text:
Advising Versus Doing
It is also clear from these three cases that consultants are playing an increasingly important role in the day-to-day running of the HR function. Consulting here is not a nice-to-have, an optional extra: instead, consultants are performing fundamental and necessary work.
The key here is specialist knowledge. As one of the more mature consulting markets, bound by regulatory barbed wire, consultants have to be experts in very specific fields. The MoD selected Right Management Consultants to work on the Career Transition Partnership because of the company's record in career management and counselling. At Evotec, HR Director Martyn Melvin made a similar choice:
'By working with Penna Consulting, we were able to tap into real experience that made the project work extremely smoothly.' 'We were immediately impressed by the professionalism and knowledge the group possessed,' says Jeff Bender, the Vice President of HR at Apache. 'It was readily apparent that they had 'been there and done that', and could answer any questions we put to them.'
From the MCA's Awards Survey, HR clients appear significantly more likely to choose a consulting firm based on expertise in their particular sector. They are also much less concerned about having an existing relationship with the individual consultants or firm involved, and are less likely to pick a firm based on the recommendation of someone else.
The nature of specialist knowledge in the field of HR means that it is important that the consultants who possess it can work side by side with their clients as far as possible. HR consulting cannot be in a 'black box' but requires client involvement every step of the way, and it is therefore not surprising that all of these projects involved joint client-consultant teams. Of course, it is one thing to put people from different organizations together in the same office, and quite another to get them to work together in practice. On top of the conventional barriers, Right Management Consultants found the culture of military life very different to that to which it was accustomed, but was still able to work with MoD personnel to resettle 30 per cent more people than originally planned, largely due to the openness of both sides. Similarly, Jeff Bender at Apache believes that frequent and effective communication between his team and that from Mercer was critical.
These views are borne out by the other projects submitted for the HR Best Management Practice Award. 'I felt I mattered to the consultants as much as they did to us,' commented one client. 'Communications were good throughout and they always delivered each part of the project on time. As the project progressed we became more used to their ability to contribute and consequently got more out of the project as a result. The relationship was friendly, professional and demanding.' According to another: 'We have been increasingly willing and able to challenge decisions and actions on both sides of the relationship, thus improving the quality of the final process.'
Underpinning this, however, is a delicate balance between advising and doing. While relying on Penna's input, Evotec wanted to ensure that the participants in the focus groups and all those subsequently affected by the changes the company made, saw the project as driven by Evotec itself, not imposed upon it from outside. 'We respected Penna's input, but it was still very much a company-led initiative,' said Evotec's Martin Melvin. 'This made it a powerful combination for carrying out effective change at a critical time for the business.' 'We worked hard to develop close working relationships,' agreed Penna's project manager. Rather than put in a big team of consultants, Penna chose to involve only a small number of experts. 'From our experience, we've found that working in a collaborative relationship with a client always produces better results. It's essential that the client's resources are used where they make a difference for their people. In this example, a collaborative approach with carefully budgeted actions led to a tremendous and rapid improvement in results for the HR team.'
Other consultants make the same point. 'The solution must be owned by the client and they are responsible for it. As a consultant, you need to be able to advise and challenge where appropriate on the basis of your previous experience. There is a fine line between trying various ideas and what you would do in a client's very specific situation. You also need to be able to back off at times and let things take their course - if you sell a long-term benefit you must be ready to measure it in the long term and not get sucked in to short-term meddling. Combining a light touch with a high impact is possible.' Not surprisingly, HR clients are much more likely to be concerned about finding a cultural match between themselves and the consultants they use, than other types of client.
The need for consultants to support their clients, but not dictate to them, is a mirror image of the challenge HR managers face with their internal clients. A consulting firm's input may involve advice, help with implementation or most commonly, a mixture of the two. But whatever the consulting firm's exact role, the project has to be owned and fronted by in-house staff if it is not to encounter resistance. The same is true for the HR function: success may involve supporting employees and carrying out administration on their behalf, but it depends on winning the commitment of those employees in the first place.
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This article is part of a mini-series on the future of luxury. Discover how digital is transforming the world of luxury and shaping new consumer expectations.
1. The Year In Review: The Best Of Luxury In 2018. A curated selection of the best stories of 2018.
2. The Future Edition: 6 Critical Luxury Trends To Stay Ahead In 2019. An opinionated take on the most important trends to engage affluent consumers.
2018 was another year of solid growth for the luxury industry. Most high-end brands saw significant sales as their investments in digital started to pay off. The brands that are most forward-looking are indeed dominating our ranking of the most sought-after luxury brands in the world. They are well on track to reach our projection for 2025 with at least 20% of their total sales estimated to take place online.
By 2025, nearly one-fifth of personal luxury sales will take place online.
2019 won't be as bright, however. Macroeconomic uncertainties loom over the year. With China being such an important driver of global luxury goods sales, the industry will be among the first victims of a deteriorating global trade environment.
Furthermore, a widening earning disparity in the West combined with a generational shift among luxury consumers is causing affluent customers to seek a new and different approach to luxury.
Wealthy consumers will indeed favour privacy and security through 2019. Bain & Company also found that nearly half of all consumers, and crucially a majority of Millennials, are buying fewer goods and more experiences. Case in point, Euromonitor expects the experience economy, which includes leisure, recreation, travel and food services, to grow from $5.8tn in 2016 to $8tn in 2030.
Luxury brands will need to deliver a new range of services and experiences to answer the industry's new expectations.
So what should luxury brands focus on in 2019 to stay relevant and engage with their affluent consumers? We look at the six most critical trends that will separate the winners from the losers in the coming years.
Luxury is no longer restricted to legacy brands. We see instead a proliferation of new digital born players and niche brands that are taking the luxury industry by storm. These innovative digital native brands tend to be more capable to meet the changing expectations of the modern affluent consumers. We expect to see the emergence of new luxury brands specifically targeted to various tribes of consumers. Legacy luxury brands will thus need to pivot from ultra-exclusivity to a new flavour of inclusivity to align with this social shift. These digital-first luxury brands indeed don't have legacy systems and processes holding them back which means they can innovate fast. The rise of these luxury challengers promises to further shaken the once bulletproof traditional luxury market. For luxury brands, it is makeover time, or else.
It will be interesting in 2019 to pay close attention to cross-industry 'contamination' (collaborations or new offerings that magnify the brand's DNA rather than distort it) and deep cultural changes and how they are affecting the most traditional luxury houses. Silos are breaking down. This in part why you see luxury retailers such as Net-a-Porter, Saks Fifth Avenue, or Neiman Marcus selling wellness products. Luxury brands will increasingly be reaching outside of their sector from capsule collaborations to strategic creative talent appointments and new business models.
Affluent consumers also are no longer "absolute luxury shoppers". Instead, they increasingly mix and match the high with the low. This trend appears to fulfil modern affluent consumers' need to express their own style, over the traditional markers of luxury.
It also means that we will continue to see more collaborations outside of the luxury traditional frontier. Another interesting point to note is the growth of luxury for rent (Like Rent the Runway which is offering access to luxury clothes and accessories on a subscription basis).
To stay relevant in the modern context, luxury brands will further focus on individual consumer and embrace progressive interpretations of the idea of luxury. More than simply a demographic change, luxury brands that will go beyond generationally-targeted efforts to fully understand the new modern luxury consumers' mindset will be rewarded. Millennial minded consumers are the new driving forces of luxury. Their influence, motivations, behaviours and values will continue to redefine luxury at every touchpoint in their complex purchasing journey – from the brand positioning to sustainable product development, business operations, and marketing strategy.
Luxury brands will become ever-more personalised and convenient. Luxury shoppers seek seamless digital and physical experiences. They expect their online interactions with a brand to match their first class offline experience. As a result, luxury brands have to design an impeccable omnichannel ecosystem. In 2019, this will include more experimentation with connective technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Social media will also continue to play a key role in value-generating, crowdsourced consumer inputs and creative inspirations.
The stories luxury brands tell will also go beyond the aspirational lifestyle of their consumers. They will be more grounded in authenticity and social responsibility. This emphasis on value-led experiences creates new opportunities to engage with affluent consumers by making a meaningful contribution to their lifestyles while driving positive change in the world. More brands will be investing in sustainable and ethical practices to satisfy the demand from their affluent consumers. This why we have seen a growing number of luxury brands like Gucci, Michael Kors and Diane Von Furstenberg announcing their recent commitment to more ethical fashion practices, including going fur-free. Modern affluent consumers increasingly shop with purpose. They are driven by a commitment to sustainability, they demand traceability and transparency in their purchases and choose brands that drive positive change. Affluent consumers want luxury brands with meaningful backstories. As a result, luxury brands will need to become more vocal about their commitments to sustainability and ethical practices.
Finally, diversity and gender fluidity are gaining momentum. We expect to see more luxury brands to experiment outside of the traditional confines of what is 'for men' and what is 'for women' and celebrate diversity. Luxury fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Dior have already started to embrace that philosophy. Chanel also just debuted its men's makeup line, Boy de Chanel, which will likely be followed by the rest of the industry.
How Europe has become a powerhouse in luxury, by Rachel Sanderson, Financial Times, October 15, 2018.
4 Mega-Trends Ahead For The Luxury Market In 2019: Expect Turmoil And Slowing Sales, by Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, December 18, 2018.
Established firms try dancing to a millennial tune, The Economist, October 4, 2018.
Megatrend: Experience More, Euromonitor Research, November 2, 2017.


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Roger Berlind, Broadway Producer and Winner of 25 Tonys, Dead at 90
Broadway/MusicalsManhattanObituaries
By Pete Mason	 On Dec 28, 2020
Roger Berlind, a producer or co-producer of more than 100 plays and musicals on Broadway, including hits The Book of Mormon, Dear Evan Hansen, City of Angels and the revivals of Guys and Dolls and Kiss Me, Kate, died on December 18 at his home in Manhattan.
The cause of death was reported by his family as cardiopulmonary arrest. He was 90 years old
In a four-decade career in the theater, Berlind backed a great deal of original work on Broadway, amassing 25 Tony awards.
According to the New York Times, Berlind helped bring buoyant musicals to the stage, like the smash 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls with Nathan Lane, as well as sophisticated literate dramas, like the original 1984 production of The Real Thing, Tom Stoppard's dazzling exploration of the nature of love and honesty. The Real Thing swept the Tonys, winning for best play and best director (Mike Nichols) and garnering top acting awards for Jeremy Irons, Glenn Close and Christine Baranski.
Berlind was able to play the piano by ear and felt he was destined to be a songwriter, but that dream faded and he worked on Wall Street for a while. Tragedy struck while he was a partner at a brokerage firm, when his wife and three of his four children were killed in an airliner crash at Kennedy International Airport. Days later, he resigned from his firm.
Berlind told the New York Times in 1988, "The whole idea of building a business and making money didn't make sense anymore. There was no more economic motivation."
Born Roger Stuart Berlind on June 27, 1930 in Brooklyn, his parents were Peter Berlind, a hospital administrator, and Mae (Miller) Berlind, an amateur painter who also gave painting lessons while raising her four sons. When Roger was three, the family moved to Woodmere, Long Island, where he attended Woodmere Academy. He would later go on to Princeton University, majoring in English.
There, his life revolved around the theater and he joined the Triangle Club, which performs student-written comedies, and Theatre Intime, a student-run theatrical organization. In 1998, Berlind would donate $3.5 million to build the 350-seat Roger S. Berlind Theater as part of an expansion of Princeton's McCarter Theater.
"He loved the big-band music of the '40s, he could play almost any song from the American songbook and he had a great memory for lyrics," his son William said in a phone interview with the New York Times. His own tunes ran to the simple and nostalgic, as reflected by their titles, "Lemon Drop Girlfriend" and "Isn't It a Rainbow Day?" among them. But Tin Pan Alley was uninterested, and, needing a job, Mr. Berlind was pointed by friends to Wall Street.
Second wife Brooke Berlind said in an interview "The significant thing about Roger is that he made an incredible turnaround."
While his first musical, Rex, was a flop, he had his first hit with the original 1980 production of Amadeus. The play, written by Peter Shaffer, directed by Peter Hall and starring Ian McKellen and Tim Curry, took home several Tonys, including best play.
Following that, early works included Sophisticated Ladies, Nine and 8½. Later successes included Proof, Doubt, The History Boys, Kiss me, Kate, the 2012 revival of Death of a Salesman and the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! He would work with actors including Glenn Close, Bette Midler, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jeremy Irons, among many others.
Survivors include his wife and son, two granddaughters and a brother.
broadway musicalsmusicalsroger berlind
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Pete Mason is a teacher and writer living in Albany, NY. "Counting Down the Number Line" is his fourth children's book with illustrator Ryan Kerrigan.
He promotes PhanArt shows and runs PhanArt.net, highlighting music-inspired fan creations while supporting The Mockingbird Foundation and Groovesafe. He is Publisher of NYS Music.
Twitter: @PhanArt Email: Pete@NYSMusic.com
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text:
He was a wise man who said:
Choose from two, but only two below, for nothing exists that exhibits all three properties.
1. Good
2. Chinese
3. Buffet
It was with this nugget of wisdom that I cautiously approached Asia Buffet at a revitalized Buena Park Downtown. Nevermind that I've been burned by the likes of it before; Eateries seemingly named eponymously from the same phylum of restaurant. Replace "Asia" with the word "Grand", ""Dragon", "Phoenix", "China", or "Jade", and there's no doubt that you've seen one yourself.
No matter what it is called, there's a fatalistic certainty to it all. To walk into such a place is to expect gloppy, cornstarched-laden sauces, greasy fried rice, stock egg rolls, and enough MSG to send a giant into convulsions.
But I relented. Not only have I heard great things about the place, I was also being treated. So I ignored that other, well-known adage: "There's no such thing as a free lunch."
Sure there is.
And really, buffets are prime examples. There's a flat fee you pay before you enter ($13.98 for the "Sunday All Day Dinner", though prices are lower at other periods), but when you manage to consume your weight in shrimp and crab, it might as well be free. Of course, that's the whole point isn't it? The I'm-Going-To-Get-My-Money's-Worth mentality is what drives people to come.
And from what I observed at Asia Buffet, that's exactly the motive. I saw a guy -- who otherwise looked to be a sane man of reason -- grab bushels upon bushels of steamed crab legs from the trough. When he was done, his plate held a haul that reached from his belt to his neck. He had cleared out the inventory in a single swipe. And he did it without shame, without remorse.
Dutifully, someone came out from the kitchen to restock it. But within minutes, another man repeated the crime.
It was at that point that I wondered: What masochistic business person would open a buffet like this? It's a losing proposition to bet against human greed and gluttony.
As I saw Asia Buffet's profit margins dwindle, I became even more amazed at the variety of food they managed to offer. It was the kind of cuisine that blew away my "Panda Express" expectations and evaporated my prejudices.
There were deep fried frog legs with spicy salt, steamed crawfish, fried whole crab, crab meat with mayo baked in their shells, and sea snails. All of which were capably cooked and some, like the frog legs, quite tasty.
But that's not to say that there weren't items to please Joe-Buffet-Eater. There were mountains of peel-and-eat shrimp, dumped on a bed of ice. Next to it, a bucket of cocktail sauce. There was a whole section of fried things to keep cardiologists gainfully employed.
Wontons. Breaded shrimp. Battered shrimp. Chicken wings. Whole fried pieces of flounder. Sesame balls, oh my! That sound you hear? It's your arteries crying for mercy.
In round metal pots, three different kinds of soup simmered. One had floating fish balls bobbing in a clear chicken broth. It seemed to buzz with the yummy, lip-smackin' flavor of MSG.
Under a set of heat lamps, steamed fish fillets sat furtively, doused with oil, soy sauce, and scallions. Although it's far too pasty to be palatable, the thought was there.
And heaven forbid; there was sashimi, spicy tuna rolls, and unagi nigiri. But don't kid yourself into thinking that it's anywhere near sushi-joint quality. At buffets like this, sushi and sashimi aren't delicacies; they are commodities.
Asia Buffet's sashimi looked to be yellowtail and tuna, cut into chunks and piled in mounds. Some pieces are actually still frozen in the middle. But the lot is there for one purpose, and one purpose only: To serve as a challenge for the fearless soul who dares to eat raw fish from a buffet line.
I did. And I'm still alive. Although I didn't gorge on them as much as I did other items. I ate a half-dozen of the stuffed mushrooms, which oozed with a creamy filling of mayo, breadcrumbs and more crab. I pried out meat from my share of snow crab legs, and shucked a few of those iced shrimp. I went for seconds on the stuffed crab shells and even had room to pipe out a dessert of ice milk topped with a strawberry.
I enjoyed myself. And yes, I have to admit: Asia Buffet is a "Good Chinese Buffet"**.
Asia Buffet
**Note: I've only tried the buffet during the premiumly priced periods. Your mileage (and food selection) will vary if you try them during their discounted price periods.
posted by elmomonster @ 11:00 AM 25 comments
Unlike nukes, the continual proliferation of the Vietnamese-owned, Louisiana crawfish joint is a good thing. A few years ago, short of driving to the gulf states, you could only find them here clustered around actual Vietnamese neighborhoods. There's a particularly dense population of them in Little Saigon, where the trend all started. (See my post on Boiling Crab).
But now, they're likely to pop up anywhere within earshot of a growling Asian stomach. Like mushrooms, they thrive under the shade of other Asian businesses and restaurants. Such is the case in Artesia/Cerritos, where the burgeoning boom of Asian mini-malls has cultivated at least two crawfish joints on a single block of South Street alone.
I went to one last night* -- a place with a name so contrived and gimmicky, it's gag-inducing. When I saw Zach Efron's autograph scribbled on the walls in permanent marker (along with other customer-created graffiti), I became even more suspicious.
You see, in my experience (ahem, Crustacean), the deliciousness of the food is inversely related to the number of celebrity endorsements touted. And if the word "delicious" is somehow worked into the name, well, you also have to take two or three points away, just as a rule.
But oh, was I ever glad to be wrong on this one. Crablicious turned out to be the best Vietnamese Cajun crawfish boil restaurant yet. And actually, it's not Vietnamese-owned.
I saw Korean soft tofu soup, Singapore rice noodle, teriyaki bowls, even fish and chips. I heard Cantonese spoken in the kitchen but our server looked Korean**. Adding to the mystery of its origins, Crablicious also repatriated some dishes from Macau Street, the Chinese-Macanese restaurant that previously occupied the space before it folded. Fitting right in with the new decor of hastily hung fish nets, port holes, and sailboat-print wallpaper is Macau Street's fried crab with chili. Almost every table ordered it. Mallets were provided.
New to my eyes was the Crablicious Noodle Soup ($9.99) -- a simple, chicken broth brew full of shrimp, scallop, thinly-shaved beef, squid, beef and fish meatballs. It's served family-style in pumpkin-shaped ceramic vessel with a choice of ramen, udon, or vermicelli. We took the ramen, ladled the boiling broth into soup bowls, and slurped our way to a warm gut.
The deep fried flounder ($8.99/lb) came next, all covered in bubbled batter. The flesh was creamy, the crispy bones crackled with an oily crunch. First, we went in with forks, but soon ditched them to go primitive, licking our fingers and smacking our chops.
But our digits hadn't seen the best of it yet. The main event had yet to arrive. To prepare for it, butcher paper was laid out. Its purpose: to contain the carnage that was about to occur. Around our necks plastic bibs were tied, intended to protect our shirts.
Then, with the blare of trumpets, they came. Steamed in plastic bags, and served in them, these were the crawfish ($8.99/lb), the shrimp ($8.99/lb) and the clams ($8.99/lb). Each was steeped in its own customizable, lip-throbbing, grease-slicked, cadre of seasonings. We opted for a mix of Cajun and garlic butter for the mudbugs; plain garlic butter for the shrimp; and basil lime for the clams.
Immediately, we took to the crawdads like a marauding medieval army to battle. We twisted off heads, tore bodies apart. We sucked out juices, licked off sauce and gnashed our teeth on flesh with a wanton bloodlust worthy of a Spartan.
To fish out the pasty green tomalley from the crawfish, I shoved an index finger into the upper thorax and wiggled it around. Later, I devolved even further. I held the decapitated heads captive underneath my teeth and bit down with my molars. And like a vice, it squeezed out even more fat from their skulls. The tiny amount of tail meat I savored slowly, noting its sweetness against the backdrop of lethal Cajun spice.
The shrimp -- after it was ripped clean of its tiny feet, its antennaed head and its papery armor -- I dunked back into the shimmering pool of sauce which had the sheen of pizza grease. After that, it came out shinier than an oiled bodybuilder, ready to be consumed. A salty, buttery, garlicky mess of dribbles dripped from my lips; a smile of keen satisfaction cut across my face.
The clams took less effort to conquer. Each quivering morsel was defenseless, nude and beautifully erotic on an open shell like Botticelli's Venus.
For dessert, our victorious palates celebrated with the "Crabzy Icy" ($7.99). A fruit-laced, red-bean-sweetened, ice-cream-topped slush of shaved frozen milk. Sure it's a little girly, thick with irony next to the mound of shellfish and crustacean carcasses that now lay defeated in a pile.
But it tamed our burning gullets and eased us into a more civilized form of eating. That is, until we go back to Crablicious to repeat it all over again. Maybe next week!
Crablicious
11612 South St.
Artesia, CA 90701
*Special Thanks to Monster Munching reader Cecile for this tip.
**According to Monster Munching reader Bubo, our server (and restaurant manager) was none other than Turbo Kong, a character actor originally from Hong Kong (not Korea, as I incorrectly assumed), who fought Bruce Wayne at the start of Batman Begins and has appeared in many other martial arts flicks. Check out his showreel here.
posted by elmomonster @ 9:00 AM 35 comments
Where once there were jars of pickles, there are jugs of kimchi. There aren't anymore blocks of cheese, just blocks of tofu.
The sacks of kibble are gone, replaced by sacks of rice. The deli section is now a kimbap prep station. And the cartons of Häagen-Dazs? Well they're still there, but next to it are boxes of mochi ice cream.
What was the only Vons in Irvine is history. Taking over its expansive digs is a spanking new Korean supermarket called Zion, which can rightly claim the crown as the biggest Asian grocer in town.
Step aside 99 Ranch on Culver.
However, from the looks of things, the Zion Market folks haven't quite figured out what to do with all that room. Yes, the aisles are overstocked with everything a Korean housewife could ever want. Yes, the freezers are crammed with more varieties of dumplings than a Korean college student will ever know what to do with.
But the prepared foods department is still struggling to think of items to cook up to line its shelves or showcase in the sparsely populated island refrigerators. It's a futile effort though, since so far there aren't enough customers, and yup, too much excess space. Methinks it might be easier to fill up a swimming pool with a soda straw.
What was present did look good. There were squid, octopus, and other sea creatures covered in a deadly red chili paste. Fried anchovies glistened with a caramel glaze. In plastic boxes were steamed veggies exotic and familiar; some as black as tar; others greener than emeralds.
I picked up a few other items for dinner. First there was mung bean pancakes ($3.59) which looked tasty enough under the heat lamps, but were in need of salt when I got home to eat it. Inside its chewy, dense batter was rebar in the form of bean sprouts and roughly julienned stalks of scallion.
Zion's vermicelli noodles ($3.74) were greasy with too much sesame oil. As I felt the nutty lube coat my mouth, I bet even a sesame-oil-loving-Korean would think this was too heavy-handed to enjoy. It distracted from the salty bits of beef and the jelly jiggle of the clear noodles.
Just right were the soy-seasoned hard-boiled eggs ($1.54). Permeated to the yolk with soy sauce, it was good enough to eat by itself. And of course, Vons never dreamed of stocking anything like it.
Zion Market
4800 Irvine Blvd.
Taco rice.
Upon hearing that phrase, I shuddered as my culinary senses prickled, detecting a disturbance in The Force. Somewhere out there, in Huntington Beach, there was a Japanese restaurant that dared to create this aberration of nature, this unholy Frankenstein monster of dish that...combined taco meat and grated cheese with Japanese rice.
I read about it on Mmm-yoso. Kirk, its creator, was minding his own business, ordering lunch at a joint in HB, when he got a whiff and caught sight of the thing.
"...one of the young men on a nearby table was eating the strangest bowl.....it smelled like taco meat.....and when I inquired, I was told, it was something called "Taco Rice", which was taco meat topped with cheese, tomato, and lettuce on a bowl of rice! I was told that the "young people like it."
Immediately, I was intrigued, but also afraid -- the kind of fear that drives a man closer to his destiny. I was going to try this "taco rice", even as a small part of me said "No!"
Thankfully, the whole of my soul would not be swayed and yelled back with a defiant "Why not?!"
An officemate, seeing determination in my step as I marched out of my cube clutching my car keys, asked, "Hey, where are you going?" I told him of my quest, and he reacted as I expected anyone would -- with a scrunched face and one word: "Ugh!"
At the same moment, another co-worker, who was a Marine, overheard the conversation and said to us matter-of-factly, "Why...I haven't had taco rice since I was stationed in Okinawa."
Okinawa?
This was starting to make a lot of sense. A U.S. military base abroad is always bound to influence local food. Think of Hawaii and SPAM. All it takes is one homesick Marine and an enterprising indigenous cook and BAM! A dish like taco rice (or takoraisu) is born.
Inevitably, the invention becomes loved by the locals too. After that, it's only a matter of time before it appears stateside, in a West-to-East-to-West feedback loop.
So with this new-found knowledge (a fact later confirmed by Wikipedia), my two intrepid comrades and I set off and found Sakura Saku, whereupon we ordered the dish. I took mine as the restaurant offered it, with lettuce and tomato, but my ex-Marine friend opted for no veggies**.
When it arrived, it was exactly as I imagined. Ground beef -- seasoned not unlike Taco Bell's or any other all-American Tex-Mex taco -- is heaped on top of Japanese sticky rice. On the side, there's even a small bowl of Pace Picante Sauce, along with a pair of chopsticks.
I used the chopsticks not without appreciating the irony.
How did it taste? Well, in a word: good. The neutrality of Japanese rice plays well with the strong flavors of taco meat and cheese -- not at all the disaster I thought it would be, but also, decidedly ordinary.
It's neither scary nor freakish nor particularly life-changing, like finding Bigfoot only to discover that he's just a really hairy homeless man.
Takoraisu doesn't aspire to be more than the sum of its parts -- and still, it works. But it's nothing that you can't make at home with a skillet and a packet of Lawry's seasoning.
Perhaps the only thing surprising about it is the price: $6.50, which is a hard sell for this Southern Californian who was raised on rice and 49-cent tacos (eaten separately, of course). But to the Okinawan, I suppose it will be a taste of home. How's that for irony?
Though I do wonder if somewhere in Japan, there is a Japanese food blogger who has written a post like this about seeing a California Roll at his neighborhood McDonalds.
Sakura Saku
**NOTE: My other friend took the chicken karaage combo as his lunch. And it was just as good as Kirk described. Juicy, crispy, gigantic hunks of fried, sake-marinated goodness. A bargain at $6.00 since it also includes rice, salad, yakisoba, and a soft-drink. The owner is exceedingly nice, twice as cheerful as the Hello-Kitty posters and glitter he's strewn all around his place.
posted by elmomonster @ 10:00 PM 27 comments
When The Counter announced that their first O.C. franchise was debuting in Irvine, the anticipation was thicker than those beef patties I had already heard so much about. To the chowhound, its notoriety was familiar long before the ink dried on their Irvine Company lease. After all, the L.A. success story has been written-to-death on bulletin boards, gabbed about on Good Morning America, hip-checked on GQ.
It was even on friggin' Oprah fer cryin' out loud!
Short of butchering your own cow, The Counter's claim to fame is customer empowerment. Their burger is endlessly customizable. I'm talkin' the kind of control you didn't know you always wanted. Their website purports at least 312,120 different combinations. Want to verify this? Better use factorials. Remember factorials?
A clipboard with a checklist is presented in lieu of a menu. On it you mark your choice of meat, cheese, toppings, sauce and bun. Aside from the junior high Scantron pop-quiz flashbacks you'll get (remember Scantrons?) it's an efficient way to order.
Want horseradish cheddar and goat cheese? Check it!
A topping of roasted corn and black bean salsa? Mark away.
How about dried cranberries, peanut sauce, all on an English muffin? Go for it.
Pepto? Alka Seltzer? You're on your own.
So, with bated breath, I waited, not unlike that Mervyns lady. "Open, open, open."
"Coming Summer 2007," its white stenciled windows said. But June came and went. So did July, August, September and October.
By November, I had lost patience. In the meantime I rediscovered The Royal Robin Burger at Red Robin. It came with bottomless steak fries. Life was good.
Then it finally happened: The Counter's Irvine outpost was open for business. Although going there was like forgiving a long lost friend who had struck it rich and forgot all about you, it's easy to welcome someone who brings food.
Scarcely a week and the place was packed. My friends and I were in a sea of heads, crowded inside an octagon enclosure that looked like the Ultimate Fighting cage.
A wide window rolls up like a garage door. The bar is lined with rows of wine bottles and beer flows from taps. Flitting about, squeezing themselves between the aluminum tables, was a crew of Abercrombie hopefuls. They're trained to be helpful and happy. But everyone's still a little green, especially in the kitchen.
Our order of fries and onion strings ($3.95)-- limp and crunchy, respectively -- was polished off even before the burgers showed up, dipped in thimbles of sugary apricot, tangy BBQ, and watery ranch sauces. But the deep fried pickles ($4.00) don't need no sauce, unlike its cousin: the deep fried zucchini.
Twenty minutes later, the burgers ($7.95) arrived, built as a precarious stack; the sandwich equivalent of a seal balancing a ball on its nose, teetering with flailing flippers on top of another ball. It's twice as tall as it is wide, so it's tricky to grasp. One wrong move and the tower tumbles like Jenga.
The toasted buns have the sturdy crust of ciabatta. The grilled onions are past the point of cooked to become a spreadable onion paste. The patty, two fingers thick, tastes almost like meatloaf. It's densely packed and grilled to a uniform degree of doneness.
It's about time The Counter opened. But why then am I still craving that Red Robin burger?
6416 Irvine Boulevard
To read Christian's post on OC Food Blogs, CLICK HERE.
To read an updated review on a second visit, CLICK HERE.
posted by elmomonster @ 9:34 PM 36 comments


text:
World U.S. Threatens Iran With New Sanctions
U.S. Threatens Iran With New Sanctions
Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 9:37 pm | כ"ט תשרי תשע"ד
The Obama administration said Thursday it would support tougher economic pressure on Iran if the Islamic republic doesn't begin slowing the pace of its uranium enrichment activity and opening its stockpiles of nuclear material to greater inspection, and reassured its critics that the U.S. would not fall for it by the moderate tone of Iran's new leader.
The chief U.S. nuclear negotiator told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the administration could offer the Iranians some sanctions relief as "confidence-building" measures but that it would support new and tougher trade restrictions from Congress if diplomacy ultimately fails to ease concerns that Iran might be trying to develop nuclear weapons.
"I'm saying this" to Iran, said negotiator Wendy Sherman, who will meet with other world powers and Iran in Geneva in two weeks. "Come on the 15th of October with concrete, substantive actions that you will take, commitments you will make in a verifiable way, monitoring and verification that you will sign up to, to create some faith that there is reality to this, and our Congress will listen. But I can assure you, if you do not come on the 15th and 16th with that substantive plan that is real and verifiable, our Congress will take action, and we will support them to do so."
The Senate Banking Committee is expected to draft a new sanctions package later this month, mirroring legislation passed by the House in July that blacklists Iran's mining and construction sectors and commits the United States to the goal of eliminating all Iranian petroleum sales worldwide by 2015.
This article appeared in print on page 2 of the October 4th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.
Stalled Talks With Iran Over Nukes Boost Sanctions
Iran: New U.S. Sanctions Violate Nuclear Deal, Vows 'Proportional Reaction'
U.S. Set to Extend Iran Sanctions Relief Under Nuclear Deal
Iran: U.S. Sanctions Intended to Derail Efforts to Save Nuclear Deal
Iran: Trump Needs to Rejoin Nuclear Deal If He Wants Talks


text:
Perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic from healthcare associations across the continuum
Supply access
Enterprise response
Industry action
Readiness resources
COVID 19 May 21
Medline gathered healthcare association leaders from across the continuum of care to share their experiences and lessons learned during the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis and their perspectives on ways the pandemic may change healthcare in the future.
Chris Way, Director at Large
National Association of Emergency Medicine Technicians (NAEMT)
"I've never been more proud of our entire healthcare system. Overall we've come together amazingly well, and it's incredible to be part of that."
Creative conservation of PPE
To make the most of limited PPE gear, Way emphasized the importance of minimizing the number of transports and minimizing the number of contacts anyone has with a single patient.
"We're working with nursing homes to implement ways to keep patients inside those settings during the pandemic," Way said. "Some facilities are using telehealth whenever possible or having providers come onsite, and that's helping."
He also mentioned that some fire departments and EMS providers have had to put entire shifts of personnel in isolation after entering homes of patients who had no COVID-19 symptoms, but who later tested positive.
"We've now adopted a policy of assuming every patient is positive for COVID-19 until proven otherwise," Way said. "We send one person in to triage the situation and determine the level of PPE required, and then we send the others in."
Staffing concerns
Way said acuity in EMS has risen, but overall call volume has dropped off, especially in areas that have not been hit as hard with COVID-19 cases.
"People don't want to go to hospitals now – they're scared of infection," Way said. "So in most areas other than the East Coast or Seattle, we're not in a crisis of needing more workers."
He added that recruiting and retaining workers after the pandemic is going to be interesting.
"I think people are either going to be compelled to join the cause, or they're going to say they don't want to be any part of that," Way said. "The next problem after the pandemic resolves could be convincing people it's still OK to be in healthcare and it's a desirable career."
The importance of community collaboration
"I would tell anybody on the EMS side of things, partnerships with public health and hospitals and other first responders – law enforcement and fire departments – are key," Way said. "Whether it's now with COVID-19 or it's the next issue or disaster, look to bolster those relationships."
Takeaways for the future
When I teach incident command I talk about the Ice cream social concept: The first time you're sitting there together with the police chief and the fire chief and the sheriff should not be in the midst of a disaster, whether it's COVID 19, or the town is on fire or there's been an earthquake," Way said. "You should get to know each other long before that."
He added that COVID-19 is a different kind of disaster that also pulls in acute and post-acute care, making all those relationships vitally important as well.
"Continue those relationships you've formed so if something like this happens again you'll be more prepared," Way said. "Use these opportunities to continue to improve care across the spectrum.
Michelle Hood, Executive Vice President & COO
American Hospital Association (AHA)
"I'm extremely proud of how we in the healthcare field are responding to this crisis together. We have a lot of faith in the dedicated men and women who are battling this pandemic, and we want to give them every support we possibly can."
Clinicians working in hospitals are treating the most severe cases of COVID-19. Patients who are hospitalized are experiencing acute symptoms requiring oxygen, breathing assistance and in many cases, ventilator care.
Hood outlined ways the American Hospital Association is advocating for its members during the pandemic.
Conserving supply inventory
"We're encouraging our members to use creativity and innovation to conserve supplies in every way possible," Hood said. "We're speaking with the CDC on a regular basis, brainstorming ideas to assist with optimal ways to practice conservation while also following best practices for infection control."
Here are some of those ideas:
Direct healthcare workers to consolidate tasks so they limit the number of times they enter and exit COVID-19 patients' rooms. Fewer visits translate into less PPE gear donned overall.
Cohort healthcare workers to cluster healthcare services for COVID-19 positive patients to avoid needing to re-mask and re-gown between working with affected and non-affected patients.
Make the most of telehealth techniques to monitor patients.
Ramping up supply production
Hood said the AHA has launched the 100 Million Masks program to encourage the domestic production of necessary medical grade supplies by manufacturers that have not been part of the supply chain in the past.
In addition, they are working with hospitals and health systems to partner and coordinate with businesses in their communities that may have the equipment and ability to help produce much-needed personal protective equipment.
Visit www.aha.org/100millionmasks for more information.
Emerging concerns
Looking to the days, weeks and months ahead, Hood is anticipating newly emerging concerns surrounding healthcare workers' resilience and well-being as the pressures of this environment continue, possible prescription drug shortages and clinical healthcare provider financial issues.
Mental health. Based on past experience with 9/11 and other disasters, Hood said she is anticipating increased cases of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among healthcare workers across the country due to the tremendous stress they are facing under the pandemic.
Possible prescription drug shortages. Hood also noted that certain medications are becoming more difficult to attain, including those that help patients on ventilators and respirators.
Reimbursement for hospitals and healthcare systems. Temporary waivers granted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will help hospitals financially by reducing administrative barriers and payment delays, accelerating payments, issuing interim payments and settling claims for care already provided.
"We are hopeful that private insurers will implement similar policies so hospitals can continue to provide care," she said.
Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living
Gov. Mark Parkinson, President
American Health Care Association (AHCA)/National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL)
"Within healthcare, we've always known what great work our people do. So during these times, it's nice how the rest of the public is getting to see that and really embrace it. We all see the affection for everyone out there right now who is doing the really important and dangerous work."
Financial relief
Parkinson is hopeful that the federal economic stimulus package will be enough to adequately cover most providers during the pandemic, particularly the skilled nursing facilities, which require the most financial assistance.
A 2% increase in Medicare payments will go into effect May 1. Under normal circumstances Parkinson said providers would be "high-fiving" each other over that level of increase, but during these times they need all the help they can get. He added that accelerated Medicare payments should solve short-term cash flow problems in heavily affected areas.
He also outlined how businesses with less than 500 employees, which make up about 15 percent of the skilled nursing and assisted living market, qualify for the SBA loan to grant program.
For businesses with more than 500 employees, Parkinson said the lift on withholding payroll payments for Medicare will amount to the equivalent of a zero interest loan for one to two years.
Addressing PPE shortages
Skilled nursing and assisted living does not have enough masks, according to Parkinson. He added that masks are the most important PPE items in skilled nursing and assisted living with the common denominator of with young care staff (potential carriers of COVID-19) working with vulnerable elderly residents.
"There's probably PPE out there in some settings that just don't need it right now," he said. "Some states, for example California, have made remarkably bold and intelligent decisions about shutting their states down before the others, and they just won't see the spread we've seen in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts."
Looking at projections from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which Parkinson said seem to make sense, he believes states such as California won't even come close filling their bed capacity.
That being said, Parkinson believes we can begin to feel comfortable about reallocating the PPE that's out there in areas that won't see the massive spread of infection and allocate it to areas that are battling COVID-19 on the frontlines right now.
"We will solve the PPE problem," he said. "There are tons of supplies in the early stages of the supply chain, and they will be available in the next 60 days. So for the next 60 days, we just need to continue sheltering in place to mitigate the spread, and intelligently allocate the supplies we have. We will get there, but it's going to take a little time."
Concerns about patient recovery in skilled nursing facilities
Parkinson shared that governors from New York and New Jersey initially discussed ordering all skilled nursing facilities to accept COVID-19 patients after hospital discharge.
"The concern from some of the facilities was their lack of resources to keep infected patients isolated from vulnerable elderly residents," Parkinson said.
So a consensus was reached that only properly equipped facilities will be accepting COVID-19 patients.
"We were able to influence modification of the orders so that COVID-19 patients are only being discharged to facilities that are prepared," Parkinson said. "Those providers are creating COVID-only wings, and the states are providing them with plenty of PPE and plenty of testing so they're equipped to handle the situation."
Parkinson also mentioned that Governor Baker from Massachusetts and some other governors initially discussed allocating specific long-term care buildings as COVID-only facilities, but the numbers might not justify that.
Planning for the near future
"As a ray of hope, if the shutdowns continue through April and May, we will grind these numbers down very, very shortly," Parkinson said.
"If the number of cases continues to decline over the next 30 to 60 days, then we need to strategize our plan for the next six months to a year about out how to proceed in the new world where there are still a limited number of coronavirus cases, and our population is still very vulnerable to infection. Our next hope is for a vaccine and treatments to mitigate the virus."
Home care and hospice
William Dombi, President
National Association of Home Care (NAHC)
"I'm heartened that we're already talking about the lessons we've learned and the infusion of education that will become a permanent benefit after this crisis."
Creative conservation of supplies
Home care and hospice agencies have faced more of a struggle getting PPE supplies because they are erroneously not considered to be on the frontlines of the pandemic, according to Dombi.
Creative conservation efforts have included obtaining masks from tattoo parlors and nail salons, and even converting plastic trash bags into PPE suits.
"In terms of handling COVID-19 positive patients at discharge or diverting them from the hospital, home care agencies have been looking to hospitals to provide them with PPE," Dombi said.
Unlike acute care settings, where patient volumes have been increasing, home care is seeing fewer patients overall across the country. Reasons include fewer elective surgeries and patients refusing care because of fears of transmission of infection into their homes.
"One large home care company recently put 750 staff on furlough because of lack of work," Dombi said.
With a strong mindset toward worker safety and infection control, Dombi said many agencies are also placing workers on quarantine if they have any COVID-19 related symptoms or recent international travel.
Adjustments from CMS are helping
Dombi said he is hopeful that temporary CMS regulation waivers and financial aids such as SBA loans and accelerated payments will be beneficial for homecare and hospice organizations.
"It's good to see that CMS is working quite quickly. In our conversations with them, they are making it very apparent that they want to continue to ensure access to care while keeping businesses operating," Dombi said.
He also mentioned that CMS has changed the definition of homebound individuals during the pandemic. "Effectively anyone over age 65 is considered homebound because of their heightened risk of infection," he said.
Under this temporarily revised definition, individuals can receive reimbursement for healthcare services at home that they previously were required to get at a facility on an outpatient basis.
HME providers
Thomas Ryan, President and CEO
American Association for Homecare
"HME providers are an integral part of the healthcare continuum, especially during these critical times. With our expertise in at-home respiratory care, we're helping move patients out of the acute care setting to help prevent hospital overflow issues."
As an advocate for HME providers Ryan knows all too well that they are often the forgotten heroes on the healthcare continuum.
"Our association has been focused on outreach to CMS, state Medicaid authorities, health agencies, governors, major third-party payers, MCOs, and Congress to push for policy changes to help HME operate more effectively and safely during these difficult times." Ryan said.
He mentioned that the 2% increase from Medicare, some rural relief and a small measure of relief for non-CB areas and CMS relaxing documentation requirements and eliminating red tape of allowing in-home respiratory care is helping.
"But we're definitely working in crisis mode right now," he said. "We're seeing a 350% increase in orders in the hotspots across the country. And the supply chain is essentially broken."
Ryan said he recently received a call from the chief medical officer of a large hospital system reaching out for help because he couldn't locate any oxygen for in-home use.
"I called nine providers in New York to get oxygen and beds, and it was very, very difficult," Ryan said.
He added that suppliers are overwhelmed, and the cost of goods is high, not to mention added surcharges.
"I'm urging providers to partner with their local HME dealer," Ryan said. "We are part of the solution and we can provide a great deal of assistance with respiratory care."
A shout out to all HME providers
"We are a relatively large industry with a modestly sized advocacy association," Ryan said. "HME providers, this is our time to shine. Please join the ranks of AA Homecare."
To learn more, visit www.aahomecare.org. Download COVID-19 Checklist for HME Providers.


I remember reading this last year I love it because of course who wouldn't pick the when there most likely to be cake!! I live how this all explains how important it is to be patient and let them have some control over their lives. I really struggle to remember that sometimes. Coopers first instinct is almost always to say "no", but if you present things appropriately you almost always get a "yes".
Yes, it was only right before I wrote this last year that I realized that I wasn't giving him a choice in the matter.
Haha – no one would ever accuse me of being cool and collected 😃. It was like a big light bulb went off – he's 25 and I'm so used to doing and deciding everything that I didn't realize that he could chose for himself. Sometimes it takes a little while for things to sink in.


Abstract: This paper identifies and discusses the Housing and Development Board's policy with regard to developing character and identity in Singapore's new towns. It explores the ways in which policy is translated into planning forms and designs to evoke a sense of identity amongst residents, and the relative success of such efforts. The discussion is based on data collected in a questionnaire survey carried out during 1993, involving 400 households in two new towns. The results indicate that planning elements at the macro level (namely, distinctive skylines, block designs, town parks and town centres) produce new towns which are physically distinct. On the other hand, planning elements which are not physically apparent and to which people cannot relate have minimal impact on the development of character and identity. For example, residents find the precinct and flat design to contribute little to the distinctiveness of their new towns. This is due to the lack of understanding of residents' needs, in turn a result of the low level of consultation with residents. However, the recent more open policy towards resident involvement in the decision-making process augurs well for future town planning. It is, nevertheless, recognised that there will remain a degree of conflict of interests between planners and residents regarding the type of planning elements thought to be crucial to the character of new towns. This is because residents will have particular needs and concerns, while developers have to structure their priorities within set parameters.


Welcome to the Movie Gallery! Here you'll find clips from the movie along interviews with the cast and crew.
(.mov, 3.5 MBs) - Are you ready to go back to Titanic?
(.mov, 1.3 MBs) - I'm the king of the world!
(.mov, 7.9 MBs) - I'm flying!
(.mov, 1.5 MBs) - James Cameron Interview - "Connecting the actors with the past"
(.mov, 1 MB) - James Cameron Interview - "The influence of the Deep Dive"
(.mov, 2.1 MBs) - James Cameron Interview - "Meeting expectations"
(.mov, 3.4 MBs) - James Cameron Interview - "On the mindset of 1912"
(.mov, 3.1 MBs) - James Cameron Interview - "Faith in technology"
(.mov, 1.1 MB) - James Cameron Interview - "Re-creating the sinking"
(.mov, 1.2 MBs) - James Cameron Interview - "Titanic as a metaphor"
(.mov, 1.7 MBs) - James Cameron Interview - "Thevalue of history"
(.mov, 1.8 MBs) - Leonardo DiCaprio Interview - "The challenges of Titanic"
(.mov, 2.1 MBs) - Leonardo DiCaprio Interview - "A memorable moment on the set"
(.mov, 896 KBs) - Kate Winslet Interview - "Jack and Rose"
(.mov, 1.7 MBs) - Kate Winslet Interview - "Meeting Gloria Stewart"
(.mov, 1.4 MBs) - Billy Zane Interview - "Cameron's approach to casting"
(.mov, 2 MBs) - Billy Zane Interview - "Learning 1912 ettiquite"
(.mov, 1.1 MBs) - Gloria Stuart Interview - "Her similarity to Rose"
(.mov, 2.2 MBs) - Gloria Stuart Interview - "Meeting Kate Winslet"


Jewish women from all around the world will gather together on the very same day to bake Shabbat Challot. If you are a weekly challah baker, or if you have never baked or purchased one for Shabbat - please join us and participate in this amazing, powerful, inspiring event! Do not miss this opportunity to become a part of this historic moment in time.
Eligibility: Women ages 10 and up!
Register for here for this event!


Mr. Porter is president of StressStop, a company that specializes in teaching people how to manage stress in the workplace.
Biofeedback is the feedback of internal biological information. A biofeedback device tells you what's going on beneath the surface so that you can change it for the better. Yogis, swamis and monks in India have been controlling their internal states for thousands of years without biofeedback devices, through meditative practices and what we now call "relaxation techniques." These techniques can help you do all kinds of seemingly magical things – like raise and lower heart rate and blood pressure– without the need of a device to measure progress.
That said, many people prefer to get the feedback provided by a biofeedback device. This gives them the confidence to know the techniques they're using to reduce stress are working. Dr. Elmer Green, who pioneered the use of biofeedback for the treatment hypertension and migraine headaches (health issues that are often considered to be "stress-related"), proved the effectiveness of biofeedback way back in the 1970's and 1980's at the Menninger Foundation Research Center in Topeka, KS.
Several different biological functions are typically measured by these devices—skin temperature, brain waves, heart rate, blood pressure, galvanic skin response (sweating), and heart rate variability. There are products on the market that measure all these different functions of the body. Probably the two hottest trends in biofeedback right now are the measuring of heart rate variability and brainwaves. This review, which is by no means comprehensive, includes three popular devices that can be used for biofeedback. Prices vary, but generally range from about $200–$250.
The EmWave2 ($199)* measures heart rate variability. Heart Math, the company that makes the EmWave2, claims their product helps you achieve "coherence." This is a word used to describe a calm state of physical and emotional well-being. Besides teaching you how to do deep breathing, the device simply monitors what YOU do to achieve this state of coherence. As former Heart Math CEO Bruce Cryer, explains, "The way to achieve this state internally is by accessing a deeper level of appreciation and gratitude." In other words, you do the work, the EmWave2 tracks your progress, and lets you know how you're doing.
Showing you a graph of your brain-wave activity.
Playing the sound of wind and waves (or other natural soundtracks you can choose from) at a slightly higher volume when you're distracted and quieting the sound when you are focused.
When you become really focused you'll hear the sound of birds. So, the hope is, with the help of this device, you'll spend a lot more time focused and calm and a lot less time distracted and stressed.
The Fit Bit Ionic If you're familiar with the Fitbit, a watch-like, self-monitoring device, the Fitbit Ionic is a more sophisticated model with many of the same features as less expensive models. In addition to all the regular features of a Fitbit (measuring steps, for example), the Ionic measures resting heart rate (RHR) and can teach you a breathing exercise. Because it does more than simply track fitness, it's billed as a "wellness" device. With all the different features on this device, you can manage your stress from a more holistic perspective—tracking the steps you take, the calories you consume, the hours of sleep you get, and of course your RHR. We know that lack of sleep raises cortisol levels and cortisol is a stress chemical. So monitoring your sleep and getting 7 to 8 hours a night is probably more important in the long run to reduce stress, than doing breathing exercises. Studies also show that the more physical exercise you get the better you sleep.
As someone who has taught people how to lower stress for over 25 years, I've come to believe that stress management and wellness are one in the same: Your physical health directly affects your mental health and your mental health directly affects your physical health. The best way to mange your stress is to keep in mind all stress-related variables. If it works with your budget, the Fitbit Iconic does that for you.
*Diaphragmatic breathing (a deep-breathing exercise) Hold one hand lightly over your belly. Take a deep breath in. Notice your hand rising on the in-breath and gently falling on the out-breath. Repeat this several times until you feel relaxed.


France-based shipping giant CMA CGM Group has created Ze Box, its first international startup incubator based in Marseilles.
Located in Le Castel building, it will cover a surface of 800m² and will house, starting in June 2018, a dozen of startups coming from all around the world to develop their potential. A call for applications will be launched shortly, the company said.
As explained, the creation of Ze Box is part of CMA CGM's strategy to make digitalization one of the pillars of its development.
The innovation is expected to accelerate the initiatives that have already been launched by the group within the past months including the appointment of a worldwide team of chief digital officers and the creation of CMA CGM Ventures, a corporate venture structure dedicated to investments in innovative technologies.
The initiatives also include the support for Le Carburateur, a startup incubator for the northern districts of Marseilles, partnerships with Aix Marseille French Tech, The Camp, Infosys and new partnerships with major ebusiness companies like Alibaba, CMA CGM added.
Ze Box is launched within a partnership with the Aix-Marseilles University and the Aix-Marseille Provence Métropole.
"As a center for exchanges aimed at accompanying startups and promote an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, Ze Box will benefit from CMA CGM's expertise and from the skills of researchers and PhD students," according to the company.
"With Ze Box, CMA CGM is accelerating its digital strategy and is developing the means to become the transportation industry's leader in innovation. By combining our expertise with the one of the start-ups that will be hosted within Ze Box, we will develop global innovations that create value for our customers and for CMA CGM," Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the CMA CGM Group, commented.
Posted on January 30, 2018 with tags CMA CGM.


If it's trendy you are looking for, Velvet, specializing in French design reproduction beds, is a wonderful location to find a special bed to fit your dcor. Varying from black French design beds, to antique white rococo beds, Velvet stock a range of king size beds at inexpensive prices. Buy the most significant bed you can afford (as long as it comfortably fits in your room) specifically if there are two of you sharing it, the larger the bed, the better evening's sleep you will have.
A mattress topper or a mattress pad is something you place on leading of your mattress. Latex mattresses are extremely proposed simply due to the fact that they are made of healthy materials, as they arrive from the sap of the rubber tree. As opposed to various other mattresses or mattress pads, it does not make you uncomfortable however keeps you cool even in the warmest evenings.
The pieces in a bedroom set have the same material finish and color and aid to produce harmony and aesthetic connection in the entire bedroom. A very vital aspect in selecting bedroom sets is the floor area. Prior to you get furniture for your home, envision your bedroom and try to imagine how it will appear after installment.
A bed mattress ought to be chosen according to the space size and your needs. A big king size bed mattress is great for large spaces and offers total comfort. Ensure the mattress is neither too tough nor too soft. A company mattress with a soft outside is optimal since it helps support your back while making sure comfort when sleeping.
Select furniture product, colors and finishes that are resilient enough for use over an extended period of time. Select bedroom sets according to the style or design of the room. If you want an antique or vintage styled bedroom, pick a bed with sturdy, wooden bed frames and a sophisticated, wooden headboard. You can also include wooden armoires for extra storage. For a city, minimalistic appearance, go for bedroom sets made of wrought iron with clean lines and basic designs. You can also include more color and zest to your bedroom by selecting the right bedspreads. A bedspread beautifies the bed which is the most important furniture product in your bedroom and can do a lot to contribute to the feel of the room. While selecting the right bedspread, you need to keep the size of your bed in mind, as they are readily available in a range of sizes from single to king sized. The design, color, and fabric of the bedspreads provide your bedroom the wanted appearance. Silk and satin bedspreads are extravagant and work well with antique bedroom readies to develop a sophisticated appearance. You can also include a light, summery feel to your bedroom with light-weight cotton bedspreads that are simple to clean and keep. Your room could look vivid or toned-down and neutral depending on the design and colors that you choose. Select the right bedroom sets and bedspreads for your bedroom and make that space appearance stylish and gorgeous.
A drawer chest with rich walnut veneer finish looks elegant and includes an ornamental aspect in your bedroom. Design, the drawer chest also provides enough storage to stock your personal belongings. Other than a drawer chest, bedroom furniture that provides adequate storage for clothing, shoes and various other accessories is a dresser. A marble leading dresser offers an elegant platform to showcase your priced possessions and shop all your personal items. Group it with an elegant framed mirror, which is offered in various sizes and shapes. With these suggestions, you can select bedroom sets that enhance the appearance of your bedroom, and contribute to its convenience and satisfaction.
Orthopedic pillows are stated to be the best pillow for neck discomfort. The good thing is that these pillows aren't that hard to find. They are available in several different sizes, forms, and colors, so you're sure to find one that suits you best. How do you go about discovering the best pillow for YOUR neck discomfort? Right here are five important tips for you:.