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Instant Makeovers
How some show managers have turned to new formats for bringing buyers and sellers together
by Tom Isler
Attracting fresh faces:
The Discover Beauty pavilion
at Cosmoprof North America
Ask any trade show organizer to defend the value of his or her event, and Exhibit A is likely to be the indispensable opportunity for face-to-face interaction between buyers and sellers. It may well be true, even in the Internet and iPhone age, that nothing beats a handshake or a sit-down meeting. But that argument begs two questions: Are trade shows equally effective venues for everyone, regardless of company size or budget, looking to make one-on-one connections? And, more importantly, are trade shows ideal environments for face-to-face meetings?
In recent years, some show organizers have tinkered with the formats of their shows, shifting the emphasis away from the traditional exhibit floor with endless rows of booths, simply for the sake of change. Dwindling attendance and waning exhibitor support have forced other organizers to invent new models for their events to save them from obsolescence.
Here's a look at some companies and associations that have abandoned the standard trade show format in search of a better model that focuses more directly on pairing buyers and sellers, and helping smaller companies compete on an even playing field with industry leaders.
A pavilion is a specially themed group of exhibitors that is set apart from the rest on a trade show floor. Creating a pavilion can be a baby step toward change -- a way to inject new life into a show without a conceptual overhaul.
Earlier this year, however, Daniela Ciocan, Las Vegas-based director of marketing for Societa Gestione Cosmoprof (SoGeCos), an Italian company that produces several beauty and cosmetics shows, took pavilions to a new level entirely. It happened at Cosmoprof North America, held in July at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Ciocan conceived and launched Discover Beauty, a pavilion for a dozen U.S. startups and foreign cosmetics firms entering the U.S. market for the first time. Each exhibitor, which Ciocan hand-picked after reviewing applicants' products, not only enjoyed desirable foot traffic, because Discover Beauty was marketed as a special destination on the show floor, but benefitted from a host of other services that would have cost thousands of dollars elsewhere, if they could be purchased at all.
Ciocan arranged for each Discover Beauty exhibitor to meet with VIP buyers from high-end specialty stores such as Nordstrom and Sephora, people who normally don't attend many trade shows and are out of reach for most young companies.
But Ciocan didn't stop there. Using her industry contacts, she set up meetings with beauty magazine editors in New York and personally pitched the exhibitors' new products to them. She also consulted with each exhibiting company in the pavilion, prepping representatives for their one-on-one meetings with buyers. She helped them ready presentations and, in some cases, showed them how to write effective press releases.
When the exhibitors arrived at the show, all they had to bring were samples of their products. To minimize the discrepancies between companies with disparate budgets for exhibit booth design, Ciocan discouraged exhibitors from bringing decorations, in part to control the clean, tasteful look of the pavilion, and in part to counteract the "arms race" of booth decor. "We wanted to give equal opportunity to everyone," she says.
The endeavor yielded "phenomenal results," according to Ciocan, but it was costly to produce, despite the fact that exhibitors paid higher-than-normal registration fees to participate. The process monopolized Ciocan's time and energy, and SoGeCos didn't quite break even on the feature this first year, Ciocan notes. However, she views the pavilion, which will likely double in size for next year's show, as an investment that will help the overall show grow.
Discover Beauty attracted new and loyal exhibitors and engaged high-end retailers, a market segment that's currently underrepresented at Cosmoprof North America.
SCRAPPING THE BOOTHS
Why did the organizers of the Midwest Vision Congress and Exposition cancel the trade show portion of their event and recast the expo next year as an educational conference? Because of the changing demands of the marketplace, explains Michael Horstman, right, executive director of the Illinois Optometric Association, based in Springfield, Ill.
"There seem to be a lot more one-on-one meetings in offices as opposed to trade shows," he says. The ability to find products and make contacts via the Internet, the rise of buying groups affecting how purchasing is done, the advent of larger chains that buy centrally have all "changed the volume of purchasing done at shows," he adds. Regional events feel the impact of these buying trends more than national or international events, Horstman notes.
A case in point is the American Society for Enology and Viticulture, based in Davis, Calif., which will discontinue its small trade show after next year, a staple of the association's annual June meeting since the 1960s. The demise of the trade show was partly ASEV's doing -- it also produces a larger, more important show in January, which is a better month for winemakers and buyers to meet, says Lyndie Boulton, executive director of ASEV. Another factor is the gradual shrinking of marketing budgets for exhibitors. -- T.I.
About face:
FAH's no-product
Reverse trade shows
Bonnie Moneypenny, senior vice president, administrative services, for the Federation of American Hospitals, which has offices in Washington, D.C., and Little Rock, Ark., is one of the pioneers of the "reverse trade show," where buyers sit at booths and sellers walk the floor.
FAH has produced reverse trade shows, which Moneypenny prefers to call "business expositions," for a decade. The expositions are "no-product" events:Sellers show up with business cards and little else, not even the wares they're trying to sell. Moneypenny says this levels the playing field for all exhibitors. The no-product rule also helps vendors save money, because they don't have to ship items or booth displays to the event.
At the reverse show, buyers set up shop in private "service centers," meeting areas enclosed by 10-foot-tall walls that replace traditional booths. Three weeks prior to the show, Moneypenny sends suppliers the contact information for attendees, and sends attendees supplier contact lists. The process of making appointments is not centralized. Everyone has to take the initiative to arrange his or her own meetings.
Moneypenny is so convinced that this model satisfies the business needs of her members better than a regular trade show -- while eliminating distractions and unnecessary costs -- that she offers a money-back guarantee. "I've never made a refund," she says.
Other reverse trade shows operate on slightly different models. At the Virtuoso Travel Mart, for instance, which brings together Virtuoso travel agents and preferred suppliers of the Fort Worth, Texas-based company, every agent meets with every supplier, and schedules are drafted centrally. This past August at the Bellagio Las Vegas, 2,800 attendees convened
for 260,000 four-minute meetings.
At Meeting Place Berlin, a hosted-buyer event for meeting planners sponsored by the Berlin Convention Office in Germany, planners were asked to schedule appointments with a selection of suppliers from an authorized pool of meeting venue and services companies. Planners each were assigned their own booths, and suppliers showed up for meetings at the appropriate time.
The purpose of reverse trade shows is to reduce the element of chance that enough buyers will stop by exhibit booths to make attendance at a show worthwhile, says Barry Boutilier, manager of supplier development for the Department of Economic Development in Nova Scotia, Canada. Boutilier runs reverse trade shows to introduce government procurement executives to suppliers throughout the province.
Invitation-only events
The Entertainment Software Association, based in Washington, D.C., made the year's highest-profile transformation from a trade show to an alterative format. In July, instead of holding its annual Electronic Entertainment Expo, known as E3, the ESA decided to leave the Los Angeles Convention Center, dramatically shrink its trade show floor and make the event an invitation-only series of smaller meetings spread across several Los Angeles hotels.
"Over the years, it has become clear that we need a more intimate program, including higher quality, more personalized dialogue with the worldwide media, developers, retailers and other key industry audiences," Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, said in a statement last summer. Lowenstein resigned last year and was replaced in May by Mark Gallagher. (The ESA did not return calls seeking comment, and several exhibitors at this year's reformatted E3 Media & Business Summit declined to speak about the changes or did not respond to requests for interviews.)
"The new E3 Media & Business Summit is first and foremost about getting business done," Lowenstein continued. "When we asked key audiences what they wanted in the new event, we heard that they wanted opportunities for high-level meetings in a businesslike setting, to play games, network and socialize, to see major company offerings while also preserving the sense of discovery that is so much a part of the show, and to hear substantive presentations on the most important issues facing the industry."
Video game blogs and news reports from the event were mixed on the execution of the summit -- many attendees had logistics complaints -- but most conceded that the new format helped exhibiting companies save money on booths, which in recent years became more and more elaborate, and helped midsize companies escape from the shadow of industry giants who used to dominate the show floor.
WHEN A NEW FORMAT FLATLINES
NAMA: Looking to perk up its show
One of the many ways the Chicago-
based National Automatic Merchandising Association has attempted to stimulate its annual trade show was to create a "show within a show." In 1999, NAMA brewed up a plan to absorb the fizzling National Coffee Service Association, based in Fairfax, Va., and create a special coffee pavilion within NAMA's annual trade show. "It worked very well," says Sue Ralston, director of trade show sales and service for NAMA. Overall attendance at the show climbed for the next three years.
But new formats don't always reverse course for a struggling show. Since 2002, attendance at NAMA's convention has again slipped. "Our show suffers from a lack of innovation," Ralston admits. She's tried other pavilions, finding success only with one, geared for new exhibitors, which is popular with attendees seeking out the latest products and services.
Ralston has looked to other trade shows around the country for ideas, considered co-location and met with other NAMA executives to discuss what the shows are missing. "We haven't figured it out yet," she says. But she's developed a reluctant mantra: "Keep trying." -- T.I.
Insight: Suppliers
pay for access
to elite buyers at
hosted buyer events.
Executive summits
When Philip McKay worked for Gartner Inc., an information technology research and advisory company that produces tech trade shows, he began to question if the traditional event format was best for face-to-face interaction. "There's got to be something better out there to ensure return on investment," he recalls thinking. "Everyone seems to worry about vendors, but I was worried about attendees. At very high-end events, are they getting their money's worth?"
McKay realized he could form a business model around arranging meetings between high-powered executives and suppliers. He could even pay for qualified buyers' travel, hotel stays and meals, and turn a profit by making the suppliers pay for access to meet with the elite crowd.
McKay formed PPM Media in 2005, a Manchester, N.H.-based company that produces executive summits for niche tech markets, such as Blade-Systems Insight and Health IT Insight. McKay says PPM Media is set to launch 11 new events over the next several months.
Success starts with attracting the right attendees, and McKay says he targets 2,000 people who are known to have significant buying influence; he caps attendance at roughly 150 people who not only are interested in the event but are looking to make purchases within a given window of time and will commit to attending all sessions for the three full program days. McKay usually saves 40 or 50 spots for vendors.
The beauty of his model, McKay says, is that exhibitors' spend and attendees' time are dedicated to the face-to-face meetings and little else. And McKay does a lot of prep work to make sure the meetings are as fruitful as possible.
McKay acknowledges that the format has limitations: Larger events wouldn't be able to operate effectively using the executive summit model. And, in the pursuit of intimacy, his events do exclude many companies. "I truly believe there is a time and place for large trade shows," he says. COMDEX, a now-defunct technology trade show McKay used to organize, is missed by the industry, he argues, especially by midsize, small and startup companies.
But McKay believes he delivers what his attendees really hope to get from a trade show: the chance to forge or strengthen lucrative connections with clients or vendors.


MBC's new weekend drama [Hotel King]'s main cast Lee Dong-wook and Lee Da-hae's still photographs were released.
In the photographs, actor Lee Dong-wook's gorgeous suit-look expresses his character Cha Jae-wan, the level-headed hotel manager. Actress Lee Da-hae's fashion covers from casual looks to party dresses as an heiress. Lee Da-hae especially has an unstable look in her eyes as if to imply the troubles that lie ahead in her future.
Drama lovers' anticipation is already high with the revealed photographs of [HOTEL KING]. The drama cranked in at the beginning of March and the staff are filming in various regions of Korea trying to capture the beauty of the scenes.
[HOTEL KING] is a love story between an heiress who tries to save her legacy, an only seven-star hotel in the nation and the hotel manager who turns his back against his father in order to support her.
[HOTEL KING] is co-directed by Kim Dae-jin who directed [Life is Good], [The Best Day of My Life] and Jang Joon-ho who directed [Princess Aurora]. The script is written by Jo Eun-jung who has been writing several hit MBC dramas including [White Lie], [Banquet of the Gods].
[HOTEL KING] starring Lee Dong-wook, Lee Da-hae, Wang Ji-hye, Lim Seulong, Kim Hae-sook, Lee Deok-hwa... will start broadcasting from April 5th(Sat) 21:55 following after [Golden Rainbow].


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
»Governmental Relations on Campus
»Political Activity Policy
Political Activity Policies
Contact with Legislators
K-Staters in Government
See all of University
Legislative Session
K-State Budget
Wildcat Caucus
See all of State
Expression of University Strengths
See all of Federal
Wildcat Impact
919 Mid-Campus Dr North
kstategr@k-state.edu
This is a list of current rules regarding political activities, including campaign and election activities, pertaining to Kansas State University. Participants in political activities should be mindful that all other University policies remain in effect in political activity situations, including, for example:
Traffic and Parking Regulations
Weapons Policies
Computer Use Policies
The Workplace Violence Policy, as well as
Applicable Federal, State and Local Laws and Regulations
Kansas Department of Administration guidelines
On July 29, 2020 Secretary of Administration DeAngela Burns-Wallace sent a memorandum to all State employees outlining issues that State employees need to keep in mind while participating in political activities of their choosing. See the memo here.
K.S.A. 25-2430 - prohibits electioneering within a radius of 250 feet from any polling place or entrance thereof.
The above rule applies to everyone.
K.S.A. 75-2953 - prohibits state employees from using their authority or influence to compel any other state employee to apply for membership in or become a member of any organization, or pay or promise to pay any assessment, subscription or contribution, or to take part in any political activity. Any person who violates any provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be punished accordingly. If any officer or employee in the classified service is found guilty of violating any provision of this section, such officer or employee shall be automatically separated from the service.
The above rule applies to all of our employees.
K.S.A. 25-4169a - prohibits government employees from using public funds, vehicles, machinery, equipment or supplies of the agency, or governmental work time, to expressly advocate for the nomination, election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate to state or local office. This rule does not apply to an incumbent officer campaigning for nomination or reelection to a succeeding term to such office or to members of the personal staff of any elected officer.
Board of Regents Policies
POLITICAL ACTIVITY:
a. Faculty, administrators and other unclassified employees, including University Support Staff, may accept any public or political party appointed or elected position that does not create any conflict of interest with, and does not require substantial time away from, assigned duties or in other respects infringe upon those duties.
b. The filing of a declaration of intent to become a candidate shall not affect the status or appointment of an unclassified employee, including University Support Staff. However, the employee shall continue to properly and fully perform all of his or her assigned duties or take appropriate leave if available. Should the employee, while he or she is a candidate for office and not on approved leave, fail to perform all of his or her assigned duties, such employee shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
c. Leave without salary or other benefits shall be granted to those elected or appointed to public office requiring full time or lengthy sustained periods away from assigned duties, such as Congress, the Kansas Legislature, and state and county offices or appointments to office falling within this category. For persons elected or appointed to Congress or the Kansas Legislature, this provision shall be effective from the date such person takes the Oath of Office or the first day of the Legislative session and continuing until the adjournment of Congress or to a date no sooner than the last adjournment in April or sine die adjournment, whichever occurs first, of each regular and special session of the Kansas Legislature; as to other state and county offices requiring full time or lengthy sustained periods away from assigned duties, this provision shall be effective during the entire time a person serves as such officer. Leave without salary or other benefits shall not be required for any person serving in the Kansas Legislature or for service on any committee during a period when the Legislature is not in regular or special session, provided that such person shall decline to accept all legislative compensation for such service, but such person shall be entitled to mileage and other expense allowances as provided by statute and paid by the Legislature. K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 74-4925(5) provides that any member of the Kansas Legislature who is on leave of absence from the Board of Regents or an educational institution under its management may elect to remain eligible for participation in the Board of Regents' retirement plan while on such leave.
d. In the interest of the fullest participation in public affairs, personnel are free to express opinions speaking or writing as an individual in their personal capacity and not as a representative of the institution in signed advertisements, pamphlets and related material in support of or opposition to parties and causes. There shall be the commensurate responsibility of making plain that each person so doing is acting for himself or herself and not on behalf of an institution supported by tax funds drawn from citizens of varying political and economic views. This responsibility includes avoiding the use of university letterhead and stationery and other official university designations. Employees testifying before the Legislature on behalf of outside entities shall notify their institution's designated representative prior to such testimony.
The above rules apply to our employees.
USE OF CAMPUS FACILITIES:
a. State university facilities and grounds shall not be made available for fund raising events for any candidate, party committee or political committee, or for filming or otherwise producing partisan political advertisements.
b. Except as prohibited in subsection a., state university facilities may be made available for the purpose of holding political meetings, or public forums, provided there is no interference with regularly scheduled functions, the person requesting the space can clearly demonstrate that there is not otherwise available a reasonably suitable facility in the community, students are permitted to hear the speakers without charge, and payment of the regular fees for use of the facilities is made in advance of such use.
c. Other than the Governor, elected officials and candidates for elected office shall not be introduced or recognized on campus unless they are in attendance at a campus event in an official capacity and at the request of the university.
d. The distribution of handbills shall be prohibited in those areas devoted primarily to instruction and study or at the immediate sites and times of enclosed public events.
e. State universities shall have the authority to develop additional policies and guidelines that are not in conflict with this policy. Such policies and guidelines shall be reviewed by the Governance Committee and filed with the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Board.
f. For purposes of this policy, the terms "candidate," "party committee," and "political committee" shall have the meanings specified in K.S.A. 25-4143, as amended.
The above facilities use rules apply to everyone.
(In addition to those stated above) – found in the Student Life section in the Policies and Procedures Manual (PPM)
Division of Facilities
See also: Use of KSU Buildings and Grounds
Division of Facilities policies concern numerous issues, including but not limited to:
scheduling space
displaying signs
obtaining fund-raising permits
using amplified sound
controlling animals
Event Policy - Regulates on-campus events coordinated by registered student organizations.
Sales, Solicitation and Advertising Policy - Regulates commercial activity and advertising on campus.
Political Activities Guidelines:
Reiterates Board of Regents policies, and adds that use of facilities on campus is subject to the approval of the Associate Vice President for the Division of Facilities.
Prohibits door-to-door campaigning.
Prohibits campaign materials in common areas of residence halls or dining center areas except in a resident's room with the permission of roommate(s).
Requires that all candidates be allowed opportunity for equal time and publicity when speaking, if any candidate is allowed to speak.
Requires that to speak to the ARH/HGB of the residence hall, a candidate must contact the President and arrange a speaking time in advance, and that before speaking with hall residents in any public area of the hall (other than at an HGB meeting), a candidate must receive prior permission from the floor president of the floor on which he/she wishes to speak.
Prohibits campaigning (whether verbal, oral, or written in the form of posters, flyers, letters, etc.) by a candidate and/or his/her representative(s) in the dining center areas. The only exception shall be items of personal clothing and buttons worn by an individual.
Requires prior approval by the appropriate dining center unit head dietitian or his/her designated representative and the KSUARH advisor for use of the dining center areas for political forums or debates sponsored by the hall's HGB or by ARH.
Prohibits solicitation of funds for political organizations or candidates within the residence halls or dining center.
Jardine Apartment Complex
Provides that distribution of political information and/or posters will be allowed only in areas designated by the Residents' Council and Jardine Apartments Coordinator.
Requires sponsorship and arrangements for appearance before any political organizations or candidates will be allowed to hold meetings or rallies.
K-State Student Union
A. The K-State Student Union has its own regulations for posting and maintaining its own posting areas.
B. The only political literature that can be distributed is from behind a table sponsored by a registered student organization.
C. The usage of any meeting rooms by any political party will follow guidelines as outlined in Section 1-B for campus facilities.
Literature Distribution on Campus
A. Registered student organizations may distribute literature on campus or in any campus building (with approval of the authority of the building), providing such distribution does not reasonably interfere with the movement of traffic, classes, or other scheduled activities.
B. A non-registered group or individual may distribute literature only in the area between Seaton Hall and the K-State Student Union, in the quadrangle north of Hale Library, or in the quadrangle east of Calvin Hall.
C. Placing notices in or on parked cars in campus parking lots is prohibited.
Posting on Campus
Non-registered student organizations or individuals are not permitted to post notices on campus. Registered organizations may post according to the KSU Publicity Regulations (available in the Office of Student Activities and Services).
See also: Publicity Regulations
University information technology resources, including e-mail, may not be used to support partisan political candidates or party fundraising.
Major Candidate Visits
Campus visits by major candidates must be coordinated through the Director of Governmental Relations to insure that proper and adequate arrangements have been made to accommodate security, press, crowd, etc.
Publicity Regulations: Concern on-campus advertising and other publicity, including but not limited to:
hanging of banners
sidewalk marking, and
distribution of general literature
Guidelines for Photo and Video on the Kansas State University campus
Please note: Political advertisements may not imply endorsement by Kansas State University. Therefore, K-State's landmarks, buildings, grounds, mascot and/or logos may not be used in any political advertisement. In keeping with the Regents policy on political use of campus facilities, photographs and videos which use K-State's name, buildings, landmarks or other indicia shall not be used in advertising which promotes candidates or parties.
Memorandum, drafted by the American Council on Education (ACE), regarding political campaign-related activities of and at colleges and universities.
If you have questions regarding any of the above, please contact the Office of Governmental Relations at kstategr@k-state.edu, or the Office of General Counsel at attys@k-state.edu.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Coronavirus Updates CORONAVIRUS UPDATES & OPENINGS Read On...
City Council Action & Information
James B. Butler, Councilmember
Council Member, James B. Butler
James B. Butler, Council member
520 Meadowwood Dr. Burlington, NC 27215
E-mail: jbutler@burlingtonnc.gov
Mr. Butler was most recently sworn in to the City Council on December 5, 2017. Born in Burlington and actively involved in the community for over 25 years, Mr. Butler plans to focus on issues related to City growth, quality of life, and fiscal responsibility.
Council Member Butler is currently the General Manager of Modern Toyota/Scion. A 1983 graduate of Eastern Guilford High School, Mr. Butler attended both A&T State University and the University of Alabama where he majored in marketing. He is a graduate of GM-UAM and a graduate of Bank Directors College sponsored by the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks at the Kenan Flagler School of Business UNC-Chapel Hill. Butler is a 1991 graduate of the Chamber of Commerce sponsored "Leadership Alamance" program. Additionally he previously served as Chairman of the Congressional Action Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, Secretary of the Burlington Traffic Commission, Chairman of Alamance County Transportation Committee, and was an organizing founder and board member of VantageSouth Bank. The Councilmember is married to Kim Butler and they have three children. He actively participates in several charitable organizations including:
- Alamance Business Club (former president and Board Member)
- Alamance Citizens for Education (trustee)
- Boy Scouts of America Old North State Council (Executive Board Member) (Troop 17 Dad)
- Alamance County Area Chamber of Commerce (former Congressional Action Chair)
- United Way of Alamance County (2006 Campaign Chair) (2007 Board Chair)
- Salvation Army (Advisory Committee)
- Leadership Alamance (1991 Graduate)
"I believe as Burlington transitions from a small town into a thriving city between 2 metropolitan areas open communication with our citizens will be extremely important. Citizen involvement is the key to an active and open government for all taxpayers." - Butler
City Council Meetings - Agendas and Packets
City Council Work Session Minutes
Request a Commemorative Document
Minutes (Archived) MuniDocs - 1991 to Present
Burlington Municipal Building
425 S Lexington Avenue
Link Transit Twitter
Government Surplus on GovDeals


«MiPT», e. g., uses a variable injection volume to cover a sample measuring range that extends across 4 orders of magnitude. This means that samples in the range of 10 μg/L to 100 mg/L can be analysed with a single calibration!
If you need to analyse anions and cations in parallel, your Metrohm ion chromatographs may share a single autosampler for higher throughput.


text:
'It boils down to seeing a need, getting a group of very skilled women together and going for it,' is the way one member describes Mokihana Club.
Coco Zickos
The ladies of Mokihana Club extend the spirit of the holidays throughout the year. The group is known for its generous efforts in making the island a better place through actions such as raising money to provide scholarships for nursing and music students.
"It boils down to seeing a need, getting a group of very skilled women together and going for it," says Suzanne Ellis, a member and past president of the club.
And the team of more than 100 goes for it, more often than not.
"We show our appreciation for living here by doing what we can to help better whatever we can," says past president and current member Carolyn Knepper.
Mokihana Club is Hawaii's longest-running women's service club. It began in 1903, when the first Lihue Public Hall was built. The development had acquired a debt of $1,400, so a group of women got together to raise money to help pay it off. In doing so, they found they enjoyed each other's company and had a natural ability to make a significant difference in the community, and two years later they decided to form an official club.
"We've been going ever since," says Corinne King, current club president.
One of the club's primary goals is to work with Kauai Community College and its nursing program. The women look for students who have applied for financial aid and, based on their grade-point average and need, provide them monetary relief. Since the program's inception in 2003, the club has awarded approximately $112,000 in scholarships.
The club's original founders were public-health advocates and were instrumental in bringing dental care to island schoolchildren and general health care to the growing population.
"We chose to follow that need on the island," explains Ellis.
Corinne King, president of the Mokihana Club. Coco Zickos photo
Mokihana Club members front: Sarah Rogers (left) and Winnie Lu; back, from left: Corinne King, Suzanne Ellis and Carolyn Knepper. Coco Zickos photo
Mokihana Club members Jlyne Oughton, Barbara Gracie and Gini Stoddard at a recent Christmas luncheon celebration. Photo courtesy of Mokihana Club
Winnie Lu, Sarah Rogers, Corinne King and Carolyn Knepper at the Mokihana Club Christmas luncheon. Photo courtesy of Mokihana Club
They also are following in the footsteps of the club's founders by providing scholarships to music students. In the early 1900s, Mokihana Club helped bring Honolulu Symphony to the island so that the public could appreciate classical music. Today, the club encourages keiki to build a musical background.
"Schools are so poorly funded now, in their music programs especially, that we wanted to encourage them to continue pursuing music," notes King.
Each year, the club hosts a music competition, where monetary awards are given for the best performances by college-bound seniors who plan to study music or take private lessons in college.
"Music is something they can use their whole life for enjoyment. It's a big part of the culture on the island, and so it's important to the students and their families," says Knepper.
Mokihana Club hosts about four major events a year, including a golf scramble, that generate funds for their various programs. In addition to providing scholarships, the club has been and continues to be involved in activities such as island beautification and projects like installing a fish-identification sign at Lydgate Beach Park. These kinds of accomplishments have been ongoing since the club's inception. In fact, the first members were so successful in their endeavors that they branched out to form other organizations, including Kauai Historical Society and The Outdoor Circle.
"They planted the seeds," says Ellis. And those seeds continue to grow into thriving plants, as members such as Sarah Rogers, who serves as board secretary and is a past president as well, are still extremely dedicated. After retiring in 2002, she was looking for something that would give her a sense of accomplishment: "Where I could do well in the community," she explains.
Though members traditionally must be invited to join, she was bold enough to ask for membership.
"I got involved right away," she says.
Rogers continues to be an enthusiastic member of the club and makes sure to attend the regular meetings, which typically feature guest speakers such as authors or representatives from nonprofits.
Winnie Lu, another past president, has found value in the club for a number of years as well, and believes one of the many benefits is the camaraderie.
"You meet a lot of friends," says Lu, who joined in 1996. "If you're newer to the island, you'll gain a lot of friends right away, and if you've been around for awhile, it's still very nice to network with members of the club."
"I have met women from all over the world with all types of backgrounds," agrees King. "They're very interesting, and that's part of why I continue."
The other part is her desire to make a difference.
"We live here, and I take it as a very deep responsibility I have to care for my community," King adds.
Call 822-3473 for information on upcoming meeting dates and other details.
cocomidweek@gmail.com
Mokihana Club
eye on kauai
A Fashionista By Design


I turned 30. Yep! On June 22nd (#yayforcancers) I transitioned to an age I never thought would come so fast. I've heard so many different things and thoughts on turning 30. There is those who definitively don't care, those who will kindly try to reassure me by either saying that I'm still young or that it is only a number, and there are a few people that totally get how I feel, meaning lost, stressed out, so unsatisfied and stuck. I know 30 is still young but I'd say that most people around me at 30 (or worst, at like 22) are somewhat where they wished or worked for. Is it me that didn't work hard enough? Is it me that don't know how to make connections or friends? How can I finally achieve part of what I want, how can I be headed in the ''right'' direction? I feel so much pressure to BE someone.
I thought I'd be fit, I'm not, I pushed it away. I thought I'd still be a singer, but after my EP things kind of fell apart. I thought I'd be travelling, I'm not. I thought I'd have some financial stability, I don't. I do have great things in my life, I know, but what strikes me at 30 is what I don't have.
My wish for this new decade is to realize my dreams. I want to find solutions to my ''problems'' and move foward. I want to make music with awesome musicians. I want to continue my blog and be more creative. I'd love to make new friends. I will care even less about comments on how crazy I am, how too passionate or curious I am, how I rarely hesitate to talk with people and make new connections. Who cares honestly? I'm already 30, what do I have to waist now? Nothing.
I want to be even more in synch with what I truly want. I don't know if I want kids and I have to come to terms with that. I have anxiety, it's ok I'll get through it.
I have been suggested to do a list, a 5 year plan, a 10 year plan, and I will do so, trying to figure out what my next steps are. I'd love to do the Lulu Lemon's 10 year plan. I'd love also this year to try Bullet journaling .


The Thoreau Woods Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville, TX, was established as the Huntsville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on the Sunday after Labor Day in September 1983. Stuart and Beth Williamson, who relocated to Huntsville that year, ran an ad in the Huntsville Item inviting anyone interested in the Unitarian denomination to a brunch and discussion meeting at a restaurant where the Tejas Café is now located. Stuart prepared a talk explaining who the Unitarians are and what they believe. Two other people, Kelley and Anne Sigler, came to the meeting. Like Stuart and Beth, Kelley and Anne had been Unitarians before coming to Huntsville, so Stuart did not make his presentation. Encouraged by the warmth of the conversation at the first meeting, the four founders decided to form a fellowship.
In the spring of 1986, the fellowship held its first formal election of officers at a picnic meeting on the shore of Lake Livingston. Elected were Dr. A. J. [Jack] Westbrook, president; Kelley and Anne Sigler, vice presidents; Beth Williamson, secretary; and Hal Coleman, treasurer. Marilyn Camarca became newsletter editor and Doris McGonagle was religious education chair.
By the summer of 1986, the congregation had the minimum twenty members necessary to affiliate with the Unitarian Universalist Association. By the time we applied for affiliation, we could report twenty-two members. We were incorporated on September 3, 1986, and received our certificate of affiliation in October of that year. That same year we began meeting in the Laura Chapel of Huntsville Memorial Hospital. We continued meeting at the Laura Chapel on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, except for the three summer months when we met only on the 2nd Sunday.
Through the years many guest speakers have presented programs at our Sunday morning services. We have invited individuals from the Huntsville area to speak on various topics, some religious in nature and some of just general interest. Perhaps exploring a variety of topics is our way of increasing our own "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part," one of the principles of the Unitarian Universalists.
In June of 1997, Dr. Frank Schulman became our minister, speaking regularly on the 2nd Sunday of each month until his death in January 2006.
On July 9, 2006, the membership of the Huntsville Unitarian Fellowship met in a special meeting after the service for the purpose of considering the appointment of Rev. Tom Capo for the position of consulting minister. He was chosen by a unanimous vote. He began his duties in September 2006, and he continued preaching regularly once a month through August 10, 2008, when he accepted a call to be the full-time pastor of People's Unitarian Universalist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
After being given a plot of land at 144 East Mosley in Huntsville, the membership voted on April 8, 2009, to begin construction of a building on a pay-as-you-go basis. The first stage (dried-in) was completed by the end of July 2009.
On August 9, 2009, the membership met in a special meeting after the service to accept John Pepper's proposal to work part time as a ministerial intern for the Huntsville UU Fellowship for two years beginning in September 2009.
On February 14, 2010, John Pepper presided as 39 people attended our first service in our new building on East Mosley Lane. Lee Stringer was recognized for spearheading the construction of the pay-as-you-go project. Our guest speaker, the Rev. Leonora Montgomery, a UU minister who has served four churches in the Houston area, brought us a meaningful sermon on "Touching Lives." This service was dedicated to Kelley Sigler, founding member and original building committee chair, whose health prevented him from attending.
In May of 2010, now holding services every Sunday in their own building, the members voted to begin using the name Thoreau Woods Unitarian Universalist Church.
In support for and appreciation of John Pepper in his ongoing goals and ministry, the membership voted unanimously to ordain John Pepper as a Unitarian Universalist minister. The ordination ceremony was held during the Sunday morning service on June 13, 2010. John Pepper preaches twice a month at Thoreau Woods, and guest speakers or other programs are scheduled for the remaining Sundays each month.


text:
When He-Man action figures appeared in toy aisles across America in the 1980s, they were unlike anything any child had seen before. And the revenue figures proved it: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe toys generated $38.2 million in 1982 and grew to a peak of $400 million in 1986.
One of the innovative aspects of this toy franchise was the inclusion of a bonus mini comic which told a story relevant to the figure it came with. These comics helped flesh out the characters and the overall storyline with the intention of selling more product. But the secret origin of these comics — these comics which have inspired website archives, reviews, and hardcover reprints — has a special lesson for product managers.
Star Wars Has a Movie. The Kids Know The Story And Buy The Toys. What Do You Guys Have?
In episode three of the documentary series The Toys That Made Us, former VP of Boys Toys at Mattel, Mark Ellis, reveals the origin of the He-Man mini comics.
Prior to launching the toy line, Ellis and his team present the concept to retailers for their feedback and endorsement. The brand overview shows off He-Man, his skull-faced nemesis Skeletor, and other key characters. The presentation seems to be going well.
Then, a sales representative from a key retailer observes that the Star Wars toys are very popular because children know the characters from the movie and then buy the characters they love from the movie.
The skeptical rep asked the He-Man team point blank, "What do you guys have?"
At that early stage, there is no He-Man animated series to support the toy line.
There's nothing.
After a moment of silence, Ellis responds, "Didn't we tell you? We're going to have a free comic book series inside each package so the kids will know about He-Man from the comics."
The buyers accept the answer and the day is saved.
After the meeting, when the Mattel team asks Ellis when he had thought of the comics idea, he admits, "Right now."
Invention Is Part Of The Job
As product managers, we're taught to look hard at problems and really dig into them. But, the reality is, PMs find themselves solving problems of all sort every day.
Sometimes you can draw on previous experiences or training. Oftentimes, you're making it up as you go along based on whatever data you have on hand.
Every day, you're inventing something. The faster your can generate, collate, and evaluate ideas to get at a solution, the more successful you're going to be.
Mental Models
Aero Wong at 100PM outlines three mental models for product managers, which can help you think more swiftly on your feet.
I'll summarize and comment on the three models using Skeletor as our object lesson, and add a mental model of my own.
Mental Model Summary Comments & Questions
The Higher Reality Product management intersects with business, technology and user experience. To succeed, the PM must be experienced in at least one, passionate about all three, and conversant with all. Skeletor operates in the intersection of magic, ambition, and being an Evil Lord of Destruction. He won't rest until he possesses the secrets of Castle Grayskull, which would make him Master of the Universe, and is always relaying this vision to his minions and even to his enemies.
As a PM, how much time do you spend completing tasks versus elevating your understanding of the bigger picture? Are you effective at sharing the big picture with your counterparts in business, UX, and engineering? Do they understand your vision? How do you know?
The Zoom Out Perspective This model expands beyond the internal view and focuses on the PM's need to create value for your customers and for your business. Despite his many strengths, Skeletor always loses to He-Man. Why? Because, even though Skeletor is generally a big picture thinker, he always, always loses the forest for the trees… or loses to his intense pollen allergies.
Do you venture outside of the building to learn about your market? Do you interact with analysts? Observe customers in their natural environments to understand their goals, their tools, their concerns?
The New Skill Model This model focuses on the "soft skills" of Communication, Organization, Research, and Execution to summarize what PMs should focus their time on. Skeletor has big plans and seems like he's always on the move. But, practically speaking, there appears to be very little method or process in his organization beyond Dream Big, Fail Spectacularly, Berate Your Minions.
Practically speaking, how do you spend your time? If you were to review your calendar for the last six months, and rate your activities by percentage of time spent, would you be happy with the percentages or want to make changes moving forward?
The Hordak Principle Skeletor was originally a minion himself, serving the evil Hordak. While Skeletor is forever scheming to conquer Eternia and capture Castle Grayskull, Hordak has enslaved a whole other world. Hordak knows how to succeed through others while Skeletor struggles. As a product manager, you'll quickly get shown the door if you treat people like minions. So don't do that.
However, as an influencer, how can you get the best out of the people you work with? How can you build trust? Create a shared vision? Encourage mutual respect and appreciation?
These things won't necessarily help you think faster, but this approach will get you better ideas faster and gain a more consistent commitment from the team — elements which are crucial to success and performance.
Enjoy the original introduction to the animated series He-Man and the Masters Of The Universe from 1983:
Comics Legend Steve Ditko Illustrates The Importance…
He-ManMark EllisMattelMental ModelsSkeletor


text:
Le Chrono des Nations-Les Herbiers-Vendée 2011 est la trentième édition de cette course cycliste contre-la-montre, la sixième sous ce nom adopté en 2006 après la disparition du Chrono des Nations. Il est disputé par six catégories de cycliste : quatre chez les hommes (élites, espoirs, juniors et cadets) et deux chez les femmes (élites et juniors).

Classement de la course masculine élite

Notes et références

Lien externe
 Site officiel

2011
Cyclisme sur route en 2011
Sport en France en octobre 2011

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Aspire Technology Partners Named to 2017 CRN Fast Growth 150 List
Eatontown, NJ, August 8, 2017 -
Aspire Technology Partners, a technology consulting company specializing in powering business transformation, announced that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Aspire Technology Partners to its 2017 Fast Growth 150 list. The list is CRN's annual ranking of North America-based technology integrators, solution providers and IT consultants with gross sales of at least $1 million that have experienced significant economic growth over the past two years. The 2017 list is based on gains in gross revenue between 2014 and 2016, and the companies recognized represent a total, combined revenue of more than $16.7 billion.
"We're thrilled to be recognized by CRN on the Fast Growth 150 list again this year," said John C. Harris, President & CEO of Aspire. "Our ranking is a reflection of our sustained growth and shows that our outcome-driven approach to helping clients transform their technology infrastructure – to be enablers of business value – continues to deliver desired results in the enterprise, public sector, and education markets we serve."
Aspire Ranks #23 on List Recognizing Thriving Solution Providers in the IT Channel
"The companies on CRN's 2017 Fast Growth 150 list are thriving in what is now a very tumultuous, demanding IT channel climate," said Robert Faletra, CEO of The Channel Company. "This remarkable group of solution providers has successfully adapted to a landmark industry shift away from the traditional VAR business model to a more services-driven approach, outpacing competitors and emerging as true channel leaders. We congratulate each of the Fast Growth 150 honorees and look forward to their continued success."
The Fast Growth 150 list is highlighted in the August issue of CRN and can be viewed online at www.crn.com/fastgrowth150.
About Aspire Technology Partners
Aspire is more than just a technology provider. We power business transformation for data-driven companies, institutions and government organizations seeking to enhance growth and advance strategic objectives. From cloud to mobility to security solutions, our industry-leading Aspire Transformation Cycle™ delivers a proven IT transition method – enabling CIOs and IT professionals to make digital transformation a simple, repeatable process. Unlike conventional IT service partners, our proprietary approach adds trust and certainty to a full suite of managed services, while our Guardian3™ Assurance Program defines outcomes, establishes control and ensures accountability. Headquartered in Eatontown, New Jersey, Aspire is focused on serving the tri-state and mid-Atlantic regions with local operations in Mount Laurel, NJ, Exton, PA, Scranton, PA and White Plains, NY. For more information, visit www.aspiretransforms.com.


text:
{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings, DataKinds #-}

module Tests.Pretty where

import           Language.Hakaru.Parser.Parser
import qualified Language.Hakaru.Parser.AST as U
import           Language.Hakaru.Parser.SymbolResolve
import           Language.Hakaru.PrettyConcrete

import           Language.Hakaru.Syntax.ABT
import qualified Language.Hakaru.Syntax.AST as T
import           Language.Hakaru.Syntax.TypeCheck

import Prelude hiding (unlines)

import Data.Text
import Text.PrettyPrint
import Test.HUnit
import Text.Parsec.Error
import Control.Monad.Trans.State.Strict (evalState)

letTest = unlines ["x = 2"
                  ,"y = 3"
                  ,"x"
                  ]

letTest2 = unlines ["x = y = 2"
                   ,"    y"
                   ,"x"
                   ]

defTest = unlines ["def foo(x nat) nat:"
                  ,"  x + 2"
                  ,"foo(3)"
                  ]

defTest2 = unlines ["def foo(x nat, y nat) nat:"
                   ,"  x + y"
                   ,"foo(2,3)"
                   ]

pToa :: U.AST' Text -> U.AST a
pToa ast = makeAST $ normAST $ evalState (symbolResolution primTable ast) 0

inferType' :: U.AST a -> TypeCheckMonad (TypedAST (TrivialABT T.AST))
inferType' = inferType

-- Tests things are parsed and prettyprinted nearly the same
testPretty :: Text -> Doc
testPretty t =
    case parseHakaru t of
      Left  err  -> error (show err)
      Right past ->
          let m = inferType' (pToa past) in
          case runTCM m LaxMode of
            Left  err  -> error (show err)
            Right (TypedAST _ ast) -> pretty ast


'framework f5x5x5 is an interactive kinetic light sculpture, extending the bi-dimensional screen space, by transposition of its pixel resolution to the physical space. Conceived as a modular infrastructure, f5x5x5 is a communication and computation system, propagating in form of light and sound, the events it inhabits. Presence and motion create and alter the transmitted data, and propagation of this data becomes a spacetime parameter.


text:
Former state captain, member of Federation Cup winning ITI team Kantharaj no more
A Kantharaj, 75, former captain of Karnataka state football team and ITI passed away last Friday, February 25 morning 7 am at his residence in Hoskote.
Kantharaj was employed with and a part of the all-conquering Bangalore's Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) team that won many tournaments but most importantly the first edition of Federation Cup in 1977.
Known for his robustness and leadership skills, Kantharaj was regular in the Santosh Trophy team thru the 70s. His most important feat was in 1976 State Nationals where he lost of Bengal in the final.
Later, Kantharaj focussed on developing football near his area of residence, he formed Town SC Hoskote. This football club was regular in BDFA C Division League. He was an integral part of Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) and served as a general body member in KSFA.
Kantharaj is survived by his wife and three sons. The burial service took place on Saturday morning. The football association condoled the death of the former star and prayed for his bereaved family. Also, a minute's silence was observed during the games in Friday's A Division Women's League.
Labels: 1977 federation cup, Federation cup, ITI, Santosh Trophy, Town SC Hoskote


Who was Gumnami Baba, if not Netaji?
Rajeev Shukla chooses to ignore the people whom Gumnami Baba corresponded with, including the likes of INA Secret Service sleuth Pabitra Mohan Roy, freedom fighter Leela Roy, and Janata MP Samar Guha. Ms Roy, who was affectionately called "Lee" by Gumnami Baba, even wrote to Netaji's friend Dilip Roy, informing that Dilip's "friend was alive in India". Further, Shukla might want to check why letters written by former UP chief ministers Dr Sampurnanand and Banarsi Das, and former union minister Ghani Khan Choudhury were found in the belongings of the Faizabad monk who lived next to jungles.
Respond to Who was Gumnami Baba, if not Netaji?


This winter season on the world's second highest mountain K2 is historic in every sense.
Widely considered as "the last problem of mountaineering" climbing K2 in Winters had been a distant dream so far.Since late eighty's only four teams have tried to climb the summit in winter; all without success. It is now almost three decades since first attempt for K2 in Winter was done and no human to date have crossed K2 beyond 7650m altitude in harsh winter of Karakorum.
Currently two Teams are on K2 seeking out to overcome this "Last Great Challenge" .
First one is the "Western Team" comprising of Spanish and Polish Mountaineers which is lavishly equipped and sponsored, led by 37 year old Spaniard Alex Tricon.The second team is a Russian / Kazakhstan / Kirghizstan dominated which can be referred as "Eastern Team". This team unfortunately is neither well equipped nor sponsored enough .
Despite of the fact that mountain climbing is a team sport which heavily depends on support staff including the accompanying sherpas and logistics people at the base camp it all ultimately boils down to the leadership of a daring mission like that.So how the team leaders of these two different and highly competitive teams compare to each other.
The team leader of Western Team "Alex Txikon" was born in Spain on December 12 , 1981. To his credit are almost thirty expeditions including fourteen of 8000ers . Most noticeably in 2016 he completed the first winter ascent to Nanga Parbat .With unsuccessful winter climb of Everest in 2017 and successful climb of Nanga Parbat in 2016 in Winter Alex is in good shape to meet this great challenge .
As both teams move cautiously inch by inch on K2 in harsh winters under their experienced leaders , it remains yet to be seen if this last great challenge is accomplished once for all or will be left for future.


The Laurel Foundation: New Advisory Board Members & Summer Camp!
The Laurel Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1992 by Margot Andrew-Anderson to serve children, youth, and families affected by HIV/AIDS and other at-risk youth populations. This year, The Laurel Foundation expanded the population it serves to include transgender and gender nonconforming youth. The Laurel Foundation has added new advisory board members including TransFamily Support Services Executive Director, Kathie Moehlig. Click the following link to see the official announcement and the list of stellar transgender advocacy professionals with whom Kathie will be working: Introducing The Laurel Foundation's New Advisory Board Members!
The Laurel Foundation will host the first free transgender camp program in the nation, Camp Laurel's Transgender Summer Camp from July 29 – August 2, 2017. The program will be based on traditional camp programs, yet cater to the unique mental and physical health of youth (aged 13-17) who are gender nonconforming or transgender. The program helps empower youth in an accepting environment, filled with volunteer transgender role models. For many of the youth, this is the first time they are truly liberated and supported to be who they are. For an application and more information (including volunteer opportunities) click the following link: The Laurel Foundation Transgender Summer Camp.
DIVAS GIVE BACK — A Fundraiser to Support TransFamily!


text:
Birth Chart of Erin Gray, Astrology Horoscope, Date of Birth
Home > Famous People > Birthday: Jan 7 > Birth chart: Erin Gray > Horoscope
Erin Gray - Birth Chart
7 January 1950 - 18:25h
Sun: Cap
Moon: Vir
ASC: Can
Erin Gray - Astrology Birth Chart, Horoscope
Date of Birth (local time):
7 January 1950 - 18:25 (HST)
Universal Time (UT/GMT):
8 January 1950 - 04:25 (+10:00h)
US, Honolulu:
21°18'N, 157°52'W
Rodden, Astro.com (A)
(Erin Gray 2022, 2023 - Biography, Wikipedia info, Astrological Signs)
Erin Gray
Date of Birth Jan 7, 1950
Erin Gray - Filmography - Actor (IMDb.com)
(2017) - Timberwolf
(2014) - Christmas in Palm Springs
(2013) - Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th
(2012) - I Married Who?
(2012) - Nesting
(2011) - Dreams Awake
(2010) - Elf Sparkle and the Special Red Dress
(2009) - Hunter Prey
(2008) - My True Self
(2008) - Ghouls
(2008) - Loaded
(2007) - The Wedding Video
(2007) - The Wedding Bells (TV series)
(2007) - Nuclear Hurricane
(2007) - Jane Doe: How to Fire Your Boss
(2006) - Siren
(2004) - Caught in the Headlights
(2003) - VH-1 Where Are They Now? - Superheros
(2003) - Holding Out
(2002) - Special Weapons and Tactics
(2002) - Clover Bend
(2001) - Social Misfits
(2001) - Serial Intentions
(2001) - Touched by a Killer
(2000) - Woman's Story
(2000) - The Last Producer
(2000) - Delicate Instruments
(1997) - Port Charles (TV series)
(1996) - Profiler (TV series)
(1995) - Crowfoot
(1995) - A Dangerous Place
(1994) - T-Force
(1994) - Official Denial
(1994) - Honor Thy Father and Mother: The True Story of the Menendez Murders
(1994) - Heaven Help Us (TV series)
(1994) - Burke's Law (TV series)
(1993) - Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
(1993) - Bonkers (TV series)
(1993) - Almost Home (TV series)
(1992) - Renegade (TV series)
(1992) - Les Danseurs du Mozambique
(1991) - Dark Justice (TV series)
(1991) - Silk Stalkings (TV series)
(1990) - Evening Shade (TV series)
(1990) - Laker Girls
(1989) - Baywatch (TV series)
(1989) - The New Lassie (TV series)
(1988) - Superboy (TV series)
(1988) - Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace
(1988) - Addicted to His Love
(1987) - Breaking Home Ties
(1987) - Jake and the Fatman (TV series)
(1986) - Starman (TV series)
(1986) - The Princess and the Dwarf
(1986) - L.A. Law (TV series)
(1986) - Code of Vengeance (TV series)
(1985) - Code of Vengeance
(1984) - Murder, She Wrote (TV series)
(1984) - Hunter (TV series)
(1983) - The Hitchhiker (TV series)
(1983) - Hotel (TV series)
(1982) - Born Beautiful
(1982) - Silver Spoons (TV series)
(1982) - Six Pack
(1981) - Entertainment Tonight
(1981) - The Fall Guy (TV series)
(1981) - Simon & Simon (TV series)
(1980) - Magnum, P.I. (TV series)
(1980) - Coach of the Year
(1979) - Winter Kills
(1979) - The Ultimate Impostor
(1979) - Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series)
(1979) - Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
(1978) - Vega$ (TV series)
(1978) - Evening in Byzantium
(1978) - B.J. and the Bear (TV series)
(1977) - The Love Boat (TV series)
(1977) - Fantasy Island (TV series)
(1974) - The Rockford Files (TV series)
(1973) - The $10,000 Pyramid
(1972) - Maude (TV series)
(1965) - The Hollywood Squares
(1962) - The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Erin Gray - Filmography - Producer (IMDb.com)
(2017) - One Hand Clapping
Erin Gray 2023 - Astrological Charts, Astrology Online
Erin Gray Astro-Databank - Astro Database Categories
Birthday Jan 7 | 1950 births | Chinese Ox | Life Path 5
Sun in Capricorn + Moon in Virgo + ASC in Cancer | ASC 22° Cancer | MC 16° Aries |
Sun 17° Capricorn | Sun in 6th house | Moon 5° Virgo | Moon in 2nd house | Mercury 4° Aquarius | Mercury in 7th house | Venus 18° Aquarius | Venus in 8th house | Mars 4° Libra | Mars in 3rd house | Jupiter 8° Aquarius | Jupiter in 7th house | Saturn 19° Virgo | Saturn in 3rd house | Uranus 2° Cancer | Uranus in 12th house | Neptune 17° Libra | Neptune in 4th house | Pluto 17° Leo | Pluto in 2nd house |
Saturn Retrograde | Uranus Retrograde | Pluto Retrograde | Disseminating Moon Phase 228° |
Erin Gray, Birth Chart Horoscopes & Signs - Capricorn
Sun in Capricorn
Capricorn sign is ruled by the planet Saturn, which gives people born under this sign peace, patience, perseverance and ambition. These people are able to put maximum effort into work they have chosen to do or which they were told to do. -»
Moon in Virgo
Moon (Luna)
Your feeling of safety is related to order and clarity, even in emotions. You may have the need to organise everything chaotic and disorganized. Try being more tolerant and accept imperfections of life. You may be terrified to show your dark side, but this can unnecessarily include something that your mother considered unacceptable or something that was denied to you in your childhood. Suppressing healthy, but problematic passions can turn into a hidden inner desire. Great emotional intensity and suppression of natural emotions can lead you into solitude, it is better to trust life and let it run its own way, not everything must be according to your expectations.
Ascendant in Cancer
Ascendant (Rising Sign)
With Cancer Ascendant, you need to develop and refine your emotional life. Some people are so emotionally vulnerable that they form a shell around them to protect their soul. The challenge is to find a way to use your sensitivity in order to ensure that you are not overburdened with it. Cancer Ascendant can also be very surprised by how many emotions are hidden underneath his calm and cool appearance. You should learn to live in accordance with your internal and organic rhythms and currents. Governed by feelings, Cancer Ascendant cannot be convinced by explanations and logical arguments.
Capricorn Descendant - Partners & Compatibility
If you want to stay in your relationship, you should learn to distinguish which emotions are healthy and reasonable, and which should be controlled or dampen. Capricorn Descendant searches for partners that are secured, strong and stable. In time you should find these qualities within yourself and not expect to get them from others.
If Cancer is on the Ascendant, your partner can be older and more mature, but may seem to you cold or calculating. You must break out of your child role; learn to be objective, serious and plain in order to feel more confident and secure. You should accept certain restrictions in a relationship and have a solid, reliable attitude towards your partner.
Disseminating (Waning Gibbous) Moon
228°00' (Soli-Lunar Degree)
Scattering seeds, Distribution, Teach, Sharing and Introspection
Ox (Earth)
Fir Tree
The Fir people are very hardworking and talented, endowed with cool beauty and dignity. They can do any job or solve any problem with their special originality, and most of their efforts will lead to a successful end. -»
Erin Gray 2023 - Biography at Wikipedia (Wiki, Age, Birthday)
Erin Gray - actress
Erin Gray was born on January 7, 1950 in Honolulu, United States
Erin Gray at:
Houses: (Placidus system)
Midpoints:
Sun/Moon:


To cover my needs in a State (Florida) where the only outlet is at home.
I'm in Georgia, and I only charge at home. I plug-in at home every night and only exceed the electric range a couple of days per week. So far I'm only buying gas every 6-8 weeks, as opposed to filling up weekly as I did in my prior minivan. In addition, I've taken 4 long trips (1000+ miles round trip) and I can get about 400 miles per tank instead of barely 300. So even when I don't/can't plug-in to charge, the hybrid engine will recover energy and boost my gas mileage. After 6 months and 9000 miles, I drove about 41% electric overall.
I ordered a 2017 before last spring's recall, so I didn't get a deal on my car and GA doesn't have any EV incentives any more... just the Federal Tax Credit. But that was enough to make the Pacifica cost-competitive with the ICE version. I admit that I had some concerns getting the first model year, but my old van was on its last legs and no-one else was offering a hybrid minivan (plug-in or otherwise) and the hybrid SUVs that I test-drove didn't meet my needs.
As far as the electronics issues, those seem to mainly be reported in the new UConnect release that came out last summer... and I expect all FCA vehicles with the new UConnect are having similar issues, not just the Pacifica Hybrid. Although I sometimes wish I had the Apple/Android connectivity in the newer version, I am relieved that the older version has been extremely stable, even when updates were released last September. It also leads me to believe that they get the issues fixed in the new version eventually.
Norbert and pachyderm like this.
I'm saving money every month on less gas vs increased electric. Plus, since I plug in at work, I only pay for half of my electric.
Beyond that, this is a step in a better direction for the environment. These vehicles are a stepping stone to leaving gasoline behind. I felt an obligation when buying a new van to purchase one that was better for the world than my last one. If a person is income restricted to a gasser, that's fine. If a person doesn't want a PHEV, that's fine too. I don't have either of those limitations, so I felt a duty to buy the PHEV. My wife and I are planning our next home, and are looking at putting a solar roof on it alongside a small residential windmill, so our electric car will be sun/wind powered if possible. If that costs me a little more, and I can still afford it, it will happen.
I was looking at LG Chem RESU series HV storage units for solar. With a good inverter and some software you could stay off the grid as much as the solar allows in your hood which would be pretty cool.
Last edited by m0ebius604; 04-05-2018 at 03:27 PM.
The main reason that I see why these vans don't make it over here is simply the price of gas. Gas in Japan is a little more than in Canada. The extra cost of the battery system exceeds any savings for the average American driver. As soon as the price of the van goes up, it gets into the luxury ICE SUV market and there is far more competition at that end for fewer customers.
As much as everyone dislikes Ontario's government, the only reason that I can see that the PacHy was built at all (here) is the generous $100 million they loaned/gifted? the plant. They then put their money where their mouth was and give $14,000 per vehicle to anyone buying one here. This puts the price BELOW the ICE model it compares to. They also pay up to $1000 to install the L2 charger here. The only risk to the consumer I can see is the long term resale value (unknown) vs. an ICE and the replacement cost of a battery.
For me, it's worth the risk (although I won't sell my Sienna right away and leave it parked as back up for a while).
The PacHy is the best of all worlds, compared to a pure EV. Chrysler was smart in designing a van that was a hybrid first, plug in second, with the computer making ALL the power decisions.
Here's why a Tesla makes little practical sense, and is simply a toy like a Lambo.
The hybrid aspect of the van is its best feature - simply because in the real world, there are few plug-in spots available. Until you can plug in at every light post, pure electric cars will never catch on. Also, gas will have to double in the US before people will even begin to question it.
Finally, the fact the a van is the most versatile vehicle on the road, for passengers and cargo, makes me confident in my decision to purchase a PacHy. Hopefully get mine this week!
There's so much wrong with this it's hard to know where to start. First congrats on your purchase, you won't be disappointed!
The hybrid aspect of the van is the feature I like the least and here's why; I wish it were pure electric. If you don't already own a pure EV I can understand how that would be a hard thing to understand but the gas motor kicking in ruins the driving experience. With a proper long-range (400+km) EV you think about cars and refuelling very differently than you do with an oil car. Charging infrastructure - while it could always improve - isn't what's holding EV's back, I'll explain that in a minute. What's holding EV's back is cost and availability - two things that are aggressively being solved as we speak.
You don't need a plug "at every light post". That's old and silly oil-car thinking where you have a gas station on every corner because you need to buy gas a lot. With an EV, you start each and every day with a "full" tank. What would you do if your current oil car started each day/everyday with a full tank of gas? How would that change your need for gas stations? How often would you stop at a gas station if you started each day with a full tank?
My current EV (other than the PacHy) is an old Leaf, whose range is similar to about a quarter tank of gas in a conventional car - maybe a third of a tank. It's not ideal but it gets the job done. I treat it like I would any car that starts the day with a quarter tank of gas. In an old oil car, that would usually mean you decide if you can do your errands today and buy gas tomorrow or if you need to do a bunch of driving and have to pick up gas later today. Most of the time with a quarter tank I bet you wait to tomorrow to buy gas. In the Leaf it's almost the same thing but I ALWAYS start the day with a 'quarter tank' so the 'buying gas tomorrow' thing almost never comes. Mostly I don't need to charge while I'm out because the stats don't lie - most people drive less than 100km in a given day. I'm betting you, and most people on here, are very comfortable riding a quarter tank gas for a few days before you decide to fill it. Now imagine if that tank magically filled back up to a quarter every day. That's an old Leaf.
Now imagine the new batch of EV's coming out. They are game changers. They basically have the equivalent of FULL tank of gas (400+km) but they also can charge (ie refill) over night. Every night. At your house. That means road trips aren't just possible but they're almost like any other car so long as there's a couple of fast chargers around - at least one, ideally another as a backup. And you know what? Fast chargers ARE around and there are more of them every week.
This is where Teslas really do prove they aren't "toys like a lambo". In their segments (luxury sedan & luxury SUV) they are outselling all of their competitors, even a bunch of them combined. The Model S and X are eating the lunch of the incumbents. The main problem with Tesla up to now is that they're luxury cars that most people can't afford. Now with the Model 3; and the new Leaf; and the Hyundai Kona EV; and the Chevy Bolt; there are a crop of EV's that compete on price with their oil equivalents without subsidies (although subsidies do sweeten the deal of course!). Only a fool would discount the importance of what is about to happen to the auto industry.
Oil car days are numbered and while the Pacifica Hybrid is a great van it is merely a stop-gap until a pure EV van eats its market. Maybe someday soon they'll make a long-range EV Pacifica but more than likely someone else will beat FCA to it (I'm thinking it'll be VW with the new ID Buzz). EV's are cleaner, quieter, more fun to drive, perform better, have lower (almost no!) maintenance and are cheaper to own and run. Everything being equal, gas could go to free and EV's would still win because they are better in every measurable way. Don't kid yourself, the EV takeover will happen soon - it's ramping up right now, and when I say soon I mean in the next few years - probably by 2023-2025 when the used market has a bunch of low-cost long-range EV's available.
snorth, ScorpyMjolnir, MLambert and 2 others like this.
As much as everyone dislikes Ontario's government, the only reason that I can see that the PacHy was built at all (here) is the generous $100 million they loaned/gifted? the plant. They then put their money where their mouth was and give $14,000 per vehicle to anyone buying one here.
I have seen a video with the head hybrid designer saying that the PacHy was a forced project by government regulations but they had a choice what vehicle they wanted to build with.
The PacHy is a conformance vehicle and I wouldnt be surprised if your right about the incentives. Either way doesnt affect my choice.
Last edited by m0ebius604; 04-06-2018 at 12:03 AM.
Thanks Mike that was a thoughtful reply. It does take a new way of thinking. I take many long trips, especially on the weekend, so perhaps that is why range anxiety is top of mind to me.
FYI, our other car is a 6-yr-old Model S. Mike makes a lot of good points. My husband charges his Tesla every night, and rarely exceeds the ~250 mile range running around town. We've taken a number of long trips in it as well, and have no problems finding fast chargers along our route... this includes trips from GA throughout the mid-west... we are not traveling in the EV-dense corridors on either coast. Most of the time we stop for 30-45 minutes every 200 miles, which gives us time to stretch our legs and get a snack. Not as quick as just stopping to fill the tank, but it isn't as much of an issue to take a road-trip as most people anticipate.
I seriously considered a Model X but really wanted the capacity of a minivan. The PacHy is a stepping stone, and I firmly believe that by the time I get my next car, there will be a lot of PHEV and EV options available to me. Battery technology is improving and the charging infrastructure is growing. With the longer ranges on newer EVs, they really are more practical than most people realize.
1tg1 and Mike like this.
No problem. The longest range EV on the market at the moment is the Model S 100D which has a 100kWh battery. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I think that gives something like 700km of range. The new Roadster doubles that to 200kWh in almost the same amount of underfloor space so we know 200kWh can fit into a reasonably-sized car. I would predict that in the next few years we'll start to see ultra long-range EV's with 150-200kWh show up. The new Kona EV has a 65kWh battery and I think that was more due to price point than a size limitation. With the improvements we've been seeing in the technology that could mean over 1000km range on a single charge for many new cars in the next few years. I think that would be enough range for pretty much anyone. It's not a technological impossibility, it's just a matter of price/performance at this point which means it'll happen eventually as the battery prices continue to fall.
Your next car will probably be an EV.
Every time we go on a road trip I'm always trying to imaging doing it in an EV. Every time I'm happy to have the ICE. I want to stop where and when I want to, and EVs aren't there yet. We did about 800 miles in 2.5 days to weeks ago, and charging options were few and far between. A year ago we went 1100 miles in a single day. No EV can do it.
EVs are perfect for commuting and driving around town. Only enthusiasts and people who happen to have convenient chargers along the way go to longer trips.
I would buy a Tesla any day over a Chrysler but they don't sell a minivan and I'm not about to drop $100K+ on an SUV.
My real world doesn't need a lot of plug in spots... I just need one - the one in my garage. While there are people that need 300++ mile range for their use, I would assume the vast majority of the people that buy commuter vehicles would be just fine with a 200-250 mile range. Charging networks are expanding quickly; those that need to take road trips will find that charging options are improving every year.
Quite frankly, all hybrids are dumb. It's all the technology and equipment needed to propel a gasoline powered vehicle... and all the technology and equipment needed to propel an electricity powered vehicle all mashed between four wheels. That's a lot of parts to tote around every day and a lot of parts to potentially break down as the vehicle ages. And all of this technology and equipment has to work perfectly otherwise it's off to the dealer. If one of the two propulsion technologies fail, the vehicle will NOT operate. BEVs (battery electric ONLY) vehicles are far superior to hybrids and plug-in hybrids. There is a fraction of the parts required to build the vehicle and they are far more reliable by a function of common sense. Simplicity also means lower manufacturing cost and lower liability for the manufacturer (i.e. less cars coming back in for costly warranty claims)... and once the current battery manufacturing capability ramps up, the dreaded high cost of a massive BEV battery will settle; they will soon be less expensive to build than gas powered vehicles. I'd say within 2 years BEVs with >200 mile range will be (all else being equal) cheaper to build than comparable gas powered cars. This is a pivotal moment I'm very eager to witness.
Despite my concerns about Chrysler's reliability and their less-than-stellar customer service (compared to Lexus which I've been driving for 12+ years before I got my PacHy), I'm happy with my purchase. ~$50K before credits is a more than fair price for a vehicle ladened with this much equipment and technology. I wouldn't be surprised if Chrysler was losing money on each sale.
And yes, I do pay more to drive it in electric-only mode than hybrid-only mode because of the high electricity rate in my area. But driving a vehicle propelled by electricity is a superior experience over driving a vehicle propelled by gasoline. There is just no comparison. And the best part is the gas stations just (mostly) lost a customer. I've driven over 2,000 miles so far and only 65 miles were on gas. At this rate, my first tank of gas will last me 8 months. Not even two visits to the gas station in a year... THIS is why I love my PacHy.


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AmazonUK AmazonUS
Edward ELGAR (1857 � 1934)
Enigma Variations, Op. 36
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Sir Andrew Davis.
Recorded live in Worcester Cathedral, 30 June 2004.
DVD. (DTS Stereo, LPCM Stereo).
BBC OPUS ARTE OA 0917 D [85�00"]
This DVD will give enormous pleasure and it is an example of what the BBC can do when they are not trying to dumb down or be clever. The programme is divided into two parts, the first being a complete performance of the Enigma Variations given by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under their past Music Director Sir Andrew Davis. How refreshing it is to see this orchestra trying to, and indeed succeeding in playing with commitment and fervour. This contrasts with their past performances under Leonard Slatkin, happily having now left these shores after his disastrous tenure as Music Director.
We are often told in sleeve-notes about how Elgar�s compositions are suited to the English Cathedral environment. Well, here you are: Elgar�s most famous composition, set in perhaps one of the most English of all cathedrals, Worcester. It is a highly appropriate locale, given that Worcester was Elgar�s home, and many of his works were actually premiered there.
Davis leads his orchestra through Elgar�s masterpiece with a surefootedness which comes from a long experience of the composer in general, and of this work in particular. The orchestra�s concentration on what they are doing comes over in the performance, and although it was probably recorded in bits and pieces there is a sweep about the whole performance which is mightily impressive. Maybe they were overawed by the location, but whether they were or not, this is of no matter, since the end-product is so outstanding.
The sound quality is superb with the microphone placing being chosen so as to allow us to hear the cavernous acoustic of the cathedral without it becoming too woolly so as to lose definition. The presence of the cathedral organ in the finale is gut-wrenching in the extreme.
The second half of the programme is a documentary, covering a good portion of some of the characters around which Elgar built his Variations. This is informative without becoming sentimental, and the producers and director are to be congratulated for a programme which so easily could have descended into sentimental mush. The portrait of the inhabitants of the Enigma Variations is a little longer than the work itself, running as it does to some 49 minutes, compared to 37 minutes for the Variations. It is good to have this part of the documentary hosted by the conductor and orchestra rather than some plastic "celeb", which appears to be the BBC ethic at present. In addition, there are no computer graphics so that viewers like myself who abhor the current fad of our masters in the BBC will obtain unalloyed pleasure from this DVD. I detest the thinking that says that we cannot absorb information without flashing lights, strange visual effects or indeed without a constant rock-beat in the background.
Sound quality is excellent. This release deserves to do exceptionally well in the market-place, provided that enough information is given about the release to allow music-lovers like myself to make up our own minds.
The DVD comes with multi-lingual sub-titles and with short, but nonetheless detailed summaries of what is being presented in English, German and French. It was a very nice touch also to include period photographs of the various friends of Elgar, pictured within the Variations, together with some magnificent photographs of the venue during the filming. Recommended without reservation.
I am sure that this release will be one of my DVDs of the Year.
see also review by Ian Lace


When God created the universe, He established a principle to govern it—the principle of authority. God Himself was the highest authority. Under God were the archangels and under the archangels were many other angels. When man was created, he too was under God's authority.
Among the angels which God created was the archangel Lucifer. He was head over all the angels. He was the most beautiful, the most powerful, and the wisest angel ever created.
Lucifer's rebellion was against God's authority. He sought to take God's place. As a result of his rebellion, he became Satan, the enemy of God and the enemy of man. One third of the angels of heaven followed Satan in his rebellion against God. These fallen angels are called "demons" or "evil spirits."
Satan, along with the fallen angels, set up a kingdom opposed to God and His kingdom. Ever since that time, there have been two kingdoms in the universe—the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.
Prior to Satan's revolt, every created being lived by the principle of obedience to God's authority. But Satan introduced another principle, the principle of rebellion. Rebellion is a heart attitude toward God which says, "I will do what I want to do. I will not obey You."
God created the first man, Adam, and placed him in the Garden of Eden. Then God created a wife for Adam. Her name was Eve. God's arrangement was that Eve should be subject to Adam and that Adam should be subject to God Himself.
Satan desired to put his spirit of rebellion into man, but he did not approach Adam first. Instead, he went to Eve and enticed her into disobeying God by eating forbidden fruit. When Adam knew what Eve had done, he too took the forbidden fruit and ate it.
The Bible says that Eve was deceived. But Adam was not deceived. He chose to disobey God. Adam followed Satan in his rebellion against God. He said in his heart, "I will do what I want to do."
By the rebellion of Adam, sin entered the world. Adam passed his rebellious nature on to his children and to the whole world. Thereafter, rebellion became a principle in the heart of man. The Bible says, "We have turned every one to his own way." (Isaiah 53:6) This is why the Bible refers to unsaved people as "children of disobedience."
After the flood, God established laws and ordained human government. He gave men the authority to enforce His laws. God did this for the protection of mankind. People were so sinful and rebellious that, without some form of government, it would not have been possible to control evil.
Later, God chose Abraham to be the head of a race of people who would be called God's people. God wanted a people who would be obedient to Him in the midst of the rebellious human race.
Abraham's descendants became the nation of Israel, God's chosen people. It was God's purpose that His people be obedient to Him and establish His authority on the earth. God intended that, through the nation of Israel, all the people on earth would come to know Him.
But the people of Israel were disobedient and rebellious. God had to chasten them many times. Eventually God allowed their nation to be destroyed because of their continued disobedience. Those who were not killed were taken as slaves and dispersed throughout the world.
God created angels, and many of them rebelled against Him. He created man, and man rebelled against Him. He chose the nation of Israel to be His people, but the people of Israel rebelled against Him.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, as the Lord Jesus thought about bearing our sins on the cross, He prayed, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39) Since it was the Father's will that He die on the cross for our sins, He willingly obeyed His Father.
This man, Jesus Christ, has been given all authority in Heaven and in earth. He has become the Head of a new race—the children of God. Just as He lived His life by the principle of obedience, so we are to live our life by this same principle.
The principle of rebellion, which is the principle of Satan.
The principle of obedience, which is the principle of Christ.
Every person lives his life by one or the other of these two principles.
The basic principle of the world is rebellion.
This heart attitude of rebellion against God and His authority expresses itself in lawlessness. The Bible says that the world will be come more and more lawless as we approach the end of this age.
The basic principle of God's children is obedience.


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Byzantium (2012) - Neil Jordan
Clara and Eleanor never spend too much time in one place. They've just arrived in a run-down coastal resort town, seeking refuge. Clara meets a lonely man, Noel, who provides the two woman with shelter at his deceased grandmother's deserted guesthouse, Byzantium. Younger than Clara, Eleanor attends classes at the local school where she meets Frank. Their new life seems to be working out well for them until Elanor tells Frank their secret: They are not humans, but vampires, who have been living on this earth for over 200 years. Neil Jordan's Byzantium is a unique take on the vampire mythos that sees Jordan return to her more artistic storytelling routes. The film's narrative unfolds naturally over almost the entire duration of the movie, giving insights into Clara and Elanor's past. The core of this narrative revolves around the mother-daughter character dynamic, with Clara being much more cold and unforgiving about her violent ways of survival. Jordan does not shy away from capturing the brutal violence capable of these two woman but what's interesting is how the film juxtaposes it against beautiful imagery, capturing the character's point-of-view through this romanticism. The film's narrative flows between past and present in such a fluid way that the viewer themselves begins to get lost in the blur of time. This is particularly impressive because it is intentional, capturing how for someone with eternal life time itself would feel inconsequential. As I mentioned earlier, Byzantium is beautifully composed, with lush visuals that seem to brighten up the red hues of the film. My only real complaint about the film is that I did think the mother-daughter character dynamics could have used more refinement. It's clear that Clara has had an incredibly tough life and loves her daughter very much but I could used a little more subtlety and development in that department. The ending also feels a little rushed, particularly revolving around Sam Riley's decision at the end but it didn't bother me enough to take me out of the film. Neil Jordan's Byzantium is a welcome return for Jordan which features strong lead performances, lush visuals, and a unique and fascinating spin on the vampire mythos.


I've lived in Cheshire for five and a half years now, but still have so much exploring to do. We often say we'll go on family walks at weekends, yet somehow we never seem to get our acts together and actually do it. Would you believe that this location is less than a mile away from my house as the crow flies, but I'd never taken a walk down here before? Now I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner!
I've never owned a women's waterproof jacket before, and now I don't know how I've managed without one! Granted it was a gloriously sunny day when we shot these photos, but I've been caught out on the school run enough times to realise that everyone should have one! This jacket is so light, making it easy to roll up and pop into your bag or rucksack – perfect for both commuting and countryside walks. The hood and cuffs are adjustable, plus it's highly breathable. In addition to Berghaus, Blacks stock a wide range of waterproof jackets from different brands.
The horse in the field behind obviously wanted to steal the limelight and had a good roll, accompanied by some very contented grunting noises which had us in stitches!
The fleece layers perfectly with the waterproof jacket, creating an outfit ready to cope with any weather.
Having a warm layer underneath a thin waterproof jacket is essential on hikes and rambles. I think I may have been unfairly prejudiced against fleeces on account of seeing so many poor quality ones. But when I put this North Face women's fleece on I really didn't want to take it off; it's so soft and warm. It's made from recycled materials to create sustainable insulation.
I'm all for borrowing clothes from the boys, but a women's fleece will fit better and layer perfectly under a waterproof jacket. I now have an outfit ready to cope with any weather. Blacks have some great discounts on fleeces and waterproof jackets at the moment, so if you're thinking of investing in some good quality outdoor clothing now's the time to grab a bargain!
Do you love to get outdoors for a ramble or a hike?
Disclaimer: The brands included in this post asked for my opinion on the products featured from their range. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
You look so comfortable and I love this cozy athleisure look. That yellow beanie just steals the show, tho! I love the pom on top!
I *really* need to up my cold weather gear game! I never seem to have the appropriate gear for different weather conditions. You've inspired me to take a look at some real cold (and rainy!) weather items!


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Offering a self-paced interactive distance learning format, the Certified Triathlon Coach training is delivered over 32 days, including training materials, exam, certification and business advice designed to help new triathlon coaches succeed professionally and personally.