Aria

An aria ([ˈaË?rja]; Italian: air; plural: arie [ˈaË?rje], or arias in common usage, diminutive form arietta [aˈrjetta]) in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term became used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without orchestral accompaniment, normally part of a larger work. The typical context for arias is opera, but vocal arias also feature in oratorios and cantatas, sharing features of the operatic arias of their periods.

Origins of the term

The term, which derives from the Greek and Latin 'aer' (air) first appeared in relation to music in the 14th century when it simply signified a manner or style of singing or playing. By the end of the 16th century, the term 'aria' refers to an instrumental form (cf. Santino Garsi da Parma lute works, 'Aria del Gran Duca' ). By the early 16th century it was in common use as meaning a simple setting of strophic poetry; melodic madrigals, free of complex polyphony, were known as madrigale arioso.

Aria Resort and Casino

Aria Resort and Casino is a luxury resort and casino, part of the CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. Aria consists of two curved glass and steel highrise towers adjoined at the center. It opened on December 16, 2009 as a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Infinity World Development. At 4,000,000 sq ft (370,000 m²) and 600 ft (180 m) in height, it is the largest and tallest structure at CityCenter.

The resort's 61 and 51-story towers contain an American Automobile Association five diamond hotel with 4,004 guest rooms and suites, 16 restaurants, 10 bars and nightclubs, and a casino with 150,000 sq ft (14,000 m²) of gaming space. It also has a 215,000 sq ft (20,000 m²) pool area with 50 cabanas, an 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m²) salon and spa, a 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m²) convention center and a 1,800-seat theater which is hosting Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil.

Among the most notable aspects of Aria is its incorporation of technology in the exterior and interior design of the hotel, specifically for the reduction of energy consumption. It is the largest hotel in the world to have earned LEED Gold certification. On account of its smart rooms which automatically adjust curtains, turn off unused lights and electronics, and regulate the temperature when a guest enters or leaves a room, Aria was described in Popular Mechanics as possibly "the most technologically advanced hotel ever built".

Aria (comics)

Aria is a comic book metaseries published by Image Comics, written by Brian Holguin and drawn by Jay Anacleto. Its central concept is that 'mythic beings exist in the modern world,' a premise seen in numerous works of dark contemporary fantasy. There have been several Aria miniseries written over the course of 1999–2003, which have been collected in trade paperbacks.

Aria (1999)

The story opens in a New York bookshop, specializing in the esoteric. The shopowner, a sardonic young woman named Kildare, over the course of a day deals with a woman who found a sword in her flat, two goths who want to drink absinthe, and a man looking for a bargain-basement love potion. After work, she goes back to her flat, where she is greeted by a talking mirror and a fishtank full of tiny merpeople...

She goes to a club which caters to an unusual clientele, where it becomes apparent that the woman is a Fae noble. She meets a man named Pug, later revealed to be a dwarf, and the bartender Dion, who is none other than the Greek god Dionysus. On the way home, she is attacked by a group of shadowy creatures.

Vision statement

A vision statement is a declaration of an organization's objectives, ideally based on economic foresight, intended to guide its internal decision-making.

Definition and structure

A vision statement is a company's road map, indicating both what the company wants to become and guiding transformational initiatives by setting a defined direction for the company's growth. Vision statements undergo minimal revisions during the life of a business, unlike operational goals which may be updated from year-to-year. Vision statements can range in length from short sentences to multiple pages. Vision statements are also formally written and referenced in company documents rather than, for example, general principles informally articulated by senior management. A vision statement is not limited to business organizations and may also be used by non-profit or governmental entities.

A consensus does not exist on the characteristics of a "good" or "bad" vision statement. Commonly cited traits include:

Vision (comics)

Vision, in comics, may refer to:

See also

Vision (Marvel Comics)

The Vision is the name of multiple fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first Vision was an alien created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby that first appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics # 13 (November 1940). The second Vision is an android and a member of the Avengers that first appeared in The Avengers #57 (October 1968) by Roy Thomas, Stan Lee and John Buscema. The third Vision was the time traveler previously known as Iron Lad, who was fused with the operating system of the second Vision. The second Vision was portrayed by Paul Bettany in the 2015 film Avengers: Age of Ultron; he will reprise the role in the 2016 film Captain America: Civil War.

Publication history

The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 (Nov. 1940), published by Marvel predecessor Timely Comics during the 1930s and 1940s, a period which fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.