40 Foot Boxcar, Single Door (Youngstown or "Narrow Rib" Door), Chicago and Eastern Illinois "Dixie Limited".
Orange sides, black roof and ends, blue lettering including reporting marks on left. Blue and white C&EI oval herald on left with blue arrow across door to slogan "Route of the Dixie Limited".
Approximate Time Period: mid- to late 1940's at least.
The "Chicago Line" gets treatment usually reserved for those big Class I railroads with the announcement of models of its five unique looking express boxcars from the 1940's. Although these cars shared the same general paint scheme-- and what a paint scheme at that!-- each one of road numbers 1 to 5 was unique, as a different aspect of the road was advertised on each of the cars. Among these cars were named three trains that all headed through "Dixie" to reach the winter paradise of Florida, certainly a welcome sight for Chicagoans weary of all that snow and cold. As this series progresses, we'll take each train in turn, or we'll figure out something else to say when the non-named train boxcars are released. We'll be making pretty extensive use of the November 1946 edition of the Official Guide of the Railways pretty extensively as we cover this quintet of cars. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
Let's start with the schedule of this "Dixie Limited", a train which was actually shared by six railroads. C&EI train number 93 southbound left Dearborn Station in Chicago daily at 3:45 PM and reached Evansville's Union Station at 9:15 PM, where it left the C&EI for the Louisville and Nashville. The L&N took the train as far as Nashville for arrival at 1:20 AM the next morning and was transferred to the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis. The NC&StL brought it into Atlanta, arriving at 9:45 AM, where it had a short run to Albany on the Central of Georgia and then onto the Atlantic Coast Line for arrival into Jacksonville, Florida at 9:00 PM. Sections of the Dixie Limited continued on to St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Fort Myers via the ACL and to Miami via the Florida East Coast. Coming back, you'd leave St. Petersburg at 9:00 PM, Fort Myers at 6:00 PM, Miami at 10:00PM or Sarasota at 7:45 PM and arive in Jacksonville at around 6:30 the next morning. You'd have about an hour in Jacksonville-- although I think the time was really to assemble all the cars into one train-- and be on your way again at 7:35AM. Arrival in Atlanta via Albany and the CofG was at 6:05 PM, arrival in Nashville was at 12:45AM the next day, and return to Chicago was at 10:55 AM the following day. The northbound train was Number 92 on the C&EI. Equipment included coaches to Atlanta and Jacksonville, and a dining car on the C&EI and NC&StL sections, plus sleeping cars to and from Atlanta, Fort Myers and Miami. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
These express boxcars were built in 1945 by Pullman-Standard according to Ed Hawkins, who has builders' photos of all five of the cars across Volumes 6 and 8 of his Railway Prototype Cyclopedia (shameless plug, Ed added). They had steam and signal lines and carried the AAR Classification BX for express boxcars. As such, I didn't check the Official Railway Equipment Registers because I know I won't find cars classified as passenger equipment there. Ed Hawkins added that the cars had seven-panel Superior doors and 4/5 corrugated Pullman ends. Although these aren't true PS-1 boxcars, the C&EI did go back to Pullman-Standard for PS-1's later, eventually rostering several hundred-- though not in this colorful paint scheme. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
A question that's been discussed on the Railwire forum is whether these cars were used in interchange service as painted. It was pointed out that since the cars have full dimensional data, they would be "interchange-ready," but that doesn't necessarily mean that they left the C&EI. On the other hand, perhaps the cars at least went through on the "Dixie" trains, meaning that they touched any of the other five railroads. More research is required. We'll see if we can learn anything for the next of the five releases. Anyone who has the recent Morning Sun volume on the C&EI might be able to help... hint? © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
50 Foot Steel Boxcar, Double Doors, Without Roofwalk, Rio Grande (Denver and Rio Grande Western).
Orange (OK, maybe gold) sides, black ends. Mostly black lettering including large reporting marks on left and speed lettering herald on right.
Approximate Time Period: late 1970's (1977 rework date given by MTL) to late 1980's.
The series 63700 to 63799 held several different jobs for the Rio Grande according to the Rio Grande Modeling and Historical Society. This group of 100 cars was AAR classified as either XM for general service or XP for special service, and either went into general or assigned service. One of these assignments was carriage of auto parts and the other was hauling of copper bullion as MTL mentions in its car copy. These cars were originally built in 1963 by American Car and Foundry, and had welded sides, 4/4 Improved Dreadnaught ends, Keystone Cushion Underframes, and Youngstown doors, though in the 8 + 7 foot variety, which sets up a "door thing". (No one yet makes the 15 foot door opening double door cars in N Scale.) The cars were all gone by 1993. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
The specific version of the paint and lettering is called out by the RGM&HS as being used from 1962 to 1966, with optional black ends and the single line "flying lettering" herald. According to the RPI Website, the "stacked" lettering, with the "Rio" smaller and to up and to the left of the "Grande" in the herald, was introduced in 1967, as was the use of the slogan "The Action Road." This for me calls into question MTL's note that the car was repainted in 1977 when the roofwalk was pulled. Seems to me that the repaint would have occurred earlier. I don't doubt that the cars first appeared in the gold over silver scheme that preceded the all-orange motif. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
The ORER for April 1976 starts off with some singly listed cars in the 63700 series, followed by a main group with Sparton (as the ORER spells it) Easy Loaders numbered 63712 to 63799, then one more just plain boxcar. The inside length of all of these cars was 50 feet 6 inches, inside height 10 feet 6 inches, and outside length 57 feet 5 inches. (So MTL's use of extended draft gear trucks is appropriate.) We've already mentioned the 15 foot door opening; the capacity was 4928 cubic feet or 140,000 pounds with a few exceptions on the weight. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
The use of boxcars to haul copper made me a bit curious, so I checked a few websites on how copper is mined and produced. I will skip a lot of the detail-- let's not make this a science class-- but generally, copper ore is mined and then smelted, then refined to a purity that's darn close to 100 percent. The steps in this process may be adjacent or may be many miles apart; it's the latter case that resulted in those Rio Grande boxcars being loaded up with copper concentrate, perhaps in consistently sized slabs that were relatively easy to handle. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
40 Foot Steel Ice Refrigerator Car with Preco Fan, Northern Pacific.
Yellow sides, brown ends, aluminum (or silver) roof. Mostly black lettering including arched style roadname and reporting marks on left and slogan "Scenic Route of the Vista-Dome North Coast Limited" on right. Three foot NP monad herald in red, white and black on right.
Approximate Time Period: decade of the 1960's (1960 repaint).
The Morning Sun Color Guide (MSCG) to the Northern Pacific by Todd Sullivan is the basis for the MTL car copy for this new release. As MTL notes, this is the final version of the NP's paint scheme for its ice cooled refrigerator cars. An easy tell is that the door hardware and such isn't painted black; when NP did paint it, it was by hand. (What, no masking available?) The Pacific Car and Foundry design is a little different than the MTL 59er body style. For example, the door on the prototype reaches farther to the top and bottom of the side. But the general idea is there when comparing to the September 1971 photo of NP 91039 in the MSCG. The photo helps with the ATP as well, as the car has been restenciled into company ice service even though it has kept its road number and paint scheme. The red in the monad herald has faded pretty badly but the rest of the car doesn't look too bad. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
The ORER for January 1964 shows the NP series 91000 to 91249 consisting of 242 cars described as simply "Refrigerator, Steel." The inside length was 33 feet 2 inches with the bulkheads engaged or 39 feet with the bulkheads collapsed. I'm going to guess that these cars could therefore be used as insulated boxcars if ice wasn't required to keep cargo quite as cool, or maybe to keep it from freezing. Or maybe to carry ice only, remember the stencil? The outside length was 42 feet 3 inches, extreme height 15 feet and door opening 4 feet wide by 7 feet 6 inches high. The capacity was 2332 cubic feet or 80,000 pounds, but that included the weight of the chuck ice. Notations call this out as well as the Preco Fan and half-stage icing grates. The 242 cars in this group made up just over ten percent of the NP's fleet of 2310 reefers at that point. Only a few wood sided cars remained then. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
By April 1970 and the coming of the Burlington Northern, the NP's refrigerator fleet stood at a significantly higher 3372 but that's if you count all those RBL insulated boxcars. The 91000 to 91249 series was down to a still respectable 159 pieces. All cars in the group were off the BN's equipment roster by April 1976. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
39 Foot Tank Car, Single Dome, Canadian Pacific.
Black with white lettering including roadname and reporting marks on left.
Approximate Time Period: 1910's to 1960's.
The MSCG to Canadian Pacific Freight and Passenger Equipment by John Riddell includes the exact car modeled, CP 389583, as it was lensed by Riddell in December 1972, awaiting scrapping in CP's Ogden Shops in Calgary. Riddell says that this belonged to the series 389471 to 389989, and "in January 1956 CP owned 117 such old tank cars in company service for oil and water. The Official Railway Equipment Register for January 1953 (NMRA Reprint) corroborates this and gives a total of 198 cars but no further details. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
Comparing the MSCG photo to the MTL model, it's clear that there were some liberties taken. The first thing I noticed from the image was how Micro-Trains split the road number on the car. That's done on the prototype to clear a strap that helps hold the tank to the underframe, a strap which isn't present on the model. (I don't think I would have put in the space if I didn't have the strap.) The shape of the tank itself appears less long and more tall, the ladders don't go all the way to the side platforms, and the dome on the real one had a double pipe extending from it. In short, the prototype doesn't look all that much like the model, but then, it doesn't look like any other tank car produced in N Scale at the moment either. (There's an HO Scale Life-Like Proto 2000 model that starts to get close, but that's not much help.) © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
While the ATP may seem longish for any car, the plain block lettering utilized does more or less align with it. (While I'm nitpicking, I should mention that other than the roadname and number, the prototype's lettering was stenciled, not block type. I doubt that most will care about this.) What we don't know is whether the CP bought this car, which was built in 1912, second hand, or whether it was purchased by them new. That would be a better indication of the start of the ATP, but lacking that, I'll take my own liberties here as well. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
89 Foot Tri Level Autorack, TTX/Penn Central.
Freight car red flat car with mostly white lettering including reporting marks on left. Penn Central "jade" green racking with white lettering including herald on black placard on left.
The flat car portion of this release comes from the same prototype series as the first release in this body style, the 112510 for the B&O from May. To recap: these were BSH11s, built by Bethlehem Steel circa 1970, and numbered TTBX 961367 to 964743. These cars easily made it into the Conrail era since in the April 1976 ORER there were plenty listed, in, as I said in May, "a hopeless number of subseries"-- three pages worth! © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
But it's the rack that's more interesting anyway, particularly how its jade green paint clashes alomst audibly with the brown flat car! Guess what: that idea was inherited from predecessor New York Central. In fact, Accurail's HO model of the NYC bi-level carries a road number off by just one from what MTL did for the PC; the PC rack is atop TTBX 962577 while the NYC rack sits on TTBX 962578! Yes, it's certainly true that the Trailer Train cars were "all mixed up" as far as whose racks went on which cars, but I think that's a bit too much of a coincidence. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
The April 2000 issue of Rail Model Journal includes a black and white photo of TTBX 961785, way more than one number away, as part of an article on prototypes for the Accurail HO racks, but it will certainly do for us as well. (There's also a shot of a B&O bi-level!) I didn't find any major differences between the photo and the model, other than the road number. Though a black and white photo, you can see the difference in shades between the rack and the flat. There's some extra lettering on the rack itself relating to the Merchants Despatch Transportation Company which was a subsidiary of the PC and the NYC before that. I'd wager that the MDT actually owned the racks, as they'd owned other racks and flatcars on behalf of the NYC starting in the early 1960's. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
I didn't find any 'net only citations to the PC autorack, but on the Freightcars List archive I did see a note mentioning the combination of Paragon racks with the BSH11 flats as being used by the PC. In the same note, it was disclosed that in-service photos of these cars are hard to come by and that many Paragon racks were paneled over. It's either going to be that change or the change from Penn Central to Conrail that's going to govern the ATP; in either case, I think "decade of the 1970's" is a reasonable estimate. And you've gotta appreciate George Elwood's summary of the road, which accompanies his extensive photo archive on the Fallen Flags site: "The Penn Central was formed by the merger of the Pennsylania and New York Central systems. While this was to create a better, stronger company, it failed due to low traffic and poor maintenance." Yep, that about sums it up! © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
50 Foot Flat Car, Fishbelly Sides, Soo Line.
Freight car red with white lettering including roadname and road number on left.
Road Number: 5275 (will be SOO 5275 in website listing).
Previous Release: Road Number 5287, August 1980.
Even though these cars date to 1939 per the MTL car copy, the driver of the ATP is the "modern" style of roadname that appears on the car. The Venus Bold Extended font for the name "SOO LINE" was adopted by the road following the 1960 merger of the "old" Soo Line with the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic. It's more likely that you'll think of the red and white locomotives with the big bold "SOO" in black before you think of a flat car, although some Soo flats were painted in white with black lettering. I can just imagine how long that white paint stayed fresh looking... not. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
It's been a while since the phrase "odd numbers only" has been necessary for a commentary. No, it's not a statement about the model railroad community, but the fact that the Soo, like some other midwestern roads, skipped every other number on some series of cars. Why this was done, I have no idea, but it was, and this group is an example. The series 5201 to 5399, from which this and the predecessor number was drawn, was of the odd numbers only, thus yielding only 100 possible cars. They were all there in a sample listing from the January 1953 ORER (NMRA Reprint) and here are the stats: "inside length" 53 feet 6 inches, "outside length" 54 feet 2 inches, "extreme height" 6 feet (that's probably to the top of the deck), capacity 100,000 pounds. As is typical with the MTL flats, the deck is shorter than the "inside length" but overall the model is a bit longer than the prototype car. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
These cars lasted for a while after the paint change. In April 1970, there remained 57 cars with 100,000 pounds capacity, plus another 36 that had been bumped up to 110,000 pounds capacity. The two road numbers MTL has done stayed at 50 tons at that time, though. By April 1976 the proportions had flipped and 76 cars were at 55 tons with only 11 staying at the original capacity. This change was probably made by substituting heavier capacity trucks, which may or may not mean the end of your "strictly speaking" ATP. The not so strictly speaking ATP ends by 1985 when the ORER no longer shows any of these cars on the Soo's roster. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
40 Foot Ice Refrigerator Car, Double Sheathed, Vertical Brake Wheel, King Packing Company.
Yellow sides, freight car red roof, ends, and side sills; black door hardware. Red and black lettering including large company name on left and reporting marks on right.
Approximate Time Period: 1920's and 1930's (a guess, see text).
Here's the second of the six rare meat packer cars to be reprinted by MTL, giving accumulators a chance to have this reefer without shelling out a huge amount of aftermarket appreciation. It's also a chance for MTL to stump this byte-slinger as to historical data. Well, almost. You're going to love the 'net citation I found for this company. It goes way over the top... no, wait, it just goes right to the top, of the American judiciary. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
Specifically, it's the 1956 Supreme Court decision in the case "Mitchell v. King Packing Company." Chief Justice Warren (that would be Earl Warren), responded for the Court and reversed and remanded a decision of a lower court. The case centered around whether King Packing could require workers to sharpen the knives they used in the butchering and trimming of meat outside the normal eight hour work day and without compensation. The Court held that since this was a "'principal, not a 'preliminary' or 'postliminary' activity," it was compensable under the portal to portal provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended by the Portal-to-Portal Act. Therefore, King was required to compensate and the decision of the lower court was reversed. OK, so it's not exactly "Law and Order." (And what's a "postliminary activity" anyway?) But in truth, it's a fairly important case because of its implications with respect to "off the clock" work. And because of this case, which is cited numerous times, we know that the company was still in business in the mid-1950's, even if its refrigerator cars weren't. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
There is very little to go on otherwise. The original run of the car had zero date information and there is no listing of the reporting marks or the company in any of the logical ORERs in which I would look (from 1919 to 1954). Several sources for decals don't include it either. But there are enough scale models of the car in various scales to conclude that it's either: (1) a legitimate prototype, with perhaps the usual compromises or (2) a suspect source from which all the models were produced over time. The ATP I've guessed at is typical of meat packer reefers on which we do have some information. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
Meanwhile, looking up "King Packing" on the 'net in an attempt to find any other historical information mostly yields accounts of monarchs being deposed, e.g. "they sent the king packing." (Which reminds me of Allan Sherman's novelty hit "You Went the Wrong Way, Ol' King Louie"... never mind.) Does King Packing Company still exist today? Well, it's hard to say. There was a King Packing Company sold from Imperial Sugar to Hormel Foods in December 2001, but that was described as a condiment packer, not a meat packer. And in 2003 there was a King Packing Company in Mississippi, Tom King, owner, that made "sausages and other prepared meats." That's a long way from the Omaha and Chicago that are listed on the car. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
33 Foot Two Bay Steel Hopper, Offset Sides, Flat Ends, Monon.
Freight car red with white lettering including reporting marks on left, large roadname across car, and circle-M "Hoosier Line" herald on right.
Approximate Time Period: mid-1950's to mid-1970's.
Previous Release: Road Number 4090, October 1984.
It's twenty years to the month since the first run of this car. And this hopper is a standout even with just the white lettering. Displaying the roadname and herald created by industrial designer Raymond Loewy (who also gave the Pennsy GG1 electric its timeless look), this car also sports the MON reporting marks that were adopted after the line officially changed its name from the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisvile to the Monon in 1956. Note that the reporting mark change from "CIL" to "MON" was gradual and the two markings certainly co-existed. These particular cars aren't in the January 1953 ORER, but they are in the January 1955 ORER (Westerfield CD-ROM) so they were most almost assuredly delivered with "CIL" reporting marks. We're going to start the ATP at mid-1950s and assume that there was a quick restencil, which is OK since the "Monon" name and herald were in use before the reporting marks were officially changed. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
This number 4002 and the previous road number 4090 came from the Monon series 4001 to 4150, which we'll pick up in the January 1964 ORER: inside length 33 feet, inside height not given, outside length 34 feet, extreme height 10 feet 8 inches, capacity 2145 cubic feet or 110,000 pounds. There were 144 cars of a possible 150 shown in that issue, and 141 in the April 1970 Register shortly before the road was merged into the Louisville and Nashville (1971). The L&N's listing as of April 1976 includes 109 of these cars with reporting marks still "CIL or MON." The big dropoff occurred between then and the April 1981 book where just 12 cars remained. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
For more information, Mont Switzer authored the article "Monon's Two Bay Offset Hoppers" which appears in the November 1990 issue of "Mainline Modelers", and there's a compendium of two bay hoppers including Monon's in "Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Volume 1" by Ed Hawkins. Neither is in the UMTRR Library at the moment. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
40 Foot Steel Boxcar, Plug Door, Arkansas State Car.
Aluminum sides, black roof, ends, sills and door hardware; blue and and black primary lettering including reporting marks, state name and outline map on left. Four color process graphics including state flag, state flower (apple blossom) and state bird (mockingbird) on right.
Nineteenth release in the States of the Union series.
I've often thought of how I've given South Dakota short shrift in the visiting department, but perhaps Arkansas should be the real "leader" in that category. I've not done more than crossed over from Memphis to set foot there, although that was twice, versus once for S.D. and I did eat a meal in Arkansas versus nothing in South Dakota. Even so, I have not had a chance to see any of the real attractions of The Natural State, like Ozark National Forest, Hot Springs or the Ouachita Mountains. Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway was ranked among the top ten scenic drives in the entire country, and that's the kind of road I like to travel. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
Native Americans in the area included the Quapaw, who called the area "Arkansea". Hernando de Soto was probably the first Western explorer to see the area but the French were the first of the "old world" to become resident there. Arkansas Post, near the confluence of the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers, was the first European settlement in the state, founded 1686; although it was nearly abandoned several times it grew back enough to become the capital of the territory prior to Little Rock. The area went from France to Spain and back to France before it was part of the Louisiana Purchase. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
The Arkansas Territory was carved out of the Missouri Territory in 1819 and in 1836, the area became the 25th state. Although the state seceded to the Confederacy during the Civil War, thousands of residents fought on the Union side as well. Politics were difficult during Reconstruction with no less than three different state constitutions adopted. In 1887, bauxite was discovered and Arkansas was the key source of the aluminum ore for some time. The only diamond mine in the United States was located near Mufreesboro after discovery of the gems in 1906. The Depression hit the state hard as did flooding, including one occurrance in 1927 that put one-fifth of the state under water. The 1940's and 1950's were turbulent as desegration was slowly adapted by the state, not before a number of violent incidents. In 1962, Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart store and started the chain that changed retail, its key distinction being a very efficient inbound supply chain. That same year, the state moved into number one for rice production-- not something that would have immediately occurred to me. Thirty years later, Arkansas native Bill Clinton was elected President. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
Speaking of Arkansas natives, here are a few others: General Douglas MacArthur, poet Maya Angelou, golfer John Daly, baseball speedster Lou Brock, pitcher "Dizzy" Dean and catcher Bill Dickey, football coach "Bear" Bryant, trucker J.B. Hunt, department store mogul William Dillard, political figures Martha Mitchell, Brooks Hays, Wilbur Mills, and J. William Fulbright, women's advocate and publisher Helen Gurley Brown, pop pianist Floyd Cramer, country artists Glen Campbell, Charlie Rich, Colin Raye and Conway Twitty, and the "Man in Black," Johnny Cash, whose music spanned much more than just country songs. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
40 Foot Steel Boxcar, Plug Door, First Day of Christmas "Partridge in a Pear Tree."
Maroon with yellow lettering and four color process printing "First Day" banner with a partridge in a pear tree on right.
First release in the Twelve Days of Christmas series.
We kick off another Special Edition series with this first Day of Christmas. I thought it wouldn't be that easy to scrape up commentary on a group of a dozen cars (plus expected locomotive and caboose) based on one traditional holiday song, but as it turns out, there's plenty of material out there, at least for this month. And that's not counting the "Micro-Seasons" tree ornament, which we'll just mention in passing here (catalog 960 60 001, MSRP $9.95). © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
I had wondered about the origin of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and so I did what I usually do from the comfort of my office at UMTRR HQ-- I hit the 'net. And I ran smack into one of those famous "Urban Legends." A significant percentage of hits made on a web search point to the same story: that the song is a "secret code" catechism of Catholic teaching, developed in England as a response to the outlawing of the Catholic Church. Well, quoth other sites like truthorfiction.com, it's not so, and in fact, it wouldn't make any sense because the supposedly coded tenets of faith are common across Catholics and Protestants, for example the Holy Trinity (which would be the "three French Hens" in the song). © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
No, the "real origin" of the tune is French, state others who quote "scholarly references" like the New Oxford Book of Carols. The melody originated in France and the song is nothing more than a chilrden's memory game played on Twelfth Night. The first child starts with the first day and just the Partridge in a Pear Tree, and the second in turn has to get the first and second nights right, the third child adds the third, and so on. If you don't get the days right, you're out of the game. The first published version of the song goes back to about 1780, in the book "Mirth Without Mischief". But it's also noted that on the catechism point, there could have been confusion with the older hymn "In These Twelve Days" which does offer lessons in song about the Catholic (and Christian) faith. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
This all illustrates the point that you need to be careful about what you find in cyberspace. Or perhaps as my mother used to say, "Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you read." (Of course you can believe everything you read here. Is that why I have an "Oops Patrol?") © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
Meanwhile, PNC Bank's 2003 analysis of the cost of each of the Twelve Gifts (its 19th annual review!) pegs the Partridge in a Pear Tree at $102.50 (US Dollars). So the MTL car plus the ornament will set you back considerably less, and also leave less of a mess around the house as well. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
Finally, given my slight penchant for offbeat humor, I can't let this go until mentioning that there are various parodies of the classic "Twelve Days" song. Allan Sherman's is among my favorites. In his version, the first gift is "A Japanese Transistor Radio" -- with an earplug that you put one in your ear, and you can't put the other end anywhere because it's bent. Plus, a case with holes in it so you can listen right through the case. I had one of those! As part of their "Great White North" routine, Bob and Doug MacKenzie had trouble figuring out what the twelve days were-- they eventually stop at nine and declare that there must be "three mystery days". Oh, and their first gift was simply "beer." © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
30 Foot Boxcar, Single Door, Double Sheathed Wood, Rio Grande (Denver and Rio Grande Western).
Boxcar red with white lettering including reporting marks on left and 1936 "Moffat Route" herald on right.
Approximate Time Period: mid-1930's to mid-1950s.
Previous Releases: Road Number 3074, May 1988; Road Number 3066, July 1989; Road Number 3187, March 1991; Road Number 3194, March 1992; Road Number 3375, July 1999.
So, what's the slim gauge MTL car with the largest number of releases? This one, with six; strictly speaking, no other release has more than four entries. (If you combine the one window and two window versions of the Rio Grande "speed lettering" caboose, that's a total of five.) © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
But there are plenty more prototype numbers from which to choose for more models of this boxcar. The ORER for April 1928, while a bit early for this paint scheme, shows 719 boxcars in the series 3000 to 3749. While we're there, let's get the dimensions: inside length 29 feet 5 inches, inside height just 6 feet 1 3/4 inches, outside length 30 feet, extreme height 12 feet and 11/16 inch, door opening 5 feet, and capacity 1267 cubic feet or 50,000 pounds. Advancing to July 1935, there are just two fewer counted at 717, and in January 1953 there are 480. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
While the cars date to the turn of the century according to the CDS Lettering Guide, the paint scheme depicted by MTL, featuring the Moffat Tunnel herald, has the ATP of 1935 to 1941. After that was the "speed lettering" and before that the "Royal Gorge" herald. Both, and the really early initials only scheme, are all available from CDS for a little variety in the rolling stock-- assuming that MTL doesn't get to these first. I'm just being arbitrary on the end of the ATP in the mid-1950's, it's more that this was when the Rio Grande's three foot lines began to be pulled back than any specific car data I have. As such I doubt that repainting slim gauge boxcars was top of the D&RGW's list so it's possible that the ATP could be longer. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
According to at least one source on the 'net, a number of the prototype boxcars survive to the present in varying conditions and paint schemes including the Royal Gorge version. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge owns a few of them and still uses them. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
14151, Marklin Coupler, $15.50, 14151-2, Micro-Trains Coupler, $17.30.
40 Foot Boxcar, Single Door (Superior or "Wide Rib" Door), Chesapeake and Ohio.
Boxcar red with white lettering including roadname and reporting marks on right and "C&O For Progress" herald on right.
Approximate Time Period: early 1950's (1952 build date given by MTL) to mid-1960's.
The N Scale version of this car was reprinted in May 2003 and that's close enough to allow a "reprint" of our own of sorts with respect to the commentary. (Between this and the two combo N and Z releases I'm getting off easy this month!) © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
The C&O herald, introduced circa 1948 and slightly modified in 1954, is occassionally referred to as the "double donuts." The version on this car is the later one, with a straight "smoke trail" above the word "Progress" which is itself below the large letter "O" of the "C and O". It's kind of interesting to think that the "For Progress" with the straight line above it suggests a steam locomotive, which usually wasn't associated with Progress in the 1950's; but let's not forget that the C&O had been trying to modernize its steam fleet long after other roads had given up in favor of the diesel. As the C&O gave up the roadname on its boxcars starting in 1956, the "strictly speaking" Approximate Time Period is pretty narrow. However, we can open it up with the understanding that repainting into the simpler C&O scheme consisting of just reporting marks and herald could have happened anytime after '56. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
Our C&O Special Correspondent James Pugh passed along a bunch of information on the C&O's PS-1s (for the N Scale version), starting with a couple of citations from the Morning Sun C&O Color Guide by David H. Hickcox. In that volume there's a photo of C&O 18302, just three off the MTL road number of 18299, with a caption that was drawn from for MTL's car copy. Hickcox cites the Chessie as one of the driving forces behind Pullman-Standard's decision to develop the PS-1 boxcar, and the line eventually bought over four thousand of the cars. Hickcox also references a more detailed article by Carl Shaver in the May 1979 issue of the "C&O Historical Newsletter." But he also notes that only the first series of C&O PS-1s, numbered 15000 to 15999, used six foot doors, while the later built groups had eight foot doors. So, yes, we've set up a "door thing" here. In Z Scale this is not such a big deal, of course. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
Let's do the numbers from the January 1959 ORER (Westerfield CD-ROM): The series was numbered from 16000 to 18499, of 2316 cars with AAR Classification "XM" and description "Box, Steel." The inside length was 40 feet 6 inches, inside height 10 feet 5 inches, outside length 41 feet 10 inches, extreme height 15 feet, door opening 8 feet (as noted above), and capacity 3888 cubic feet or 100,000 pounds. There were another 150 cars in the group with classification "XME" and DF loaders. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
We'll check the January 1964 Register next. There were 2060 cars in the main series, plus another 367 cars in six subseries of various exceptions including the previously cited DF loaders, cars equipped for sand loading, cars with "quick loaders" (whatever those are!), and cars assigned to laminated glass sheet loading, rough glass blanks loading, and even biscuit products. (Biscuit products?!?) In April 1970, although beyond what I'd call a reasonable end to the ATP given the paint scheme, there were still over than 2300 cars in service from the original 2500 in the series. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
14420, Marklin Coupler, $16.90, 14420-2, Micro-Trains Coupler, $18.70.
Single Dome Tank Car, Canadian Pacific.
Please see the review of the N Scale release above. © 2004 George J. Irwin. All rights reserved. Reposting prohibited.
14931, Marklin Coupler, $21.95, 14931-2, Micro-Trains Coupler, $23.75.


text:
Babies are Dying Needlessly in the UK Through Ignorance and Unavailability of Tests Routinely Offered in Other Western Countries
By Group B Strep Support, PRNE
LONDON, December 15, 2011 -
A new opinion poll has found that most young women support the introduction of a national screening programme to detect Group B Strep in pregnant women.
A recent survey conducted by ComRes on behalf of Group B Strep Support demonstrated that while more than half (54%) the women aged between 20-35 surveyed had heard of group B Strep, only 20% knew what it was.
The survey also showed that once young women are made aware of the dangers of group B Strep in pregnancy the overwhelming majority believe that pregnant women should always be offered information, tests and, when the bacteria is detected, antibiotics in labour.
92% believe that information on group B Strep should be given to all pregnant women
92% would welcome the opportunity for pregnant women to be screened for group B Strep in the later stages of pregnancy and believe this should be offered to women routinely
95% believe antibiotics should be offered in labour to women with group B Strep and that they themselves would definitely or probably accept the offer (89%)
Jane Plumb, Chief Executive of Group B Strep Support said
"Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the UK's most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies. Every year, around 340 babies develop GBS infection within seven days of birth. Of those, one in ten will die while around one in five will be permanently disabled.
This is needless, because with proper information, testing and treatment - as is routine in the US, Canada, Australia and many European countries - most of these tragic cases could be avoided. The Government should introduce a national screening programme for Group B Strep at the earliest opportunity."
Media Doctor Dr Chris Steele MBE said
"At present there is no national testing for group B Strep in pregnancy. The tests that are done are not designed to detect GBS and give a high level of falsely negative results, meaning women think they are free from GBS when they are not. Tests are available for GBS which pose no risk to mother or baby, but they are currently only available privately. They should be offered on the NHS.
The Government should act now to ensure women get the very best advice and support during their pregnancy. This should include information on the serious nature of Group B Strep infection, the offer of testing, followed by appropriate antibiotics during labour to protect the baby from infection."
Charlotte Cheshire a parent from Telford, said
"The consequence of Group B Strep infection is devastating.
When Adam was born in March 2011 he appeared a happy and healthy little boy. However, by the morning after his birth he was grunting and not feeding and the staff quickly realised something was wrong. Adam stopped breathing, began to have seizures and was running a high fever. He was placed on a cocktail of antibiotics while the staff confirmed the diagnosis of group B strep infection. We were told he was not expected to live and if he did survive he could be severely disabled.
Adam survived but was in intensive care for the first 23 days of his life and will require intensive, on-going monitoring throughout his childhood. At present, Adam's only identified long term problem is severe hearing damage. It could have been so much worse.
Yet all this could have been averted - if I'd had a sensitive GBS test late in pregnancy, it would almost definitely have found GBS and, with antibiotics from the start of labour, Adam could have been protected.
I am Canadian and if I had chosen to have Adam in my native country, sensitive testing for GBS is routine as it is in many other western and European countries and we could have avoided the distress, trauma and consequences of GBS infection.
Pregnant women should ask about group B Strep and the Government should ensure that information is given to all pregnant women. I know that routine testing is being considered. I believe a national programme should be introduced as soon as possible to reduce the number of families that have to suffer the horrors of GBS infection in their newborn babies.
I am calling on every politician in the land to demand that the health services in the UK act now and offer screening to pregnant women against this life threatening infection."
In light of the poll findings, Group B Strep Support is asking that
Information about GBS should be routinely given to all women as part of their antenatal care
Sensitive testing for GBS should be made freely available within the NHS and offered to every pregnant woman whose baby is at low risk of developing GBS infection
Antibiotics should be offered intravenously in labour to all mums whose babies are known to be at higher risk of developing GBS infection
The use of the 'standard' test within the NHS for the detection of GBS carriage in pregnancy should cease and vaginal swabs from pregnant women should always be tested using a method that offers good sensitivity for GBS detection
Notes to the Editor
Group B Strep Support
GBSS is a UK charity set up in 1996 to prevent GBS infection in newborn babies.
GBS is a normal bacterium carried by up to 30% of adults. It can be passed from mother to baby around labour. This causes no problems for most babies: for others can be deadly, causing blood infection, pneumonia and meningitis.
GBSS has recently launched an epetition calling for better prevention of group B Strep infection in babies in the UK. www.gbss.org.uk/epetition
www.gbss.org.uk
Dr Chris Steele MBE
Resident doctor, ITV's This Morning, 2007 Health Journalist of the Year, 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award, Guild of Health Writers
www.drchrisconfidential.com
ComRes
ComRes interviewed 1,000 20-35 year old women in the UK online between 28th October and 1st November 2011. Data was weighted to be demographically representative of 20-35 year old women in the UK. The full data tables are available at www.comres.co.uk.
Questions asked
Q1. Which one of the following statements applies best to your situation at the moment?
I have one or more children and don't plan to have any more
I have or more children and plan to have more
I am currently pregnant
I don't have any children now but hope to have one or more children at some point in the future
I don't have any children and don't expect to at any point in the future
Q2 Have you heard of Group B Streptococcus (also known as Group B Strep)
Q3 Group B Strep is the UK's most common cause of life-threatening infection in new born babies. Do you think that information about Group B Strep should be routinely given to pregnant women as part of their antenatal care, or not?
Q4. There is a test available for Group B Strep which poses no risk at all to mother or baby. Do you think that women should be routinely offered this test during pregnancy to see if they are carrying Group B Strep?
Q5. If a mother is found to be carrying Group B Strep in pregnancy, she can receive intravenous antibiotics during labour which are known to reduce the risk of Group B Strep infection in the baby by up to 90%. Do you think women carrying Group B Strep should be offered this choice or not?
Q6. If you were found to be carrying Group B Strep, would you agree to receive intravenous antibiotics in labour if it would minimise the risk of serious infection for your baby, or not?
Jane Plumb, Chief Executive, Group B Strep Support for comment or to contact families affected by group B Strep.
Case study photographs are available upon request, plus regional case studies.
Tel: +44(0)1444-416176
e-mail: jplumb@gbss.org.uk
Mobile: +44(0)7986-745387
Filed under: Business, Health, Health Care / Hospitals, Medical Equipment, Pharmaceuticals, Surveys / Polls / Research
Tags: December 15, Group B Strep Support, London, United Kingdom
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Ranbaxy Global Consumer Healthcare & Aanjaneya Lifecare Declared Winners In "Neutraceutical Segments" & "Company Of The Year Award" Respectively at 4th Annual Pharmaceutical Leadership Awards 2011
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Group B Strep Support News
Bring in Group B Strep Testing for all Women to Save Money and Lives, Urges Group B Strep Support

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Want to keep up with what's new in the world of sales-driven marketing? Want to ensure you've read what you should be reading? We will hook you up with the latest and the greatest links to blogs, slideshare, videos and demos each month.


Insurance Estimates and Quotes From Packing Service, Inc.
Online moving and relocation insurance. Insuring consumers while relocating domestically or internationally. Purchase moving insurance online in less than 10 minutes from Packing Service, Inc.


My mother was a Tai Chi fan, and she introduced me to Sifu Wu Yan Hsia when I was still in secondary school. I studied with Sifu Wu Yan Hsia on and off for over 20 years, starting with Tai Chi Chuan, and then later taking up Tai Chi Sword, Sabre, Spear, and Double Sword. Since 1999 I have also joined other disciples at the Hong Kong Tai Chi Chuan Headquarters to study under Sifu Wu Tai Sin.


text:
Tesla was the most popular investment among Malaysian investors in April
Stocks May 6, 2020
On May 6, new data emerging from the eToro investment platform revealed that nine of the top ten invested stocks by Malaysians in April 2020 are technology companies. There was a 19% increase in Malaysian investor buys compared with March.
In that context, the Tesla stock became the favourite choice on eToro rising from 4th to 1st spot last month.
Additionally, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) remains highly popular in April, with a 114% surge in trading. Investors discovered that amid economic lockdowns, there would be an increase in demand for the firm's graphics processing units (GPUs) and central processing units (CPUs) that are used in data centers and laptops.
A Senior Market Analyst at eToro, Nemo Qin, said:
"During the economic downturn, investors prefer to invest in consumer staples or dividend aristocrats than other sectors. However, it seems that the interest in the technology sector has not only remained; but technology stocks have increased in popularity among investors during the pandemic."
Netflix to release gripping financial thriller about Bernie Madoff on January 4 (trailer)
Q4 outlook for Tesla stock (TSLA) – what to expect?
Tesla delivers record number of China-made EVs in September
AMD drops over 5% in premarket after Q3 sales miss estimates
Tesla delivers a record number of vehicles in Q3; Can it fuel a trend reversal for TSLA?
Analysts and commentators believe that the current popularity and high demand for tech investment will remain for the rest of 2020.
Reasons for tech stocks popularity
There are several reasons why technology stocks have become popular among investors. In most cases, investors prefer these stocks since the companies behind them have tested and proven successful business models. Moreover, they have good financial statuses. These factors support the companies' development and business operations.
Also, people are spending more time and resources on technology products. Whether it is e-commerce, e-Learning, streaming services, working from home, online fitness, video games, and many other uses of technology have surged in the current lockdowns.
Companies like Zoom and Netflix are now recognizing these trends and exploiting the opportunities to generate more revenue and income. The data used represents the highest bought stocks by Malaysian investors on the eToro platform in March 2020. It is accurate as of May 1.
Apple issues cheapest bonds in 7 years amid Fed's emergency measures


text:
Covid-19: No return to 'normal' life until autumn 2021, French government adviser says
The French public will probably not see a return to "normal" post-coronavirus life before autumn 2021, the president of France's Scientific Council, which is advising the government on the Covid-19 pandemic, said in an interview on Friday, noting that vaccination campaigns will take time.
"Vaccines are a major source of hope but if you look at the vaccination capabilities that we will have in France and elsewhere in Europe, we will need time," immunologist and Scientific Council head Jean-François Delfraissy told France's BFM TV.
"The production of vaccines will be slower than envisioned 15 days or three weeks ago," Delfraissy continued. "We will not face a vaccine shortfall but we will have something that is more spread out over time."
The next six months will continue to be difficult as vaccination campaigns ramp up in the first three or four months of 2021. Asked whether that meant no return to normal life until the autumn, Delfraissy said that yes, that was likely.
Delfraissy's comments came just a day after French President Emmanuel Macron became the latest world leader to test positive for the coronavirus. Macron, 42, was tested after the "onset of the first symptoms" and will self-isolate for seven days in accordance with national regulations, his Élysée Palace office said in a statement.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex will self-isolate after contact with Macron, his office said, adding that he was showing no symptoms and had tested negative. First Lady Brigitte Macron will also be self-isolating but shows no symptoms.
A flurry of contact-tracing followed the announcement since Macron had recently been in contact with several other world leaders. He attended an EU summit in Brussels last week and attended a conference in Paris organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on Monday. European Council president Charles Michel, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa have all gone into self-isolation and cancelled events after meeting with Macron.
The timing is awkward for the French leader, who is trying to handle the pandemic crisis in his own country while keeping a close eye on Brexit talks and a host of other international issues.
Macron has repeatedly urged caution against the spread of the virus and in public he always wears a face mask covering his mouth and nose.
France earlier this week eased restrictions imposed to battle the second wave of the coronavirus but infection rates remain high.
There is still a nationwide overnight curfew from 8pm to halt the spread of the virus while restaurants and cafes, as well as theatres and cinemas, remain closed.
More than 59,000 people have died in France since the start of the pandemic.
Despite the precautions, more than 18,000 new cases were registered on Thursday, the highest daily tally since November 20.


Beautiful black gabardine 1950's bead embellished suit. So wonderfully preserved. I can't find anything wrong with this suit. It is excellent condition with no flaws, holes or repairs.
Shoulder seam to shoulder seam:14"
Shoulder pad to shoulder pad:16"


May 20, 2012 - The Hott Horse Shows' Maffitt Lake Spring Gathering II closed out two consecutive weeks of AA show jumping competition today.Approximately 500 horsemen and women from all over the country competed at the state of the art facility bringing with them their trainers, grooms, family and friends.
Hott Horse Shows, produced at Maffitt Lake Equestrian Center, has received the prestigious USHJA Members' Choice Award for the Winning AA Horse Show for two consecutive years."We love our exhibitors," said Libby Hott, who owns Maffitt Lake Equestrian Center with her husband Tim. "We want to make their showing experience with us the best it can be and are always looking for feedback as to how we can make horse showing with us even better," she added.
Friday nights feature exhibitor parties under the covered pavilion that rival no others. Complimentary food and drink along with a live band welcome all horsemen, sponsors, vendors, staff and their families each week. The festive setting provides a wonderful backdrop to the evening Derby classes.
Hott offers trainers the opportunity to purchase ten stalls and get one free. And, if that is not incentive enough, the fishing pond offers its own discounts as well as something fun to do for the families at the show. Said Hott, "I tagged three Walleye in my pond, and one of them has a free stall tag on it. Whoever catches that fish stays for free." "But, if fishing isn't your thing, take a spin in the paddle boat," added his wife Libby.
And, that warm feeling is certainly spreading across the country as new exhibitors constantly join the ranks of the Maffitt Lake Equestrian Center's returning customers. One of the country's most winning amateur riders, Laura Linback from Mundelein, IL made her debut at Hott Horse Shows at Maffitt Lake Equestrian Center during its opening 2012 week and won the season's premier $25,000 Grand Prix aboard Woodrun Farm's Whittaker MVNZ.
Longtime Hott Horse Shows' customer Kim Barone from Delano, MN won the $5,000 USHJA National Derby aboard Jenna Golden's Dark Chocolate Week I. "This is a great place to horse show," said Kim Barone, who brought fifteen horses over the past two weeks. "We love to show here because Tim and Libby are amazing, there is plenty of prize money, the staff is fabulous and everyone here is so nice," she added. "We've been coming to these shows since day one and intend to keep showing here," said Barone.
Week II continued the perfect weather and also featured a $25,000 Grand Prix won by Karen Cudmore, of Omaha, NE on Blair's Flying Colors owned by Blair Cudmore. Adding the Grand Prix win to her $5,000 USHJA Hunter Derby blue ribbon aboard Cami Klein's Quebo served to wrap up a great two weeks for the Cudmore family. "Without a doubt, the Hott Horse Shows are the most exhibitor-friendly shows outthere. These are great grounds to develop young horses and we love the laid-back atmosphere," said Karen Cudmore. "If you were to put this horse show anywhere else in the country, you couldn't get in- there would be a waiting list," Cudmore added.
For more information on the Hott Horse Shows and Maffitt Lake Equestrian Center, please visit their website at www.maffitlakeequestriancenter.com. For sponsorship and advertising information, please email l_engel@ymail.com.


text:
définition - Slava Zaitsev
Slava Zaitsev on 3 March 2009
Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Zaitsev
Ivanovo, RSFSR
Marina Vladimirovna Zaitseva
Yegor Zaitsev
Mikhail Yakovlevich Zaitsev (father), Maria Ivanovna Zaitseva (mother)
http://www.zaitsev.info
Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Zaitsev (Russian: Вячеслав Михайлович Зайцев), more commonly known as Slava Zaitsev (Russian: Слава Зайцев), born 2 March 1938 in Ivanovo, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, is a Russian fashion designer, painter, graphic artist and theatrical costume designer.
2.1 Career in the Soviet Union
2.2 Career in Russia
3 Style
4 Dom Modi
Zaitsev was born on 2 March 1938 in Ivanovo to Mikhail Yakovlevich Zaitsev and Maria Ivanovna Zaitseva.[1] His father was a victim of the repressions of Stalin and was disappeared into one of Stalin's camps, and his mother was a cleaner and laundress.[2][3] From 1945 – 1952 he studied Secondary School № 22 in Ivanovo.[4] As his father was deemed by the State to be a "traitor to the Motherland", Zaitsev was denied the opportunity to study at an industrial academy, a theatrical school and a pilot training school.[2]
In 1952 he began studies in the Faculty of Applied Arts at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Ivanovo, and during this time he became interested in manufacturing and received the credentials to become a textile artist.[5] He graduated, with honours, from the university in 1956.[4] After realising that working with textiles was his his dream, he moved to Moscow in 1956, and commenced studies at the Moscow Textile Institute, from which he graduated in 1962 with honours in painting and designing. Whilst he was studying at the Institute he married Marina Vladimirovna Zaitseva in 1959, and fathered a son, Yegor Vyacheslavovich Zaitsev, in 1960.[4][5][6]
Career in the Soviet Union
Slava Zaitsev circa 1960s.
During the Soviet era, haute couture was dominated by Zaitsev and Valentin Yudashkin,[7] and he was compared to other world-renowned fashion designers such as Christian Lacroix,[8] Christian Dior,[9] Pierre Cardin,[9] and Yves Saint Laurent,[10] Zaitsev was seen as being to compete with Western designers,[11] however, under the communist regime, the only country outside of the USSR where Zaitsev was able to work was Czechoslovakia.[12] Alexandre Vassiliev, a Russian-born, Paris-based fashion historian and designer, stated that "(i)f he had had a chance to show his collections abroad he would have been most possibly a world-famed brand."[2]
In March 1962 he began work as the artistic director of «Experimental technical garment factory «Mosoblsovnarkhoza», where he oversaw production of women's clothing for retail stores in Moscow and the surrounding region. Zaitsev came to attention in 1963 when he designed a chic version of the telogreika, Pavlovsky Posad shawl-inspired skirts and multi-coloured valenki for kolkhoz workers. Whilst his creations were lauded by the authorities for "sparkling with all colours of the rainbow", his collection was not approved for production by the Methodical Council. In February 1963, Paris Match became the first foreign media outlet to profile Zaitsev, and highly rated his collection.[2][4][13][14][15]
In March 1965 Zaitsev became the Chief Designer at the All-Union Fashion House, which was also known as Dom Modeli, on Kuznetsky Most.[6] In April 1965 Pierre Cardin, Marc Bohan (then with Dior) and Guy Laroche visited Moscow and became familiar with Zaitsev's works, although Zaitsev wasn't present, and was covered in an article of Paris Match. Pierre Cardin called Zaitsev an "equal among equals", and the French press dubbed him the Red Dior[4][14] Between 1965 – 1968 Zaitsev's works, dubbed the Russian series, were displayed abroad.[4]
He resigned from the All-Union Fashion House in 1978, and began to work out of a small studio.[6] His mother, with whom he had a great affinity died in the same year, and after her death he took up the writing of poetry.[3][4] Zaitsev designed a collection of costumes for the Soviet team for the 1980 Summer Olympics which were held in Moscow, for which he was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor.[4][5][16] He authored two books in 1980, "Such Changeable Fashion" (Russian: Такая изменчивая мода) and "This Multifaceted World of Fashion" (Russian: Этот многоликий мир моды), which were republished in Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia in 1983.[4][5]
In 1982 he transformed his studio into the «Slava Zaitsev» Moscow Fashion House (Russian: «Московский Дом Моды Вячеслава Зайцева»), also known as Dom Modi, becoming the first Soviet couturier who was permitted by the Soviet Government to label his own clothing.[10] By the mid-1980s, Dom Modi employed 600 civil servants and was required to produce some 2 million rubles worth of clothing each year.[6][10][17] In 1984 it was reported that Dom Modi had served 10,000 customers, and prices ranged from US$170 to US$260 for prêt-à-porter dresses, and up to US$1000 for haute couture gowns.[18] Zaitsev met with Thierry Mugler in 1985 in Moscow, and the French couturier photographed Zaitsev's fashions for an article in Paris Match.[19]
Slava Zaitsev in the 1980s.
Raisa Gorbachyova wore Zaitsev creations when she made what The New York Times described as a "perestroika splash" in the 1980s.[2] Due to the patronage of the Soviet First Lady, he gained a reputation as one of the world's hottest fashion designers, and became an international celebrity in his own right and a household name in Russia.[13][20][21] Zaitsev fashions were displayed at Expo '85 in Tsukuba, Japan, although it wasn't until 1986 when he was able to visit a capitalist country when he displayed some of his works in the Soviet pavilion at Expo 86 in Vancouver, Canada.[4][22]
A member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Zaitsev affirmed his belief in the Soviet Union and the future of communism, including the communist ideals of a workers' paradise. The New York Times reported that by the 1980s, he became dillusioned with the Party. Zaitsev told the newspaper that at mandatory party meetings he "began to defend the right to be free, as it says in the Communist charter. They constantly tried to distract me, not to let me get in. I'd be stuck in the elevator or I'd be sent off to some other event." This dissillusionment led to Zaitsev quitting the party in the late 1980s.[2]
Zaitsev often complained to the Soviet authorities about the lack of essential materials for his craft, which The New York Times noted in 1988 that he "until recently" was forced to use dressmaker's mannequins from World War II. Zaitsev signed a three year contract with Intertorg Inc. in August 1987, which saw Dom Modi selling its designs in the United States, with profits going to the design house rather than the Soviet Treasury.[23] The contract was the first commercial consumer venture signed between the two countries.[24] In October 1987 he showed his collection at the iconic Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, which critics called overwrought, out-of-date and reminiscent of Western fashion from several seasons earlier. Undiscouraged, Zaitsev said that he planned to return with a "pared-down, sexier collection".[10] He returned to New York in 1988 where he designed costumes for the musical revue Sophisticated Ladies, based on the music of Duke Ellington.[4] Participation in his first Paris fashion shows came in January 1988 at the invitation of Madame Carven, whom Zaitsev met in Moscow in December 1987, showing his collection under the banner of "Russian Seasons". He also joined the Maison de Couture and was made an honorary citizen of Paris, by then Mayor Jacques Chirac.[4][6][13][17][25] The following year in March, Maison de Couture named Zaitsev as "Man of the Year in the World of Fashion"[4][13][26]
In September 1989, Zaitsev showed his collections in West Germany for the first time under the theme "Fashion and Music Revue '90",[27][28] and in December 1989 he won first prize at "Five top fashion designers in the world-90" in Tokyo, Japan, where he was competing against Donna Karan, Claude Montana, Hanae Mori and Byblos.[4][29]
Career in Russia
Whilst during the Soviet era Zaitsev's work was funded by the Soviet government, which as a state employee he earned the maximum of 1,000 rubles per month, after the collapse of the Soviet Union he became responsible for financing the business out of his private income, with New Russians making up the bulk of his clientele.[20][30] In 1991 he designed a new uniform for the Russian police, and was bestowed the title of Honored Worker in the Field of the Arts.[5] By 1992, Jane Fonda, Ted Turner and Herb Ritts were amongst celebrities who became customers of Zaitsev,[30] and in the same year Zaitsev launched a women's perfume named Maroussia, in conjunction with French-based L'Oréal.[31] The perfume which is classified as a floral oriental and is still in production, was launched in a few European countries in 1992 and was launched worldwide in 1993.[32][33][34]
Lyudmila Putina in a Zaitsev-designed creation whilst meeting with Queen Elizabeth II in London in 2003.[2][35]
In 1994, Zaitsev hosted the inaugural Nadezhda Lamanova Prize competition for professional Russian designers at Dom Modi, and the competition has been held under his patronage since.[36] In 1996 he launched a competition in Russia, using the slogan of "Goodbye Barbie, welcome Maroussia", to find the "purest essence of" female adolescence, with the aim of decreasing the influence of the American doll in Russia. In Zaitsev's words, "Barbie is rigid, cold, cynical, pragmatic. Now look at the faces of our children...they are not only beautiful, but sweet, charming and mysterious. In every face there's a secret, and so must the new Russian doll".[37] Also in 1996, a follow-up to 1992s Maroussia, a floriental fragrance named Authentic Maroussia was launched but has since been discontinued.[38]
Zaitsev was the tailor to Vladimir Zhirinovsky for his 1996 Russian presidential campaign. Zaitsev, who planned to vote for Boris Yeltsin, stated on Zhirinovsky, "He wanted something distinctly Russian, so I thought back to the military-style jackets of the 20s, the 30s — like Stalin, only in new colours".[39][40] On 27 May 1996, President of Russia Boris Yeltsin awarded Zaitsev the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of literature and the arts.[41] In 1996, Zaitsev was also made an honorary citizen of the city of his birth, Ivanovo.[4]
His 2001 collection entitled Dedication saw the most expensive dresses costing between $10,000 – 12,000, whilst the cheapest were in the $2,000 – 3,000 price range.[42]
When then-President of Russia Vladimir Putin was due to travel on a state visit to the United Kingdom in June 2003, Zaitsev designed attire for First Lady of Russia Lyudmila Putina to wear for the visit, which included an audience with Queen Elizabeth II. Zaitsev told Zhizn that it took some time to convince Putina to wear a hat, due to Russian women in general not wearing them.[35]
By February 2005, Zaitsev had opened 4 «Слава Зайцев. Men's wear» stores in Ryazan, Ufa, Orenburg and Samara.[43] The New York Times described Zaitsev in 2004 as one of the few Soviet icons who is still an icon in modern-day Russia, and Time Magazine reported in 2007 that the Zaitsev name has 93% brand awareness in Russia.[2][44] In 2007 Kommersant commissioned VCIOM to run a poll on public perception as to the make-up of the Russian elite; Zaitsev, who is often referred to as the Patriarch of Russian fashion, was rated at 74.[45][46]
Slava Zaitsev and Svetlana Medvedeva at the The Russian Evening-2008 exhibition in Milan, Italy in September 2008.
Zaitsev is not interested in achieving worldwide renown by showing his creations abroad, preferring to stay true to his Russian roots and encourages other Russian designers not to be influenced by the West.[46][47] Zaitsev was quoted by Women's Wear Daily in April 2008 as saying:
"I think that as a Russian artist, I should show in Russia. At the beginning of the 1990s, I had the chance to show in Paris, and I realised that it's not my place."[47]
In 2007 Zaitsev took part in the TV show "Fashion Sentence" (Russian: Модный приговор) on Channel One, in which he acted as a judge passing down sentence on contestant's fashion sense.[48] After visiting Ashgabat in June 2008 for the Turkmen Textile Exhibition, Zaitsev stated that he was fascinated by traditional Turkmen clothing, and announced plans for a new collection which would incorporate traditional Turkmen elements. The casual wear collection is to be made exclusively from cotton from Turkmenistan and would feature the traditional Turkmen embroidery which captured his imagination.[49] In September 2008, Zaitsev participated in "The Russian Evening-2008" at the Institute for International Political Studies in Milan, which was attended by Svetlana Medvedeva and Clio Maria Bittoni, the wife of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.[50]
Zaitsev has always been an admirer of the costumes sketches supplied by Pablo Picasso and Albert Benois, amongst others, for Sergei Diaghilev's Paris troupe, and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, Zaitsev's collection for the 2009 Russian Fashion Week pays homage to the Russian ballet impresario.[51]
Fashion show of Slava Zaitsev featuring creations with inspired by traditional Pavlovsky Posad shawls.
Zaitsev stated that his mother, Maria Ivanovna, was a cleaning lady and never owned a fancy dress. In 2004, the New York Times stated, "(i)t is her stolid image that he has been dressing all these years in flounces and feathers, poufs and peplums, gold and glitter."[2] During the Soviet era, he regularly complained that he designed collections for the "larger" woman in the 1970s, but only models up to size 48 were accepted for production.[52]
Whilst Zaitsev regards fashion designers Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Gianfranco Ferré and Hubert de Givenchy as idols, his own creations are strongly influenced by traditional Russian and Slavic styles, and his collections include a variety of theme-based shows reflecting his take on the industry at the time. Past collections include the Millenium of the Christianisation of Russia in 1988; Russian Seasons in Paris in 1988; Agony of Perestroika in 1991; and Recollections of the Future in 1996 – 1997.[25][53] In his creations, Zaitsev includes elements such as traditional Pavlovsky Posad shawls and embroidered quilted jackets, which have been featured in collections such as Expectation of Changes.[54][55]
Dom Modi
Dom Modi on Prospekt Mira in Moscow.
As of 2009, Dom Modi employs 500 people.[46]
↑ (Russian) "ЗАЙЦЕВ Вячеслав Михайлович". Yandex. http://slovari.yandex.ru/dict/who-is-who/article/cult/cul2-059.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Mydans, Seth (13 March 2004). "Comrade Couturier Finds Fame in Russian Rag Trade". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E2DB113EF930A25750C0A9629C8B63. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
↑ 3.0 3.1 Pavel, Makarov (12 June 1998). "Вячеслав ЗАЙЦЕВ: я устал плевать против ветра". Газета "Молодежь Эстонии". http://www.moles.ee/98/Jun/12/5-1.html. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 (Russian) "Вячеслав Михайлович Зайцев". Tyumen State Oil and Gas University. http://www.tsogu.ru/institutes/folder.2008-01-22.9034888554/vospitatelnaya_rabota/tvorcheskie_kollektivy/zaitsev_biography. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Slava Zaitsev". Fashion Week in Moscow. http://www.fashionweekinmoscow.com/designers/designers_detail.php?ID=1425. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Sleeman, Elizabeth (2004). The International Who's Who 2004 (67 ed.). Routledge. pp. 1865. ISBN 1857432177. http://books.google.com/books?id=neKm1X6YPY0C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA1865,M1.
↑ Sandul, Irina (5 May 2002). "Local designers: Too sexy for the public?". Russia Journal. http://www.russiajournal.com/node/6186. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
↑ Aldersey-Williams, Hugh (1992). World Design: Nationalism and Globalism in Design. Rizzoli. pp. 110. ISBN 0847814610.
↑ 9.0 9.1 Binyon, Michael (1983). Life in Russia. H. Hamilton. pp. 165. ISBN 0241109825.
↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 La Ferla, Ruth (31 July 1988). "Soviet Chic". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE1D71438F932A05754C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
↑ Schultze, Sydney (2000). "Cuisine and Fashion". Culture and customs of Russia. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 74. ISBN 0313311013. http://books.google.com/books?id=c4kvrPEweOcC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA74,M1. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
↑ (French) Segertová, Magdalena (15 April 2003). "Le roi de la mode russe, Slava Zaitsev, présente ses modèles à Prague". Radio Praha. http://www.radio.cz/fr/article/39738. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Style-eyes". The Age. 2 April 2004. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/02/1080544682508.html?from=storyrhs. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
↑ 14.0 14.1 Kanievsky, Natalie (11 October 2006). "Versace on the Volga". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/770930.html. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
↑ "Russian designer showcases creations". New Delhi: The Tribune. 11 November 2008. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081111/delhi.htm#14. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
↑ (Russian) "Коллекция Pret-a-Porter De Luxe". Lady@Mail.ru. 23 October 2008. http://lady.mail.ru/article/52007. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
↑ 17.0 17.1 (French) Bouhana, Brigitte; Ajchenbaum, Yves Marc (31 January 1988). "Entretien avec le styliste Slava Zaitsev L'élégance des Soviétiques". Le Monde. http://www.lemonde.fr/cgi-bin/ACHATS/594722.html. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
↑ Rosenthal, Andrew (3 April 1984). "Moscow unveils its spring fashions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. 12. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JegNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nW0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6943,270057. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
↑ Deloffre, Claude (20 July 1990). "Paris Designer Thierry Mugler Wows Moscow Fashion: If his collection of patent-leather hot pants and micro-miniskirts didn't leave the Soviets breathless, his runway models, sets and music did.". Los Angeles: Los Angeles Times. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/60072383.html?dids=60072383:60072383&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+20%2C+1990&author=CLAUDE+DELOFFRE&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Paris+Designer+Thierry+Mugler+Wows+Moscow+Fashion%3A+If+his+collection+of+patent-leather+hot+pants+and+micro-miniskirts+didn%27t+leave+the+Soviets+breathless%2C+his+runway+models%2C+sets+and+music+did.&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
↑ 20.0 20.1 Hofheinz, Paul; Levine, Joanne (2 December 1991). "Who to call in the Soviet Union now". Fortune Magazine. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1991/12/02/75809/index.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
↑ Cornwell, Rupert (21 September 1999). "Raisa Gorbachev". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/raisa-gorbachev-740220.html. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
↑ Rinehart, Dianne (9 January 1989). "The Mode in Moscow For Soviets, Pursuit of Fashion Is Now Acceptable but Goods Still Hard to Get". Los Angeles: Los Angeles Times. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/66383402.html?dids=66383402:66383402&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+09%2C+1989&author=DIANNE+RINEHART&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=The+Mode+in+Moscow+For+Soviets%2C+Pursuit+of+Fashion+Is+Now+Acceptable+but+Goods+Still+Hard+to+Get&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
↑ "Raisa Gorbachev's Stylist to Supply Designs to U.S.". Los Angeles Times. 12 August 1987. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58461356.html?dids=58461356:58461356&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+12%2C+1987&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Raisa+Gorbachev%27s+Stylist+to+Supply+Designs+to+U.S.&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
↑ Ross, Nancy L. (7 October 1987). "Bringing Soviet Designs To the American Market;Firm Makes Deal for Russian Fashions". Washington, D.C.: Washington Post. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73849211.html?dids=73849211:73849211&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+07%2C+1987&author=Nancy+L.+Ross&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Bringing+Soviet+Designs+To+the+American+Market%3BFirm+Makes+Deal+for+Russian+Fashions&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
↑ 25.0 25.1 Beumers, Birgit. "Fashion". Pop culture Russia!. ABC-CLIO. pp. 356–358. ISBN 1851094598. http://books.google.com/books?id=Hix8AyteLN8C. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
↑ (Russian) "Вячеслав Зайцев (Vyacheslav Zaitsev)". Fashion Bank. http://www.fashionbank.ru/articles/article166.html. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
↑ (German) "Aus der Farbennot eine Tugend gemacht". Hamburger Abendblatt. 14 September 1989. pp. 5. http://www.abendblatt.de/extra/service/944949.html?url=/ha/1989/xml/19890914xml/habxml890709_11659.xml. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
↑ (German) "Der "rote Dior" zieht nicht nur Raissa an". Hamburger Abendblatt. 13 September 1989. pp. 4. http://www.abendblatt.de/extra/service/944949.html?url=/ha/1989/xml/19890913xml/habxml890709_11468.xml. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
↑ (German) "Ausstellung des russischen Modedesigners Wjatscheslaw Saizew begann in Moskau". Russland.ru. 11 November 2004. http://russlandonline.ru/mos0010/morenews.php?iditem=216. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
↑ 30.0 30.1 Brozan, Nadine (14 September 1992). "Chronicle". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/14/style/chronicle-136092.html. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
↑ "L'Oreal's perfume perestroika". Cosmetics International. 25 February 1992.
↑ "L'Oréal has launched its first Russian couturier's perfume". ICB. 27 January 1992.
↑ "Slava Zaitsev — Maroussia". Heavenly Perfumes. http://www.heavenlyperfumes.com.au/slava+zaitsev/maroussia/. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
↑ Edwards, Michael (2007). Fragrances of the World 2008. Sydney, Australia: Fragrances of the World. pp. 65. ISBN 0975609736.
↑ 35.0 35.1 Kondorsky, Alexander (4 July 2003). "Putina's Threads Stir Up Britain". Russia Journal. http://www.russiajournal.com/node/15672. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
↑ (Russian) "Слава Зайцев: "Мир искусства". Конкурс художников — модельеров им. Надежды Ламановой пройдет в новом формате". Myjane.ru. 16 May 2006. http://www.myjane.ru/news/text/?id=3151&printer=ok. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
↑ (Italian) "Russia, faccia da bambola cercasi". la Repubblica. 12 May 1996. http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1996/05/12/russia-faccia-da-bambola-cercasi.html. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
↑ (Spanish) Reyes Guitian, Belen (30 June 1995). "Lebed, un «sex symbol» de hormigón". El Mundo. http://www.elmundo.es/papel/hemeroteca/1996/06/30/mundo/123386.html. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
↑ Banerjee, Neela (27 June 1996). "Russian Politicians Turn To Image-Makers for Style". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB835822427570088000.html?mod=googlewsj. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
↑ (Russian) Президент Российской Федерации. УКАЗ №779 от 27.05.1996 «О присуждении Государственных премий Российской Федерации в области литературы и искусства 1995 года». (President of Russia. Ukaz #779 of 27.05.1996 On the awarding of the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of literature and the arts for 1995. ).
↑ "Dedication to an ideal". Russia Journal. 19 January 2001. http://www.russiajournal.com/node/10038. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
↑ (Russian) "«Slava Zaitsev. Men's Wear»: знаменитый российский кутюрье открыл в Рязани фирменный салон-магазин мужской одежды". Ryazan: RZN.info. 14 February 2005. http://www.rzn.info/news/city/598/. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
↑ "Russia". Time Magazine. 21 September 2007. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1664380,00.html. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
↑ "Three Dimensions of Russian Elite". Kommersant. 12 January 2007. http://www.kommersant.com/p-9822/Kommersant_Elite_Rating/. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 ""Patriarch of Russian fashion" opens Russian Fashion Week". Russia Today. 29 March 2009. http://www.russiatoday.ru/Art_and_Fun/2009-03-29/_Patriarch_of_Russian_fashion__opens_Russian_Fashion_Week.html/print. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
↑ 47.0 47.1 Gee, Alastair (9 April 2008). "Russian Fashion Weeks Hobbled by Overlap". Moscow: Women's Wear Daily. http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/russian-fashion-weeks-hobbled-by-overlap-458384?full=true. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
↑ Malpas, Anna (10 August 2007). "In the spotlight". The St. Petersburg Times.
↑ Najibullah, Farangis (18 June 2008). "Turkmenistan: Moscow Designer Eyes Turkmen Fashion, As Locals Vie With Strict Dress Code". RFE/RL. http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1347825.html. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
↑ "An evening of Russian culture held in Milan". Milan: Philippine News Agency. 28 September 2008.
↑ "Russian Fashion Week". Moscow News. 26 March 2009. http://www.mnweekly.ru/culture/20090326/55371736.html. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
↑ Goscilo, Helena; Holmgren, Beth (1996). "Female Fashion, Soviet Style: Bodies of Ideology". Russia — Women — Culture. Vainshtein, Olga. Indiana University Press. pp. 82–83. ISBN 0253210445. http://books.google.com/books?id=s-g2_mK1oicC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA82,M1. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
↑ "Russian culture navigator". Voice of Russia. http://www.vor.ru/culture/cultarch35_eng.html. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
↑ Smetanina, Svetlana (20 March 2008). "Fashion: more show, more business". Russia Behind The Headlines. http://rbth.ru/articles/2008/03/20/fashion.html. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
↑ Smetanina, Svetlana (21 September 2007). "Rebirth of Pavlovoposad Shawls". Moscow News. http://www.mnweekly.ru/culture/20070921/55278123.html. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
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Toutes les traductions de Slava Zaitsev


The New Monstrometer is Here!!!
Angels: What if you or somebody you love is an Angel?
YOU MAY BE DEALING WITH AN ANGEL!
Angels, mistaken for paragons of peace and love by confused humans everywhere, have actually been waging a terrible, bloody war with each other for around 4.5 BILLION years. During this time, virtually every angel has been recruited to one side or another thus blurring any distinction between "fallen" or "unfallen" that may have once existed. As a result although some of them may indeed be good or helpful to you, it's hard to know which ones. Or why. Worse, sometime around year 1 billion the angels began to forget what the war was even about or how it could be resolved. In this confusion they have widened their war to include a lot of innocent bystanders, especially humans they suspect of being "nephilim," that is angel-human hybrids.
1. Can you play the harp? If not, maybe learn. Fast. Angels are entranced by the sound of harp music. Maybe have some ready on your iPod.
2. Stay in your car. Angels hate cars and driving anywhere.
3. Talk a LOT about your "Great Uncle Gregori." In fact, create a celestial ringtone for him and arrange for him to "call" you and interrupt.
4. Tell her she's molting. Angels are very proud of their wings and very conscious of the market value of the feathers which can be used in "magic" pillows and duvets. An angel will do almost anything to avoid leaving feathers behind.
3. Understanding and maybe even speaking languages that you have never even studied.
4. Wings that may – or may not! – enable you to fly. Some report these wings appear in shadow long before they actually begin to grow.
5. A powerful imagination and the ability to materialize things from it.
These abilities do not normally emerge all at once and can be trained with the right angel teacher. However beware of the fallen ones who want to recruit you into their angel war. Or worse, eliminate you due to something called the Nephilim Prophesy. The Nephilim Prophesy is rumored to link the life and death of the nephilim to the end of the world which in turn is supposed to theoretically bring on the final stage in the angel's long war. As nobody has actually SEEN this prophesy, the actual details are a little bit vague but in any case, if you don't want to be a pawn in cosmic game of chess, then keep your feathers under wraps!
For more information about nephilim, see Chris Nephilim (below). He has been reliable so far and appears entirely neutral.
What's New in Monstrometer 2.2?
What's new in Monstrometer 2.2? If you say it out loud you will discover that that I am a poet and I didn't even know it.
The BIG change is that Graham and I fixed the way that the Survival Videos play. They were generally not working the way that you would want them to thanks to a change in the OS and we tried for months to fix it but now we finally figured it out. So if you never have before please take a look at the videos. There are lots of ways to get there including taping on the spot where it says Zombie Month right on the first page.
The logic to determine your Monster diagnosis has also been fine-tuned, increasing the Monstrometer's overall accuracy by nearly 0.87%. Now I know that may not seem like much but it is a lot when you are dealing with something as accurate as the Monstrometer.
And while we have not added any new results to the database we have added a number of new questions to help diagnose your supernatural state.
The update has been uploaded to the App Store for approval and should be available for you to download soon. Probably in less than a week. Graham and I are already working on the next update which should be a little bit bigger. Maybe even including a new result.
The good news is that if you're not a king, queen, prince, principal, state official or school administrator, you likely have nothing to fear from witches.
UNLESS – you are destined to become a king, queen, prince, principal, state official or school administrator. In witch case, feel free to fear witches!
But if your destiny does not include any of these professions, you likely have nothing to fear from witches. Janitors for instance, have generally have nothing to fear from witches. In fact, night janitors routinely participate in secret ceremonies designed to summon witches on magic brooms.
1. Talk about the weather. Witches love a good weather anomaly. If you haven't seen any – MAKE ONE UP! Amphibian precipitation is a popular one but any one will do.
2. Speak to him in Latin! If possible, make it rhyme. For instance: ILLIC QUONDOM ERAM A VIR EX NANTUCKETT…("There once was a man from Nantuckett…") Guaranteed to slow her down, if not scare her off.
3. Be open-minded. You could learn a lot as a frog or a tree. Some people pay witches a lot of money for this opportunity and you're getting it for free!
Trust me on this, true Mermish are not your maid! Behind those perky shells and streaming hair is a powerful aquatic being.
1. Avoid water access points, the 3-Bs: boats, beaches and bathrooms.
2. Eliminate all waterways in your own home. Close the water pipes.
3. Do you own a fish pond, tank or bowl? Consider finding a new pet. Unless the thought of waking up with a giant Koi munching your eyeball is appealing to you.
4. Purchase one or more stylish, safety approved Life Vest or PFD (personal flotation device). Wear it at all times. You won't see the wave coming until it's too late.
5. Mermonsters love bubbles so if you see bubbles coming you might want to run. And you may also be able to distract an angry mermonster with a simple bubble blowing device long enough for you to get away.
IF THE MERMONSTER IS YOU!
1. Always drink through a straw to minimize the chances of water touching your skin and triggering a fishy reaction when people are watching.
2. Some mermaids MUST bathe every 24 hours or they start to weaken and die. If you are this type of mermaid carry a spray bottle of water with you where ever you go.
3. Never let the fish follow you home. You may want to save them all, you but a floating fish in a bubble of water who follows you everywhere you go is like hanging a sign on you that says, "MERMISH." Not a good idea.
1. Never show fear. They like it. Unless your psychopath is also a confirmed cannibal, in which case see: DANGER – YOU MAY BE DEALING WITH A CANNIBAL.
2. Snap a very unflattering photo of her. Think low angles, bad lighting, focus on her nostrils and double chin. Queue it up to Twitter immediately and threaten to *SEND*. It could save your life.
3. Divert him! Psychopaths are terminally bored. The nihilistic vacuum of psychopathy leaves the average psychopathic killer wallowing in his own ennui and belly-button lint. Think of something of interest to him in his daily life, say the latest Black & Decker drill or even a handy psychopathy checklist.
4. Hang out with people who are hotter and more outgoing than you. I understand this runs counter to all dating advice which maintains you should pick friends who make you look gooder by comparison. But dating and psychopath avoidance are often related so you do well to re-examine this advice. Having only hotter, louder friends ensures that you will probably not be the primary target of a psychopath. Of course you may have to protect your hot friends later but never mind that. For now, just enjoy the free drinks, keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.
Don't despair. A diagnosis in psychopathy doesn't have to mean a life sentence of obsessive holiday killing sprees, if you don't want it to. Due to the popularization of psychopathic diagnostic tools, more and more humans are being diagnosed as psychopathic every single day. You are not alone!
Many psychopaths successfully sublimate their murderous urges and go on to become great captains of middle management and all-round family folk. You can choose your own psycho-path.
1. Develop a code of ethics. Please do not rely on on your gut instincts about how to treat others. Unless you intend to do the opposite of what you feel. Do NOT develop this behavioural code on your own! Organized religions like Judaism, Islam and Christianity to name just a few have managed to distill some of the important points into a plan for you. Start by picking up one of their guiding tombs and crack it open to a random page.
Never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering.
See? That's very good advice for a psychopath. Religious books like these are full of gems like this one that speak to you. Pick up your copy today!
2. Learn to appear normal. This is not just a matter of later witness identification, it's just a matter of basic courtesy. Try your best to look un-scary. Leave your hockey mask on the rink. You won't need it at the lake. You'll find that people react better to your presence and the comparative warmth of their reactions may not melt your psychopathic heart but it will trigger fewer slaughterous incidents. And that's good for everyone.
3. Learn to feel normal. After you've mastered looking normal, you'll want to look into that whole "feelings" business some people are always on about. This may come as a surprise to you, but you can do this entirely without cutting open your family and friends. Try asking them how they feel about things and then listening to their answers instead. Beyond that a few basic psychology classes can supplement your understanding. If it's not, consider following the psycho-path of more than a few historical examples and become a clinical psychologist.
Start there and see how it goes!


text:
Alice Derry's fourth full collection, Tremolo, forthcoming from Red Hen Press (2011), continues the strands of her three previous collections, discovering new ground and reaching deeper into her focus on our lives with each other. Beginning with the musical term, the book takes the reader on a journey of trembling which ultimately arrives at steady ground. Central to the manuscript is the relationship of mother to daughter. The book continues to explore the stories of Germans tangled in their past and poems about language itself. Tremolo also contains the languages of music and visual art, which need no translation, depicting how separations that make up a life are balanced by our connections to others, to art, to lives of courage and discipline.
Alice Derry's third volume of poems, Strangers to Their Courage, was published by Louisiana State University Press on September 4, 2001. Distilled from more than thirty years of experiences with the Germans and their language, the book explores the meaning of Derry's investment in a population compromised and reviled. In addition to poems, the manuscript contains a lengthy introductory essay. Li-Young Lee has written of the work: "Here is a book whose ostensible subject is the story of a specific European family, but whose deeper subject is the human family in general. Written with the personal life at stake, these poems achieve a transpersonal significance and beauty. This book also asks us to surrender our simplistic ideas about race and prejudice, memory and forgetfulness, and begin to uncover a new paradigm for 'human.'" Linda Bierds writes: "With clear prose and evocative poetry, Alice Derry has crafted a challenging book—a must-read for all concerned with the issues of human brutality and atonement." Strangers to Their Courage was a finalist for the 2002 Washington Book Award.
Mary Ann Gwinn reviewed the book in The Seattle Times on December 14, 2001. She writes: "Derry has a poet's ear. The stories of hardship and pain . . . are distilled into spare, unstinting verse . . . . this is tough stuff, but beautifully rendered."
Derry's second collection, Clearwater, was published in 1997 by Blue Begonia Press of Yakima, Washington. Lisel Mueller writes of this book: "This is a rare and astonishing book and its publication is cause for rejoicing. I know of no one else who writes like Alice Derry. The impact of these unsparingly honest and intimate poems is overwhelming, as they take us inside the poet's mind, into the actual and felt life of a mother, wife and teacher, a life that is as rich as it is contradictory and uncontrollable. The poems unfold unpredictably, in the way we think and speak, allowing interruptions, leaps, digressions and one-word sentences. As readers, we are not so much addressed as included and embraced. All of us are enlarged by the empathy and candor of this extraordinary poet."
In a review of Clearwater which appeared in Calyx, Volume 8, Nr. 3, Paulann Peterson writes: "This is the voice of Alice Derry: clear as the clear water of her book's title. In these poems that explore her life, it's a voice that compels and informs, illuminates and bears witness, a voice that has—to borrow from her own words—'. . .come this far / into the unreachable world.' Far enough for us to see, and hear, and give thanks for its clarity and poignancy."
Derry's first manuscript, Stages 0f Twilight, was chosen by Raymond Carver as the l986 King County (Seattle) Arts Publication Award winner. Breitenbush Books published the manuscript in November of l986.
Carver said of the poems in a Seattle Times interview: "I felt she was writing about real things, things that counted. Her poems seemed honest in their conception and execution—they made a claim on my interest right away. I would even say they made a claim on my heart." Lisel Mueller writes of the book: "These poems, while they are reflective, are never solitary, because they are about human connectedness . . . . This is the work of a clear-voiced, clear-sighted poet, who loves the world deeply."
Stages of Twilight was also reviewed by Stephen Corey in the Spring l988 issue of The Georgia Review. He writes: "Derry's language is nearly always heightened yet plain, her project large yet simple: exploration of incidents in the human heart, in the name of survival and perhaps even betterment. Sensitive to both the uncertainties and verities of daily existence, she is constantly open to finding images and metaphors that might help her to capture such bedrock ambiguities."
Derry was born in Oregon and raised in Washington and Montana. She holds an M.F.A. from Goddard College in Vermont, as well as an M.A. in English from The American University in Washington, D.C. Her poems have appeared in periodicals such as Southern Poetry Review, Poetry, Ploughshares, Prairie Schooner, Portland Review, The Seattle Review, Hubbub, Crab Creek Review and Raven Chronicles. Derry's poems have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize six times. Her poems have also appeared in a number of anthologies. Until she retired in 2009 after thirty-seven years of teaching, Derry taught English and German at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington, where she had co-directed the Foothills Writers' Series since 1980. She is married to Bruce Murdock, and they have a daughter, Lisel.
In l988 Derry was awarded an Individual Artist Fellowship from the Washington State Arts Commission. A chapbook, Getting Used to the Body, appeared in l989 from Sagittarius Press in Port Townsend, Washington.
A second chapbook, Not as You Once Imagined, was published in 1993 by Trask House Boks of Portland, Oregon. Lisel Mueller writes of the book: "Alice Derry loves the real world so intensely that she trusts and delights in the authenticity of its smallest gesture . . . . She has made her peace with imperfection. These poems are acts of praise, not lightly won, arising from a truthful and noble spirit."
In May, 2002, Pleasure Boat Studio of New York City released a chapbook of eleven of Derry's translations from the German poet, Rainer Rilke. The book is now in its second printing. Gary Miranda writes of the translations: "Alice Derry's renditions of Rilke's short but difficult New Poems have an ease that comes only from living with the originals for a long time and letting them blossom from within. . . .Most impressively, these translations manage to capture the tone of controlled urgency that is unmistakable Rilke."
In 1996 Derry was awarded the Washington Community and Technical College Humanities Association Exemplary Status Award for her work in poetry—both for her own and for the promotion of others'. Derry has been chosen four times to present at the Skagit River Poetry Festival in La Conner, Washington. In February of 2005, Derry was named Poet-in-Residence at the biennial conference of the National Association for Humanities Education. Her poetry and that of a colleague framed the two-day conference. Derry is an accomplished reader of her work and has read widely.