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America's Next Top Model's Tyra Banks & Oppo Smartphones are Changing the Game in Fashion/Beauty and Society.
Last Wednesday night at Greystone Manor nightclub in West Hollywood, Tyra Banks officially kicked off Cycle 22 with announcing a partnership with digital remote app, Oppo, since models and aspiring models like to and need to shoot selfies. Why not make them the best selfies.
Underneath all the drama, the craziness, America's Next Top Model is the reflector of change...change in society, change in demographics, change in what is considered beautiful, and change in technology and how technology change society or how society change technology.
In this arriving Cycle 22, two significant things have happened.
One, Tyra removed the height requirements.
Second, American's Next Top Model did castings based submitted selfies, headshots and poses, and casting through social media.
Those two actions reflect current and emerging social demographics and reflect how people are using everyday technology, opening the most diverse cast of aspiring models reflected on America's Next Top Model.
Since top-notch modeling agencies and brands have been looking to and sourcing America's Next Top Model winners and contests to fulfill consumers' needs and desires, America's Next Top Model has always been proud in being a game-changer and predicting changes in business and society. They were proud to be the one of the first mainstream shows to have a transgendered model as a sign of beauty, way before Caitlyn Jenner.
From its simple and humble beginnings, "How do you become a model," to changing and informing viewers to various ideas of beauty to catering the fashion industry's needs to being early adapters of technology, America's Next Top Model has influenced society, around the globe, unknowingly.
Ken Mok, said he, as an Asian-American and one of his producing partners, Tyra Banks, an African-American, knows that American society is changing and the fashion industry has to be adapt to those changes in society and the consumer demographics but how to discover new talent that fit those needs and get them proper training and out in the commercial spotlight?
Why produce a documentary "reality show" that films the process from beginning to end? America's Next Top Model which spawn numerous franchises across the globe.
Ken Mok, "At first, it was educational. Tyra wants to show people what it takes to be a model, the right way. What it takes to have then, it turns into an aspirational show where we took average-looking girls then turn them into beautiful models then give them a career."
Ken's producing partner, Laurie, "I think it's a couple of things. One, what we were saying 'What's great about fashion and the beauty world and technology is that, they're always changing. Even in the thirteen years we've been on, every year there's a new trend, a new designer, new technology. They're so interesting. Then, we follow the experiences of the contestants that we're casting through the lenses. So, we're telling a great story. "
"We tell them (the contestants) we want to be on the journey with you. The fact there are new things to talk about in this world. With beauty and social ideas, there are different models with different stories on different journeys. A lot of them will be here tonight. It's so interesting to see what they've gone through the show and even beyond that. Because, they change physically. They change outwardly. Some have their eyes open to other possibilities."
"That's one, too, is that we have achieved. What I like about the show, whether you become a model or not, by exposing the viewer to different types of people and to different types of beauty, we have helped changed people's idea of beauty at home." Which Tyra has set out to do."
Ken Mok, "The industry that is always over-turning itself is the fashion industry. Multi times a year, you know. So, we always look to the fashion world and the modeling world for inspiration for our challenges, our photo shoots and such. So, it's quite easy for us to come up with new challenges in new directions within the frameworks of the show."
"It's also challenging since we go through twenty-two cycles; and you're doing a number of runway shows. Every cycle how do we do that? So, we spend a lot of time, creatively, sitting in a room together, beating each other's brains in how to be creative; but, that's the challenge of the show. Luckily, we're able to come up with fresh ideas."
In retaining fans and keeping the concept fresh,...
Ken, "Like we always said, we try to keep on the cutting edge. In terms of fashion, in terms of what goes on in fashion world. For example, we did a partnership with Oppo phone (app). We talked that thirteen years ago, there was no such thing as a selfie. Now, I have a fourteen year-old daughter, who whenever she's in the car with me, she's taking three selfies in the car. Everybody now is a photographer. Everybody is a professional photographer."
"So, when Oppo came to us, 'Hey, we have this phone. It's incredibly stylish. It's like a fashion accessory. We have a camera in the phone that takes 64 mega pixels. It's professional grade quality and it's a great communication device. So, it's natural to partner up with you. We're gonna have our cast use it for photo shoots for challenges and use it to talk to each other. It's really easy. It's not just Oppo. Every year, we look for that cutting edge technology to use in the show."
Laura, Ken's producing partner, "One thing I like about Oppo is the entertainment value. Our show has a high entertainment value. It's all about fantasy but it's always been rooted into something real. Back to Cycle 1, Tyra said it's always has to be rooted to something that she experienced and learned. This ties to things we have to think up with. We will always have that fantasy but we root it to something that's real."
"No matter how crazy or how wild it gets, there is always something tied to an experience or a lesson."
"Actually, the partnership with Oppo is so perfect because, part of the reality, is that these kids today, we take away their television, we make them live in this house but once they have these cell phones; and they're able to take these selfies, bringing that reality of what kids are doing everyday to blend in what we're teaching them on "Top Model."
"This whole cycle, you'll see the phone being used in various ways. From just being social with each other, taking photos, beautifying themselves, doing different features, to what Ken said, we actually did professional photo shoots with them (on the camera).
On using the Oppo phone, Laura, "We actually had professional photographers use the Oppo Phone on professional photo shoots."
Laura mentioned they significantly crossed that line from causal shooting to doing professional photo shoots using Oppo Smartphone.
"It's based on fantasy but it's using what people at home can do."
Ken Mok, "We also have a cast member use the phone. One of the cast member is deaf, hearing impaired. So, the phone became important for him to be able to communicate with the cast members too. So, it got used in many ways.
What to expected in the new Cycle 22,...
Ken Mok, "What to expect...in Cycle 22, boys and girls. This was our second cycle where we did boys and girls. In the third cycle, we did men and women. This adds a new dimension to our show in eleven years. We only introduce girls in the series. Now, that we introduce guys, it completely makes the show new and fresh, creates a brand new dynamic for the show. That's big plus for us. Every year, we always cast in an interesting way. Not only do you find the cast very diverse, in ethnicity and in size, their personalities and backgrounds that the cast members have, are really, really interesting. This is the most fascinating group I ever seen."
Laura, "One thing, too, is what we talked about earlier, we changed the way we did casting this season. So, one thing Tyra took away the height requirement; and now a days, people used to submit some kind of photo to be taken into consideration and find some people in there. Several people have gotten onto the show because of their selfies. They're doing poses and submitting them via the internet. Between Oppo and doing a lot of castings through social media and taking away the height requirement, it really open up a lot of wide variety of people."
"This would make people look at them differently, as I said again. Evolving them (the cast), looking into what new areas we can put them into the modeling industry. Even in the fashion industry, there are a lot of campaigns right now that want the photos look like a selfie. Something relatable because that's what their audience is kinds used to."
"So, the cycle we have is a very interesting cast and in addition to Oppo which is seen through the cycle, is used in a really unique way. We're also back working with Next Model Management again and Nylon Magazine. Again, they bring so much to the table. Then, our brand prize partner is Zappos Couture. Tony Shay is a friend of Tyra's. Zappo Couture is re-branding their luxury line. The winner of this cycle will be the face of the new luxury line, Zappo Couture, adding a new element as well."
"We're still crazy, high-fashion photo shoots as well but it's hard to fit all in an hour-long show. We're still editing this as well."
After thirteen years and twenty-two cycles, Ken Mok always revert back to the show's roots and purpose,...
"I'm Asian-American. Tyra is African-American. From the beginning, we always wanted to make a social impact to redefine what beauty is. When we first started the show, I think if you saw the fashion show, out in the modeling world, it was very homogenous. You know, white, beautiful, blonde types of gals. Don't see a lot of people of color in there. You know, the only two people of color in that type of business, in that time, were Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks and nobody else. And in terms of size, it was always 5'10, 5'11; a certain weight; and there was no diversity in the terms of that."
So, Tyra and I were really determined to help redefine beauty. That beauty comes from all shapes, sizes, and color. That our cast, from day one, is always very diverse. Fully half of our cast, if not more, are Latina, African-American, Asian, different sexual orientation. Trans-gendered, Everything. We always push the envelope there. While we think we kinda change the discussion a little. We kinda move the ball. I think the fashion world is kinda different now a days than it was back then. I think we would like to take credit for that and help change people's perception."
When the lead reporter conducting this rare interview, commented Tyra did this all by herself, Ken Mok agreed,...
Ken Mok, Tyra's producing partner, "I agree."
Taking this scribe's question that fashion reflects change in society, what are the changes occuring now in the industry and society?
Laura, producing partner, "It is changing. I think that the fashion industry is reflecting our culture changing. The one thing that I was thinking was that I find interesting is that Caitlyn Jenner and transgender. The one thing I love about that show is that we had Isis on the show several years ago, the first transgendered contestant; and we had another one a couple of cycles ago. Yes, we had our crazy cat-fights and drama but the cast was so accepting that we (the producers) never expected that. Those personalities accepting one another. People have seen on the show and evolved. As we worked with partners that are looking for models for their grand prizes, Next Model Management, even they've been telling us that the audience wants people that they can relate to all different types. It's not no longer...what Tyra wanted to change is that if you don't have a certain look, you're not beautiful. You can't achieve what you want. Today, different people all want to relate to different types of beauty. I really seen in the last few years, just even working with our partners in the professional beauty and modeling industry, they tell us 'We're looking for that. We're craving for that differentiation. Their clients are as well. I feel like we're ahead of that trend; and it's nice because it helps us keep evolving too because every year when we're casting, is this viable? Because, we make sure that people we cast in our show will have a viable career; and what's been wonderful is that the answer has always been "yes."
Laura, producing partner, "All people are welcomed to join this industry."
Spray-On Nozzle for Cooling, Hydrating Relief During the Dog Days of Summer, Kate Somerville's Dermal Quench Liquid Lifts.
http://www.sephora.com/dermalquench-clear-anti-acne-treatment-P387805?skuId=1641703
An impending humidity and heat wave is going to hit the East Coast this weekend; Back to School shopping happens during the Dog Days of Summer; and the last month of Summer, August is bursting with outdoor music and food festivals. How to keep your cool while saving your skin.
With these awesome spray-on Dermal Quench nozzles from Kate Somerville, that cools the skin while pampering it.
Toners don't have to strip anymore.
Kate Somerville's Dermal Quench Nozzle Line is a cooling relief to sticky, sweaty, humidity.
The cool blast of oxygen with a mist of either oil-free Hyaluronic Acid that hot, dry thirsty skin drinks in like a glass of cool water or Salicylic Acid and Natural Oat Extract to cut through the grease and mattifying the skin for a polish look, not a melting look.
Since kids and their parents are shopping for stuffy Fall clothes and heavy Fall makeup for the upcoming school year, the kids will be happy to know spraying Dermal Quench Clear Anti-Acne Treatment Spray is handy. You can pull it out anywhere, spray it on in a breeze when it gets too sticky, too sweaty or when you need to prep your face before applying heavy makeup. Regardless, it feels good on your face while cooling it off.
Dermal Quench Clear Anti-Acne uses a special Hydrafill™ Complex: Infusing skin with PFC-oxygen carriers, fast-penetrating hyaluronic acid, and rare botanical extracts to discourage acne-causing bacteria, provide deep, long-lasting hydration, and boost radiance, without heavy, pore-clogging oils that will only my acne and acne-scar worse.
No tween, teen, or even adult, needs that additional stress, repeating a bad cycle.
http://www.sephora.com/dermal-quench-liquid-lift-advanced-wrinkle-treatment-P306941?skuId=1412808
As for their parents, adults, and those with dry, sensitive skin burning dry underneath the noon UV rays, you all aren't left out.
Kate Somerville came out with the same cooling nozzle technology for dry, sensitive skin or mature skin that doesn't want to be choking on heavy oils and grease. They still want to breathe; but dry, mature needs pampering too.
PFC-Oxygen Carriers: Draw and lock in oxygen with an oxygen magnet; relax facial muscles to dramatically smooth and soften skin.
-Hyaluronic Acid: Provides fast-penetrating, long-lasting moisture while improving the look of elasticity, firmness, and texture.
-Botanical Extracts: Instantly create a healthy-looking glow, revealing a more youthful complexion.
This doesn't cut through and erase non-existent grease. This Dermal Quench Liquid Lift Advanced sprays a cooling mist that drench the face in oil-free yet skin plumping ingredients of Hyaluronic Acid and Botanical Extracts.
Nars has more new stuff for Fall 2015, new 413 BLKR Blush added to 413 BLKR Collection.
Only available at NARS boutique and narscosmetics.com and also arriving on August the First, NARS Cosmetics introduces 413 BLKR Blush Duo –the latest addition to the exclusive NARS 413 BLKR Collection. With a sparkling pink sand and cherry blossom pink, this dynamic duo creates a full range of sophisticated cheek looks. Apply the left side on its own for a soft highlight, sweep the right side across cheeks for a pop of pink or layer them for a natural flush.
Named for the brand's first flagship address in New York City's West Village neighborhood, Founder and Creative Director François Nars draws inspiration from the fast-paced city when creating the 413 BLKR Collection
413 BLKR BLUSH DUO, $42
(L) Sparkling pink sand with gold and silver shimmer (R) Cherry blossom pink with a hint of gold shimmer
Rocco DiSpirito hosted Sherry Lansing's California Spirit 30 Healthy & Delish Foodie Feast for American Cancer Society.
Rocco DiSpirito & Chef Thomas Keller
Ask anyone, especially women about men, to some extent men about women...the way to the heart is through the stomach.
Sherry Lansing's thirty-years old cancer benefit, California Spirit 30, thirty years running, is the Hollywood Entertainment Industry showing their love to those who had suffered and died from cancer and themselves who had experienced and survived cancer, in all it's painful forms, to transform their lives, such as Rocco DiSpirito.
Allison Janney.
There were clothing sales, silent bids on some cool souvenirs (Sony Studios hosted the site), and good ole fashion rapid-fire auction.
Allison Janney won a Movie Night with Sherry Lansing and her director husband for $9,000.
As a cancer survivor and still a chef and currently, Healthy Food Coach on ABC's hit series Extreme Weight Loss and is the founder of an innovative food delivery service (www.roccodispirito.com), told an heart-felt story of how a regular physical check-up of a life & death situation turned his life around.
He drastically changed with the ingredients he cooks with and how he cooks, "Cook Your Butt Off," http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/rocco-dispirito/cook-your-butt-off/9781455583522/#desc
Cook Your Butt Off!
Still a chef, Rocco knows deprivation fails and using fake ingredients only make health problems worse.
So, he and fellow chefs join in the fight against cancer with a real-food foodie fair benefit that highlights healthy eating with seafood low in calories or flavorful meats that are real and in portion-control with plenty of grains and vegetables.
Mind you, Los Angeles chefs are no fools living in Lala Land.
They're very much conscientious that California is in an industry-busting drought; and that they're at a very big cancer benefit that aims to counteract bad food and bad health habits.
A tall order but these chefs are super enough to be resourceful in cooking healthy meals during a drought....
The elusive chef, Thomas Keller was a cheerleader, welcoming everyone for raw oyster and shrimp buffet. This seafood-scrafing scribe filled up on low-calorie Island Creek MA Oysters, Penn Cove Mussels, Coromandel NZ Oysters, Sweet Shrimp, White Albacore Tuna, all freely catered by Thomas Keller's upscale French-Californian-American Bouchon.
The glorious seafood continues with the classic Lobster Rolls...in two different versions from two different restaurants, Knuckle + Claw and Catch & Release. They garnered the longest line, obviously simple.
Catch & Release, Chef Jason DeNicola on cooking up healthy, yummy dishes during a drought...
On feeding at a cancer benefit with a lot of hungry industry folks...
"This fall? I mean our lobster rolls are our signature item. We make the parker house rolls everyday in house on thirty minute intervals so the bread is that fresh. It's literally made every thirty minutes. I have the Maine Lobster flown in every single day uh it lands every morning at 11:00 and comes straight to the restaurant. Lobsters are fabricated by 3:00 so you're getting the freshest lobster you can possibly imagine so, imagine a lobster killed at 3:00 in the afternoon and a roll made at 5:00 in the afternoon. So I mean it's as fresh as fresh, it's as close to Maine as you're going to get."
"We're actually, funny enough in the middle of summer, with it being in California, we actually sell brussel sprouts. Brussel Sprouts are not an overly watered nutrient needed dish so that's one that we could probably not live with out. And also continue to use since it's not an overly water absorbent dish or vegetable."
"Our healthiest dish? At lunch we have a kale salad with a coriander yogurt dressing served with Olive Oil poached salmon."
Knuckle & Claw, Chef Chloe Dahl & Chef Nikki Booth:
On cooking during a drought...
"Lemons. Definitely lemons, citrus, fruits all the way. Nothing like that lemony taste, it makes everything better. Especially with seafood, lemon on seafood is a match made in heaven."
As women chef duo, they know the important of being really healthy, well-fed yet low-calorie...
"You know any roll, you can get a collard green wrap to go with it which takes that bread component away. And lobster is really low in calories, it's high in cholesterol but the chemical that turns the lobster red is actually good for your heart so it balances each other out. So a lobster roll from Knuckle and Claw in a collard green wrap is under 150 calories. And it's a full meal for you. And you can even get a bag of chips from us to go along with that collard green wrap because that's gluten free; all of our chips are gluten free. Oh! And we have a coleslaw, we have a Dijon slaw that's also low in calories but I think the lobster collard green wraps is more interesting than coleslaw."
What's up for Fall?
"Oh man I think our favorite dish is going to be that Lobster Pot Pie. We used to live in New York and growing up on the vineyard it's just the only thing to have in the winter when it's cold out. It's delicious, it's homey, it's creamy, it reminds you of fall and makes you happy that the seasons are coming. And you can put your favorite vegetables in there, you can make it spicy or you can make it sweet. You can do so much because lobster is so versatile."
Wholesome and generously-portioned Lemonade served up a hefty helping of grains and vegetables:
Moroccan couscous, Washington cherries, French feta pistachio.White nectarine, persian cucumber, english pea, watercress, mint. sesame ginger braised duck rainbow chard, cashew, pineapple, coriander. pickled nopales, jicama, peppers, blue corn tortilla, corn, lime.
Asking what's up for Fall?
Lemonade Restaurant Group, Chef Alan Jackson:
" Why Fall? Fall Dish, uhmmm. Persimmons, I love persimmons with arugula and blue cheese and sherry. So when fall comes around the persimmons are beautiful."
Dealing with drought...
"Which is the one I couldn't live without? That's a problem we probably serve 65 vegetables and herbs throughout our whole restaurant but the one that I couldn't do without, that I like the least would be parsnips."
His cleanest dish is...
"The watermelon radish with seared tuna and ponzu."
The healthy low-calorie and protein-rich swimming in vegetable antioxidants trend continues with Tavern's Thai Inspired Carrot Broth with Coconut Black Rice, Sambal and Diver Scallop.
Tavern, Chef de Cuisine Amy Deadrick:
"The Short Ribs we do" for Fall...
Cooking during a drought...
"Oh my god! Citrus for sure. It's not really a vegetable but I can't live with out citrus."
"We do a sprouted grain, we're sprouting farro and we're mixing it with a yellow confit tomato and a bunch of vegetables on top with a little salsa verde" as Tavern's healthiest dish.
What's really innovative is pairing sweet fruit with savory meat such as Barrel & Ashes' Smoked Beef Brisket and Watermelon Salad.
Barrel & Ashes, Chef de Cuisine Michael Kahikina...
Is really resourceful while dealing both Summer and drought while concocting fresh, healthy dishes...
"I would say, maybe, what's the one thing we can't live with out? Watermelon?
Hard to find! All of our salads are beat salads. We have a smoked beat salad with strawberries and arugula, pistachio. It's pretty healthy."
"I mean obviously our smoked meats are the number one thing we do. Our Frito pie is really amazing. It's kind of like warm and, everything that we do at Barrel and Ashes is really kind of comfort foodie and you know down to earth"
Yes, there were old-fashion beef and pork but they were the best quality (less reliant on additional fat) and in portion-control. Better to savor...Spacca's Porcini Rubbed Short Ribs with Salsa Verde and Scallions.Simple but low-fat BBQ marinade and grilling.
chi SPACCA, Chef Ryan DeNicola:
On dealing with drought...
"Tomatoes. Tomatoes is something especially since we're an Italian Restaurant so tomatoes is something we use in every part of our restaurant whether it's the pizzeria mozta or whether it's the tomato salad, the speaky spacca, or whether it's the caprese salad at Osteria. And something that really worries us with the drought, you know, produce is what makes California what it is. We wouldn't have all these great restaurants here if it weren't for the great produce we have here and if the drought continues it would be something that we would really lose. You know we would lose a lot of that produce. And especially you can tell a major difference when you buy products from outside California when their inside. Not just the actual quality of produce themselves but you can tell it's older, you have to ship it in, it's inefficient. It's sad to me that's what worries me the most and tomatoes use a lot of water. So, if it was something that didn't use quite as much water, tomatoes need water and that worries me."
Their healthiest dish...
"The healthiest dish would be our ranzino. It's al plancha, which is on a flat top, we do olive oil, salt and pepper and we put it on the plancha and we finish it with herb salad of tarragon, chervil, parsley, dill, olive oil and grilled lemon. It's our healthiest dishes by far but it's one of my favorite dishes."
"Alright so we do, so we have two things. We have a polenta with an egg. So we do chesaraise egg. It's a poached egg with polenta and hazelnut béchamel. It's basically; the egg gets cooked in the bottom of the bowl with polenta on top of it with and hazelnut béchamel on top. It's one of my favorite things. The second thing is depending on how late into fall is it, a creamed corn that we do is delicious. It's basically corn that has been shucked on micro plane. Actually it's a special instrument though that shucks it while actually cutting it so it creams it while getting all the liquid out of it while actually shucking the corn and we take olive oil, a little bit of butter and salt and pepper and that's it. The ingredients don't actually show how delicious the dish is. You know, it's a much better dish when you eat it then when you hear it. But only in California is corn a fall dish. In must places it's a summer dish but California we have it for a long time."
Better than economical bacon, Redbird's Grilled Pork Chop with Apricot Mostardo & Hazelnuts.
On Neal Fraser on dealing with drought...
"I don't really know; that's a good question. I think the drought affects everything. It's hard to say one specific ingredient that I love and I think they're all in the same kind of boat."
His healthiest dish...
"The healthiest dish that we serve? Would have to be the Thai snapper crudo."
"Grilled something something Porkchop with apricots and hazelnuts." This is the dish he grilled for California Spirit 30 cancer benefit.
Everybody were so relieved that ICDC sent regular but healthy and low in sugar donuts. The batter itself is sugar and spices and herbs free, making it a multi-purpose batter that can be used in savory pate de choux. The sugar and sweetness only came from the Vanilla Cream Cheese/Salt and Pepper Carame/Mayan Chocolate glazes.
Even, the beer was healthy.
One of the Dr. Jekyll's founding partner beer buddies is a personal trainer/bodybuilder with typical men taste for forthy beer, wondering why can't brewers put healthy antioxidants in beer.
By brewing in: acai berry, raspberry ketone, grapefruit, green tea, green coffee bean, and maqui berry, Dr. Jekyll's American Kolsch is light and fruit enough to add berry puree as a refreshing Summer Shandy cocktail.
Remember, it's July. It's Summer and it's Food and Booze Season when people need fruity drinks to hydrate and we're adults.
Julian Cox Drink concocted: Greenbar slowhand white whiskey, Greenbar organic tru vanilla vodka, Cherry heering & cherry bitters, and Lemon.
As a mixologist/bartender, he always thinking about the drought, how to whet parched patrons...
"Lemons or limes. Yeah citrus is definitely the most important thing for what we do."
Yes, you can drink healthy as an adult, not like a kid...
"I think most of the light spirits are a really, really safe bet. Vodka, gin, rum, and tequila mixed with a neutral mixer is the healthiest and the lightest. I know that's not very interesting but that's probably the healthiest. But in that spirit, if you add something like fresh herbs or peppers, either spicy or not spicy peppers, or even like cucumbers, something like that, that's really nice and light keep it really fresh. Also there are great sweeteners out there like Stivia and agave nectar that are really low on the bicimix index, natural and healthy."
What he's shaking for Fall?
"In the fall I like to do cocktails like sours. Like sour based cocktails. The old school style, the sour is usually made by citrus, particularly lemon juice, simple syrup, and then I love to incorporate egg white because that's the natural, that's the way it used to be made. In the fall you have all these great flavors, you have clove, you have cinnamon and all spice, all these kind of baking spice flavors so I always like to incorporate those into drinks with apples or things of that nature that kind of give you that fall feeling."
Continuing the antioxidant to the very finish, guests sipped then took home a bottle of Malibu Wine so they, too, can get their antioxidants.
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This is a very cute idea! I'm going to try it with different sized beads to vary the size of the snowflakes. I think some silver ones that would match the artistic wire would make each one look more unique as well . It's a very cute DIY gift for next winter!


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I also try to introduce variety and fruits.Today let me introduce a very simple recipe: my apple financiers.
Apple and almond, that's a great combo! Hence the idea of apple financiers. But I already guess what you may have in mind… Pear and almond work too… Yes, you can adapt this recipe with pear, it will be delicious too.
This is the first reason to try this recipe!!
let me give you 3 more: first, apple financiers are yummy, plus apple is a seasonal fruit, and finally this snack just requires a few minutes of baking!
So, for those like me who try to avoid industrial snacks, it's the perfect solution! And kids love them!!
Or my Zenker mixing bowl by Fackelmann and my professional whisk by De Buyer.
No need to say more. Let's go to the kitchen and have fun baking!
Heat the butter in a sauce pan for 4-5 minutes at medium heat, keep whisking. Your butter will get slightly brown.
Preheat your oven at 170 degrees.
Pour the powders (sugar, almond, flour) in your food processor. Add the vanilla.
Start whisking and add, little by little, the egg whites.
When you get an homogeneous mixture, add the butter. Whisk.
Pour the batter in muffin molds.
Peel the apple and cut it in small pieces. Spread on your batter.
Bake 22 minutes (your financier should be golden).
Let cool down a bit before unmolding.
Baking time can be different from one oven to another. You might have to add a few minutes of baking.
Est il possible de congeler les financiers une fois cuit? Pour avoir des goûters d'avance car pas toujours le temps.
Merci beaucoup Emilie ! Oui bien sûr, ça se congèle très bien ! idem pour les brioches, et fondants après cuisson. POur les cookies plutôt avant cuisson. 😉 Très bonne journée !
Hey Buddy!, I found this information for you: "Apple Financiers". Here is the website link: http://www.casseroleetchocolat.fr/en/financiers-pomme/. Thank you.


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The aerobatic team Bravo 3 renew its contract with Repsol oil company
The spanish aerobatic team Bravo 3, formed by Anselmo Gámez, Cástor Fantoba, and Juan Velarde, just renewed its sponsorship contract with Repsol oil company, thanks to the success of their unique and incredible show, their professionalism, their impact on the aeronautics industry, their reception by the public at the Motorcycle Trials World Championship circuits over the past year, and the distinct shows and presentations of these "three musketeers of aerobatic flight."
2013 FAI Regulation Book Available
Written by Alex Balcells Querol
The Section 6 Part 1 (Powered Aerobatic) and Part 2 (Glider Aerobatics) of the FAI Sporting Code 2013 is available to download.
New Aresti System Catalogues Available
The new catalogues 2013 for Power and Glider areobatics are available on Aresti System website.
Kirby Chambliss Suffers Dramatic Accident In El Salvador
On January 23, Kirby Chambliss had a serious accident in El Salvador while flying a formation high Alpha pass with Skip Stewart. For reasons still unknown, the motor of his Extra 300 completely stopped at the end of the runway, forcing him to make an emergency landing.
2013 Regulatory Changes
Here we have a summary of changes to the regulations governing the judging of aerobatic figures in aerobatic competitions for the year 2013. The most important changes revolve around "breaks" taken on the B-axis and the evaluation of the radii of the figures that contain loop segments. In the latter case - and possible representing the most important change - the size and radius of the corners of the parts of the loops that appear in the figure are no longer assessed; rather attention is paid only to evaluating the smoothness of the corners and the evenness and size of the loop segments that incorporate certain figures.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


What Content Will Be Impacted By The Google Freshness Update?
Google just released an algorithm update that is going to impact 35% of searches. What does this mean for your firm? It means your content better be good and it better be fresher than ever! For more information, check out Mindy Weinstein's article about it here.


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Home Bloomingdale/FishHawk Get To Know Your Local State Senators, Galvano, Rouson, Lee
Get To Know Your Local State Senators, Galvano, Rouson, Lee
Kathy Collins
Senator Bill Galvano, whose office is located in Bradenton, represents residents who reside in District 21. Galvano is currently serving as the Senate President.
The Florida State Senate is the upper chamber of the Florida State Legislature. The state of Florida has 40 state senators. The areas are known as districts. Locally, we are represented by three.
Senate District 21 is represented by State Senator and President of the Senate Bill Galvano. District 21 covers portions of Hillsborough County south of Plant City and all of Manatee County.
Senator Galvano's office is located at 1023 Manatee Ave. W., Ste. 201 in Bradenton. The office number is 941-741-3401 and his email is Galvano.bill.web@FLSenate.gov.
Senator Galvano said, "We are happy to work with our constituents on any challenges they are facing with regard to local, state or federal government. If we cannot help, we will put you in touch with someone who can."
Senator Galvano added, "During my term as Senate President, I have a full-time staff in Tallahassee who focus on our legislative policy and budget goals. This allows our district office to focus almost solely on constituent services."
When the legislature is not in session, Senator Galvano divides his time between his district office and his law office.
Senator Tom Lee, whose office is located in Brandon, represents residents who reside in District 20.
Senate District 20 is represented by State Senator Tom Lee. District 20 covers Northeast Hillsborough (including Brandon), Southeast Pasco and Northwest Polk Counties.
Senator Lee's office is located at 915 Oakfield Dr. in Brandon. You can reach Senator Lee by calling 653-7061 or emailing lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov. His local legislative aides are Melonie Hoyt and Natalie Brown.
Senator Lee said, "I find it helpful to hear from constituents about specific issues. Sometimes a problem can be solved with a call to one of our state agencies, but other times we have to look to the legislative process for solutions."
Senator Lee added, "My office serves as a liaison between our constituents and state agencies. Sometimes state agencies can be difficult to navigate."
When Senator Lee is not in Tallahassee, he works as Vice President of Sabal Homes, spends time with his family and serves on several boards.
Senator Darryl Rouson, whose office is located in St. Petersburg, represents residents who reside in District 19.
Senate District 19 is represented by State Senator Darryl Rouson. District 19 covers Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. It includes Brandon, Riverview, Apollo Beach and parts of Seffner, Mango and Ruskin.
Senator Rouson's main office is in St. Petersburg. However, he does have mobile office hours in Riverview at the Winthrop Town Centre and in Ybor City at the Cuban Club. The St. Petersburg office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Riverview and Ybor City offices are by appointment only. To set an appointment, please call 727-822-6828.
Senator Rouson's legislative aides are Jason Holloway, Tennille Moore and Elise Minkoff.
Senator Rouson said, "As your Senator, I am here to represent your interests in Tallahassee during the annual legislative session."
Senator Rouson added, "We can help with issues regarding state agencies such as the Department of Transportation or Department of Health. We can file legislation to change state laws and bring appropriations back for projects in the district."
When the legislature is not in session, Senator Rouson works as an attorney for the Rubenstein Law Group.
You can access current information by visiting www.flsenate.gov.
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College hoops roundup: Oakland tops WMU; Detroit Mercy falls at ETSU
Detroit Free Press Staff and News Services
Martez Walker scored 21 points, and Jalen Hayes had 18 points, seven rebounds and five steals, as Oakland dominated the second half to secure a 77-60 win over Western Michigan on Monday night at Rochester.
Walker has started the season by scoring 20 or more in both games for the Golden Grizzlies (2-0). The Texas transfer had 22 in the 78-70 win over Bowling Green on Friday night.
Stevie Clark added 15 points for Oakland.
The Golden Grizzlies held a 30-26 lead at halftime but started hitting threes in the second half to dominate that period. Oakland started the second half on a 17-4 run to lead 52-32 with 12:19 left.
Thomas Wilder led Western Michigan (1-1) with 13 points. Tucker Haymond and Brandon Johnson had 12 apiece, and Seth Dugan had nine points and 15 rebounds.
East Tennessee State 107, Detroit Mercy 78
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – T.J. Cromer had 27 points on 10 of 15 shooting and East Tennessee State shot 68% from the field to beat Detroit, 107-78, on Monday night.
The Bucs (2-0) pulled away in the middle of the second half with 13 straight points to lead 84-62 with 8:10 left. They extended it to 96-67 — their largest lead of the night which was matched by their final margin.
Devontavius Payne added 18 points, Isaac Banks scored 12 and Hanner Mosquera-Perea 10. ETSU made 33 of their 39 shots from inside the arc and 8 of 21 from three.
Josh McFolley was 7 of 9 from three-point range with 25 points and Jarod Williams added 16 points for the Titans (1-1).
Detroit had the lead once at 17-15 and trailed by 10 at halftime. The Titans cut it to 58-52 after a 10-4 run but got no closer.
Central Michigan 86, Tennessee Tech 74
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Marcus Keene scored 30 points, his second straight 30-plus point game to open the season, and Central Michigan handed Tennessee Tech a rare home loss, 86-74, on Monday night.
The loss was just the second over the last 40 home games for the Golden Eagles.
Braylon Rayson added 18 points and David DiLeo finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Chippewas (2-0).
Aleksa Jugovic finished with 25 points and Kajon Mack added 18 to lead Tennessee Tech (0-2), which was held to just 37.7% shooting from the field and 7 of 29 from three-point range.
The Golden Eagles rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to take a 54-50 lead with 13:41 left via consecutive three-pointers by Mack and Jugovic.
But Central Michigan immediately rallied. Rayson drilled a three and Keene hit a free throw to spark a 9-0 run which gave the Chippewas the lead for good.
State women
Oakland 126, Marygrove 31: Taylor Jones scored 24 points, and Nikita Telesford had 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Golden Grizzlies (1-1) in their home opener. Korrin Taylor had eight points, six assists and seven steals in just 13 minutes. Tiffany Bradford led the Mustangs (1-4) with nine points.
Player of the week:Big Ten women's freshman — Michigan's Kysre Gondrezick, a guard from Benton Harbor, averaged 15.5 points and 4.5 assists in two victories. She leads the Wolverines in steals (three) and assists (nine).


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Suncoast Schools FCU Members Approve Charter Switch
Big Florida credit union to become a state-chartered institution next year.
By Nicholas Ballasy | Updated on December 06, 2013
Tom Dorety, CEO of the $5.5 billion Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union in Tampa, Fla., told Credit Union Times on Friday that Suncoast has been approved to become a state charter.
"We had to hire an outside firm to do an independent election and we did that and they validated the election. Obviously, we can't have anything to do with it," said Dorety on Friday.
CEFCU Helps Ease the Burden of High Home Buying Costs
Grant program totaling $700,000 assists low-income families with down payments and closing costs.


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Returning again in 2021
Venues, Places and Spaces
Changing Places Toilets
Disabled Access Day Logo
Venue spotlight The Royal Collection Trust!
We are really excited to bring you another venue spotlight and this time it's from Royal Collection Trust who manage the public opening of the official residences of The Queen and are responsible for the care of the Royal Collection. This is what they told us when we got in touch regarding events that they have planned at some of their venues and why Disabled Access Day is important to them!
Royal Collection Trust is dedicated to making the royal residences and the Royal Collection as accessible as possible to everyone. We were delighted to sign up to Disabled Access Day in 2015 and proud to be part of the inaugural event. Each year the day is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about accessible venues and encourage disabled people to come and try something new.
Last year at Windsor Castle we offered BSL and Lipspeaking talks and verbal description talks, based in the State Apartments, the Castle Precincts and St George's Chapel. The talks enabled visitors to explore the Castle, which is home to a thousand years of royal history, in an engaging and accessible way. We also ran amplified talks and tours for hard of hearing visitors at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017 Photographer: David Cheskin
We were pleased to welcome both new and repeat visitors to both residences, and we received really helpful feedback that helped us to plan for the year ahead and continue to improve our offer for visitors with disabilities.
While our staff receive ongoing training and assist visitors on site every day, Disabled Access Day is a brilliant milestone in our calendar that allows us to raise awareness of the importance of accessible resources and facilities, and to really champion the welcome and provision our disabled visitors receive. Since 2015 we have been delighted to see Disabled Access Day grow both in terms of visitors and participating venues, and we are excited to share the Palaces and the Royal Collection with visitors throughout the weekend this year.
Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017
This year we will be repeating our offer of free entry for disabled people and their access companions at Windsor Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace on 10–12 March. For the first time, the Royal Mews will also be offering free admission on 10-11 March.
As well as free entry, we will be offering complimentary BSL and verbal descriptive tours at Windsor Castle, and amplified tours and object-handling sessions at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Further details can be found here.
We have lots of resources and facilities on site, such as Plain English scripts, T-loops, descriptive tours and large-print labels. In addition, access resources on our website include information for visitors with mobility access needs, visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or partially sighted visitors, or visitors who are on the Autism spectrum, find out more here.
And here is their advice to other venues taking part this year:
Absolutely, get involved! The support and resources from Disabled Access Day are really helpful, and it is a superb chance to celebrate access and champion inclusivity on your sites. Our top tip would be to talk to your visitors on the day, listen to their feedback and work with them to learn how you can do even better next year.
Take part in the Access Survey
Tomorrow (Sunday 12th January) is the last day you can fill out the #AccessSurvey for 2019 from Euan's Guide and Di… https://t.co/oHBhexWnkw
@access_day
About Disabled Access Day
Disabled Access Day Privacy Policy © 2020 Disabled Access Day Contact Us


Ride Amtrak Pacific Surfliner® trains with your COASTER Regional Day or Monthly/30-Day Pass between Oceanside and downtown San Diego, with stops at Oceanside Transit Center, Solana Beach, Old Town, and Santa Fe Depot. Board any Pacific Surfliner® train for an express trip along the coastal corridor. See black out periods below.
Any valid COASTER Regional Day or Monthly/30-Day Pass will be accepted on-board the Pacific Surfliner trains.
Check the schedule, board on any Pacific Surfliner train, and show the Amtrak conductor any valid COASTER Regional Day or Monthly/30-Day Pass.
What if I want to ride the Pacific Surfliner beyond Oceanside?
Passengers who wish to continue their journey on the Pacific Surfliner north of Oceanside may buy the appropriate Amtrak fare online at www.PacificSurfliner.com, www.Amtrak.com, through the Amtrak mobile app, at a Quik-Trak ticket kiosk or any staffed Amtrak station.
Are the rules and policies the same on COASTER and Pacific Surfliner?
No, there are differences in the policies. All Amtrak policies apply to Pacific Surfliner trains. Complete policy information is available at www.Amtrak.com/onboard or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).
During complete blackouts, Pacific Surfliner trains listed on the COASTER schedule will not accept COASTER fare. Passengers who wish to use Pacific Surfliner trains must purchase an Amtrak ticket.


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Using legal empowerment to fight exploitative land investors in Sierra Leone
Legal empowerment helps locals to understand and claim their rights, resulting in a legal victory for communities in Sierra Leone against exploitative corporations.
By: Hassan Sesay & Daniel Sesay
Español | Français
Achmed Sesay, a Namati community paralegal, addresses a gathering of villagers in Masethele village, Sierra Leone. Photo reproduced with permission by Namati. (All rights reserved)
In 2010, Sierra Leone Agriculture (SLA) Ltd., a British-owned company, signed a lease with Bureh, Kasseh and Maconteh (BKM) Chiefdom in the Port Loko District of Sierra Leone for 41,582 hectares of land—including the rivers, houses, and roads that it encompassed. Among other promises, the company agreed to create 8,000 jobs, build schools, roads and health centers, and provide skills training for the over 40 communities in the chiefdom. Then, in 2011, SIVA Group, an Indian-owned and Singapore-based company, bought the SLA concession for USD $5 million to establish an oil palm plantation.
As is the all too common story, the company failed to pay rent and refused to make good on the other promises, impacting the lives and livelihoods of over 3,000 landowners and land users. But, this time there was a different ending. Those affected partnered with community paralegals, working with Namati, who supported them to understand the law and claim their rights. As a result the communities won back their land and damages totaling nearly USD $250,000.
The issue began when the Paramount Chief, the local Member of Parliament, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Parliament—who held shares in the company—directly negotiated the terms of the lease with company officials. No landowners read or were made aware of the terms of the lease agreement.
What happened next was not what the communities envisioned.
Namati's paralegals do not provide a legal service. Rather, they aim to empower those affected to tackle such problems on their own.
When SIVA Group took over the concession, they cleared 7,114 hectares, an area roughly equivalent to 17,000 football fields, to make way for their operations. In the process, they destroyed the communities' valuable wild palm, cashew trees and other economic crops—and provided no compensation. They made no effort to implement the promised development projects and fell behind on their rent payments. The communities attempted to resolve the situation amicably numerous times, but the company refused to meet with them. They then reported their concerns to their Paramount Chief, Member of Parliament, and the district council, but no action was taken.
The legal empowerment approach used by Namati deploys community paralegals who are trained in basic law and in skills like mediation, organizing, and advocacy, but they do not provide a legal service. Rather, they aim through partnerships with the local communities, to empower those affected with the legal knowledge and skills they need to tackle such problems on their own.
In the present case, the paralegals and community representatives did the required research to pinpoint which laws, policies, and terms the company had violated. The communities put together a list of demands and, with the support of the paralegals, drafted a letter to the company requesting a meeting to discuss the violations and the renegotiation of the lease.
Instead of negotiating, the company, with the help of political elites, pressured the landowners to accept their draft of a new lease. With greater knowledge of their rights, the landowners rejected the unjust lease. The company did pay the backlog of rent for 2016 but went no further and ignored all attempts by the communities and paralegals to communicate. Although at Namati we see court as a last resort, it became clear that litigation was necessary. We filed a case in June 2018.
The communities got their land back, but they've never seen the money they were awarded.
The court ruled in favor of the communities, ordering the company to return the land and pay the communities the equivalent of nearly USD $250,000. Unfortunately, by the time the verdict was read, the company had folded and the staff had left the country. The communities got their land back, but they've never seen the money they were awarded.
By most measures, the case was a success. Community representatives have been equipped to understand and use the law, the communities have their land back and are better positioned to deal with investors in the future, and the court ruling sent a strong message to companies to comply with the laws of the country and the agreements they negotiate. But the process was not without its challenges. The most problematic being the unequal power dynamics between political elites and communities.
In a society like Sierra Leone's, where politics penetrate every facet of life, the people rely on politicians to fix broken systems. Some Members of Parliament promised to help the communities but there was no follow through. However, through the process, paralegals learned that the landowners themselves wield considerable decision-making power. When equipped with the information and tools to act, they proved to be dependable and effective allies.
The success of the case relied on the affected landowners and communities taking collective action. Power dynamics also threatened this unity. Political elites with vested interest in the continued operations of the company persistently intimidated the landowners into signing an unfair lease. Creating trust and solidarity among the community representatives, the other affected individuals, and the paralegals was vital.
As this case illustrates, legal empowerment approaches are not without challenges, but they are crucial to equipping communities with the knowledge and tools needed to fight back against exploitive land investors.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: April 15, 2020
Defending Rights in Court
Hassan Sesay works with Namati, Sierra Leone. Prior to joining Namati, he worked as a community paralegal with Timap for Justice. Throughout his career, he has worked on cases involving mining and agro-based companies and advocated for access to justice alongside the communities he serves.
Daniel Sesay is a Senior Program Officer with Namati Sierra Leone. In this role, he advises community paralegals on case management and strategy, as well as overall program management. Daniel has spoken at a number of conferences on the topic of customary law and community-based paralegalism.
Challenging the oil industry through community action in Western Uganda
By: Wangũi wa Kamonji
Learning from Dalit women fighting for land rights in Punjab
By: Tarini Manchanda
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ | Español | हिन्दी
Solidarity in the fight for justice: partnerships to oppose extractivism in Haiti
By: Nixon Boumba & Meg Satterthwaite
Español | Français | Kreyòl
Waorani women resist Ecuador's extractive agenda in the Amazon
By: Vanessa Daza Castillo


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Business, Free News Articles, Home and Garden, Manufacturing, Product Launches
Insightful Woman Launches Business During Pandemic Supporting Female Artisans and Entrepreneurs
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- While the pandemic continues to shatter businesses and the world is urged to stay at home, Allie Petrova, founder of Bellani, a luxury merino wool blanket maker, decided to bring warmth into people's homes and lives. Like many other professionals, Petrova, a North Carolina tax attorney, replaced in-person, client meetings with virtual ones.
And, whether working at her home office desk, or unwinding while watching movies in the living room, she wished for a natural blanket to wrap her in comfort and coziness.
With an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to help others, she set out to create the perfect blanket made of luxuriously soft fine merino. The name "Bellani" was an intuitive fit: it comes from the Italian words for beautiful (bella) and wool (lana). The blankets are made in Europe from pure, natural and sustainable materials.
Petrova sought to support female entrepreneurs and artisans, many are single mothers or sole breadwinners for the family. Bellani's major supplier is a partnership owned by two women. Women artisans hand finish the fringe on each blanket from the Luxe Collection, which offers a combination of classic and contemporary designs that elevate spaces and bring delightful warmth. The blankets are crafted at wool mills with traditions in the making of wool products, particularly blankets.
"While so many businesses were shutting down, I worked to plant a seed that would grow something new and beautiful," Petrova says. "Despite many challenges and disruptions caused by the pandemic, I found the right mill to weave the blankets, chose from tens of colors for the right patterns, and located the perfect, fine merino supplier."
In addition to adult blankets in the Luxe Collection, Bellani offers fine merino baby and pet blankets. They come in delicate patterns and timeless colors. People are met with softness beyond compare, when they run their hands over the Bellani blankets.
"Our baby blankets have been very popular with grandparents who are buying them as gifts as well as for baby showers," Petrova says. "And pets are a very important part of the family too - we didn't want our furry friends to be left out."
Bellani is unveiling its Royal Blanket - exclusively on https://mybellani.com. This blanket will be the ultimate in luxury. The fabric is made in Italy from fine Australian merino wool and comes in a generous size to fit a Queen-sized bed.
About Bellani
Founded in 2020, Bellani manufactures heirloom quality, fine merino wool blankets with timeless designs, luxurious softness and ultimate comfort. All products are made in Europe and are 100 percent natural. Shipping is available to the U.S. and Canada.
For more information, visit: https://mybellani.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/bellaniblankets/
*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-1203s2p-bellani-aurora-300dpi.jpg
*Caption: Bellani's Luxe Collection: Aurora Blanket.
Related link: https://mybellani.com/
Business, Free News Articles
Capital Subaru of Greensboro Hosts Triad Golden Retriever Rescue Event
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Capital Subaru of Greensboro is proud to announce that they are celebrating the Subaru Loves Pets Event AND National Make a Dog's Day by partnering with Triad Golden Retriever Rescue for a day of totally PAWSOME fun for all pets!
The celebration will be held Thursday October 22, 2020 from 3-7 p.m. at 801 E Bessemer Ave - This is an outdoor socially distanced event.
Contributors include Triad Golden Retriever Rescue, North Carolina Pet Partners and arcBARKS.
The general public is invited to attend with their furry friends! Festivities include a pet photo station with a local pet photographer and goodie bags with treats for canines and owners while supplies last.
"The companionship of pets reduces stress and lessens anxiety. I know I couldn't live without my dogs and that's why we are so proud of this partnership." expressed General Manager, Ken Fanelli. "This event is as much for the people as it is for the dogs! So come out and make a dog's day!"
Triad Golden Retriever Rescue, Inc.:
Triad Golden Retriever Rescue, Inc. (TGRR) is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, humane treatment and placement of homeless Golden Retrievers, and to the education of the public about the breed.
arcBARKS:
arcBARKS Dog Treat Company was created by The Arc of Greensboro in response to an increasing need for post-high school options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. arcBARKS was envisioned as a self-funding program that would provide vocational training in the real world setting of a functioning dog treat bakery.
North Carolina Pet Partners:
Helping people live healthier and happier lives by sharing the healing power of pets.
Capital Subaru of Greensboro:
Capital Subaru of Greensboro is located is conveniently located at 801 E Bessemer Ave. They're a part of Capital Automotive Group with the goal of providing consistent customer experiences at all locations and are excited you help you with any of your automotive needs!
Related link: https://www.capitalsubarugreensboro.com/
Business, Construction and Building, Free News Articles, HVAC Heating and Cooling
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Founded by W.N. Berry in 1924, Berico Fuels recently named its sixth Berry to be the company's president. Will Berry is fourth generation and does not take the position for granted.
Will did not originally set out to work in the family business. After getting his master's degree at Michigan State, he worked in the real estate development business for five years. Ready for a change, Will and his father, Tom Berry, Berico's current CEO, said that he and his son traveled the country studying franchises as they sought out new business opportunities together. They looked at the books and analyzed many different opportunities.
"After studying various franchises, my father and our other partner, John Fuquay, approached me on my interest in joining Berico," Will says. "After considerable thought I agreed to join Berico in 2011."
Since then, he's helped grow the multiple company divisions and has cultivated valuable employee relationships. He bought into the partnership in 2017.
"I could not have done any of this without the direction and mentorship of my father and John, the company's current Chairman of the Board. John gave 50 years of service to this business and he's one of the most dedicated people I know," Will says. "I've got some big shoes to fill."
With no signs of slowing down, Will is looking to a future of smart growth - one that focuses on company culture, values relationships and positions them as a regional energy leader. He's committed to Berico's mantra - "Always dependable" - and adds, "I will always work to keep our employees and our customers happy."
"I realized early on that I needed to give 120 percent effort to show the other employees I wasn't looking for the silver-spoon per-say," he says.
About Berico Fuels
Berico Fuels started out in the coal business delivering and servicing clients via its horse-drawn buggies. Today, it has more than 100 employees and has been through numerous acquisitions; six in the last six years. The company, and its subsidiaries, Alamance Oil and Carolina Fuels, deliver residential heating fuels and propane, commercial fuels and lubricants, and HVAC service within the Greensboro Triad Area.
Since its inception, Berico has tried to be the "always dependable" company for home comfort through its various avenues of business. Each generation of the business has been deeply rooted in giving back to the local community. Berico is particularly proud of its "Gift of Warmth" campaign, raising and matching over $50,000 in donations to the Salvation Army; helping the less fortunate to heat their homes each winter.
For more information: https://www.berico.com/
Related link: https://www.berico.com/
Books and Publishing, Business, Entertainment, Free News Articles, Product Launches
Bituminous Press Publishes New Book, 'Loud and Sure of Myself'
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Bituminous Press is pleased to announce the completion of the latest book by author Gerry Stanek, scheduled to be published on August 29, 2020. At once humorous and heartfelt, "Loud and Sure of Myself" (ISBN: 979-8668873326) is a rambling and luminous childhood journey through a simpler time - the 1970s - and a loving look at a place they once called Coal Country, a pocket of small towns in Western Pennsylvania.
"Loud and Sure of Myself" is a collection of essays that evokes a world of used-to-be: youthful adventures set in Catholic schools, at little league games, and inside a unique local radio station that helped to define a culture.
Val Nieman, author of "To the Bones," writes that "Loud and Sure of Myself" "...enchants us with these tales of Coal Country, where a radio station mattered, and people drove icy mountain roads to hear local kids becoming rockers ... (Stanek) shares indelible images of a small, specific place now lost to change."
Stanek's sophomore effort is affectionate and laden with imagery - a clear rendering of a lifestyle that has disappeared.
"I'm not a fan of nostalgia," Stanek says, "but it was important to get 1975 down on paper in a way that's not so serious, important for anyone who lived through the Nixon and Carter era. I think we were fortunate to grow up then, and the remembering seems to be worthwhile."
"Loud and Sure of Myself" follows on the heels of "They Came Here Looking for Light: The Plattsville Stories," Stanek's 2019 collection of gritty short stories. "Plattsville Stories" shows just as much affection for life in the Allegheny Mountains, but the earlier book is focused on the brutal nature of work and life in a coal town.
Gerry Stanek is a native of Western Pennsylvania. He currently lives in Greensboro with his three daughters and teaches writing at North Carolina A&T State University.
"Loud and Sure of Myself" is currently available for pre-order online from Barnes & Noble and will be available at Amazon.com on August 29, 2020.
For more information, visit https://gerrystanek.com/
*VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/oBVIAwEnT54
Media queries:
Bituminous Press
bituminouspress@gmail.com
Related link: https://gerrystanek.com/
Business, Education and Schools, Free News Articles
Money Flows to Talent: Why HBCUs Must Fight to Attract More Top Ranked Black Student-Athletes
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- In this third installment of the BWC Consulting's series, the North Carolina-based black-owned economic development firm, with a history of working with black institutions of higher learning, discusses the significance of closing the economic gap between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Historically White Institutions (HWIs) by leveraging athletic programs.
HBCUs have struggled financially for decades. Despite their reputation for producing the largest number of black professionals, these institutions have never received the public and private financial support, or the positioning to earn revenue in ways similar to HWIs of higher education. The struggle to recruit, compete and capitalize on black athletic talent is one of many roadblocks to HBCUs addressing this persistent and lucrative financial support disparity.
"Money and capital [both] flow to winners that produce attractive outcomes," said Cedric Johnson of BWC Consulting. "If more talented young athletes choose to attend HBCUs, the dollars will continue to follow the talent, particularly if this move towards HBCUs is done in mass. Young athletes selecting HBCUs position these schools to be less reliant on the generosity of white philanthropy and their selective process for determining who gets their charity. Americans like to associate with winners, and as these athletes build winning athletic brands at HBCUs, the athletic and academic sides of these institutions will elevate."
Winning athletic programs help attract larger incoming freshmen classes, which translates into larger graduate cohorts. These larger graduate cohorts produce an alumni base that is more likely to give back due to a more favorable student-life experience, which can be directly tied to recognized athletic programs.
North Carolina A&T State University, a Greensboro, NC based HBCU, has witnessed some of its largest incoming freshman classes in recent years. These larger incoming classes have occurred during a period in which the university has won the HBCU Football National Championship three times in the last four years. This success has led to the university joining the Big South Conference, and thus leaving the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), in order to further enhance its brand and attractiveness to future recruits.
Black student-athletes have propped up white college sports teams for over 50 years. Up until the 1980s, if the NFL or NBA wanted to accumulate black talent, they went to HBCUs. Today, they go to the power five conferences. This accumulation of power and revenue via assimilation rather than integration largely explains the vast disparities seen today between the athletic programs of HBCUs and power five conferences.
This assimilation-based college athletics model creates a reality in which what is at stake for HBCUs is more significant than a championship trophy. HBCUs are innovation hubs that spur black excellence at a rate that no other institution can match. Thus, when top-tier black student-athletes decide to attend an HBCU, they have the potential to substantially transform the economic landscape of the institution and the surrounding community. They bring with them talent, revenue, and a dedicated fan-base, as well as future sports fame and prosperity.
"As an undergraduate attending a power five conference school, I was amazed at the throngs of people who embarked on campus on weekends to fill up a nearly 80,000-seat stadium," said Johnson. "My hometown was maybe 25,000 people, so seeing how a football game attracted four times the size of my hometown, was eye-opening. This is how you spur local economic activity and opportunity at scale."
With a windfall of revenue from athletic events, an academically and financially astute HBCU is better positioned to produce more successful black professionals and help eliminate the staggering wealth gap between black and white families. In 2016, a typical white family earned $171,000, nearly ten times greater than that of a black family ($17,150), according to a study conducted by the Brookings Institute.
Many sports fans seem to have accepted the belief that black student-athletes, particularly those on a trajectory to reach the pros, are better served at HWIs. Historically, these schools have offered black student-athletes accessibility and exposure to the professional ranks through heavy media coverage and availability to top sports recruiters. Both of which can lead to large financial contracts and lucrative endorsements.
Despite HWI's ability to help black student-athletes obtain professional contracts, the underlying talent lies with the athlete, and this will always be the case. It is largely the black student-athletes who bring value-add to the HWI and not the other way around. It is also largely the black student-athletes who fill the stands with dedicated fans and allow these HWIs to secure lucrative advertising and endorsement agreements with corporations. Again, money and capital both follow talent. Take away the talent and ESPN Gameday will not continue to host its show at HWIs that are not winners.
"Black athletes perfect their talents on fields and courts in urban and inner-city communities, as well as small towns throughout the country. Football and basketball players at high schools in communities of color are asked to leave their culture and community support behind to attend HWIs to pursue a professional sports career, and that doesn't seem fair," said Elmer Chisholm, partner at BWC Consulting. "Parity and equity are seen on HBCU campuses where black-student athletes are well-represented in the classroom and the field of play, including head coaches and athletic directors. It is apparent that the value of the black-student athlete at HBCUs is appreciated far beyond his or her years on campus."
Athletic programs at HWIs generate significantly more revenue each year compared to HBCU athletic programs. This outcome, in large part, is a result of most student-athletes representing HWIs money-making sports (e.g., football and basketball) are students of color. BWC believes that the misalignment between the origin of the money-making talent and the beneficiaries of the talent must be addressed to ensure long-term financial vitality at black institutions.
"Black student-athletes are responsible for the vast majority of revenue across the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), yet they are not represented equitably as students, athletic directors or head coaches," said Chisholm. "In 2019, across the NCAA, black male students made up less than four percent of the overall student body population but represented more than 50% of the football players and almost 60% of the basketball players, according to statistics from a report by the University of Southern California (USC) Race and Equity Center."
During the fall of 2019, for example, the student body at the University of Alabama (UA) was comprised of only 10% of black students. The nationally recognized football team, by comparison, consisted of approximately 56% of black players. Consider the average worth of one UA college football player to the university was $545,357, according to research by the Department of Education and a Drexel University professor.
In 2018 alone, UA's sports programs generated over $140 million in revenue for the school. This example clearly illustrates that black student-athletes who attend HWIs in the NCAA have a dollar sign on their head-one with enough zeros to change their lives, and subsequently, the quality of life at the institution they choose.
BWC's advice to help HBCUs strengthen their athletic programs and overall institutions is to build on the movement that Maker has put in play. BWC recommends that HBCUs work to increase their chances of attracting the best student-athletes by creating an aggressive recruitment strategy, attracting the best coaches and building a pipeline of younger student-athletes interested in the black college experience. The movement will require more alumni involvement and greater allocation of dollars to support leveraging these new funds to attract even greater capital to support new athletic infrastructure that will aid in the recruitment and retention of the best and brightest student-athletes. Once the young talent is secured, the path forward is clear, and the current model that benefits HWIs provides a reason to believe in the possibilities.
To view the full article, visit: https://bwcconsulting.com/part-3-of-4-money-flows-to-talent-why-hbcus-must-fight-to-attract-more-top-ranked-black-student-athletes/
To view the first installment, visit: https://bwcconsulting.com/part-1-of-4-covid-19-and-the-future-of-historically-black-colleges-universities/
To view the second installment visit: https://bwcconsulting.com/part-2-of-4-covid-19-and-the-future-of-historically-black-colleges-universities/
Related link: https://bwcconsulting.com/
Business, Free News Articles, Funding and Investment
Black-Owned Private Equity Firm Offers Zero-Percent Interest Loans to Businesses of Color Impacted by COVID-19, Civil Unrest
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Today, North Carolina-based, black-owned private equity firm, Building Wealth & Communities (BWC) Capital, announced the launch of the BWC+invest Zero-Percent Interest Loan Program. Developed for small, emerging businesses of color across the country, the program will provide a minimum of $10,000 for businesses disproportionally impacted by temporary and permanent closures due to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest surrounding recent police brutality and racial bias cases.
Established in partnership with the Racial Equity Institute (REI), a Greensboro, NC-based alliance of racial equity trainers, organizers and institutional leaders, the program grants qualified borrowers three-years to repay the loan with an up to 50% loan forgiveness option.
"The Racial Equity Institute believes that we must begin taking stock of the glacial nature of racial disparities and economic inequity. Current approaches have been a bit anemic in response to the magnitude of issues at hand," said Deena Hayes-Greene, REI's co-founder and managing director. "The murder of George Floyd and the COVID-19 pandemic have presented us with indisputable evidence that the African American community suffers the greatest disproportionality of any group in this state, in this country."
Hayes-Greene adds, "While we will join the masses of people demanding systemic change, we will also join BWC in empowering ourselves and our community by putting our money where our mouth is. We encourage other organizations dedicated to building resilient communities of color to support our efforts to highlight the concerns for a broader approach to closing persistent racial gaps in our community."
BWC's goal is to deploy $10 million in loans over a five-year period to businesses of color. The firm has already committed $100,000 over five years towards the initiative and seeks to encourage single and multi-year investments from institutional investors, philanthropists, and the community-at-large.
"Since inception in 2005, BWC has helped to build financial strategies to ensure infrastructure improvements on black college campuses and access to capital for major projects and businesses in underserved communities of color to the tune of over $1 billion in transactions," said Bridget Chisholm, BWC's founder and managing partner. "We are proud of our accomplishments and economic impacts such as jobs created and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) spending, but we know there is more to do. We refuse to stand by while communities of color collapse under the weight of business inoperability and racial inequities. The time is now, and we heed the call to act on behalf of black community growth and sustainability."
Qualifying businesses of color must have at least one year of operation, two or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees and an established track record for producing enough cash flow (or a plan to re-establish it) to support loan repayment within a three-year period or to meet the requirements of the up to 50% loan forgiveness guidelines. Each application will be reviewed by a select community development committee within 72 hours of application submission. Loan approvals or disapprovals will be communicated to the applicant no later than seven business days after submissions.
"We believe our communities are in a state of emergency. Therefore, it is in the best interest of our program to work quickly to provide the capital needed to help businesses of color succeed," said Chisholm.
Application submission will open on July 1, 2020.
To donate or apply for the BWC+invest Zero-Percent Interest Loan Program, visit https://bwccapital.com/bwcinvest/.
About BWC Capital
BWC Capital, LLC is a private equity firm headquartered in North Carolina. In operation since 2013, BWC Capital was formed to address opportunities outside the scope of BWC Consulting, a boutique strategy and financial advisory consulting firm in existence since 2005, and in response to the insatiable demand and widening the gap for access to capital by emerging-and-growth-oriented businesses. To learn more about BWC Capital, visit https://bwccapital.com/.
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The Devil is in the Details: Black-owned BWC Capital Works to Demystify Federal Stimulus PPP Loan Forgiveness
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Black-owned North Carolina-based investment firm, BWC Capital secured a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) forgivable small business loan during the first round of available funds several weeks ago.
After evaluating the pros and cons of the loan forgiveness aspect of the program, and how small businesses - particularly businesses owned by people of color - are struggling to secure the loan and may face challenges in accessing loan forgiveness, the firm is working to inform small businesses about the importance to remain vigilant about their loan status and loan forgiveness requirements under the current guidelines.
To read a recent interview with the BWC Capital team and to learn about the relief program's loan forgiveness requirements, visit the company's website - https://bwccapital.com/the-devil-is-in-the-details-black-owned-bwc-capital-demystifies-federal-stimulus-ppp-loan-forgiveness/
"Qualifying for a PPP loan as a minority-owned business brought with it a set of hurdles that we were fortunate to navigate," said Bridget Chisholm, BWC's founder and managing partner. "But once we secured the loan and delved into the requirements to better understand the loan forgiveness component, we recognized the importance of helping our clients, partners, and other small business owners understand the program's requirements and hopefully help prevent potential barriers to returning to business as usual once we reach the other side of the pandemic."
In the wake of the novel coronavirus, small businesses across the U.S. scramble to secure the funding needed to survive the current economic downturn. While the country struggles to create and implement a national strategy to safeguard its once bolstering economy, business owners look to federal, state, and local governments for guidance on how to successfully navigate the current crisis. In response to this immediate call for action, Congress has passed two small business bailout packages over the last several months. The $349 billion for forgivable PPP loans included in the initial relief package was exhausted in less than two weeks. Congress subsequently provided an additional $310 billion in relief funds, which are currently being allocated to small businesses in need.
Now in its second round of implementation, the PPP loan program includes $60 billion in set-aside dollars to be provided to small businesses by community development lenders, credit unions, and certain other smaller lenders. The intent of the set-aside is to ensure that more PPP loans reach businesses owned by people of color, as this group was not well-served with the initial round of funds.
During the recent interview, BWC's founder and managing partner, Bridget Chisholm and BWC's senior partner, E.L. Chisholm discussed key elements to the PPP loan forgiveness program's qualification structure, important deadlines, and next steps. In their own words, "the devil is in the details" and what appears to be an easily accessible solution for small businesses is instead marred by time-sensitive loan forgiveness guidelines that could lead to penalties and interest-bearing debt repayment.
BWC Capital, LLC is a private equity firm headquartered in North Carolina. In operation since 2013, BWC Capital was formed to address opportunities outside the scope of BWC Consulting, a boutique strategy and financial advisory consulting firm in existence since 2005, and in response to the insatiable demand and widening gap for access to capital by emerging- and growth-oriented businesses. To learn more about BWC Capital visit http://www.bwccapital.com.
Mar, 25
Business, Free News Articles, Legal and Law
Crumley Roberts Reaffirms Its Commitment To Stand Up for Clients, Employees and Communities During the COVID-19 Outbreak
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Crumley Roberts is a 30-year-old consumer-based law firm with offices, partnerships and affiliations throughout the United States. Led by President and CEO Chris Roberts, along with a team of Vice Presidents and Attorney Shareholders, the law firm remains committed to STANDING UP for its clients, for its communities and for its employees through legal practice groups and through community and employee programs offered through The Roberts Center for Leadership, Education, Advancement and Development.
In these days of uncertainty, Crumley Roberts remains committed to its core values to Care Like Family, Listen to Learn and Do What's Right by helping its clients, employees and communities continue moving forward. Utilizing plans developed and put in place by its Executive Team, Crumley Roberts continues its mission of service while protecting its employees and while following guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Regional offices in North Carolina cities Greensboro and Charlotte, in Columbia, South Carolina and in Birmingham, Alabama remain open to serve clients while offering safe meeting areas for the protection of those clients and the protection of members of the Crumley Roberts Family. All other offices will remain open by appointment.
Clients may also choose to meet with their legal team via video conferencing and have an ability to exchange documents and/or information about their case through the Crumley Roberts MyCaseConnection(tm) Client Portal. Crumley Roberts Representatives remain ready to assist current and potential clients twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The firm encourages and welcomes calls from all who have questions regarding a current case or who need help in anyway.
"If we cannot help you, we have made a commitment to find someone who can. We are open for business," said Chris Roberts, President and CEO.
Crumley Roberts and The Roberts Center have also made a commitment to remain engaged in the community during this time of physical distancing by reaching out and offering Facebook Live Sessions. Beginning at 11 a.m. each day and lasting for a period of 15 to 30 minutes, Cory Phillips, Director of The Roberts Center, will offer real-time learning opportunities devoted to non-profit leadership; personal development; strategies to engage from a distance; children's health, wellness and safety; and scholarship opportunities. Cory will offer virtual Crumley Roberts Kids Zone experiences and also a behind-the-scenes look at the Crumley Roberts Employee Wellness Program that remains dedicated to the physical, spiritual, emotional, occupational and environmental well-being of each Crumley Roberts employee. Members of the community are invited to like and follow Crumley Roberts on Facebook and Instagram to be a part of these sessions or for more information.
"At Crumley Roberts, we believe these are the days that define who people and frankly who companies really are at their core. These times of uncertainty will pass, but the knowledge of how we acted and reacted as human beings will remain. Take care of yourselves and please take care of each other. We are here for you if you need us and will continue to Stand Up for You so you can Stand Up For Those You Love," said Kimberly Sanders Roberts, Crumley Roberts Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.
Learn more about Crumley Roberts at: https://www.crumleyroberts.com/
Learn more about The Roberts Center at: https://www.crumleyroberts.com/the-roberts-center/
Lee Kirkman
CR Director of Communications and Public Affairs
HLKirkman@CrumleyRoberts.com
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Crumley Roberts Begins Its Roar Into the 20s With Its New Vice President of Technology Darrin Edwards
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Crumley Roberts Executive Strategic Planning Team led by President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Roberts is setting new and aggressive growth goals for the law firm. It is expected that these growth goals will take Crumley Roberts into new areas geographically and into new areas also legally. To best align the firm to meet and exceed these goals, several individuals are now part of the Executive Strategic Planning Team, including the new Vice President of Technology Darrin Edwards.
Darrin holds a BS and MBA in business administration, economics, computer information systems, and management and information systems from High Point University; has 25 years of experience in information technology management, network engineering, database administration, and web design; and has now been with Crumley Roberts for 15 years applying state-of-the-art technology through purpose, passion, and excellence in order to better serve the firm's clients.
As the newest member of the Executive Strategic Planning Team, Darrin's top priorities in leading Crumley Roberts above and beyond the firm's growth goals are to:
* Align technology R&D with the firm's business strategy,
* Bring new technologies to the firm that will increase productivity and enhance the client experience,
* Anticipate the firm's technology needs in advance, and
* Innovate and/or improve new business processes.
As stated by Chris Roberts, "Darrin will now focus on technology and the ways we can bring new technologies to the company that will help us do our jobs in the most productive manner possible."
Crumley Roberts is a 30-year-old consumer-based law firm with offices, partnerships, and affiliations throughout the United States. Led by President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher H. Roberts, along with a team of Executive Vice Presidents and Attorney Shareholders, the law firm remains committed to STANDING UP for its clients, for its communities, and for its employees through legal practice groups and through its numerous programs dedicated to scholarship, safety, wellness, diversity, education, leadership, and the advancement of women that the firm offers through The Roberts Center for Leadership, Education, Advancement and Development. Its Brand Promise: "We Are Crumley Roberts and WE STAND UP FOR YOU as we all continue Moving Forward Together."
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*Photo caption: Crumley Roberts Vice President of Technology Darrin Edwards.
1.800.288.1529 ext. 3233
HLKirkman[at]CrumleyRoberts.com


Power is nothing without control. Volvo seems to know this better than most and as a result has done a stellar job of harnessing and channeling powerful motors in the S60 effectively. The stiffened chassis of the car is more than up to the task, the torque vectoring on the four-wheel-drive system works like a charm and both the suspension and the steering are well resolved too. As a result the T6 feels well balanced when you corner it hard in 'Sport' mode, and the car points into corners very nicely, even holding onto the line on application of the throttle. There is no front engine, front-wheel-drive nose heaviness or understeer and this is most evident when powering out of a corner.
The S60's electro-hydraulic steering lacks the fluid feel of the C-class or the pin-sharp accuracy of a hydraulically powered 3-series rack but with only 2.6 turns lock-to-lock it's pretty quick. The high-geared steering gives the baby Volvo amazing agility and you can string it through a series of corners with ease.
The T6 also comes with different suspension settings. In Comfort mode, it feels particularly supple and is ideal for normal driving. In Sport mode, the S60 hunkers down with little suspension movement and feels glued to the road, but it feels a little jiggly on an uneven surface and doesn't have the flat poise of a C-class. Also, at lower speeds, the S60's suspension can be quite jarring and sharp ruts and expansion joints can jolt the passengers. The lack of sufficient rebound damping and the 215/50 low profile tyres are the most likely culprits.
Also unimpressive were the brakes, especially at higher speeds. They do a fair job but feel a bit soggy and lack bite. Without the adjustable damping and the four-wheel-drive system, the D5 diesel feels like a different animal. The suspension is quite pliant and it cushions passengers well but if you jump into the D5 after the T6, you're in for a huge disappointment. The ride quality is nowhere as well resolved and the D5 feels lumpy on bad roads. The steering feels lethargic, which accentuates the nose-heavy handling. Unlike its rear-wheel-drive competition, the front-wheel-drive S60 diesel doesn't feel as well balanced and there's a fair amount of torque steer too.
Like all modern Volvos, the S60 is designed with a very aggressive, almost rakish profile. Almost no design cues are carried over from boxy Volvos of old, and there is a lot in common with the design language of the carmaker's more recent cars like the XC60. Yes, the strong shoulder line and the chrome diagonal on the grille are still there, and the S80's coupé-like roofline is retained as well. But this is clearly a new design direction and it works superbly. We also like the way the nose of the car is tipped slightly forward too, giving it an aggressive stance.
The S60 was engineered when Volvo was part of Ford and, as a result, the car is built on the same EUCD platform as the Mondeo. The steel monocoque chassis uses MacPherson struts up front and multiple links at the rear, and the engines are located transversely, placed well back in the engine bay for better weight distribution. Using a Ford platform is no bad thing, especially if you want a car to ride and handle well. And Volvo claims this is its best driving car ever, its engineers having made a number of improvements to the S60's chassis. These include a stiffer front sub-frame, stiffer strut mount tops, stiffer bushes, a 10 percent quicker steering rack and a new steering column that's twice as rigid.
The petrol T6 also gets a Haldex four-wheel-drive system, which has a combined rear differential and clutch. Incorporated into this system is a unique 'torque vectoring' system, which works in conjunction with the yaw and roll sensors of the ESP or stability control program.
As soon as some understeer is detected, the torque vectoring system sends more power to the rear wheels so that the car can be pointed into the corner more easily. The idea is to use power rather than brakes to bring the car back in line. Weight distribution on the diesel front-wheel drive, however, is more skewed to the front, upto 62 percent of the weight resting on the front wheels.
A shocking omission, however, is the lack of a spare tyre or run-flat tyres. At least BMW's run-flats allow you to get to your destination at a reduced speed. Volvo only provides a puncture repair kit, not much use if you get a slashed tyre wall, something that's quite common in India.
Sweden is famous for its classy and minimalist interior design, and the S60 reflects its heritage. For Indian tastes, the straight lines and simple form of the cabin maybe a bit too boring but there's an appealing blend of high quality and robustness that makes it special. Swathes of brushed metal, especially on the doorpads and steering wheel, look really good and the 'floating' central console – a Volvo signature – stands out. The Cyclops' eye vent at the top of the central console is also unique. What also add to the funky appeal of the cabin are the two-tone seats, with their tall anti-whiplash headrests.
As on all Volvos, the seats are among the best around, and thigh support and bolstering are very good. The seats, again feel a half- size larger than competitors and we found the front seats to be extremely comfortable even after a long day spent behind the wheel. Rear seat comfort is also very impressive. You sit slightly lower than say in a Mercedes C-class,but legroom, thigh support and especially lower back support are better. And the central transmission tunnel isn't as obtrusive as on other rear-wheel-drive competitors; better for the fifth passenger.
The quality of the leather, plastics and metal bits is also very impressive, and we were hardpressed to find even a few cheap-looking bits on this car. However, some ergonomic oddities do exist. You can't point the air-con vents as effectively as you'd imagine, the mass of buttons on the central console can be confusing, and the cream-coloured leather on the steering wheel is certainly a big mistake in India. It will get soiled in weeks. You do get a pair of large- size cupholders in the elbow box and the S60 has a front parking camera as well, which is unique. This video screen-based parking system also has a fantastic graphic overlay that tells you exactly how close you can park; a really nice feature for our congested cities.
The safety systems do their job but also feel like an overkill. While the BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) works well, flashing away to warn you about bikers darting down the left, the Lane Departure Warning is largely useless (as lane markings are far and few between!) and the Collision Warning is a bit too trigger-happy and beeps at the slightest provocation.