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Friday was a big day in the history of fashion. One of the most iconic designers and his label celebrated their 50th anniversary. Yes, we're talking about the all-American fashion guru Ralph Lauren, who's been taking care of your style for half a century. This is such a huge milestone, that the designer decided to celebrate it in the most opulent possible way.
The Oscars of Fashion, the CFDA Awards took place last night honoring the biggest American talents. The Council of Fashion Designers of America opted for a new location this year, the Brooklyn Museum. Issa Rae hosted the celebrity-packed event that included everyone from Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber to Lupita Nyong'o and Cate Blanchett.
Speaking of the awards, pre-announced honourees included Diane von Furstenberg, who won the Swarovski Award for Positive Change; Carolina Herrera, who was presented with the Founder's Award in honour of Eleanor Lambert; Narciso Rodriguez, who took home the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award; Donatella Versace, who was honored with the International Award; Naomi Campbell, who was recognized as the CFDA's Fashion Icon; Edward Enninful, who received the Media Award; and Ralph Lauren who was presented with the CFDA's first ever Members Salute Award.
Naomi Campbell delivered one of the most emotional speeches of the night:
"I was told many times that I couldn't do certain things because of the color of my skin. I let it drive me. And of course I'm human, and I found it hard at times not to take it personally. But I stand here today as a proud woman of color, and I will continue to push for diversity and equality in this industry,' the supermodel told the audience.
The main part of the event included A-list presenters who handed the top prizes to the brightest talents in American fashion. The award of Womenswear Designer of The Year went in the hands of Raf Simons of Calvin Klein for the second year in a row. James Jebbia of Supreme was awarded for best menswear designer and he had some interesting thoughts on the topic:
"I've never considered Supreme to be a fashion company or myself to be a designer, but I appreciate the recognition for what we do," he said.
According to the CFDA, in the accessory game, famous twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olen of The Row won. The Council of Fashion Designers of America decided to present the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent to Sander Lak of Sies Marjan.
It seems that in 2018, the CFDA is finally giving some credit to influencers. The Council included a new award this year – The Influencer Award. This prize went into the hands of no other than Kim Kardashian. Ten years ago, the reality star was considered as famous for being famous without any particular talent. But now the CFDA is recognizing her achievements in the industry with The Influencer award. Kim herself seemed surprised:
"I'm kind of shocked I'm winning a fashion award when I'm naked most of the time," she joked during her acceptance speech. "But this is seriously such an honor, so thank you to the CFDA for this award," she finished.
Last year we had predictions that 2018 will be the year of fur-free fashion. We are always pleased to hear that more and more fashion labels say no to fur. Last week. Donatella Versace announced that she will no longer kill animals in the name of fashion. San Francisco will also join the no-fur movement starting from January 1. The city's board of supervisors voted to ban the sale of fur, making San Francisco the largest city in the USA to do so. Every member of the board agreed that the city needs to stop selling fur items. The board hopes that this decision will inspire other cities in the country to follow their steps.
"This has been one of the things on their agenda, especially in San Francisco. We know that when we do things in San Francisco that a lot of times it will get attention nationally and globally. We also feel a big responsibility when we're in a position like this because it could really make a huge impact,' a spokesperson of the board of supervisors said in a statement.
After January 1, every retailer that sells apparel or accessories with new fur will be punished with $500 fine per violation. For example, if there are 5 items made of new fur, that will result in 5 violations. For those who have purchased fur to this date, there is a one-year amnesty on the fine. The fur ban in San Francisco is a follow-up to the anti-fur initiatives from other cities in the USA as well as other countries. West Hollywood was the first city in the USA to prohibit the sale of fur back in 2011. Berkeley did the same in 2017. Next, the U.K's fur ban act "prohibits the keeping of animals solely or primarily for slaughter for the value of their fur". Other countries that have banned fur farming include Australia and the Netherlands. The Netherlands also has plans to shot down mink farms by 2024. Norway has similar plans, expected to be fully realized by 2025. This country has also banned fur farms.
This year many fashion brands joined the anti-fur family. Besides Versace, Gucci, Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo said no to fur just recently. Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney and Tommy Hilfiger have been fur-free for years. Many nowadays customers, especially those who belong to the younger generations don't support animal cruelty in fashion. Their ethical preferences together with the efforts of animal activists have made many brands to exclude fur from their offerings. It is revolutionary that even entire cities decided to join the anti-fur policy.
The countdown to the 2018 Winter Olympics has begun! We are 100 days away from the Winter Olympic Games that will take place in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The event will start on February 9. The all American brand Polo Ralph Lauren has unveiled the official uniforms that Team USA will wear at the closing ceremony. To present the new uniforms Polo Ralph Lauren invited Olympians from the Team USA. The snowboarding gold medalist Jamie Anderson, freestyle skiing silver medalist Gus Kenworthy, and Olympian ice dancers Maia and Alex Shibutani modeled the official uniforms for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Polo Ralph Lauren stayed true to its signature style when it comes to the new uniforms. The uniforms for the closing ceremony carry "traditional artisanal design references with modern fabrications in a patriotic spirit of red, white, and blue,' according to Polo Ralph Lauren's press release.
The Olympian Jamie Anderson presented a ski-inspired white water-repellent jacket with the brand's logo, the country's flag and Olympics logo patched on it. She also wore a 3-colored all-American sweater. On the picture of the Olympian Maia Shibutani, we can see the trousers. Simple navy ones with a red track on the sides and the brand's logo on the front. Gus Kenworthy modeled the same outfit in men's version.
To accessorize the looks Polo Ralph Lauren designed woolen mittens and a matching hat. The accessories feature winter motifs in blue, white and red. The American flag graces the front part of the hats. To finish off the closing ceremony uniforms, Polo Ralph Lauren designed matching suede boots with red laces.
Photo Credit: NBC Universal
Polo Ralph Lauren understands the style needs of the Team USA better than anyone else. The brand has been the official outfitter for the U.S team six times so far. So, the brand has perfected the sporty uniform for the closing ceremony. Once again Team USA will be perfectly stylish and extra warm in the final parade.
You don't have to be an Olympian to get your hands on the gear. You can support the Team USA in the same uniform. The Team USA Collection will be available to purchase in December. The Olympic pieces will be available at select Ralph Lauren and Polo Ralph Lauren stores. For those who prefer to shop online, the collection will also drop on RalphLauren.com and TeamUSAShop.com.
The millennial's favorite brand Gucci has banned the use of fur. The decision applies to the Spring/Summer 2018 Collection. Gucci sells many fur items, so this is a huge step forward. The fur products are worth between $12-$14 million on annual basis. Among the most popular Gucci products that feature fur are the fur-lined loafers and their coats. Anyway, the brand has decided to replace all the real fur products with faux fur alternatives and new innovative fabrics.
Gucci has used fur a lot in the past. So the decision to ban it from their collections caught the world by surprise. Anyway, the animal rights activists warmly welcomed this decision. Gucci has been working with the Humane Society and LAV (an Italian-based animal welfare group) to join the fur-free alliance. Gucci's CEO Marco Bizzarri made the announcement during the 2017 Kering Talk at the London College of Fashion.
The brand banned the fur because according to Bizzarri "It's a little bit outdated. Creativity can jump in many different directions instead of using furs". And millennials will love the fur-free Gucci. The young generations are much more ethically minded and aware. Gucci's CEO was worried that youngsters wouldn't consider the fashion house as a potential place to invest their talent because of the usage of fur. So this was another reason why Gucci is going fur-free.
The creative director Alessandro Michele also supports the decision. Even his most recent collection included fur, so this was a bit surprising. The designer explained that this decision is something that their customers were highly anticipating. So, he agrees that Gucci needed the fur-free concept.
Luckily, many luxury brands went fur-free lately. One of the first brands that became fur-free was Calvin Klein back in 1993. A conversation between Mr. Calvin Klein and activist of PETA (the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) convinced the designer to stop using fur in his collections. Ralph Lauren made the same decision in 2006. Tommy Hilfiger followed their example and became fur-free in 2007. One of the most pleasant surprises was the online luxury retailer Net-a-porter. The luxury fashion giant removed all the fur products from its website earlier this year. For years Stella McCartney focuses on sustainable ways of production without harming the environment or animals. The use of fur in fashion is still present, but at least there is a slow progress in the last decade.
Only Ralph Lauren can turn a garage into a runway venue. And only Ralph Lauren can bring the biggest A-listers to Bedford, which is an hour north from Manhattan to see the latest Ready-to-wear Fall 2017 collection. Well, Ralph Lauren garage is no ordinary garage. There the designer keeps his luxury and rare motor car collection, worth the GDP of a small country. The two-story hangar is a home to Lauren's McClaren's, Ferraris and Porches. The expensive cars served as a setting for the see-now, buy-now show.
Ralph Lauren isn't afraid to make bold moves. During SS 2018 NYFW all of the designers showed their Spring 2018 collections. But Lauren presented his late Fall 2017 collection. Three seasons ago the designer adopted the see-now, buy-now concept. Many brands were scared off from Lauren's instant fashion concept. It all started when Patrice Louvet stepped in the role of chief executive officer replacing Steven Larsson. Larsson left Ralph Lauren after the disagreement with the designer on how to arrange the collections in the competitive market.
The designer showed his men's Purple Label and women's collection together for the first time. Checks and plaids in neutral gray were the patterns of choice for the suits and other office-approved ensembles. Both collections were all about power dressing. The luxury sharply tailored Bond suits weren't much different from the women's tailored-to-perfection suits. The women's power suits have confident cuts and radiate empowerment.
"The silhouettes are so strong and there's such a sense of female empowerment in every look. It's an intelligent femininity," said Katie Holmes who showed up in dazzling wide-leg gold trousers. Katie's outfit got an insane media attention, especially from the Twitter users.
Ralph Lauren paid tribute to his beloved luxury car collection with many of his Fall 2017 designs. The designer paired motocross jackets with formal pieces. The black leather was used to add an edgy vibe to the simple all-black outfits.
Somewhere towards the end of the show models in vibrant-hued pieces walked next to Lauren's sports cars and the similarity was more than obvious. The designer used Ferrari-red color in a few statement pieces among which was the shiny corset tulle gown that Bella Hadid wore last night. Her bestie Kendall Jenner wore a similar style with a vibrant yellow upper part and intricate neckline.
Ralph Lauren's show was a real spectacle. The designer celebrated his 50th anniversary in the best possible way. With his favorite VIP's at the front row, long year muses on the runway and his impressive car collection that served as an inspiration for the fall 2017 collection.
Photo Credit: Indigital
The New York Fashion Week starts next week on September 7. This year there will be multiple changes predominantly in the schedule. Big names such as Altuzzara, Rodarte, Thom Browne, and Proenza Schouler decided to show their collections in Paris. Probably this was the reason why the NYFW will end one day earlier than usual. The last shows will happen on September 13.
During the NYFW designers will show their spring 2018 women's collections. Some designers moved to Paris, but there are still many exciting names that will show their designs next week. Among the fashion houses that are returning this year to the NYFW are Tom Ford and Fenty x Puma by Rihanna. Both shows are expected to have a high-profile audience full of celebrities and influencers. There are also some designers who will show at NYFW for the first time. The cool streetwear label Daisy approved by Kim Kardashian West is on the schedule for this year. Next, Matthew Adams Dolan, Rihanna's go-to denim designer will also make his debut on the NYFW. Other new names include Snow Xue Gao, Lou Dallas and Barragan and LRS. The plus-size clothing brand Addition Elle will also be part of the NYFW for the first time ever. Models such as Ashley Graham and Jordyn Woods will walk the runway for the brand. This is expected to be the most body-positive NYFW so far.
Another change this year is the location. Rumor has it that Brooklyn will be the center of the fashion events this year. Some of the brands already confirmed their locations in Brooklyn. Additionally, some designers choose out of town locations. Ralph Lauren, for example, will show his collection 46.1 miles from One World Trade Center. The designer will present Spring 2018 designs in his garage in Bedford. More designers are leaving the runway concept and opt for a more intimate atmosphere. This way, the audience has a closer look at the designs. Designers, on the other hand, get an opportunity to connect with the audience on a more personal level. This year Narciso Rodriguez and Rag and Bone will show the collections in their ateliers.
The NYFW has many new faces this year. The most popular one is Kaia Gerber, the 16-year-old daughter of the former supermodel Cindy Crawford. Kaia is the new face of the Daisy perfume by Marc Jacobs. Therefore, we should expect the model to make her debut at the NYFW on the Marc Jacobs' show.
There are also many fashion films this year and upgraded in-between show snacks. Movies, snacks, and fashion seem like a perfect idea to spend the week.
Ralph Lauren, one of America's most iconic fashion houses, has just unveiled its spring/summer 2017 ready-to-wear collection at 888 Madison Avenue, New York, with all of the staples being already available for purchase at RalphLauren.com.
This was, in fact, Ralph Lauren's second take on the acclaimed see-now-buy-now-formula, which was overall positively received for the Ralph Lauren fall/winter 2017 collection. Although united through the same strategy, the two lines present two big differences.
First of all, the current Ralph Lauren spring/summer 2017 rtw line-up was all about Ralph Lauren's luxurious taste, which inevitably reminded us of the fashion house's opulent legacy from the Nineties. The autumnal season, on the other hand, presented an overall "model off-duty' kind of aesthetic that was more wearable on a daily basis. Secondly, the two lines were showcased in two different historical moments.
This collection comes after Ralph Lauren's decision to dress first lady Melania Trump for the Inauguration Day, a choice some people did not approve (although others saw it as an act of fairness, given the fact that Ralph Lauren was very vocal about his support for Hillary Clinton and created the looks she wore during her campaign). That being said, it will be extremely interesting to see whether such a choice will actually have any kind of repercussion on the sales of this see-now-buy-now collection.
Strategies, politics and marketing aside, the Ralph Lauren spring/summer 2017 collection was particularly appealing fashion-wise, with most of the staples exuding a sense of quietness and elegance that was inspired by the desert and its sandy landscapes.
While creating the pieces, American fashion designer Ralph Lauren managed to translate every kind of feeling, daydream and sound that one gets while thinking about Sahara Desert, with even the oasis being figuratively transposed to fashion. For these reasons, the collection's color palette and the fabric's textures were the elements Lauren emphasized most, with the former being all about ochres, beiges and sunburned shades, and the latter featuring an otherworldly array of textures that, when not opaque, shone like mirages thanks to their sleek accents.
And appealing surely were the kind of figures, silhouettes and cuts he chose to accentuate throughout the line-up, as they were still coherently anchored to the desert theme. Relaxed and with a style that could be described as the perfect bond between loungewear and utilitarian, urban-chic style, the Ralph Lauren spring 2017 collection featured both day-to-day staples, such as suit jackets and hybrid harem pants, and ultra refined frocks to wear during the fanciest nights out.
Although he did put more strategically casual items here and there, such as jeans and shirts, the collection's overall attitude was luxurious, meaning that those who are in the mood for treating themselves to something unapologetically soigné, will definitely find a lot of brilliant ideas in this collection.
Photos courtesy of Vogue
If you've started shopping around for some new outerwear for the coming winter season, stop what you're doing and look at this line " Ralph Lauren has just launched a capsule collection of 10 iconic wintertime wardrobe pieces available for purchase at RalphLauren.com. The Ralph Lauren winter 2016 outerwear collection is composed of nine outerwear pieces and one pair of pants that are basic without being boring.
A majority of the pieces are staple winter designs with a few tossed in with special detailing to keep things interesting. The subtler outerwear looks are a tweed jacket, a tuxedo, a blazer; these are all professional silhouettes that could be worn just as easily as part of an outfit as it would as outerwear.
A peacoat and a British warmer are present to serve as the more practical options for the winter months, as they are inherently warmer and traditionally used in such a way. A safari jacket and an army field jacket are the perfect lightweight jackets for those days that aren't quite cold enough for a winter coat, and are super easy to throw on and run out the door.
The final outerwear pieces, an officer's jacket and a fireman's coat, are the more aesthetically interesting pieces in the Ralph Lauren winter 2016 capsule collection. The embellishments on the latter make it seem heavy without being burdensome, and the overall look is perfect if you're looking for that standout piece that will have you looking great and have people asking where you got your jacket, without any loud colors or details detracting from the integrity of the beautifully constructed silhouette.
The officer's jacket is the slimmer option, and there's not much to be said in words about this piece; just looking at it gives you the entire garment's story! It makes for a great accessory in and of itself.
The final piece, a sailor pant, is the only non-outerwear garment in the capsule collection. It's an interesting toss in, amid the variety of outerwear and nothing more, but we're honestly just so glad it made it in.
The pants are crisp while being relaxed, with the perfect amount of detailing coming in through the solid buttons framing the top. This is the kind of silhouette that almost feels like a cheat in fashion; they look fabulous on and are oftentimes super comfortable on top of that. So on those days where even getting out of bed seems like a struggle, these will be right there to brighten your day a bit!
The same day-brightening capabilities are also within the other pieces in the collection, though, since they all look stunning. There's just something so satisfying about seeing nine outerwear pieces side by side, especially when they're all impeccably crafted and with the perfect amount of embellishments on each.
The campaign for the Ralph Lauren winter 2016 outerwear collection is absolutely stunning to watch as well. It reminds us all of the refreshment that comes with cold, crisp air and all of the best aspects of autumn and winter.
Grace Elizabeth and Romy Schönberger are the two models seen strutting their stuff wearing some of these looks through the streets of uptown NYC. Watching these two models perform all sorts of daily activities wearing these cool coats is enough to show us that these looks are simply made to be worn out right now.
The capsule collection is available throughout the year at RalphLauren.com, so there's no need to wait around or wonder how long they will be there!
Photos courtesy of Ralph Lauren


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© Vladimir Zivojinovic
Christian Orthodox believers swim to retrieve across from the Danube River on the Orthodox Epiphany day, on January 19, 2018, in Belgrade. Orthodox Serbs celebrate Epiphany on January 19, following the old Julian calendar, with traditional retrieving of crosses from the rivers and lakes.
Young boy smoke a cigarette in the Drugstore nightclub in Belgrade, Serbia 2018.
The boy is holding an icon showing the birth of Jesus Christ outside the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Belgrade, before the ceremonial burning of dried oak branches symbolising the Yule log during the Orthodox Christmas eve celebrations on January 6, 2019.
A man jumps in the water of the Begej river near the Northern Serbian town of Zitiste, on June 19, 2019, to cool down from the high temperatures reaching around 30 degrees Celsius.
Tourists enjoy the sun on the shores of the Aegean Sea after swimming in Greece, August 2017.
Supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk towards Belgrade's Saint Sava Church on January 17, 2019.
Tourists getting cozy in the thermal waters on the shores of the Aegean Sea, Greece August 2017.
Tourists in Greece, on the coast of the Aegean Sea on the island of Evia, August 2017
People on the Ascension service in the Ascension church, Belgrade 2016.

subset: commoncrawl


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Marine ecologists have known for a long time that success of many intertidal species depend on the supply of pro-pagules (larvae, zygotes, and spores) from the plankton, but it was not until the 1980s that experiments were executed to assess how the supply of propagules influenced the patterns of distribution and abundance of adults in benthic assemblages.
Propagule supply and early post-settlement mortality markedly influence both the strength ofinteractions among established individuals and overall patterns of distribution and abundance on rocky shores. Abundance of established individuals is often directly proportional to the density of settlement and consequently, and strength of adult interactions depends on variation of settlement. In contrast, if settlement is high enough to consistently saturate the system, then local populations tend to be driven by strong interactions among adults regardless of settlement variation. In some cases, heavy early postsettlement mortality
can lead to low densities of adults despite an abundance of settlers, and this has been shown for several seaweeds and many invertebrate species. The causes of variation in pro-pagule supply can be classified into two broad categories -oceanographic transport or regional offshore production. Although invertebrate larvae and some macroalgal spores are motile, their movements are most directly important at small spatial scales near the substrate just prior to settlement. By and large, propagules of benthic species are transported at the mercy of currents and other oceanic transport phenomena. For instance, coastal upwelling results in a net offshore transport of propagules and leads to a reduction in settlement along a shoreline. This commonly occurs with invertebrate species that have long residence times in the plankton. In contrast, seaweeds, which have very short planktonic stages, often dominate intertidal sites within regions characterized by seasonal or permanent upwelling (Figure 5).
Regional offshore production influences the supply of larvae to a coastal habitat in two ways. First, phyto-plankton production in nearby waters offshore affects the abundance of planktotrophic larvae that feed for several weeks in the plankton potentially leading to greater larval supply in areas with greater phytoplank-ton production. Second and in opposition, increased production in offshore can generate increased resources and habitat for the associated pelagic community that preys upon larvae and thus leads to a reduced larval supply.
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Jay Dudley – Attorney
Jay was Vice President and General Counsel for Portland General Electric Company when he first became a FolkTime board member in 2010. His undergraduate degree is in Chemical Engineering and has been a practicing attorney for over 40 years. Jay has an interest in mental health recovery through peer services. He is committed to the sustainability of FolkTime, its members, and the community it serves.
Ilyse Ball- Real Estate Principal Broker
Believing in FolkTime's mission, Ilyse has served on the Board since 2014. In her career, she has always had an interest in helping others, and worked as a peer counselor during college. Having family members who suffer from anxiety, as well as a cousin who was diagnosed with anxiety when she was still a child, Ilyse believes that the work that is done at FolkTime is vital to overall wellbeing. In fact, Ilsye is confident that if her cousin had social programs like Free to Be Me where she lived, she would thrive. For those individuals whose lives are enriched by FolkTime's programs in the Portland Metro Area, Ilsye is proud to be a part of that work.
Lynn Jones, MA, CPSS – Board Chairperson
Lynn has served on the FolkTime Board since 2011. In May of 2019, she graduated from George Fox University with an MA in Social and Behavioral Psychology, but before she completed her studies she was a Traditional Healthcare Worker and Intentional Peer Support Specialist.
During a stay at the Oregon State Hospital she became a staunch advocate for the rights of mental health peers and an activist for system reform. She willingly shares her mental health journey with the goal of reducing public stigma through education. Lynn has come a long way in her recovery journey thanks to her three grown sons and an awesome therapy cat named Loki.
Kelsey Jorgensen – Board Member
Kelsey believes in the power of the human connection, trauma-informed care, and person-centered policies and laws. She advocates for the civil and human rights of Oregonians who are living with trauma and addiction histories by working with law and policy to improve fundamental health care services with dignity and respect. She's volunteered at Disability Rights Oregon (DRO) for four years and served on their PAIMI (Protection, Advocacy, Individuals with Mental Illness) Council for three and half years. And from 2016 to 2018, she served on DRO's board of executives. Kelsey is an aspiring civil rights attorney. She is a survivor of government mental health and addictions institutions and childhood trauma in Oregon and California's foster care systems.


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We are very pleased to announce our participation as Sponsor & Speaker of the upcoming IIBA Geneva Chapter (International Institute of Business Analysis): http://congresba.org/. This gathering devoted to the promotion of the best practices of Business Analysis will be held on Thursday March 28 at the Hôtel Novotel in Geneva.
Nicolas, our Content and Process Automation Leader, and Audrey, our RPA Specialist, will introduce a fascinating topic about Robotic & Process Automation.
Feel free to contact us if you want a CHF 50 discount to attend this event: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Commonly, coworkers of mine book rooms under a work rate in order to lock it down ahead of time, and later we flush out who is going and get reservations transferred. In calling the titanium line (when dialing the line they actually recognized my name from the phone #) - the agent said it is now against policy to change reservation #s on the website - it would have to be done in person. Numerous times over the past few years, I've had no problem doing this -- even if I offer to provide the last four of my coworkers CC, their Marriott # and my all info, they would not change it.
Anyone else experience this or know this new tightened policy?


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#HappyHoli: Holi Festival 2016
Posted on 23rd March 2016
As we all get ready for Easter weekend, there's another festival that's being celebrated around the globe: Holi. An ancient Hindu festival that marks the start of spring, Holi festival 2016 is even bigger than ever, with thousands taking to the streets to paint each other with colour powder and coloured water.
Despite originating in India, Holi is celebrated around the world, with some of the biggest celebrations this year held in Manila, Mauritius, Kathmandu and Suriname. In the UK, major cities including Birmingham, Leicester and Newcastle have a rich Holi tradition, and in London tickets are on sale for the Holi Festival of Colours 2016, a music festival held in Wembley Park.
Holi festival 2016 has even got a royal seal of approval, as Prince Harry got involved with Holi festival celebrations during a five-day tour of Nepal. On a visit to the Gauda Secondary School in the Himalayan village of Okhari, the royal saw how the Gurkha Welfare Trust is working to rebuild the school following last year's earthquake. After a tour of the school and a game of volleyball with the children, Prince Harry joined in with the Holi festival fun, where he was left a little red in the face.
Holi festival 2016 has seen more people than ever get involved with the festivities. In Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, thousands of widows celebrated Holi for the first time. Although in many parts of India it is tradition for widows to not take part in festivals, more and more have been getting involved in recent years.
Are you celebrating the Holi festival this year? Let us know on Facebook or on Twitter at @ChakraLondon with the hashtag #HappyHoli and tell us what you're doing!
Whether you're celebrating Holi, Easter, or both, why not visit Chakra on Holland Street for an authentic taste of Indian cuisine that your friends and family will love. Book your table today to avoid disappointment over the busy Easter weekend.
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By Everett Brazil, III
Cotton acres have slowly been on the rise in Oklahoma for the past few seasons, pushed by an increasing cotton market and decreasing grain prices, especially wheat and corn. The 2017 crop nearly doubled over 2016, however, leading to one of the largest harvests in state history and continuing a trend that could potentially see a further increase in 2018.
Cotton has long been one of the primary crops in Southwest Oklahoma, due to hot summers and mild falls.
"Cotton grows well in our state. It can handle a drier summer, and still do pretty well," said Troy Marshall, USDA- National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) state statistician, Oklahoma City.
According to the USDA-NASS November (2017) Report for Oklahoma and Texas, released Nov. 8, the state saw 617,000 bales in 2016, but the 2017 harvest is forecasted to see 1.1 million bales by the end of the season, which is one of the largest harvests in nearly 100 years. About 5,280,000 acres were planted in 1925, and 1926 saw 1,773,000 bales. In terms of overall yield, 2016 set a record, at 1,021 pounds per acre. If the harvest actually makes the 1.1 million-bale forecast, it will be the largest harvest since 1933, which saw 1.262 million bales, according to USDA-NASS statistics.
"Right now, we're looking at being 78 percent higher than we were in (2016), just based on production," Marshall said.
Pick up the January issue to learn more.


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21 teams from the NTT IndyCar Series took part in INDYCAR Spring
Testing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Friday, February 8.
Teams spent nearly five hours getting reacquainted to the
11-turn, 2.238 mile road course before rain intervened.
Max Chilton set the unofficial fastest time at 1 minute, 11.3490
seconds followed by rookie Felix Rosenqvist (1′11.3289), Ryan
Hunter-Reay (1′1.3490) and Jack Harvey (1′11.3680) on a
rain-shortened test day at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Below are some photo highlights.
RacePhotosOnline.com is the official photo supplier to
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, delivering same-day photos from
the track and archives from seasons past.
Visit RacePhotosOnline.com to
find out more.


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In this article we will explain appeals to the Illinois Supreme Court. Let's start by explaining the structure of the Illinois court system.
In Illinois, cases begin in one of the County circuit courts. Judgments from the circuit court are appealable to the Illinois appellate courts. The Illinois Supreme Court has discretion to hear appeals from the appellate courts. To learn more about appeals from the circuit courts to the appellate court, check out our article, The Illinois Appeals Process Explained.
If you lose your case in an appellate court after appealing from the circuit court and you do not want to concede, you have two options:
These options are not mutually exclusive. They can be pursued at the same time, or you can pursue a petition for rehearing with the appellate court first, and later file a petition for leave to appeal with the Illinois Supreme Court if the petition for rehearing is denied.
A petition for rehearing requests that the appellate court reconsider its final ruling on your case. Petitions for rehearing are only granted if you can show that:
The deadline to file a petition for rehearing is 21 days from the date of the order you are asking the court to reconsider.
A petition for leave to appeal requests that the Illinois Supreme Court hear your appeal of the appellate court's decision.
A petition for leave to appeal must be filed by the latest of the following:
The Supreme Court has discretion to grant a motion for leave to file a petition for leave to appeal after tese deadlines, but such motions are not favored and are only allowed in the most extreme and compelling circumstances.
The Illinois Supreme Court is more likely to grant a petition for leave to appeal in the following circumstances:
If a petition for leave to appeal is granted, the petitioner has an option to file a brief in support of the petition. The brief is usually a more extensive explanation of the petitioner's position than the petition itself. The petitioner, also known as the appellant, must provide notice to all counsel of record within 14 days of the date that the petition for leave to appeal was granted of his or her intention to file a brief or to alternatively let the petition stand as his or her brief. The appellee will also have the option to file a brief in response. Once both briefs are filed, the Illinois Supreme Court will either make a ruling based on the briefs or request that the parties appear before the court for oral argument.
O'Flaherty Law is happy to meet with you by phone or at our office locations in:
Our Illinois & Iowa attorneys have expertise in:
We offer free, paid & online consultation in nearly every area of law throughout Illinois and Iowa. We have a range of options to assist you with your legal needs.
Monday to Friday
9am - 5pm
O'Flaherty Law is happy to meet with you by phone or at our office locations in:


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Frequently Asked Questions
About Bama By Distance
What is distance learning?
Distance learning means you can complete college courses and earn a degree without having to visit campus regularly. Through distance learning, you can pursue your dream of earning a degree from wherever you are and around your busy schedule. Depending on the degree you choose, there are many distance formats available for completing your coursework, including online, blended and video streaming options.
Find out more about distance learning formats.
Is a degree earned through distance learning the same as a traditional degree from The University of Alabama?
As a distance learning student, you will interact with the same college professors and meet the same learning standards as an on-campus student, as well as have access to the same UA resources. Just like the many generations of previous University of Alabama graduates, you will be invited to participate in graduation commencement ceremony and activities on campus alongside fellow students.
Am I ready for distance learning?
The simple answer is, you can be ready. Don't be afraid to ask for help! Your student services counselor can help you navigate through the administrative process and your professors will be an email away. There is never a shortage of people who are ready to help you. Whatever your circumstances, our support team has helped many people just like you earn a college degree.
How do I decide what degree is right for me?
Choosing a degree is a very personal choice. Some distance learning students know what career they want to pursue, but many are unsure. We can help. Our student services counselors can talk to you about UA's various degree program options and the resources available to help you determine which path is right for you.
How do I take tests?
Students enrolled in online or video courses have several options for completing tests. If proctoring is required, students must secure an approved proctor to administer the test.
Find out more about proctoring options and locations.
What resources are available to assist students academically?
Distance learning students have many resources available to help them succeed in their studies. From online library resources to tutoring assistance and technical support, The University of Alabama provides the tools and personal attention students need to perform at their best.
Find out more about academic resources.
Admission Requirements and Process
What are the requirements for admission?
Undergraduate Admission
Distance applicants must meet general admission requirements as outlined below. Some programs, specifically Food and Nutrition and Mechanical Engineering, may have additional program admission requirements. Please consult with an Admissions Counselor before submitting application to either of these programs.
General Admission Requirements:
- A minimum high school GPA of 2.5 (graduation date must be at least four years prior to application date) or if you graduated from high school less than four years from the application date, you must have a minimum of 3.0 high school GPA.
- ACT/SAT scores are not required if high school graduation was at least four years prior to application date. If graduation was less than four years prior to the application date, you must submit official test scores.
- A 2.0 GPA on all college level coursework attempted.
- If you have attempted at least 24 semester hours of transferable college level coursework, you will not need to submit a high school transcript or ACT/SAT scores. Technical and military credit cannot be counted as transfer credit.
- If you did not complete high school, but took the GED, the minimum acceptable GED score is a 510.
To Apply:
- Submit an application for admission at least six weeks prior to the planned entry term.
- Submit one official transcript from all colleges previously attended directly to the Office of the University Registrar.
For additional information, visit the undergraduate admissions website.
Graduate Admission
- Submit an application for admission at least six weeks prior to the planned entry term.
- Submit one official transcript from all colleges previously attended directly to Graduate School.
Minimum Admission Requirements:
- Completion of an undergraduate degree from a regionally-accredited institution or the foreign equivalent
- An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall, 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework, or 3.0 for a completed graduate degree program.
- If required by the academic department or degree program, a minimum score of 300 on the revised GRE (a score of 1000 if taken prior to August 2011), a 500 on the GMAT, or a score at or above the 50th percentile on the MAT. Please verify which test is required through the academic department in which your degree program resides. Exam scores must be less than five years old.
Individual departments may have additional or higher admissions standards than the minimum requirements listed above.
For additional information, visit the Graduate School website.
What is the time frame for beginning and completing a degree program (i.e. deadlines/calendar)?
If you are pursuing a bachelor's degree, you may continue to take classes until all your degree requirements are met. Master's students must complete degree requirements within six years. Doctoral students must complete degree requirements within seven to eight years depending on the discipline, and a specialist degree must be completed within six years.
What is involved in transferring from a different institution to The University of Alabama?
After you complete the undergraduate admission application, request to have your transcripts from all colleges previously attended sent directly to Office of the University Registrar. When you have been admitted, those transcripts will be evaluated by your academic division to determine how many credits can be applied to UA degree requirements.
After you complete the graduate admission application, request to have your transcripts from all colleges previously attended sent directly to the Graduate School. Evaluation of transfer credit will not be made until after you have been admitted to the Graduate School.
Will my previous credit hours be accepted when I start my distance degree program?
After you have been admitted and your transcripts have been evaluated by your academic division, you will receive a copy of the transfer credit evaluation.
For more information, visit the transfer credit for undergraduate degree programs website.
Graduate credit earned from a regionally accredited institution may be considered for transfer and applied towards the degree requirements, if approved by the department and the dean of the Graduate School.
For more information on transfer credit for graduate degree programs, contact the graduate school.
How do I apply if I am in the military or a military dependent?
All military undergraduate applicants (including dependents), with the exception of Army applicants (GoArmyEd), must complete the regular online application for admissions. GoArmyEd applicants must apply via the GoArmyEd portal.
Find out more about military admissions.
Tuition/Financial Aid/Scholarships
What is the tuition cost per credit hour for undergraduate and graduate distance degree programs?
Current tuition rates may be found at studentaccounts.ua.edu.
For more information on making payments or frequently asked Student Receivables questions, visit the Student Account Services FAQ website.
What is included/not included in tuition?
Tuition for distance learning and Gadsden students does not include course fees, facility fees, books, health services, athletic privileges, recreation or activity fees.
What types of financial aid and scholarships are available and how do I apply?
Financial aid and scholarships help many students defray the cost of courses. Students enrolled in degree-seeking programs are eligible to apply for federal financial aid and scholarships.
Technical Support
If you are having trouble with your online courses, contact the technical support team at 866-205-1011 or 205-348-9157 or visit the online help desk. For additional information visit the Instructional Technology and Academic Support Services, Technical Support page.


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The season of giving always puts us in the mood to make something festive, so why not handcraft something special that can be given as a gift or used to decorate your home?
This handy guide will teach you how to make a beautiful Christmas garden wreath using Australian native plants and flowers that can be found in your backyard. You could also add this DIY to your December festivities and gather a group of friends and family together to have a lovely wreath making day.
What flowers or plants should I use?
You will probably be making this wreath in advance to last through the month of December. So using Australian native plants is clever, as they are both long-lasting and still remain beautiful once they dry up.
When making your Christmas wreath, keep in mind you will need enough plants and foliage to create three layers:
The base: This becomes the backing of your wreath
Flourishes of foliage: The trimmings. They can be your subtle supporters in a wreath or even the shining showstoppers.
Centrepieces: Flowers and plants that draw the eye to their beauty and finish off your wreath.
A great mixture of foliage and flowers currently in season include Eucalyptus, Christmas bush, Banksia, Bottlebrush, Feijoa duffy tree, Protea, Firs, Diosma, Rosemary, Gum nuts and flowering gums like Corymbia ficifolia.
What you'll need
- Freshly-picked plants and foliage
- Pruning scissors
- Garden wire
- Floristry hoop or double-ring wire frame
- Floristry mesh or moss (we used coconut fibre basket liner)
- Wooden letters (to spell out JOY)
1 of 5: Step 1
Attach the backing mesh to the floristry hoop. Start by measuring the garden wire across the width of the hoop and to make two lengths of wire vertically and horizontally across the hoop. Wrap garden wire around each side of the hoop and run the garden wire over the mesh on the front and back side to secure.
2 of 5: Step 2
Create a backing layer using a fluffy style foliage. We used 'Old man's beard' or Spanish moss air plant to line the base of the wreath as it looks like a natural tinsel. The beauty of this plant is that it holds itself together well and will latch on to most natural surfaces, so no garden wire is needed to secure this on. Genius!
3 of 5: Step 3
Measure your first foliage choice against the sides of the wreath and prune where needed. When placing your first foliage around the wreath, aim to keep each piece with its stem pointing down so the main part of the foliage is able to wrap decoratively around the hoop. Secure your foliage to the metal hoop with garden wire, sliding past the sides of the mesh and around the hoop to keep in place.
4 of 5: Step 4
Repeat step 3 with different foliage. Another two options should be enough to cover most of the wreath. Keep in mind to leave gaps where you would like the bigger flowers and centrepieces to sit. Such as each side and the bottom of the wreath. Then, attach your main flowers and plants to the sides and bottom centre of the Christmas wreath.
5 of 5: Step 5
Now to add your festive greeting to the centre of the wreath. You could use a 'Merry Christmas' sign or wooden letters like we did to spell out a word. For the wooden letters, we wrapped garden wire around each letter separately leaving extra wire for hanging room to help secure them to the top of the wreath hoop.
See more DIY and craft ideas on Jenna's blog or her YouTube channel.


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Hand disinfection without water. Water-based, antiseptic and moisturizing. Read more
Eco-friendly hands gel sanitizer Read more
Saniswiss biosantizer H2 is an eco-friendly wash lotion featuring ingredients of organic origin, it is dedicated for hand and body cleansing including pregnant woman. Read more
For manual cleaning and disinfection of thermostable instruments of all types. Read more
Specially formulated and suitable for all aspiration-systems. Read more
A new ecological disinfecting laundry cleaner for washing and simultaneous disinfection of linen. Read more
Premium wipes made of a superior ecofriendly microfibers pre-moisturized with antimicrobial solution - biosanitizer S. Read more
For cleaning and disinfection of delicate impression materials. Read more
Eco-friendly airborne insecticide dedicated to the no-touch automated system Saniswiss automate aHP. Read more
Eco-friendly hands gel sanitizer Read more
biosanitizer A is an eco-friendly water based highly cost-efficient cleaner and disinfectant specially formulated for the maintenance of aspiration systems of all types and brands.
Requiring a dilution factor of just 1%, this unique product makes 500 litres of ready-to-use solution with only 5 litres of concentrate. The use of additional products for removing deposits, scaling and siltation is totally unnecessary.
Based on 2L liquid per clean for 250 days a year
biosanitizer A, 5L pack at 1% dilution
biosanitizer A ...It's good for your equipment
Saniswiss 'biosanitizer A' is a new ecological concentrate for everyday cleaning, disinfecting and deodorizing of spittoons and aspiration systems of all types and brands, including those with an amalgam separator. It inhibits the formation of any foam that could interfere with the proper functioning of your aspiration system, dissolves and disinfects bio-film and prevents the formation of sludge in tubes.
It's good for your budget
With a hyperactive and concentrated formula, 'biosanitizer A' delivers real cost savings. Requiring a dilution factor of just 1%, this unique product makes 500 litres of ready-to-use solution with only 5 litres of concentrate. The use of additional products for emoving
deposits, scaling and siltation is totally unnecessary. Use our comparison calculator below to see how much you could save. It takes just seconds!
It's good for your patients
Using alcohol in cleaning and sanitizing products can cause allergies, lung diseases and skin dryness for staff and occupants. These hazards can be effectively overcome by biosanitizer because its composition is free of VOCs, alcohols and aldehydes.
It's good for the environment
After use, the active ingredient in Saniswiss biosanitizer reverts back into water and oxygen, leaving virtually no residues on surfaces or in the air. No harmful side-effects, no toxicity and no disposal precautions. Also, needing only 1% dilution, 'biosanitizer A' reduces environmental impact of waste-water discharge.
It's free to try. Freephone 0800 581108 for your free sample
Use our cost calculator above to see how much 'biosanitizer A' could save your practice. It takes just seconds!
Start saving today! Freephone 0800 581108 and ask for a free sample
bactericide EN 1040, EN 13727, EN 14561, MRSA. yeasticide EN 1275, EN 13624, EN14562. virus HBV, HCV, HIV, BVDV. meets European Medical Device Directive 93/42/CEE (Class IIa), benefit of the Swiss certification standards.


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Smart Wi-Fi Switch and Plug – Braumm is a USA based company designing and selling Wi-Fi IoT devices.There's a lot to like with the Braumm gear.
The Braumm switches can be used with both Amazon Echo (Alexa) and the Google Home Assistant.Braumm provides their own app, but the smart plug and smart switch are also compatible with the Smart Life app, since they both work on the Tuya platform. Continue reading Review: Braumm Smart Wi-Fi Switch and Wi-Fi Plug


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Discover the ultra luxurious world of private jet travel.
On these incredible itineraries from some of the most respected names in luxury, you'll travel with a small group of guests and a staff of expert tour managers on board a privately chartered jet. Your travels will be packed with incredible service, fine dining, exceptional experiences and invitation-only cultural events throughout the world.
Interested in finding out more? Give us a call. We'd love to help you!
Abercrombie & Kent Private Jet Travel
You will travel with just 50 like-minded guests on an exclusive itinerary packed with immersive insider-access opportunities. Fine dining will be the norm and invitation-only cultural events will be curated by local experts around the world.. Take a peak inside A&K's private jet.
Cultural Treasures | 23 Days, 12 Oct to 3 Nov, 2019. Discover some of the World's most fascinating peoples, places and celebrations. Limited Availability
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Four Seasons team delivers a fully customized journey both in the air and on the ground. You'll explore new passions & experience insider access in the world's most captivating destinations. Preview the new Four Seasons Private jet coming in 2021 here.
Timeless Encouters | 17 Sep to 10 Oct, 2019 & 13 Mar to 5 Apr, 2020 From the beaches of Bora Bora to the sparkling marble of the Taj Mahal, this itinerary touches down in exciting cities and tranquil island paradises.
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Embark on a journey curated by Aman experts to explore some of the globe's most intriguing destinations.
Lessons in Chinese Legend | 8 to 20 September 2019 | Explore the delights of China on a curated private jet tour of the country.
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Captain's Choice has celebrated over 100th journeys by private jet – that equals over one hundred opportunities to raise the bar. You can be assured that every detail of your encounter has been meticulously adjusted and refined.
The Ultimate African Safari – Cairo to Cape Town (22 Days Departing 29 Sep 2019) or Cape Town to Cairo (22 Days Departing 13 Oct 2019)
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Experience fascinating destinations as you journey around the world over 18 days on your privately chartered Qantas 747. Highlights include Angkor Wat, Samarkand, Petra & Dead Sea, Iceland, Merida & Chicken Itza & Tahiti.
Around the World | 18 Days from 29th April to 16th May, 2020. From $21,900 per person twin share in Superior Class (Sydney round-trip). Upgrade to Business Class available. Choose your class of travel & earn Qantas Points on your journey.


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Baume Efficace
For the reduction of fine lines, skin dryness, and under-eye puffiness.
This combination of tomato phytostimulines and vegetable proteins has potent stimulating benefits, and treats under-eye puffiness. Formulated to protect the most delicate, active parts of the face, Eye and Lip Contour Balm helps to:
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The eye contour and lips are moisturized and smoothed. Eye and Lip Contour Balm is also ideal for use on under-eye puffiness.
Usage tips
Use preferably in the morning on perfectly clean skin, before any other product. Smooth on Eye and Lip Contour Balm with fingertips, with light patting around the eyes and lips. This highly active product may briefly cause a slight tingling sensation upon application.
Eye and Lip Contour Balm$175.00 Add to Basket


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Finding the perfect gift can be a challenge. At Waterfront Gifts and Apparel, we can help make the gifting process simple, with our unique variety of gift basket ideas!
Gift Baskets
Whether you're hoping to pick up a couple of our lovely items for someone special, or looking to put together gifts baskets for a group, we are happy to help make them really pop, with custom gift baskets. We offer a selection of boxes and baskets, along with your choice of filling, to bring the gift together and really make an impression.
Visit us in-store to build your own basket, or call us to order a custom creation: 613-549-8012.
Gift Wrapping
Found the perfect gift in-store, but don't have the time to wrap it? Let us take care of it! We have quality wraps and ribbons to complete any gift.


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Merry Christmas…..As I type this, the snow is falling softly outside.We are having a white one this year. I was...Read More »
Red House
This Is my latest painting….I quite like it. There is a lovely mysterious mood to it I think. It was...Read More »
May Monday
Wild Leek, Vegan Restaurant
Things that are round….
Don't want to lose me? Read more…
Getting my groove back..
Pink Lilies
New painting available for purchase! It is 20 x 12 on a wood support with painted sides. Send me an...Read More »


text: What the future of work looks like for AmazonThese days, it seems as if the future creeps up on us faster than ever before, and with it comes significant change. It's hard to believe that we've been reading on our Kindles for a decade, and that we're able to order many of our favorite items with just our voice. There is plenty of analysis out there on the technology of the future.


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Slimming down isn't just about searching good it is also about keeping healthy. With the media hype on being thin, you can easily get transported away with slimming down, frequently resulting in unhealthy results. Most likely the optimum time to shed weight is if you suffer from from weight problems. …Read More »
Monthly Archives: October 2018
Buy Natural Supplements – Natural Tonics for Overall health
Buy natural natural supplements? When searching to purchase natural natural supplements and natural tonics for overall health, it's possible you'll find your choices are restricted in local stores. Online, there are lots of options. However, an essential real question is — how you can know which natural tonics for overall …Read More »
Weight Reduction Tools For Achievement
Weight reduction could be a big challenge, and as with many challenges, you'll need a proven method from the trade to satisfy and beat the task. Weight reduction tools could possibly be the answer to making unwanted weight loss effective. There are a number of weight reduction tools currently available. …Read More »


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7 Top Innovations That Are Going to Shake Social Media in 2018
By Nemanja Manojlovic, 29th Jan 2018 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutBusinessIT & Ecommerce
If you want to stay tuned to what the year 2018 has in store for social media, here is the list of 7 top innovations that are going to make an impact and lead to changes in how we see and use social media.
- Intro
- 1. Influencer Marketing Will Become a Recipe for Success
- 2. Advocacy Marketing
- 3. Facebook Live
- 4. Chatbots Will Dominate Social Media
- 5. Changing the Reality, Meet VR and AR
- 6. Instagram Stories
- 7. Voice Search Changes Content
In the world of ones and zeros, everything changes rapidly. Why would social media be immune to it – it was built on the latest web technologies, has to be attractive to a great majority of people, has to offer tools for businesses to advertise and efficiently communicate with customers, and so on.
While use cases and the purpose of social media may remain constant, every other aspect is prone to a change. In 2018 we expect an abundance of changes, updates, features and innovations to enter the realm of social media and shake it from the ground up.
If you want to stay tuned to what the year 2018 has in store for social media, here is the list of 7 top innovations that are going to make an impact and lead to changes in how we see and use social media.
1. Influencer Marketing Will Become a Recipe for Success
If you haven't been living under a rock for the past few years, you must be familiar with influencer marketing. It's a growing marketing trend on social media, and experts predict that it will become the most dominant one during this year. In fact, it has become so popular that brands have to be very careful when choosing one. Why?
Since influencer marketing is immensely popular, it has become a very lucrative line of business. This is why everyone now desires to become an influencer. Sadly, purchasing likes and clicks from third-party companies has become a serious issue, and businesses have to be cautious when puting the fate of their brand in the hands of the rising stars in influencer marketing.
Furthermore, companies have to be very careful when it comes to riding the influencer marketing tide and should know when to get off. Why? Because consumers can quickly become bored by the same product or service popping up over and over again on Instagram stories or in YouTube videos. This can have a negative effect on your brand image.
On top of that, some influencers will start losing the audience's trust, since they use their follower base to earn money by constantly promoting products on their social media stream. You have to agree that this can't get past the audience without sacrificing a bit of the authenticity that helped influencers build their follower base in the first place.
So what can you do to stay on the safe side when using this highly effective method that's catching fire in 2018? Go only with influencers who are experts in your niche and who are held in high regard by your target audience. Alternatively, you can put your faith in the hands of an AI specialized in making decisions about influencer campaigns.
2. Advocacy Marketing
Advocacy marketing is the next big thing that's gonna hit social media platforms in 2018. In case you don't know what it is, here's a simple definition – it is a form of marketing that revolves around turning the customers into brand advocates.
Social media has a huge role to play in this new scenario. Since it is an organic form of marketing, businesses will have to shift their focus to providing as many opportunities as possible for customers to become brand advocates. This means round-the-clock activity on official social media accounts, responding to product and service reviews posted by customers, etc.
Why is advocacy going to be such a big this year in particular? Well, according to experts, customers have grown weary of marketing. It is flooding their TV, social media feeds, radio stations, etc. In 2018, customers tend to place their trust in their peers.
What role do advocates play on social media? A well-planned advocacy marketing strategy can boost your social media campaigns. Simply because it complements it really well and adds authenticity to it – something that is much needed today when people are losing their trust in ads on social media.
3. Facebook Live
The gaming industry has been using live video for quite a while now to attract more customers to their products. It seems that other industries are catching up with them. This year we expect to see businesses hoping on the live video bandwagon. The innovation that's going to make all this possible comes from Facebook and it is conveniently named Facebook Live.
A new survey conducted by Social Media Today tells us that Facebook users spend three times more time watching live videos than standard videos. From a business point of view, Facebook Live is a viable option because it enables them to reach fans very quickly. On top of that, video is the most engaging form of media online and can be used to convey powerful messages to vast audiences.
Why Facebook Live and not YouTube and LiveStream? Simply because Facebook has the largest community. Besides, Livestream reports that 66% of people who enjoy watching live videos like Facebook Live.
So how to leverage the Facebook Live? You have a plethora of possibilities when it comes to boosting brand awareness via live video feed – Q&A, Instructional Videos, Exclusive Interviews, Announcements of New Products, Company Live Tours, Behind the Scene, and many others.
4. Chatbots Will Dominate Social Media
The chatbots have come a long way from being simple chatting buddies to becoming sophisticated providers of complex services. The end experience is not the only thing that has changed. In the past you had to possess extensive programming knowledge to build yourself a decent bot.
Today anyone can use a chatbot building tool to get their hands on custom-tailored chatbot. However, it pays to look for the best chatbot building platform, as companies like SnatchBot can allow you to quickly set up a functional bot and do so without an extensive technical background. Chatbots that are not only able to participate in meaningful conversation, but also the ones that can receive orders, schedule appointments, make hotel and restaurant reservations, and so on.
They have practically become a necessity in the ecommerce industry. Online shops use them on their official Facebook pages to enable shoppers to make their purchases and place orders online. Yeah, chatbots have become the best salespeople available via Facebook Messenger.
A strong social media presence has become an equivalent to "you must have a business website" these days. This is why businesses are looking for new ways to leverage social media and stand out from the crowd. And chatbot technology can arm them with the proper tools to achieve this.
But why chatbots and why now? Chatbots have become an easily accessible technology, and they are also easy to use and offer amazing opportunities for businesses in a customer-centric market. If a business wants to ofer quick interaction to its audience and, on top of that, make it personal, chatbots are a great choice.
Furthermore, chatbots are powered by natural language processing and AI. This means that they can learn from past interactions and offer a highly personalized experience to each customer. When you know all that, the fact that there are over 100K active chatbots on a monthly basis on Facebook won't strike you as a surprise.
5. Changing the Reality, Meet VR and AR
Augmented and virtual reality are huge things in the IT world. This year they are definitely going to shake the social media platforms. If you are not familiar with these technologies, here is a quick recap.
Virtual reality technology allows us to enter and immerse ourselves into completely new three-dimensional worlds and environments. Social media platforms have huge plans for these computer-generated simulations. Why? Because a person can interact with these simulations by using a helmet and other convenient gadgets.
On the other hand, augmented reality technology generates new images and displays them on top of the existing picture. We have seen powerful and mind blowing demonstrations of this technology on Apple's keynote at the end of 2017.
Snapchat has already made a move. They have developed and introduced their completely new AR feature, allowing users to project images into the world. It is just a matter of time before businesses start using this feature to allow customers to see the products in their homes, so that they can make smart purchasing decisions.
When it comes to Facebook, we practically knew that something was brewing in their kitchen ever since they bought Oculus. Shortly after, Facebook announced the first large-scale commercial VR product – Spaces.
Spaces will enable Facebook users to meet and communicate in virtual reality. This creates amazing opportunities for business as well, especially the ones looking for new ways to improve customer experience and boost customer service.
6. Instagram Stories
Instagram stories is a social media infant. This technology is only one year old, but this didn't stop it from become one of the leading trends in the social media stratosphere. Let's review the numbers and projections.
Instagram Stories are being actively used by 200 million people. That's over 50 million more than the number of active users of Snapchat. At this rate, it is estimated that half of all Instagram users are going to be hooked up with Instagram Stories by the end of this year – 250 million.
Why are Instagram Stories more attractive for business than standard Instagram posts? After Instagram changed its algorithm, the posts found on the users' feeds were no longer displayed in chronological order. Instead, the algorithm assesses the posts' engagement and likability and places the best ones on top of the list. This made business Instagram posts less reliable in terms of reaching and engaging the intended number of people.
Instagram Stories are more flexible and controllable than the standard Instagram posts. This is why businesses will be incorporating them in their marketing strategy during this year. They also enable businesses to leverage the power of frequent posting without the risk of boring their followers.
Why? Well, Instagram Stories are built to be used frequently, and Instagram users are used to and expect to see high levels of activity in this section.
Additionally, Instagram Stories enable business organizations to tap into the power of real-time marketing, increase brand awareness and distribute a high volume of information very quickly and easily.
The most popular examples of Instagram Stories used by businesses for marketing purposes are: the UFC post of an athlete eating during training, Pencils of Promise offering behind the scenes shots, E! News sharing a series of headlines from their magazine, and so on.
7. Voice Search Changes Content
One of the most common practices when it comes to using social media platforms for marketing purposes is content sharing. Not only does this practice help businesses raise brand awareness and increase engagement rates, but it also helps them drive more traffic to their website and increase conversion rates.
But a new trend – voice search – is definitely going to change the content strategy. More than 40% of adults and 50% of teens in the US are using voice search at least once per day. Business organizations have to understand how this reflects on social media marketing strategies. Since voice search is going to attract even more people to start using social media, businesses see this as an amazing opportunities to add more people to their follower base.
Voice search is definitely going to change how marketers develop content. The search inquiries made via voice search are more natural and used to ask highly specific questions. Brands will have to be constantly monitoring these queries in order to produce sharable content that is more relevant for their target audience.
As you can see, if you are a social media enthusiast, 2018 is definitely going to be a big bang in the social media universe. Because they were built on the latest web technologies, all the mainstream social media platforms are suitable grounds for implementing new tools and features.
We should get ready to see more chatbots in official business channels, as they are able to make the social media efforts of businesses more streamlined. Augmented and virtual reality will enter the scene on the red carpet and reinvent the way we communicate, while big data analytics is going to be used by social media platforms, as well as businesses to custom-tailor the content we see on our screens.