#Nick Genter

[preacheroftruthblog]

The Cause Of The Afflicted -- Nick Genter

Who will maintain the cause of the afflicted? Our world is a world of peril (vs. 4, 11). We may think that modern people have surpassed such things, but look around. There are those who stir up wars continually. There are those whose stock and trade is deceit (v. 5). Unfortunately, this side of eternity there will always be evil and violent people who seek to take advantage of the downtrodden.…

[anycontentposter]

What is Southwest Airlines elite status worth in 2020?

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Airline elite status can be a great way to make your travel experience less stressful and more rewarding thanks to the variety of benefits offered. However, if you’re new to the points and miles hobby, you may be wondering just how valuable these perks can be. Is it worth devoting yourself to earning status with a specific airline?

Today I’ll continue to answer this question by quantifying the value you can get from the major U.S. airlines’ elite status programs. This analysis will go through the Southwest Rapid Rewards program in depth to try and answer a simple question: Is it worth pursuing Southwest elite status in 2020?

Be sure to check out other airlines for a full breakdown of their elite benefits:

American AAdvantage Delta SkyMiles United MileagePlus Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan In This Post

Before getting into the weeds with the Rapid Rewards program, I want to remind you that my valuations below represent a singular way to identify what elite status is worth to a potential traveler. Be sure to adjust any of the assumptions I make to fit with your individual travel situation. For example, if you always pay for first and business class and thus have no need for complimentary upgrades, you might value perks differently than those who travel exclusively in the US and don’t care about free lounge access on international itineraries.

Also, it’s important to note that my analysis is based on having earned the status in 2019 and continuing to travel a comparable amount in 2020. However, I do include a link to an Excel spreadsheet toward the end of the post for those of you starting from scratch and planning to earn Southwest elite status for the first time during the year. This should help you determine the overall value specifically for you.

How much is Southwest elite status worth in 2020? (Photo courtesy of Southwest.)

This brings me to the third and final critical part of this analysis: the underlying assumptions I’m making. To really hit a value for benefits, I have to assume a certain amount of flying and a corresponding amount of spending. Southwest also awards elite status a bit differently than most other airlines. Instead of earning status by miles flown, you’ll earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs), as follows:

Wanna Get Away fares: 6 TQPs per dollar spent on base fares (excluding taxes and fees) Anytime fares: 10 TQPs per dollar spent Business Select fares: 12 TQPs per dollar spent

This analysis assumes that you earn 20% more TQPs than the minimum required for the given level. I’ll then assume that you spend an average of 7 cents per TQP, which is what you’d average across the year if 10% of your purchases are Business Select tickets, 10% are Anytime fares and the remaining 80% are Wanna Get Away.

Remember too that you can earn up to 10,000 TQPs through certain Southwest credit cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card. On these cards, you’ll earn 1,500 TQPs for every $10,000 you spend on the card — up to a maximum of 15,000 TQPs for $100,000 in total annual spending.

Related: Current bonus offers on Southwest credit cards

As always, you should modify these details based on how much you’re planning to travel in 2020 and what types of Southwest tickets you most frequently purchase.

Three final pieces of information: First, since you’ll earn bonus points as an elite member with Southwest, I’m using TPG’s most recent valuations to calculate their value (1.5 cents apiece). Second, I’m rounding all numbers to the nearest $5 to make the calculations a bit easier. Finally, I’m including two different approaches for calculating the value of the Companion Pass: one earned entirely through Southwest flights and one earned with an even split between flights and partner activity. Feel free to choose whichever most closely matches your own situation.

With that out of the way, how much value can you get out of the Southwest Rapid Rewards program in 2020?

A-List ($685) A-List status with Southwest includes both priority check-in and security. (Photo by Katie Genter/The Points Guy.)

The lowest tier in Southwest’s program is A-List, which normally requires 25 qualifying one-way flights or 35,000 TQPs in a calendar year. For this analysis, I’ll base my numbers on earning 42,000 TQPs at a cost of 7 cents per TQP (so a total spend of $2,940).

Priority Boarding ($250): The first perk offered to A-List members is priority boarding. However, given Southwest’s boarding process, this is not as straightforward as the similar benefit offered to elites on other airlines. The program’s terms and conditions state that “Southwest Airlines will automatically reserve a boarding position for the member 36 hours prior to each … flight.” You’ll fall behind higher-tier elites and those who purchase Business Select tickets, but this will hopefully get you a spot in the A boarding group (and prevent the frantic check-in exactly 24 hours prior to the flight). It also avoids paying the Early Bird Check-in fee, which starts at $15 each way per passenger. Given these details, I am valuing this much higher than the priority boarding offered to low-tier elites on other airlines. 25% point bonus ($160): A-List members will earn 25% more points than non-status flyers. With 42,000 base points, that equates to an extra 10,500 points over the year, worth $157.50. Free same-day standby ($75): You can also standby on an earlier flight at no charge as an A-List member, a perk added in 2016. However, the terms and conditions state that this is only available for flights between the same cities before your originally scheduled departure time and on the same date of travel (and note that free standby is also provided for Anytime and Business Select fares, so this perk only offers tangible value on Wanna Get Away tickets). For flights outside this window, you’re still given priority over non-elites, but must pay a fare difference if a seat opens up. This perk also doesn’t extend to non-elite travelers on the same reservation, nor will it apply to a companion utilizing the Companion Pass benefit. Given this limited utility, I’m valuing this a bit lower than comparable benefits on other carriers. Priority check-in and security ($150): You’ll also get priority check-in and security benefits as an A-List member, which can be especially beneficial if you’re checking bags. Southwest’s policy of free checked bags for all passengers tends to create longer check-in lines than other airlines. Priority phone line ($50): Like all other carriers, Southwest offers a priority phone line to elite members, which can be a nice perk when major weather events hit. A-List Preferred ($2,835)

As an A-List Preferred Member, you’ll enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi onboard, now available on all of Southwest’s planes. (Photo by Nick Ellis/The Points Guy.)

The second tier in Southwest’s program is A-List Preferred, which normally requires 50 qualifying one-way flights or 70,000 TQPs in a calendar year. For this analysis, I’ll base my numbers on earning 84,000 TQPs at a cost of 7 cents per TQP (so a total spend of $5,880).

Priority Boarding ($600): A-List Preferred members will automatically be assigned a boarding position 36 hours prior to departure, and they’ll be prioritized over regular A-List members (though behind Business Select travelers). I’ll double the value I used for A-List due to twice the utilization and add an additional $100 thanks to the higher priority. 100% point bonus ($1,260): As an A-List Preferred traveler, you’ll earn 100% more points than flyers without status. With the assumed flying above, you’ll take home an extra 84,000 points, worth $1,260. Free same-day standby ($175): You’ll also enjoy complimentary same-day standby on all Southwest flights when you earn A-List Preferred status, and you’ll be prioritized above A-List members, though the same restrictions outlined above still apply. Priority check-in and security ($300): Same benefit, more frequent utilization. Priority phone line ($100): Same benefit, more frequent utilization. Free in-flight Wi-Fi ($400): The final perk for A-List Preferred members is free internet access on board. This usually costs $8 per day and is available on 100% of Southwest’s planes. The value of this benefit is dependent upon how frequently you need the internet in the sky, but I’ll assume a value of $400, which is equivalent to paying $8 per day for 50 days. Companion Pass with flying and partner activity ($4,020)

The next tier in the Southwest program isn’t actually an elite status tier but is still worth valuing: the Companion Pass, one of the most lucrative and rewarding benefits in the travel industry. It essentially gives you a Buy 1, Get 1 free on all Southwest flights, including both paid and award tickets. You’ll earn it by taking 100 qualifying one-way flights or by earning 125,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points in a calendar year — the latter of these two thresholds was increased for 2020. Note that these are slightly different than the Tier Qualifying Points identified above, which are generally earned only through flying. However, you can earn points toward the Companion Pass in a variety of additional ways:

Flying on Southwest Doing business with travel partners like hotels and car rental agencies Dining through the Rapid Rewards Dining program Opening and/or using a Southwest credit card (like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card), including sign-up bonuses

The latter three will not count toward A-List or A-List Preferred Status but will count toward earning the Companion Pass each year.

For this analysis, I’ll assume that you just surpass the point threshold by earning 130,000 points. However, for this first part, I’ll assume that your points originate from flying and partners equally, earning 65,000 points from each (so a total spend of $4,550). Note that this will give you A-List Preferred status (and the benefits it confers) plus the perk of the Companion Pass.

Priority Boarding ($375): Your A-List status will grant you priority boarding (as I outline above), though with 65,000 base points, you’ll be able to utilize it roughly 50% more frequently. 100% point bonus ($245): By earning 65,000 points on flights during the year, you’ll take home 16,250 bonus points as an A-List member, worth $243.75. Free same-day standby ($100): Same benefit, slightly more frequent utilization. Priority check-in and security ($225): Same benefit, more frequent utilization. Priority phone line ($75): Same benefit, more frequent utilization. Companion Pass ($3,000): Trying to land on an exact value for the Companion Pass is incredibly difficult, as it depends entirely on how frequently you can bring your designated companion on a flight. Remember too that the pass is valid for the year in which you earned it and the entire following year, so you could get nearly two years of use from the perk. This number is based on bringing your companion along on twelve round-trip flights at a value of $250 apiece — though you should adjust it if you plan to utilize it more (or less) frequently. Companion Pass through flying alone ($8,250)

You and your travel partner will be toasting in mid-air if you’re able to score a Companion Pass on Southwest. (Photo courtesy of Southwest.)

For this final part of the analysis, I’ll assume that you earn the Companion Pass solely through flying and surpass the qualification threshold by the same amount as the prior scenario, spending the same 7 cents per point. This means that you would’ve earned 130,000 base points by spending $9,100 in the year, granting you both the Companion Pass and the perks of A-List Preferred status. You’re thus traveling roughly 50% more than a “regular” A-List Preferred member outlined above, and the following values reflect that.

Priority Boarding ($900) 100% point bonus ($1,950): You’ll take home 130,000 bonus points with the assumed flying above, worth $1,950. Free same-day standby ($250): Same benefit, more frequent utilization Priority check-in and security ($450): Same benefit, more frequent utilization. Priority phone line ($100) Free in-flight Wi-Fi ($600) Companion Pass ($4,000): Under this final scenario, you’re traveling twice as much as the first Companion Pass example above. However, with this extensive travel during the year, I’d venture a guess that you wouldn’t be able to use the Companion Pass twice as frequently. As a result, I’ll peg this at $4,000 based on taking 16 round-trip flights that would’ve normally cost $250 apiece — but again, please adjust if your utilization differs. What if I’m starting from scratch?

You may have many flights at the back of the plane until you reach the qualification threshold for A-List status. (Photo by Emily McNutt/The Points Guy.)

As I mentioned at the outset, these numbers are based on the benefits you’d enjoy by spending a full year with the given status. However, if you’re starting from scratch, the calculations become a bit more complicated, since you won’t start to enjoy any benefits until you hit the 35,000-point mark and earn A-List status. To help modify the analysis for those individuals, I’ve taken the above valuations and converted them to a value per Tier Qualifying Point, excluding the combination Companion Pass category:

A-List: $685 / 42,000 TQPs = 1.63 cents per TQP A-List Preferred: $2,835 / 84,000 TQPs = 3.38 cents per TQP Companion Pass (solely travel): $8,250 / 130,000 TQPs = 6.35 cents per TQP

I then created an Excel spreadsheet that uses these numbers to calculate how much value you’d get from the different levels of Southwest elite status given a certain amount of flying. All you need to do is change the number in cell A2 to represent the number of TQPs you expect to earn in 2020, and the spreadsheet will update with the corresponding value.

For example, you’ll see that I have pre-loaded 80,000 TQPs. At this rate, you’d get no benefits from the first 35,000 points, then enjoy A-List benefits for the next 35,000 points (at a rate of 1.63 cents per TQP) and then enjoy A-List Preferred benefits for the final 10,000 points (at a rate of 3.38 cents per TQP). This means that if you’re starting from scratch and estimate that you’ll earn 80,000 TQPs in 2019, you’d be able to get $908.33 worth of perks from the Rapid Rewards program.

As always, feel free to adjust the numbers above for each tier (loaded into the “Base Data” tab of the spreadsheet) based on your own personal valuation.

Is it worth it?

So given these values, is it worth pursuing elite status (or the next tier of elite status) with Southwest? Just like with any analysis we undertake here at TPG, there isn’t an easy answer to this, as it depends entirely on your individual situation. However, here are a few over-arching questions that can help you arrive at a decision:

How much will you travel in the future? If you earned Southwest elite status in 2019, it’s valid through Dec. 31, 2020, and if you qualify in 2020, your status will last until Dec. 31, 2021. It’s critical to think about how much you’ll be traveling in the future. If you push hard to earn A-List Preferred, for example, the valuable perks outlined above only apply when you actually travel. What’s the incremental value of one tier over another? Many of you may wind up within striking distance of the next tier, so be sure to consider whether the benefits are worth pushing for it. There’s no sense in going out of your way for perks that don’t matter to you. How well does Southwest’s route map match your typical travel patterns? There’s really no point in pursuing elite status with an airline if you can’t feasibly fly it on a regular basis. Be sure to consider Southwest’s service from your home airport(s) and how easy it is to get to your desired destination(s). How sensitive are you to price and convenience? There are many tradeoffs in this hobby, and one of the most common is deciding whether to use your preferred airline or hotel chain when it’s not the most convenient or cheapest. Would you book a one-stop Southwest flight if Delta had a cheaper nonstop option? If the answer is no, it may not be worth going out of your way to earn status with Southwest (or elite status with any airline, for that matter).

These questions are also not easy to answer, as there are many different factors that come into play with each of them. Nevertheless, it’s a worthwhile exercise to evaluate your own situation as you decide to determine if Southwest elite status is for you!

Bottom line

Southwest is an interesting case study in loyalty, as some travelers won’t even consider flying on another airline, whereas others would rather take Greyhound than set foot on a Southwest plane (that’s only a mild exaggeration). Even though the Rapid Rewards program is revenue-based, the overall value proposition of flying Southwest, especially its “fun” atmosphere, is appealing to many.

But when you add in valuable perks like the Companion Pass and the carrier’s no-fee change policy, it’s easy to see why Southwest has such loyal fans. If you’re considering pursuing elite status with Southwest this year, I hope this analysis has helped you come to a decision.

This is The Points Guy’s permanent page about Southwest Airlines elite status, so you can bookmark it and check back regularly for the latest information. Keep in mind you may see some reader comments referring to outdated information below.

Related video:

Featured photo courtesy of Southwest.

Read more about this at thepointsguy.com

https://blogsandtravels.com/what-is-southwest-airlines-elite-status-worth-in-2020/

[trekadvisers]

Use Emirates’ Fifth Freedom Routes to Enhance Your Flights to Europe

Courtesy of The Points Guy by Ethan Steinberg

It’s no secret that US airlines are not fans of the Gulf carriers, specifically the so-called Middle Eastern Three (or “ME3” for short). For years, US airlines have lobbied to restrict the expansion efforts of this trio, composed of Emirates, Etihad and Qatar, claiming they receive illegal government subsidies that threaten American jobs. One of the main points of contention in this dispute was around “fifth freedom routes,” or flights that an airline operates between two countries that are not its home country.

What’s interesting about this particular aspect of the dispute is that Emirates is the only one of the ME3 to operate fifth freedom routes to and from the US. In fact, it only operates two, both of which go to Europe. Fifth freedom routes can be a fun way to fly a top-notch foreign carrier in place of a run-of-the-mill one, and Emirates’ service to Europe is no exception. Today we’ll take a look at how to use these fifth freedom routes to upgrade your next flight to the continent.

Booking Emirates Fifth Freedom Flights to Europe

Let’s start with the basics. Emirates’ two fifth-freedom routes are both from the East Coast to Europe. One is from New York-JFK to Milan (MXP) operated by the carrier’s flagship Airbus A380 aircraft, and the other is from Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH) on a Boeing 777-300ER. Both flights continue on to Dubai after stopping in Europe to load and unload passengers.

You have a few different options for booking these flights using points and miles, though there are some obvious winners and losers. Given that several of these loyalty programs use distance-based award charts that have different prices for JFK-MXP and EWR-ATH, I’m going to split this up into two sections. We’ll start with the more popular New York to Milan route. Not only is it a shorter distance (and therefore cheaper to book with both JAL Mileage Bank and Qantas Frequent Flyer), but this is the route that features Emirates’ flagship A380, complete with onboard bar and shower.

Program Transfer Partners One-way Award Rates JAL Mileage Bank

Marriott

  Economy: 23,000 miles

Business: 42,000 miles

First: 65,000 miles

Emirates Skywards Amex, Capital One, Marriott

Economy: 38,750 miles

Business: 62,500

First: 85,000 miles

Qantas Frequent Flyer Citi, Capital One, Marriott

Economy: 28,000 miles

Business: 60,000 miles

First: 90,000 miles

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Marriott

Economy: 47,500

Business: 105,000 miles

First: 180,000 miles

While you won’t be disappointed flying an Emirates 777-300ER between Newark and Athens, expect to pay higher award rates with the two distance-based loyalty programs:

Program Transfer Partners One-way Award Rates JAL Mileage Bank

Marriott

  Economy: 37,000 miles

Business: 60,000 miles

First: 90,000 miles

Emirates Skywards Amex, Capital One, Marriott

Economy: 38,750 miles

Business: 62,500

First: 85,000 miles

Qantas Frequent Flyer Citi, Capital One, Marriott

Economy: 35,000 miles

Business: 72,000 miles

First: 108,000 miles

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Marriott

Economy: 47,500

Business: 105,000 miles

First: 180,000 miles

The one thing missing from the charts above is the cost of taxes and fuel surcharges, which can skyrocket quickly on Emirates awards booked through JAL, Emirates or Qantas, especially in premium cabins. You can expect to pay about ~$180 in taxes for economy awards and ~$550 for business or first class awards in each direction.

To avoid these charges, consider booking through Alaska Mileage Plan. While the carriers award rates are absurdly high for such a short hop across the Atlantic, you won’t have to pay any fuel surcharges. Your first class award will only cost you $19 in taxes and fees as a result. You can check out this guide for an in-depth walkthrough of how to calculate and avoid fuel surcharges on Emirates awards.

Is It Worth It?

Of course, Emirates is not the only airline operating these routes. If we lump JFK and Newark together and look at flights from the New York area to Milan, we can see that all three US legacy carriers fly the same route (along with Alitalia and Air Italy). Both United and Delta also fly nonstop from New York to Athens, though for the purpose of this post, I’ll focus on Milan where the competition is the fiercest.

Now Emirates award rates in every cabin are higher than what you’d pay on most other airlines, but you have to ask yourself what you’re getting in return for that. Even in economy, Emirates is known for providing edible meals, friendly crew and an in-flight entertainment selection that’s enough to keep you occupied all the way to Dubai.

You typically won’t hear those adjectives used to describe other carriers on a transatlantic flight. Instead, phrases like “mediocre and lackluster” come to mind, and “decent, if you have no other option available.” You’re certainly not going to find a cabin this clean and spacious on most of the American planes flying to and from Europe:

Economy class cabin of the Emirates A380 between New York-JFK and Milan. (Photo by Julian Kheel / The Points Guy)

I’m not sure I’d go so far as to say that this economy cabin is worth paying extra for (8,750 extra miles if you book directly through Emirates), but one huge benefit of Emirates is that the A380 has roughly 400 economy seats taking up the entire lower deck, meaning you’re almost guaranteed to find award space.

The difference in passenger experience gets even sharper in premium cabins, which is really saying something, as Emirates’ A380 business class seats are far from cutting-edge.

Emirates A380 business class. (Photo by Emily McNutt / The Points Guy)

That being said, Emirates does have an undeniable edge when it comes to hard product, as it offers a walk-up bar for business and first class passengers (if you can find time to enjoy it on the short, eight-hour flight).

  Again, if you need convincing to pick Emirates over the domestic competition, just think about your other options. While American no longer uses 757s with recliner seats to Europe, you’ll still find many transatlantic routes operated by 767 aircraft that don’t even have built in TV screens.

Something’s missing in American Airlines’ 767 business class. (Photo by JT Genter / The Points Guy)

The award rate for Emirates isn’t bad either — 62,500 miles is a hair above the what most carriers charge for a one-way business class award to Europe. The $550 in taxes and fees does sting, but at least you know you’ll be getting a greatly-improved flight experience, from food to seat to service.

Last but not least is Emirates first class, a bucket list item for award travelers (and something absolutely worth trying once, no matter the cost). The gold-studded suites are one of the best first class products in the entire world, and while features like the in-seat minibar might be a little over the top, that’s half the fun.

Yes the flight to Milan is short, but you should have just enough time to eat …

drink….

shower …

… and change into your pajamas before grabbing some shut-eye.

It goes without saying that this is a significant improvement over what any US airline can offer. Your only problem after an Emirates first class flight to Europe is saying farewell after you land.

Bottom Line

No matter what cabin you choose to book, there generally isn’t a more comfortable way to get to Europe on points and miles. Picking the right program to redeem for Emirates award is a challenge, as some miles (like JAL) are hard to earn and others (like Alaska) have higher award rates. Still, if you’re looking to upgrade your next trip to Europe, there’s no better way to do so than to splurge for one of Emirates’ fifth-freedom routes. While the taxes and fuel surcharges are high in premium cabins, you get what you pay for with a massively-improved onboard experience.

All photos, including featured photo, by Nick Ellis / The Points Guy (unless otherwise noted).

Original Article: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/emirates-fifth-freedom-routes-europe/

Check out the original post here: http://www.jamcosolutionsllc.com/use-emirates-fifth-freedom-routes-to-enhance-your-flights-to-europe/

[lilyrose-terraharuka]

Finally it's finished! :yay:

Here is the second poster of this project that I am working on sometime in the future. I finally managed to release some character names this time so if you have trouble reading the text. Here is the character list in order:

Kimberly Silbeo (Lilium Hope / Silver Quartz Prism) – Luna and Anna's guardian and a eldest of the group. A well-trained police officer who protected her citizens from danger, including her childhood friend and love interest of Mami. She holds the rare legendary crystal known as the Silver Prism that past down from her family that runs the Samurai clan to give hope to her kingdom; hence she became Lilium Hope. Her theme color is silver and has ability to fight and speed; making her the strongest of the group, hence why she is the leader. She is Yuki and Azure's cousin. Mami Kogane (Lilium Love / Golden Quartz Prism) – A childhood friend and love interest of Kimberly. She is the maid of the Princesses, who serves them as a royal maid. Mami holds the rare legendary crystal known as the Golden Prism, that was past down from her family to spread love to her kingdom. Although not the strongest, she is a very kindhearted lady with the full spirit, which is why she is called Lilium Love. Her theme color is gold and holds the most dangerous psychic powers in the world. She is Sakura and Momo's cousin. Sakura Akaibara (Lilium Rose / Ruby Prism) – A smart, graceful girl who is not afraid to do everything. Originally from Purus Mundi, Sakura is Seleva's first daughter and was born with special powers that was past down from her family's both magical and psychic powers for genterations, but was forbidden due to her health problems, but did not last long when she became Lilium Rose. Her theme color is red and has rose-based magic abilities. Momo Akaibara (Lilium Tulip / Garnet Prism) - Sakura's younger sister and Selva's second daughter. She is clumsly and shy, but has a good-natured mind who thinks of her friends and others. Like her sister, she too also has powers, but is a lot weaker. She became Lilium Tulip when her sister and her friends were in a pinch, along with her best friend Azure. Her theme color is pink and has ability to use her pure life energy to heal. Rin Daemon (Lilium Passion / Jasper Prism) – A street girl who lives alone. She is tough and rude to people and likes to fight. Rin used to live in planet Purus Ignis before she ran away to find her missing brother, who is rumored to be the leader of the gang. Her mother, Hestia let her transferred to Oton Academy to search for his missing brother, but later become friends with Sakura and her friends but Gloria, due to her dark family history with the Purus Caelum citizens. Her heart change when she became Lilium Passion and realized that not every Caelum is bad, and it was revealed that she and Gloria are, in fact, cousins. Her theme color is orange and has the ability to use fire. Gloria Angeli (Lilium Honey / Topaz Prism) – A famous idol and a pop singer, where her life is full of luxuries. Gloria is the daughter of the Oprea Singer Maria and the Pianoist and Rockstar, George “Nick” Angeli of the Purus Caelum. She is a kind senior to Momo and Azure and a kindhearted girl to anyone, and doesn't care that she's rich. She is also best friends with Clara, and later Rin, who revealed to be her cousin. When she became Lilium Honey, she gains more powerful than anyone else. Her theme color is yellow and has the ability to use starry-based powers. Clara Actias (Lilium Mint / Emerald Prism) – An gifted elf with a strong heart, who is rumored to be an elf priestess of Purus Silva. Clara is a serious girl who attends Advance Classes of Oton Academy. Because she is raised by nuns in childhood, she is very open-minded and strong. Her mother, Lima, is the Priestess and rumored to transform into a giant legendary butterfly, who guarded her home planet from enemies, and has a strong courage to give her good luck while attending Oton Academy, so she can become Lilium Mint along her friends. Her theme color is green and has wind abilities. Yuki Nunumi (Lilium Snow / Sapphire Prism) – A Mermaid who is born with ice powers, a rarest kind of abilities that mermaids used. Yuki is the first child of Aoira and the sister of Azure, who they are from Purus Mare. Her father is rumored to be related to an samurai who protected her Mermaid Queen years ago, but later became a legend. To prevent her ice powers from being alienated by her own species, her family moved next door where Sakura and Momo lives. She later became Lilium Snow when she accepted her ice powers. Her theme color is Dark Blue (Indigo). Azure Nunumi (Lilium Aqua / Aquamarine Prism) – Yuki's little sister and the second child of Aoira, who is related to the Mermaid species. Azure is best friends with Momo, and later became Lilium Aqua when her sister, Yuki, and her friends are in danger. Like Momo, she is very shy, but has very good nature. She likes to swim in the pool and at the beach, which is why her theme color is Light Blue (Aqua) and has water powers. Jacqueline Vitis (Lilium Grape / Amethyst Prism) – A daughter of the famous basketball player and a housewife, Aurora. Jacqueline is an outgoing sports lady who energetic and active, and is also good at basketball. Jacqueline is originally from Purus Aevum, which is home to ice sports and hotels. Her theme color is Purple and has Lightning powers, due to her a lot of energy. Princess Diana “Luna” Rìyuètán of Lunar Kingdom (Lilium Moonlight / Moonstone Prism) – The eldest twin who holds the power of the moon. She is the Princess of the Lunar side of the Lunisolar Kingdom and became Lilium Moonlight, along with her twin sister, when her Kingdom had been took over by Malum. She gets along with Azure. Princess Lianna “Anna” Rìyuètán of Solar Kingdom (Lilium Sunshine / Sunstone Prism) – The youngest twin who holds the power of the sun. She is the Princess of the Solar side of the Lunisolar Kingdom and became Lilium Sunshine, along with her sister, when her Kingdom had been took over by Malum. She gets along with Momo. In case you guys don't know who Malum is, he's the enemy that the girls that have to deal with. What does he look like? The world may never know. c: I had way too much fun doing this and I really hope this series will pick up someday because I wanted to get a toyline of this series someday. ^^ Hope you enjoy! :3

[investmart007]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand | 42 weeks pregnant, New Zealand minister cycles to hospital

New Post has been published on https://is.gd/iop8Yz

WELLINGTON, New Zealand | 42 weeks pregnant, New Zealand minister cycles to hospital

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — It was a beautiful morning, according to New Zealand’s minister for women, so after 42 weeks of pregnancy she decided to hop on her electric bicycle and ride to the hospital to give birth to her first child.

Julie Anne Genter this week posted a picture of herself outside the Auckland City Hospital holding her bike, saying she was ready to be induced and “finally have this baby.”

“This is it, wish us luck!” she wrote, adding that “My partner and I cycled because there wasn’t enough room in the car for the support crew … but it also put me in the best possible mood!”

Genter announced that she’d given birth Tuesday evening to a healthy boy weighing nearly 4.3 kilograms (9.5 pounds).

“We waited a very long time for labor to start, but when it did it was short and sharp,” she wrote on Facebook.

She was congratulated on Twitter by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who gave birth to a daughter, Neve, two months ago.

“So pleased to hear of the safe arrival of the newest addition to the parliamentary play group,” Ardern wrote. “Hope you enjoy those very special first few days.”

Genter’s ride to the hospital made news around the world, and her Instagram photo was noticed by actress Kristen Bell, who wrote on Twitter “what a babe.”

Genter, 38, wrote that the ride with partner Peter Nunns was “mostly downhill” and joked that she “probably should have cycled more in the last few weeks,” in order to start her labor earlier.

Ardern, 38, was just the second elected world leader in modern times to give birth while holding office, after late Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto gave birth to daughter Bakhtawar in 1990.

Ardern is admired by many working women around the world. She and Genter gave birth at the same public hospital.

Genter was born in Minnesota and graduated from U.C. Berkeley before moving to New Zealand in 2006. A member of the liberal Green Party, Genter is also associate minister for transport and a strong advocate for cycling.

The Green Party tweeted that her ride to the hospital was “the most #onbrand thing ever.”

Genter said she wasn’t planning on cycling home from the hospital and instead would ride in an electric car with her mother and her baby, while other relatives would ride the bikes home.

“I cycled to the hospital for the joy of it!” she wrote on Facebook, adding that she “knew it may be last ride for a few weeks.”

By NICK PERRY, Associated Press