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The Lean Post / Articles / How the Toyota Way and Toyota Kata Fit Together
How the Toyota Way and Toyota Kata Fit Together
By Jeffrey Liker
The author of The Toyota Way explains where Toyota Kata fits with Toyota's broader management principles — and how each enhances the other to help you build more effective organizations.
Editor's Note: In case you missed it! This Lean Post is a lightly edited version of an article published in February 2021.
Recently, I've noticed some confusion about the relationship between the Toyota Way and Toyota Kata. So, with the publication of the second edition of my book, The Toyota Way, I want to clarify the differences.
The Toyota Way and Toyota Kata are management concepts described in well-known books that reveal the thinking and practices underlying the company's success. The Toyota Way summarizes the management system Toyota has evolved over the last century as a set of fourteen principles. Toyota Kata describes the practice routines Mike Rother developed to aid people in getting started developing the habit of scientific thinking he saw as central to Toyota's success.
The term "scientific thinking" can be confusing and might spark the picture of a lone scientist sitting in the lab conducting some fundamental research and developing abstract models. However, in lean management and problem-solving, scientific thinking refers to the mindset and practices that enable people to achieve challenging goals. In teaching and coaching scientific thinking, lean practitioners, then, are trying to develop people's "practical scientific thinking" skills, which will help enhance their problem-solving capabilities.
These were written about in different books and are often practiced as though they are different schools of thought or approaches to lean transformation. So the question is: Are these two systems compatible, or do we have to choose to believe in one or the other?
I have had an insider seat to both since I have been studying Toyota for about 40 years, and Mike was my graduate student at the University of Michigan and lives close by. So we regularly have long discussions about these topics.
My overall conclusion is that while I was deriving general management principles from my learning about Toyota, Mike was delving into a practical approach to one of the core aspects — problem-solving through scientific thinking.
Mike's model of scientific thinking — the Improvement Kata Pattern — was derived from watching some of the best Toyota Production System (TPS) masters in Toyota at work. He then went beyond the conceptual model to help others learn how to do this themselves through an age-old approach to mastering complex skills — deliberate practice with a coach!
Integrating The Toyota Way and Toyota Kata
Based on my long discussions with Mike and some soul-searching myself as to where this all fits together, I changed the foundational 4P model of The Toyota Way to place scientific thinking in the center (see illustration below).
In the first edition published in 2004, I had represented the model as a pyramid, placing philosophy as the foundation and problem-solving at the pinnacle. At that time, it had seemed that scientific thinking should be a part of problem-solving. However, after thinking more about it, I made two significant changes to the model for the 2020 second edition:
I changed the model to a set of interconnected puzzle pieces to show that all the components are interrelated — a system.
I put scientific thinking at the system's center after concluding that all the principles are more effective with a scientific approach. For example, though the process principles seem to lead to a straightforward implementation of tools, like a work cell, they don't. Instead, with a scientific approach, you start with a vision or objective, such as achieving one-piece flow of value to customers. You then experiment with ways to work toward this vision, continually learning and refining your process.
Seeing Scientific Thinking in the TPS
While "scientific thinking" may seem new and perhaps theoretical, it is consistent with Toyota's teachings, going back to the first TPS manual by Taiichi Ohno: "On the shop floor, it is important to start with the actual phenomenon and search for the root cause in order to solve the problem. In other words, we must emphasize getting the facts."
One of Ohno's students, Hajime Ohba, later explained in a public presentation: "TPS is built on the scientific way of thinking … How do I respond to this problem? Not a toolbox. [You have to be] willing to start small, learn through trial and error."
In his excellent 2004 Harvard Business Review article on "Learning to Lead at Toyota," Steven Spear discusses the rigor with which Toyota trains all its managers to be scientific thinkers: "Trainees watch employees work and machines operate, looking for visible problems… Learners articulate their hypotheses about changes' potential impact, then use experiments to test their hypotheses. They explain gaps between predicted and actual results… Supervisors act as coaches, not problem solvers. They teach trainees to observe and experiment."
Compare this with Rother's description of the basics of practical scientific thinking for the rest of us who are not PhD scientists:
Acknowledging that our comprehension is always incomplete and possibly wrong.
Assuming that answers will be found by testing rather than just deliberation.
Appreciating that differences between what we predict will happen and what actually happens can be a useful source of learning and corrective adjustment.
Developing the Kata
Mike wanted to go beyond elucidating principles of scientific thinking, so he arrived at the approach of daily practice via kata. Kata in Japanese martial arts like karate are specific movements that the master teaches to the learner through demonstration and then watching the learner try, repeatedly, until the student achieves some level of mastery of that specific, building-block skill. This approach then leads to mastering the next kata, and next, and so on. Over time, the karate student moves from practicing individual kata to combining them as situationally demanded when fighting. Those who have seen The Karate Kid have seen kata in practice; those who have watched a jazz band play have seen the results.
Those who have seen The Karate Kid have seen kata in practice; those who have watched a jazz band play have seen the results.
Mike provided us with the Improvement Kata and Coaching Kata — including a set of practice routines, or "Starter Kata," for each stage of the model, which people can use to practice scientific thinking deliberately.
Having a way to practice scientific thinking is critical to counter our natural "problem-solving" instincts. All of our skills and ways of thinking occur in our brains. Routine actions like maneuvering our car are bundles of connected neurons that we can call up, somewhat like computers call up subroutines. However, the problem is our natural subroutines for solving problems program us to quickly imagine solutions before deliberately thinking through the problem definition and understanding the current condition.
The Lean Community has offered various methods to prevent this jumping-to-conclusions instinct, such as systematically stepping through the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) process. However, neither telling people to do this nor several-day problem-solving workshops are enough to create new, counter-intuitive neural circuits.
It is tempting to try to devise a way to flush our minds clean of these old thinking habits, but what is in our brain does not in any natural way get wiped as we can do to a computer's memory. Instead, we must build new neurological structures that, when strengthened through practice, become our go-to for addressing problems. The old well-worn ways of fast thinking start to fade into the background since we do not use them, and the new slow-thinking patterns start feeling more natural. We are practicing, or should I say "deliberately practicing," a new way and in doing so rewiring our brains.
Creating Daily Habits of Deliberate Practice
Toyota teaches practical scientific thinking to each manager, beginning when they are hired, and coaches reinforce the practice daily. But the rest of us need some regimen to practice deliberately. Mike's Improvement Kata serves this purpose (See illustration below).
In total, the Improvement Kata starts with a clear purpose in the form of a measurable challenge, and then we iteratively learn our way to the challenge. The starting assumption is that we do not know how to meet the challenge because of too much uncertainty. So we have to step our way through it experiment by experiment, adjusting and learning as we go. Most people are uncomfortable not knowing, accepting uncertainty, and recognizing that the future is not predictable. Therefore, we need to practice our reactions when confronted with such situations, ideally with a coach.
The emphasis in Toyota is on learning by doing. Toyota values theory, but as a basis for developing practice through experimenting.
Now, we all know the emphasis in Toyota is on learning by doing. Toyota values theory but only as a basis for developing practice through experimenting. To make this scientific-thinking pattern gel in our minds, we need enough practice to create strong neural pathways.
Understanding the Neuroscience of Learning
We also know that there is a limit to how much new input our brains can absorb in one session, and it's less than you might think. Twenty minutes seems to be about right. Practicing for short periods daily for several months is much more impactful than morning-to-night sessions that we might have in an executive immersion training course or a one-week kaizen event.
Neuroscientists have demonstrated that behavior and thinking are interconnected (see illustration below). When we do something, that information gets encoded as a bundle of neurons and synapses that connect the neurons. When we practice a particular way, we get a very efficient circuit that becomes our habit. So, for example, if we approach a problem through fast thinking, jumping to conclusions, we are more likely to address issues. To counter that tendency, we need to behave scientifically repeatedly, which will change how we think and make us more likely to approach problems that way in the future.
When you put this all together, you get the Improvement Kata model and its associated practice routines done in a coach-learner relationship. Toyota seems to do it naturally without a lot or scripting of how the coach teaches the student. Mike has made it explicit and more structured in Toyota Kata to help those who are not already in a mature organization with a culture of scientific thinking.
Does Toyota Kata Replace the Toyota Way?
Does this mean that Toyota Kata now replaces the Toyota Way since scientific thinking is at the center? Certainly not. The 4Ps of the Toyota way reflect a management system that is more than individual people thinking scientifically. It starts with a collective clarity of purpose and core values that guide the overall enterprise. What is the organization's purpose? What is the collective vision for how we want the enterprise to operate? This system must be lived and modeled by all managers to become the guiding force of the culture.
The Toyota Way starts with a collective clarity of purpose and core values that guide the overall enterprise.
Philosophy does not emerge from experiments but needs to be carefully thought through and embraced to help provide direction to specific improvement efforts. Similarly for Process, there is a body of knowledge about lean processes and moving toward one-piece flow that you are not likely to discover through experimentation within a mass-production system. As a result, we need to develop people's capabilities in many ways besides scientific thinking to get to the leadership and culture we desire. Problem-solving is best done with a scientific mindset and includes ways to align goals (hoshin kanri) toward a clear strategy for the products and services of the firm.
We should also recall that Mike calls these "starter kata" rather than "finishing kata." So, he does not intend for people learning scientific thinking to continue forever to follow the "starter kata" precisely as if it were a new rigid method for problem-solving. Instead, they are for the student to practice — and develop — a scientific thinking mindset. Perhaps we can view the kata as a catalyst that juices scientific thinking, which, in turn, is the engine that drives the Toyota Way. Without it, or some equivalent way of developing people to think scientifically, the Toyota Way might remain at the level of principles without practice.
Learn how to use the Improvement Kata, a practical and proven method to systematically navigate that "gray zone" between the current state and your target and learn how to teach this method to your team.
Jeffrey Liker
About Jeffrey Liker
Dr. Jeffrey K. Liker is Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan, owner of Liker Lean Advisors, LLC, Partner in The Toyota Way Academy, and Partner in Lean Leadership Institute. Dr. Liker has authored or co-authored over 75 articles and book chapters and eleven books.
He is author of the international best-seller, The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from the World's Greatest Manufacturer, McGraw-Hill, 2004 which speaks to the underlying philosophy and principles that drive Toyota's quality and efficiency-obsessed culture. The companion (with David Meier) The Toyota Way Fieldbook, McGraw Hill, 2005 details how companies can learn from the Toyota Way principles. His book with Jim Morgan, The Toyota Product Development System, Productivity Press, 2006, is the first that details the product development side of Toyota. Additional books in The Toyota Way Series are (with David Meier), Toyota Talent: Developing exceptional people the Toyota Way (May, 2007), (with Michael Hoseus) Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way (January, 2008), (with Gary Convis) The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership (2012), (with James Franz) The Toyota Way to Continuous Improvement (2012), (with Tim Ogden) Toyota Under Fire (2012), and (with George Trachilis) Developing Lean Leaders The Toyota Way (2014). His articles and books have won eleven Shingo Prizes for Research Excellence and The Toyota Way also won the 2005 Institute of Industrial Engineers Book of the Year Award and 2007 Sloan Industry Studies Book of the Year.
In 2012 he was inducted into the Association of Manufacturing Excellence Hall of Fame. He is a frequent keynote speaker and consultant. Recent clients include Caterpillar, Applied Materials, Siemens, Dover Industries, Kraft-Oscar Meyer, Alcatel-Lucent, Hertz, Solar Turbine, Art Van Furniture, and Henry Ford Health Systems.
Article by Dan Jones
The Gold Mine Trilogy 4 Book Set
Developing Structured Problem-Solving and Leadership Skills using A3 Thinking: Managing to Learn Remotely
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Q: Why in proximal gradient descent, "proximal" is referred to as "Backward" and the "gradient" is "Forward"? I am not into monotone operators theory (but hope someday I can get a hang of it).
Sorry for asking probably stupid question.

Why in proximal gradient descent, "proximal" is referred to as "Backward" and the "gradient" is referred to as "Forward"?

I can imagine why "gradient" is referred to as "Forward" perhaps because it looks for the "downhill" and move forward. But I am not sure. However, I have no clue why "proximal" is referred to as "Backward". Can someone enlighten me? Thank you.

A: The gradient descent (with fixed step size $t > 0$), i.e.,
$$
x_{k+1} = x_k - t \, \nabla f(x_k)$$
can be rewritten as
$$
\frac{x_{k+1} - x_k}{t} = -\nabla f(x_k),$$
i.e., it is a explicit Euler discretization of the gradient flow ODE
$$
\dot x(t) = -\nabla f(x(t)).
$$
On the other hand, the proximal point method reads
$$
x_{k+1} = \operatorname{prox}_{t \, f}(x_k).$$
This implies
$$
\frac{x_{k+1} - x_k}{t} \in -\partial f(x_{k+1}).$$
This amounts to an implicit Euler discretization of the gradient flow.
Finally, the explicit Euler method is also called 'forward Euler', whereas implicit Euler is called 'backward Euler'.

A: Let $t > 0$. To minimize $f+ g$ where $f$ is smooth and $g$ is closed and convex, we need to find a point $x$ that satisfies
\begin{align}
& 0 \in \nabla f(x) + \partial g(x) \\
\iff & x - t \nabla f(x) \in x + t \partial g(x) \\
\iff & (I + t \partial g)^{-1}(x - t \nabla f(x)) = x.
\end{align}
The forward-backward method uses the fixed point iteration
$$
x^+ =  (I + t \partial g)^{-1}(x - t \nabla f(x)).
$$
Computing $x - t \nabla f(x)$ is the "forward" step. Applying the operator $(I + t \partial g)^{-1}$ is called the "backward" step, I guess because we are inverting the operator $I + t \partial g$.
If you are able to recognize that  $(I + t \partial g)^{-1}$ is the proximal operator of $g$, then you see that the forward-backward method is the same thing as the proximal gradient method.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Foreign Documentation
Motivated to make things happen.
Acorn Law is an ambitious group of experienced professionals, who also happen to be mothers. At Acorn we like to say, "nobody gets things done like a multitasking mom!"
Get to know our team.
Jennette Vopicka
"I strive to provide all my clients with exceptional legal services in a timely and cost-effective manner by providing personalized services and maintaining a high level of involvement in every file."
Born and raised in Calgary, Jennette began her legal career as a legal assistant with Rogers & Company. She was drawn to the fast-paced nature of real estate, and continued to work as a real estate paralegal while completing a finance and economics degree.
After completing her Law degree at the University of Alberta, she joined the national law firm of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, working as an associate in one of Canada's largest and most successful real estate groups. There, she worked on numerous large-scale purchases, sales, leasing, and financing files, in addition to handling residential real estate matters.
In 2011, Jennette moved to the Okanagan to set up her own practice, while also servicing the northern, energetic city of Fort St. John. Thanks to technology, she is still able to offer the same level of service northern clients have grown to expect, at a distance.
Being a member of both the Alberta and the British Columbia bar allows Jennette to provide legal advice to clients in both jurisdictions.
Away from the office, she enjoys spending time with her energetic young family, and exploring the wilderness at her new rural property.
Bachelor of Laws – University of Alberta
Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) / Bachelor of Arts (Economics) – University of Calgary, Haskayne School of Business
Senior Matriculation with Honors – Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, Wilcox Saskatchewan
Law Society of British Columbia
Law Society of Alberta
Kelowna Chamber of Commerce
Kelowna Bar Association
Canadian Bar Association
Contact Jennette
If I can ever be of assistance on your estate, real estate or business matter, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Danielle (Dani) Brito
"I pride myself on providing my clients with personalized, timely and quality legal services in the areas of real estate, wills and estates and business law. I love what I do, and I'm not afraid to show it!"
Dani grew up in the South Surrey/White Rock area of British Columbia. She moved to Kelowna in 2008 to pursue a Bachelor of Business Management with a minor in Economics at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus.
She earned a law degree with a Business Law Concentration from the University of British Columbia's Vancouver campus in 2016, and has been happily providing legal services ever since.
Dani's friendly and approachable demeanour, emphasis on customer service and "can-do" attitude sets her apart as a lawyer.
Outside of work, she enjoys the simple things in life such as spending time with her growing family, gardening, cooking, searching out local food, drinks and products and making connections in the community. If you see her around town, please stop to say "hi"! It would be Dani's absolute pleasure to meet you and assist you with your current or future legal needs.
Bachelor of Business Management – University of British Columbia
Bachelor of Laws – University of British Columbia
Contact Dani
Tracy Lerfold
"Every file that crosses my desk is unique. I endeavour to tailor each client's experience to their needs. Whatever their circumstances, I find common ground to make our clients feel comfortable."
Tracy is a proud, born and raised Kelownian, from a large family. She completed all of her studies locally, including a Legal Assistant/Office Administration Diploma in 2005. After completing her schooling, she temporarily relocated to Calgary before setting off for a year of backpacking through eastern Australia. There, she picked, packed or planted almost every different type of fruit or vegetable. From these experiences, she gained a lot of new muscles and a sweet tan.
Upon returning to Kelowna, Tracy joined a large, full-service law firm, where she gained experience with residential real estate and corporate records. From there, she worked in the planning department of the RDCO, gaining invaluable experience drafting bylaws, zoning matters, and development.
Following that, Tracy joined the Residential Tenancy Branch. There she guided landlords and tenants through the Residential Tenancy Act, while navigating relations through arbitration. She returned to law in 2012, joining a start-up boutique, solicitor law firm, where she did any, and every, solicitor area of law. This included wills and estates, land development, commercial transactions and her personal favourite – complex real estate.
Tracy also gained a wealth of experience in foreign document legalizations and to date has successfully legalized documents from Mexico, the Netherlands, India, and Poland.
When she's not at the office, you can find Tracy gardening, hiking the local mountains with her young family, or hanging out at the local wineries or beaches with friends.
#202-3320 Richter Street, Kelowna, BC V1W 4V5 778-940-3768 | [email protected]
Copyright © 2023 Acorn Law — All Rights Reserved.

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text:
Richard Hannon Gives An Update On His Star Performers
GG.CO.UK 12:04pm, Fri 6 Sep 2019
Unibet ambassador Richard Hannon discusses his season so far, along with updates on some of his star performers below.
Our horses continue to run well and it's fair to say we've had a great season so far. Sadly no Group One as yet but King Of Change, who was second in the Guineas. is back in full work and doing really well. There are a couple of options for him but we may go to Newbury in a couple of weeks and then we can decide about having a look at the QEII.
Threat has come out of the Gimcrack in fine form and it was great to see him get his head back in front. I think we'll step him up to seven furlongs now which brings the Dewhurst into the equation.
Mums Tipple is the horse everyone seems to be talking about and on what he did at York, I'm not surprised really. He'd be a more relaxed horse than Threat and takes everything in his stride which makes my job much easier. I'd like to try and keep them both apart but they're owned by different people so it's not set in stone that they won't meet each other before the Guineas next year – assuming they both get there in one piece! Realistically we're looking at something like the Mill Reef for Mums Tipple's next run and then we can make a plan after that.
Cloak Of Spirits has a great temperament and looked ultra impressive at Ascot on her only start and is a filly we think an awful lot of. She'll probably run in the G2 May Hill at Doncaster next week and then all being well go to Newmarket for the G1 Fillies' Mile. I was pleased to see Dark Lady win at Salisbury yesterday as she deserved that after some good efforts this season. She doesn't do anything impressively but has a lot of talent and she will now go to Newmarket for the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes.
Article by Trainer and Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon and used with kind permission by the Unibet Blog.
For the full blog post, including all his Saturday runners and more, visit: www.unibet.co.uk/blog
Sign-up to Unibet here to claim up to £40 in free bets.
Simply deposit a minimum of £10 and place a bet of between £1 and £40, if your bet loses, get your money back as a free bet.
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Q: iOS CATiledLayer crash I have a pdf reader app for the iPad where I am using a scrollview to display each page. I keep the page in view and one page either side of the page in view. I have seperate views for portrait and landscape views. The portrait view showns a single page and the landscape viewer shows 2 pages.
When the iPad changes orientation I unload the view for the old orientation and load the view for the new orientation. So say it was in portrait view and then changes to landscape the app unloads the portrait view and loads the landscape view. This all works great except when the pdf's are large.
The pdf's are drawn using tiledlayers. The app is scrashing when the orientation is changed with large pdf's. The app only crashes if the orientation is changed before the tiles have all been drawn. My guess is that it is crashing because it is trying to draw tiles to a view than has been unloaded. So is there a way to stop the drawing of tiles when I unload the view?

A: You need to set CALayer's delegate to nil, then remove it from the superview.
This stops rendering, afterwards you can safely dealloc.
- (void)stopTiledRenderingAndRemoveFromSuperlayer; {
    ((CATiledLayer *)[self layer]).delegate = nil;
    [self removeFromSuperview];
    [self.layer removeFromSuperlayer];
}

Also, make sure to call this from the main thread, or else horrible bugs will await you.

A: I haven't looked at the disassembly to see, but we are using a slightly different solution. Setting the CATiledLayer.content property to nil blocks and forces all queued render blocks to complete. That can safely be kicked off to a background thread, then releasing the UIView can be kicked back to the main thread to let the view and layer dealloc.
Here's one example of a UIViewController dealloc implementation that will keep your CATiledLayer owning view alive long enough to safely stop rendering, without blocking the main thread.
- (void)dealloc
{
    // This works around a bug where the CATiledLayer background drawing
    // delegate may still have dispatched blocks awaiting rendering after
    // the view hierarchy is dead, causing a message to a zombie object.
    // We'll hold on to tiledView, flush the dispatch queue,
    // then let go of fastViewer.
    MyTiledView *tiledView = self.tiledView;
    if(tiledView) {
        dispatch_background(^{
            // This blocks while CATiledLayer flushes out its queued render blocks.
            tiledView.layer.contents = nil;

            dispatch_after(dispatch_time(DISPATCH_TIME_NOW, (int64_t)(0.01 * NSEC_PER_SEC)), dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^{
                // Make sure tiledView survives until now.
                tiledView.layer.delegate = nil;
            });
        });
    }
}

This is a guess, but some of Apple's frameworks/classes (StoreKit, CATiledLayer, UIGestureRecognizer) claim to have @property (weak) id delegate implementations but clearly do not properly handle the weak delegate. Looking at some disassembly and they are doing decidedly race-bound if != nil checks then touching the weak property directly. The proper way is to declare a __strong Type *delegate = self.delegate, which will either succeed and give you a strong reference guaranteed to survive, or be nil, but it certainly won't give you a reference to a zombie object (my guess is that framework code has not been upgraded to ARC).
Under the hood, CATiledLayer creates a dispatch queue to do the background rendering and appears to either touch the delegate property in an unsafe way or it obtains a local reference but without making it a strong one. Either way, the dispatched render blocks will happily message a zombie object if the delegate gets deallocated. Just clearing the delegate is insufficient - it will reduce the number of crashes but does not safely eliminate them.
Setting the content = nil does a dispatch_wait and blocks until all the existing queued render blocks are finished. We bounce back to the main thread to make sure the dealloc is safe.
If anyone has suggestions for improvement please let me know.


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Tag Archives: Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service
Michael Burns — president of Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service — could nominate many folks as Unsung Heroes.
But he's chosen one: paramedic Kevin Doherty. Michael writes:
Beyond Kevin's regular duties, he puts in a great deal of effort teaching people at EMS the basics and advanced skills of a paramedic.
But in addition to Kevin's day-to-day duties on the ambulance, he has been the infection control officer for Westport's 3 emergency services for nearly 10 years.
During the pandemic, Kevin's ICO responsibility has expanded to include all town employees. He is effectively on call 24/7.
Kevin Doherty
He has taken on an especially critical role as co-safety officer for the town's Emergency Operations Center Command Group. Kevin is responsible for not only tracking and advising any sick employees in town, but also working with the selectmen's office and town department heads, setting policies ensuring the safety of all employees.
He is also responsible for 1-on-1 instruction with each new or returning EMS member in COVID-specific safety (for example, fit-testing N95s, and the safe donning and doffing of all PPE) and equipment decontamination procedures.
Kevin selects and procures (with the town's Logistics, Purchasing, and Finance Departmenets) all COVID-related PPE and supplies.
During all this, he has continued to function as lead advisor for the Youth Corps
He goes above and beyond the call of duty in so many ways. Kevin is on top of it all. That's why he is so respected and loved by everyone he works with at EMS.
He does a hell of a job. And he is just a nice guy!
(To nominate an Unsung Hero, email dwoog@optonline.net)
Posted in Organizations, Unsung Heroes
Tagged Kevin Doherty, Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service
EMS Ends 2020 With A Shot In The Arm
The COVID vaccine has come to Westport.
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics serving on Westport's ambulances have begun vaccinations, as part of the national roll-out to front line medical personnel.
Officials call the vaccines "a sign of hope for local Emergency Medical Service volunteers and staff, after 10 months of treating the community's COVID-19 patients."
Yesterday, several Westport EMS members, along with other first responders from the Police and Fire Departments, received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Westport-Weston Health District.
Volunteer EMT Lynette Pineda, Volunteer EMT/Westport Volunteer EMS president Mike Burns, and Paramedic/Westport EMS deputy director Marc Hartog were the first to receive the vaccine at the Westport Weston Health District.
First responders have been authorized by the CDC to go to any certified vaccine clinic in the state. This allows personnel living outside of Westport to find a clinic closer to their home.
However, the ability to administer vaccinations here will make it easier and more efficient for EMS providers to receive their shots.
"We encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as it is available to you. In the meantime we'll continue to wear masks, wash our hands frequently and practice social distancing, and ask all of you to do the same." said EMS deputy director Marc Hartog.
Only 1 member of the nearly 75-person Westport Emergency Medical Service has been diagnosed with COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. Officials cite strict infection control and PPE protocols for keeping EMS members — and the many patients they treat — safe.
Most of the service's volunteers and staff members say they'll get the vaccine as soon as they can.
Posted in Environment, Organizations, People
Tagged COVID-19 vaccine, Marc Hartog, Westport Emergency Medical Service, Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service
WVEMS: Westport's Quiet Heroes
In normal times, Westport Volunteer EMS does not toot their own horn sound their own siren.
They're not the type of organization to run flashy fundraisers, or host gala events. They're simply there 24/7/365: responding to medical emergencies, staffing big events, offering EMT, CPR, Stop the Bleed and first aid classes — you know, serving the community.
Standing by, at a Levitt Pavilion concert.
Astonishingly, WVEMS also buys all the town vehicles — 3 ambulances and 2 support "fly cars" — as well as all equipment and supplies. That's everything from stretchers for lifting patients automatically into the backs of ambulances and child immobilization devices, to band-aids and gauze pads.
If they help you, they're happy to accept your contribution. But they're not in your face about it.
Another day, another call for Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Serivce.
During the pandemic, they've been both more and less visible than ever. As an emergency medical service, they've gone above and beyond (while, of course, putting themselves on the front lines of exposure).
But with classes canceled — along with high visibility events like the Memorial Day parade, 4th of July fireworks, Minute Man road race, Maker Faire, Great Duck Race, touch-a-truck events, Levitt Pavilion concerts and Staples High School graduation — they are less in the public eye than usual.
Bottom line: Westport needs to help WVEMS' bottom line. Click here to help. So they can continue to help all of us.
PS: Congratulations to this year's WVEMS President's Volunteer Service Award winners. A number of honorees stepped up this year to serve, when others could not because of the coronavirus.
Gold winners: Jamie Bairaktaris, Jenna Baumblatt,Ella Bayazit, Mike Burns, Yves Cantin, Deanna Hartog, Jonathan Huzil, Vig Kareddy, Larry Kleinman, Eliza Long, Annika Morgan, Christopher Muschett, Hillary O'Neill, Isabella Sperry, Emma Straight.
Silver winners: Emma Alcyone, Stephen Bayliss, Edward Chin, Myra Goldberg, Daniel Guetta, Andrea Harman, Mary Inagami, Yashasvi Jhangiani, Kavy Krishnamurthy, Jack Mocarski, Shruthi Palaniappan, Jeffrey Pressman, Morgan Rizy, Kathleen Smith, Nancy Surace, Androne Tarnok, Ekaterina Taylor-Yermeeva.
Bronze Winners; Steven Cappiello, Gregory Coghlan, Andrew Dinitz, Carol Dixon, Danielle Faul, Leah Foodman, Gianna Greco, Claudia Joely Guetta, Dorothy Harris, John Healy, Keara Lyons, Christopher Moore, Lynette Pineda, April Rademacher, Ashley Ramirez, Stewart Reifler, Joshua Rosen, Nancy Sengstacken, Swati Sriram.
Volunteers pose with their oldest Stop the Bleed student: She's 102, and ready to help.
Posted in Organizations
Tagged Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service
COVID Roundup: Town Hall; Therapists' Webinar; EMS Week; More
Posted on May 21, 2020 | Comments Off on COVID Roundup: Town Hall; Therapists' Webinar; EMS Week; More
Rsetaurant, stores and offices are beginning to open. What about Town Hall?
Town staff are staggering shifts and remote work, to provide all town services to the public.
Appointments are accepted for complex matters. Staff members are doing their best to answer phone calls, and try to return all voicemails and emails within 24 hours.
Click here for a staff directory, or visit departmental pages for instructions on how to conduct business with a specific department.
Town Hall (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)
As shuttered Westport businesses open up, they'll soon welcome a newcomer.
Garelick & Herbs' Saugatuck location — which closed in late February, just a couple of weeks before the coronavirus swept through — will become Kneads.
A sign calls it a "bakery, cafe and mill." It's "coming soon."
(Photo/Wendy Cusick)
Happy EMS Week!
In honor of our great crew — especially during the pandemic — 1st Selectman Jim Marpe says: "EMS practitioners are professionals of the highest caliber; keeping up with the latest training to ensure that they know the most effective life-saving emergency treatments that will benefit us all. As dedicated first responders, Westport's Volunteer EMS provides immediate care during a health crisis; whether there is an accident or an illness, these trained professionals work around the clock to make sure care is available quickly for all our residents and those in need.
"We in Westport join those across the nation in honoring the valuable and vital contributions that EMS practitioners provide each and every day. With gratitude and appreciation, we express our deepest thanks for all our EMS professionals do for our community."
You've got relationship questions? Jennifer Strom, Samantha Lavy have answers.
Or at least, they can help you frame your thoughts better.
The local marriage and family therapists — both mothers of teenagers — see many families navigating a new world filled with uncertainty, loss and changes in routine. Teenagers in particular have lost social outlets, sports and other activities. They're filled with questions about school and college, but lack structure and schedules.
"As we stare at screens and find ourselves with lack of connection, parenting during lockdown has become more complicated," the therapists say. "In addition, as couples, emotions intensify."
They've compiled common concerns and challenges that families face during COVID. In a pair of free webinars, they'll outline strategies and tools they use to help manage in times of stress. During each live session, they'll take viewers' questions.
The topics are "Teen Stress: COVID and Beyond" (Thursday, May 28, 6 to 6:30 p.m.; click here to register) and "Couples Coping: COVID and Beyond" (Thursday, June 4, 6 to 6:30 p.m.; click here to register).
And finally … as Westport (and the rest of Connecticut) start opening up …
Comments Off on COVID Roundup: Town Hall; Therapists' Webinar; EMS Week; More
Posted in Environment, Local business, Local politics, Saugatuck
Tagged Coronavirus, COVID-19, JSRC, Kneads, Town Hall, Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service
Never Too Old To Learn
Westport's Volunteer Emergency Medical Service offers a variety of courses: first aid, CPR, AED, EMT.
They're open to anyone interested. You can be as young as kindergarten. Or as old as 102.
The other day, Jean Wells told WVEMS' Stop the Bleed class. She learned the basics of helping in life-threatening bleeding situations.
Jean Wells, surrounded by Stop the Bleed instructors.
This was not just some whim. During World War II, she served in the Coast Guard. She has volunteered for the American Red Cross and at Norwalk Hospital for over 50 years.
Of course, that's just half her life.
(To learn more about EMS courses, click here. Hat tip: Simone Neri)
Posted in Organizations, People
Tagged Jean Wells, Stop the Bleed, Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service
Happy National EMS Week!
Alert "06880" readers know that this is National Police Week. On Thursday, I gave a heartfelt shout-out to all our Westport cops.
Turns out it's also National EMS Week.
This year's theme is "EMS Strong: Called to Care." Westport's Emergency Medical Service does exactly that — nearly 2,500 times a year, in fact.
We're lucky to have a fantastic group of emergency medical technicians and responders. Some are paid; others volunteer. But none do it for the money.
They may not hear it often enough. But they deserve a huge thank-you, for their dedication, expertise, efficiency, compassion and care.
I apologize for not getting to this earlier. But — in typical EMS fashion — the Westport crew was too busy working to toot their own (ambulance) horn.
Tagged Westport Emergency Medical Service, Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service
Jaime Bairaktaris: "I Want To Help"
When Jaime Bairaktaris moved to Westport, entering Bedford Middle School 4 months into 8th grade, he already knew 2 people: his triplet brothers.
But the 3 boys are very different. So coming into a new school — even from nearby Redding — was a shock.
"Bedford was much more diverse. The kids were more advanced," Jaime — now a Staples senior — recalls. "They used profanity in a paper, and the teacher called it 'powerful.'"
His family raised the boys to do things for others. During his first week at Staples, Jaime saw a poster with an ambulance. "That looks like fun," he thought.
Soon, he was in an Emergency Medical Responder class. That's become his main activity. Jaime quickly moved up the EMT ranks. He's just 3 IV sticks away from advanced certification.
Jaime Bairaktaris, in an EMS ambulance. (Photo/Dorrie Harris)
In July 2014, he was elected to the EMS board. He provides tech support, and as "Mr. Sunshine" sends cards on every member's birthday. "It's not a big deal," he admits. "But it's a great feeling. Little things add up to something larger."
Jaime also volunteers as an assistant teacher in Earthplace's after-school and summer programs. He loves watching kids grow up — at the same time he helps them get there.
"I love the ambulance. But you only see someone for 15 or 30 minutes," Jaime says. "Earthplace is a different way to help."
Jaime Bairaktaris at Earthplace's summer camp. He says it's a tossup which activity the kids like more: mud fights, or hosing off afterward. (Photo/Harris Falk)
One day freshman year, Jaime took a photo of a snapping turtle he found in his yard. His mother suggested sending the shot to WestportNow. Since then, the website has published over 200 of his images. They show beach scenes, Staples High School and sunsets. "You don't have to go far to see beautiful things," Jaime says.
Jaime's next project does involve going far, though.
He's taken 4 years of Italian at Staples. He loves the class, and his teacher Enia Noonan.
"We talk about everything: language, culture, stereotypes," Jaime says. "It's not just how you say hello, but who you say it to, and why."
Jaime's mother is Italian (Sicilian and Neapolitan). "My roots are really important to me," says Jaime. "If you know where you're from, you know who you are."
Jaime Bairaktaris
Naples, he knows, is not the most beautiful city. There is poverty and crime. Jaime has never traveled abroad — but in April he heads there, to volunteer for 2 weeks with an international program for elementary-age children. It's a safe place for them — in a very rough neighborhood — while their parents work.
He'll live in a dorm, with volunteers from all over the world. It's a big commitment — but one he embraces. He takes it eagerly, and with an independent spirit often lacking among teenagers today.
Like this: Jaime drove to and visited colleges on his own. A trip to the University of Maine was typical: He stopped at Acadia National Park and Boston along the way. He met strangers, and they parted as friends.
"I realize my parents trust me a lot," he says. "I appreciate that."
(They found out he'd applied to the Napoli program after he was accepted. Hey, when you've got triplets there's a lot going on at home.)
Right now, Jaime needs help with funds. Donations will pay for program fees, insurance, airfare, and a course in teaching English as a foreign language he hopes to take. Anything extra will be donated to the Naples school, for supplies.
"When people think about service trips, they never consider Italy," he says. "But the need for service is real. These children are in trouble. I want to help. What better way to end my senior year than to make a difference in their lives?"
And what better way for Westport to help this remarkable, giving Staples student? Every contribution counts: www.gofundme.com/helpnapoli.
Posted in Children, Education, Organizations, People, Staples HS, Teenagers
Tagged Earthplace, Enia Noonan, Jaime Bairaktaris, Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service
Who You Gonna Call? EMS Always Responds
As I arranged a 4-hour ridealong with Westport's Emergency Medical Service, officials warned: There are days when absolutely nothing happens. Be prepared to sit.
A mid-April Wednesday was not one of those days.
I had just walked into the EMS hallway, next to police headquarters, when the call came in: a 34-year-old male with chest pains, at a Post Road store.
Deputy director Marc Hartog shepherded me into his fly car. He pulled out of the bay, hit the siren — and I watched in amazement as an impatient Imperial Avenue driver tried to cut him off.
Welcome to Westport, and the unsung world of our EMTs.
Westport EMS has 3 ambulances. They are shiny on the outside — and very impressive inside.
Police and firefighters were first on the scene, as they often are. But the paramedics took over, reassuring their patient while taking a medical history, providing oxygen and placing him on a stretcher.
The ambulance's interior resembled a boat or plane: well-stocked, with no wasted space. As we headed to Norwalk Hospital, a paid paramedic and 2 volunteers worked efficiently. They checked vital signs, administered nitroglycerin and baby aspirin, communicated with the emergency room, and obtained insurance information.
That saved crucial minutes. When we arrived the patient was transported quickly inside, and hospital staff took over. Total time, from receiving the call to leaving Norwalk for the trip home: 38 minutes.
I learned a lot watching EMS in action. They've got a very intriguing story — and it's one not many Westporters know.
There are actually 2 parts to Westport's emergency medical services. "EMS" includes 6 paid full-time paramedics who are town employees, and a contracted Norwalk Hospital paramedic on duty 24/7.
Approximately 120 others — all unpaid — comprise our Volunteer Emergency Medical Services. They are students, business executives, attorneys, housewives, retirees and more.
The oldest volunteer — Jay Paretzky — is 72. He takes 2 shifts a week, and teaches nearly every CPR class. In the 1st 3 months of this year, he worked 400 hours for WVEMS.
The youngest volunteers are 29 high school students, part of an Explorer post. They undergo the same extensive training as the older volunteers, and perform nearly all the same tasks. (It's not all adrenaline-inducing. They restock ambulances and write reports too.)
The initial EMT certification class involves 200 hours of classroom and practical work. Re-certification — with another 30 hours of refresher classes, and a state exam — takes place every 3 years. There's in-service training every month, too.
Rebecca Kamins (left) and Whitney Riggio act as "patients" during EMS training. Learning proper procedures are Christian Renne (left) and Zach Klomberg.
The paramedic program takes 2,000 hours, spread over 18 to 24 months. It includes clinical rotations in hospital settings. Every month, paramedics complete 4 hours of continuing education.
In other words: The guys (and gals) who take care of us know exactly what they're doing.
Yves Cantin is a WVEMS volunteer. The father of 3 children, he takes a 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift every Wednesday and Friday. He spends many more hours as the organization's treasurer.
Why does he do it?
"There a good feeling of helping the community," he says. "It's rewarding to deliver care that's needed."
Cantin has learned that despite Westport's affluent image, our town is filled with a variety of physical and emotional needs.
He adds, "I've made friends through EMS. And I learn something on every call."
EMS volunteers and paramedics (from left) Larry Kleman, Yves Cantin, Kevin Doherty, Marc Hartog, Rich Baumblatt, Joe Pravder and Aaron Greenspun stand ready, outside the ambulance garage behind the headquarters shared with Westport police.
EMS has 3 ambulances, 3 SUV fly cars, and a fleet of light-and-siren-equipped bicycles for staffing crowd-heavy events. EMS responds to 7 or 8 calls a day — that's 2500 times a year — from Westport residences, schools, stores, offices, beaches, as well as incidents at our nursing home, Hall-Brooke, and on I-95 and the Merritt.
The town pays for the basics. But — in addition to volunteering their services — WVEMS fundraises for an astonishing array of equipment. They not only buy the ambulances ($190,000 each), but also an expanded $85,000 ambulance bay; the $20,000 stretchers that lift patients automatically into the backs of ambulances, and nearly everything in each ambulance, from child immobilization devices to stair carriers. (With 3 ambulances, they need 3 of everything.)
Monitors and other equipment fill the back of each ambulance.
The net cost to Westport is small indeed. The value is priceless.
"Without our passionate paid staff, and the thousands of hours WVEMS puts in — including fundraising — we couldn't do this," Hartog says.
(What fundraising? A low-key annual letter, sent to Westport residents. No hard sell here — even though their service deserves it.)
EMS does not miss much. They rotate ambulances on every call. Reducing wear helps them last 10 years, far more than the national average. Ambulances are plugged in after each use, ensuring that batteries running the many medical devices stay charged.
Hartog — whose first encounter with emergency medicine came at Columbia University, when he took a first-aid class to get out of a gym requirement — says that every day is different.
"Some calls are really routine. The next time though, you have to make a split-second decision. Someone's life is in your hands."
EMS deputy director Marc Hartog.
Hartog, Cantin and paramedic Rick Baumblatt — also on duty the day I was there — recall the satisfaction of receiving a letter from a man or woman (or child) who was almost dead.
The family of a skateboarder with major head trauma sends a fruit basket every year. Another family — whose elderly relative was brought back from full cardiac arrest — thanks EMS often for giving them an extra 6 years together.
For the rest of us, there are 2 things we can do for our emergency medical staff.
We can say "thank you" whenever we see them.
And when that fundraising letter comes, we can give generously to EMS.
Because — paid or volunteer — they give very generously to us.
Posted in Organizations, People, Teenagers
Tagged Marc Hartog, Westport Emergency Medical Service, Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service, Yves Cantin


Laura "fell" into book marketing and PR in early 2010.
It was the one time in her life that she didn't resent being a clutz! In the last 3+ years she has marketed several titles to become Amazon best-sellers and coached dozens of authors into loving their book marketing and promotions as much as she does.
Book Marketing & Promotions: As featured on CNN.com, NBC, a variety of lifestyle magazines & websites. Head of Marketing for all 30 Day Books titles.
Serial Project Starter: Co-founder of 30 Day Books, Founder of Ladies Who Critique: A critique partner matching site, and member of the Young Entrepreneur Council, an invite-only nonprofit membership organization comprised of hundreds of America's most successful young entrepreneurs.
Writer: Author of non-fiction wedding guides, The Stress Free Guide to Leaving Japan and book marketing "how-to guides". Formerly a freelance magazine writer and speech writer for the Ambassador at the European Union's Delegation to Japan.
Along with English and Mandarin, Brandon speaks le geek speak and is not afraid to admit it! Always ten steps ahead of the latest technology, he jumped on the digital publishing wave before the rest of us had even heard of it and keeps 30 Day Books in line with the most up to the minute tech & gadgety things out there. Phew!
Independent Game Developer: with a background at EA working on The Sims series on PC/Mac/Consoles.
Business Strategist: Sony, founder of Studio Pepwuper.
Best Selling Author: 30 Day GMAT Success, a Kindle No.1 GMAT bestseller.
Believer in: making things happen, great design, the power of good music and great coffee.
Chief Energizer: Sunshine keeps everyone in the office pretty darn happy. Just look at that face!
Loves: Long walks in the park, carrots and tofu.


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Do you enjoy technical challenges and solving problems?
Are you passionate about computing, programming or software design and development?
Have you studied computing at BTEC, A-Level, or degree level?
We're looking for passionate, bright and determined people who would like to develop their knowledge and skills in specialist software solutions.
Depending on your education level, experience and interests, we have a number of exciting opportunities for you to grow your career in our Development, Quality Assurance (Testing) and Support departments.
We're growing quickly and we're continually looking for good people to become part of our continued success.
Our Apprentice, Trainee and Graduate routes provide fantastic opportunities for you to learn a variety of skills in a dynamic environment. Our training includes boot camp, on-the-job training, shadowing and mentoring. To find out more, read a Day in the Life interview with one of our current trainees.
View our careers page for more information on our current roles.
Send your CV to recruitment@kerridgecs.com with an email telling us about yourself, what you are looking for and what your interests are.


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You depart upstream of the beautiful bridge of Ceps, in the National Park of the Haut Languedoc.
Canoeing down, you will pass by a renovated former mill, gardens on the river side and the AOC Saint – Chinian vineyards.
The "Aqualand" and "S" rapids spice up a little bit this tour which is suited to everyone.
We are located in the heart of Roquebrun. Your car is parked at the arrival.
Be careful to keep your distance in the rapids !
Children from 6 years on, provided they can swim.
Please bring back your garbage in the container we lent you.
Respect the swimmers and fishermen.


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Illuminating the Microbiome's Role in Lupus
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One of the biggest questions in lupus is why the immune system tries to destroy patients' own tissues. But in the last few years, researchers have learned that certain microbes living inside our bodies may trigger these attacks. Scientists supported by the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) have made many of the key discoveries about how these microorganisms relate to lupus.
Dr. Gregg Silverman Found Bacteria that May Trigger Lupus
The microbes that live in our bodies are known as the microbiome. They live mostly in he intestines. Earlier this year, LRA-funded researcher Dr. Gregg Silverman of the NYU School of Medicine in New York City and colleagues revealed that the balance of microbial species was out of whack in the intestines of patients with lupus [1]. One bacteria, Ruminococcus gnavus, was more than five times more abundant than in people who didn't have the disease. Patients with lupus produce immune system molecules called antibodies that attack their own DNA. Dr. Silverman and his team found that these antibodies also attack molecules in the coating of Ruminococcus gnavus. Among patients with lupus, patients with active lupus nephritis, or kidney inflammation, had the highest levels of these antibodies. The bacterium may spur the immune system to target patient's own tissues, especially their kidneys, either causing lupus or prompting disease flares.
"We are beginning to wonder if the shifts in the microbiome in Lupus patients contribute to disease flares," noted Dr. Silverman. "Treating the autoimmune disease may not be enough, and we need to explore how to make our inner communities healthy as well."
Dr. Martin Kriegel Discovered a Microbe that Fools the Immune System
Last year, Novel Research Grant recipient Dr. Martin Alexander Kriegel of Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and colleagues also found that microbes fool the immune system. About half of patients with lupus produce antibodies against the protein Ro60 that occurs in human cells. Dr. Kriegel and his fellow researchers showed that several kinds of microbes that live in the body make proteins that are very similar to Ro60. The bacterial look-alike proteins may trigger the immune system to make antibodies that also damage cells carrying Ro60, such as those attacked in the skin of patients with lupus.
Lupus doesn't usually cause intestinal symptoms, raising the question of how bacteria that normally live in the intestines could promote the disease. Last year, Dr. Kriegel and his team discovered a possible explanation. They found that in animal models of lupus, one type of bacterium called Enterococcus gallinarum moved from the intestines to the lymph nodes and liver, where it stimulated a response by the immune system and caused lupus symptoms [3]. Dr. Kriegel and his team also found that liver tissue from patients with lupus tested positive for the bacterium and that antibodies in the blood target it as well, suggesting that this microbe also contributes to lupus.
This year, Dr. Kriegel and his colleagues revealed that a type of dietary fiber may lessen the severity of lupus by stopping some bacteria from traveling out of the intestines. The researchers found that the bacterium, Lactobacillus reuteri, was more abundant than usual in the intestines of mouse models of lupus and the intestines of some lupus patients. In the mice, the microbes also travelled to other locations in the abdomen, including the spleen and liver. The bacteria worsened lupus symptoms in the mice. But feeding the animals resistant starch, a type of dietary fiber found in green bananas, beans, peas, whole grains and other foods, cut the number of bacteria that left the intestines and lessened the severity of lupus symptoms. Those results suggest it may be possible to treat or prevent lupus with diets that contain plenty of resistant starch.
"The support and in particular, the flexibility, by the LRA were crucial because our microbiome research took us in various directions we did not expect. The LRA did not restrict my lab in pursuing these unexpected findings, which I greatly appreciate," Dr. Kriegel said.
Recent results like these have transformed scientists' understanding, and the LRA is committed to accelerating research on the connection between microbes and lupus. The organization will host the first international conference on the subject. Attendees will discuss issues such as new directions in microbiome research, challenges faced by researchers, and potential applications for therapies.
1) D. Azzouz et al. 2019. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases February 19 (e-pub ahead of print).
2) T. M. Greiling et al. 2018. Science Translational Medicine 10: eaan2306.
3) S. Manfredo Vieira et al. 2018. Science 359: 1156-1161.
4) D.F. Zegarra-Ruiz et al. 2019. Cell Host & Microbe 25: 113-127.
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Tag Archives: Prom Night
I Died for You! I Came Back from the Dead for You! I Love You!: My Boyfriend's Back (1993)
I died for you! I came back from the dead for you! I love you!
So last year we had Teen Wolf
And Teen Vampire:
While I did cover Michael Jackson's Thriller, it would have been nice to have a full-length teen zombie film.
Oh, well
But now I do with My Boyfriend's Back:
I stumbled upon this on Amazon Instant Watch, recommended as I had loved Once Bitten. Well…I think Amazon needs to rethink that recommendation. The films had some similarities, both are teen horror-comedies, but this movie is one of the weirdest I have ever seen. And know I get to share that strangeness with you all.
Johnny (Andrew Lowery) is a nerd who has been in love with Missy McCloud (Traci Lind) since first grade. He tried to give her a dream gift and tell how he felt, but choked on the words, and has been doing so ever since.
When Missy and her boyfriend Buck break up, Johnny sees his in, but before he can ask her out, Buck comes back.
Buck's minion (played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman) Chuck Bronski is weird guy who has murderous tendencies. He makes sure no one comes around his buddy's girl and is extremely weird and creepy.
Why is he even allowed in school?
But Johnny won't give up on his dream and comes up with what he thinks is the best plan ever. He will have his friend pretend to rob the store Missy works at, Johnny will save her, and Missy will fall in love with her.
Why would you do that?
Johnny tries to do his idea, but he ends up being interrupted by a real robber. When the robber is about to shoot Missy, Johnny jumps into the way, saving her, and with his dying words asks Missy to go to prom with him. She agrees.
I got the yes!
But Johnny dies and is buried.
Not really as this is a zombie film.
from Warm Bodies
Yes, Johnny rises from the dead as he has a date with his dream girl and intends to keep it.
The gravedigger tries to warn him that he can't go back to the and of the living, but Johnny ignores him.
Bad things happen when you don't listen
He goes home to the shock of his parents, although they quickly get over it as they are pleased to have their son back. He then goes to school and tries to make plans with Missy, but she is in shock. She only agreed to go to prom with Johnny because she felt bad for him, and to be honest, because he was dying.
She didn't expect him to be a zombie and come back for her. Well Johnny is back and he's not taking no as an answer. He is more determined than ever to get his prom date.
Buck and Chuck don't like Johnny as a zombie any more than they did when he was a person. They are continue to bully him
from Back to the Future
And their behavior makes Missy decide to go out with Johnny. In fact she states to really enjoy his company, and become really into him. And I mean into him. As she wants to be with him even though she knows he is DEAD!
Johnny finally has what he always dreamed of getting…that is until Johnny's ear falls off when he and Missy are making out.
He runs to the doctor, but they can't do anything to fix him, he's dead! The doctor promises to try and find a cure, and sends Johnny over to Maggie, the only person who can deal with zombies as her husband was one. She tells him that the only solution to keep him together is to eat human flesh. Something Johnny desperately does not want to do.
At school, he and Missy talk but then Buck and Chuck come into play, and Chuck chases after him trying to kill him WITH AN AXE. I don't care that Johnny is a zombie, Chuck would probably have done this to Johnny sooner or later if he remained human. Chuck is that insane.
And in some weird twist, Chuck kills himself, and a hungry Johnny eats him.
Johnny is good for a while, but now everyone is after him as he ate Chuck. They come to his house after but are chased out by his mom. Now this is the only thing I liked in this film. His mom.
YES!!!! His mom.
So at first you think Johnny's mom is just a cliché housewife. She always has food ready, wears her little pearls, and is just perky and cleaning and everything. But she adjusts from having her son be a zombie in no time at all, trying to help him in any way she can. (In fact she is so down with the whole thing she tries to bring him people to eat. That's crazy!) The best scene is when an angry mob is trying to take her son and this prim little woman in pearls pulls out a shotgun, yes A SHOTGUN, ready to defend her son.
Johnny tries to fix things with Missy, giving her the locket he picked out and saved all those years ago. He wins her heart, but she's the only non-relative who likes him. Everyone else wants him dead. Well to stay dead.
Grab your torches and sharpen your pitchforks!
The doctor figures out how to help him, but his nurse convinces him not to waste the serum on Johnny, but use Johnny to make a giant batch of serum and sell it for millions.
So we have everyone in town after Johnny, him being captured by the doctor, while the rest of the storms the area looking for him. Missy and his friend find him, rescuing him as Johnny runs back to the graveyard. They end up in a shootout with his parents, and he manages to convince everyone to leave him alone, as all he wants is to be with Missy for prom.
He goes to prom, but then dies again
Johnny is sent to heaven, and then back as his death was a mistake. He goes to the prom with Missy (as saving her life was a good plan) and gets the girl.
Yeah, I did not like this movie.
It was really horrible, it was awful, it was a waste of time.
The jokes were not funny and not on point
There is no explanation for why this was happening to Johnny until the very end.
You got to play me like that?
And most of the plot was borrow from all kinds of films that came before it. Once Bitten, Heaven Can Wait, Teen Wolf, Little Shop of Horrors, Frankenstein, etc. It wasn't interesting, or avant-garde- just recycled plots.
Andrew Lowery was so unemotional-even before he was a zombie. He was like a monotone John Malkovich.
As I have said before the psychotic and weird redneck Chuck, who no in this universe finds weird or creepy (except Johnny). I mean this guy is not normal! He is a psycho! Why does everyone act like it is okay?
Then there are these weird "dream sequences" the main character has like every five minutes in the film. Okay so it isn't every five minutes, but it does happen so much that I spent 90% of this film confused as to what was really happening and what was just in Johnny's mind.
Help me! I'm confused!
And Missy (Traci Lind) is a horrible actress. I can never tell if she is serious, joking, or what Johnny sees in his dreams. A lot of this film I just felt like what is going on?!
Halfway through I just gave up trying to get it.
The only thing worthwhile was Johnny's mom:
I mean she is the scariest thing in this film. A sweet, adorable, intense woman who goes from talking about the four food groups to kidnapping children.
It wasn't funny and the acting was horrible. My suggestion? Pass this one by.
And I know I do a banner thing every year for Facebook, part of my countdown to Halloween, but I couldn't find a picture large enough. So no banner thing for this film.
To start Horrorfest VI from the beginning, go to One of Our Guests is a Werewolf, I Know It.: The Beast Must Die (1974)
For more zombie films, go to No Mere Mortal Can Resist the Evil of the Thriller: Thriller (1983)
For more Teen Horror films, go to I'm…a Werewolf: Teen Wolf (1985)
For more Teen Horror Prom films, go to I'm the Chosen One. And I Choose to be Shopping: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
For more Horror-Comedies, go to That's What We're Trying to Find out! We're Trying to Find Out Who Killed Him, and Where, and With What!: Clue (1985)
Posted in Horrorfest VI
Tagged Andrew Lowery, Chuck Bronski, Com-Ror, Horror-Comedy, Missy McCloud, My Boyfriend's Back, Once Bitten, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Prom, Prom Night, Shotgun, Teen Film, Traci Lind, Zombie, Zombie Film, Zombies
June 26, 2014 by L.
Friday Night Fun
Day 26) Your Favorite Disney Original Movie (DCOM)
Now when I was a kid we actually had great shows on TV; such as Boy Meets World, Even Stevens, Sister Sister, Lizzie McGuire, etc. Not like today:
I mean Dog with a Blog? Really? Really Disney? Jessie, ANT Farm, etc. all suck.
Best the best thing was the DCOMs. I loved the Friday nights when they would show these awesome films. So instead of picking just one film, as that is far too difficult, I'm going to list out my favs.
16) The Paper Brigade (1997)
Gunther is new in town and trying to fit in. He wants to go to a concert, with the school hottie, and tries to find a way to make the cash. He gets a paper brigade and is rolling in the dough, (I remember thinking, do paperboys really make that much money?). Some bullies try to take him down and in true Braveheart fashion, he defends his turf.
15) Under Wraps (1997)
This was a hilarious film about three kids discovering a mummy. I won't say any more because I will be talking about this film more this October during Horrorfest III. Come back and check it out.
14) Johnny Tsunami (1999)
Johnny a surfing Hawaiian boy who is forced to move from his surf and sunny beaches for ice-cold Vermont. There he finds himself sticking out in a town full of snowboarders or skiers. He clashes with the others, but also befriends one snowboarder. He and a skier have a fight over the school hottie, and race against each other to win rights.
13) Brink (1998)
When I was growing up I had a huge crush on the movie surfer Erik von Detten, so I was totally into this film as it starred him. This film is about rollerblading, which every kid in the '90s loved (whether or not they actually could roller blade). It actually is based on the book Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates, one of my favs as a kid.
So Andy "Brink" Brink, is a great skater who does it for the love of the sport. When his family falls on hard financial times, he sells out and joins Team X-Bladz, changing as he gets money and fame. Eventually Brink realizes his mistakes and who his real friends are, leaving the X-Bladz.
12) Susie Q (1996)
Story of a 1950s girl who is killed on her prom night in a car crash, only to have her spirit reawaken 40 years later to make sure that her parents don't lose their house. Meanwhile, Zach is an everyday high school student who is dealing with the death of his dad and a move to a new town. His family moves into Susie's house, where he finds her charm bracelet which enables him to see and communicate with her. The two team up with his little hacker sister and try to take on the evil guy who is trying to kick people out of their homes so he can set up a shopping mall. It is a hilarious film! I remember that I loved the story, and her dress, along with the fact that the pink ranger was in it.
11) The Thirteenth Year (1999)
I have to admit I went through a phase where I thought I too was going to turn into a mermaid, and what better to increase my interest/obsession than this film? So the story is about popular, top swimmer, Cody and how during his 13th birthday he starts turning into a mermaid or merman.
He was adopted as a baby and only now is transforming as 13 is when mermaids become adults (no wonder Ariel was like I'm an adult I'm in love). His friend Sean tries to hep him understand what's going on, when they soon face the bigger threat of people discovering his abilities and trying to do experiments on him. Everything is eventually resolved with him deciding that he will take turns living with both parents (adopted and his mer-mother who finds him).
10) Alley Cats Strike (2000)
This was a big fav as a kid. I absolutely loved this film and Kyle Schmid (I feel like I say that a looot). So Alex (Schmid), Elisa, Delia, and Ken are these kids who are into retro clothing and bowling, (not very in crowd). Everything changes for them when their school competes in a series of athletic events for the town trophy and finds themselves tied. The tiebreaker is determined to be bowling. Todd, the most popular and athletic kid in school, joins the team to lead the group to victory. Only prob is, he sucks. The team struggles to fit him in, as they find him causing trouble within the group.
9) Mom's Got a Data With a Vampire (2000)
Love this film so much. Some kids accidentally set their mom up on a date with a Vampire and have to save her from being killed! It is an awesome film and I will talk about more during Horrorfest III. Check back this October.
8) Teen Beach Movie (2013)
Okay so this is a new DCOM, and I know it totally contradicts my earlier rant about Disney sucking today, but I just loved this film. When I was growing up, '60s Beach movies were my absolute favorite. I loved Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. The songs, the campiness of it all. So when I saw Disney was going to do a parody film, I was super excited!
So this isn't the first time this has been done. Sabrina the Teenage Witch did an episode where they go to Florida for Spring Break and have "Good, clean, fun." In this film, Brady (Ross Lynch) and his girlfriend Mack are having loads of fun surfing, until Brady finds out that Mack is going away to finishing school. When the two ride a 40-foot wave, they find themselves in Brady's favorite film, the 1960s Wet Side Story. Hilarity ensues as the two find themselves in the middle of a biker and surfer fight, singing, surfing, and having some "good, clean, fun."
Cute guys, great music, and absolutely fabulous 1960s clothes.
7) Smart House (1999)
I loved this movie so much as a kid! I totally wanted this house, I thought it would be so cool to live there (you know before it went crazy). But this film holds an even greater place in my heart as it truly captures my childhood/pre-teen time of my life. The music, clothes, food, etc.
So in this film this engineer/computer scientist creates a program that runs a house to fulfill your every command. She holds a contest to get the house, in which Ben Cooper and his family win. Even though Mrs. Cooper died a while ago, Ben becomes angry when his father begins dating the house designer, Sara Barnes. He tweaks with the program so it is more motherly, creating a dangerous machine that tries to imprison them. This film is also surprisingly based on a literary work, "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury. I loved the idea of having a house like this, along with having a huge crush on Ryan Merriman.
6) Luck of the Irish (2001)
Disney plays this film every March 17th, and I am so glad as it is hilarious. Kyle is the golden child; captain of the basketball team, straight-A student, and Lady Luck always seems to be smiling down at him. However that all changes when Kyle's lucky coin is stolen from him. He then discovers that his mother's family are leprechauns and that coin held their family luck, also allowing them to walk about the Earth looking like normal humans. With his mom shrinking, and him becoming shorter and more leperchauny ever minute, he sets out to track down the thief and restore his family luck.
So I love this film, and I actually have another post all detailed on it. I had a huge crush on Ryan Merriman, leprechaun or human
For more on Luck of the Irish, go to Pot o' Gold
5) Wish Upon a Star (1996)
This story is about two sisters; the elder being pretty and popular, while the younger brainy, short, and insecure. The two wish to be the other as each thinks the other has an easy life. But when their wish comes true and they switch bodies, they discover that there is more to each other than they originally thought. I just love the portrayal of their relationships and how they are able to work through their problems and bond in the end.
4) Stepsister from Planet Weird (2000)
So in this film two gas formed aliens flee their country for Earth. There the father, Earth name Cosmo Cola, meets Earth woman Kathy Larson and the two fall in love deciding to get married. Kathy's daughter doesn't want this to happen as she finds Cosmo and his daughter Ariel to be freaks. Ariel doesn't want her father to fall in love and marry Kathy as she still hopes to return home, and to her boyfriend Fanul. It is a hilarious film as the aliens try to adapt to Earth and end up having to save the planet.
I just love how cool Ariel seems to everyone, when she isn't even trying. but just being herself (thank you Disney). I also copied the layered look from her, which did become a major thing. But I have to say the biggest takeaway for me was her line "I fear the wind." Since they are gas forms, they hate the wind as it kills them. My sis and I would go around saying that every time it was windy, especially when it messed with our hair.
3) Motorcrossed (2001)
This is a modern retelling of Twelfth Night and is one of my absolute favs. When Andrew is injured and can't compete in the motorcross competition and the family is in trouble, Andrea cuts her hair and pretends to be Andrew to save the day. Of course, problems arise as she can't have anyone find out who she is, and starts to fall in love with her friend who thinks she's a guy.
Andrea pre-haircut and post-haircut.
Plus I had a huge crush on Riley Smith. 🙂
For more on Motocrossed, go to Disney Lesson
2) Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999)
I loved this movie so much as a kid. My love for it was so great that I sat through its excruciating painful sequels. So this film is about Zenon, girl of the 21st century who lives in a Space Station. She gets in trouble and is grounded (literally as she is sent to earth). While there she discovers an evil plot to destroy the space station, and has to do all she can to save her home. I loved the story, clothes, and expressions used in this film. It was an amazing piece. And after the film came out I used to say this all the time (and still do):
And who could forget this wonderful song?
1) Phantom of the Megaplex
This has to be my favorite DCOM of all! I loved this film so much as a kid! There are so many amazing things involved in it! It's a very well done modern version of the Phantom of the Opera. It also references so many other movies, that it just makes a cinephile like me squeal in delight! I also had the hugest crush on the lead, Taylor Handley. I was like 8 or 9 and in love with him. I actually reviewed this film during Horrorfest, so I will keep the synopsis short as you should really check it out.
So the film is about Taylor Handley's character, Pete Riley, who is assistant manager at the megaplex and is getting ready for a huge film premiere, Midnight Mayhem, at the theater. However, chaos rains down throughout the night as a phantom lurks and tries to cause destruction.
For more on Phantom of the Megaplex, go to When Horror Doesn't Stay on the Screen
For more on Disney, go to I Could Kiss You
For more of my favorite songs, go to The Boys Are Back in Town
For more on bowling, go to Heeeeee's Back
For more on films in which car crashes play a significant role, go to He's My Brother
For more on films in which someone disguises themself as a man, go to I'll Make a Man Out of You
For more on Even Stevens, go to A Very Scary Story
For more films based on a book, go to Oh Oh De Lally
For more on Lizzie McGuire, go to Night of the Day of the Dead
For more on mermaids, go to I'm Not Gonna Lose Her Again!
For more on mummies, go to Eternal Punishment for Whoever Opens this Casket
For more on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, go to A River of Candy Corn Runs Through It
Posted in 30 Day Challenge, Disney, Musical Stylings of Me
Tagged 13th Birthday, 1950s, 1960s Beach Movies, 40 Foot Wave, Adopted, Aladdin, Alex, Aliens, Alley Cats Strike, Andrea, Andrew, Andu, Andy, Andy Brink, Annette Funicello, ANT Farm, Ariel, Assistant Manager, Athletic Events, Basketball, Beach Movies, Beaches, Being Herself, Ben Cooper, Big Race, Bikers, Bowling, Boy Meets World, Brady, Brainy, Brave, Braveheart, Brink, Bullies, Campiness, Can Communicate With the Dead, Captain of the Basketball Team, Captures Childhood, Car Crash, Cash, Charm Bracelet, Childhood, Cinephile, Clothes, Competition, Computer Scientist, Concert, Contest, Cosmo Cola, Crusin' For a Brusin', Dad Dies, Date, Dead Father, Death of His Father, Delia, Disguised as a Man, Disney, Disney Channel, Disney Channel Original Movie, Disney Character, Disney Film, Disney Hero, Dog With a Blog, Earth, Elisa, Engineer, Erik von Detten, Even Stevens, Evil Guy, Evil Plot, Experiments on Him, Fame, Fanul, Father Died, Father Starts Dating, Fight Over a Girl, Fight with Sister, Fighting Over a Woman, Film based on a book, Film based on Shakespeare, Film Premiere, Finishing School, Florida, Frankie Avalon, Freaks, Friday, Friday Night, Gas Forms, Genie, Girlfriend, Golden Child, Good Clean Fun, Grounded, Gunther, Hacker, Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates, Hard Times, Hawaii, Hawaiian, High School Student, Horrorfest III, House Designer, I Fear the Wind, In a Movie, In Crowd, Insecure, Jafar, Jessie, Johnny Tsunami, Kathy Larson, Ken, Kyle Johnson, Kyle Schmid, Lady Luck, Layered Look, Layers, Leprechauns, Lizzie McGuire, Lose the House, Love of the Sport, Luck of the Irish, Lucky Coin, Mack, Making Wishes, Marriage, Masquerading as Brother and Sister, Megaplex, Mermaid, Messy Hair, Midnight Mayhem, Might Mophin' Power Rangers, Mom's Got a Date With a Vampire, Money, Motorcrossed, Moves Away, Movie Surfer, Moving Away, Mummy, Musical, Musical Numbers, New Guy, New in Town, Normal Humans, October, Older Sister, Paper Brigade, Paperboys, Parody, Pete Riley, Phantom of the Megaplex, Phantom of the Opera, Pink Ranger, Popular, Power Rangers, Pre-teen, Pretty, Prom Night, Race, Ray Bradbury, Retro, Retro Clothing, Riley Smith, Rollerblading, Rolling in Dough, Ross Lynch, Ryan Merriman, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Saint Patrick's Day, Sara Barnes, School Hottie, Sean, Sensible Sister, Set Their Mom Up, Shadow of her Sister, Shopping Mall, Short, Sisterly Rivalry, Sisters, Skater, Skier, Skiers, Skiing, Smart House, Snowboarders, Songs, Space Station, Spirit Reawakened, Spring Break, Stepsister From Planet Weird, Story, Straight-A Student, Sunny, Supernova Girl, Surf, Surfing, Susie Q, Swimmer, Switch Bodies, Taylor Handley, Team X-Bladz, Teen Beach Movie, The '90s, The Little Mermaid, The Paper Brigade, The Phantom, The Thirteenth Year, The Veldt, Tiebreaker, Tied, Top Swimmer, Transforming, Trophy, Trying to Fit In, Trying to get the Hottie, TV, Twelfth Night, Under Wraps, Vampire, Wet Side Story, Windy, Wish Fullfillment, Wish to Be Someone Else, Wish Upon a Star, Zach, Zenon, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, Zetus Lupetus, Zoolander


Ensuring that legal frameworks are consistent with market integration is always complex, and the task is particularly problematic in the services sector. This article focuses on liberalization and regulation processes within the European Union (EU), and on their interaction with multilateral negotiations and commitments, in areas of international economic activity involving temporary mobility of natural persons. We first review legal techniques aimed at resolving tensions between regulation and economic integration, then discuss their application in the context of the European Community Single Market programme's completion and of the European Community (EC) and its Member States' participation in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Our analysis of the different configurations and effectiveness of the legal instruments in the two contexts suggests that interactions between internal and external negotiations may foster efficient integration of markets and policies.


text:
Stand with Bob -- chip in to help us reach our goal:
From the moment President Trump won his election, Bob Casey has been standing on the front lines to defend American values and our constitution.
Bob will never stop fighting for any of us, which is why Republicans fought so hard to defeat him in the last election -- and why they're already making plans for the next one.
We need to show that we're standing with Bob as he stands up for us.
Will you chip in and help us reach our $15,000 end-of-month goal before the deadline?
Under federal election law individuals may contribute a maximum of $5,600 with $2,800 allocated for the primary election and $2,800 for the general election. Under federal election law PACs may contribute a maximum of $10,000 with $5,000 allocated for the primary election and $5,000 for the general election. Federal law also requires us to collect and report the name, mailing address, and employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200. Contributions to "Bob Casey for Senate" are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes. Only personal, partnerships, and political action committee checks please, we are unable to accept any corporate funds.
Paid for by Bob Casey for Senate


Chevy Speed Shop Metal Sign Wall Decor From the Muscle N Ink licensed collection, this Chevy Speed Shop vintage metal sign measures 18 inches by 12 inches and weighs in at 2 lb(s). This vintage metal sign is hand made in the USA using heavy gauge american steel and a process known as sublimation, where the image is baked into a powder coating for a durable and long lasting finish. It then undergoes a vintaging process by hand to give it an aged look and feel. This vintage metal sign is drilled and riveted for easy hanging.


Huma Temple Sambalpur- Are you looking for travel Leaning Temple of Huma and confuse what to do? Here is a small post which gives you the best information regarding Huma Dham Temple Sambalpur, Today I am giving you the best information about Huma Temple. Huma Temple is a beautiful place to visit.
The Leaning Temple of Huma (Huma Dhama Temple) is one of the famous tourist attraction in Sambalpur. Dhama Temple is considered one of only two leaning temples in the world which is located in Huma (25 Km from Sambalpur Town). Huma Temple is a Hindu based temple where God Shiva is worshiping.
Why It is called Leaning Temple? Because of its structure and design. Nobody knows why this is leaning? even historian not sure about the reason behind this. This website has good information on this click here. So you can say it's a mystery.
According to the local people or historical record says that Ganga Vamsi Emperor Ananga Bhima Deva 3 built this temple.
How To Reach Leaning Temple of Huma?
Today I am Going to share with you, the best tips which help you to reach Dhama Temple. First of all, you should go through Google Maps, Here are the links that show you the exact location of Huma Temple. It's not difficult to find a bus or auto but at times it's very difficult.
If you want to travel by bus then you should go to the government bus stand Sambalpur there you can find the City Bus.
Another thing you should go with auto but it's kind of expensive for you to book an auto. It's up to you what you choose traveling.
If you have your vehicle then it's ok nothing worry about it. Before you leaving Sambalpur you should check out the official website of Sambalpur.
By Road- The Distance between Sambalpur to Huma is 28.2 Kilometres Via -Sonepur road. It will take 45 Minutes to reach there.
By Train- Sambalpur Railways station is the nearest station from Huma. You can book a taxi or Auto.
By Air- Jharsuguda Airport or Veer Surendra Sai Airport is the closest to Huma which is about 51 Kilometer from Sambalpur.
I found 3 hostels that were providing a good meal to the tourist. One plate of meal carried Rs-50/- or according to your order. I suggest you make biscuits or snack with you before you travel.
Subsequently, you should carry a water bottle with you, it's really necessary during the summer season. If you do not have one then buy there but it cost a little. I found out Sanjib Tiffin Hotel is good for snacks.
Are you from other state or country then you should book a room. It doesn't cost much but before any booking considers visiting booking sites. I will give you a list of Name and rates so check carefully.
What is the best time to visit Huma Temple?
It's between Sept to January is the best time to visit Dhama Mandir. Shivratri is the prominent festival of this temple. Shivratri festival took place between February to march so you do not miss this opportunity.
It is said that a milkman used to cross the river and sell his milk to nearby villages. He has a small family and depended on agriculture.
As you know Huma is a small village and there are other villages nearby like Bhairopali, Nuagaon, Girandola pali. People used to cross Mahanadi earlier by small boat but now the bridge is built up which laid to good communication.
One day the milkman supposed to crossed Mahanadi river and found out underlying rock crop out and that is Lingam. He offered his dole of milk which was immediately consumed by the rock. He was shocked.
He was not able to think what is that? Subsequently, people got to know from him and later part of the year the king Ganga Vamsi Emperor Ananga Bhima Deva-III built this temple. Later part of the decade King Baliar Singh (1660–1690 A.D.) was renovated this temple.
Kudo Fish is a special kind of fish that available on the bank of river Mahanadi. Most of the visitor came here to see the fish.
Here nobody tries to catch them as their belief to be the assert of Lord Shiva. You can feed them with your hand they are so familiar to the visitor then you can imagine.
A lot of fish food or sweet available their you can buy from the shop and feed them. It is believed that feeding Kudo fish is a ritual.
Hirakud Dam is the longest dam in the world. It is also called soil made dam which is built in 1957 on Mahanadi river. Hirakud dam is located in Burla (15 Kilometers from Sambalpur Town).
Its built across Mahanadi river which covers 25 kilometers of land including dike and stands across the river. It is inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru former Prime Minister of India.
This Dam is not only used for irrigation but it is multipurpose river valley projects. Here are some YouTube videos of Hirakud Dam.
How to Reach Hirakud Dam?
By Road- You can travel by City bus from Sambalpur or you can book an auto from Sambalpur. If you are coming from Bargarh side then you should travel by bus. Its ok if you have your vehicle.
Hirakud dam has its beautiful nature which attracts the visitor. People also love to watch Dike from Nehru Minar and Gandhi Minar (A tower). Tourist also enjoys the park which located near the Dam.
Ghanteswari Temple is one of the leading tourist attraction in western Odisha. It is considered one of the beautiful and holiest places in Sambalpur. People love to visit this temple, not for spiritual concern but also to explore the Chiplima Hydroelectric Project (Chiplima Power House).
Every year tour around the country came here to explore also to do the picnic in Chiplima. Ghanteswari Temple is located at 33 Kilometers south-west of Sambalpur.
Why it is called Ghanteswari Temple?
As the name indicates, you can find bells(Ghanti)everywhere, people love to offer bells to Maa Ghanteswari for the fulfillment of their wishes. A large number of pilgrimage visit here to fulfill their wishes.
People came here to visit also to enjoy their time by doing a picnic. A lot of places available near Ghanteswari to enjoy the meal. If you wish to do a picnic near Ghanteswari then I suggest you go to the back side of the temple or you can enjoy your meal at the bank of the river.
How to Reach Maa Ghanteswari Temple Chiplima Sambalpur?
By road:- You can travel by bus it cost around 30 to 40 rupees from Sambalpur.
Maa Samleswari temple is one of the central attraction among other tourist places in Sambalpur. This is a Hindu temple which dedicated to Maa Samleswari (Maa Samlei).
It is believed that the name Sambalpur is derived from Samleswari. This temple is located in the bank of Mahanadi river(Western Part) of Odisha. People came here for experiencing spirituals environment also to explore Sambalpur.
How to Reach Maa Samleswari Temple?
By Road- 4 Kilometers from Sambalpur Private Bustand. You can book an auto to Samleswari temple, it only cost rs 30 rupee.
Gudguda Waterfall is one of the natural tourist attraction among other places in Sambalpur. This is one of the natural picnic spots in Sambalpur. This place is fully covered with dense forest.
You can't find any vehicle. You love to spend your whole life in this place. Gudguda Waterfall is not a big waterfall because of it so pleasant and chill environment that every one love to stay in that place.
How to Reach Gudguda Waterfall?
By Road- It takes 2.30 Hrs to reach Gudguda Waterfall from Sambalpur Bus stand. The bus fair could have cost you 50 to 60 rupee.
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary one of the natural habitation and best tourist attraction in Sambalpur. It is located near Hirakud Dam, its covered 346.91sq.kms of land including forest areas.
A lot of animals live in this sanctuary like Tiger, Leopard, Bear, Chital, Sambar, Deer and migratory birds. Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is open every day expect rainy season.
How to Reach Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary?
By Road- 40 Km distance from Sambalpur.
Enjoy your holidays with the help of these shopping malls.
Are you looking for Interesting videos then watch this and share this videos with your friends.
The Leaning Temple of Huma is one of the best tourist attraction in Sambalpur. Huma Dhama temple and its mysterious story give us a straight sign of mythical presence in the society. Dham Temple is also famous for its Kudo fish, which attract the majority of tourist during the season. You can find interesting facts about Kudo fish. Everyone loves to visit Huma temple Sambalpur then what are you waiting for just pack your bags and came to Huma temple.
If you like our blog post then don't forget to share our post with your friends. If you have any questions regarding Huma temple then feel free to ask in the comment section below.


text:
namespace Test.Model
{
    using System;
    using System.Collections.Generic;
    using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
    using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema;
    using System.Data.Entity.Spatial;

    public partial class tbl_remuneration
    {
        public int? staff_id { get; set; }

        [StringLength(10)]
        public string payment_date { get; set; }

        [DatabaseGenerated(DatabaseGeneratedOption.None)]
        public int id { get; set; }

        [Column(TypeName = "money")]
        public decimal? money { get; set; }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub