship. “If F.E. (Smith), was strong meat and stronger drink, then Churchill in contrast to his public reputation as a ‘domineering’, even ‘rude’, figure, had in the intimacy of personal friendship a quality which is almost feminine in its caressing charm” As F.E. wrote, Churchill had a ‘simplicity which no other public man of the highest distinction possesses.’ He also endeavoured to perform many deeds of goodwill to aid friends and family. It can be summarised by Philip Snowden a long-time Churchill opponent and liberal critic, “Your generosity to a political opponent marks you for ever in my eyes the ‘great gentleman’ I have always thought you. Had I been in trouble which I could not control myself, there is none to whom I should have felt I could come with more confidence that I should be gently treated.”

A budget of good humour, tact and some considered patience fund the other necessary resources and tools to achieve success. Alone they are unsubstantive. It is better to be dour and effective, than gay and incompetent. Allied to well-developed skills and principles, sensitivity, embedded in the formidable array of humour and tact, provides a potent and efficient tool. About Churchill it is fair to say that he was ambitious and calculating; but not cold and that saved him. As a colleague stated, “His ambition is sanguine, runs in a torrent, and the calculation is hardly more than the rocks or the stump which the torrent strikes for a second…queer, shrewd power of introspection, which tells him his gifts and character are such as will make him boom….He was born a demagogue, and he happens to know it.” Yet ambition without a defining purpose can not only corrupt, but it can also destroy.

Vision:
A crowning vision is really the linchpin that will attract followers. Most good and great individuals have displayed a pretty consistent approach to the world and a pretty stable world view. Some superficial analysis may suggest that because Churchill changed parties, challenged convention, criticised incompetence and insipidity and usurped obedience, he was a grasping, clawing, malevolent opportunist. If rigid conformity is the sign of good political standing, Churchill was indeed recklessly unpredictable and unreliable. However, the picture of Churchill as a soldier of fortune, an adventurer and a troublemaker was and is incorrect. Strong ethics, values and principles guided his actions. He had little of Lloyd George’s cunning or the well-disguised craftiness of Stanley Baldwin. His decisions might have been unpredictable, but his motives were seldom hard to fathom. Churchill rarely embroiled himself in the base pettiness of political intrigue in part from a distaste of such ignominy, combined as well with a guileless personality.

To the charge of unreliability Churchill retorted that, “To improve is to change. To be perfect is to have changed often.” In actual fact the changes were due to some effort at self improvement, but to a fidelity of what he already was. Churchill was most consistent with his own true north direction when he was the least supportive of his party’s policy. Churchill never could swallow the party line always choosing and deciding for himself. In assessing Churchill’s skill base the following is a reasonable portrait: “Far from changing his views too often, Mr Churchill has scarcely, during a long and stormy career, altered them at all. If anyone wishes to discover his views on the large and lasting issues of our time, he need only set himself to discover what Mr Churchill has said or written on the subject at any period of his long and exceptionally articulate public life, in particular during the years before the First World War: The number of instances in which his views have in later years undergone any appreciable degree of change will be astoundingly small….When biographers and historians come to describe his views…they will find that his opinions on all these topics are set in fixed patterns, set early in life and later only reinforced.”

This historical reality is evidenced when studying Churchill. What drove Churchill in his personal intellectual and political journey’s can also be said to mirror the advance of imperialism in the 19th and 20th centuries . Thus not only did he possess grand skill, he was also a student but more importantly a conscious product of history. In this regard he closely resembles (consciously no doubt) British and world history. Even in his literary works this is reflected. For instance in Churchill’s book, ‘The Story of the Malakand Field Force’, which depicts British soldiery in north-western India at the turn of the 20th century he questioned what motivated men and nations to face great hazards. The principal elements that Churchill discovered were preparation, discipline, vanity and sentiment and he remarked that sentiment was the most important of the group. Churchill believed that civilisation can only march forward if it clings to a vision – a sentiment that ennobles its occupation and galvanises its spirit. Empires fall because the sword begins to dominate the sentiment and the people lose hold of the impulse and spirit that the sentiment contained and made the use of the sword in the first instance appropriate.

This spirit and vision was evident and mature. He commiserated with the poor, the downtrodden or the straggling. Some of his mightiest missions and political forays were instigated on behalf of those who lived lives beyond his comprehension but not his beyond his compassion. Yet here lies a paradox. Within political circles and in the ring of friends and associates he could be extraordinarily blind, politically inept, insensitive and roguish. Or so it appears from a distance. Yet for the great mass of ‘Poor England’ or for the devotion of the Commonwealth nations, tears would be produced, sagas told, and emotion unleashed. The difference is dramatic but crucial.

If we examine for instance his stand on fair economic trade he was malleable to changing circumstance but rather solid in his underlying belief in market forces, with government succouring the unlucky. He left the Conservatives over Fair Trade in 1904, when they put forward a policy of protectionism, anathema to an orthodox Liberal like Churchill. He only returned to the Conservative party in 1924 when undue governmental interference in trade had been expunged from their agenda, and when the political costs of doing so were at a low threshold. Fair trade in the mind of Churchill did not preclude beneficial and justified government involvement to at times, stimulate employment and counteract nefarious foreign practice. For instance by 1908 Churchill had developed a respectable appreciation of contra-cyclical public works feeling that in useful but uncompetitive industries such as afforestation, public departments should be constructed to allow the expansion or contraction of work according to the needs of the labour market, much like the utilisation of an accordion. He was also much taken by the notion of having a governmental body dedicated to intelligence gathering on market conditions and inputting clever designs regarding the balance of trade and the proper use of employment. These concepts were never tried.

Supportive of free or at least fair trade, Churchill throughout his career could never conceal his concern for the effects of such unbridled combat upon the poor man and women. Speaking in a lecture at Oxford in June of 1930 he posited that unencumbered free trade was not at that time working: “The growth of public opinion, and still more of voting opinion, violently and instinctively rejects many features of this massive creed. No one, for instance, will agree that wages should be settled only by the higgling of the market. No one would agree that modern world-dislocation of industry…should simply be met by preaching thrift and zeal to the displaced worker. Few would agree that private enterprise is the sole agency by which fruitful economic activities can be launched or conducted.” Churchill appended to this suspicion of market forces the idea of an economic council, chosen in proportion to parliamentary representation as an agent of economic advice. This concept of an objective economic watchdog was never viably pursued.

These economic doctrines – fair trade and support for the common worker – were strictly consistent with his life long pursuit of social stability, prosperity and opportunity. In wider party politics Churchill was a radical who consistently attacked the Conservatives as a party of wealthy vested interests conspiring to exploit the poor. He had a rough belief in proper mass democracy (though part of him sympathised with the viewpoints of the controversial Nietzche who feared for mass democratisation feeling that the great features of aristocratic or privileged existence would disappear), and most of his actions were ‘de Tocquevillian’. Churchill was fundamentally concerned that there should not be governmental obstruction to the mass of the people realising the benefits that a liberalising democracy could bring into their lives. In 1908 he wrote to Asquith:

“There is a tremendous policy in social organisation. The need is urgent and the moment ripe. Germany with a harder climate and far less accumulated wealth has managed to establish tolerable basic conditions for her people. She is organised not only for war, but for peace. We are organised for nothing except party politics. The Minister who will apply to this country the successful experiences of Germany in social organisation may or may not be supported at the polls, but he will at least have a memorial which time will not deface of his administration.” If we consider the tremendous tasks in which the human race and governments; local, regional, national and hopefully international, will struggle against in the near future then social organisation and re-organisation, probably of a brutal or dislocative nature will not be completed in the current ‘pork and play’ atmosphere in today’s political systems. Politicians engaged in change will need the courage to ignore the polls and do what needs to be done.

Churchill was a master at this, usually getting the House of Commons to agree to his proposals even if he was in a subordinate or even antagonistic position. The skills used to complete such duties were varied. Very rarely did they include threats, bullying, trampling on souls, or the use of political power. Logic, parliamentary procedure, emotional colour and well-researched positions counted as more important. Churchill proposed and acquired the acceptance of the House on a number of far reaching proposals, including;
- Institution of Labour Exchanges and unemployed insurance
- National Infirmity Insurance
- Special state industries such as roads, afforestation
- Modernised poor law (law mandating that children should support their parents)
- State control of the railway
- Compulsory education until age 17

Churchill’s economic beliefs and education though broader and more profound than many politicians were attached to a series of principles. He loathed dependence and esteemed individualism. He was fully in support of laissez-faire and the doctrines of 17th, 18th and 19th century English economics. His faith in Adam Smith, John Locke and Edwardian experience compelled Churchill to espouse his support in the benedictions of unshackled economic exchange. In October of 1902, in a letter to a political colleague while still a member of the Conservative party, Churchill commented that it was necessary by an ‘evolutionary process’ to create a wing of the Conservative party which would either infuse vigour into the entire unit, or allow the formation of a central coalition. Churchill realised as he stated in the letter that his plan would become most important as an incident in or possibly as a herald of the movement, but that it would also move suspicion that he was moved only by mere restless ambition and not substantive issues. He needed a grand theme and found it in the Free Trade debate of 1903-4. Churchill was unable to countenance the stance of the Conservative party in their clamouring for protection and left joining the Liberals on May 31 1904. Allegations of opportunism, deceit and cowardice, rained down upon him as he shifted sides. In a note to a friend Churchill admitted; “(The) Free Trade issue subsides it leaves my personal ambitions naked and stranded on the beach – and they are an ugly and unsatisfactory spectacle by themselves, though nothing but an advantage when borne forward with the flood of a great outside cause.” Indeed without a great cause ambition is a rather repulsive picture.

For Churchill and others liberal ideals as exemplified by the Free Trade question meant more than simply the abolition of protective tariffs. It personifies a whole philosophy of political, social and economic organisation. John Stuart Mill in ‘Principles of Political Economy’ in 1848 developed the ‘Laissez-faire’, concept and every departure from it, unless required by some great good, is a certain evil. This commandment created the key notes of mid-Victorian liberalism: the reliance upon individualism, the establishment of self-respect, and self-reliance, and the organisation of voluntary and co-operative societies to better the plight of the weak, wounded and suffering.

Support for such mantra was rooted in an earlier period of excitable prosperity. Coinciding with the advent of Free Trade in the years 1850-1870, there was an economic boom in the UK. It can be fairly argued that the removal of tariff barriers probably had only a marginal impact on the British economy. Nevertheless, psychologically the advent of free trade was closely associated with entrepreneurial zest and commercial success. It appeared that market forces working within the social and political structure solved the question of English strength, which preoccupied the country from 1820-50.

Churchill knew his economic history well. It moulded and galvanised his political and philosophical beliefs. It shaped his political attitude and formed one of his bedrock principles – free movement of goods and services. This created in his political philosophy a paradox — Churchill was at once a radical and a traditionalist. He was a radical in changing structures and governmental organisations and arcane laws to facilitate the movement of finance and trade on a more fair and free basis. He was also a radical in his determination to raise the general standard of living, economic opportunity and chance for decent education and welfare. He was a traditionalist in his empathy that the productive capitalistic system as the only guaranteed method of sustaining society and providing a nation with the capability to ensure adequate standards of wealth and progress. It must be protected at all costs – vision must be enjoined by the means to protect its vested interests.

Power:
In assessing the use of power Churchill’s career and leadership in this regard actually represents Britain’s peculiarity as a Great Power which during its hegemony was formed in the conjunction of three factors: her naval strength, her imperial possessions, and her financial hegemony. Through two stints as First Lord of the Admiralty, Chancellor of the Exchequer and through two World Wars, Churchill devoted the lion’s share of his time and energies to upholding these interlocking causes, making it conspicuously clear in the process that he had no intention of presiding over the liquidation of the British Empire. As Chancellor of the Exchequer Churchill presented 5 budgets (1925-1929). In British history only Pitt, Walpole and Gladstone can equal that record. Though vastly entertaining as pieces of oratory and acting adroitness his budgets adhered as much as it was possible to economic orthodoxy. Many times Churchill was accused of slight of hand sophistry in the compilation of his numbers and in the collection of his tax revenue. However, this allegation has been and could be made with more convincing effect against every other Chancellor in this century. What is more important to note is that Churchill’s orthodoxy underpinned the Victorian notion of Britain’s greatness.

Churchill was a realist and understood power. Power is really to be embraced and used and is in some ways the centre piece of leadership. To ignore it is to perish. Because of his somewhat apolitical view of the world Churchill could discern very clearly the different perspectives on how nations viewed peace and how any destroyer of peace would appear in various forms to different nations. To prevent war and general international dislocation he at times called for zones and regional structures, including World-Grand Alliances. Power and strength were vital: In his words, “Appeasement from strength is magnanimous and noble and might be the surest and perhaps the only path to peace.”

Though primarily remembered as a war-hungry demagogue, Churchill on at least half a dozen occasions defiantly crusaded against the level and purpose of military spending. These personal programs were driven in part by his political position. That is only a small part of the answer. During the 1920’s Churchill felt that military expenditure was too high and should be curbed given the threat of inflation, the spectre of economic dislocation and the vital investments needed in infrastructure and social programs. These economic indicators drove Churchill to proselytise against excessive taxation and to insist on reviews of defence expenditures. It was necessary Churchill felt, to augment the Royal Air Force allotment and decrease the high administrative costs of the army and look suspiciously into the Royal Navy claims of needing more funding. The cabinet agreed with Churchill: “that the Fighting Services should proceed on the assumption that no great war is to be anticipated within the next ten years” although, “provision should be made for the possible expansion of trained units in case of an emergency arising.” Little of the war-mongerer appears in this sentiment though security was never to be imperilled.

Churchill was emphatic that the 10 year rule be reviewed each year. This 10 year dictum uttered in the mid 20’s obviously proved false since in 1936, the Germans seized the Rhineland. Beginning with the rise of Hitler and the stench of his ideology, Churchill began advocating not only a mammoth increase in armament production but also a closer relationship with Russia. Strategy had changed again. This option was proffered from a man who in the early 1920’s had supported the incursion of British soldiers into the heartland of Russia to cleanse it of Bolshevism. Churchill regarded Bolshevism as the lowliest creed and construct of mankind’s civilised history. These adjurations were consistent with his concept of maintaining a balance of power and bargaining from a position of strength, all in the name of effacing and avoiding an evil tumult. It is – and should be – one of the chief reasons for our admiration and support of Churchill that he consistently advocated peace by international understanding and if understanding were to collapse to resist any impingement of freedom by force.

But his political courtship of Russia was based on seemingly obvious and important facts. As Churchill previsioned in the early 30’s a new line of French fortifications established only along the French part of the Rhine would enable Germany to attack France through Belgium and Holland. He knew that Germany would not respect the neutrality of the Low Countries in her desire to rip and tear the French to pieces. He also warned that Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Rumania, Austria and the Baltic’s, were at risk, and that Britain could not detain a German advance into these areas from her current submissive position of weakness. Churchill wanted to station a part of the British fleet in the Baltic to outnumber the German fleet. To achieve measurable, guarded security an alliance with the Bolshies was inevitable, vital and more importantly achievable.

If stronger lines had been followed in the 1930’s World War Two could have been avoided. With a ‘Churchillian’ leadership of the world and vision of power and morality we could have escaped the disgusting slaughter of 70 million people. In a 1945 speech to the combined Belgian Senate and Chamber, Churchill stressed what is still surely relevant in our world today; namely the resistance and prevention of dictator aggression: “If the United States had taken an active part in the League of Nations, and if the League of Nations had been prepared to use concerted force, even had it only been European force, to prevent the re-armament of Germany, there was no need for further serious bloodshed. If the Allies had resisted Hitler strongly in his early stages, even up to his seizure of the Rhineland in 1936, he would have been forced to recoil, and a chance would have been given to the sane elements in German life, which were very powerful especially in the High Command, to free Germany of the maniacal Government and system into the grip of which she was falling. Do no forget that twice the German people, by a majority, voted against Hitler, but the Allies and the League of Nations acted with such feebleness and lack of clairvoyance.”

After the Second World War he continued such pleas arguing in various speeches for France and Germany to bind wounds and for Russia to be a partner with the West in the greater development of a peaceful Europe. When it became obvious that the Soviets intended to challenge if not supplant the West (especially after the communist seizure of power in Czechoslovakia in 1948), than the tone of conciliation turned to a growling of an affronted bulldog as Churchill told American officials, that now is the time, promptly, to tell the Soviets that if they do not retire from Berlin and abandon Eastern Germany, withdrawing to the Polish frontier ‘we will raze their cities’. In his signal ‘Iron Curtain’ speech in Fulton Missouri in 1948 Churchill implored that the UNO must work effectively to prevent another war recognising Russia as a leading nation, remembering the gallantry of its efforts in the last war, and acknowledging its ‘Iron Curtain’ control of Eastern Europe which necessitated the banding and collation of Western strength and might.

It is a complex issue and drives to the heart of politics that so many of us view with revulsion – peace through strength and shifting alliances and geopolitical supporters. To understand such necessities today we need to understand the human animal. In scanning leadership and the great broad stretch and gesture of events, the basic construct of the human animal has to be borne in mind. Churchill constantly reminded his associates of the base fact that we really have not changed genetically in the last 100,000 years. DNA and microbiology are 1 of 2 great frontiers of human discovery in the next generation, (the other is information technology). As advances are made in understanding the human genome, advances must also be made in the way society and the leaders of society are structured and educated.

Churchill’s view of international affairs was pragmatic though not Machiavellian. He had two basic precepts of security — use history as a guide and foster a balance of power between the strongest lands, and ensure that the internal national health was seasoned and keen. Churchill frequently referred to his debt to those who had laboured before himself as he did to Katherine Asquith, on April 5 1929; “How strange it is that the past is so little understood and so quickly forgotten. We live in the most thoughtless of ages. Every day headlines and short views. I have tried to drag history up a little nearer to our own times in case it should be helpful as a guide in present difficulties.”

This enduring commitment to knowledge and of increasing the power, and not the dependency of the layman, both intellectually and politically was the central tenet of Churchill’s political genius. He could combine the new world with the old gleaning the important knowledge from the past, to help shape the institutions of the current and future. To say he was old-fashioned as some critics contend is simplistic. Churchill more than any other figure helped create the modern welfare nation state (though he would be appalled at its size and generosity today), promote peace through strength and ensure that the precarious balance of power between east and west, that was the only stability guaranteed to mankind for 44 years, was not toppled. Pure motives, unflinching devotion to good, ambition stemming from benign aspirations, all lead to quality. As one commentator explained of Pitt, so it could be ascribed to Churchill: “Pitt desired power, and he desired it, we really believe, from high and generous motives. He was, in the strict sense of the word, a patriot. He saw the national spirit sinking.” In conclusion then, we can state that Churchill matches many of those qualities and skills that define true leadership and greatness. It is these defining values that warrant the assertion that Churchill was indeed this century’s most important catalyst in propelling the world to where we are today. And I have not even discussed in detail his stand against Hitler and totalitarianism.

Thus, as a new millennium dawns I do believe that if we can revise our current system of educating ourselves and our leaders along the principles already evinced; namely, character, skills, intelligence, vision and understanding power, that we can create a proper cadre of leading men and women and that all of society will benefit from the reduction of intrigue and pettiness. Human nature can be changed, however painfully long it will take. In order to understand how we can do this it is often times necessary to understand how the ‘great’ or historically important at any rate went about it. I don’t think that in the 20th century there has been any more dedicated man who defended the Liberalised view of freedom, economic exchange and human dignity, better than Churchill. For this reason, he should be nominated as the most influential man of the past century. And for this reason his skills and weaknesses should be studied and appreciated with especial care.

Making a great name in the history of the whole world is no simple feat. Discover how Winston Churchill stood up to be a leader of one of the world?s biggest nations. Churchill?s life can be readily read through by way of online resources.

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                  As it is reported by Stella Pandell Russell in her work Art in the World, “… [. . .] The essence of creation lies in the recognition of beauty, when it occurs.”(Lippold, Sculpture, 1973). But the treasure of an expressive artistic work (Taylor 51-68) demands responsibility of governors to preserve it. What is the price that societies have been paying for such a long period of time so that the humanity can contemplate the genius spirits of Gaudi and Poty? In this sense, Curitiba has grown so much! Proper use of Architecture and Art! Governors from Curitiba during the last decades are based on the first projects of Jaime Learner, an architect, who promoted a revolution in terms of urban planning, and the city is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Brazil. Lazzarotto is the postcard of important buildings in Curitiba. His murals can be seen in the Government Palace, parks, museums, airport, close to the roads, squares, market, library, and as a façade in front of Guaíra Theater, which has been considered one of the biggest theaters of South America for a long time which main entrance made in concrete is Lazzarotto’s closest work to Gaudi’s. Like the Secret Temple, Guaíra Theater also started with a smaller project. The first theater was called Guairinha (“Diminutive of Guaíra in Portuguese”). Similarly, the other side of Secret Temple was also built in a second moment. The aggregation of Sculptural Arts (Russell 171) to the new buildings is remarkable in both cases, no matter the elements of Gaudi seem to be associated in order to compose the façade (Taylor 151). The elements are sculptural (See Russell 150) set on a special environment, a created space for them (Russell 213).  Poty’s work, is also composed of different objects, designed and harmonized all together. They both have a special language (Russell 40), but as much as one looks to specific characteristics, as closer one can be to a common sense whenever artists manifest their creativity and potentiality, as it can be observed in this comparison. But it isn’t transparent. One has to have the desire to look and compare.

             And Barcelona, located at the Mediterranean Sea in the very north of the Spanish coast, is certainly the most cosmopolitan and economically most active city in Spain. It has always proved its will to be modern, to follow the latest international tendencies or be ahead of them. One can see tradition and innovation side by side (See Russell 372). Considering tourism the architecture of Barcelona reflects the general approach to life. Barcelona has an old history, counting on monuments of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance specially those ones created in the last century. “Barcelona has been a center of Modernist architecture, distinguished by the works of Gaudí, and his contemporaries who gave exciting looks to it, but has remained since then at the top of modernity.

            The confrontation of Gaudi and Poty’s façades provides personalization, and aggregation of an extra social value to institutions. Gaudi centers his attention to religious arguments – - (Frontal Façade – Jesus’ birth) 02 – - (See Russell 02), and Poty demonstrates a retrospective of the theater throughout the world in his Façade (See Russell 04).

             “In accordance with Michael Foucault (1973) the intellectual practices can be identified as discourses that will look for a negation of the merely empirical status. These speeches aren’t only linked with the legitimization of power, but also how anyone can reach truth [. . .] ” (Alexander 38-39)

        One can consider each created space is a social fact. As it is defined:   “[. . .] the ways to do something, stable or not, whenever it’s possible, exercise an exterior coercion on the person, or all the way of an extension of a society, having a proper existence, independent of individual manifestations”(Durkheim 12). Both façades enchant anyone, addressing to imaginary spaces.

       Comparing their artistic performances, Secret Family Temple, and Guaíra Theater Façades, no matter the splendor of the church itself, one can have an idea of personalized places. The context in each of them was involved should be observed so that the murals themselves can be understood as the emergence of contemporary social values, represented by their creations, enlightening the cities and enchanting church and theater goers, as well as tourists. “The reconstruction of the reality by the empirical characterization in terms of analysis and unification of the results, is a good way to keep longer the questions of the observer” (Orestan 31) . But the contemplation does not exclude anyone.

            Antonio Gaudi inspired so many writers along these years since his first biographies were printed out, especially between 1829 and 1953.” Authors had Gaudi’s image confusing sometimes. A cultural and political Renaissance took place in Europe and that was the context.

            It was a moment of economical prosperity and urban expansion with patronage of a middle class that wanted to be tune with the best European new styles. As Marx (68) observed about Religious convictions mainly in Europe: “ [. . . ]  the critic of the last society, especially feudal with this one that had to fight against was close to critic that Christianity did about Paganism and Protestantism of Catholicism.

             As Gaudi mentioned: “… something is done so that we can avoid the undone, and work results can be seen only by continuous work combining reflection and action, the precursor requisites of creativity”. He was born in June 25th, 1852 in Tierra Baja, in Tarragona, Spain. His works are still being conserved and his methods of work and investigation are known. He was considered a very intelligent little boy, but always sick. His desire to do something in terms of architecture started with the excursions they had at the time he and his friends started getting involved with speeches of recovering of the architectonic patrimony of their town. Then, he graduates in Architecture in 1878, in Condal where his skills were recognized not only for calculation but also a great creativity. His project was oriented by Violler-le-Duc, Elies Rogent, where he demonstrates great interest in Technology, Materials, Arts, applied to construction, and old styles well known in the past. He had to give proof of his capacity so that Elies Rogent gave him the tittle of Architect affirming that he did it for a fool or a genius. Opportunities to prove his competence were given starting with La Casa Vicens, and finally became accepted by the society of Barcelona. Eusebi Guell (1846-1918) got impressed with the singularity of a wooden crystal iron piece and from that time on, Guell became one of his most important clients. The 80’s represent progress in his career demonstrating his talent working in all forms of Architecture like, residences (Guell Palace), designs like El capricho de Comillas an Pabellón de la Compañia Transatlantica de la Exposición de Cádiz, and religious motifs – - Episcopal Palace of  Astorga, the school of Teresinas and the Temple of Secret Family in Barcelona. He was helped by authorities like Enric d’Ósso, the founder of the school of “Las Teresinas” and the bishops Torras and Bages, the most influent personages of the religious ideologies at the end of the nineteenth century. The general thought of his modernist generation, nominated the Catalan movement that corresponds to Art Nouveau had its format in 1888. But Gaudi could go longer of the historical boundaries dominating the period and formulating his own concept of aesthetic, which made his style becoming unmistakable, and difficult to classify at the same time. He refuses the proposal to take part of the municipal elections in 1905 and dedicates time to execute the façade of Indications, The Secret Family Temple, until his death in 1926. “This façade demonstrates Gaudi’s preoccupation to portray Jesus’ birth, showing all the scenes and personages included in the passage, like the animals, plants, human figures, angels, and the secret family (St. Mary, St. Joseph, and baby Jesus). Gaudi took care even from the position of the entrance by showing the Birth Façade to the Orient because rising sun comes from this direction, and The Façade of Passion to the opposite side because of the sunset. “In 1900, this façade reached 32 meters. There are three doors. The first one on the left represents hope, the central one, Jesus’ birth, and the right one represents faith. Matemala helped Gaudi, in order to have very close reproductions considering animals, human bodies and figures he represented.”04 “The Secret Family is considered a standard gothic inspiration of modern architecture and the greatest project of Gaudi’s life. He portrays an entrance to the temple by presenting one thousand five hundred singers, seven hundred kids, five organs, and this monumental construction seems to be of a theater scenery.” 05

            His relationship with people from the church should intensify his deep religious feelings and intentions. He dedicated a long time to work with Secret Family (1884) and even stopped to accept different projects (1908) working on it until 1926. The church, which remains on remodeling after 115  years since it was started, became a notorious center of visitation in Barcelona. Gaudhi was considered modern but not modernist. He was the son of his time, not because the incorporated modernity like some intellectuals interpreted his work. Gaudi got projection in Catalunia but not with the noise of scandalous passages because of his revolutionary concepts of Art, and there are those critics who could not understand him. Like Clemenceau repported: “Gaudi was an eccentric man, with the personality of a genius, sometimes rude with people who worked with him”. But he is also reported to be generous and honest. His biggest work was Celestial Jerusalem. Josep Carner and Puig Oriol (1884-1970), wrote: (“Si gozáis con el Modernismo/ no os quedéis a medio camino: / alcanzad el paroxismo/ de gozarlo con Gaudí”)05(Which means: One can better understand Modernism with Gaudi).

            If we consider the new tendencies in terms of Arts in Brazil we do have to note that the beginning of the 50’s printed out a new radical changing in all the system of art. In 1922, (Gaudi was close to his end), one of the greatest movements of Art in Brazil took part, and was called the week of Modern Arts. Since that time Modernism was always the first reference in terms of tendencies.06 From Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, Poty was contemporary to all these events. But his work is still very regional and far away from all these tendencies. Gaudi and Poty could be themselves even competing with other artists from their time, and exposed to so many cultural influences.

            As Regina Casillo comments: “All the cities have their own values, like Guignard is to Minas Gerais, Di Cavalcanti to Rio de Janeiro, and Curitiba was given the present by the Gods to have Napoleon Potyguara Lazzarotto as its main value (trans.).”06 Poty was born in Curitiba, in March 29th, 1924, providing a cue of his destiny. It is the date, of Curitiba’s birthday, as the ex-prefect Rafael Greca de Macedo replied: “The city he would never get stressed to portray on his paintings.” Poty’s work is basically centered in murals wherever visitors or not, go in the capital of Paraná, São Paulo or Rio.

           His noticed talent designated Lazzarotto’s life since he was fourteen. He created a personage called Haroldo, and then, became famous because of his figures. His work is known throughout the world, especially in Rio de Janeiro where one of his murals was destroyed by the fire in 1964. In Sao Paulo he created the mural called Latin America Memorial. But it is in Paraná that his work is more representative.08 He attended the College of Arts in Curitiba. The murals are great, and remarks of his work are never confounded. His favorite materials are cement, glazed tiles, stained glass windows, and wood, and as it was already said in big murals like the one in “Largo da Ordem” representing the chariots of the grocers, basically Italian and Polish colonial people close to Largo da Ordem in Curitiba. Another wonderful work is the mural at 19 de Dezembro Square in celebration to the Centenary of Paraná. At Iguaçu Palace, one can see the mural Allegory of Paraná, which is the façade of Iguaçu Palace when it was inaugurated in 1953 (same technique of the Theater). The main work to be analyzed in front of Guaíra Theater that Poty’s façade is located. It portrays The Theater in the World (1969). “Before dying in 1998, Poty could see an exhibition organized by CEF; one of the strongest

banks in Brazil with designs, outlines, and miniatures that could be seen all together for the first time, as Mrs. Casillo explains.”09 Differently of Gaudi who left Secret Temple unfinished.

            The preliminary point to be considered should be the fact that the first theater started to be built (1855) in Curitiba at the same time Gaudi was walking first steps (1852). But the first inaugurated one (1884) is now the building of the Public Library in Curitiba. Guaíra Theater was a prison originally, during the Federalist Revolution and only in 1900 it was reopened with the name Guayra. It was demolished. In 1952 it was rebuilt because of public request under the command of Rubens Meister (architect). The first stage was Salvador de Ferrante (1954) and the big one was built 16 years later. A fire destroyed the theater in 1970, and in 1975 it was finally concluded, becoming one of the greatest artistic-cultural-complexes of Latin America. Only after all these reforms, Poty Lazzarotto, the artist who signed the frontal façade and had already worked on the designs was contracted (He did not execute his work). He also projected the fire-curtain of the stage Bento Munhoz da Rocha Neto. He created the fire-curtain of the biggest theater known as Salvador de Ferrante Auditorium, both executed by Laila Tarran, and Carmen Carine. As Laila explained, Poty followed the execution of his works like the Façade of the theater, and even added things out of the project to the curtains. Gaudi didn’t, because of the accident that robbed his life.

            The Façade of Guaíra Theater( 24,50 x 4.80) provides a wonderful view of the evolution of the theater throughout the world. Different tonalities of gray and white are observed (the moulds produced by Poty, were made of wood, providing a different tonality), as well as different levels of a plan structure of cement, divided in several rectangles, set in so many different planes (Some of them are negative). Contrary to the panel performed with the same technique (on the walls of Iguaçu Palace), one can observe that lines are different and variable. In Guaira mural, Poty uses band lines much more than straight lines, as it can be observed in the mural of Iguaçu Palace (Taylor 55). Poty is the son of European Immigrants, and he had the preoccupation to show people from the field and from the North of Brazil, known as caipiras, and cangaçeiros. The existence of communities with different costumes can be observed as one of his arguments. “There are some communities that live in a total segregated society. They live in a diaspora, relationship, except the inevitable and the legal situation is normally precarious [.  .  . ] ” (Weber 221). It was a very common characteristic of Brazil, considering problems of ethnicity, even nowadays.

            A marvelous scenery of a retrospective of the evolution of the theater along the time and throughout the world can be observed if one centers the eyes from the left to the right, in order to readwhat Poty wants to transmit. He starts with the presentation of a pine (symbol of the South of Brazil – - Araucaria angustifolia – -), and an old citizen contrasting with a young girl, the fire, and a mask. Then, a second moment, showing a pathway, directing to a town. Right after, a big eye, some architectonic lines and the figure of a couple of cangaçeiros – - a typical personage from the North of Brazil . Poty also sets a group of dancers, involved in abstract representations, and an angel can be seen very close to signs. He puts two ladies side by side. One is overdressed with a long dress and holds a fan. The second one is very modern and carries a purse. The last moment centered on the right portrays a globe, being carried by a chariot. Many instruments can also be seen like a harp, a violin, and a trumpet. Finally, a man wearing a hat can be noticed on the back. The total image of the façade remains inside the boards.

          If for any reason, Poty’s work came to print mainly historical values concerned about regional cultural aspects, as he always does, that was not Gaudi’s preoccupation, because the Secret Family is a religious universal symbol. But “Poty is also referred as portraying universal values, no matter it had regional focus.”10 So, both can be considered similar in terms of this reference.

         Gaudi should be much more helpful for the humanity if he had worked only with his designs and projects, reserving builders the responsibility to incorporate values to the buildings. But this is utopia. It sounds that he had to be everything. Nowadays, with the division of the work, consolidated mainly with the contemporary vision of the world, it sounds that people know exactly how short life is to reserve so many realizations for only one man (Gaudi’s death is related with stress). Poty works with different plans and Gaudi with volume (His figures are represented in natural side). It is very interesting to notice that Gaudi represents animals, much more realistic than human figures.

         Gaudi is being considered a Saint. He could project not only a complement (façade) as part of the building. Gaudi was one century in front of his time, and besides Picasso, Miró and many ones, he could make of Barcelona the number one city in terms of style, aesthetics, innovation, attracting people from several different nationalities to contemplate his extraordinary production of works, influencing even Portinari one of the most Brazilian famous artists. And Curitiba has an atmosphere of a special “elsewhere” inviting people to fulfill the emptiness of the architectonic creations metaphorically using Poty’s works as an invitation to attract visitors. With a modern vision Poty incorporates historical evidences wherever it is possible to modern buildings, which seems to be the opposite in Gaudi’s work, because he demonstrates the modern creations incorporating biblical references mainly to a gothic building (Secret Family Temple), proper of medieval architecture, maybe because of his extreme religiosity. But it is not a general topic of his creations. His work is as energetic as Poty’s.

            In conclusion, it can be inferred from this approach that the submerged industrial society takes with it all the principles mainly in the two last centuries. Modern architecture is coming down because the moral legitimization of its aesthetics and philosophical reasons don’t exist any more. However, [. . . ] “ Modernity as Baudelaire wrote in his article The painter of modern life printed in 1863, is the transitory, the escapable, the contingent, it is half of the art, being the other half the eternal and immutable” (Harvey 21).

            People can have interfaces of different interpretations of urban life and open a space to every new conception of art itself. As Laila Tarran mentioned in an interview: “There is no innocent look”. And there is a code of spaces in all the cities nowadays. Space for leisure, residential areas, business area, marketing, parks, shopping centers, churches, hospitals, and so on. Do works of Arts add anything to these spaces, or do they diminish the functionality of that certain space? It is not uncommon to listen people saying: “But this Poty’s mural was a fortune for the government … “Or, “Gaudi should have spent all the money of the families in a very difficult time (War)…”. As Mirabeau says: [. . . ] civilization does not do any good for the society if it’s not the form and substance of virtue ( Elias 54). 

            Like Barcelona, Curitiba got the right concept of property on setting the arts printing out a unique language in terms of style. “Artists reported the past looking to the future” (Taylor177).

                        As Stella Pandell Russell reports “… Everyone can share in the impulse to create, although we are not all creative to the same degree” [. . . ] (Russell 21). And this is wonderful, because each human has a different conception and interpretation of reality. The fact that both artists have printed personality to these places must be considered not only as a manifestation of human extraordinary potentiality to create but also the necessity to have an encounter with beauty, and abstract its relative concept, by casually passing in front of public edification that immortalize the life of each town and the personality of the artists.

            However Gaudi and Poty had proper style, and very specific focus in terms of thematic performance, it cannot be ignored by the eyes of the planers of Curitiba, who could abstract from traditional towns in Europe, some very notorious concepts of urban concurrent planning accidentally and suitable introduced them in the town. As much as one sees, as much one can look! It’s up to anyone

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Durkheim, Emile. As regras do método sociológico. 4 ed. São Paulo : Companhia Editora

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Elias,  Norbert. O Processo Civilizador Rio: Uma História dos Costumes. Rio de Janeiro: Jorge Zahar

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Taylor , Joshua C.  Learning to Look. Second Edition. University of Chicago Press, 1981.

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Your home reflects your personality. Windows are the main part of your home and it should be very expressive. They give a complete look to any home. Windows styling and designing should match the interior of the house otherwise the windows would look odd if not matched with the home décor. There are lots of choices available in window treatments, selecting the best blinds and window treatments need careful planning and thought.

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