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News, reviews and photographs of Modern Fashion Dolls including Kingdom Doll, Fashion Royalty, Sybarite, Tonner Doll, Gene Marshall, Barbie and my own experiences as a doll collector.
Mattel's Sugar Daddy Ken. Will He or Won't He?
"What a week! As you have seen, we sneak peeked the BFMC Palm Beach line. One of the concepts in the line was a Ken doll. We posted the photo with the internal "working" name and the photo and name was also released to dealers. The Ken concept is not part of the official spring Palm Beach product line."
Huh? What happened?
This is the topic of intense discussion on that board and among Barbie collectors. From what I have read pretty much everyone wants that Ken doll to be produced. Count me in. The statement from the moderator is vague about the outcome of this particular doll.
The funniest post I read was posted by dollyhoarder who said:
"My guess is...they will probably change the name from 'Sugar Daddy' to something benign like 'Still Anatomically Incorrect Ken Walking Neutered Dog.'"
I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
6 comments:
- Jendini11/2/09, 12:18 PM
There is controversy over a Ken that looks like he might be gay?ReplyDelete
Come on, what's one more?
The "Sugar Daddy" name is the biggest image problem, since it implies that he is paying for his relationships.
It's odd sometimes where Mattel draws the line on what is OK and what is too controversial. They have one foot awkwardly in the child's toy market, and one foot in the adult collectors' market.
You hit the nail on the head with your evaluation of where Mattel's feet are. You'd think such a huge corporation would be standing on solid ground by now.
I do hope he can be produced. no matter how to name himReplyDelete
- Jendini11/2/09, 4:39 PM
I'm sure they will chicken out on Sugar Daddy Ken once they've gotten all the media hype they can.ReplyDelete
It makes me wonder. Which would cost them more sales?
Boycotts by the Easily Offended People?
Or competitors with more interesting dolls?
Personally, I'm just waiting when the peeps at Mattel notice how much people want them to make more male dolls in the collector lines.ReplyDelete
Although finally openly naming a Ken "Sugar Daddy" does seem appropriate in the context of Barbie looking younger and younger, ahile his looks don't change that much... :D
I'm tired of Mattel's 'Chickening out" when it comes to making male dolls to match up with the newer and much more sophisticated barbies that have been made these current years. I mean they just don't match up very well,not even the play line ones.ReplyDelete
I'm really liking that mold(s) that was used for blaine, Tango Ken or that Devereaux Ken and a few others I can't name this second who will be just great with the Model Muse Barbies, What's wrong with a GQ like line of Ken dolls? Don't you think he deserves to look human/realistic as well? Plus they've been promising an Asian American Ken for over a decade -and no that one with the Original Ken mold with the blue hair doesn't count!-
I'm thinking Integrity will come out with their ITBE male dolls faster and we'll be putting them with our barbies instead.


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Festive Reading
Try this relaxing effect while you are waiting for Christmas holidays. Imagine reading a book with a familiar illustration on a cold winter night in a cozy bed enjoying a cup of hot drink. There are three different styles for your image to try!
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TAICHUNG, T'ai-wan 40768
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TAICHUNG, T'ai-wan 40768
그곳의 현지 시간
KAIFENG MACHINERY CO., LTD. was founded in 2002, and the company is located in Taichung Industrial Park, which is the biggest industrial park in the area. Our business covers Greater China, Asia, Europe and North America. "Quality, Precision, Stability, and Practicality" is the foundation of the company.
The goal is to develop a versatile range of CNC machines with high quality materials, strict production line, and best management systems. All the machines are qualified with CE Safety Certification and numerous patents. With our persistent search of new technology and continuous innovation, we are always the leading force in the CNC manufacturing industry and your best partner to work with. Please go to our website for more info : www.kfm.tw
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Are you a fan of paragliding? Do you enjoy it? If such questions are asked from a person the answer would be yes! Sure! Paragliding in Benoni is one such activity that is liked by most of the people. It is so because it is the only thing that helps you to feel like a bird. Like birds stretch their wings in the sky, in the same manner you can also fly in the sky with the help of gliders. That is the reason why just the name of paragliding is enough to bring excitement for everyone. Along with paragliding, skydiving and hang gliding are also the activities that give same charm to the people.
All About Paragliding And Parasailing in Benoni


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Richmond has a ready workforce, acres of space to locate and expand, great transportation connections, a growing economy – and a proactive Office of Economic Development that's ready and able to provide businesses low-cost loans for working capital, tax incentives, relocation assistance and favorable contracting opportunities.
Richmond's Office of Economic Development (OED) helps business owners relocate existing operations, works with entrepreneurs and investors to locate businesses for sale, and facilitates business-to-business transactions.
Businesses Choosing Richmond
Businesses continue to recognize Richmond as the best choice to locate and expand. Below is a small sample of nationally recognized businesses that call Richmond home.
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Interested in current development initiatives and opportunities Richmond? The City of Richmond offers resources and staff that are currently engaging a variety of development opportunities. Please visit our
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The San Francisco Business Times has published a supplemental issue featuring Richmond. This issue highlights the assets and amenities that make Richmond one of the best options for business in Bay Area, and profiles a variety of companies that call Richmond home. Please follow the link to read and share this wonderful profile of Richmond:
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As a designated U.S. Small Business Administration HUB Zone, Richmond helps certified small businesses gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities, including competitive and sole-source contracting, and a 10% price evaluation preference.
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Money and BanksMoney and Banking
Judy Shelton may be a tolerable—at least to Republicans—candidate for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
The FedMoney and BanksMoney and Banking
The Fed and the ECB have taken two different paths since the 2008 crisis. Here's what you need to know.
All economic and political systems involve competition over scarce resources. So it's wrong to say competition is the distinguishing characteristic of capitalism.
Austrian Economics OverviewOther Schools of Thought
Money and Banking


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Story highlights
- Do you know where this photo was taken?
- CNN will post a new photo each Monday morning and reveal the answer later that day
- The photo might be related to a recent story -- or it could just be something unusual we found
[Updated 3:30 p.m. Monday, September 17] A Japanese flotilla arrives at a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea.
In April, the governor of Tokyo launched an online fundraising effort to buy the Senkaku islands, or Diaoyu as they're known in China, from their private owners.
China, however, says it has laid claim to the islands "since ancient times."
"The willful talk and action of some Japanese politicians is irresponsible and tarnish and smears Japan's reputation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said in June.
The Japanese government intervened with its own bid on the islands, confirming last week that it had approved the purchase for 2.05 billion yen ($26.2 million). That sparked anti-Japanese protests in dozens of Chinese cities.
When it comes to China's relations with Japan, history runs deep and often venomous, said CNN's Stan Grant. The islands symbolize what many in China see as unfinished business, redressing the impact of Japanese occupation in the 1930s and 1940s.
Japan says China ceded sovereignty of the islands when it lost the Sino-Japanese war in 1895. The islands were administered by the U.S. after World War II, but in 1972 Washington returned them to Japan as part of its withdrawal from Okinawa. Click here for a more in-depth breakdown of the controversy.
Congrats to CNN.com readers "Grant" and "titus vicente" for being the first to guess correctly in this week's photo challenge.
[Original post] Do you know where this photo was taken?
If you think you know the answer -- or if you just want to take a wild guess -- post it in the comments area below. Later in the day, we'll reveal where the photo was taken and give credit to those who figured it out first. (The more detail, the better!)
Each Monday morning, we'll post a new photo and challenge you to tell us its origin. The photo might be related to a prominent news story or theme -- or it might just be something that caught our eye.
Good luck!


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Food trends for 2014
Burger sliders, bacon chocolate, Greek yogurt and 'cronuts': Are they in or out?
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Is this the year kale chips and baby cupcakes lose their cool? What about Sriracha, quinoa and ridiculous cake pops? The National Restaurant Association surveyed nearly 1,300 chefs to find out what's hot for 2014, and what's as tired as a 1998 sun-dried tomato bagel.
Click the slideshow above to see what chefs think will be "in" this year, and go here to see more of the culinary forecast.
Follow seattlepi.com on Facebook and Twitter. Follow Vanessa Ho on Twitter and Google+. You can also email Vanessa at email@example.com.


text: Inside NPR.org Life After the Mobile Web: Will Media Ever be the Same? July 14, 2008 Mobile applications like Twitter have certainly changed social media, but is wireless mobility also changing traditional media? In our efforts to create a new way to engage NPR listeners, the team who created the


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Minority opinion
Can Donald Trump gain enough black voters to make a difference in 2020?
Can Donald Trump gain enough black voters to make a difference in 2020?
A TIME FOR VIGILANCE: Children need their parents not only to guard against objectionable books but to promote good ones. The titles in the following pages are books to consider
TURNING A SHACK INTO A HOME: Brightening colors help tell a story of hope amid tragedy
BECOMING A GENTLEMAN: How tragedy can produce an honorable young man
Andrée Seu Peterson / Janie B. Cheaney / Joel Belz / Marvin Olasky / Mindy Belz / The Editors /
Lifestyle / Education / Religion / Sports / Politics / History / Immigration / Medicine / Health / Law / Technology / Science
Metro Minute / Snapshots of China / Sophia's World / Whirled Views /
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Quotables / Human Race / News / Quick Takes
During John McCain's speech at the Republican National Convention, he promised to veto the kind of me-first, country-second pork-barrel spending that many legislators have used to help keep themselves in office over the years. He vowed to make the names of such earmark gluttons famous-or infamous, as the case may be.
Debbie Joslin, president of Eagle Forum Alaska and the state's Republican national committeewoman, stood among the throng at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., and watched in amazement as her fellow representatives from Alaska cheered and hollered their approval-seemingly unaware that their party's U.S. Senate nominee Ted Stevens could serve as poster boy for McCain's campaign of fury.
Such is the depth of Stevens' political roots in the country's northernmost state, which he has represented in the Senate since 1968. Never mind that the chamber's longest-serving member embodies the antithesis of the GOP presidential ticket's reform emphasis. Never mind that he faces indictment for seven counts of failing to report gifts on his financial disclosure forms, a violation of the Ethics in Government Act. Such realities seem to matter little in a state where the largest airport bears Stevens' name and every business owner and common citizen seems to have a story of how the career legislator personally served their interests.
Even the National Republican Senatorial Committee is unapologetic in its endorsement of Stevens, extolling his commitment to "do what's best for Alaska." That motto has led the 84-year-old to pull billions of federal dollars into the state for projects many critics say would have been better left undone.
Polls show the GOP incumbent in a neck-and-neck race with Democratic challenger Mark Begich. "Many Republicans still love him," Joslin said. "When I tell people that Ted Stevens is pro-abortion, they're surprised, because they really don't pay attention to anything except how much money he brings home."
Of course, not all past supporters of Stevens remain loyal to the candidate. In his last two victories in 2002 and 1996, he secured more than 75 percent of the vote. Polls suggest that number has descended into the mid-40s.
No matter whether Stevens wins this fall, his political decline is indicative of a changing GOP. The one-time campaign asset of bringing home the bacon has become a liability. Ethics reform is in vogue, as evidenced by the rapid rise to national stardom of another Alaska politician, Gov. Sarah Palin.
In congressional races throughout the country, Republican incumbents are running against their former selves, reinventing a party of which the country seems to have wearied. In some quarters, the strategy is working: Polls show that the electorate's generic preference of congressional Democrats to congressional Republicans has narrowed to single digits from the 15 percent advantage seen earlier in the year.
Still, Democrats are likely to pick up seats in both the Senate and House of Representatives-though the possibility of grabbing a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate now appears remote. To reach the 60 seats necessary for a two-thirds Senate majority, Democrats need a net gain of nine seats-a development that would require a few steals.
One Democrat angling for such a surprise showing is comedian Al Franken, whose fundraising ability and considerable national press coverage have helped him pull into a dead heat with Minnesota GOP incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman. Coleman is a picture of a Republican candidate eager to squirm away from Republican connections, something he made clear in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio before the GOP convention: "If the convention wasn't in St. Paul, I wouldn't be at the convention."
That sentiment proved common throughout the Republican ranks, as many prominent candidates skipped the elaborate affair. No word on how many might have shown had they known the convention's agenda to demolish the old party image.
Some other races in the House and Senate:
U.S. House, 3rd District: John Shadegg (R) v. Bob Lord (D)
When seven-term GOP congressman John Shadegg announced his retirement from public office last February, more than 130 Republican colleagues in the House sent him a letter urging him to reconsider. This is no year to open up incumbent seats, they pleaded. Shadegg's reversal of his decision days later met scorn from the campaign of Democratic challenger Bob Lord, which pounced on the situation to accuse Shadegg of waning commitment to Arizona and undue loyalty to "a bunch of Washington special interests and politicians." The Lord campaign used the incident to help raise $1.14 million, according to the most recent figures, enough to fund a spirited race against the Shadegg camp and its $1.92 million. In many ways, the race is indicative of a broader national trend: Democratic challengers raising surprising sums against even the strongest Republican incumbents in a year when no GOP seat is perceived as invincible. Advantage: Shadegg
U.S. House, 3rd District: Erik Paulsen (R) v. Ashwin Madia (D)
Unlike with Shadegg, the best efforts of Republican lawmakers fell short of convincing incumbent Rep. Jim Ramstad to reconsider his retirement. Instead, a seat the GOP has occupied for 48 years is left open for one of the tightest congressional races in the country, pairing state House Majority Leader Erik Paulsen against Iraq War veteran Ashwin Madia. Madia, who served in a non-combat role to help develop Iraq's criminal justice system, was once an ardent supporter of Republican presidential contenders Bob Dole in 1996 and John McCain in 2000. He switched parties in 2002 over disagreements on Iraq and gay marriage. Madia has since earned the support of partisan Democrats like Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, who helped funnel $50,000 into the campaign-money Paulsen says Madia should give back due to Rangel's recent admission of ethics violations. Advantage: Paulsen
U.S. House, 7th District: André Carson (D) v. Gabrielle Campo (R)
The second Muslim ever to serve in the U.S. Congress, Rep. André Carson of Indianapolis will face little to no challenge this fall for a seat he first secured in a special election last March. Carson ran for the office to replace his grandmother Julia Carson, who died of lung cancer late last year. Though he has since expressed solidarity with fellow Muslim congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Carson is free of the controversial associations that have plagued Ellison throughout his brief tenure in public office. For example, Carson has never defended Louis Farrakhan or worked with the Nation of Islam. In fact, he describes himself as a "secular Muslim," having grown up attending a Catholic school and two evangelical churches, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church and Calvary Temple. Carson has also taken positions outside of conservative Islam, announcing in June that he was joining the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Equality Caucus of Congress. Advantage: Carson
U.S. Senate: Frank Lautenberg (D) v. Dick Zimmer (R)
Former Sen. Dick Zimmer wants his old job back a dozen years after losing to Democrat Bob Torricelli. The New Jersey lawyer has faced an uphill climb since assuming the role of challenger after Republican favorite Anne Estabrook suffered a minor stroke in March. It appeared in June as though the 84-year-old incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg might be fading when a Rasmussen report showed Zimmer within a single point of the lead. But the latest polls put the margin back near 10 points, as the talk of age surrounding GOP presidential nominee John McCain has somehow missed blowing back to New Jersey. What's more, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama maintains a slight edge on McCain in the battleground state, lending further support to Lautenberg, who, like Obama, possesses one of the most liberal voting records in the Senate. Advantage: Lautenberg
U.S. Senate: Mary Landrieu (D) v. John Kennedy (R)
Many Republicans are hanging the party's best chance to unseat an incumbent Senate Democrat on the back of a man who ran as a Democrat four years ago. Louisiana state treasurer John Kennedy finished third in the race for Louisiana's other Senate seat in 2004. He has since defected to the GOP for a runoff with two-term moderate Sen. Mary Landrieu. The departure of thousands of Democratic voters from the state following Hurricane Katrina greatly improves Kennedy's odds, but the former attorney has not polled well of late, showing a double-digit deficit despite popular support for Republican governor Bobby Jindal and GOP presidential candidate John McCain. To Kennedy's detriment are past reports from his own party that conflict with the new more conservative image he now seeks to construct. The Landrieu campaign has seized on that inconsistency, running an ad based on a 2004 National Republican Senatorial Committee reports that accuses Kennedy of squandering taxpayer dollars. Advantage: Landrieu
U.S. Senate: Elizabeth Dole (R) v. Kay Hagan (D)
In a state that has voted Republican for the past seven elections, any candidate named Dole holds a sizable advantage. But in her first bid for reelection, Sen. Elizabeth Dole has a tight race on her hands due largely to the fundraising ability of Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan, who has managed to generate enough in-state funding to compete with Dole's national financial backing. Hagan has also drawn support from national groups such as MoveOn.org and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, both of which have produced attack ads on Dole as Democrats around the country smell an opportunity for an upset victory-one necessary if the party is to reach the 60-seat threshold. Recognizing her precarious position, Dole skipped the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis to stay at home and campaign, perhaps signaling to voters that her role in national politics will no longer distract from the needs of North Carolina. Advantage: Dole
U.S. Senate: Mark Udall (D) v. Bob Schaffer (R)
Democrats throughout the country are touting Colorado as a model for grassroots political campaigning after a cadre of new organizations in the state helped grab Democratic control of the governorship and both legislative chambers for the first time in 40 years. Leaders of that grassroots movement say this year's race between Democratic Rep. Mark Udall and former Republican Rep. Bob Schaffer will serve to gauge the Colorado model's effectiveness more so even than the presidential election. Wealthy political operatives in the state have dedicated millions of dollars to securing victory for Udall, yet the Boulder Democrat has never pushed his lead in the polls to double digits and remains vulnerable to a late surge. Recent attack ads from the Udall team paint Schaffer as in the pocket of "big oil" due to his past employment with oil and natural gas developer Aspect Energy. Advantage: Udall
U.S. Senate: Tom Udall (D) v. Steve Pearce (R)
One year ago, Sen. Pete Domenici announced that health issues would prevent him from seeking reelection for a seventh term. New Mexico's trio of House members promptly rushed to fill the void. Republicans narrowly chose conservative Rep. Steve Pearce over moderate Rep. Heather Wilson to carry the mantle of retaining the long-held GOP Senate seat. Democrats put their money on Rep. Tom Udall (Mark's cousin), who opened the general race with leads in the polls as high as 28 points in June. That gap has since narrowed considerably, shrinking to just 7 points in a Rasmussen survey of likely voters from early September. The reason: energy. In an aggressive advertising campaign, Pearce has portrayed Udall as an extreme environmentalist opposed to measures that could reduce gas prices. That strategy has proved so effective as to press the Santa Fe Democrat to modify his green message. Udall now contends that he has long supported the expansion of domestic oil drilling and nuclear power development, a difficult case to make given the candidates numerous votes against such expansion. Advantage: Udall


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Hero worship of Kazakhstan leaders hits new height
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01, 2012]
ALMATY, Kazakhstan
(AP) -- Kazakhstan on Saturday observed a new holiday lauding President Nursultan Nazarbayev, part of a growing cult of personality around the leader of the sprawling, resource-rich former Soviet republic.
The highlight of First President's Day, which marks the anniversary of Nazarbayev's first election in 1991, was a carefully choreographed pageant by some 30,000 performers in an arena in the capital Astana, including mass singing and banner-waving.
Across the country, schoolchildren and state employees held demonstrations of affection, concerts, and sports events in his honor. To what extent the participation was voluntary was unclear.
The 72-year-old Nazarbayev exercises extraordinary dominion over Kazakhstan's political life. In the most recent presidential election in 2010, he pushed aside three token rivals to win 95 percent of the vote; international monitors criticized the election as unfair.
He receives blanket, praiseful coverage from state news media, while the government has cracked down on independent outlets.
In the run-up to the holiday, state media lauded him as a visionary who prevented the ethnically diverse country from plunging into bloodshed like that in Yugoslavia in the 1990s and equated him with the United States' founding fathers.
Nazarbayev has become subject of films, plays and even children's fairytales. A university, a network of elite schools, and a city park adorned with his statue have been named after him. An imprint of his hand is incorporated into the design of the nation's banknotes.
Observers say this is partly old-style cult of personality, but also an attempt to cement a unifying element in a vast and sparsely populated, multiethnic country of 16.5 million that some fear could one day be torn apart by clan rivalries and regional loyalties.
"Kazakhstan's statehood still lacks a symbol uniting all of its citizens," said Marat Shibutov, a well-known political commentator. "That is why this holiday has appeared."
All across the country, billboards bear Nazarbayev slogans identifying national strength in ethnic unity. Russian-speaking ethnic Slavs make up around one-fourth of the population, and there are also substantial German, Tatar, Uyghur, and Turkish communities, among a dizzying array of ethnic groups.
The development of Kazakh nationalism has been fervently resisted by Nazarbayev, although tight controls over the media make it difficult to assess the strength of underlying social tensions. Occasional violent outbursts of local village disputes that play out along ethnic lines offers only a hint of what some see as a grave danger in waiting.
Making Nazarbayev an inescapable part of public life is a task that has been undertaken with gusto by government media. One Twitter user noted that the news on Khabar state television Wednesday evening mentioned Nazarbayev's name on 26 occasions and the word "president" 40 times.
In 2010, the ever eager-to-please parliament bestowed upon the president the title of Elbasy
-- "leader of the nation." The position gives him the power to approve important policies after he retires and grants him lifetime immunity from prosecution for acts committed during his rule.
[to top of second column]
In the run-up to Saturday's holiday in Kazakhstan, a day of lectures was held in the capital, Astana, at Nazarbayev University to celebrate the leader's much-trumpeted legacy, including his decision to get rid of the nuclear weapons arsenal that Kazakhstan inherited in the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, a senior United Nations official and Kazakhstan's former foreign minister, said Nazarbayev had resisted overtures from pariah states.
"In early 1992, the foreign ministry received a letter addressed to Kazakhstan's president from Libyan revolutionary leader Moammar Gadhafi proposing to hold onto the nuclear arsenal," Tokayev said. "Billions in assistance were offered in return."
Instead, Kazakhstan drew on substantial U.S. assistance to dispense with its nuclear stockpile, earning widespread plaudits. But international criticism also is strong.
U.S.-based advocacy group Freedom House has designated Kazakhstan as not free and noted a worsening trend last year with legislation that in effect limited religious liberties.
The past week alone has seen a new crackdown on opposition parties and independent newspapers critical of the president as authorities seek the courts' approval in having them ruled extremist.
Vladimir Kozlov, the country's most vocal opposition politician, was sentenced in October to 7 1/2 years for allegedly stirring unrest and seeking the government's overthrow in a trial that international legal experts declared prejudiced and politically motivated.
There is no obvious sign of when or even if the president will ever step down
-- Nazarbayev University's Life Sciences Center announced last month that they had devised a yogurt-type concoction that could extend life expectancy. Nazarbayev has in the past, perhaps only half-joking, urged scientists to find him an elixir of youth.
And yet, even his supporters recognize change is beckoning.
In an interview published Saturday in Vremya newspaper, an adviser to the presidential rights committee, Vitaly Voronov, said the time had come to boost the role of parliament, which is now occupied by Nazarbayev's party and two weak and largely pro-government forces.
Nazarbayev "should go down in history as the first and last leader of Kazakhstan with super-presidential powers," he said.
Press; By PETER LEONARD]
Copyright 2012 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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DuPont Announces Millionth Vest Made with DuPont™ Kevlar® XP™
PARIS, June 18, 2014 – DuPont Protection Technologies today announced that over one million bullet-resistant vests made with DuPont™ Kevlar® XP™ have been sold globally since the advanced material was launched at Eurosatory in 2008. The milestone was marked with an award to the Republic of Korea Army, the recipient of the millionth vest, in conjunction with this year's exhibition in Paris.
The accelerated adoption of the revolutionary Kevlar® XP™ technology is based on its proven ballistic performance, light weight and low back face deformation, which helps manufacturers provide effective protection with greater comfort and reduced trauma for the wearer. Although Kevlar® XP™ has gained widespread prominence in many markets around the world, the technology has been particularly successful in developing regions, facilitated by ease of manufacture into a ballistic vest.
"DuPont is proud to lead the ballistic protection market with innovative solutions that help protect those who risk their lives protecting others," said Jeroen B. Jacobs, global marketing director, DuPont Life Protection. "The tremendous demand for Kevlar® XP™ since its launch has been remarkable, but not surprising, as this advanced material helps enable manufacturers to challenge the boundaries of design and for us to continue our legacy of market-shaping innovation today and in the future."
Originally developed in 1965, the DuPont™ Kevlar® technology is used to help make a variety of clothing, accessories and equipment ballistic-, cut- and stab-resistant. Due to its lightweight and extraordinarily strong properties, products made with Kevlar® have helped to save the lives of thousands of people around the world. A new brand platform for DuPont™ Kevlar® was launched earlier this month. Dare Bigger™ represents inspiration for anyone who relies on the safety and performance of Kevlar® brand fiber. The science behind this advanced material, coupled with its strength and durability, allows us to push boundaries, defy limits and challenge the conventional. From athletes to astronauts, law enforcement, military, first responders and industrial workers, Kevlar® enables anyone with an imagination and a job to do to Dare Bigger™.
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It was an absolute blast participating this time around. Great guys... great lenses. These results as very handy, but what was that phrase uttered? A pistol is not a rifle? :)
It was an absolute blast participating this time around. Great guys... great lenses. These results as very handy, but what was that phrase uttered? A pistol is not a rifle? :)
Hey Evin, thanks for doing this.
I'm sad and glad to hear that the Canons tested showed just as much CA as the set I have. That is my least favorite part about them. (And that the 85 is focus by wire). On one hand I wanted to believe that I would be able to sell a couple and buy possibly better ones but it seems like they'll probably be similar. I did a comparison on thedigitalpicture on charts and had very similar findings to what you guys have regarding Canon/Nikon/Zeiss. By my count the Canons had worse CA and Edge sharpness but consistently slightly better center sharpness and sometimes had less vignetting. The Zeiss were worse all the way around let alone while stopping down the Canons and comparing at the same f-stop. The results look pretty clear over there (on charts at least which only tell a part of the story). What I really would like to see is the exact same tests done with ultra primes and master primes and maybe even Cookes. The basic thing I always wonder about is the expensive cinema glass vs the high-end still lenses in terms of pure sharpness, contrast and CA. Fortunately the easily swappable Canon and PL Mounts of the Epic are so quick that anyone can do very thorough tests at a rental house.
-Cheap lenses can look amazing if you are a good cameraman and have good subjects to film...cheap lenses, within reason, are optically not that bad.
- Cinema lenses are built to very high optical and mechanical standards in low quantities with a design objective of being able to shoot moving images. You for the most part are paying for the mechanics and not the optics. However the optics are usually very good.
- It's hard to pull focus well on stills lenses that were built for AF camera systems. There may be electronic solutions in the future.
Matt Uhry
Damn Evin... this is rad! Really looking forward to the rest of the SALT II results. Thanks.
Thank you Damn Evin!
Section 2: Mechanics updated on page 1...
Good work guys...
No surprise on the Leica R glass, this glass is no doubt the glass that performs less favorably to the Leica family, were currently the number one in Still glass is the S2 series, followed by the M series glass,
and even so with some manufacturers some glass of the old family is better then the new, it is not so with Leica, and buying the absolute latest generation of a given Focal will give you the very best.
I'm actually surprise not to see the Nikon have better scores, I now you too well Evin, NIKON GUY... ;)
But in Nikon's defense there is to say the obvious which you well know, which is that even Nikon, as any other company that has a Mass Production facility for their Lenses, their glass will have Quality Control issues, so possibly some of this glass was not their best?
Canon I'm with you on almost all but the 85mm f/1.2L II, this glass is absolutely phenomenal, and here again I promise you did get a copy that was not one of the good ones, and not to defend this particular focal and aperture it brings, but it is to be understood, that one can not have a SUPER FAST lens and also expect it to be STELLAR in its sharpness edge to edge, you need to stop it down to get the results, and this lenses are built to give you the chance to shoot wide open at this speeds to create something unique of an image, just like in the new Leica Noctilux 50mm .95, its insane, and it cost almost "3" times the price of the 50mm 1.4 ASHP yet is not as sharp.
Too bad you didn't trow the new 24mm TS lens, which is the absolute Sharpest and most contrasty 24mm even build by canon to date, will see what their new 24mm f/14L II will bring.
Zeiss, I don't say anything about this glass, is simply disappoints.
Ketch, that was the 24mm 1.4 L II.
Honestly I do feel the lenses tested represented a pretty realistic cross section of what the average buyer will encounter. The 85mm 1.2L preformed great for such a high speed optic. I've used a few samples and all have been sharp in the center and all have showed a real propensity to CA, especially purple fringing wide open. The new Nikon G 85mm f1.4 also showed some CA wide open, it's the nature of high speed lenses. You well know that to completely correct this at 1.2-1.4 you need to go to the massively corrected designs of the MPs or Leica Summilux Cs.
|« Previous Thread | Next Thread »


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Since the announcement of a new Mummy movie sans Brendan Fraser, fans of the former Encino Man have been making moves to save the 48-year-old actor's career. Fraser, who has largely been unseen since his role in the (somehow) Oscar-winner Crash, has kept a low profile these last few years. But in the weeks since the Mummy trailer's release, intense fan interest has emerged.
Over 34,000 signatures now grace a change.org petition to "Bring Brendan Fraser back into film/television." Following his 2007, the petition reads, Fraser is required by law to pay $900,000 annually in alimony. The petition pleads with he networks to help get Fraser "back on his feet again" because "we miss him."
Other efforts to rescue a man that has rescued us from a dull time at the movies many times over have included the #SaveBrendanFraser hashtag on Twitter and, as The New York Post points out, "successfully campaigned to get his ranking on IMDb among the top 500 actors."
As for the new Mummy, Fraser has given Cruise his blessing saying, "Tom's going to be great in it. He has incredible worldwide appeal."
We miss you, Brendan. Good luck.


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Languedoc-Roussillon Domaines with Vineyard Blogs
This is a list of Languedoc-Roussillon Domaines that blog. We have a separate list of winemakers who tweet. And a list of winemakers on facebook.
People often ask me if there are any other winemakers in our region "who get it". Are there winemakers who are on the web interacting with their consumers and even interacting with people who might not be able to buy their wine.
Well I've got good news. The Languedoc-Roussillon might actually be the avant garde of the online wine world.
We've got a large number of winemakers with active online presences, blogs, twitters, etc. This can probably be attributed to two different traits of the Languedoc-Roussillon. First of all, there are a ton of winemakers. The last number I heard from the CIVL was 3,000+ wineries. And then tens of thousands of grape growers. Secondly, we have a lot of newly installed winemakers and passion projects (like mine). And I think a lot of these passion projects are founded by "outsider" winemakers who come from another milieu, one where it is almost intuitive that you have to blog or tweet or do anything else you can to market your brand online.
Without further ado, let's get into the nitty gritty. A list of winemaker blogs, vineyard blogs, producer blogs, etc. in the Languedoc-Roussillon. These are very loosely ranked based on my totally subjective notion of who is the most active, has the most original content, etc.
Name, Location – Type and Language – Description
Clos des Fées, Roussillon – Winemaker blog in French – Hervé Bizeul is a great writer. He's got a poetic quality, but it never gets hard to read. He's totally unpretentious in his writing style. And he's 100% honest. A lot of winemakers hide the mishaps or odd situations that are part of every day life. Bizeul is not compelled to do that. Hail destroyed part of his crop? Expect pictures of burned and damaged grapes. Somebody said something mean? Don't expect him to hide it.
Domaine Lisson, Olargues – Winemaker blogs in French, English and Deutsch – I think this is one of the oldest winemaker blogs around, with consistent posts dating back to mid-2005. I know that doesn't seem like a long time, but if you put it in Internet terms, she's been blogging since before you knew about YouTube. And like any blogger who lasts that long, Lisson understands that it's fun to talk about other people. She regularly shares her discoveries of other marvels in the Languedoc and surrounding regions.
O'Vineyards, Carcassonne – Winemaker blog in English – Haha, you hopefully know about this one already. It's my winemaker blog.
Mas de l'Ecriture, Terrasses du Larzac – Winemaker blog in French – Pascal Fulla keeps us up to date on his very active winemaker blog which has a lot of fun promotional bits alongside a lot of multimedia, including some truly gorgeous vineyard photography. I love how much photo, video, and audio he uses (despite the winery's name? :D).
Domaine Jones, Fitou – Winemaker blog in English – Katie Jones is a recently installed vigneronne who blogs extensively and regularly. I haven't met Katie yet but her videos definitely give me the impression that she is heavily involved in the winemaking process. Lots of regular updates. I like how casual this blog is about the technical stuff that happens on a vineyard. It's like everything is new to her and she is unshy about sharing that novelty and freshness with her readers.
Domaine la Rabidote, Saint Chinian – Winery blog in Swedish – Anders Aberg bought a vineyard in the Saint Chinian on a whim and he gives frequent updates in Swedish (since he hopes to sell most of the wine there). He's a videographer so I expect a lot of good videos of this quality.
La Peira, Terrasses du Larzac – Winery blog in English – Rob Dougan is all over the web. He's another example of a passion project from another milieu and it's just obvious to him that he should be online. A lot of his posts are clever ways of reminding you of all the good press his wines get. But he also gives a great deal of insight into those reviews and what he sees as a propos in the region.
Chateau de Gourgazaud, Minervois la Livinière – Winemaker blog in French – Simple, entertaining updates about life at the Chateau. Regularly updated. Well worth a look.
Mas Becha, Nyls-Ponteilla – Winemaker Photo Blog – Interesting format. Virtually 100% photos from this Roussillon winemaker just twenty-some minutes away from the Spanish border.
Le Pech d'André, Azillanet – Vineyard blog in French – I have no idea how this Minervois blog evaded my notice so long. It's very regular and has been going since late 2009. Pretty even split between local festivities and vineyard posts with a few other subjects thrown in.
Pour le Vin, Cotes Catalanes – Winemaker blog in French – Michel Smith, one of the "5 du vin" deserves to be in this directory. Even though I think of him more as a journalist, he's taken up a small plot of land in the Roussillon and made the plunge. With les Vignes du Puch, he's one of us now, for better or for worse! A winemaker. And so whether he likes it or not, he's now a winemaker-blogger.
Coume Majou, Roussillon – winemaker's blog in French – Discovered through Jim's Loire, this laid back winemaker attacked blogging quite recently and I hope he continues because he's got a uniquely fun loving tone.
The Vigneron's Wife, Minervois – winemaker's wife blogs in English – While Kat isn't strictly a winemaker, she has the intriguing perspective of the winemaker's wife. The blog is just starting as of this update, but I hope it continues to flourish as the idea of a blog from the point of view of the wife of a winemaker is really cool.
Colline de l'Hirondelle, Douzens – winemaker blogs in English – These guys are very very active since their recent installation in the region. Great aesthetic. Lots of posts about local life, events, vineyard happenings and so on. Lovely labels too.
Rives Blanques, Limoux – winemaker blog and domaine news in English – I'm happy to see that these Cépie winemakers have converted their longstanding newsletter into a blog format. There are sort of two blogs here. There's a monthly update of what happened at the estate. And then there's Breaking News which is more typical single topic blog posts.
Domaine de Sainte Rose, Cotes de Thongue – A couple of anglophones producing wine in Servian. Very active and taking its first steps by introducing the vineyard, product, philosophy, etc. We'll see how it develops.
Vigneron Blog, Roussillon – Winemaker blog in French – I actually have no idea who this guy is or where he makes wine. His ambitiously titled Vigneron Blog does assert that he is a winemaker. And he seems to be one of the most active winemaker bloggers in the region. Update: it would seem this winemaker is retiring but Pierre Fabre of Chateau de Gaure is trying to keep the blog alive by publishing all the best stories people email to him about the Roussillon. Cool idea.
Domaine Revelh, Roussillon – Winemaker blog in French – Recently installed biodynamic microvineyard in the Roussillon. Lots of promise in the blog side of things. They make such a small quantity of wine, I feel like it's admirable that they spend so much time talking about it online.
Domaine de Cadables, Gabian – Winemaker's blog in French –
Domaine Treloar, Trouillas Roussillon – Winemaker blog in English – Really cool winemaking couple in Trouillas. Very down to earth people with heavenly wines. I wish the blog was an actual blog and not just a frequently updated news page, but I love that they are online and communicating. And I actually follow the facebook account way more.
Carignans.com, St Jean de Minervois – varietal news in English – Okay, this isn't really a blog (a chronologically displayed web log). But it's so in the spirit of one that it's worth mentioning. John Bojanowski of Clos du Gravillas got really fed up with how journalists were hating on his favorite varietal, Carignan. So he started a website and united lots of producers who like Carignan. Now, there's a safe community where growers can come out of the Carignan closet and admit to the world and to themselves that it is a great grape when grown right. Contact him if you make a pure Carignan that's up to snuff.
Domaine de Borde Rouge, Lagrasse – Winery blog in French and sometimes English – I have no idea how this stayed off my radar for so long. It's a nice blog that ocassionally lets you see the vines or winemaking. Most of it is devoted to talking about reviews received or trips abroad to Prowein, Hong Kong, and so on.
Clos Pacalis, Boutenac – Vineyard blog in French – I tragically seem to have caught this one too late as it is on an indefinite hiatus. Hope they come back soon. Good lookin' Blogger blog.
Chateau Pech-Céleyran, Saint Exupery – Vineyard blog in French – A collection of updates on sales, art openings, weddings, etc. The aesthetics of the blog are a bit underworked, but that gives it a sort of authenticity. The pictures are honest, the comments brief. And every now and then you get a pearl like this photo of a baby drinking wine, and you know it isn't staged.
Sieur d'Arques, Limoux – Cooperative blog in French – One of the largest cooperatives in our entire region, also responsible for great events like Toques & Clochers. This blog reports lots of bits and bobs from the vineyards contributing to the coop as well as lots of events that they hold.
Domaine Guilhem Barré, Cabardes – Vineyard blog in French – An organic estate in the Languedoc that delivers bits of photo and text about its various endeavors.
Clos des Augustins, Pic Saint Loup – Winemaker blog in French – Occasional updates on press and the weather.
Château La Liquière, Faugeres – Vineyard blog in French – Back from a temporary hiatus with a heavy focus on photo posts. The site leaves a lot to be desired in terms of design. The blog actually doesn't link back to the winery's primary flash-driven website. But all this aside, they have some exceptional photos from time to time.
Vella Frontera, Maury – Corin and Jayne Fairchild blog about their recent(?) vineyard purchase in the Roussillon.
Clot de l'Oum, Belesta – Vineyard blog in French – Lots of very dramatic photos. A lot of them vine-related.
Les échalas de Langlade, Langlade – Borderline in the Gard which is technically Languedoc but makes a lot of wines with Rhone on the label. This blog's occasional updates include vineyard updates, local events, and other assorted stuff. The most interesting this is that it's a joint effort between three independent winemakers in the same commune (Langlade). Intriguing!
Domaine Arnal, Langlade – Winemaker blog in French – occasional posts about winery schtuff
Domaine Belles Courbes, St Chinian – Winery blog in French – Monthly updates on press and local events.
Domaine Virgile Joly, St Saturnin – Winery blog in French – Some photos and videos. Infrequent updates, but from a very charismatic producer with a lot of information to share.
Couvent Wine, Roujan – Winery blog in English – The Couvent Roujan, a successful B&B attached to a vineyard and olive plantation has recently started a full fledged winemaking blog attached to their wine production which has recently become a little more official. Until recently, they'd done some casual wine blogging at chateaumalaudos.com but I think they're really buckled in for the long haul now. This blog might be moving up the list very quickly, so keep an eye on it.
Some other Languedoc-Roussillon Domaines with blogs or occasional updates:
- Domaine Guizard
- Le Clos du Serres
- Monte Lauro Vineyards
- Clos Romain – olives and vines, wish they would fix the front page navigation.
- Domaine du Camp del Roc
- Vignerons de Maury
- Bondillon de Gressac
- Combe de la Belle
Grey Area
I'm also going to start a list of grey area blogs. These are sort of winemaker blogs. Or something close enough for me to always feel weird about leaving them out:
The Outsiders – strictly speaking, this is a blog for a group of winemakers. But the winemakers don't handle the blogging ourselves. But a lot of the text is written by us.
Idées Liquides et Solides – I don't think Vincent Pousson is a winemaker, strictly speaking (although I might be wrong!) I know he designs the labels and aesthetics for Castelmaure and is very heavily implicated in their communication strategy. Anyway, he blogs under his own name, but I can't help thinking of it as an extension of the Castelmaure cooperative (even though it's explicitly not that).
20 de Corbieres – This is a website hosted by the AOC Corbieres / CIVL (an interprofessional group) and it hosts a blog that any winemaker in the Corbieres can post on. This is a brilliant idea. The Corbieres is massive and having a joint winemaker blog accessible to all its producers can generate a huge amount of quality first-person content with just a little bit of effort from each winemaker. Awesome initiative. The posts are still often CIVL-ish or AOC-ish because some of them are posted by the syndicat Corbieres, so it's not totally a winemaker blog. But it's getting very very close. Or maybe even it's better than a winemaker blog?
Please let me know if you run a winery blog, vineyard blog, winemaker blog, or similar site in the Languedoc Roussillon. I'm also compiling lists of top-notch
- regional blogs
- Languedoc-Roussillon facebook pages
- Languedoc-Roussillon twitter accounts
Feel free to email suggestions. Self-promotion encouraged. If I left you out, don't feel bad. My memory is swiss cheese (full of holes). Just nudge me with a reminder via email.
The list of inactive blogs continues "below the fold".


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Ralph Engelstad Arena
Ralph Engelstad Arena is a state-of-the-art facility on the University of North Dakota campus that is home to the UND hockey team. The arena has been called "the finest hockey arena in the world" and has also played host to some of the world's biggest bands, shows and concerts. Ralph Engelstad Arena Quick Facts: Hockey seating: 11,640, basketball seating: 12,119, concert seating: 13,154, luxury suites: 50 (48 full, 2 mini), club seats: 264, logos: 2,200, TVs: 300, tons of steel: 400. More than 3 miles of brass accents on the floor and 1.1 million bricks. $110-plus-million facility with the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Visit our website at www.theralph.com for more information or to schedule a tour. You can also buy University of North Dakota merchandise on site or online at www.siouxshop.com
Tuesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
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RECLAIMING the CONVERSATION on EDUCATION
Saturday, May 4, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (EDT)
Event Details
What: Conference on Reclaiming the Conversation on Education
When: Saturday, May 4, 2013 (9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.)
Where: Barnard College at Columbia University, NY, NY
Who should attend: P-12 Educators and Administrators, Teacher Educators, Parents, Advocacy Groups, Scholars, and Students
Why: Working toward the goal of reclaiming the conversation on education, participants in this two-day conference will
· Share their experiences with educational "reforms";
· Imagine and articulate equitable and sustainable alternatives to current educational "reforms";
· Build coalitions and support resistance to the standardization, privatization and corporate take-over of education.
If you want to move beyond the focus on test scores, performance outcomes, standardization, and data aggregation, if you are tired of seeing your students deprived of real educational opportunities, if you worry teaching is being reduced to test prep and educators are losing their autonomy and academic freedom, and if you believe all our children should have access to a curriculum and extra-curriculum that are far more engaging than stripped down cram courses or subsistence level job training, then this is the conference for you.
This conference is sponsored by Barnard Education Program and is supported by an anonymous donor, the North Star Fund, PSC CUNY, & the Shirley Chisholm Project.
When & Where
New York,
Saturday, May 4, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (EDT)
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Oakman Inns & Restaurants which operate venues across Northants, Bucks, Beds, Herts, Oxon, Warwikshire and beyond has announced that trading over the first half of financial year 2017/18 has been buoyant.
Like For Like sales for the 26 weeks ending Sunday 1st October were up 8.6% with total group sales up 27.5% at £13.5m.
Oakman was founded by restauranteur Peter Borg-Neal in his hometown of Tring and now boasts 20 pub-restaurants across nine counties with three more on the way in 2018.
Mr Borg-Neal said he as 'absolutely delighted' with the company's performance over the first half of the year.
He said: "We have a real sense of momentum as we approach the vital Christmas trading period. The recent acquisition of The Anchor in Hullbridge and the reopening of The Betsey Wynne have added to that momentum – both are trading ahead of expectation. We are now on-site at the Beech House, Amersham, The Cherry Tree, Olney and The Royal Foresters, Ascot – all of which will open in the first half of 2018."
"The key challenge we are experiencing is the increase in input prices driven by sterling weakness. We have seen a large increase in food prices whilst being very wary of passing them on to the consumer. However, the biggest impact on us is being seen in our capital expenditure costs. Items such as kitchen equipment and building materials have increased dramatically. When this is set against some of the other challenges to our trading it seems to us very likely that, without Government intervention, there will be a significant slowing of investment in our industry. We need action on a number of fronts including addressing the absurd level of Business Rates, a streamlining of Planning law and the removal of the unfair tax on food. Furthermore, I think Landlords need to recognise that there have been some structural changes to the sector business model and they will have to be more realistic about rent expectations. Equally, I call upon industry colleagues to think about the level of rent they are prepared to sign up to."
"The strategy for Oakman remains the same with a focus on quality, great people and excellent sites. We were particularly delighted to have become the first pub company to be awarded the Princess Royal Training Award for training excellence."
The Oakman Collection:
Kings Arms, Berkhamsted
Banyers House, Royston
Beech House, St Albans
The Red Lion, Water End
The Akeman, Tring
White Hart, Ampthill
Beech House, Beaconsfield
Dog & Badger, Medmenham
The Akeman Inn, Kingswood
Betsey Wynne, Swanbourne
King's Head, Chipping Ongar
The Anchor, Hullbridge
The Navigation at Thrupp Wharf, Cosgrove
The Crown & Thistle, Abingdon
The Old Post Office, Wallingford
Blue Boar, Witney
The Globe, Warwick
Four Alls, Welford on Avon
West Midlands:
Beech House, Solihull
Walter Arms, Sindlesham
Beech House, Amersham
Cherry Tree, Olney
Royal Foresters, Ascot


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3 May 2013 at 12.13pm | 4 Comments
Arthur Pita's award-winning dance-theatre adaptation of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis will be staged at the Joyce Theatre in New York, with Royal Ballet Principal Edward Watson reprising his role as Gregor Samsa. Performances will run from 17-29 September.
Prior to its US transfer, the piece will be broadcast in the UK by Sky Arts 2 on Monday 27 May at 8pm.
The adaptation has attracted critical acclaim since having its premiere in September 2011; winning Olivier, Southbank Sky Arts and Critics Circle National Dance Awards.
The Metamorphosis tells the story of salesman Gregor Samsa who wakes up one morning as an insect, and is brought to life through innovative and distinctive choreography and direction from Arthur Pita. The piece includes an intense sound-world score by composer Frank Moon.
Watch a behind the scenes glimpse at how The Metamorphosis is staged.
The Metamorphosis runs from 17-29 September 2013 at the Joyce Theatre in New York. Tickets go on sale on 23 May via the Joyce Theatre website.


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GLOBUS 2020: Best of New Zealand with Sydney (PNE)
17 days from Auckland to Sydney
Experience the best of New Zealand and Sydney on this unforgettable vacation filled with dramatic scenery, cultural exchanges, and top attractions. Your New Zealand and Sydney tour starts in Auckland, ends in Sydney, and overnights along the way in Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, Franz Josef, and Queenstown.You'll experience some of New Zealand's most majestic scenery throughout your tour. In the Bay of Island, enjoy a scenic cruise to the iconic 'Hole in the Rock.' In Rotorua, visit Te Puia to see New Zealand's largest geyser and boiling mud pots. Continue south through New Zealand's lush green North Island to Wellington. In Christchurch, board one of the world's most scenic trains and travel across the Southern Alps. Two nights at Franz Josef won't be enough as you admire the incredible views and have a chance to participate in a Glacier Valley walk. But that's not all…you'll enjoy an excursion to Fiordland National Park, boasting some of the world's most breathtaking scenery, where you'll have an unforgettable cruise on Milford Sound. It's not just amazing scenery you'll experience on this New Zealand and Sydney tour. Throughout the tour, Globus has also included out-of-the-ordinary adventures to make your vacation unique. For example, visit a local farm and enjoy a barbecue lunch in Marton, enjoy a wine tasting and tour at a local winery in Queenstown, and join a local New Zealand family in Rotorua for dinner in their home. In the vibrant city of Sydney, enjoy a 3-night stay, a city sightseeing tour, and plenty of free time to explore this exciting city on your own. From rugged Milford Sound to cosmopolitan Sydney, you are sure to return home with lots of photos and unforgettable memories to share with friends and family!
Call (847) 455-8897 for more information or to book today! Mention code 14740245
- Tour Operator
- Globus
- Offer
- Offer valid through 3/31/2020
- Duration
- 17 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
|Day 1
|Welcome to Aotearoa, Maori for 'land of the long white cloud.' Your hotel room is available for immediate check-in. A pre-night is not required for early check-in. Please schedule your flights to arrive by 4:30 pm in order to attend this evening's welcome briefing and dinner. (D)
|Day 2
|Bay of Islands
|Start your day with a sightseeing tour of Auckland, the 'City of Sails.' See bustling Queen Street, the city's oldest park, Auckland Domain, and historic Parnell Village. Continue to the Bay of Islands, known for its stunning beauty and history. Visit the WAITANGI TREATY HOUSE to learn about New Zealand's past. (B,D)
|Day 3
|Bay of Islands
|This morning, embark on a sightseeing CRUISE to view the 'Hole in the Rock,' have a chance to see dolphins, and learn more about the rich history and culture of this region. The remainder of the day is at leisure. You may wish to enjoy a hike, explore some of the island's historic attractions, shop for souvenirs, or just relax at your hotel. (B)
|Day 4
|Today, travel through the Bay of Plenty region to Rotorua, home to geothermal wonders, adventure activities, and a thriving Maori culture. This evening, you may wish to join our optional outing to experience an authentic Maori village and cultural performance, followed by a delicous Hangi dinner. You might even be asked to join in a Haka, the traditional war dance of the Maori. (B)
|Day 5
|This morning starts with a visit to RAINBOW SPRINGS to view native bush and wildlife, including a walk through the kiwi bird enclosure. Last stop is TE PUIA, Rotorua's most prominent thermal area, with New Zealand's largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces. The afternoon is at your leisure. You may wish to relax in a natural hot spring, zipline through the forest, be pampered at one of the city's spas, or board a floatplane for flightseeing of this beautiful area. This evening, join a [LF] New Zealand family for DINNER in their home, a unique opportunity to interact with a local family and immerse yourself in New Zealand culture. Before the evening is over, you'll feel like part of the family. (B,D)
|Day 6
|Travel south today through rolling farmlands and past massive Lake Taupo. Stop in the historic rural town of Marton, where we'll visit a [LF] LOCAL FARM and enjoy a barbecue lunch. Continue to Wellington, New Zealand's capital city. (B,L)
|Day 7
|Our day begins with a sightseeing tour of Wellington. Take a scenic CABLE-CAR ride, visit the beautiful BOTANIC GARDENS, see the famous Beehive and Parliament buildings, and enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of the city and harbor from the top of Mount Victoria. You'll also spend time at TE PAPA, the Museum of New Zealand. The remainder of the day is yours to explore on your own. (B)
|Day 8
|Fly to Christchurch located on New Zealand's south island. A sightseeing tour will highlight some of Christchurch's famous landmarks and spectacular gardens. This evening is at leisure. (B)
|Day 9
|Franz Josef
|Today, travel on the scenic TRANZALPINE, one of the world's great train journeys. From the comfort of first-class carriages, see the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmlands, followed by the spectacular gorges and rivers of the Waimakariri River. Your train then climbs into the majestic Southern Alps to Arthur's Pass National Park. The train features large panoramic windows, an onboard cafe, and in-seat audio commentary. Spend the next two nights in the small town of Franz Josef, located at the base of the impressive Franz Josef Glacier. (B,D)
|Day 10
|Franz Josef
|This morning, explore this spectacular UNESCO World Heritage area. Your GLACIER VALLEY WALK will take you up alongside the mighty Waiho River bed, following the glacier's path of retreat in this remarkable landscape. Here you will learn about the glacier's history, see what is left behind by this majestic giant, and learn the legend of Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere. Near the terminal face, after a brief climb you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the rapidly changing face of the glacier. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. You may opt to take a scenic flightseeing or helicopter tour, relax in one of the glacier hot pools, spend time at the West Coast Wildlife Centre, or pick up a picnic lunch and just take in the gorgeous scenery. (B)
|Day 11
|Our journey today takes us along the coast and the Tasman Sea. Climb through rainforests and over Haast Pass to arrive in Queenstown, the 'Adventure Capital of the World.' Upon arrival, enjoy a tour and a tasting at a local [LF] WINERY. Tonight, why not enjoy dinner at one of Queenstown's many restaurants or cafes and sample some of the region's wines? (B)
|Day 12
|Today, enjoy a full day excursion to Milford Sound. Travel into FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. During your CRUISE on the fiord, see cascading waterfalls, wildlife, and experience this pristine natural setting just as early Maori and European explorers did. Return to Queenstown late this evening. (B,L)
|Day 13
|Enjoy a full day at leisure in one of New Zealand's prettiest towns. Tour some of the sights used to film The Lord of the Rings trilogy, shop for souvenirs, or take a thrilling jetboat ride on the Dart River. This evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner. (B,D)
|Day 14
|Today, depart Queenstown and fly to vibrant Sydney for a 3-night stay. (B)
|Day 15
|This morning, enjoy a sightseeing TOUR of the city that includes an Opera House and Harbour Bridge photo stop. Visit to the historic Rocks District, and a visit to stunning BONDI BEACH, considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in Sydney. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Your Local Host will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, dining, and shopping. (B)
|Day 16
|A full day to enjoy more of this beautiful city. You may want to consider an optional trip to the Blue Mountains, a cruise around Sydney Harbour, time to soak up the sun on nearby Manly Beach, or a thrilling climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. (B)
|Day 17
|Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- US$ Price Details
Dates & Prices do not include air travel. Participation in this vacation requires purchase of the following flights from Globus, not included in pricing: (1) roundtrip air from your U.S. gateway and intra-vacation air segments, or (2) intra-vacation air segments only, starting at $537. Required intra-vacation air segments: Wellington/Christchurch; Queenstown/Sydney. Air prices were effective on August 14, 2019, and their availability is limited. At the time you purchase your tour, air prices may be higher. Gratuities for Tour Director, Driver and Local Guides are available for pre-purchase on the base vacation. For vacations that include an extension to the base, pre-paid gratuities only include the base portion. Any additional gratuities would need to be paid on trip. Prices are per person, based on double room occupancy.Single Room Supplement: $1,905 to $2,310Triple Room Reduction per person: $250 to $350Extra Nights per person in Auckland:January-March & October & December: in single room $288; in twin room $162; in triple room $133January 21-29: in single room $373; in twin room $203; in triple room $160April & September: in single room $237; in twin room $137; in triple room $116November: in single room $310; in twin room $173; in triple room $140Extra nights per person in Sydney: January & April, September: in single room $252; in twin room $142; in triple room $120January 24 & 25: in single room $341; in twin room $187; in triple room $150February-March & October-December: in single room $304; in twin room $168; in triple room $1372021 prices and itineraries are subject to change. Details will be available in August 2020.
Travel Terms & Conditions
The purchase of any travel services offered by Globus, constitutes a contractual arrangement between you (the Traveler) and Globus, and represents your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand the Terms & Conditions prior to booking. These Terms & Conditions cover Deposit & Final Payment information, Air-Inclusive Deposits & Final Payment, Revisions & Revision Fees, Air Arrangements, Participation, Travelers Who Need Special Assistance, Young Travelers, Smoking, Price Policy, Visas and Passports, Hotels & Accommodations, Baggage Allowance, Travel Documents, Not Included in the Land Price, Refunds, Service Inquires After the Vacation, Holidays, Safety, Photos & Pictures, Optional Excursions, and Responsibility.
Important Notes
- Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is required for Globus to reserve space for you. View Terms & Conditions for limited exceptions.
- The following charges are not included in the land vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; Intra-vacation air unless specified in the itinerary; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees including the September 11th Security fee up to $11.20 per person, passenger facility charges up to $18 per person, Federal domestic flight segment fees up to $4.00 per segment, and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government-imposed added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; port taxes; passports; visas (except on Cuba programs) and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Globus Group Leader in Cuba, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship's crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted Globus menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature.
Booking your Vacation with Air
For air departure dates within 331 days, you'll be offered a choice of carriers and flight schedules as well as price points to choose from when selecting your flights. Your schedule will be provided to you at the time of booking (schedules are subject to change by carriers). Globus offers 2 air options: Flex Air and Instant Purchase Air. Flex Air allows flexibility if you want to make changes to your vacation schedule. Instant Purchase Air may offer additional airline options but has more restrictions. Some vacations may only offer one Air type option. Guaranteed air-inclusive prices: air is only available to passengers traveling from the United States and only available when booked in conjunction with a land vacation. An additional $300 per person non-refundable air deposit is required for Flex Air booked in conjunction with any land vacation (i.e. air-inclusive vacation). Air can only be booked by Globus in conjunction with a vacation package. Instant Purchase Air requires air payment in full at time of booking (i.e. air-inclusive vacation) plus non-refundable per person service fee ($30 for North/Central America, $50 for Europe/Middle East and $80 for all other destinations. Once booked, Instant Purchase Air is non-refundable, and non-changeable. Some vacations may only offer one Air type option. However, once your airfare is confirmed and Globus has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed.
Air-Inclusive Vacations - Applicable Taxes & Fees
Air-inclusive vacations include government-imposed taxes and fees applicable at the time of booking and will be shown as a Total Amount. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply. At the time of booking your air-inclusive vacation online, carrier Websites will be provided to check baggage fees, or you can visit www.iflybags.com for up-to-date baggage pricing/restrictions. For return travel from some countries, international travelers are required to pay entry and/or exit fees at the airport. These fees will be collected by the local government and are payable by the traveler at time of travel. Your confirmation booking information will contain information about these fees.
* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s) - please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Globus).


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Extend bearing service life with NitroMax
To enable longer bearing service life and reduce the costs associated with downtime, SKF has developed a superior high-nitrogen steel.
NitroMax is a new generation stainless steel with superior corrosion resistance, enhanced fatigue strength and a high degree of impact toughness. This ultra-clean steel, with a high nitrogen content, can extend bearing service life in applications under good (full-film) lubrication conditions. But more importantly, it can significantly extend bearing service life under critical (thin-film) lubrication conditions.
The SKF assortment of super-precision angular contact ball bearings made from NitroMax steel has rolling elements made of ceramic (bearing grade silicon nitride) as standard.
Features and benefits of ceramic rolling elements include:
• Lower density
• Lower friction
• High hardness and high modulus of elasticity
• Low coefficient of thermal expansion.
The combined properties of NitroMax steel rings and ceramic rolling elements greatly improve bearing performance, enabling these bearings to run several times longer than conventional hybrid bearings.
Standard bearings made from NitroMax steel have an integral seal fitted on both sides and are filled with premium grease. The non-contact seals virtually eliminate the problem of premature bearing failures resulting from the ingress of contaminants into the bearing.
And because these seals are non-contacting, they are very effective at containing the grease without compromising the speed capability of the bearings.
Sealed super-precision hybrid bearings made from NitroMax steel are relubrication-free under normal operating conditions.
Bearings without seals are also available.
NitroMax steel also has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion. This enables bearings made from NitroMax steel to better maintain their preload during operation, even at high speeds, which means less heat generated by the bearings and longer grease service life.
The enhanced performance of bearings made from NitroMax steel means that bearing maintenance cycles are extended and machine uptime is increased. The end result: bearings made from NitroMax steel significantly reduce the cost of ownership.
For additional information about NitroMax steel, refer to Materials for bearing rings and rolling elements.


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Lenovo Networking has a large portfolio of data center switches. This catalog provides details on the options available for these switches, including part numbers.
Resource Library » ThinkSystem NE1032T RackSwitch » Lenovo Networking Catalog
Other content in this Stream
Lenovo ThinkSystem NE1032T Datasheet
Lenovo ThinkSystem NE1032T.
Lenovo ThinkSystem NE1032T Product Guide
This product guide provides describes the key features and specifications, components and options, and configuration guidelines for the ThinkSystem NE1032T.
3D Tour: ThinkSystem NE1032T
Take a 3D virtual tour of the ThinkSystem NE1032T.
TBR - Modern Networking Infrastructure is the Next Logical Step in Digital Transformation
"Lenovo's DCG is well positioned to leverage its networking advancements to strengthen its infrastructure portfolio as the foundation of digital transformation for its customers.
SDX Central - 2018 NFV Report Series - NFV Infrastructure (NFVI) and VIM
Lenovo's delivery of robust, secure and performance optimized solutions for NFV workloads satisfies the need to transform infrastructures to support 5G and the IoT.
Cloud Network Operating System Datasheet
Intelligent OS for today and the future
ACG - Research Report on Enterprise Switch TCO
ACG Research finds that operational expenditures using Lenovo's data center switches 24% and 50% lower relative to those of the two leading vendors.
Tolly - Lenovo ThinkSystem RackSwitch Performance and Interoperability Evaluation
Tolly investigates the demanding requirements of edge-of-network topologies and finds that Lenovo switches deliver impressive results.
Data Center Services


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Bookbinder traced the history of the Pale of Jewish Settlement from its creation in 1791 until it was dissolved in 1917. Along the way he discussed the various partitions of Poland and its arrangements with neighboring countries that influenced the movements of Jews through Eastern Europe. He spoke of a deal that was struck between Poland and Lithuania in the 1500s when Lithuania turned over the Ukraine to Poland in exchange for protection. When the Poles took over the area they brought the Polish Jews with them. That is why most of the Ukrainian Jews arrived there after 1569. The earliest synagogues and tombstones date back to that period.
In 1772 there was the first partition of Poland where Russia took what is now eastern Belarus, Austria-Hungary took Galicia and Prussia grabbed the area adjacent to it. Poland continued to exist, but twenty years later there was a second partition when Prussia grabbed Posnan and Russia grabbed the Ukraine and Belarus. Poland continued to exist in some form for two more years until the third partition when they were dismembered in 1795.
Then Napoleon came along and beat Prussia in 1804/05. He defeated the Hapsburgs and added Galicia to his empire and dubbed this region the Grand Duchy of Warsaw. The way most family history researchers see this influence is in the genealogical record keeping. The French used more of a story structure (eg. On such and such a date a male child was born to …) while the Russians used a columnar style.
Now Napoleon met his Waterloo in 1814 and the Russians marched in and took over most of Poland. In Vienna they created Congress Poland and declared a new independent nation of Poland with none other than the Czar of Russia as the King of Poland, independence being a relative term. In the south of Poland, Krakow remained independent from 1815-1847 until Austria-Hungary took it over and it became part of Galicia.
The Poles were a rebellious people and after a few uprisings the Russian czar dissolved Poland in 1871 and reformatted it in the Russian manner into gubernias. This was around the time that Russia began asserting its influence as the Polish records change from the Polish language to Russian in 1868. This movement between Polish and Russian control begins to explain why so many ancestors wrote Russia Poland, Poland or Russia as their place of origin, all during the same period.
With the czar as the new sheriff in town there were a new set of rules for the Jews. Typically there was less freedom of movement except when Russia needed bodies to populate new territories to keep out other countries. In 1791 Jews were restricted from living in the heart of Russia and the official decree creating the Pale came in 1799 from Alexander I.
From 1825-1850 Czar Nicholas was in charge and he instituted the infamous Cantonist laws. Jewish boys of 11 or 12 and sometimes as young as 7 were taken and placed in military schools. When they became 18 they had to serve 25 years as a private in the army. If they converted they got better food and some advancement opportunities. Roman Catholics had a similar, but less onerous conscription rule. In all 70,000 Jewish boys were taken until the law was disbanded in 1856. After that a more normal conscription period of 3 to 4 years was in force, still enough to spur my draft-dodging grandfather to immigrate.
Nicholas restricted Jews from living in Kiev in 1827 and in 1843 expelled them from an area along Prussia and Austria. Interestingly there were petitions from the local people to keep them as they did the commerce in that region.
From 1850-1875 Alexander II was the czar and a more enlightened period began. He ended the Cantonist laws and began to open Russia up to select portions of the population. Jewish merchants who paid taxes were permitted more freedom of movement in 1859. In 1861 this was extended to university grads and physicians. Former military men and certain craftsmen were also granted more freedom.
Alexander II was assassinated in 1881 by anarchists and Jews were blamed. Alexander III was an anti-Semite and encouraged a wave of pograms resulting in many deaths. Jews were forbidden to settle outside the towns. They couldn't own or lease land. Education quotas went into place. Jews couldn't farm land or become doctors or lawyers or engineers. In the early 1890s Jews were expelled from Moscow where many had lived. They could take what they could carry. The 1897 census identified 5 million Jews in the Pale all living under these restrictions and persistent dangers.
Pograms intensified in 1903 with thousands robbed, raped or killed. Finally in 1917 with the fall of the Czar the Pale was eliminated.
During the period from 1881-1914 two million Jews left for the west, mine among them. Bookbinder attributed this to the period of enlightenment of 1850-1875 followed by lack of opportunity, oppression and pograms. Train and steamship travel was faster and relatives and friends who had made the journey encouraged them to come.
Understanding the political context creates new meaning for genealogy research explaining movements of people, changes in documentation and shedding light on some of the cultural impacts that are still felt today. I recall when I was interviewing a Ukrainian immigrant and she told me that you had to perform better than everyone else because the deck was so stacked against you. Those very limitations contributed to the Jewish culture we know today with its focus on achievement and education.


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Commercial, Products, Services
By Staff Writer | August 1, 2012
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Bell Helicopter has received a Part 145 Maintenance Organization Approval from the Ukraine State Aviation Administration (SAA) for its aviation service facility in Prague, Czech Republic. The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) location—which Bell acquired in February 2010—already has EASA Part 145 approval. The Ukraine SAA approval also covers Bell Helicopter's fellow Textron company, Cessna.