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The Fixer / Can Silicon Valley venture capitalist Asim Abdullah turn around the fortunes of beleaguered fashion house Ungaro?
No. 2 rises elegantly on Avenue Montaigne, France's high fashion corridor and home to Christian Dior, Nina Ricci and Christian Lacroix. The showroom of Emanuel Ungaro, for 42 years one of France's venerable fashion houses, occupies the third floor of the stately building. Outside, all is quiet. Inside, the scene is controlled chaos.
It's Wed., Feb. 28, fewer than 24 hours before the runway show at which the house's fall ready-to-wear collection will be unveiled to the international fashion press during Paris Fashion Week. Like a high-tech company guarding its latest products and patents, the showroom, filled with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, beautiful women and flashy clothes, is off-limits to most everyone except designer Peter Dundas and a team of 10 stylists who are racing the clock. Their goal: to ensure that each of the 38 outfits selected from more than 200 to be paraded before 1,200 attendees are a perfect distillation of the collection, as well as flawlessly presented.
The company, too, is in a race against time. It seems to have lost its way since 2004, when Mr. Ungaro retired, and needs to build momentum and sales before its reputation, still strong, loses cachet. The trouble may have started as early as 1996, industry insiders suggest, when the house was sold by Mr. Ungaro to Ferragamo, the footwear maker, and began to grind through high-level executives, and revenues, once topping the $100 million mark, lagged in the low tens of millions.
Then came the latest owner: Asim Abdullah of Atherton, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist who apparently likes fixer-uppers -- or craves the risk. He bought the French fashion house for a reported $84 million in 2005. But can a man who built a fortune in high-tech conquer fashion?
Abdullah thinks he can, by transferring some of the business principles of Silicon Valley to a new domain. He wants the staid fashion house to be more nimble, to update its designs to appeal to a broader, younger market, and to offer more in the way of accessories, such as handbags, shoes and sunglasses.
But unlike the world of high tech, where products are designed by teams of employees lured from competitors for top pay, manufactured as cheaply as possible in developing countries and often obsolete within months, high fashion is created by long-time employees whose techniques are not easily learned. The clothes are made in factories in Italy and the product isn't outdated in six months. Well-dressed women paying $8,000 or more for a single garment select timeless pieces they can keep as collector's items and wear over and over for decades.
Which is to say, some of Silicon Valley's management tactics can be brought to bear on high fashion -- but not all. Abdullah is learning there are differences between Paris and Palo Alto.
"The whole model of Silicon Valley is about creating new businesses and new ventures through superhuman effort. You hire people and you become giant-killers," he says over lunch at the Hotel Costes, one of Paris' grandest. "What Ungaro has taught me is that there are some incredible people who work here, and love it here and want to succeed. It's like a family -- you have to work with them and respect them. It's not about mercenaries."
Even so, he wants a turnaround -- and he wants it fast.
"In Silicon Valley," he notes, "you have to move quickly, or you're dead."
The pressure on Dundas, the Norwegian-American designer, is enormous. He is the house's third women's wear designer in three years, preceded by Giambattista Valli, who designed the ready-to-wear line while Mr. Ungaro was still at the house doing haute couture. After the two had a falling out, Valli left and Ungaro retired. The second ready-to-wear designer since 2004, Vincent Darre, lasted little more than a year.
The expectation is that Dundas will not only help resuscitate the brand, but also restore it to its vaunted status of decades past, when the house -- founded in 1965 by the master couturier known for his expert tailoring, draping techniques, bold colors, and ability to mix kaleidoscopic floral patterns and animal prints -- was mentioned in the same breath as Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel.
To do that, Ungaro (pronounced OON-guh-roe) has to not only modernize in a way that stays true to its roots, but he has to also add enough sizzle so that the apparel will be coveted by socialites and celebrities, as well as thousands of other women ages 20 to 45 who are expanding the ranks of luxury shoppers worldwide.
"We can't just do beautiful clothes; there are lots of beautiful clothes out there," said Mounir Moufarrige, the chief executive officer of Ungaro. "We're selling dreams, through products. Once a customer feels a buzz, that there's something in it for her, she'll buy it."
Mounting a ready-to-wear show is no easy task. With the runway show scheduled for Thursday, March 1, preparations began on Monday, Feb. 26, when the collection arrived from the factory in Italy. It was more than 200 pieces in all, and it was up to the designer and his styling team to distill it to the 38 pieces that would tell the right story on the runway.
The shows are hugely expensive, costing anywhere from $200,000 to $800,000, depending on whether the collection is ready-to-wear (mass manufactured clothes sold in department stores) or haute couture (one-of-a-kind pieces). The show's cost also depends on whether the models are superstars, and whether it will be a subdued affair in a spartan setting or a theatrical extravaganza on the order of Cirque du Soleil.
Video and still photos are shot at each show. The video is used in TV news clips and continuously playing videos in department stores and boutiques the world over. Still photographs of models are put on laminated tags that hang from the clothes at trunk shows to show customers how the garment looks when it's worn.
Wednesday, 3 p.m. It's been a rainy, cold week, with cloud cover creating drab, white light. But with the show set for 2 p.m. the next day, the showroom, the inner sanctum of the fashion house, is a warm and brightly lit hive of activity. Styling team members flit around the models, who arrive one by one for their fittings. Two of the stylists speak only Italian, others speak only French and others only English. Dundas is conversant in all three -- as well as Norwegian, which isn't generally required.
The stylists stand back, wordlessly, arms clasped, or they slouch on couches. The models prance with a clopping horselike gait in front of the mirror, stone-faced, almost angry-looking and silent. The stylists add and remove belts, raise and lower hemlines, and puff up or deflate the capped sleeves of dresses by adding or removing various fabric stuffings. A jacket's two clasps are fastened, and undone, fastened and undone. In the end, they decree that only one clasp will be fastened, to get the right look.
They move on to the collar and fuss over details that seem meaningless.
"Jack, will you put the collar up?" someone suggests. With a flick of the wrist, the limp fabric turns into a surprising architectural funnel. The models will wear their hair long, not tied back, which means in this case that the model's hair splays over the collar, obscuring its effect.
"Will someone tuck her hair in?" a stylist asks. The maneuver changes the look from sloppy to chic, an enormous difference.
Tanya Dziahileva, known as "Tanya D.," a 5-foot-11 Russian beauty all of 15 years old, keeps her parka on. Most of the models keep their jackets on, despite the balmy weather outside and the warmth inside the building.
Tanya D. is thin -- 110 pounds, perhaps. She, like the others, looks like a baby giraffe -- all torso and legs. Her face is gaunt, her eyes almost bulging. (Pictures of starving children come to mind, all forehead and eyes and tiny chins). Her expression is stern and frowning -- until she suddenly breaks out in giggles, delighted by the $20,000 white fox fur coat she is wearing, her smile transforming her from a walking clothes hanger into a fresh-faced teenager for a few fleeting moments.
Meanwhile, downstairs, in the atelier led by Lucia Silva, a half dozen seamstresses -- "the surgeons of couture," as Dundas calls them -- are at work modifying garments that the style team has sent down to be worked on by hand. Most nettlesome is a black dress that hangs above the knee; its tubular hemline bulges like a cardboard canister of refrigerator biscuits. It's the third time it has been sent down for revisions.
"Peter doesn't like it so we're starting again," said seamstress Clare Cousin, disassembling the hem, which had taken another seamstress an entire day to make. "We don't really know what he wants. So this is the third time."
It's an apt description of the state of the fashion house today.
The show March 1 will be Dundas' third collection and third try at bringing the spirit and sensibility of Ungaro back. He's struggling to carve out a new identity for the house, and can't seem to express it clearly. With the multitude of brands and labels competing for attention, fashion editors have limited patience for a fashion house whose message can't be deciphered. Dundas' first two shows were greeted with cautious optimism. Not blockbuster reviews, but not the kiss of death, either.
Suzy Menkes, the doyenne of fashion writers and a frank critic, had this to say in the International Herald Tribune on March 3, 2006:
"Dundas, hoping to be the third-time lucky designer after two flops, did his best to be faithful to the original Emanuel Ungaro spirit. ... But with so much draping creating a taut, short silhouette, Dundas seemed to have started where Ungaro himself stepped down in ready-to-wear and that was six years ago. Fashion moves so fast and there was no sign here of the modest grace that is the leading look of the season. But as the choice of the house's new owner, Dundas should be given a grace period to establish his own look to take the Ungaro label forward."
Six months later, on Oct. 7, 2006, a review by Menkes had more bite:
"Ungaro is trying to bring together and to refresh the essential codes of the house: draping, a pert sophisticated sexiness, all put together with superb craftsmanship.
The first exits, working on Ungaro's fascination with drapes, were not too bad in their gaudy way. But as the brief, tight dresses and skinny pants with snug jackets walked the runway, it became clear that this collection was not reaching down to the soul of Ungaro but creating a caricature of what the brand stands or stood for."
Certainly no breakthrough for Dundas. Not yet. The fashion house owner wasn't particularly worried. Not yet. Abdullah, whose fortune was made from the painstaking work of writing computer codes, knew that persistence pays.
It's almost comical now to look back at news reports from 1996 proclaiming that some day in the future, people would be able to conduct financial transactions over the Internet. Abdullah, 42, was one of the people who made it possible. An electrical and computer engineer with a master's degree from Stanford, Abdullah worked at Rolm and Taligent before becoming executive director at CommerceNet in Palo Alto, a leading consortium that promoted the development of e-commerce software.
He made his fortune from high-tech investments, notably from the sale of his company Veo Systems to Commerce One, a business-to-business Internet software firm. The initial public offering left him wealthy enough to buy a $15 million house in Pebble Beach designed by Clarence Tantau (which burned to the ground in an arson fire in 2002), as well as homes in Atherton and San Francisco. He had enough left over to dabble in venture capital and, finally, to buy a French fashion house.
He and his wife, a physician and kidney specialist who volunteers at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, have two children. They are also philanthropists, contributing to the Asian Art Museum, the Human Development Foundation of Northern California and hospitals in their native Pakistan.
But how did the high-tech entrepreneur more familiar with pocket protectors, khakis and dress-down Fridays end up at the helm of a frilly fashion firm?
"I had been and have been fascinated by consumer luxury brands like Hermes and Ferrari and what it takes to develop those brands, and -- more importantly -- what it takes to maintain them and grow them in marketing to consumers," he explains. "The fashion thing was not a planned event. It was an opportunity I came across. And even though I knew very little of it, I knew with a brand like Ungaro I could refurbish it and that I'd be able to do other things as well. It gives me a platform to build upon. I'm very committed to this business, but I see it as a stepping stone to other things."
And, he admits, "To tell the truth, I was getting a little bored with technology. It wasn't enough for me. We went with through such a high with the dot-com revolution. ... When you get done with that roller coaster and you're asked to ride the bunny train, it's not that fun. Fashion is very stimulating. I'm learning again. I love to feel I'm working my way through a whole new challenge."
His timing appears to be good. The worldwide luxury market is estimated to be worth $200 billion, and is expected to grow by 10 percent in 2007, according to Pierre Mallevays, managing director of Savigny Partners LLP, a corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions firm in London.
"At the top end, demand for high luxury is fueled by an ever-increasing number of 'überrich' consumers looking for things authentic and exclusive, while the wider 'aspirational brands' segment will continue to benefit from a large and established customer base in the West and the emergence of a fast growing middle class in the East," Mallevays said via e-mail. "Ungaro is one of those truly great brands that have been reduced to shambles. It definitely has the pedigree and the potential to re-establish itself up the luxury ladder; it depends whether its new owners will manage it for the long term or for the short term."
Abdullah says he'd like to see a turnaround within five years. Moufarrige, whom Abdullah brought on as Chief Executive Officer, is also a limited partner in the fashion house, and is not content with that time frame.
"My horizon isn't five years," he says with the measured smile of someone who is sure of himself, and accustomed to ruling with a tight fist. "The market doesn't wait five years."
Wednesday, 4 p.m. While the flurry of activity continues upstairs with Dundas, the models and the style team, Isha Abdullah flies in from California and arrives at the Ungaro flagship store, which is located on the street level of the same building on Avenue Montaigne. She considers herself an unofficial "brand ambassador" and shops for something to wear at the runway show.
Discreetly placed around the store are framed photos of celebrities who have worn Ungaro in the past: Nicole Kidman, Elizabeth Hurley, Julianne Moore, Uma Thurman, Penelope Cruz -- but none, yet, of the Pussycat Dolls, who wore Ungaro to the Grammys, or Eva Longoria, who bought her own Ungaro dress for the Golden Globes.
The bright spring collection, shown on the catwalk in October, with a dress Isha has already picked to wear, has not yet arrived in the stores. She browses and then heads up to the showroom to observe the design team at work on the models. Neither she nor her husband has any real influence on the colors, hemlines or designs of the clothing, but their opinions are treated with respect
Hearing of her clothing predicament, a stylist pulls out a fur coat and several dresses, including a black mini with a large print that features big lipstick kisses across the torso. Moufarrige and Abdullah maintain that the Ungaro woman is sexy, but never vulgar, and that the house's signature garment is a "mistress dress." The paramour concept does not sit well with Isha Abdullah.
"Well ... " she says, trying for diplomacy. "The lips are not me."
"You're covered with kisses," Dundas offers, trying to convince.
When the mistress concept is mentioned, she shakes her head and says, "I'm talking to my husband about that one."
"A wife can't be a mistress?" asks Dundas, teasing, with a smile. "It's a state of mind."
In the end, Isha settles on a little black dress, having it hemmed to fit her petite frame.
Wednesday, 5 p.m. It's not just the designer who's racing the clock. The public relations team is under fire, too.
Last season's fashions have been pushed on rolling racks from the showroom, where the models are being fitted, into the PR offices to make way for the new collection. As a result, employees can hardly see one another over the hundreds of ruffled blouses and flouncy dresses on hangers.
A 3-foot-long map of an auditorium is spread across a desk -- and each of the 1,200 seats has a name penciled in. It's the granddaddy of all seating charts, and it has taken two weeks to complete.
At any fashion show, the first two rows are always reserved for the powerhouse publications with international influence -- the International Herald Tribune, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, to name a few.
But the phones have been ringing for days now, and e-mails are coming in fast and furious. Like socialites who want to sit at the center table at a dinner on gala night, the reporters from lesser publications are jockeying for position. To some, even the fourth row is akin to Siberia.
A French media representative demands front row, to no avail. A Norwegian journalist tries to cajole a seat because Dundas, after all, is a countryman, but it's standing room only. A reporter from a German fashion magazine says she won't be attending because she doesn't like her seat. If it's a bluff, it doesn't work.
"What am I going to do? I can't kill Suzy Menkes," says communications director Philippe Angelotti. Menkes always merits a front-row seat.
Wednesday, 6 p.m. Amid the chaos, Moufarrige takes time to explain the Ungaro strategy. A Londoner of Lebanese descent with a flair for natty attire, he is an old industry hand at marketing savvy. He is the one, company officials say, who replaced Karl Lagerfeld in his final stint at Chloe with British celebrity designer Stella McCartney, to great success. (Lagerfeld was designing for Chanel, Chloe and his namesake line at the time.) Moufarrige took Dunhill from tobacco to leather goods, and also created stand-alone Mont Blanc pen stores, even though company officials told him it would never work.
Ungaro, which discontinued its costly haute couture line several years ago, will -- like many fashion houses these days -- try to turn its fortunes around by taking its women's ready-to-wear in a more youthful direction, in response to the luxury market's changing demographics.
Several decades ago, women were considered old when they hit 40. That was before the advent of health clubs, Botox, liposuction and guilt-free cosmetic surgery. Today's older woman is interested in style. At the other end of the spectrum are teenagers with increasingly sophisticated tastes who are demanding name brands they've seen on celebrities in magazines, and on TV and the Internet.
"Today's 65-year-old woman and 25-year-old woman can slip into the same dress," maintains Moufarrige, "and often they do."
Unlike fast food chains, which sell bigger, more expensive portions to continue to make money off the same customers, the luxury market is expanding, he said, from bottom to top.
"It's not old people buying more. It's new people buying for the first time," Moufarrige said. "If we don't try and look ahead and understand our market to address it, we shouldn't be in this business."
But is Dundas capable of super-charging Ungaro, of turning it into a giant-killer?
The low-key 41-year-old looks like a cross between a rock star and a surfer. The son of a cardiac surgeon, Dundas came to the United States at age 11 to live with an aunt in South Bend, Ind., after his mother, a pianist, died. He played hockey in high school, and for college, went to New York, to Parsons School of Design.
His interest in design dates in part from his childhood acting on the stage in Norway -- and from playing with his father's 1920s clothes. Dundas remembers finding them in an old trunk in the attic, and being fascinated with the removable collars and cuffs on the shirts.
After design school, he moved to Europe, and spent eight years at Jean Paul Gaultier before leaving for Christian Lacroix and then Roberto Cavalli, always an understudy -- until he won the starring role at Ungaro.
There, he is learning what every designer must know: that creating entire collections is about more than making fantasy gowns for red carpet starlets. There's the whole line to think about, including daywear, which generates more revenue with $2,000 price tags, the top end of the impulse purchase price range.
Fashion industry insiders have knocked Dundas for being too referential to the archives, lacking the tailoring skills of Ungaro himself and of dumbing down the aesthetic. But Dundas sees it differently.
"I see the Ungaro woman as a woman who's much more sensual than the other houses, who is slightly more dangerous, smoky, a bit unpredictable," he said. "I'm finding new coats, changing the fabrics, which were traditionally chiffon and satin, and going for new treatments of fabrics that young people could identify with."
And he's trying to block out worries about what the critics will say.
"History has proved again and again in fashion that if you do what you do with conviction, and do it well, people will come around," he said. "When you're sketching and your head starts dancing, that's the best. Working with the fabric, seeing what it can do, the fittings, the final sprint before the collection -- it's like Christmas."
It's also about getting the clothes fitted in time. At least one of the models has missed her appointment and will have to come in just under the wire tomorrow morning, hours before the show.
Thursday, 12:30 a.m. Most of Avenue Montaigne is dark. But the lights at the atelier are burning bright. So, too, at the bar at the Hotel Plaza Athenee. Abdullah, who met for dinner with Pakistani dignitaries, relaxes with friends. His wife went to bed early. He turns in when the bar closes at 2 a.m.
Thursday, 3 a.m. The design team calls it quits and goes home. Dundas falls into bed an hour later.
At fashion week shows, spectators are crammed into small chairs or onto bleachers with no cushions, craning their necks to see any VIPS who might walk by at any given moment. They're not hard to miss because they're the ones followed around by TV cameras with lights, and reporters begging for quotes.
No one gets in without a formal invitation, typically a large card on heavy, colorful stock, with the fashion house logo and the guest's name and seat number written in calligraphy. The invitations are waved in front of the doormen to gain entry, leaving the cardless in the dust. The Academy Awards in Los Angeles coincides with fashion week this year, so many Hollywood stars are absent from the Paris shows. That doesn't stop photographers from swarming around anyone thin, tall and dressed in the style of the moment, on the theory that she might, after all, be someone important.
Months of labor come down to minutes -- about 15 minutes, the amount of time it takes anywhere from 38 to 60 models to walk up and down a runway. The designer comes out onstage to take a bow, and when the lights come up, the audience bolts in less than five minutes to meet their hired drivers, find a taxi stand or catch the Metro to the next show.
To the uninitiated, a fashion show is a mysterious, if not baffling, thing. Clothes that look completely unwearable or downright bizarre are pronounced "fabulous," while outfits that everyday people would love to wear are considered mundane and therefore unworthy of attention on the runway.
In a March 2 review, Robin Givhan, the Washington Post's Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion editor, sniffed at John Galliano's Hollywood-style luxurious and romantic offerings at Dior that many women would covet. She lauded Nicholas Ghesquieres's designs for Balenciaga -- Asian and Middle Eastern-inspired patterns topped with prep school jackets -- which she considered groundbreaking, for the following reasons:
"A designer's influence isn't necessarily measured by the number of socialites he caters to or the gowns he gets on the red carpet. Instead, the true determination of today's fashion influence is how the designer alters the way the average woman dresses. For instance, whose handbag has she been lusting after in recent seasons. (Balenciaga, yes. Dior, no.) What has Dior done for the communal aesthetic lately?
"Who has never seen a prep school blazer? Or the print on an inexpensive bandana? But Ghesquiere weaves them into something entirely new -- not a new philosophy, but a new garment. He is not offering up a high concept from which the audience must extrapolate a reality. He does the most fundamental thing that a designer is supposed to do: Offer alternative ways of thinking about attire."
Thursday March 1, 12:30 p.m. Inside the tent erected behind the Trocadero, where the Ungaro show is to occur, the scene is a palette in black: black carpeted bleachers, a long black runway made of glossy tiles, black tenting. The only lights overhead are twinkling and meant to represent stars.
The show's theme is The Nightbird, influenced by Dundas' nightclubbing experiences in London. It's the Ungaro woman going out into the night, dancing in the city metropolis, in light mini-dresses, with chubby Swarovski crystal-beaded coats (for a mere $36,000) to protect against the elements.
The public relations team is scrambling to put place cards at each of the 1,000 or so seats. Some, up near the rafters, are for a cheering section of friends from San Francisco. They include the Abdullahs' interior designer, David Kensington; Nob Hill real estate agent Joel Goodrich; Silicon Valley real estate investor Mark Calvano; Merck & Co. health science associate Afsaneh Akhtari of Woodside; and Fariba Rezvani, president of Linkore LLC, a venture catalyst fund in Foster City.
Backstage, three dozen makeup artists and hairstylists are at their stations, turning the models' faces into pale palettes with eyes streaked in a blue-gray teal. With their delicate angular faces, and strong brow ridges, they look like Cro-Magnons and fairies at the same time.
Tanya D. is one of them. Because she's a minor, she's allowed to work in eight or nine shows only, she says. "I'm choosing the best shows with beautiful clothes to present myself as a model," she says, which, considering her demographic, should be music to Moufarrige's ears. "The collection is fantastic and beautiful, every work he's done."
Those who aren't dressed yet are goofing around the way teenagers do. Snejana Onopka and Maryna Linchuk are lying on the ground, in an out-of-the-way place, flipping through pictures on a digital camera, smiling.
Dundas, whose right front jeans pocket serves as a pin cushion, clipped with a half dozen safety pins for emergency use, is fussing with a glittery gold gown, trying to get more lift in the shoulders. The model is sent off to the seamstress.
A glittery ski jacket still doesn't look right. "Try it open," a stylist says, but the zipper won't work. The hem of the jacket is too puffy and the wrong shape; it is being pinned to reduce its volume and to make its tail less rounded and more oval. Someone else rolls a lint brush, removing imperceptible lint from a model's skirt.
Thursday, 2 p.m. Unlike the head-turning attention generated at the Dior show by the entrance of billionaire owner Bernard Arnault, the Abdullahs walk in with little fanfare. It's an improvement over last season, when Isha arrived early but couldn't get in, because the doorman didn't recognize her.
Thursday, 2:52 p.m. Nearly an hour past the scheduled starting time, the lights dim, the crescendo of conversation dwindles to silence. Music blares, the lights go up. The show finally begins.
Thirty-eight looks trot down the runway, in deep blues, purples and reds, as well as black, silver and gold, and a few prints with patterns that harken back to the Ungaro archives. The first look out of the gate is a black belted funnel neck jacket with blousy sleeves over tight leggings and high heels, followed by more jackets with funnel necks, a few blazers with pants, and then mini-dresses aplenty, beaded, with asymmetric necklines, with flouncy hems, and in jersey with draping. To close the show there's a flowing white chiffon full-length gown. Editors watch, stony-faced and silent, scribbling furiously on their note pads. Only when all the models return to the stage to parade at the end, and Dundas takes a bashful bow, does anyone applaud. Twelve minutes after it started, it's over.
Thursday, 11 p.m. The entire fashion house -- the Abdullahs and Moufarrige included -- celebrates at Neo nightclub on rue Ponthieu, one of Paris' hottest dance clubs. The runway video plays endlessly on TV screens while music thumps; Pommery champagne flows like the Seine, until the supply runs out at 3:30 a.m., and bottles of Budweiser are served instead. The Abdullahs party with everyone except Dundas, who is home asleep. At 4 a.m., the party winds down, and the Abdullahs retire, bracing for the morning's reviews.
Mincing few words, Menkes' review March 2 in the International Herald Tribune is the harshest in the mix:
"In a glitter gulch of references to having fun at night, the Emanuel Ungaro collection Thursday focused on a star whose light never seems to dim: the disco diva.
For flash, pizzazz and razzmatazz, Dundas is doing something to breathe life into Ungaro, which has not suffered the fate of famous Paris houses that just seem to wither away. Dundas showed his cutting skills with high-waisted pants creating a lean silhouette. But his glitter dresses baring the back or a scarlet calf-length cardigan, like a caricature of bordello wear in the red light district, were only just this side of vulgar. And how many glam-puss luxury customers are there out there for these kind of dresses for dancing queens?"
Abdullah, accustomed to setbacks in the high-tech world, takes it in stride. "The reviews, whether positive or less positive, have to be respected because we have learned from them," he says a week after the show, back at home in Atherton. "Peter was going for an impact, trying to make a high-energy showing. When you try to take a risky road, you risk alienating some folks."
The department store buyers had come in during the week after the show to see the entire collection, not just the 15 percent on the runway, and liked what they saw. But there is work to be done, Abdullah acknowledges.
"From this particular show, the one message that comes across is we've got to have a much clearer identity vis a vis this designer, and where we are headed with Ungaro. An identity is important for the brand. As Mounir said, anyone can do beautiful clothes. To have the identity and message articulated through the clothes is important."
Moufarrige contends that reviews aren't everything. After all, a Hollywood film can be panned by the critics and be a hit at the box office. Ungaro fashions are slowly being embraced by stylists in the magazine industry -- given prominent display in fashion spreads in publications from Tatler to the New York Times Magazine to Harper's Bazaar.
And if customers in San Francisco are any indication, things may actually be looking up for Ungaro. Neiman Marcus, which stopped carrying the line for a season, concerned about its drift, reinstated Ungaro in its San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston stores. To kick off the spring collection, a runway show and cocktail party were hosted in each city, to introduce well-heeled customers to Dundas, who attended personally.
At the Union Square store in late March, more than 100 guests -- including lapsed devotees wearing vintage Ungaro frocks -- oohed over the brightly colored spring collection, themed around butterflies, which premiered in Paris last October. But noticeably absent were young A-list society mavens whose names guarantee high-profile coverage in national fashion publications -- Melanie Ellison, Victoria and Vanessa Traina and Vanessa Getty, for example.
While several more mature customers opted for longer, flowing gowns with ample coverage, Amber Marie Bently, 27, co-owner of the trendy Kamalaspa on Union Square, was the living answer to Menkes' question about minis, and proof of Moufarrige's assertions about market demographics.
Bently ordered a beaded mini with dragonfly motif for $11,000, and a full-length chiffon gown in bright grasshopper green for $10,000, as her husband looked on with approval.
She is comfortable with color and likes to be noticed, and therefore plans to wear them "anywhere," she said. "They're so out there, so sexy, not like the black dresses you see everywhere."
Abdullah can only hope there are thousands more Bentlys out there.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
EACH LIFE needs it's own QUIET place
I was surprised by how much this little statement affected me and I started to wonder about my own quiet place. I do enjoy ME time for sure, I think most of us do. But a Quiet Place, I'm not sure I have one of those.
Quiet Place: For starters I have very bad tinnitus so quiet isn't something I EVER EXPERIENCE. However, the only way I can deal with that is to ignore it, so that's what I do.
I checked out google images of 'quiet place'. Pretty, tranquil pictures emerged and I would love to have been in any one of them.
Then I spied this – how cute.
"One sunny day a child named Grace was looking for a QUIET PLACE" – I think that is me.
But this is more likely:
Pyjames, mug of tea, and a good read = HAPPY QUIET PLACE. Do you have a Quiet Place, what does it mean to you?
Happy Quiet Place Day.


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Stacken Workday
Today Karin and I visited Stacken to help participate in their workday (held regularly throughout the year to take care of major house cleaning and maintenance). It was a wonderful and fun way to meet more Stacken members and get our hands dirty! I helped out in the kitchen in the morning (chopping lots of veggies for a tasty, warm midday meal) and together Karin and I raked leaves in the afternoon. At the end of the day, we collected everyone during an informal fika to share the results of an "Urban Farming" project we had just completed for our course, in which we explored the possibility of Stacken becoming self-sustainable with a greenhouse, vertical facade plants, greywater recycling, and much much more! Check out our posters in the Stacken dining room to see all our crazy (green) ideas!


text:
Code Enforcement Continuing Education Provider Approval
On this page:
Requirements for Approval
A commercial education business can offer continuing education for registered code enforcement officers or officers in training if they have been approved by the department.
To obtain approval, submit a completed Commercial Education Business Continuing Education Provider Application Form (PDF).
Non-Profit Providers and Municipal Code Enforcement agencies may be listed on this website by submitting a request to email@example.com.
Curriculum Requirements
Continuing education providers are required to provide courses based on relevant subject matters to keep registered code enforcement officers knowledgeable of current research, techniques, resources to improve skills, significant educational content and practical content to maintain competency.
Continuing education activities provided by an approved provider will be accepted if one of the following subjects is covered:
- Zoning and zoning ordinance enforcement
- Sign regulations
- Home occupations
- Housing codes and ordinances
- Building abatement
- Nuisance violations
- Abandoned vehicles
- Junk vehicles
- Health ordinances
- Basic processes of law related to code enforcement
- Professional, supervisory, or management training related to the profession of code enforcement
- Legislative or legal updates related to the profession of code enforcement
- Approved courses offered by another professional regulatory agency in the State of Texas which is acceptable continuing education for registration renewal
Courses must be at least 50 minutes in length of actual instruction time.
Providers must ensure that all continuing education instructors have the required credentials and knowledge to impart the educational information.
Record Keeping Requirements
Providers are required to keep documentation of continuing education activity for five years which includes a roster of participants and copies of program materials to sufficiently demonstrate compliance with the administrative rules of the code enforcement program. Providers must have procedures to verify participant attendance.
Issuance of Certificates
At the conclusion of all continuing education activities, you must provide certificates displaying:
- Names of participants
- Dates
- Location of activity
- Continuing education hours earned
- Name of the provider
- Course title
- Subjects included in course material
The certificate shall include a breakdown of the hours earned on each topic.


text:
Download Ubuntu Free For Laptop, PC
LicenseOpen Source
Initial release dateOctober 20, 2004
DeveloperCanonical Ltd
Programming languagesPython, Java, C, C++, C#
OS familyLinux
assist your existing laptop or PC documents, printer, camera, music player & mobile phone . Download Ubuntu free for PC includes thousands of free of charge apps. It helps you to Maintain your system reinforced/infrastructure with sereneness patches.
Download Ubuntu For Laptop Details:
Download Ubuntu free for PC is a society/community produced, Linux-based functioning program that is certainly perfect for notebooks, laptops, personal computers and servers. This includes each of the apps you will need, an internet browser, display, document and spreadsheet application, instant messaging and various other apps.
You are able to surf in security with Download Ubuntu Free, confident that your documents will stay secured. A integrated firewall and virus protection are obtainable. if potential danger shows up its offer automated updates that you can set up in one click. You get added protection with AppArmor, which protects/shields the essential applications so assailants/attackers can't gain access/use to your system. And thanks to Firfox and gnome-keyring, Ubuntu can help you keep your personal info exclusive.So if it's being able to access your bank account or sharing delicate/sensitive info with friends or co-workers, you will have peace of mind at any given time the most.
Download Ubuntu for PC works superbly with a wide range of devices. Just plug in the MP3 player, video camera or printing device/printer and you will be up and running immediately. No set up CDs. No fuss. And it's suitable with microsoft windows too! So that you can open, modify and share Ms office files stress-free.
Fast and Looks great on the latest devices:
Ubuntu runs/loads quickly on any PC, yet it's super-fast on latest machines. Without unneeded applications and trial software program decreasing points straight down, booting up and starting an internet browser takes seconds. In unlike to additional OS that leave you looking in the display/screen, waiting to obtain on-line. And Downlaod Ubuntu free will not develop slow over time. It is fast. And it stays fast.
Easy to access:
Ease of access is the central to the Ubuntu. We consider that processing is for everybody regardless of nationality, race, gender or impairment. Fully converted/translated into more than 40 dialects, Ubuntu also includes important assistive systems, which are completely free.
Cloud computing:
Ubuntu offers Ubuntu Cloud Pictures which are pre-installed disk IMG that have been personalized simply by Ubuntu engineering to operate on cloud-platforms such as Amazon. com EC2, OpenStack, Microsoft azure and LXC. Ubuntu is usually common on VIRTUAL PRIVATE SERVER systems/platforms including DigitalOcean. Ubuntu 11. '04 added support for OpenStack, with Eucalyptus to OpenStack migration equipment added by simply Canonical in Ubuntu server 11. 10.
Ubuntu eleven.10 added focus on OpenStack as the Ubuntu's favored/preferred IaaS providing though Eucalyptus is also backed/supported. Another main focus is definitely Canonical Juju for provisioning, deploying, hosting, managing, and orchestrating business data middle infrastructure solutions, by, with, and for the Ubuntu Storage space.
Hardware vendor support:
Ubuntu works with Oes to collectively/joint make Ubuntu available on an wide range of devices. Numerous vendors provide computers with Ubuntu pre-installed, including Dell, Hasee, sharp Corporation, and Cirrus7. Particularly, Dell provides the XPS 13 laptop computer, develop Programmer/edition Release with Ubuntu pre-installed. Together, Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Acer offer more than two hundred personal pc and over four hundred laptop Personal computers preloaded with Ubuntu.
Download Ubuntu Free For Laptop/PC System Requirements:
- 2 GHz dual core cpu or better
- 4 GIGABYTE system storage
- 25 GIG of free hard disk space
- Either a DIGITAL VIDEO DISC travel or perhaps a great USB interface for the installer mass media
- Internet get is helpful
Ubuntu Features:
- Automatic security revisions
- Defence against viruses
- Anti-phishing
- File secureness
- Password security
- Built with security at heart.
Try Befoe Installing:
The Ubuntu Studio room ISO is actually a live image. Which means you can boot it and use all of the default applications without in fact installing this. Just burn off a DVD AND BLU-RAY, or produce a bootable USB (universa serial bus) stick and try that out.


text:
Relations with Russia are crucial for Kazakhstan, the country's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in an interview with Euronews.
"My principled position is that Russia is absolutely crucial for Kazakhstan as it is a large neighboring country, which is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council," he said when asked why he had made his first foreign visit as Kazakhstan's president to Russia. "However, without Kazakhstan, Russia would be somewhat different," Tokayev is quoted as saying by TASS.
The Kazakh president pointed out that the land border between the two countries was the longest in the world.
"We held very good and substantive talks in Moscow. We signed joint statements. The Russian president did not put forward any demands, as you have put it, concerning guarantees or anything like that, because we have a common understanding of the need to boost cooperation," Tokayev noted in response to the question if Russian President Vladimir Putin had demanded he provide any guarantees or make any obligations


text:
Any professional needs to understand the world and society in order to be a contributing member. The versatile Great Ideas degree gives students extensive skills in communication, reasoning and critical thinking. This appeals to employers who are looking for a generalist — someone who has a proven ability to think in different areas and investigate his or her environment.
Great Ideas graduates can continue into applied studies, or pursue careers in:
- Communications
- Media
- Advertising
- Marketing
- Public Service
- Law
- Journalism
- Business
- Government
- Non-profit Foundation Work
- Labor Relations Specialist
- Women's Rights Advocate
- Fundraising/Development


text:
Firefighter Resume Samples
A firefighter may work in a variety of capacities. Some work as volunteers for local departments, while others work as government employers. No matter what capacity you work in as a firefighter, finding new employment will require a well-written firefighter resume that clearly demonstrates your training and core competencies. Potential employers will also want to see that you have experience working as part of a team, in both the field and the firehouse. This article provides two firefighter resume examples that you can download.
Firefighter Resume Samples
Firefighter Resume Sample 1
Anthony Barnes
11 W. Center Street, Salem, Oregon, 18964
A. Summary
Firefighter possessing 10 years of firefighting and emergency care experience. Executed quick-thinking during missions, and remained calm while under pressure. Provided aid to citizens in need of emergency rescue after building fires, vehicle accidents, and natural disasters. Assessed situations rapidly, and responded accordingly with effective solutions. Collaborated with fellow firefighters in a team-based environment to minimize escalations.
B. Working Experience
February/2010 – August/2017 – Fire and Medical Services – Salem, Oregon
- Contained, controlled, and extinguished fires
- Assessed trauma victims' injuries and adverse reactions to smoke inhalation
- Administered first aid, and provided artificial respiration
- Maintained and updated knowledge of protocols regarding safety, firefighting, treatment, response, and quality assurance
- Performed duties as site leader, and supervised 10 other responders
- Commanded Salem's village drill, which involved two other jurisdictions, and more than 100 firefighters
- Led training exercises designed to improve family emergency preparation
May/2007 – February/2010 – Eugene Fire Department – Eugene, Oregon
- Responded to variety of fires: vehicle, home, forest, and commercial
- Assessed potential injuries to determine whether they were life threatening, in order to take immediate action
- Maintained upkeep and operation of emergency vehicles
- Assisted with maintenance of firehouse equipment
- Coordinated "Fire Safety" public school programs
- Led training of volunteer firefighters
- Responsible for training and evaluations of volunteer firefighters
C. Education and Academic Training
Emergency Medical Technology Certification (EMT), Portland Community College, Portland, Oregon, 2007
State Firefighter Certification, Firefighter Training Academy, Salem, Oregon, 2006
Carver High School, Eugene, Oregon, 2005
D. Job Related Skills
- Vehicle extraction
- HAZMAT training
- Rapid Intervention Team (RIT)
- Fire prevention expertise
- Medical terminology knowledge
E. General Skills
- Fluent in Spanish, French, and English
- Demonstrated ability to be a leader
- Able to plan strategically
Click below to download your free firefighter resume Word and PDF sample
Firefighter Resume Sample 2
Elizabeth Anders
458 Titan Avenue, Lafayette, Indiana, 78945
A. Summary
Eleven years of experience working in progressively responsible positions. Extensive background in development, training, and leadership of fellow firefighters. Managed budgeting, resource management, and personnel affairs. Developed public safety, emergency response, and training programs. Solid history of accuracy, teamwork, rapid decision-making, and devotion to public education and service.
B. Working Experience
June/2014 – August/2017 – Lafayette Fire Rescue – Lafayette, Indiana
- Exercised diplomacy and compassion while responding to citizen's concerns about the fire department
- Prevented casualties following flooding and accompanying fires during tornado season of 2015
- Worked with fellow firefighters to assess damage and gain containment during emergency situations
- Combated domestic, commercial, chemical, vehicular, and brush fires
- Won Service Award given by Lafayette City Council,2017
- Awarded Person of the Year for hours of voluntary community service, 2015-2016
- Rewrote department's training manual for new volunteers
- Consistently achieved 100% compliance in emergency response situations
July/2006 – June/2014 – West Lafayette Fire Rescue – West Lafayette, Indiana
- Controlled and contained fires to prevent growth
- Inspected schools and public buildings to ensure they were compliant with safety regulations
- Provided first aid to any victim in need of assistance
- Educated school children and families about the need for fire safety
- Promoted rapidly from lieutenant to captain
- Supervised staff of 20 volunteer and paid firefighters
- Oversaw enforcement of policy and procedures
- Revamped firefighter employee evaluation program by targeting areas of strengths and weaknesses, and promoting growth in measurable areas of improvement
C. Education and Academic Training
CPR and First Aid Certifications, Brayn Community College, Lafayette, Indiana, Renewed 2015
Fire Services Instructor Certification, Brayn Community College, Lafayette, Indiana, 2010
Fire Science Training Program, Indiana State University, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2006
Harding High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2005
D. Job Related Skills
- Chemical fire containment
- Incident Command System (ICS)
- Confined space rescues
- Brush fire containment
E. General Skills
- Fluent in medical terminology
- Adept at thinking quickly and coming up with rapid solutions
- Concerned with safety
- Resourceful and analytical
- Detail-oriented
Click below to download your free firefighter resume Word and PDF sample
For firefighters, hands-on training and experience are the keys to getting a job. Don't bypass any opportunity to show off your skills, training, and experience as a firefighter. If you have volunteer experience, definitely include that on your firefighter resume, as it demonstrates your devotion to the field, even if you are applying for a paid position. While these are our tried and true tips, feel free to share any resume tips you might have for firefighters searching for potential work.
Recommended read: Firefighter Cover Letter Samples


text: Moderate rains with one or two heavy spells are expected over West Bengal, and Tripura. Scattered light to moderate rains may be seen over Interior Tamil Nadu, Kerala, South Karnataka, Coastal Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Rain intensity will reduce over rest of Northeast India. Isolated rains may also occur over North Interior Karnataka and adjoining South Maharashtra. Weather of Northwest India will remain dry but isolated thunderstorm activity cannot be ruled out. Heatwave will continue over Vidarbha. Isolated pockets of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh may also come under the grip of heatwave conditions. Hot and sunny conditions are likely over Delhi. Mumbai will witness a warm day with sultry afternoon. Kolkata will observe a warm and humid day with chances of thundershowers. Bengaluru will observe cloudy to partly cloudy sky with chances of rain and thundershowers. A warm and humid day is likely over Chennai with partly cloudy sky. Hyderabad will witness a very hot day and partly cloudy sky along with chances of thunderstorm.


text:
Parsing page content plug-in for Microsoft Threat Management Gateway (TMG)
Bütçe $100-500 USD
Our project involves development of a plug-in for TMG platform that will parse google results content sent to the end user's web browser, and modify it to display graphics icon next to each result shown. This project is intended for developers familiar with Microsoft TMG platform (previously ISA).
## Deliverables
The objective is to develop a plug-in for Microsoft Threat Management Gateway that modifies the output of Google search page results to the web browser. For every search result displayed for any search, it should do the following:
1) parse each result's URL on the fly (and write it to a log file to prove it was extracted, commenting in the code clearly where it is being done). The writing out of the parsed URL should happen before any modification of the page as explained in the next step.
2) display a an icon next to each result as well as each sponsored link. Code the plug-in to show random one out of 3 sample images and indicate this section clearly in the code (We will later add our custom logic later to programmatically determine which icon will be added. The sample images should be simply green, yellow and red icons).
3) randomly disable some the results based on custom logic (the logic to decide which results should be disabled will be later coded in by us later based on the URL criteria). Attached screenshot shows an example (the black results is one of the results that should be disabled, ie it must not be clickable)
The plug-in code must not otherwise interfere with normal multi-user web proxy access though the Microsoft Threat Management gateway server, it must only parse google search results and not other pages.
TMG evaluation is available for download.
This project involves only development of a plug-in for TMG: it does not involve development of any plug-in for any web browser etc.
Please note that the project must be completed within 48 hours of winning the bid.
The plug-in should be developed in VC++


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Before we know it the Gold Quill season will be upon us again – and only just earlier today the UK chapter hosted Gold Quill and EMErald winners Gideon Bernto and Mark Birch of BB&A fame with Lindsay Eynon chairing.
Mark and Gideo presented the award-winning work they did with Anne McCormack on a major safety initiative for Anglo American – and it was clear why they netted an award – from planning through execution to the impressive results, this was a solid piece of work indeed.
Now for something like this we'd normally have Neil Griffiths on hand for expert commentary on the wider Gold Quill (and EMErald) process. He co-ordinated the 2011 judging and is professional development lead for Europe & Middle East for 2011-12 … but being a jet-setter, he had a plane to Montréal to catch – yet just prior to boarding I grabbed a quick few minutes with him to get my facts straight around Gold Quill.
Here's the Q&A:
Gold Quill – What is it?
In short, it's IABC's annual awards of excellence for professional communication – so recognition of peers by peers, as all entries are evaluated & critiqued by communicators.
What's involved?
Essentially, communicators submit their best work from the previous year into one of 27 categories (from writing to social media, from internal comms to strategic comms planning). They create a work plan that details the goal, objectives, tactics and evaluation for the project and then illustrate what they did by including a work sample. The idea is to show how using strategic communication made the difference for a particular organization in the context of the project. The GQ section on iabc.com/gq has great information about the submission requirements (ignore the outdated content).
Then your entry is evaluated by a first panel of judges. In the EME region, it's a panel of senior communicators (ABCs, previous GQ winners, etc.), who evaluate all entries against IABC's standard evaluation grid. The rating scale is 1-7 and those with an average score of 5.25 and above go forward for final judging at what's called the Blue Ribbon panel. This is an international panel of distinguished judges, who then take a second look to determine the overall GQ winners.
At both review stages, entrants are provided with feedback on why their entry received its score. There is an emphasis on learning and improvement in the feedback provided.
Is it worth it?
There are anecdotes galore about how winning a GQ Award has changed people's careers. For sure, preparing an entry is a lot of work and requires considerable time and effort. But the value of getting professional feedback on your work, using the framework for strategic communications planning to improve your performance and, if your project makes the grade, getting official recognition from an international organization is not to be underestimated.
If you do make it all the way, you are featured in CW magazine, get recognition at World Conference and get to use the GQ winner logo. There's also a trophy that can take pride of place in your office.
If you don't win, you'll receive feedback as to why your entry didn't make it, and suggestions for how to improve it. After all, it's a learning experience.
Not sure I get the EMErald Award bit…?
Entrants from the EME region are automatically considered for the regional distinction by virtue of entering GQ. Essentially, anyone who scores 5.0 to 5.24 at the first round of judging receives an Award of Merit; all those who go forward for final panel at the international level (5.25 and above) win an EMErald. The reason we do this is so that the best work from the region is recognized no matter what the outcome at the international level. It gives entrants added standing in their home region and is a way for us to raise the profile of communication best practice in EME.
So, you really don't have to do anything extra to enter EMErald. Your GQ entry fee goes even further in EME!
To sum it up?
We strongly believe that the GQ framework can strengthen your approach to professional practice. It fosters better comms planning and, if you can get your people on board, demonstrates the strategic value of communications in your organization. Going through the GQ process is an opportunity for professional growth and raises your profile at the regional and international level.
We hope that you go for it! Please keep your eye on the GQ website for this year's calendar and submission information.
Key links:
- For the facts on entering: iabc.com/awards/gq/
- For inspiration from across Europe & Middle East: europe.iabc.com/2011-emerald-winners/
Key contacts:
Neil Griffiths (Europe & Middle East)
Mike Pounsford (United Kingdom)


text:
Serendipity Winery 2013 Viognier - 89pts
Availability: Not yet released. Direct from the winery here
Cost: $20
Alcohol: 12%
Date Tasted: July 23rd, 2014
Tasting Notes: A lovely example of the Rhone Valley variety presented in a balanced, New World, fruit-forward style with plenty of tropical and orchard fruit complimented by mineral notes and the fullness of extended lees contact. Alcohol is handled delicately, blending in seamlessly, while a hit of lemon peel acidity keeps the palate fresh and vibrant. Drink now-2016.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Russell Cawyer Posts Blog on Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN)
Russell Cawyer posts an article on a recent affirmation of summary judgment from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a summary judgment holding that a putative class action—brought by a laid-off employee who alleged that Latshaw Drilling Co. failed to provide layoff notices in violation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act—did not meet the Act's "single site" requirement. Mr. Cawyer's blog post, "Fifth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment For Drilling Company in WARN Case," is published on the Texas Employment Law Update.


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Zan's Minimap Mod, also called VoxelMap by some players, adds a reliable, easy-to-read minimap to the world of Minecraft. This is about 100 times better than the maps you can make in the game using paper and a compass, and it is very similar to another map mod called Rei's Minimap. It has extra features which make it better than that other mod, though, like further customization, plotting points, adding notes and more. In fact, here's a short list:
- Improved height indicator keeps better track of mobs
- Radar mod makes Zan's Minimap Mod great for multiplayer
- Support for multiple languages
- Support for multiple resource packs
- Much, much more
Perhaps the most useful feature of Zan's Minimap is the death marker, which creates a point on your minimap designating the spot where you died last. This makes getting back to your body and retrieving your gear, items and other dropped goods much easier, and I don't have to tell you how many times a player loses everything after death, just because they can't remember where they died. You're going to want Minecraft Forge or Modloader when you're installing this, just to make sure it's compatible with the other mods you're running on Minecraft.
Zan's Minimap Mod for Minecraft 1.13.2 Changelogs
- Fix color reading with Optifine shaders enabled.
- Initial release for 1.13.2.
- Fix issue in multiworld selection screen where one couldn't input a new world name.
How to install Zan's Minimap Mod?
for Rift
- Download the Rift Mod jar file.
- Run the jar by double-clicking it (the Java software is required on your PC to run any JAR files).
- Download the Zan's Minimap, download links are below.
- Just go to ".minecraft\mods\" and move the mod file into "mods" folder.
- Open Minecraft launcher and select Rift profile to use in-game.
for Liteloader
- Download and install the Liteloader Mod for Minecraft!
- Download the Zan's Minimap; download links are below!
- Just go to ".minecraft\mods\" and move the mod file into "mods" folder!
Download Links for Zan's Minimap Mod
for Minecraft 1.13.2 – Requires Rift
for Minecraft 1.13 – Requires Rift
for Minecraft 1.12.2 – Requires Liteloader
for Minecraft 1.11.2 – Requires Liteloader
for Minecraft 1.10.2 / 1.10 – Requires Liteloader
for Minecraft 1.9.4 – Requires Liteloader
for Minecraft 1.9 – Requires Liteloader
for Minecraft 1.8.9 – Requires Liteloader
- mod_voxelMap_1.7.0_for_1.8.9.litemod
- Fix being unable to hide/show waypoints or mob types by clicking on the eyeball icon in the list view.
- Re-add a bunch of icons and icon hints for mobs from various mods.
for Minecraft 1.8 – Requires Liteloader
for Minecraft 1.7.10 – Requires Liteloader
for Minecraft 1.6.4 – Requires Liteloader
Credit: Mamiya0taru – Original Thread on CurseForge


text:
Nova Scotia Medical Bulletin 24(9), 1945
Medical Society of Nova Scotia
MetadataShow full item record
Nova Scotia Medical Bulletin 24(9), 1945
- Atlee, Howard Benge
- Bent, Wilfred Irving
- Boy from Lanarkshire, The [Title]
- Davis, F.R.
- History
- Hospitals
- Hunter, John
- Hunter, William
- Lymphatic Diseases
- MacKinnon, Kenneth Joseph Chisholm
- MacLeod, Ada
- MacMillan, A.S.
- MacMillan, A.S., Premier of Nova Scotia
- McIntosh, Carmen Norman
- Medical Society of Nova Scotia
- Morrison, William Ross
- Murphy, Arthur L.
- Nutrition
- Pharmaceutical Companies
- Quinlan, J.A.
- Reid, J.W.
- Robb, Ian Stewart
- Sarcoidosis [From the Nova Scotia Sanatorium, Kentville, N.S., September 1945] [Title]
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Valley Medical Society
- V.D. Briefs
- Winfield, Gordon A.
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
The Medical Society of Nova Scotia: The Nova Scotia Division of the Canadian Medical Association Beckwith, C.J.W. (1967)
MONUMENT IN THE VALLEY: AN ADAPTIVE REUSE STRATEGY FOR THE NOVA SCOTIA TEXTILES LIMITED MILL OF WINDSOR, NOVA SCOTIA Chorny, Olena Marianne (2013-12-09)This thesis addresses the revitalization of the former Nova Scotia Textiles Limited mill in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada. Windsor is a small town that lies along the confluence of the Avon and St. Croix River shores, off ...


text:
https://hyperchatsocial.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bloom-blossom-cleaning-434163.jpg 4000 6000 Ted Jenkin https://hyperchatsocial.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/HyperChatLogo_extended_newBlue-300x50.png Ted Jenkin2018-04-15 02:45:232018-04-02 12:47:46Spring Cleaning Your Social Media Accounts
Spring Cleaning Your Social Media Accounts
When the yellow dust comes down here in Atlanta, you the change of seasons are in full swing. When Spring hits us, we start cleaning out our closets and getting the clothes we wear for the warmer seasons front and center. Since you'll be snapping some new pictures for the Spring and Summer, maybe it's time to start doing some Spring cleaning of your social media accounts. Here are five tips on how to Spring clean your social media.
- Add A Video To Your Cover Photo– Almost every Facebook profile I still see today is using a regular picture. Most people don't realize you can simply take a short video with your phone and upload a video profile to your Facebook account. If your goal is to have people spend more time on your page and engage your viewers, then getting a video to your cover photo will help increase those results.
- Change Your Call To Action Button– Not seeing the results you want when people hit up your Facebook page? It may just be that your call to action button isn't doing the job. So, you might want to change that button from Book Now to Learn More or give away something free instead of asking for an immediate appointment.
- Rearrange your photos and videos– You should be looking at your social media reports closely to figure out what articles people are clicking on or what photos or videos are getting people to take action. Then, you might want to consider repurposing some of those articles, posts, or photos in order to get people to see more of what's actually working for you.
- Go Native for 30 days– Almost every single social media platform allows for live native video these days. This includes LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and more. The reason is that video delivers a superior result for time on your page and number of people viewing your page versus a regular static post. Remember, we learn much better from what we see versus what we read. Get out your mobile phone for the month of April and shoot just one video a day on something leadership, marketing, or just plain socially related.
- Throw Away What's Not Being Used Anymore– Way back a year or two ago, you might have had an interesting idea for a social media post that you thought was going to get people to take action and it ended up being a lead balloon. Go into your blog, your Facebook, or your Instagram and take down old posts that aren't reflective of the brand you are building or simply just couldn't get anybody to like or comment on it when you posted the picture.


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The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) has released the latest 2014 edition of its European Integration Index for Eastern Partnership Countries.
According to the 2014 edition of the European Integration Index, Moldova and to an even greater degree Georgia continued steady progress in integration with the EU, while Armenia and Ukraine experienced a stop-start trajectory, and a range of internal and external challenges.
Recommendations concern:
- The differentiation between the six Eastern partner countries;
- Mobility;
- The "more for more" approach;
- Dialogue and support to civil society and reform-minded actors as well as communication to demonstrate the benefits of integration with the EU.
The Index will be presented at a series of events accross the region this month.
Find out more on the Eastern Partnership Index website.
Read the Eap-CSF press release here.
Source: EU Neighbourhood Info Centre


text:
Opened 5 years ago
Closed 5 years ago
#17549 closed defect (fixed)
tortls.c compile error w/Tor v0.2.8.0-alpha-dev and OpenSSL 1.1.0-dev (git-19e10f95c105a698) against SSL_Dev
|Reported by:
|Owned by:
|Tor: 0.2.8.x-final
|Core Tor/Tor
|Tor: unspecified
|tor-core, openssl, 027-backport
|Actual Points:
|Parent ID:
Hi again...
with Tor v0.2.8.0-alpha-dev (builds after git-19e10f95c105a698) running on NetBSD (6/i386) with Libevent 2.1.5-beta, OpenSSL 1.1.0-dev and Zlib 1.2.3
For 5 or 6 days I receive the following compile errors:
gmake[1]: Entering directory '/usr/local/src/tor'
CC src/common/tortls.o
src/common/tortls.c: In function 'tor_tls_server_info_callback':
src/common/tortls.c:1536:3: warning: implicit declaration of function 'SSL_state'
src/common/tortls.c:1537:21: error: 'SSL3_ST_SW_SRVR_HELLO_A' undeclared (first use in this function)
src/common/tortls.c:1537:21: note: each undeclared identifier is reported only once for each function it appears in
src/common/tortls.c:1538:21: error: 'SSL3_ST_SW_SRVR_HELLO_B' undeclared (first use in this function)
Makefile:3240: recipe for target 'src/common/tortls.o' failed
gmake[1]: * [src/common/tortls.o] Error 1
gmake[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/local/src/tor'
Makefile:1864: recipe for target 'all' failed
gmake: * [all] Error 2
Child Tickets
Change History (8)
comment:1 Changed 5 years ago by
|tortls.c compile error w/Tor v0.2.8.0-alpha-dev (git-19e10f95c105a698) against SSL_Dev → tortls.c compile error w/Tor v0.2.8.0-alpha-dev and OpenSSL 1.1.0-dev (git-19e10f95c105a698) against SSL_Dev
comment:2 Changed 5 years ago by
|tor-core openssl 027-backport added
|new → needs_review
I'm getting tempted to start saying that chasing OpenSSL 1.1.0-dev is at people's own risk, and they should be prepared to patch trivial issues like this. That said, here's a branch that fixes everything (EDIT: but the unit tests).
comment:3 Changed 5 years ago by
Note: Even with my patch applied,
make test will fail because all the state descriptions are different.
test_tortls_get_state_description(void *ignored) and
test_tortls_log_one_error(void *ignored) need to be updated to handle the new descriptions.
comment:4 Changed 5 years ago by
Ok, I fixed the unit tests as well, because it was easy. My branch should be merge ready.
comment:5 Changed 5 years ago by
|needs_review → needs_revision
Looks good, but I bet this will break with libressl. That's not _too_ horrible to do in an alpha, but we should avoid it if we can.
Also, hmm. I generally think it's better to make #ifdefs not be small pieces of functions, but rather independent functions. So what if instead we do something like
#if (it's an old version) #define OpenSSL_version_num() SSLeay() #define OpenSSL_version(v) SSLeay_version(v) #define OPENSSL_VERSION SSLEAY_VERSION ... #endif
and then our functions can stay nice and pretty?
I'm getting tempted to start saying that chasing OpenSSL 1.1.0-dev is at people's own risk, and they should be prepared to patch trivial issues like this.
Well, I'll be a bit more moderate, but basically agree: It's cool if somebody wants to run openssl-1.1.0-dev, but they should expect it to break Tor pretty frequently, and they should expect that we'll fix this kind of issue as we get around to it and no sooner. Otherwise we couldn't try to keep up with this as all.
comment:6 follow-up: 7 Changed 5 years ago by
I made some changes on a branch 'bug17549'. Works for me! Shall I merge?
comment:7 Changed 5 years ago by
Replying to nickm:
I made some changes on a branch 'bug17549'. Works for me! Shall I merge?
It builds with the openssl-dev snapshot I last tested it with. Nitpick:
compat_openssl.h doesn't pass
comment:8 Changed 5 years ago by
|→ fixed
|needs_revision → closed
fixed and merged!


text:
On this day in Lewis & Clark history...
As the Expedition travels up the Missouri, they meet two parties who had been trading for furs with the Omaha and Osage. They evening's camp is near the mouth of the Gasconade River.
From the journals...
Sunday may 27th 1804
arrived at the mouth of the Gasganade Rivber at 5 ock P. m on the South Side encamped on an Island oppeset the mouth of the River which is a handsom Situation high hiles on the Left Side the Bottom is of Good quallity &c. armes and ammunition Inspected—
Contract rifle with Harper's Ferry replacement lock
Rifle provided by the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Missouri.


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Questions that you need to ask yourself before you start Swimming Pool Renovation
Swimming pool renovation Singapore is increasingly becoming a popular choice for many because it not only leads to a total transformation of the pool but it is also cheaper when compared to doing regular maintenance and repair.
So do you want to give your swimming pool a brand new look?
If your answer is yes, then you are making the right decision.
In a recent study that was conducted by an independent institution revealed that swimming pool renovation can help to increase the value of your home by up to 5%.
If you have made that big decision of remodeling your swimming pool, below are questions that you need to ask yourself before you begin the process.
Do you have enough space?
This is a very important question that many Singapore residents often ignore then end up regretting later. Before you start renovating your swimming pool, it is very important to first check if you have enough space. This is particularly important if you want to expand your pool to accommodate more people. The best way to know if you have enough space or how much space you will need is by coming up with a site plan. A site plan will help you know how your final design will fit your space as well as any obstacles or potential issues that you are likely to face when renovating the pool.
When should the project start?
Swimming pool renovation Singapore requires good timing. Ensure that you renovate your swimming pool when there is favorable weather. Good timing is very important because it will help lower your renovation cost. For instance, if you remodeling your swimming pool at a time when there is heavy rainfall you will have to pay more for the project because nature will work against you.
Are there any requirements that you need to comply with?
Before you start renovating your swimming pool, it is very important to visit a government office near you and ask if you need to comply with the law before you begin the remodeling process. In some cases, you may need to get a permit from the state or file for an application through the homeowner association in order to get permission. However, any experienced swimming pool contractor should help you comply with all requirements that have been put in place by the government.
How much time is it going to take?
It is also very important to know how long the project is going to take. A minor renovation can be completed in just one month. On the other hand, a big renovation can take a long period of time before they are completed. Understanding the time frame will help you come up with good strategies on how to overcome the challenges that you might face. It will also help you to come up with a better schedule.
Does the contractor offer a warranty?
A swimming pool renovation is a very big project that will cost you a lot of money. Besides looking for a contractor who has the right credentials, it is also very important to check if the contractor will offer a warranty for services rendered. Experts recommend that you should only choose a contractor who gives a warranty of more than one year if you want to be on the safe side.


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CORAL GABLES, Fla. — A jury found George Zimmerman not guilty of murder for the Feb. 26, 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Nearly eight years later, that remains the only fact that no one disputes.
Zimmerman has maintained from day one that he shot the African American teenager in self-defense.
Martin's parents have never wavered from their belief that their son was murdered – and that the shooting was racially-motivated.
Now, Zimmerman is suing the Martin family, their attorney and the Florida prosecutors who brought him to trial – for $100 million dollars. His attorney released details of the lawsuit to the media on Wednesday.
Zimmerman is claiming prosecutors used a "fake witness" to paint him as a cold-blooded killer, and his attorney says Martin's parents knew about it. The famed attorney who represents the Martin family, Benjamin Crump, is also included in the lawsuit. He's being accused of defamation.
The claims center around an audio tape brought forward by Crump a week after the Sanford Police Department had originally closed the case without pressing charges. On it was the voice of "Diamond Eugene." Crump said she was Martin's girlfriend, and she was on the phone with the teen moments before he was killed.
At trial, a young woman named Rachel Jeantel told the jury she was Diamond Eugene – but the lawsuit claims that was a lie. The suit alleges the real Diamond Eugene was swapped out after she refused to lie about what happened, and Jeantel "provided false statements to incriminate Zimmerman based on coaching from others."
Zimmerman and Klayman will hold a news conference Thursday in South Florida to publicly unveil the lawsuit – then host a movie screening.
Director Joel Gilbert will screen his new movie, called The Trayvon Hoax: Unmasking the Witness Fraud that Divided America.
So far, neither the Martin family, Benjamin Crump, nor the prosecutors who tried the case have commented on the lawsuit.


text: Aubrey Saunders Vice President BNY Mellon Aubrey Saunders has served on the Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHASI) Board of Directors since 2010 and now under the new partnership, he joins the Brightpoint Health board. A native of Staten Island, Mr. Saunders is a Vice President of BNY Mellon where he manages Tax Operations in the Tax and Compliance and Quality Assurance Group. He began working in 1974 for BNY Mellon, known then as Irving Trust Company, The Bank of New York, legacy companies, while enrolled in the cooperative education program at Susan E. Wagner High School. Aubrey began his career with the bank in the Trade Services Division and made a steady climb being promoted to several leadership roles including in 2000 when he was named Vice President and Group Head of Corporate Loan Operations. In addition to his current role, Aubrey is Co-Vice Chairman of Prism, a BNY Mellon's Employee Resource Group and is the BNY Mellon representative on the OPEN Finance Committee, a network of networks industry group that promotes a collaborative environment within the banking industry.


text:
Nominations sought for Washington's Medals of Merit and Valor
August 22, 2018
On behalf of the Washington Medals of Merit and Valor committee, Secretary of State Kim Wyman is seeking nominations for the awards, the highest civilian honors awarded by the state of Washington.
The Medal of Merit, awarded for exceptional service to Washington and its residents, was created in 1986 to recognize outstanding individuals selected by a committee of top state officials. Last awarded in 2015, the Medal of Merit has been bestowed on 34 people, including three Nobel Prize winners. Elected officials and candidates for office are ineligible for consideration. Its most recent recipients were Gretchen Shodde and the late Billy Frank Jr.
The Medal of Valor has since 2006 been awar...
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text:
My Blog
Posts for: October, 2018
We always look forward to seeing our patients, but not all of you look forward to seeing us! If you're one of them, don't worry — we don't take it personally. Dental anxiety prevents many people from seeking the care they require to restore or maintain a healthy smile.
But if dental problems are allowed to progress, they can affect not only the beauty of your smile and health of your mouth, but your overall wellness, too. Infection can travel from the mouth to other areas of the body, and dental disease exacerbates chronic health conditions like heart disease or diabetes.
Overcoming Apprehension
Fear should never be an obstacle (in the immortal words of President Franklin Roosevelt, "…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…"). And fortunately there are some safe options for those of us who can't get past our anxiety when it comes to dental care:
Oral Sedation. A sedative medication can be prescribed that you take by mouth approximately an hour before your dental visit to minimize anxiety and promote relaxation.
Intravenous (IV; "intra" – inside, "venous" – vein) Sedation. If oral sedation isn't entirely effective in facilitating treatment, then a medication combining a sedative for relaxation and a pain-blocking anesthetic can be delivered through or small needle or catheter that is gently inserted into a vein. This is referred to as "conscious sedation" because you are in a semi-awake state during which you are able to respond to verbal direction. It takes effect quickly, and you can come out of it quickly. However, you may not remember much about your procedure. It is very different from general anesthesia during which you are completely unconscious.
Safety First
Dentists who offer IV sedation receive extensive training after which we must pass an exam and apply for a special permit that we maintain through continuing education. We carefully screen patients for eligibility and monitor you throughout so you can rest easy before, during, and after your procedure.
If you would like more information about sedation in dental care, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about the subject by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article "Oral Sedation Dentistry."
Although dental implants are best known as single tooth replacements, they can actually play a role in multiple or complete tooth loss (edentulism) restorations. While replacing multiple teeth with individual implants is quite expensive, there's another way to incorporate them in a restoration at much less cost — as supports for bridges.
In this case, only a few strategically placed implants are needed to support restorations of multiple crowns fused together into a single unit. Implant-based bridges consist of two main types: the first type is a fixed bridge, which is permanently attached to the implants and can't be removed by the patient. It's often the preferred treatment for patients who've lost most or all of their teeth but have not yet experienced significant bone loss in the jaw.
This choice, however, may not be the best option for patients with significant bone loss. In these cases, there's a second type of fixed bridge: an implant-supported fixed denture. This type of fixed denture provides support for the lost bone support of the lips and cheeks. If a fixed bridge is not possible due to finances or inadequate bone support to place 4 to 6 implants, a removable denture (also known as an overdenture) that's supported and held in place by implants is the next best alternative. Unlike a fixed bridge, an overdenture can be removed by the patient for cleaning purposes, and will require less investment than a fixed bridge.
For people with bone loss, the overdenture does more than restore chewing and speech function. Because bone loss can diminish support of the facial structures — actually shorten the distance between the chin and the tip of the nose — an overdenture provides additional bulk to support these structures to improve appearance. Depending on what the patient needs for facial support, overdentures for the upper jaw can be designed as "full palates," meaning the denture plastic completely covers the upper jaw palate, or open in which the plastic doesn't completely cover the palate.
Besides the condition of your teeth, gums and bone, your own personal preferences and financial ability will also play a role in which option is best for you. After considering all these factors, we can recommend which of these types of implant-based restorations will fit your needs. With either bridge, fixed or removable, you'll certainly benefit from the improvement to both your mouth function and your smile.
If you would like more information on implant-supported bridges, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article "Fixed vs. Removable."
Dental implants are all the rage. And why not — not only are these tooth replacements life-like and highly functional, they have an amazing 95% ten-year success rate.
Some of that success is due to their unique design. Technically a root replacement, an implant's metal titanium post is surgically placed in the jawbone, where bone grows and adheres to it over time. This creates a strong connection that stands up well to the forces created by biting and chewing.
But there's more to their longevity than design. Success also depends on a careful, planned process that begins long before surgery.
It starts with a detailed oral examination to determine the best placement for the implant. Besides regular x-rays, we may also perform CT scans to create a three-dimensional view of your jaw. With this we can locate and avoid nerves, sinus cavities or other structures near the implant site.
The examination also helps us determine if you've experienced any bone loss, a normal occurrence after tooth loss. Implants require an adequate amount of bone to achieve the best position. A good position ensures future bone integration and the best appearance result.
The same attention to detail extends to the actual surgery to place the implant. We fashion the site to receive the implant by sequentially drilling larger tapered channels until we achieve the right size fit for the implant. During drilling we avoid overheating the bone, which could ultimately weaken and damage the implant's stability.
We'll also need to provide protection for the implant while it integrates with the bone. In most implantations, we do this by suturing the gum tissue over the implant. We take a different approach with a "Tooth in a Day" procedure where we attach a crown (the visible portion of the tooth) right after implant surgery. In this case we'll install a crown (which is actually temporary) that's a little shorter than the adjacent teeth. The natural teeth around it will absorb the forces produced while chewing and not the implant crown.
Focusing on these and other factors will greatly reduce the risk of implant failure. Paying careful attention to them helps ensure your new smile is a lasting one.
If you would like more information on dental implants to restore your smile, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article "Dental Implants: A Tooth Replacement Method That Rarely Fails."


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"I really love this city, It is beautiful and It's so multidimensional. People say it has a darkness and a decadence, which it tries to hide; they say it's full of the pretentious and opulent trying to strangle the dark reality. But that's true for most of the other great cities too. . . . … Continue reading Islandhopping 101: Best Guide In and Out of Roxas City
super shuttle roro
Ferry schedules and fares posted here are base from the information provided by the shipping company's ticketing personnel found in the Port of Batangas. Related information can also be gathered either from the shipping company's website or in the port of destination listed below. Schedules provided herein is accurate for the time being, but subject … Continue reading BATANGAS PORT RORO & FERRY GUIDE-2019 UPDATE
Featured Philippine Ports: DUMAGUIT PORT
NEW WASHINGTON, AKLAN Located in the oldest province in the country, New Washington is one of the municipalities in the Province of Aklan. Formerly called Fonda Lagatik, the name derived from Lagatik river, a tributary stretching more than nine kilometers in length. Established on 15th of January 1904 and was named after President George Washington, … Continue reading Featured Philippine Ports: DUMAGUIT PORT


text:
If glory be in war;
Call to fighting cause.
Sounding trumpet, bugle blare;
Forward body, nation's duty, spirited care.
Arms and regiments, bodies dead with empty stares.
Held with spellbound stare;
Pausing, thinking, wondering, looking, hoping.
Regal dress, early morn;
Firm bodies lined in splendid form.
On fields with buttons ready – press!
Leaders, heroes, wealthy dealers;
Spurring, urging, telling, convincing – fight!
Just cause at dawn;
Belief, action, halt, retreat.
Life has lost its normal beat.
Horror at sights in view;
Crying, wailing, maiming, slaughter, death!
History speaks, sad regrets.
History speaks sad regrets.
Victor, vanquished, tears of fear, hearts upset.
Count the dead, write strategies won;
Planning, removing, rebuilding, stop killing!
Another wrong, and convolute;
Duty, action, questions fall.
Human beings dead, lies fed – salute!
Poem by Courtenay Francis Raymond Barnett


text:
As the SMWS continues to celebrate its 35th anniversary, we asked some members to sample eight special bottlings from the July Outturn which were hand-picked by whisky expert and Tasting Panel Chair, Charlie MacLean.
We didn't tell them what they were tasting, so its all about the flavour! Here's what they had to say about the first four bottles…..
135.3 Red carpet welcome
"Rich stewed fruit, a hint of marzipan and sour plums on the nose. Full bodied, spice and dryness on the palate, with more stewed fruit and no sourness. Better without water. Strong hint of sherry, but not overpowering."
Stuart Lachs
"Vibrant juicy fruit alongside assertive wood spice. Leading with blackcurrant fruit tea and vanilla, a touch of old newspaper and wax candles behind this provides some savoury balance. A drop of water accentuates the leather notes, and brings a hint of roast coffee. Reduced palate is "softer" and more rounded, the fruit and vanilla is joined by a touch of coffee and walnut cake. The finish has an almost vegetal/tobacco leaf note."
Andrew Fulton
2.108 The King o' Malts
"Prickly lead on the nose; spicy, oak, sweetness (kola cubes and sherbet lemons). Explosion of flavours with a few small drops of water! More kola cubes, chocolate orange, dark chocolate and chilli, candied orange. Very juicy and unctuous on the palate, alcohol burn not as high as expected. Cinder toffee leading to a slightly bitter finish that's moderately drying. The kola cubes from the nose are present throughout.
"Awesome dram, right on my favourite flavour profile – undoubtedly well-sherried. I'll be buying a bottle when I know what it is!"
Alistair Mateer
64.103 All sweetness and light wood
"Green apples, pick n' mix, and rose on the nose, before leading to lemons, forest fruits and vanilla on the palate. A drop of water brought aromas of dolly mixtures, golden syrup and stewed pears, with caramel, honey, and cream soda on the reduced palate.
Very pleasant and enjoyable. This would also be a great introduction to Scotch."
James Bruce
"A very nice sweet and fruity whisky. I liked the nose more without adding any water as it was a bit more complex then. The palate is very spicy without water and becomes much smoother with a few drops of water. The spicy notes are then to be found in the long finish."
Aaron Engelmann
88.10 Complete sweet treat
"On the nose; green apple-y juicy fruit, fudge, oregano and rosemary herbs. Freshness that after a while lets through malt and fresh oak like the grinding floor of a windmill.
Initially a sherbet fizz sharp feel on the tongue developing to green sour apples and fresh sanded oak. A light palate but complex nose which I'd drink as an aperitif. For lunchtime or 5-7pm pre-dinner."
Phil Markham
"Notes of sweet silky honey and some green bananas. Turns a little sour, then eucalyptus and hint of peppery ash in the finish. The reduced palate loses a little of the complexity from the neat spirit – a light honey, peppery sweet finish."
Stuart McLaughlin
The July Outturn goes live at 9am on Friday 6 July. Watch out for more members reviews of the next four bottles, coming soon.


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The Mirror are reporting that Newcastle are set to ditch controversial shirt sponsors Wonga when the current four year deal ends next May and they will not renew the deal with the payday loan company.
Newcastle are now busy looking for a new shirt sponsor .
The Wonga deal was announced back in October, 2012 when they replaced Virgin (Virgin Money) as the sponsors.
At the time Virgin chief Sir Richard Branson said he didn't even get a chance to bid for the new deal and the negotiations with Wonga were all handled by then Managing Director Derek Llambias.
The Wonga deal has been condemned by fans and politicians alike, who didn't like the club being associated with a company that charges ridiculously high interest rates on those poorer people who simply cannot afford it.
Papiss Cisse also took some time out in the summer of 2013 before he decided he could wear the shirt and two years ago, Wonga had to pay £2.6M to 45,000 people for sending out letters from some fake law firms to customers in arrears.
In short, Wonga does not have a good name in business and that's a huge understatement and it will be good to get the name off the shirts of Newcastle United.
When the deal was first announced it was said it was the best shirt sponsorship deal the club had ever had and would help with the commercial income part of Newcastle's revenues which had been lagging.
Wonga were also said to have paid to have the name of St. James' Park reinstated for the stadium – it was named after the owner's company at the time – and that deal always sounded a bit artificial and even far-fetched to the Geordie fans to give good vibes to Wonga.
It seems that once again Rafa Benitez has had some influence here as he tries to transform the club into a modern-day club that loyal Newcastle fans will be proud to support.
Rafa seems to be in tune with what Newcastle fans want and he is using common sense and good judgement to get many different things changed at Newcastle United.
The Mirror report suggests that just like the Wonga deal ended the Virgin Money sponsorship early – when Newcastle get a new shirt sponsor they could take over even before next May.
This will come as very good news to Newcastle fans and maybe the club should be contacting Sir Richard Branson about a new shirt sponsorship?
Comments welcome.
Note: Reader Sean Pigott is taking part in an Ultra white collar boxing event in Aberdeen on the 10th of September this year and collecting for Cancer Research UK, because many of his family have suffered from the terrible disease.
Sean has set up a justgiving page here if you can possibly donate to a very good cause.
8 comments so far
Chronicle reckons we are holding out for minimum £27m from the Scousers for Gini and others reported that Spurs have an interest. Either way Rafa won't compromise and has clearly set his stall out to the players and other clubs as to how we do business now so it's not a buyers market – NUFC are dictating the terms so that's a change.
I think 25 mill is a fair price and nufc can posture all they want but he wants out and we need fast cash. There were a lot of misgivings about the true strength of the squad on this blog yesterday and i agree. We need to get spending. Assuming Sissoko goes, we need at least 4 more players surely? And at least two have to be quality first team players. Winger centre back and striker minimum. I have felt for a while that a striker will need to be in the Mitro mould, ideally with more pace. It may be time to go abroad.