[FYI: In this newsletter and in future newsletters you will notice that some words have an asterisk (*) where a vowel should be. It’s not a mistake – we’re simply trying to prevent getting caught in your spam filter / bulk mail folder. You'll be amazed by what words they don’t like…]

Pursuing LEED Green Associate or LEED AP status? Simply looking to expand your understanding of the LEED certification process? Then you’ll probably want to investigate a course that the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) is offering across the U.S. This day-long seminar provides core knowledge that is essential to all LEED Rating Systems. Find out locations, schedules, pricing and registration information here.

Get Smart About Design Software

contributed by Joey Kim, Allied Member ASID
[kitchen & bath designer / realtor / enthusiastic traveler & artist]

Hold on to your hard drives! There is a mind-boggling array of design software available on the market. Even if you recently attended design school and thought you had learned just the right software to l*nd you a great j*b, you might be unpleasantly surprised when you get out there. Just like cell phones and computers, design programs evolve quickly, changing the landscape of what employers are demanding. Recent graduates may have found their professors teaching AutoCAD and MicroStation but in the next breath forewarning them of the increasing popularity of other 3D applications. To top it off, design software is expensive – even the ones that are limited in capability. Needless to say, deciding which software to invest time and money into can be frustrating and confusing, so I’ve got some tips to help you figure things out…

Read more | check your tech knowledge here.

Shine On – The 2009 Solar Decathlon

contributed by Sheree Schold
[owner, Haberdash Designs / avid traveler / ID journalism dabbler]

After sweating and stressing and straining their brains for the last two years, 20 university and college teams squared off for this year’s Solar Decathlon. Not only did they contemplate, plan, and scrutinize every last detail, but each group actually had to construct and operate its design for a solar-powered, energy-efficient, aesthetically pleasing, stand-alone house. Their smart, solar prototypes competed directly on the National M*ll in Washington, DC, hooking into the local utility grid, which permitted public tours and evaluations of each home’s performance. Ultimately, the U.S. Department of Energy [DOE] announced the winners…

Read more | find out what features won international competitors accolades here.

Angela Lynch

A few years ago Angela Lynch nobly considered pursuing a future in nursing. Before she donned her scrubs and Crocs, however, she arrived at the logical conclusion that if watching surg*ry performed on t*levision made her queasy, then participating in procedures firsthand would certainly not make her feel any better. Her fortunate moment of clarity drew her toward another career that contributes to the health, safety and welfare of the public, albeit without the hypodermics and stethoscopes. A native of the Village of Greendale Greendale – a small, picturesque suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Angela will graduate December 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee. Though she stayed close to home for school, Angela is now ready to trav*l wherever her interior design career takes her…

Read more | give yourself an injection of Angela's positive attitude here.

NCIDQ&A: What's New At NCIDQ?

contributed by The NCIDQ Crew

NCIDQ has feverously been working on improving its programs and processes and is pleased to announce some new features:

Web site Redesign – In the coming weeks NCIDQ will reveal a new and improved Web site. The new design is part of an overall strategic marketing initiative designed to improve the user experience. The new Web site will have greater functionality and appeal and is focused around a more audience-specific experience, allowing users to search for information they want by determining which audience group they fall into section…

Read more | get the NewCIDQ scoop here.

There's a lot of info out there on the World Wide Web. Let us do some of the searching so that you don't have to.

What The Spec?
[Copper Sinks by Native Trails – Plumbing fixtures battling H1N1.]

Eco Savvy
[Green Home G*ide – USGBC’s residential resource.]
[iRecycle Earth911 iPhone App – Have phone, will recycle.]

Other Design Junkies
[yodeng – Face-to-face networking between design disciplines.]

The Pros
[Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment]
[National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research]

Productive Sites
[NuBarter – A new twist on a very old idea.]
[Plant Concierge – Coax some home-grown carrots with an expert’s help.]

Hot Sh*pping
[CultureLabel – Absolute heaven for m*seum sh*p groupies.]

Time Killers
[Visible Tweets – Challenging to explain… You’ve just got to see it.]

Impress your interviewers / professors / co-workers with interior design industry jargon.

byobu | ganged seating | nesting tables | stack chairs | tandem seating

Speak more intelligently when presenting and networking by incorporating some new vocabulary.

blithe | carp | nadir

Keep those comments coming. Email us at contact@plinthandchintz.com, and read more rants & raves here.

I love the site Plinth and Chintz that you created and how it brings students, veterans, and newcomers together. It has definitely filled a void in our industry.
--Alana Villanueva

Get Smarter Via S*cial Networking

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Kids, before the Internet and online dating came along, there was such a thing as video dating. For some true comic relief, check out this video dating montage from the 1980s. (Ladies, if any of you ended up marrying one of these guys, we’re sorry...on so many levels.)

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