Travel blog post

The meat you sleep with

In Texas, if there is any meat you want to sleep with, it’s brisket.

Texans take Barbeque uber seriously, committing to long shifts tending fires of burning oak, pecan, mesquite, or hickory wood for 16-24 hours. The prized meat, cooked in indirect heat, is generously covered with a heavily spiced rub while the magic of heat and meat takes a normally tough piece of beef breast and transforms it into a tender, juicy taste delight. Don’t ask for sauce because, in Central Texas, it may offend the cook.

Like the competitiveness between Texan A&M (Aggies) and the University of Texas (Longhorns), the competition between barbeque styles defined by region is intense. East Texas boasts a slow-cooked style in a sweet tomato-based sauce, while West Texas barbeque, affectionately known as Cowboy Style, is cooked over the direct heat of burning mesquite wood. South Texas may cook their Barbeque in a molasses-thick sauce, but it’s the Central Texas style that is considered the king of barbeques; at least, that’s what residents of Elgin, Lockhart, Luling, and Taylor say. Let’s face it: Texas is no place to be a vegetarian.

Although New York may be known for its bagels, Chicago for its pizza, and San Francisco for its sourdough bread, Texas is all about burning some beef.

As the barbeque season officially opened on Memorial Day, a little history is due to our celebration of the American grilling season, which closes its curtain on Labor Day. Although no one knows the culture who invented the art of Barbeque, when the Spanish arrived in the Americas (specifically in the Caribbean), they noticed the native population slow-cooked their meats over heated coals on wooden platforms. The American South quickly adopted Barbeque. It provided an excellent way to transform lower-quality meat cuts into tasty meals and keep leftovers alive longer, essentially making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear—so to speak. Former President Lyndon Baines Johnson enhanced his political career with what he called his barbeque diplomacy, taming political opponents with brisket, ribs, and down-home cooking.

Today, Texas barbeque is a culinary delight worthy of a quest from region to region. As the summer season ramps up, we raise our forks and lick our chops for the folks sleeping with the meat.

Email announcement

Greetings, everyone!

I’ve recently become part of the Elder Financial Protection Network as the Program Manager, and there’s a lot of excitement brewing, beginning now!

To kick things off, Jenefer Duane, the CEO of EFPN, has been collaborating closely with the National Council on Aging and the Elder Justice Coalition in Washington, DC. Their collaborative efforts aim to advocate for the passage of the Elder Justice Act! Jenefer is heading to Washington, DC, to be one of the four presenters at a Monday morning policy briefing on Capitol Hill for Congress. Passing the Elder Justice Act is crucial for the safety and security of today’s elderly individuals and those in the future – including everyone!

We’re calling on you to make your voice heard! On Monday, Jenefer will present a report about the online petition that EFPN has hosted in partnership with the National Council on Aging, the Elder Justice Coalition, Witness, and OWL. Here’s how you can contribute: Please take a moment to sign our online petition advocating for the passage of the Elder Justice Act. It’s a quick, easy, and secure process that keeps your information anonymous and protected. Your email information will only be visible to us, and the data we collect will be private. To date, nearly 2,000 individuals have signed, and we aim to gather as many signatures as possible by Sunday night!

How can you sign the online petition? It’s pretty simple. Just visit our newly designed website at www.bewiseonline.org. On the homepage, you’ll find a tab labeled “Elder Justice Now! Raise your Voice to Congress! Sign the Petition.” Clicking on this tab will take you to the Information page, where you can easily click the “sign the petition” button.

Please pass this message along to everyone you know who would be supportive and encourage them to join in raising their voices to Congress, advocating for protecting our nation’s elders against abuse and exploitation.

This crucial legislation relies on your support! With just a simple click, you can shape the future. Your support means a lot to us!

Best regards,

Jane Doe, Program Manager

Case study

Cotherix chose Access TCA over three competitors to design and build a new exhibit to announce the approval of an inhaled form of Ventavis® (iloprost) for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The exhibit occupies a 20’x20′ space and features a unique oversized three-dimensional alveoli structure designed to visually depict the impact of blood flow constriction on the alveoli–both with and without treatment. Over 20′ tall, the structure is a magnet for attention and a catalyst for sparking conversations.

Throughout the development process, collaboration was essential, as it involved not only the client’s brand team but also their partnered agency, Stratagem Healthcare Communications.

Corporate branding

We stand out in the crowd.

Our exact ranking by sales is difficult to estimate. Like us, most of our peers are privately held and don’t publish their financials. Nevertheless, estimates show we are in the top ten exhibit companies nationwide. Our peer group includes (List of companies).

That said, clients have told us that we provide some essential differences:

• We continue to grow our business more (we got big by being good!)

• Our clients win awards (six at ASCO alone!)

• We’re more strategic

• We offer multiple locations without the overhead of a big company

• Our cost bases are lower

• Our billing is more transparent

But most importantly, our business thrives on relationships; our account teams shine as the most brilliant, innovative, and forward-thinking individuals because we establish enduring connections with our clients. We harness the extensive resources of (Name of company) to flawlessly execute exhibitions and events that meet objectives and exhibit a substantial return on investment.

The proposed team represents our most exceptional and talented members, encompassing youthful energy, extensive experience, and an understanding of HIV/AIDS and associated therapeutic domains. We aim to offer (Name of company) a team that possesses the expertise to effectively utilize our creative reservoirs, both internal and external, to achieve impactful outcomes.

Corporate branding

Bigger. Better. Brighter.

It’s not a bunch of noise or empty promises. It’s who we aspire to be: a leader in healthcare exhibits, events, and meetings, providing fresh, creative, and consistent messaging across multiple communication platforms.

Our bag of tricks isn’t limited to exhibits. We draw on expertise in healthcare marketing, eye-popping technology, interactive media, web-based marketing, audio and video production, graphic design, product merchandising, lighting, and other disciplines to tell complex stories in compelling ways. We know our way around the regulatory environment and what works to reach healthcare professionals.

In an era where consolidation is the norm, we’ve built our business client by client, delivering fresh creative with exceptional services to pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, life sciences, devices, and instrumentation leaders.

Whether at a medical convention in San Francisco, a trade fair in Copenhagen, or a hotel ballroom in Atlanta, we help our clients capture attention, draw crowds, announce new products, and build brand awareness.

Professional biography example:

Erica Nelson is a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) trainee pursuing her master’s degree in counseling psychology at Santa Clara University. As a counselor who prioritizes connecting with people, Erica blends empathy, compassion, and maturity into her client interactions. She provides a safe and confidential space that enables individuals to process their negative emotions and feelings in a supportive environment. Erica’s therapeutic approach incorporates Psychodynamic, Narrative, and ACT therapies, empowering individuals to understand their narratives and fostering growth as they navigate positive changes. She has received comprehensive training in individual, family, and group therapies, ensuring her ability to address diverse therapeutic needs. In addition to her therapeutic expertise, Erica enjoys mindfulness practices through meditation, journaling, and mandala coloring as effective techniques that enhance the therapeutic process.

Exhibit signage copy

Exhibit signage copy with less than a 250-word count for a live animal display

(Using the 1950s science fiction movie genre, Fatal Beauties humorously debunked the misconception that venomous animals are out to get us by contrasting fear-based beliefs to reality.)

The Venom Advantage: All reptiles are not the same

About 10 percent of snake species worldwide are venomous.
The primary function of the venom apparatus is prey capture. The venom “recipe” and its potency vary from species to species. When it comes to venom delivery, some fang designs are more effective than others.

The Eyelash viper possesses flexible front fangs that lie flat against the roof of its mouth when inactive, but they can pivot forward when the snake is attacking. Muscles enable venom injection through these fangs, resembling the action of a hypodermic needle and syringe. Such a mechanism demonstrates an incredibly sophisticated way of delivering venom.

The Cobra has fixed front fangs. The fangs are grooved, but the groove may be closed along part of its length.

The Mangrove snake has fixed rear fangs. Venom flows from the gland to the duct and down a groove in the tooth. Rear fangs may be the least efficient delivery method because of their position, but some rear-fanged snakes have highly toxic venom.

The Beaded lizard has fangs in the rear and middle lower jaw. Chewing expels venom from the gland, allowing it to travel along a canal between the gum and cheek before being drawn up the grooved fang.

New hire document

What’s our schedule like?
Our “official” business hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

At Name of Company, we’re all about being flexible when it comes to work schedules. But just to give you an idea, the office staff usually rocks it from around 8 am to 5 pm. As for our production team, they kick off their day bright and early, starting at 4-5 a.m. and usually finishing around noon to 2 p.m.

Of course, things can change depending on the workload, client needs, and project requirements. Sometimes, we might need to rise and shine extra early or burn the midnight oil to get things done. And yeah, there may be occasions when we have to work on weekends and holidays, too. The road to success is based on our deadlines and commitment to our clients.

Travel blog post

A small find in Moorpark.

She calls herself The Persimmon Lady. Met at the farmers market in Santa Clarita, California, on a crisp, cool Sunday morning in December. Darlene Costa nearly corners the persimmon market from October through early January when persimmons are in season.

Persimmons are not what you’d call a household fruit like apples, oranges, and bananas. Yet for those who love the sweetness and texture of this yellow-orange fruit that tastes like nectar from the gods, it does add unique flavor to baked goods and salads or can be eaten straight off the tree. In California, there are two varieties of persimmon, the Fuyu and Hachiya. The Fuyu resembles a squat yellow-orange tomato, and the Hachiya is similar to an overgrown red-orange acorn. In my opinion, Fuyu is much preferred as the Hachiya has tannins that make the mouth pucker if eaten when not ripe.

Most persimmon varieties were imported from Asia in the 18th Century, and today, California delivers the largest production in the nation. Health tip: persimmons are a good source of fiber and vitamins A, C, B6, and magnesium. Some nutritionists claim that persimmon is more vitamin-rich than apples.

More delicious than the sweet persimmon fruit is the farmer of such delights, Darlene Costa. The former flight attendant and secretary, Darlene, and her Italian-born husband took the road less traveled from conventional corporate jobs to owning a hobby farm in Moorpark, California. On their five-acre farm, they have over 150 persimmon trees of both Fuyu and Hachiya varieties, a few acres of grapes where they produce their signature wine, and a small citrus grove in the front of the house. Inside the shed hangs three legs of salted pork in the process of becoming prosciutto and a starter for homemade sourdough bread. This place is the ideal location to weather an earthquake in style.

We took the “Bob”—a small all-terrain vehicle—down the hill to the orchard. After the first frost of the year, the trees had shed their leaves, and all that remained were clusters of Fuyu persimmons strewn on branches like ornaments on a Christmas tree. It looked like easy picking, and if you like persimmons, it was a slice of paradise on the branch.

Moorpark might not be prominently featured as a travel destination in Southern California, even though it achieved a level of recognition in 2005 with the unearthing of an ancient mammoth skeleton. Presumably named after the Moorpark apricot, the town of Moorpark is an unexpected find for persimmons and a delightfully distinctive orchard farmer often seen at local farmer’s market.

Exhibit label copy

Exhibit label copy with less than a 75-word count for a live animal display

(Using the 1950s science fiction movie genre, Fatal Beauties humorously debunked the misconception that venomous animals are out to get us by contrasting fear-based beliefs to reality.)

Fang-O-Rama

Primitive fangs are short and fat: venom flows through a groove on the fang’s surface. The more sophisticated fangs are long, sharp, and hollow. Pressure from muscles around the fang pumps venom into the wound they inflict. Either way, there can be no doubt about their purpose—they are tools of death.