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Tag Archives: neglected tropical diseases
Remembering the NTDs on "Public Health Thank You Day"
By researchamerica on November 18, 2014 | Leave a comment
By Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Hotez is the President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, Director of the Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, and founding Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He is also Baker Institute Fellow in Disease and Poverty at Rice University, and University Professor at Baylor University, all located in the state of Texas.
In honor of Public Health Thank You Day, Dr. Hotez sits down to talk about his work on neglected tropical diseases and their importance in global public health initiatives:
The neglected tropical diseases – the "NTDs" – are a group of tropical infections that disproportionately plague the world's poorest people in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. I used to refer to the NTDs as "the most important diseases you have never heard" until Ebola virus infection became a household name.
But Ebola virus infection is not even close to being the world's most common NTD. Today, every single person living in extreme poverty suffers from at least one NTD. Many, like Ebola, are killer diseases such as African sleeping sickness and kala-azar. Indeed these NTDs killed hundreds of thousands of people in sub-Saharan Africa during the last half of the 20th century, most of them like today's Ebola victims who live amidst conflict or in post-conflict countries and regions.
Still other NTDs are chronic and debilitating conditions such as hookworm, schistosomiasis, elephantiasis, river blindness and trachoma that thwart economic development because of their ability to damage agricultural workers and growing children, or adversely affect pregnancies and women's health.
In the years following the launch of the 2000 Millennium Development Goals, the global public health community began waking up to the importance of NTDs and opportunities to control or eliminate them. A major approach has been to simultaneously target intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, elephantiasis, river blindness, and trachoma, with partial or complete so-called "rapid impact packages" of medicines administered once or twice yearly. The World Health Organization sometimes refers to this approach as preventive chemotherapy. Preventive chemotherapy is highly cost-effective in part because the major pharmaceutical companies are generously donating essential NTD medicines for these diseases and because they have a great safety profile and can be administered by community health workers or even school teachers. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently announced that more than one billion people have received these medicines through their support, while the British Department for International Development (DFID) has also provided large scale funding as well as the private END (Ending Neglected Disease) Fund. Our Global Network for NTDs is simultaneously providing strategically placed advocacy to promote NTD awareness and support for other European nations, and some of the BRICS countries.
In parallel, there is an urgent need to conduct research and development (R&D) for new NTD drugs, diagnostics and vaccines. We have seen the horrible consequences of not investing in these products for West Africa. As a result we face serious delays in getting new Ebola virus drugs and vaccines to the people who desperately need them. But Ebola is not alone: Our Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, based at the National School of Tropical Medicine of Baylor College of Medicine has a portfolio of new vaccines to combat several other NTDs including hookworm infection, schistosomiasis, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and West Nile virus infection. We have been successful at early stage development for these new vaccines, but like the Ebola virus vaccine problem we need to refine and improve the roadmap and business model for rapidly accelerating their final product and development and licensure. We have started to work with the US State Department to see whether we might enlist key research enterprises of foreign governments to partner with us in order to advance such vaccines – a concept I refer to as "vaccine diplomacy".
We have a long way to go. Preventive chemotherapy is still reaching less than 50 percent of vulnerable populations who deserve access to essential NTD medicines, while R&D for new NTD vaccines and drugs is mostly at a nascent stage. In West Africa this fall of 2014 we have seen the dramatic consequences of doing nothing for NTD threats such as Ebola. It is an especially tragic situation that we do not have anti-Ebola virus vaccines stockpiled and ready to roll out even though the technology has been available for at least a decade in some instances. My hope is that the humanitarian crisis created by possibly not having an Ebola vaccine in time for this 2014-15 epidemic might reignite the global public health and scientific community to rethink the strategic and economic importance of new NTD products.
On November 24, Research!America and public health organizations and advocates will celebrate Public Health Thank You Day, a chance to recognize public health professionals who work round-the-clock to protect the health of all Americans. To learn more, visit www.publichealththankyouday.org.
Posted in: Global and Public Health R&D	| Tagged: global health, neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, Peter Hotez, public health, Public Health Thank You Day
A First Glimpse of the "Armadillo's Ears"
By rablogs on July 8, 2013 | 1 Comment
By Peter J. Hotez
An excerpt of a blog post by Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, published in The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST) blog. Peter Hotez, MD, PhD is the founding dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and professor of the Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine (Research!America member) where he is also chief of a new Section of Pediatric Tropical Medicine and the Texas Children's Hospital Endowed Chair of Tropical Pediatrics. Hotez is the president of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development and the Baker Institute Fellow in Disease and Poverty at Rice University.
Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine.
The National School of Tropical Medicine, launched at Baylor College of Medicine in 2011, was established to offer a potent North American colleague to the century-old British tropical medicine schools in London and Liverpool and tropical disease institutes in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Basel, Hamburg, and elsewhere in Europe.
An essential cornerstone of the National School is translational research and development, with several core faculty members actively engaged in developing new diagnostics and vaccines for the 17 major diseases of poverty known as the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The NTDs represent a group of parasitic and related infections that actually cause poverty because of their long-term and disabling effects on childhood cognition and physical fitness and development, adult productive capacity, and the health of girls and women. They are the most common afflictions of the extremely poor in developing countries. Continue reading →
Posted in: Advocacy Messages, Global and Public Health R&D, Prevention & Public Health, Research Advocacy	| Tagged: Baylor College of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, Peter Hotez, Sabin Vaccine Institute, TAMEST, Texas
Neglected Tropical Diseases: Topic of Capitol Hill Briefing/Meetings
By rablogs on July 1, 2013 | Leave a comment
On June 17, Research!America hosted a Capitol Hill briefing on neglected tropical diseases in partnership with Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC), The American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
Research!America also led a series of Hill meetings last week with influential congressional offices to discuss some of the successes of USAID's NTD program and to highlight the need for continued investments. USAID's NTD program – which was authorized by Congress in 2006 – has helped to deliver more than 580 million treatments to approximately 260 million people through mass drug administration campaigns. We were joined by Georgetown University, Baylor College of Medicine, the Global Network for NTDs, IMA World Health and the Latin America Society for Chagas (LASOCHA). The group – which represented a broad range of partners from organizations that implement USAID NTD programs to patient advocates to leading NTD expert, Dr. Peter Hotez – discussed the importance of the USAID NTD program to their work and updated staffers on emerging issues in NTD prevention and treatment. Continue reading →
Posted in: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global and Public Health R&D, Prevention & Public Health	| Tagged: advocacy, American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Baylor College of Medicine, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Georgetown University, global health, global health research, Global Health Technologies Coalition, Global Network for NTDs, IMA World Health, Latin America Society for Chagas, Maggie Baker, neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, Peter Hotez, Rachel Marcus, Research!America, USAID
Expanding U.S. Commitments to World's Most Neglected Patients
By rablogs on June 18, 2013 | 2 Comments
NTDs briefing
On Monday, June 17, Research!America hosted a Hill briefing, "The Role of the U.S. Government and the Case for Scaling Up Treatment and Accelerating Innovation for the World's Most Neglected Patients." The event was sponsored by Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Karen Bass (D-CA) and hosted in partnership with Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC), The American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
Kaitlin Christenson of GHTC served as the event's moderator. Other panelists included DNDi's Rachel Cohen; Brian D'Cruz, MD, of Doctors Without Borders; and Laurence Buxbaum, MD, PhD, of the Philadelphia Research and Educational Foundation.
The event began with a video from MSF that drew attention to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and the world's most neglected patients that suffer from them. A panel discussion followed and Brian D'Cruz shared his personal experiences treating patients with NTDs in rural parts of Africa. He spoke of the difficulties in using current tools to treat patients, particularly in trying to perform procedures like spinal taps in communities with no sanitation or running water systems. In addition to the logistical difficulties, some of the existing drugs can be toxic or lead to extreme side effects that discourage patients from finishing their treatments. To cure these diseases and provide the best quality of care to neglected patients, new tools must be developed. Continue reading →
Posted in: Advocacy Messages, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Economic Impact, Food & Drug Administration, Global and Public Health R&D, Health Services Research, Prevention & Public Health, Research Advocacy, Research Investment/Funding, Research!America	| Tagged: African sleeping sickness, American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Brian D'Cruz, Chagas, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, GHTC, Global Health Technologies Coalition, Kaitlin Christenson, Karen Bass, Laurence Buxbaum, Lucille Roybal-Allard, neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, Philadelphia Research and Educational Foundation, Rachel Cohen
A Weekly Advocacy Message from Mary Woolley: What's wrong with this picture?
By researchamerica on June 13, 2013 | Leave a comment
Dear Research Advocate:
According to our new national public opinion poll on clinical trials and related topics, most Americans are willing to share their personal health data to advance research, and 72% would be willing to participate in a clinical trial if recommended by their doctor. This complements what we know from other polling, i.e. that Americans want research to proceed at a pace of scientific opportunity. Yet we continue to lose ground in the gridlocked political environment, which, by its inaction, is dashing the hopes of patients and families anxious for new therapies and cures. What's wrong with this picture?
It isn't as though research hasn't yielded both societal and economic benefits! United for Medical Research (UMR) and Battelle Technology Partnership Practice have released a report on the economic and transformative impact of the Human Genome Project, timed as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of its completion. This visionary project has resulted in wildly successful public-private partnerships, more than 4.3 million job-years of supported employment, and nearly $1 trillion in total economic impact since 1988.
The goals of the BRAIN Initiative have been compared to those of the Human Genome Project. Breakthroughs are so desperately needed to overcome Alzheimer's and a plethora of other serious illnesses. In a recent Bloomberg View article, columnist Al Hunt points out the folly of starving research while we are faced with such major health challenges. Continue reading →
Posted in: Advocacy Messages, Basic Research/Basic Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Clinical Research, Economic Impact, Global and Public Health R&D, Innovation/Competitiveness, Mary Woolley, National Institutes of Health, Prevention & Public Health, Research Advocacy, Research Investment/Funding, Research!America, Scientific Integrity	| Tagged: advocacy, Advocacy Academy, Al Hunt, Alzheimer's, Battelle Technology Partnership Practice, BRAIN Initiative, clinical trials, Deputy Surgeon General Boris Lushniak, Georges Benjamin, Human Genome Project, Mary Woolley, medical research, neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, poll, research, Research!America, science, sequestration, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, United for Medical Research
Hill Briefing on U.S. Role in Combating NTDs
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of 17 bacterial and parasitic infections that affect more than 1.4 billion people worldwide. NTDs are both infectious and chronic and disproportionately affect people in poverty. The U.S. has played an important role in the fight against NTDs, particularly through the NTD program at USAID. Although the program is extremely successful and has delivered treatments to more than 250 million people worldwide, currently the program only focuses on five of the seventeen NTDs. The remaining twelve are often overlooked, in part because existing tools are simply not sufficient to treat these NTDs.
To discuss these issues and more, please join us on Monday, June 17, for a Hill briefing, "The Role of the U.S. Government and the Case for Scaling Up Treatment and Accelerating Innovation for the World's Most Neglected Patients." Panelists will discuss methods for scaling up treatment for all NTDs in addition to exploring remaining research gaps that must be addressed. Overall, the event will highlight opportunities for future U.S. involvement in the fight against these deadly diseases, including the need for research investment to develop new tools and help the world's most neglected patients.
The event is sponsored by Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Karen Bass (D-CA) and hosted in partnership with Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC), The American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières.
Kaitlin Christenson of GHTC will serve as the event's moderator. Other speakers include DNDi's Rachel Cohen; Brian D'Cruz, MD, of Doctors Without Borders; and Laurence Buxbaum, MD, PhD, of the Philadelphia Research and Educational Foundation.
The program will run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 268 of the Capitol Visitor Center. To RSVP, please email Gwen Rathbun at Gwendolyn.Rathbun@dbr.com.
Posted in: Advocacy Messages, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global and Public Health R&D, Prevention & Public Health, Research!America	| Tagged: American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Brian D'Cruz, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), global health, Global Health Technologies Coalition, Kaitlin Christenson, Karen Bass, Laurence Buxbaum, Lucille Roybal-Allard, neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, Philadelphia Research and Educational Foundation, Rachel Cohen, USAID
A Weekly Advocacy Message from Mary Woolley: No rest during "recess"!
By researchamerica on May 30, 2013 | Leave a comment
Yesterday, President Obama tweeted about the effects of sequestration on medical research. From @barackobama, "The #sequester is slowing the pace of medical research, delaying the discovery of cures and treatments. Read more." It is terrific that the president is helping drive increased attention to medical research. Our thanks to him and also to all who have joined our Memorial Day recess week of social media advocacy. The American Heart Association posted this great image to its Facebook page; we also thank Society for Neuroscience, BIO, The Endocrine Society, Melanoma Research Alliance, University of Maryland School of Medicine, CURE Epilepsy and UPenn Science Policy — among many others — who have participated. Now it's your turn; let's kick this campaign into high gear as we wrap up the week!
We know from our regularly commissioned polls that Americans value the work of our taxpayer-supported health agencies. In a recent Gallup poll, the CDC received the best reviews among 10 federal agencies surveyed. Take advantage of this news hook to translate public support into policy-maker action. CDC funding has been subjected to budget cut after budget cut, compromising the agency's ability to safeguard the health of Americans against pandemics, bioterrorism, drug-resistant strains of infectious disease, and other predictable and unpredictable public health threats. Everyday Americans appear to value CDC more than our policy makers do. Tell your elected representatives: Let's get past this disconnect; stand up for the CDC.
Research!America has been highlighting the importance of tackling global killers like HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) during USAID's Global Health Month. Elected officials and the policy media are often surprised to learn that global health research and development is an integral part of the public and private sector-funded research enterprise in this country. The National Law Review's coverage (article) of global health has highlighted Research!America's Top 10 Reasons Why the U.S. Should Invest in Global Health Research & Development. Check it out, and if it whets your appetite for more, take a look at our video about NTDs. Typically not thought of as a problem in the U.S., NTDs are now a significant threat here. We simply must put research to work to stay ahead of the curve — to help our international friends and to maintain health and prosperity at home.
Mary Woolley
Posted in: Advocacy Messages, Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, Basic Research/Basic Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Economic Impact, Food & Drug Administration, Global and Public Health R&D, Innovation/Competitiveness, Mary Woolley, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Prevention & Public Health, Public Opinion, Research Advocacy, Research Investment/Funding, Research!America	| Tagged: #curesnotcuts, BIO, biomedical research, bioterrorism, CDC, CURE Epilepsy, Gallup poll, global health, HIV/AIDS, infectious disease, malaria, Mary Woolley, medical research, Melanoma Research Alliance, Memorial Day, neglected tropical diseases, pandemics, President Obama, Society for Neuroscience, TB, The American Heart Association, The Endocrine Society, University of Maryland School of Medicine, UPenn Science Policy, USAID
Research!America Hosts NTD Forum at Tulane University
By rablogs on May 17, 2013 | 1 Comment
On May 15, Research!America hosted a forum, "Neglected Tropical Disease Research in Louisiana: Saving Lives and Creating Jobs." The forum, featuring leading NTD experts from the region, was held at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans.
Pierre Buekens, MD, PhD, dean of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, addresses forum attendees.
Pierre Buekens, MD, PhD, dean of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, made opening remarks. He set the scene for the day, reminding us that there is a false divide between global and domestic health. Dr. Buekens pointed out that borders don't matter when we share climates and that NTDs can affect people in all corners of world, including New Orleans. He argued that the US is not doing enough to address the threat of NTDs and said that it is "really time to wake up, we really can't tell other countries what to do if we don't address it at home."
The first panel focused on NTDs and NTD research in the U.S. and Louisiana in particular. The panel was moderated by Dean Buekens and featured the following panelists: Patricia Dorn, PhD, Professor of Biological Sciences at Loyola University New Orleans; John B. Malone, DVM, PhD, Professor of Pathobiological Sciences at Louisiana State University; Raoult C. Ratard, MD, State Epidemiologist at the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and Dawn Wesson, MS, PhD, Associate Professor of Tropical Medicine at Tulane University. Continue reading →
Posted in: Basic Research/Basic Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global and Public Health R&D, Interdisciplinary Research, Prevention & Public Health, Research Advocacy, Research Investment/Funding, Research!America	| Tagged: Chagas, climate change, Dawn Roellig, Dawn Wesson, dengue, Jeffrey C. Luvall, John B. Malone, Kenneth J. Linthicum, Kristy Murray, Loyola University New Orleans, Maria Calzada, NASA, neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, Patricia Dorn, Pierre Buekens, Raoult C. Ratard, Tulane University, US Department of Agriculture
Research!America and Global Health Experts Focus on the Economic and Health Burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases in the U.S.
By rablogs on May 15, 2013 | Leave a comment
Leading researchers discuss emerging health threats at panel discussion
During a panel discussion today at Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, hosted by Research!America, several researchers and leading public health experts said the nation must increase public awareness and research to address the emergence of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the U.S.
NTDs, commonly associated with the developing world, have recently been identified in many parts of the country including Louisiana. Factors such as increased globalization, trade, migration, urban sprawl or climate change have been cited as potential underlying causes for the emergence of NTDs in the U.S. Chagas disease, which can cause heart failure, affects more than 300,000 people across the nation and costs the U.S. an estimated $1 billion in health care and lost productivity each year. Researchers at Loyola University New Orleans identified the first locally acquired case of Chagas disease in Louisiana. Continue reading →
Posted in: Basic Research/Basic Science, Clinical Research, Economic Impact, Global and Public Health R&D, Prevention & Public Health, Research!America	| Tagged: Chagas disease, dengue, Jennifer Chow, leishmaniasis, Louisiana, Louisiana State University, Loyola University New Orleans, neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, Pierre Buekens, Tulane University, WHO
Member Spotlight: The American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Karen Goraleski
By ASTMH Executive Director Karen A. Goraleski
The American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene is an international organization comprised of scientists, clinicians and program professionals who work to promote global health through the prevention and control of infectious diseases. ASTMH recognizes that global health is America's health and America's health is global health. It is vitally important for the broad research community – from basic through implementation and evaluation – to actively support a vibrant and innovative research enterprise. Everyone benefits from a strong U.S. investment in research. Continue reading →
Posted in: Basic Research/Basic Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Clinical Research, Economic Impact, Global and Public Health R&D, National Institutes of Health, Prevention & Public Health, Research Advocacy, Research Investment/Funding, Research!America	| Tagged: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, CDC, DoD, Karen Goraleski, neglected tropical diseases, NIH, Rally for Medical Research, sequestration, USAID, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Neglected Tropical Diseases hit closer to home
Based on their name, you might think that neglected "tropical" diseases (NTDs) aren't something American physicians would encounter often. While that may have been true in the past, there is a growing threat of tropical illnesses spreading through the U.S. Many factors may contribute to the rise in incidence, but the bottom line is a very real health threat that the American medical community may not be prepared to face.
Take the story of Maira Gutierrez, for example. A resident of the U.S. for over 30 years, she found out she was infected with Chagas, a neglected tropical disease, after she donated blood. For years, no medical professional could provide more than cursory information about her disease, nor prescribe a treatment. Just like her diagnosis, she felt "neglected" by the medical community. Gutierrez and other patients will be featured in a video as part of our upcoming Neglected Tropical Diseases Forum at Tulane University in Louisiana on May 15. Continue reading →
Posted in: Basic Research/Basic Science, Clinical Research, Global and Public Health R&D, Research Investment/Funding, Research!America	| Tagged: Chagas, dengue, leishmaniasis, neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, Tulane University
Health and Economic Returns on Science and Innovation Investments for Global Health
By rablogs on May 7, 2013 | Leave a comment
by Morgan McCloskey, Global Health Intern and Ellie Dehoney, Vice President of Policy and Programs at Research!America. This entry was originally posted as a guest contribution to the USAID IMPACT Blog.
Doctor prepares malaria treatment. Photo credit: IMAD
In the past decade, U.S. investments in science, technology and innovation have led to critical breakthroughs in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of deadly global diseases. We now have a meningitis vaccine for African populations, a new test that can quickly diagnose drug-resistant TB and promising data indicating that a vaccine could prevent HIV infection. We have developed desperately needed new drugs for neglected diseases and have determined pathways to expand access to treatment for millions through programs like PEPFAR and USAID's Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) program. Continue reading →
Posted in: Global and Public Health R&D, Prevention & Public Health, Research!America	| Tagged: HIV/AIDS, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, trachoma, tuberculosis, USAID
NTD Highlights of the Week: April 4th
By researchamerica on April 4, 2013 | Leave a comment
END7 recently released the above video aimed at raising the profile of neglected tropical diseases. END7 is a Global Network campaign which raises money to increase access to NTD treatments and strives to end seven of the most common NTDs by 2020. NTDs affect millions each year, so it is extremely important to increase awareness of these diseases among the public and major political and philanthropic leaders.
In addition to the seven NTDs targeted by the campaign, it is critical that momentum continue to build around research and control efforts for other NTDs such as Chagas, dengue and leishmaniasis. Nature recently published results from a leishmaniasis study in Nepal, which indicated that leishmaniasis drugs are not effective in one-fifth of patients. Although the study doesn't cite a particular reason for the drug failures, many suspect that the disease is becoming resistant to the most commonly used medication. With treatment failure rates up to an alarming 70% in areas of India and Brazil, drug resistant leishmaniasis is an increasing global concern. In addition, NTDs are on the rise here at home. Texas news outlets reported that 60-80% of animals in southern parts of the state are infected with Chagas, and experts warn that the overall risk of infection has increased. Florida officials have also confirmed that dengue has officially re-established itself in the state.
Despite these challenges, progress is being made in the fight against NTDs. Inviragen, a vaccine research organization based in Colorado, recently began Phase II clinical trials for its dengue vaccine candidate. The vaccine was well tolerated in the first phase of clinical trials and experts hope that Phase II will prove its efficacy and safety in young children.
Posted in: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global and Public Health R&D, Health Services Research, Prevention & Public Health, Research!America	| Tagged: Chagas, dengue, END7, global health, Global Network, leishmaniasis, neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, vaccines
March 22 is World Water Day
By rablogs on March 22, 2013 | Leave a comment
Nearly 11% of the world's population does not have access to clean drinking water. This represents a tremendous burden on global health, as almost 2 million children die from water-borne illnesses each year. Improvements in sanitation and the availability of clean water are essential to improve health around the world.
America has been a leader in clean water legislation and water-borne disease research. The late Paul G. Rogers, Research!America's former chair, was a key leader in the passage of environmental legislation, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, during his tenure in Congress. Today, American investment in research is providing new therapies and prevention strategies for water-borne illnesses like schistosomiasis and Guinea worm disease, both neglected tropical diseases. Learn more about neglected tropical diseases here.
Here are some interesting facts for World Water Day 2013:
Did you know that agriculture accounts for roughly 80%of the world's water consumption?
For every $1 invested in water and sanitation, an average of $4 is returned in increased productivity. (Source: WHO, Geneva, 2012: page 4)
Every year, around 60 million children in the developing world are born into households without access to sanitation. (UN Water)
443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related diseases.
Visit UN Water's World Water Day site or see a list of UNICEF partner organizations to learn more about water, sanitation and hygiene issues around the world.
Posted in: Global and Public Health R&D, Research Investment/Funding, Research!America	| Tagged: global health, Global Health R&D, neglected tropical diseases, Paul G. Rogers, UN Water, WHO, World Water Day
Research!America Hosts NTD Panel at CUGH Conference
By researchamerica on March 12, 2013 | Leave a comment
Did you know that neglected tropical diseases such as dengue, Chagas and hookworm affect over 1.4 billion people worldwide, including individuals here in the U.S.? To discuss the global burden of NTDs and how federal funding and policy decisions impact the research and development of tools to combat these diseases around the world, Research!America will be hosting a panel at the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) conference*. The panel, "Are NTDs a Growing Threat? Research, Access and Next Steps," will be held on Thursday, March 14 at 1:30 p.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
The conversation will be moderated by Karen Goraleski, Executive Director of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and will feature the following panelists: Rachel Cohen, Regional Executive Director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi); Brian D'Cruz, Emergency Physician with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières North America; LeAnne Fox, Medical Officer and Team Lead on NTDs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Kristy Murray, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Mark Rosenberg, President and CEO of the Task Force for Global Health.
*Please note that attendance at the CUGH conference requires registration fees. For more information, please visit the conference website here.
Posted in: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global and Public Health R&D, Prevention & Public Health, Research Advocacy, Research!America	| Tagged: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Baylor College of Medicine, Brian D'Cruz, CDC, Chagas, Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH), Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), global health, Karen Goraleski, Kristy Murray, LeAnne Fox, Mark Rosenberg, neglected tropical diseases, NTDs, Rachel Cohen, research and development, Research!America, Task Force for Global Health


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Mrs Daffodil Digresses
A blog about costume, history, and social ephemera
About Mrs Daffodil and her digressions
A Wealthy Widow Weds a Ghost: 1894
1890s wedding slippers http://collections.mcny.org/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=24UAYWEW94SN2&SMLS=1&RW=1246&RH=834
MARRIED TO A SPOOK
WEALTHY WIDOW BECOMES A GHOST'S BRIDE
UNCANNY STORY FROM THE ONSET SPIRITUALISTS
The Bangs Sisters, May and Lizzie, Continue to Startle the Peaceful Residents of a Massachusetts Town—
The Spirit Bridegroom.
Onset, Mass., Special to Inter-Ocean.
May Bangs, one of the Bangs sisters, materializing mediums and slate writers of Chicago, now at Onset Bay, declares positively and without any provisos that a person in flesh and blood in this life could be married to a materialized spirit. She declares that a woman from the west, a woman of wealth, had been married to her spirit lover in the very room in which she sat.
Charming May Bangs and her sister, the great spiritualists, who, when at home, reside in Chicago, have lately startled the natives of Onset, Mass., This statement means more than might appear on the surface when it is added that the little town is almost wholly made up of spiritualists. Thither the Bangs sisters hied themselves some weeks ago to take part in the summer assembly of the eastern societies. They made their headquarters at Happy Home cottage, where they were daily visited by pilgrims in search of friends and relatives long since in the "other world." Among those visitors was a rich widow from the far west, who wanted to see her lover, how had been a captain in the United States army. The captain, who came from Maryland, died on the eve of his marriage to the rich widow. For a year she has worn widow's weeds and longed for even a visit from the spirit of her departed lover. Miss Bangs informed her that she could not only produce the captain's spirit, but that the marriage ceremony that had been cut off by death would be performed in Happy Home cottage. A few days ago an item was given out for publication to the effect that the ceremony had been effectually performed some days before. In speaking of it, May Bangs said:
"I materialized the form," she said, "and the lover came out of the cabinet attired in the uniform of an army officer. The premises had been previously examined to prove that there was no mortal about. The materialized spirit asked that the curtains be drawn for a while to shut off the front parlor. The bride wanted him to put on her slippers and he did.
"Only a faint light shone through the room where the minister and others were waiting. He kissed her numerous times. The bride was in a new wedding dress. Then the materialized spirit lover requested that the marriage ceremony be performed and the request was granted. He placed a ring on her finger. They were together a long time that evening." The reporter who investigated the spiritual marriage had heard from other sources of such a matrimonial event and from two different persons he had heard that the woman in the case was from the west, that she was wealthy, well-educated and a woman of refinement. She is said to be a firm believer in spiritualism and has long know the Bangs sisters, Lizzie and May. She is about 35, short in stature, plump in form and dresses elegantly. Another account of the wedding from the lips of one who claims to have possession of facts, is this:
"On the night of Aug. 8, which was Wednesday, everything was ready for this strange ceremony, and the wedding party, consisting of about half a dozen persons, was within the walls of 'Happy Home' cottage, which is but a few rods distant from the grove where all the big spiritualistic meetings are held. Miss ___, who was to be married to one who had passed away, had purchased flowers and with her own hands had decorated the rooms. Curtains covered the windows just as at a séance. A single dim light was burning in the parlor, just a candle in a box, the tiny flame being subdued by blue glass.
"Lizzie Bangs and the minister were to be seen in this room next to the street, surrounded by the floral display of ferns and lilies. A cheese cloth had been hung across the double doorway which led into the cabinet-room behind.
"May Bangs came tripping down the stairs and entered the dark little apartment where the spirits first made their appearance. She was followed by the bride, who took a seat in the cabinet-room and awaited the appearance of the sprit who was to become her husband. May Bangs materialized the form of a late captain of the army, who in life hailed from Maryland.
"An ordained minister then went through the marriage service, and at the close declared the couple to be husband and wife. When the minister, who is a woman, at present in Vermont, finished, she was heard to say that she hoped it was really a materialized spirit that was married, for if it was a man in earth life he was married sure enough."
It is rumored that when the Bangs sisters start for Chicago on Monday two young men will go with them. one of these young men, who struck Onset with only $2 in his pocket, has been spending money lavishly of late.
"I've stuck a snap," he said to a reporter. "I am going to Chicago with May Bangs, but I'm going to get $20 in my fist before I start, or I don't go. I've had a promise of $15 and week and my board bill. Have you heard of the spirit marriage? It took place all right. The spirit groom was George—Capt. George__. They wanted me to put on a uniform and represent the groom, but I was out with May once, and Miss__ bobbed up suddenly and May had to introduce me to her, so the girl knew who I was."
The strange marriage has been the talk of Onset for some time, but as most of those there are deep-dyed spiritualists they think it nothing unusual.
RECALLS PREVIOUS NUPTIALS.
New York, Aug. 26. [This case] The Onset Bay spook wedding recalls with a difference the famous marriage in the family of the late George D. Carroll, once of Dempsey & Carroll, stationers, who wasted much of his substance on a medium named Fanny Stryker. Carroll has lost a young son, and, though the medium never materialized the youth for him, she did act as priestess in a "spirit marriage" between the boy and "Bright Eyes," a ghost with no family name. Elaborately engraved invitations for the ceremony were sent out and the priestess officiated in white uncut velvet. The elder Carroll died recently in comparative poverty and the medium buried him.
Dallas [TX] Morning News 9 September 1894: p. 5 and The Fort Wayne [IN] Sentinel 10 September 1894: p. 4
Mrs Daffodil's Aide-memoire: Such "spirit marriages" were a regrettable and venal feature of Victorian spiritualism; they usually ended in tears, lawsuits, or an asylum. Lawyers would have difficulty in untangling the legal status of the young man who played the dead Captain George, although the lady parson, wittingly or unwittingly, seems to have voiced an obvious truth. There was still the question of who signed the wedding licence and, in the United States, unlike France and China, marriages between the living and the dead are not sanctioned.
That person wearing orange blossoms over at the Haunted Ohio blog has written about a gentleman who married his late sweetheart in Cincinnati and a rather stingy bridegroom who foolishly thought that he could save on household expenses by marrying a spirit bride.
Mrs Daffodil invites you to join her on the curiously named "Face-book," where you will find a feast of fashion hints, fads and fancies, and historical anecdotes
You may read about a sentimental succubus, a vengeful seamstress's ghost, Victorian mourning gone horribly wrong, and, of course, Mrs Daffodil's efficient tidying up after a distasteful decapitation in A Spot of Bother: Four Macabre Tales.
This entry was posted in Frolics, Gentlemen, Ghosts, Husbands and Wives, Impostures and Swindles, Irregular Lives, News and Announcements, Uncategorized, Victorian, Weddings and tagged Bangs Sisters, Massachusetts, May Bangs, Onset Massachusetts, phantom bridegroom, spirit bride, spirit bridegroom, spirit groom, spirit wedding, Spiritualists, Wealthy Widow Weds a Ghost: 1894 on June 16, 2017 by chriswoodyard.
← The Bridegroom's Trousseau: 1909 Papa Not a Very Acceptable Guest: 1752 →
The Lace-Smuggler's Narrative: 1858
He Promised to Raise the Dead: 14th Century
Violets the Fad This Winter: 1893
A Lady's Social Diplomacy: 1895
"I have never known a Red Room yet that was not haunted.": 1903
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


SBTV's speaks with Gregor Gregersen, Founder of Silver Bullion and The Safe House, about the economic future of Europe and the coming bail-ins for bank depositors in the next economic reset. Gregor also shares why he owns 70% of his personal wealth in physical silver right now.
06:42 Would deregulation help Europe to be competitive again?
09:05 How are European banks faring?
35:01 Coins vs bars: Which is a better buy?


It's official "War Room" is the number #1 movie at the box office…as it should be. Since it's opening date War Room has held the top place among other new films released. "War Room" is the newest film by the Kendrick Brothers who have also produced other films such as Courageous, Fire Proof, Facing The Giants, and Fly Wheel.
War Room follows the story of a couple Tony and Elizabeth, who are struggling in their marriage even though they have a life that "looks good" on the outside. Their struggle is real and their daughter is caught in the mix, until Elizabeth meets a prayer warrior, Miss Clara in divine timing. Once Elizabeth begins to seriously utilize the power of prayer as advised by Miss Clara the whole family's life begins to transform in surprising ways.
This movie has definitely made an impact, since it's opening not only are Christians talking about it, but almost every major news outlet is. It has set a great standard for faith-based films.War Room is now playing in theaters across the country. You can visit the films official website warroomthemovie.com for theater listings and show times.
Of course what's a great movie without an awesome soundtrack?! The War Room movie soundtrack includes hits from artists like Toby Mac, Vickie Winans, Casting Crowns, and Mandisa just to name a few. You can hear music from these artists and more on Look Up Radio the #1 source for Christian Contemporary and Gospel music all one one station.
Have you seen the movie War Room Yet? What were your thoughts on the film? If not, do you plan on seeing it soon? Share your thoughts in the comments section below or let us know on social media @LookUpRadio.


text:
Als Schulsternwarte wird eine Sternwarte bezeichnet, die auf einem Schulgebäude oder in einem Schulgarten errichtet ist und zur Vertiefung des naturwissenschaftlichen oder technischen Unterrichts dient. Heute werden jedoch viele dieser Sternwarten nicht mehr von einem Lehrer betreut, sondern von einem lokalen Astroverein – und dann auch als Volkssternwarte betrieben.

Viele gut ausgestattete Schulsternwarten finden sich auf dem Gebiet der ehemaligen DDR. Denn in Ostdeutschland wurde darauf Wert gelegt, Astronomie als eigenes Schulfach zu führen. Einige dieser Schulen kooperierten mit russischen Partnern auf dem Gebiet der Weltraumforschung.

Zu den bedeutendsten dieser Observatorien zählen

 die Schulsternwarte "Johannes Franz" in Bautzen (ehemals DDR), die 1958 bis 1982 auch an sowjetischen Programmen zur Satellitenbeobachtung beteiligt war (siehe auch Moonwatch);
 die Robert-Mayer-Volks- und Schulsternwarte Heilbronn, die mit drei großen Spiegelteleskopen, einem Coudé-Refraktor, speziellen Sonnenfernrohren und Theodoliten ausgestattet ist und auch einen historischen Hohlglobus besitzt;
 Einen beeindruckenden Rundblick auf die Grazer Altstadt und den Schlossberg bietet die Kepler-Schulsternwarte. Auch hat die steirische Hauptstadt eine erstaunlich gute Luftqualität.
 Ein großes historisches Teleskop zur Planetenbeobachtung besitzt die ehemalige Schulsternwarte Karlsruhe, einen Steinheil-Refraktor von 6 Zoll aus der Landessternwarte Heidelberg.

Weblinks
 https://www.sternklar.de/gad/Schulsternwarten.htm

Didaktik der Astronomie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Ansible: force installing latest nodejs package I don't understand why Ansible is installing an old version of nodejs even though I set it to install latest:
- name: NodeJS => Install NodeJS
  apt:
      pkg: "{{ item }}"
      state: latest
      force: yes
      update_cache: yes
  with_items:
    - nodejs
    - npm
  become: yes

- name: NodeJS => Create link symlink for node
  become: yes
  file:
    src: /usr/bin/nodejs
    dest: /usr/bin/node
    state: link

For the current versions I have now:
$ node -v
v0.10.25

$ npm -v
1.3.10

Updated solution
I finally did this in my task/main.yml
---
- name: Ensure apt-transport-https is installed.
  apt: name=apt-transport-https state=present

- name: Add Nodesource apt key.
  become: yes
  apt_key:
    url: https://keyserver.ubuntu.com/pks/lookup?op=get&fingerprint=on&search=0x1655A0AB68576280
    id: "68576280"
    state: present

- name: Add NodeSource repositories for Node.js.
  become: yes
  apt_repository:
    repo: "{{ item }}"
    state: present
  with_items:
    - "deb https://deb.nodesource.com/node_{{ params['nodejs'].version }} {{ ansible_distribution_release }} main"
#    - "deb-src https://deb.nodesource.com/node_{{ params['nodejs'].version }} {{ ansible_distribution_release }} main"
  register: node_repo

- name: Update apt cache if repo was added.
  become: yes
  apt: update_cache=yes
  when: node_repo.changed

- name: Ensure Node.js and npm are installed.
  become: yes
  apt: "name=nodejs={{ params['nodejs'].version|regex_replace('x', '') }}* state=present"

A: You will need to first setup the ppa repository for the nodejs branch you want to install, for example for the 6.x branch (change if you want the 7.x branch)
- apt_repository:
    repo: deb https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_6.x nodejs
    state: present

Then you will be able to install node and npm.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Full of flavours and delicately prepared North Indian and vegetable delicacies of Handi Restaurant are dearly loved by all Asian foodies in Dubai. This fresh and delicious food of Handi Restaurant has perfect flavours and aroma that can excite the taste buds of guests without overwhelming them.
It is because of these fine features, the dining experience of Handi Restaurant's guests becomes a supreme culinary voyage, which they will never forget. On top of it, friendly and warm welcoming behaviour of its staff members makes this trip even better. The interior of this venue is also quite fabulous, but it is not decorated in a stuffy and pretentious way, which makes it quite subtle.
People of Dubai can find this restaurant on the ground floor of Taj Palace Hotel that is located at Al Makhtom Road in district Deira, Dubai, which is a central location and thinly populated.
Handi Restaurant is well-liked for its delicious and succulent north Indian and vegetarian dishes. These dishes are prepared from the best available ingredients. Plus the chefs have mastered the art of maintaining the quality of the food.
In addition to this, expert musicians play live music at this elegantly decorated restaurant, where outdoor seating is also available to relish the food in open air.
Biryani and tandoori varieties are the signature dishes of this eating place, which guests can bask in during lunch or dinner hours throughout the week.
Handi Restaurant serves lunch from 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm and dinner is dished up between 7:00 pm and 11:30 pm. This bistro opens on all days of the week and follows these operational hours throughout.
Taj Palace Hotel, Al Rigga - Dubai - United Arab Emirates.
Union Metro Station 1 is exactly 1.o kilomeytre away from the Handi Restaurant at Taj Palace Hotel. The walking from this Union Metro Station 1 to Handi Restaurant will take about 13 minutes. If a patron heads out in the southwest direction on Omar Bin Al Khattab Road/D 88 towards Al Maktoum Road/D 89, after exiting from this metro station and then turn left onto Al Maktoum Road/D 89, the destination will be found on the right side.
Clock Tower Roundabout 1 bus station is 130 metres away from the Handi Restaurant and you can reach there by using 4, 11A, 27, 53, 64A, C1, C4 and C5 buses. By walk a bus user can cover this distance in about 2 minutes, if he or she heads in the west course on Al Maktoum Road/D 89, from where destination is not too far on the left side. Follow the directions on map.


text:
Q: iOS Simultaneous Animations I have 2 images in my view. On a click of a button, I'd like to move them both lower on the screen at the same time. Do I need to create 2 thread to have this to run simultaneously or there is a simple way to generate multiple animations to start at the same time.
Any link to a tutorial or documentation would be fine, I can probably figure it out then (I've tried to search on google but haven't found yet what I'm looking for).

A: - (IBAction)moveLowerOnClick{
       [UIView beginAnimations:nil context:NULL];
       self.somethingToMove.frame = CGRectOffset(self.somethingToMove.frame, 0, 50);
       self.anotherThingToMove.frame = CGRectOffset(self.anotherThingToMove.frame, 0, 50);
       [UIView commitAnimations];
}

but here: iPhone UIView Animation Best Practice is some discussion about alternates


Auburn, AL is a larger city on the eastern edge of the state that is a part of the Opelika Metropolitan Area. The city is a busy college town with lots of attractions for visitors to explore. The Donald E. Davis Arboretum is one those beautiful places to see. Enjoy staying at an Auburn bed and breakfast while you're in town.
The Donald E. Davis Arboretum is an educational facility that offers visitors a relaxing environment to explore the habitats and species native to Alabama. There are over 300 species of plants that grow in a variety of habitats such as stream bottoms, ponds, hillsides, bogs and prairies. The arboretum is open daily from sunrise to sunset and there is no charge for admission. The beautiful grounds are the setting of many special events. There is a pavilion available upon request.
Town Creek Park is located just south of the university in the middle of Auburn. The park is beautiful with its open fields and wooden swings. The main attraction is the walking trail that weaves in and out of the trees around a pond and the creek. There are restrooms and a pavilion for picnics. You will notice the original silo and shed from the dairy farm that once stood on the grounds. There is also a bike trail for visitors to ride. The 95-acre park continues to see improvements as a playground, amphitheater and more pavilions are being constructed as of 2011.
Kiesel Park is Auburn's largest park, located just southwest of the city. The walking trail is over 2 miles long and takes visitors through the 124-acre park. The main pavilion near the entrance is beautiful with its Greek Revival style architecture from the 1850s. The park is known for its off-leash dog area which is fenced in for pets. As long as you supervise, your dogs can play without any constraints. There is a garden area with special plants and lots of beautiful trees throughout the park. There is a large pond with benches for visitors to sit and enjoy the water. The park is the location for many special events such as Cityfest and other celebrations throughout the year.
The Surfside Water Park is an exciting place to experience Auburn's outdoors. The park has a wave pool, lazy river, body flumes, a speed slide and a kiddie pool. There is something for everyone, including a concession stand and a gift shop. Restrooms, showers and storage lockers are available. All lifeguards are Red Cross certified. The park opens at 10:00 a.m. daily, closing at 6:00 p.m. during the week and 7:00 p.m. on weekends. General admission for 2011 is $22.67 per person. Spend time in the water before heading back to your Auburn inn for the night.


Monday, 20 November, 2017 is the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Every 20th of November services are held to remember and make visible the known transgender people who have died due to anti-transgender violence. Black and brown transgender women make up the majority of these victims. This year continues the trend of seeing more transgender people killed than the previous year, yet these attacks and the Transgender Day of Remembrance receive very little acknowledgement outside of LGBTQ circles. The vast majority of Americans are unaware that on this day, every year, a day of mourning happens to honor the people lost solely because of their gender identity. This year, we mourn over two dozen Americans.
In light of this being Transgender Awareness Week and the week ending in the memorial service for those who have been lost, I encourage my pastors, my friends who are faith leaders, and all faith leaders to specifically mention the Transgender Day of Remembrance in their services and in their public prayers. Pray for and act on behalf of the victims of anti-transgender hate crimes. Pray for and act on behalf of victims and survivors, their friends, their families (chosen and biological), and their community.
Today, I present myself to you as a voice crying from the wilderness. A wilderness of fear, anguish, and suffering. A wilderness so dark that it cannot even be said to be ignored or rejected, but lost. I am the Samaritan woman begging for your children's fallen scraps; for even your pets receive the blessing of Saint Francis once a year. I am the bleeding woman reaching out in hope of a miracle; I am extending my hand to you in faith that you will act to stem this bloodshed. I am the woman with the crooked back, bent over and hobbled, having seen nothing but dirt for decades; I stand before you now and hope you will lift our faces that we might see you and be seen by you.
I understand that the choice to do this comes with risk. There will be those who will be surprised or confused by what you say. Still more, there will be those who reject and actively resist what you say. I know that you have a position and a responsibility to your congregants and your superiors. You are expected to adhere to the dogma you were empowered under. I appreciate the gravity of what I am asking and I am asking it all the same. For God wants justice to follow down like mighty waters and that is powerful imagery. Mighty waters are overwhelming and not a little chaotic. They rip apart established structures and consume them. Mighty waters are not gentle, they do not only come if you are ready, and they do not ask your permission or acceptance for their flood. Scripture is demanding that justice, true Divine justice, be not concerned with what is political, or expedient, or comfortable. Scripture demands we be prepared and willing to rip out the old structures and dogma, if it stands between God's children and God's justice. Are you willing to unleash those waters and let them wash away the injustices the church has shored and bolstered?
According to Matthew, Jesus said, not a sparrow falls from heaven without God seeing it, and how much more are we than sparrows. God sees us. I am asking that you, also, see us. God cares for us. I am asking that you, also, show care for us.


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Our inventory selection includes car brands such as Ford, Holden, Toyotas, Subaru, Suzuki, Volkswagen, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Jeeps, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Holden, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo & Many More car makes & models.


The passionate gamers spend most of their time in front of their desktop while sitting on a chair. This regular practice makes them suffer from continuous back pain and as a result, they stop playing their favorite games. If you want to continue playing your favorite games without any kind of trouble, then you must consider buying a gaming chair that can make this process easier for you.
The gaming chairs are flexible and they are designed to provide you the extreme comfort while you are playing your favorite games. There are many different kinds of gaming chairs available these days. This may make it very difficult for you to choose the gaming chair that suits you the best because there are plenty of options available nowadays.
We have gathered some tips to help you find the best gaming chair so that you may enjoy the incredible gaming experience. "What should I look for in a gaming chair?" is a common question that most of the new buyers have in their mind. We guarantee you that you will find the answer to your question in this article. Here are tips that you must follow before buying your next gaming chair.
Most of the gamers believe that they should invest a huge amount of money to buy a gaming chair because an expensive chair comes with several amazing features. This is a completely wrong concept because there are many strong options available that have lots of features in them and they are also available at very affordable rates. We recommend that you should not spend a lot of money on buying a gaming chair. You can easily find some incredible options at very affordable rates. You can even get the chair customized in future according to your needs.
There are many different types of gaming chairs available these days. Here are some of the most popular types of gaming chairs.
All the above-mentioned chairs are designed for several types of games. You must consider taking a look at the features of these chairs before making a decision. This will help you find the most suitable gaming chair. Once you have decided the type of chair you want, you can start shopping around.
The material of the chair is another important element that you must look for. There are several different kinds of materials available that are used in the production of gaming chair. You must make sure that the material used in the production of gaming chair is extremely comfortable and reliable. Thus, you'll be able to enjoy an incredible gaming experience. Click Here and take a look at some other tips that you can use to buy the best gaming chair.


text:
Артём Владимирович Чигвинцев (род. 12 июня 1982 года, Ижевск, Россия) ― российско-американский профессиональный танцор, специализирующийся на латиноамериканских танцах.

Карьера
Чигвинцев родился в Ижевске. В 2003 году он переехал в США и начал танцевать с чемпионкой по бальным танцам Жизель Пикок. Чигвинцев прошел прослушивание в качестве участника первого сезона шоу So You Think You Can Dance. Он выбыл вместе со своей коллегой-конкурсанткой Мелиссой Веллой, но вернулся в качестве приглашенного хореографа на второй сезон.

В 2009 году он снялся в музыкальном клипе на песню «Hush Hush; Hush Hush» группы The Pussycat Dolls. Он также сыграл эпизодическую роль в сериале «Одинокие сердца».

В сентябре 2010 года Чигвинцев принял участие в шоу Strictly Come Dancing в качестве профессионального танцора, где он был партнером актрисы Кары Тойнтон. Пара добилась хороших результатов за первые пять недель. Чигвинцев и Тойнтон вышли в финал вместе с Мэттом Бейкером и Памелой Стивенсон. Пара выиграла соревнование, победив Мэтта Бейкера и его партнершу Алену Вилани и стала чемпионами. Чигвинцев ― один из четырех профессионалов, выигравших серию в качестве новичка Strictly pro.

В 9 сезоне шоу Strictly Come Dancing партнершей Чигвинцева была Холли Вэлэнс. Они добрались до 11-й недели, полуфинала, прежде чем выбыли.

Звездной партнершей Чигвинцева в 10 сезоне шоу Strictly Come Dancing была телеведущая Ферн Бриттон. Они выбыли на 6-й неделе.

Его звездной партнершей в одиннадцатом сезоне шоу была актриса Натали Гумеде. Они дошли до финала и стали одними из занявших второе место вместе с Сюзанной Рид и Кевином Клифтоном.

В 2014 году, после участия в 11 сезоне Strictly Come Dancing, Чигвинцев появился в 18 сезоне «Танцы со звёздами» в качестве члена танцевальной труппы. Позже в том же году было объявлено, что он был повышен до профессионального танцора на 19 сезон шоу, что ознаменовало его уход из Strictly Come Dancing.

В 19 сезоне он танцевал в паре с актрисой Леа Томпсон. Пара выбыла на 9-й неделе и финишировала на шестом месте.

Он вернулся в 20 сезоне в паре с отмеченной наградами певицей Патти Лабелль. Пара выбыла на 6 неделе и финишировала на восьмом месте.

19 августа 2015 года Чигвинцев был объявлен одним из профессиональных танцоров 21 сезона шоу «Танцы со звездами». Позже выяснилось, что бывшая холостячка Кейтлин Бристоу должна была соревноваться вместе с ним в том сезоне, но ей помешал продюсер «Холостяка» Майк Флейсс. Бристоу станет партнером Артема пять лет спустя (2020 год) в 29 сезоне.

В течение 24 сезона он был в паре с бывшей фигуристкой Нэнси Керриган. 1 мая 2017 года Керриган и Чигвинцев выбыли.

Чигвинцев вернулся в 22 сезон в партнерстве с актрисой Мишей Бартон. Они выбыли на 3 неделе соревнований и финишировали на 11-м месте.

В 2020 году он появился в качестве гостя в эпизоде американского реалити-шоу «Семейство Кардашьян», в котором учил Крис Дженнер и ее бойфренда бальным танцам.

Личная жизнь
С 2004 по 2005 год Чигвинцев был женат на своей партнерше по танцам Жизель Пикок. С 2006 по 2008 год он встречался с Кэрри Энн Инабой. По состоянию на ноябрь 2019 года он помолвлен со звездой Total Bellas и бывшей рестлершей, Никки Беллой, которая была его звездной партнершей в 25 сезоне «Танцев со звездами». 29 января 2020 года Никки и Артём объявили, что ждут своего первого ребенка. 31 июля 2020 года Белла родила сына Маттео.

Примечания

Ссылки

Танцоры России
Русские эмигранты четвёртой волны в США
Танцоры США


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What Happened in the Premier League This Weekend, and Why
wgoldman
Another weekend, another helping of twists and turns in the world's most scintillating football league. We saw the top 3 teams in the league win, as well as 6 of the top 7. We witnessed impressive performances from the leaders, Chelsea, who dispatched Hull at home, the defending champions, Manchester City, who staved off Leicester on the road, and Manchester United, winners of 6 consecutive fixtures, who handily defeated arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford. Southampton lost their 4th match in a row, Tottenham stole 3 points from Swansea, and Arsenal fans breathed collective sighs of relief after a 4-1 drubbing of Newcastle United. Here's what happened on matchday 16 in the Premier League, and why.
Leicester City 0, Manchester City 1- Things got from bad to worse for the Foxes on Saturday, as reeling Leicester City were downed by the champions at home. With the loss, Leicester are now 3 points behind Hull City, sitting bottom of the Premier League. Ever since their dramatic, astounding 5-3 home victory over Manchester United, Leicester have lost 8 of their last 10 matches. Nigel Pearson's side didn't look too convincing against Manchester City, who were without their talisman Sergio Aguero. The Citizens played a more conservative, passing style of play, completing 81% of their passes and only attempting 6 crosses. Frank Lampard was the man yet again, scoring in the 40th minute for what proved to be the decisive goal. It was the Englishman's 5th goal of the campaign. Lampard, who is on loan from newly founded New York City FC, has been invaluable to City thus far, scoring timely goal after timely goal. He scored the winner against Southampton a week ago, and also equalized at home against former club Chelsea in October. Our man of the match, however, is Gael Clichy. Clearly Leicester were attempting to play a wide style of attack, which is evident in the 25 crosses they attempted. Clichy did well all game, registering 4 interceptions, 5 clearances, and 2 tackles. The Frenchman's string of good form has made it increasingly difficult for Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini to choose between him and Aleksander Kolarov at left back. With the victory, City now stand at 36 points, 3 behind league leaders Chelsea. They are also 5 points clear of 3rd place Manchester United.
Sunderland 1, West Ham 1- West Ham should perhaps feel disappointed to only leave the Stadium of Light with a draw, but Sam Allardyce's men remain in the Top 4 with the point. After falling behind after 22 minutes, courtesy of a Jordi Gomez penalty, Stewart Downing responded 7 minutes later to equalize. The former Liverpool man scored his second goal of the season, and it was a fine strike indeed. The big quarrel West Ham can raise is over the penalty decision, a call which outraged Sam Allardyce. "It was not a penalty and it is as simple as that. It was given by the assistant referee and he got it horribly wrong," the manager claimed. It was Adam Johnson who drew the penalty after a challenge from James Tompkins, which was neatly converted by the Spaniard Gomez. Statistically, West Ham were the more dangerous side, with 18 shots compared to Sunderlands 13, and with 13 chances created compared to Sunderland's 7. However, Sunderland weren't able to capitalize on two golden chances. One from American Jozy Altidore, who missed a golden opportunity at the close of the first half, and Englishman Connor Wickham, whose shot was met by a brilliant save from West Ham keeper Adrián. Because of these chances, a draw is a fair result. West Ham have been beaten just once in the past 10 matches, while Sunderland drew their 10th game, by far the most in the League. The Black Cats sit at 15th place, but are only two points clear from relegation. Our Man of the Match is Costel Pantilimon. The Sunderland keeper made 8 saves to keep the dynamic forward pairing of Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll at bay, and preserve a key point for his side. The big goalkeeper has impressed since taking over the first choice spot from Vito Mannone.
Crystal Palace 1, Stoke City 1- A hard-fought, scrappy draw was to be expected at Selhurst Park, and that's exactly the result we got. The goals came early and in quick succession of each other. James MAcArthur received a nice pass from winger Yannick Bolasie, and curled it past goalkeeper Jack Butland to give the hosts an early lead in the 10th minute. The lead lasted for a very short time, and Peter Crouch scored the most Peter Crouch-like goal imaginable, a hard fought tap in off a deflection. Crouch's poacher style of play has earned the 33 year old England international 4 league goals on the season. Overall, in a game where there were only 10 chances created and 6 shots on target, a draw seemed the right result. Our Man of the Match goes to Mile Jedinak. Palace's phenomenal central midfielder had another solid day protecting the back 4, making 7 clearances, 4 interceptions, and 2 tackles. Stoke are currently in 12th place, 2 points outside the top half of the table. Palace are 16th, and one point away from the relegation zone.
Burnley 1, Southampton 0- After a flying start to the season, Southampton have really begun to falter. Ronald Koeman's side have lost four consecutive matches, against Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, and now Burnley. The last three matches have come by only one goal, but regardless, the Saints haven't been putting together the kind of results they were getting at the beginning of the season. If one player could perfectly represent the team's struggles, it would be Dusan Tadic. The Serbian got off to a staggering start to life on the South Coast, and perhaps peaked in his teams 8-0 drubbing of Sunderland, where the former FC Twente man scored once and recorded three assists. Ever since that day, he hasn't scored or assisted in the Premier League, a streak that has lasted nine matches. He had a chance to score on Saturday from the penalty spot, but was denied by Burnley keeper Tom Heaton. That miss opened the door for Burnley, who took advantage in the 73rd minute courtesy of a winner from Ashley Barnes. It was a game that the Saints dominated– they outshot Burnley 15-7, out possessed them 53%- 47%, and created 11 chances compared to the hosts 3. But it was Tom Heaton who saved the day, making 4 saves, including one from the spot, to get his side the win and earn Man of the Match honors. With the win, Burnley have only lost one of their last six matches, winning three of them. They are, for the moment, out of the relegation zone by one point. Southampton is still in the top 5, thanks to their strong start, level with Arsenal on 26 points.
Chelsea 2, Hull City 0- The league leaders faltered for the first time last weekend at Newcastle, but with the "Invincibles" label shaken, Chelsea went out and responded like champions. The Blues comfortably defeated Hull City 2-0, thanks to goals from their star man and their talisman. Eden Hazard scored after only 7 minutes, and Diego Costa bagged his 12th goal of the season in the 68th minute. It was a masterful performance from Hazard, who is our Man of the Match. He scored, assisted, created 2 chances, completed 90% of his passes, and had three successful take ons. Chelsea held 60% of possession, outshot Hull 12-8, and were camped in Hull's half for much of the game. 78% of the match was played in Chelsea's middle and attacking third, and right back Branislav Ivanovic's average field position was fairly deep in Hull territory on the right flank. Chelsea scored early, kept Hull at bay, and scored late to secure three points and stay atop the league. Also worth noting, Petr Cech started his first league game in place of Belgian Thibaut Courtois, who was not in the 23-man squad for Jose Mourinho. Hull got a solid performance from Jake Livermore, who completed 90% of his passes and recorded a game high 9 tackles, but Steve Bruce's men are currently 19th and in the drop zone. To make matters worse, Tom Huddlestone was sent off in the second half. It's still early, but Steve Bruce is definitely in the hot seat.
West Brom 1, Aston Villa 0- Craig Gardner snatched a late winner at the Hawthorns, as West Brom saw off Aston Villa 1-0. Gardner's goal came in the 73rd minute, on what was a frustrating day offensively for both sides. Aston Villa only managed two shots on target, and were shut out again thanks to a fantastic defensive display from the Baggies. Right back Andre Wisdom is our man of the match, after recording 2 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 5 clearances. Also strong were goalkeeper Ben Foster and midfielder James Morrison. Jores Okore had a solid day for Villa, recording 6 tackles and for the most part minimizing the threat of Saido Berahino. The prolific English striker has 7 league goals thus far, but hasn't scored since October 25th against Palace. Villa lost Kieran Richardson to a red card early in the first half, and were shutout for the 8th time this season in the Premier League. West Brom moved up to 14th in the table, 2 points shy of Villa who are in 12th. The Baggies were victorious at home for the first time since a 4-0 drubbing of Burnley on September 28th, and earned their first victory since winning at Leicester on November 1st. The loss snaps a two game winning streak for Villa.
Arsenal 4, Newcastle 1- Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla each recorded braces, and Arsenal rebounded from a disappointing 3-2 loss at Stoke last weekend to win 4-1. With the victory, Arsene Wenger's men moved up to 6th in the Premiere League, only two points outside of the Top 4. Giroud continued his fine form after returning from injury, scoring in the 15th minute and the 58th minute. Cazorla, who is rebounding after a poor run of form to start the season, scored from open play in the 54th minute, and from the penalty spot in the 88th. Ayoze Perez had a nifty flick off a set piece to give Newcastle their only goal, in what was a disappointing performance from Alan Pardew's men after such a brilliant showing last weekend v.s. Chelsea. Cazorla is our Man of the Match after putting together a dominating performance. He scored twice, had five shots, created two chances, completed 81% of his passes, and spent the majority of his afternoon in Newcastle's defensive third. Alexis Sanchez, Giroud, and Hector Bellerin also put together solid shifts for Arsenal. With the loss, Newcastle dropped to 8th in the table, and are 2 points clear of the bottom half. Jack Colback played valiantly, but Newcastle failed to pressure Arsenal defensively as much as they would have liked. The win gives Arsenal 2 in 3, and momentarily silenced critics who want Wenger to be removed from the managerial spot.
Manchester United 3, Liverpool 0- One of English football's biggest rivalries drew all the attention on Sunday morning, where Manchester United avenged a defeat to Liverpool at home last season, reversing the scoreline. Last spring, it was Liverpool who shellacked United at Old Trafford, winning 3-0. This time around, a seemingly rejuvenated United returned the favor. Louis van Gaal's men have won six consecutive matches, including tilts against Arsenal, Southampton, and now Liverpool. The 11th minute opened the action. Raheem Sterling was denied a golden opportunity at one end, and United scored 20 seconds later. Antonio Valencia split two defenders brilliantly, and found his captain Wayne Rooney, who smashed a one-timer past Brad Jones. Late in the first half, Juan Mata flicked in an Ashley Young cross to make it 2-0, and Robin van Persie made it 3 in the second half off a brilliant pass from Mata. But despite United's offensive exploits, the day belonged to David de Gea. United's Spanish goalkeeper was unbeatable, making 8 saves, including 3 on Sterling and 3 on Mario Balotelli, who still hasn't scored for Liverpool in the Premier League, despite attempting the second most shots per game (only behind City's Aguero, who leads the league in goals). It's de Gea's heroics that earn him Man of the Match, despite a brilliant performance from van Persie. The Dutchman has scored 4 goals in his last 4 matches, and was all over the place Sunday. He completed 80% of his passes, made 4 tackles, won all 3 of his take ons, and scored a very clinical goal to seal the points. United are now up to third in the Barclays Premier League, while Liverpool are down to 10th. One more setback for the Reds could spell the end of Brendan Rodgers tenure with the club. United are firmly in third place after the victory, while Liverpool slipped down to 10th. United have won seven matches in a row- their longest winning streak last year under David Moyes was four.
Swansea City 1, Tottenham Hotspur 2- A late winner from Christian Eriksen snagged all 3 points for Spurs on the road. A poor giveaway by a Swansea defender found Brad Davies, and the former Swan fed it through to Eriksen, who neatly dispatched it past goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel. The win shoots Spurs up to 7th, while the loss dropped Swansea down to 9th. Harry Kane opened the scoring with his 3rd league goal for Spurs after only 4 minutes. Kane now has 10 goals in all competitions. Wilfried Bony scored his 8th goal of the season on 48 minutes, before Eriksen won it on 89 minutes. For Swansea, Jefferson Montero and Ashley Williams were fantastic. Montero had 6 tackles and 5 successful dribbles, while Williams had 3 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 15 clearances. Our Man of the Match, however, goes to Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen, who scored the winner, created 3 chances, and completed 81% of his passes. Eriksen kept Spurs afloat last season, and his recent run of form has to be a good sign for Mauricio Pochettino. The game was fairly even statistically– 53% of possession went to Swansea, who also outshot Spurs 15-10 and created 11 chances to Tottenham's 9. Spurs form is starting to pick up, having won 3 of their last 5 games, but against England's top teams (City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton), they've been outscored by a total of 13-3, and are 1-1-3 in those fixtures. Swansea have lost two in a row.
Everton 3, Queens Park Rangers 1- Everton shot up to 10th in the Barclays Premier League following a 3-1 home victory over QPR at Goodison Park. The Toffees are finally in the top half of the table, thanks to goals from Ross Barkley, Kevin Mirallas, and Steven Naismith. Barkley in particular stood out, registering a goal, creating two chances, winning four take ons, and making 4 challenges. The English international has been surrounded by transfer rumors for the duration of the season, and his stock has been increasing rapidly since his return from injury. The victory was Everton's first since a 2-1 home win against West Ham on November 22nd. Barkley's goal was particularly special. He surged forward, ranging toward the left side, and smashed a left-footed cracker past goalkeeper Rob Green into the upper 90 from outside the box. Barkley's goal in the 32nd minute was followed by Belgian international Kevin Mirallas' goal, whose free kick from outside the box took a fortuitous deflection of Eduardo Vargas to beat Green. Goal number three was Green's error– his poor goal kick was corralled by Everton. Mirallas found Aiden McGeady on the right flank, and the Irishman crossed it to Steven Naismith, who headed it home. QPR got a consolation goal at the end, as Bobby Zamora tapped home a Tim Howard deflection, but the three points went to the club from Liverpool. QPR fell to 18th with the loss, and have lost 3 of their last 5 matches.
XI Of the Week-
GK: David de Gea, Manchester United- While United scored 3 goals in their victory at Old Trafford, it was their Spanish goalkeeper who stole all the headlines, stifling Liverpool's offense with 8 saves, including a particularly spectacular one off of a rocket by Italian Mario Balotelli. de Gea earned his 5th clean sheet of the campaign.
DF: Andre Wisdom, West Brom- Wisdom but in a solid shift at right back, helping his team to a crucial three points against Aston Villa.
DF: Eliaquim Mangala, Manchester City- The French defender had 11 clearances, 3 tackles, and a blocked shot in City's triumph. Mangala has been much maligned since his move from Porto over the summer, but he's been steadily improving for the club.
DF: Gael Clichy, Manchester City- The champions' French left back put together a solid defensive showing in a tight win at Leicester.
MF: Santi Cazorla, Arsenal- The Spaniard bagged two goals on his birthday, including a penalty, in the Gunners 4-1 triumph over Newcastle. His first, which was sublime, was his first Premier League goal from open play in 28 games.
MF: Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur- The Danish midfielder scored a late winner to give Spurs three crucial points at Swansea.
MF: Eden Hazard, Chelsea- Hazard is making a case to be the Premier League's best player with performances like his on Saturday. The Belgian international scored in the 7th minute to lift Chelsea to a 2-0 win over Hull, and assisted on Diego Costa's second.
MF: Ross Barkley, Everton- the Evertonian shined against QPR, scoring an absolutely unbelievable goal
FW: Robin van Persie, Manchester United- The Dutchman continued a fine run of form, scoring one and assisting one in the 3-0 drubbing of Liverpool. He also had a crucial clearance off the line for the Red Devils.
FW: Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal- The Chilean forward didn't score against Newcastle, but he assisted the opening two goals to Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla for his 4th and 5th helpers of the year.
FW: Olivier Giroud, Arsenal- The Frenchman scored two brilliant goals, one with his head and another with his right foot, to help earn Arsenal a key win against Newcastle.
Player of the Week- David de Gea, Manchester United. 8 saves, a clean sheet, and a domineering overall performance by the Spaniard lifted the Red Devils to a crucial home win over Liverpool.
Goal of the Week- Ross Barkley v.s. QPR- The first of Everton's three goals was their best. Barkley's left footed smash can be seen below:
http://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/premier-league/ross-barkleys-strike-puts-everton-front
Manager on the Hot Seat: Steve Bruce, Hull City. After impressing so many last season, the Tigers sit in 19th and are in serious danger of relegation. Not only did Bruce's men not put up a fight against mighty Chelsea, but they also lost a key man in Tom Huddlestone to a red card.
Predictions for Top 4 and Bottom 3:
Chelsea– The Blues haven't shown any sign of decline. A small setback at Newcastle was put to rest after a dominating performance against Hull City. The Blues may have gotten a tough Champions League draw with PSG, but they still have a 3 point cushion in the Premier League.
Manchester City– No Aguero, no Tour'e, no problem. The Citizens pulled out a gritty away win at Leicester to remain 3 points behind the leaders. City have the squad, experience, and pedigree to sustain the long season, but they won't be able to catch Chelsea.
Manchester United– 6 in a row for van Gaal's men, and they're still missing key players. When Marcos Rojo, Angel di Maria, and Radamel Falcao get to full fitness, this team can make some noise. Plus, they've shown more consistency this season than all but the two teams ahead of them, and maybe West Ham. They'll return to the Champions League.
Arsenal– The Gunners are seemingly always in 4th, but staying in the Champions League should be good enough for Arsene Wenger's men. They have more talent than their main challengers for the spot, which are Southampton, Spurs, Liverpool, Everton and West Ham, and also boast a world class talent in Alexis Sanchez.
West Brom- They've been impressive at times this season, but the Baggies squad depth worries me. Ben Foster and Saido Berahino are strong individual players, but the rest of the squad might not be Premier League worthy.
Burnley- Danny Ings is in sublime form, and he's been keeping his side afloat. He'll run out of gas at some point, and so will Burnley.
Leicester- Other than that 5-3 home win v.s. United, it's been a rough season for the Foxes. Barring a major shift in form, they'll be returning to the Championship next season.
Thanks for reading, and we'll see you next weekend!
*All Statistics from squawka.com and whoscored.com.*
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Wrapchic fills a gap in the market with its Indian and Mexican burritos
Written by Zen Terrelonge on Wednesday, 16 May 2018. Posted in Interviews
The food industry is thriving, which is great news for restaurateurs. But how do you stand out in such a busy market? Well, mixing two cuisines together, like Indian and Mexican, has worked out well for Wrapchic
The UK food landscape is rich with diversity and choice. Brits can take to shopping centres, high streets, alleys, the occasional disused Victorian toilet and markets nationwide to bombard their bellies with culinary creations, selecting from countless cuisines to get those taste buds blazing.
A 2017 report of the UK restaurant scene from PwC, the professional services firm, found consumers are eating out now more than ever and for all sorts of reasons. That's generated a shift in the way the market traditionally operated, producing more crossovers such as food-to-go stores open for longer hours, eat-in spots offering takeaways and not forgetting fusion foods – the very essence of a crossover. And on a mission to capitalise on these trends is Mahesh Raikar, the founder and managing director of Wrapchic, the Indian burrito franchise.
India-born Raikar knew what he had to develop for the UK market from both experience and passion. He ran his own catering business before moving to Britain and once arriving here he joined Compass Group, the contract catering company, in a post he held for nine years. "I got the chance to travel and see the best of food, chefs and catering minds," says Raikar of his time globetrotting with the firm. "With Indian food in the UK, you only see the sit-down experiences for £20 a head. And in terms of flexibility, you see supermarkets dedicating a decent shelf space to Indian food, so the UK audience is now cooking at home."
Determined to bring something totally original onto the scene acting as an alternative to the dine-in and DIY options of old, an idea struck Raikar like a bolt of lightning. "I saw a big gap in the market for Indian food in quick-service restaurants (QSR)," he says. "And then I bumped into a Mexican burrito chain and that was the light-bulb moment – to bring Indian food in that format for QSR." Given that uniqueness, you may think Wrapchic doesn't have any rivals on the market but that's not the case – Raikar has his eye on some very big businesses. "The competition is everyone looking for the £5 to £6 spend," he says. "So if we're on a high street where there's a McDonald's, Greggs or a Subway, they're all fighting for the same pie."
Wrapchic had humble beginnings as a food stall in Birmingham. During that stage, after leaving Compass Group in January 2011 with the Wrapchic mission underway, Raikar left no stone unturned to perfect the final formula for his business as he assessed the food and vibe at each Mexican burrito restaurant and Indian street food stand he could find as a way to measure his own offering. However, friends and family weren't convinced. "When I was conceptualising this and telling everyone I wanted to make a QSR with a burrito and Indian fillings, the burrito was in its infancy," he recalls, noting that KFC's introduction of burritos helped to build exposure. "There was a lot of hesitance in terms of people not knowing how it would be executed. They all kept saying there's no such thing as Indian burritos. At the time, I was in a well-paid job with a good company and had given all that up for something people had never seen, so that was a difficult phase but I really believed in what I was doing."
His determination paid off as Raikar eventually opened the first Wrapchic store in July 2012, 18 months after leaving corporate life behind him. "Most time was spent in the store explaining what a burrito is and then the complexity of an Indian burrito, which was a bit of a challenge, but the product did the talking for us and is one of the reasons we've been able to sustain," he says. "Good branding can only take you so far. If the product didn't do the talking, I wouldn't have been able to grow to the level I have with the brand."
Seemingly communicating the concept wasn't too much of a challenge though, as a second store was opened in September that same year, which marked Wrapchic's foray into franchising. "The traditional franchise model says you need to be a business running for at least two years before you roll-out and become a franchisor," Raikar continues. "An opportunity opened the door and I jumped on it and I think that's given us the edge.Franchisees want to be part of this – it's an amazing place to be at in this climate."
Demonstrating how it pays not to burn bridges, Compass Group was responsible for opening said door with a corporate franchise in Leicester at the De Montfort University. "The food was unique and different and they had big gap in the market to serve the ethnic mix they had in their portfolio – we were the right fit at the time," he explains.
Further franchisees came aboard the business by approaching Wrapchic and proactively demonstrating interest. The second franchisee to follow on from Compass Group was an individual that launched a store in late 2013 at the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham, who won Raikar over with his enthusiasm. "Without a shadow of a doubt, you need to believe in the concept and the passion needs to be there," he says. "Funds can be arranged and location can be arranged, but if you're not passionate it's not going to drive your business forward."
Although Wrapchic's franchise arm started off without all the systems in place, Wrapchic formally entered the franchise market and started actively pushing its network in 2017 after it joined the bfa. Discussing some of the franchising difficulties met along the way, Raikar highlighted the fact he's entrusting someone to look after his brand. "We had people who didn't understand franchising that wanted to create their own version of Wrapchic," he said. Helpfully the good outweighed the bad as many franchisees have opened second stores. "It's been an eye-opener, which made us look at systems and make amendments with the processes in place to support the franchisee to run their own business. We have a turnkey solution for franchisees who come on board. There's a backend process, even before they come on board, they have to visit three stores, speak to the franchisees and understand what's involved."
Now at 17 stores, six of which are company-owned and franchises making up the rest, Raikar believes franchising will be the primary direction for the business in the future. And while there are a couple of sites in Dubai, the UK is the main focus for Wrapchic, with plans to hit 25 restaurants by the end of 2018, leading on to 30 sites opened annually from next year onwards. "Indian food is loved and admired but not represented in QSR and that's what we're trying to fill," he concludes. "We're not expecting you to eat at Wrapchic seven days a week but in food court environments you have burger chains, Chinese or pan-Asian, we're your choice for Indian."
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As editor, Terrelonge can be found on the hunt for all things startup and scaleup – that's when he's not busy talking babies via DADult Life. Whether it's health or hospitality, food or philanthropy, tech or travel, he'll be seeking out the most interesting entrepreneurial developments to run in the magazine and online.
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Summer is almost over, but the fun doesn't have to end.
While summer is often synonymous with vacations and traveling, that doesn't have to stop once the season changes. In fact, traveling in the fall has a lot of advantages, including cooler weather, fewer crowds and cheaper airfare.
Planning a fall trip doesn't have to use up any of your vacation time, either. A weekend trip is the perfect getaway to enjoy some new scenery and eat delicious foods. Below are some ideas on how to plan the perfect fall weekend trip.
As the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, Jackson is a beautiful place no matter what time of year you decide to visit. However, in the fall, the temperatures are cooler and you can attend the annual arts festival. In addition, you can hike through Grand Teton National Park or check out Granite Hot Springs.
If you're going to head to Jackson, you might as well make the trek all the way into Yellowstone National Park—it'll be well worth your trip. The summer crowds are gone, so you'll be able to enjoy the scenery and the outdoors without worrying about tons of tourists. It's also a good opportunity to watch the leaves change color in spectacular country.
Heading south during the fall means that you'll miss the heat and humidity of summer, but you'll still find fun things to do. Falls in Savannah mean film festivals, concerts and haunted tours. The crowds might get a little large during this time of year, but there are sights and sounds worth experiencing.
If you're looking to get out of the country, why not consider heading north? Vancouver has something for everyone with beaches and mountains. In the fall, hotel prices drop considerably, so it's a good time to travel to the city to take in the sights and perhaps visit a museum.
Anywhere in the world is open for visitation during the fall months, but if you're only going for a weekend, you may want to consider going somewhere close or within driving distance so you don't have to spend the clear majority of your getaway traveling.
Once you've picked a destination, then it's time to decide what you're going to do there. From sight-seeing to visiting tourist places that are now devoid of tourists, fill your weekend with fun so you won't be bored and the trip will be worth your time and effort. Fall is also a great time to find Oktoberfests or beer fests in different places. This may be a deciding factor in helping you choose your destination.
Traveling in the fall isn't much different than traveling in the summer—you still need to make sure you pack the right gear and proper clothes. Since the weather is probably going to be cooler where you're headed, you'll want to ensure you have long pants and cozy sweaters. Layers are a good idea so that you can shed the outer ones if the weather is nice and warm. It might not be a bad idea to pack some lightweight winter coats, hats and mittens. It's possible evenings and nights could get chilly.
Bring proper footwear so you don't wreck your feet. It's hard to hike through the woods to enjoy the leaves changing color or down streets for some retail therapy if your shoes are uncomfortable and your feet hurt. Depending on where you travel, you may also need to bring rain gear. Fall in a lot of areas means they experience more wet weather.
Don't forget your sense of adventure and fun! This will ensure that you have an awesome time and create memories to cherish for the rest of your life.
Traveling in the fall can be a great time to get away without worrying about heat and tons of tourists. It can also be cheaper, which means your budget will go further. Plan your perfect weekend trip now!