text:
Despite a tough market in August, Raymond James (RJF) executives said Thursday that its two broker-dealers are set for a strong fiscal-year performance for the period ending Sept. 30. The executives discussed these and other developments, like a potential bid for Morgan Keegan, during the firm's annual Women's Symposium being held this week in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Revenue at RJFS is up an estimated 12% year over year, according to Dick Averitt, head of the independent channel, and could be roughly $1.17 billion for the year. Average yearly production per advisor in this part of the private-client group has risen roughly 15% to $360,000, Averitt said.
In the employee channel, assets have at a compound annual growth rate of about 16% in the past 10 years and stand at about $90 billion, according to Dennis Zank (left), who heads the division. Average fees and commissions per advisor are $538,000 with overall revenue for the year totaling an estimated $715 million.
"As a company, we have a target of hitting a 15% growth target," said COO Chet Helck speaking at the conference. "One way we do this is by adding productive capacity and another way retention, which is a problem for our industry as you see some firms hemorrhaging people." An alternative means for growth, he adds, is acquisitions.
In an interview with AdvisorOne, Helck said the firm's operations overlap with those of Morgan Keegan, in the fixed-income arena. "And we have to account for that," he said, implying that Raymond James wouldn't likely move to acquire the broker-dealer, which is now for sale.
Attrition rates at some other broker-dealers, Helck (left) says, can be as high as 15% to 20%. "Replacement is not happening, and they are shrinking." This should help the firm continue to recruit advisors, he adds.
Overall, the firm's recruiting momentum is looking good, after a brief slowdown, due to attractive retention bonuses, the Raymond James executives say. At the peak of the crisis, they stress, recruiting was "off the charts."
The strength of the firm's recruiting efforts over the past few years, Zank says, is translating into higher production, assets and overall results today.
In the coming year, he anticipates recruiting 120 advisors with $60 million in production for the employee channel. During the heyday of the crisis, "We peaked at north of 200," he explained.
For this fiscal year ending Sept. 30, RJA expected to attract advisors with $51 million in yearly fees and commissions and actually hired some 110 wirehouse and other reps with about $54 million in production.
On Wednesday, the company shared its results for August. Fees and commissions ticked up 6% from July and 20% year over year for the month as clients tinkered with the portfolios. Overall private-client assets under administration rose 14% year over year but fell 2% from July to roughly $270 billion.
"The market in August can be summarized by high volatility and uncertainty," said CEO Paul Reilly in a press release. "Despite the S&P 500 recording a decline of 5.7%, operating results were steadfast overall."
"August and the beginning of September have proven to be difficult months for the market due to the slowing of the U.S. economy and concerns over European Bank solvency issues," Reilly said. "Despite the turmoil, the Raymond James model continues to demonstrate its ability to perform. We continue to recruit in all of our business lines and take advantage of opportunities while other institutions cut their workforces."


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Below are some game changing technologies that will help shape 2010 and the years to come:
- Solid State Disk (SSD)
- Hosted Cloud Computing
- Column Based Databases
- Unstructured Information
- Ontologies / Taxonomies
- Mining Engines (in-database)
- Broad Based Web Services
- Data Visualization
- Flash & Silverlight Front-Ends
- Analytic functions in Database Engines
- Business Rules Engines Melding with ETL and Web Services
- DW Appliances
If you're not familiar with these technologies, it would be good to get a grasp on them as we move forward. By the way, SSD is now available in Macintosh Powerbooks - did you know this? Solid State Disk has no moving parts, and is anywhere from 75x to 150x faster than standard disk devices.
Hosted cloud computing will bring the rise of EDW/BI as a service - There will be open and closed clouds available. Of course the open clouds are things like Amazon EC2, closed clouds will be hosted in data centers over VPN, sponsored by vendors and the like - but will bring on the data warehouse and BI as a service solutions. Mark my words - combining cloud based services with DW appliances will make things seemless for the back-end. You will be able to mix and match technologies for appropriate purposes (column based data stores mixed with standard or traditional database engines). The whole game is changing!
Unstructured information is coming to the table, businesses are finally realizing the value hidden in their unstructured information - and the technology is beginning to mature in this space. It's taken many years, but it's coming of age. Unstructured information can be "hooked" dynamically through Data Vault Link structures to structured data sets. It can be interpreted by applying ontologies and taxonomy break-downs. It can then be applied to build dynamic or RAM based cubes - lending itself to data exploration in a rapid fasion.
In-Database mining engines are making their way to the fore-front. This is going to continue, as database engines get stronger - they will absorb more and more Transformation functionality. Moving the transformations closer and closer to the data set - this is where the future is. Real-time data mining will be available as another transformation call. Real-time mining will be a continual running neural network - that takes transactional input and grades it on the fly. This has been happening for years in the research community, and in the robot community - it's high time it moved in to main-stream technology.
Broad based web-services will be used, especially with the rise of the cloud technologies. What we will see is: Cloud To Cloud vendors, technology that specializes in cross-cloud communication through web-services and grid components. These technologies will include compression, encryption, and secure communication channels at high speeds over "smart" routers, hubs, and switches. In fact - it wouldn't surprise me to see routers and switches get smarter, and include layers of web-services within their hardware that allow cloud-to-cloud communication over secure protocol.
On the BI side of the house, we will see a continued rise of use in Adobe Flash platforms, and Microsoft Silverlight platforms for Data Visualization. We will move into the realm of using multi-touch, fly-through, dynamic graphs and 3D land-scapes for our data. We will see an evolution of 2nd life, or technologies similar to this - where virtual worlds will offer the BI meeting spaces of tomorrow. But these graphs won't be static. You'll be able to alter, change, play what-if games with them, add metadata ON-THE-FLY, and write the new data back to dynamic cubes.
As database engines, appliances, and vendors sort themselves out, more and more transformation logic will be included in these engines - to the point where some of the "transformation" notions will be engineered into firmware or hardware levels. Continuing to move the data closer and closer to the storage will be the end-goal. it won't matter if the storage is old-world disk (standard disk), or SSD. In fact, I would argue that the database manufacturers will work a deal with the SSD manufacturers, and have custom "Smart-Storage" built to include transformation functionality at the data store level.
ETL engines will re-focus their efforts on managing and manipulating the Metadata around the transformation logic. People like Tielhard (who just sued everyone in the land-scape) will have to work deals with database vendors to provide transformation functionality at the hardware level. "traditional" ETL vendors will no longer exist - they will change to provide service based, cloud based technology - again, with a heavy focus on metadata management, process design, and controls.
Did I miss something? Comment on what you see!
Dan Linstedt
Posted November 12, 2009 3:15 AM
Permalink | 1 Comment |

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Disney Cruise Line Reviews
Year Started: 1996
Ships in Fleet: 4
Category: Upscale
Summary: Everything Disney; great entertainment, Disney characters, movies and live theater. Interactive fun for all ages. Only four ships, two older, two newer.
Disney Cruise Line Cruise Ships
Regions:Caribbean Eastern, Caribbean Western
Good for: Families. Teens. Children`s Programs.
Regions:Bahamas, Caribbean Eastern, Caribbean Western, Mediterranean Western, Transatlantic
Good for: Teens. Children`s Programs. Families.
Good for: Children`s Programs. Teens. Families.
Regions:Alaska, Bahamas, Caribbean Western, Mexico
Good for: Families. Teens. Children`s Programs.
User Reviews
I rarely write reviews, but this time i am so grateful...i just can not be silent.
To make a long story short...On the way to the port i realized that I (don't judge) forgot the folder with our passports at the hotel. I panicked! Going back to the hotel and then returning to the port would take 2 hours and would cost me around $200.00 extra.
I am so glad our driver (company is called STAR TRANS-VIP - www.startransvip.com) offered to call the dispatch priorto going back. After he spoke to them we had to wait for 10-15 min and then one of the dispatchers called back and let the driver know that they called the hotel and they will be able to fax our passports! I was worried that that would not work, but when we got to the port i was told that we will be able to board. Thank you so mush...to the driver, who kindly waited for us to make sure everything was ok, hotel staff and the cruise line! I am so grateful!!!!
I'd like to share a racist encounter I had with a Disney employee on a Disney Fantasy cruise. The appalling incident took place on Sept. 21, 2013, and ruined my entire cruising experience.
At 9:50 p.m., I was standing in front of The Tube (Disney's adults-only nightclub), waiting for my wife. Two Disney staff members (one male and one female) stood at the entrance of The Tube. While I was minding my own business, the male staff member called me a "chink" and walked away. (I later discovered his name was Franky, the host of cruise game show "Match Your Mate."
As a Canadian citizen of Chinese descent, I was extremely offended by this racial slur, and shocked that Disney would hire racially intolerant people as employees.
On September 22, I reported this horrible incident the front desk. On September 23 at 2 p.m., my wife and I discussed the incident with Mike, the assistant cruise director, at Cove Cafe. Mike informed us that he would talk to Franky a second time (Franky claimed that the incident never happened when Mike first talked to him after I filed my complaint).
I later filed aformal complaint in writing to Disney after leaving the cruise. In response, Joel Hayes, Disney's "executive guest correspondent," apologized, but refused to disclose any disciplinary proceedings, only vaguely saying that my "concerns were handled accordingly." This was despite my insistence that, as a victim of an ugly racist remark, I am entitled to know that Franky's punishment was appropriate for the level of embarrassment and pain that this incident has cause myself and my wife during what was supposed to be an enjoyable vacation.
As a result, I have lost my confidence in Disney hospitality. It is ironic that Disney is reputed to have top-notch management, as this has not been my experience in the least.
In all our past cruising experiences (as frequent cruisers, Disney Fantasy was our 24th cruise), this was the only one in which a cruise staff member directed a racial slur at me, a paying guest.
This was our first cruise - EVER. I wasn't sure about the price, seemed reasonable until I read the other comments today indicating otherwise.
We had a great time, but felt it was too much packed into too short a period of time. Our next cruise will be a minimum of seven days. Period.
I'm all for fun, lots of fun, but have several concerns with this cruise experience -
1) The pools were completely shut down after fireworks so a party could take place. Again, I'm all for fun, but my kids wanted to swim and there was nothing available that evening other than very, very loud, rock-type music that got on our nerves - BIG TIME. Because our kids are 9 and 11, they weren't allowed into the splash pad which also closes early.
2) Compared to the WDW experience, the character lines SUCKED. What was most surprising was there were ZERO characters available at any of the evening dinners. No characters walking around and greeting the children, giving autographs, allowing for pictures. Instead, you had to WASTE your valuable time standing in a stupid line waiting ang waiting and waiting. Iguess that was the price to pay. At WDW, you can plan your meals (with the dining plan) and eat at restaurants at least once every day with characters abounding throughout the restaurant.
3) No lifeguards at all so it was a big free for all with wild kids jumping in an already overcrowded pool with zero consideration for others safety and enjoyment. Parents nowhere.
4) Stateroom (level 10) was great other than it always seemed hot and stuffy. A/C didn't keep up.
5) MAKE SURE to have your luggage outside your room by 10:30PM the night before disembarkation. We weren't aware of this little policy and had to man handle all out luggage off the ship. No big deal though and it was our fault anyway.
6) Don't even think about internet availability. I'm self-employed so I"m almost always in work mode. Bad mode while at sea or at a port. Doesn't work... even though I was charged over $15.00 for service.
7) Food was great at the three restaurants, my request for an additional slab of prime rib was met without question, and it was excellent. HOWEVER, pizza, burgers, and chicken strips after hours? That's it? We were very disappointed by this. After hours crap food in my opinion. Maybe my expectations were set too high, but I though because this was a cruise, I could eat what I want, when I want it, 24/7. Forget it.
8) If you want to get somewhere in the ship - TAKE THE STAIRS. The elevator lines were a joke and big waste of time - waiting in lines AGAIN.
I booked a cruise with Disney not too long ago. The ship, The Wonder, was sailing out of Miami of January 24th 2014. I booked my cruise at that time as it was affordable for myself and my family. This was my first cruise and I found it more affordable to book my airfare on my own, as it was much cheaper. I got an e-mail last week saying the cruise was cancelled, due to unexpected maintenance. No other time of the year is an option for me and Disney will not reimburse the cost of my airfare, saying I must use it and incur the penalties prior to being reimbursed for the change fees. I told them the only reason I booked air to begin with was to go on this specific cruise and they refused to satisfy my request. I am now out over $900 in airfare that I am not going to use, and if I do will have to pay $600 in penalties. I strongly encourage anyone booking through Disney to look at other options!!!!
We were incredibly lucky enough to be serviced by Christian, Sebastian, Svetlana, and Yosif as our dining staff. I had a fantastic time with all of them, they knew the kids, and they made sure that the kids had a great time.
As for the boat itself, its the perfect size for 3-8 year olds. Not too big where it could hold thousands of people, and thus be REALLY busy, but not too small where everyone that was on board was on top of one another. We were also lucky enough to have found the Disney cruise groups on facebook and the Disney forums. The inclusion of "Fish Extenders", and all that new friends that they brought made the trip extra special.
The side trips/excursions, in my opinion, where way over-priced, and the only one that I truly enjoyed was the Great Alaskan LumberJack show oddly enough. They did a great job at including the adults and whole family, and the kids loved it. Some things to be warry of in Alaska:
1) The constant drone of Jewelry sales.
2) The constant drone of "selling Disney Vacation Club", and
3) the constant advertisementof more jewelry. Honestly I don't get it. I understand that the retailers, which are likely owned by the cruise lines, which are providing kickbacks all over the place, have a captive audience and need to make a buck, but the amount of garbage that is advertised got to be a bit ridiculous...to the point where many of us in the party of 67 where cracking jokes about it, as most educated consumers wouldn't be buying jewelry or other expensive items in a place that we couldn't return them if not satisfied with the purchase. So be it.
The food, I like seafood. I had seafood every night, sometimes doubles, with the only exception being the night that we had Beef Wellington, which was HEAVENLY ! I had heard a lot about the poor food on DCL, or that they don't season their food too much for kids sake, but I gotta tell ya, as a foodie, I loved everything they did with the seafood, and my beef Wellington.
Is this a NCL, Princess cruise level experience, NO - its not supposed to be. IMHO, its supposed to be a family vacation, with your family, so if you go at this cruise with the right perspective you will have an amazing time. The look on my 3yr old little girls face the first time she saw Minnie Mouse was worth every penny to me. "Daddy, its Minnie Mouse!!"
Embarking/Disembarking - Vancouver. Bring your patience. Bring your camera. They had a Mickey/Minnie photo spot set up in the way back as the boarding had run late due to late docking times in the morning. If you need the babysitting facilities, also sign up while waiting in the terminal to board. I can say I never once saw a kid turned away from the Lab or Club due to over crowding. The staff in general was amazing. The room was in good shape, though 2532 and 2530 are connected and you can hear each other.
That was unfortunate for the group in 2530 as I caught pneumonia the last 2 days of the cruise as I had unintelligently decided to hang out outside on deck for 4 hours in Tracey Arm with only a fleece on. My apologies to the family in 2530, for all of the hacking and coughing the last few days.
When our son found a good deal on a Disney cruise to Alaska, my wife and I decided to join our granddaughter and him. It was our first time on a Disney cruise. The cruise left from the port of Vancouver, went ashore at Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan in Alaska and returned to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Having been on Caribbean cruises with sunny weather, we applied our past experience to the Pacific coastline as to what clothing to wear. I remembered in 1979, when the operator at the Prince Rupert BC tram said out of 365 days, 250 days had limited viewing because of cloud cover and rain. This allowed us to bring appropriate clothing - rain gear and warm clothing when going outside.
When making selections as to port adventures, we tried to incorporate what the highlights of the area were and our various activity levels and then preordered them. Also, we pre-ordered a 24 pk of bottled water, a 6pk of beer, and a couple of day spa packages. These items were delivered to our staterooms before we boarded.
We assumed that besides a formal night on the cruise,there was to be a pirate night. We went out and purchased inexpensive pirate items at Dollarama and put them in our suitcases. We found out pirate night is only Caribbean cruises.
Unique to Disney, is that you can carry alcohol aboard in a travel bag. Wine will be charged a corkage fee if you bring it to your seated dining.
We used the VINCI Park (604-684-2251) at Canada Place to park our truck as we did not fly. The cost was $186.21 CDN for 8 days. It has a reservation system and is conveniently located under the boarding area.
We signed up for the early dinner seating 5:45 pm thus enabling us to go see the shows at Walt Disney Theatre at 8:30 pm. If we had chosen the late dinner seating at 8:15 pm, we could see the shows at 6:15 pm.
We selected an early boarding time between 11:30 am and 12. The pre-boarding process took about 1.5 hours. The longest was waiting in line to get to the Disney agent booths, where we got our pass for boarding which also served as our room key. We passed through US Customs and then an area in which you get embarkation photos taken before scanning your pass.
DAY ONE - Onboard
Upon entering the Disney Wonder at the middle of the ship on Deck 3, they scan the security pass. It displays the picture you got taken at the agent's booth. You then are introduced to the staff waiting to greet you as you board. You feel special with this grand entrance.
As we had not eaten since breakfast we headed to the 9th Deck for something to eat at the Beach Blanket Buffet with our travel bags. We then went to our staterooms to offload our travel bags. As half of our suitcases had arrived at our staterooms, we were also able to unpack them.
One of our friends, a past guest, on a Disney cruise said he took over 3000 pictures with his camera and that a good deal was to have linked CD picture package for $350 especially when you consider the number of professional photo opportunities (those with imposed backgrounds and those with Disney characters). He also suggested the need to reserve early to the Disney Friends Tea Party as there was a limited number.
By the time we got to Guest Services on the 3rd Deck to reserve our tea party pass, we missed getting the first seating (had a waiting list), but were able to get the second and final seating. We also booked some beverage seminars that had a nominal fee (Beer tasting $15, Wine Tasting $15, Martini Tasting $15, Champagne Tasting $30, Chocolate & beverages $30). Next, we looked on the 9th deck at the Arcade and Vista Spa for special opening day packages. Then, we returned to the room. Our final suitcases arrived, so we finished unpacking.
We met on the 9th deck. Our granddaughter was going down the slides in the Mickey Pool, as we passed under the Lions Gate bridge, while we enjoyed sipping on Drink of the Day – "Nautilus". At 4:30 pm, we shifted to the Goofy Pool to enjoy the cruise staff's official "Adventures Away" opening. We enjoyed its 'bubbliness'. When it started our granddaughter was just watching, by the end she was shaking her pom-poms.
At 5:45pm, we headed to the Animator's Palate for seated dining on Deck 4. We were escorted to our assigned seats at Table 71. Our server was from Croatia, assistant server from Thailand, and head server from Jamaica. As Disney has rotational dining. They followed us we went the other Dining rooms – Parrot's Cay and Triton's Deck. They even have a kid's menu.
The thing about cruising is the food. The gourmet dining and access to other restaurants such as Goofy's Galley (soft ice cream station is also there), Pluto's Dog House, and Pinocchio's Pizzeria increases the possibility of gaining a pound a day. Although we would usually access the Vista Fitness Center (Deck 9 fore) to burn off the extra calories, we didn't.
Initially, we were disappointed in the quality control of the food – lumpy sweet potatoes and food temperature. The head server brought this to the attention of the 2nd cook with whom we discussed our concerns. The end result was that we were happy with the food experiences.
Then, we walked over to Shutters Photo Gallery to see if our embarkation photos had been processed. We found they would not be ready until the next day. As we continued walking towards the shopping areas, we passed the Atrium area where and looked down onto the 3rd deck lobby area. This is where most of the character appearances take place. They shift characters every ½ hour. Guests can take pictures with their own camera or let the Shutters staff use your camera or let them take professional shots.
We bought an Ariel jewelry music box at Mickey's Mates, looked at perfumes in the Treasure Ketch, and purchased a carton of cigarettes at Radar Trap (Deck 3).
Walt Disney Theatre is the location of the main performances – 4th Deck fore. The shows started at 8:30pm with doors open before 8pm. If you get there early you get a good selection of seats. The initial performance was called "Welcome Aboard: Let The Magic Begin". The main performer was a physical comedian, Michael Holly.
DAY TWO – At Sea
We decided to have a sit down breakfast so we went to Triton's Deck. My granddaughter enjoyed her Mickey Mouse waffles, while the rest of us had Eggs Benedict.
After eating, our son took his 7 year old daughter to the 5th Deck mid-ship to the Oceaneer Lab. She received a monitoring bracelet and could only exit with a scanned adult who gave the prearranged password. Initially, she was apprehensive; she thought she was going to a Daycare. But, after an hour she was delighted in going to "The Club".
We headed to Wavebands, Deck 3, fore, to play 4 games of bingo at 10:45am. We did not win the door prize – a diamond and sapphire pendant.
At 12:00 noon, our wine tasting was in the Cadillac Lounge. It was hosted by the sommelier from the Palo Dining room. We then got a quick bite to eat at Beach Blanket Buffet. We needed something in our stomachs before starting the Beer Tasting at 2:00pm at the Cadillac Lounge.
As my wife and I decided a nap was in order, our son went to Surf & Sea where the internet service is headquartered. As the service is noticeably slower than what we are accustomed to, buying a package for a block of minutes is the way to go.
In conjunction with the formal dining night was the Captain's Welcome Reception. Professional Photographic opportunities abound during this dress-up time. You need to get in the line-ups early, if you want to access most of them.
After dining at Parrot's Cay and getting some photos we made it to the Walt Disney Theatre around 8:10pm to get seats to the Golden Mickeys. The production was a spin-off of the Oscar awards complete with the Red Carpet. We were proud grandparents when we watched on screen our granddaughter wearing a Cinderella dress being interviewed by Rona.
DAY THREE – Tracy Arm
In July of 2004, we drove to Anchorage, Whittier, and Homer Alaska from Whitehorse, Yukon. The weather was warmer than early June on this Alaskan cruise. Early in the morning, the deckhands had on parkas and wore toques on the 9th deck where I went to get our morning coffee.
We preferred our morning breakfasts at the Beach Blanket Buffet because we could select the quantity and type of food we wanted.
At 10:45am we arrived at Wavebands to get a family package of Bingo cards ($80). Bingo started at 11:00am.
As we got closer to the glaciers, we passed a couple of humpback whales and the water turned a glacial blue. There were many small icebergs in the Tracy Arm fjord. We did not make it to the end, the Sawyer Glaciers, because in our path on a small iceberg was a mother seal and her pups. Having icebergs beside the ship, many guests did not make use of the swimming pools. A few used the hot tubs.
At 4:30 pm, we went to the Cadillac Lounge for our Champagne tasting.
After eating supper at the Parrot Cay, we went to see The Ricky Kalmon Hypnosis Show at Walt Disney Theatre.
DAY FOUR – Skagway
When we arrived the sky was overcast but the sun shone through. Many of the locals were so happy that they peeled to their short sleeve shirts.
There are many choices as to shore excursions. Our neighbor took the float plane trip and said it was wonderful. My wife and I chose the street car & railway tour. The street car tour guide gave us a delightful rendition of the history of Skagway. Then we boarded a bus and headed to Fraser BC on the Klondike Highway. The snow surrounding the highway had started to disappear 3 weeks ago. We saw a mountain goat and her kid up on a ridge before stopping at the marked border and were given a history on the Alaskan gold rush. We passed through a customs check before got on the train from White Pass railway. It was interesting 21 mile train ride travelling on the sides of mountains and going over trestles. We had to go through Customs again before departing from the train.
Skagway's 862 residents had to contend with the tourists from three cruise ships that were at port. The stores were quite full. The jewelry stores got a lot of business as shopping guides from the ship make you feel you can get great deals.
My son and granddaughter went on the Klondike Experience tour. I thought her highlight would have been immersing herself with Idtarod sled dogs and their pups, she really enjoyed gold panning and the resulting gold flakes. She did not care for the cold chamber.
We had supper at Triton's Deck before going to see the movie Iron Man 3.
DAY 5 Juneau
We arrived in the morning mist at the capital city of Alaska. Most of their groceries come in from Seattle by containers as Juneau is only accessible by boat or plane. My wife and I did some power shopping (magnets, rocks, t-shirts) before staring our port adventure.
We boarded a bus that took us to the Medenhall glacier visitor centre. We walked for 25 minutes along the path to the Nugget Creek Falls and got a closer view of the glacier. On top of some of the icebergs (part of the glacier that broke off into the ocean) in the bay were bald eagles. We took a picture of the state flower (the forget-me-not) in bloom.
Next we went to the Mount Roberts Tramway. It is owned by the Alaska Native Tingit people. At the top, we watched an 18 minute documentary film in the Chilkat theatre about Tingit heritage and observed the spectacular views of Juneau, the islands, and passage.
Our son and granddaughter chose the "Fins and Grins" shore excursion. He had taken his daughter fishing off of Vancouver Island, but wanted learn more about salt water fishing. He learned all about downrigger usage.
He said he enjoyed the scenic trip to Auke Bay where they boarded their fishing boat. Their boat with 6 tourists ran into a school of Dolly Varden and caught three of them as well as quite a few sole.
We talked to man from Diana, Texas, on the cruise. He and his family enjoyed the 11 platform zip-line adventure.
After supper at Animator Palate, we went to the Walt Disney Theatre to see "Toy Story – The Musical". Most of the shows last a little over an hour. As our granddaughter was hungry, the only place I could get her food outside of room service was Pinocchio's Pizzeria because the rest of the places were closed.
DAY 6 – Ketchikan
After eating breakfast, we played bingo at 10:00 am in Wavelengths.
It was raining when we arrived in Ketchikan. I got off the ship to get the free give-aways at the jewelry shops before buying a jade pendant for my daughter at the Jade Shop in the "salmon capital of the world".
At 1:00 pm, my wife and granddaughter went on the Duck Tour. It is a narrated tour on an amphibious vehicle which explains part of the Ketchikan highlights. My wife said that the ones in Boston and Chicago are much better. My granddaughter had the pleasure of shopping with her grandmother and being spoiled. They had rain throughout their tour.
At 2:30, my son and I took the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour offered by Disney. The Princess cruise line gave them plaques as being one of the best Alaska port adventures. I agree. They run two tours a day.
They give you a sample of the skills need to fish. Our first stop they bring up a drop line. They caught three sculpins and one rat fish. They released the rat fish in the aquarium in the middle of the boat for closer viewing. The next stop was the most exciting because they fed the bald eagles. Imagine 25 bald eagles swooping to get herring thrown into the water. My son took 30 pictures. To ensure the tourists get to see catches they keep a crab pot with golden king crabs, a crab pot with rock and Dungeness crab, and a barrel pot with an 8 pound Pacific octopus all sealed. Their prawn trap is live. They release the prawns in the aquarium after the tourists have held them. The crabs are also held but then sealed back into their respective crab pots.
Some of the tourists paid an extra $80 to have a fresh crab supper with the crew. We chose to have crab leg appetizers for dinner at the Parrot Cay (My son had 2 orders).
Showtime at 8:30pm Michael Harrison, a comedian & ventriloquist performed.
My wife and I gave our 10:30 pm martini tasting to our son and his guest. Having bartender experience, he did not enjoy the flavors that were offered.
DAY 7 – At Sea
After breakfast, we used our day spa package. My wife said we should have done this on the first day at sea. She also said when my daughter and her were on the Norwegian Jade for a European cruise they were able to get a 14 day pass at a reduced rate and enjoyed using it every day.
At 12:00 pm we went to the Cadillac Lounge for our Chocolate and Beverage pairing. They had three different types of gourmet chocolate: white, dark and caramel. One of our favorites was the caramel chocolate with the Banfi Rosa Regale sparkling wine.
After having a buffet lunch we went to the final jackpot bingo ($120) at Wavelengths. It started at 3:30 pm. We were one number away from winning one of the minor bingos.
My wife and granddaughter left at 4:00 pm to attend the Disney Friends tea party in the Studio Sea theatre on the 4th Deck. Princesses Ariel and Cinderella attended. My son & I joined them after the Bingo.
Our final dinner seating was at Triton's Deck. The servers paraded in the Baked Alaska dessert.
We were hoping that Disney cruise lines offered bargains on the last day at their shops because the four other cruise lines we have been on did. But no such luck.
The final production "Dreams" was the best show. You had to get there very early to get good seats.
We finished off our suitcase packing by 10:00pm. We wanted them outside the room by 10:30pm so that hosts could store them for port of Vancouver delivery. We did not want to bring them to breakfast and then carry them off the ship.
DAY 8 – Vancouver
We were assigned the first breakfast seating at 8:00 at Triton Deck because we were driving home and were the third group disembarking. We used the express check-out.
In very little time (20 minutes), we scanned ourselves off the ship, picked up our luggage and went through Canada Customs.
This was my first Disney cruise, but fourth overall. I have also cruised with NCL twice, and Royal Caribbean. This cruise was overpriced, when you compare it with similar styled cruise lines
The food quality was substandard at best. Most of our meals came out lukewarm, heavily sauced, and over salted. This was consistent throughout the cruise. It's almost as Disney felt that since they were creating the Disney "magical" experience with the characters, that the adults and children wouldn't notice the lack of variety in food, fresh fruit or appetizing meals. I know that children's palates aren't as developed as adults, but please, there is just some much mac n' cheese (made with what seemed like velveeta), pizza and chicken fingers that a child can eat over the duration of a 7 day cruise. The orange and apple juice was only available during meal hours, so if you didn't plan ahead and bottle some for your stateroom, your child was drinking milk or from the soda station
We had a family deluxe oceanview. Our stateroom attendant was polite and did a great job of keeping our room clean, tidy, and well stocked withfresh towels, etc.
The Disney meet and greets were fantastic for the children. You have alot of opportunities during the cruise to meet with the different characters. If your little ones are looking at getting some autographs and pictures, you will want to get the majority of them as early on in the cruise as possible. Disney runs their ship lean, which means closer to the end of the cruise, you have less opportunity to meet the characters as many of them double for the evening entertainment. Also, for those families that didn't get their quota of photos earlier on in the cruise, they are now scrambling to get as many photos as they can before the end of the cruise. Picture taking is scheduled, and random all at the same time. Since there always seems to be a character(s) walking around on the ship, you often end up taking unplanned pictures causing you to miss other onboard activities. Due to the lineups sometimes taking a 1/2hr or more for photo taking, kids often end up getting cranky. If you can take turns with lineup duties, and have your little ones join you just before their photo is to be taken, you will make your life alot easier.
All three swimming pool areas for the younger babies, children and adults were extremely small and insufficient for the number of people onboard.
The evening (Broadway type) entertainment was also fantastic, and is definitely a higher calibre to what I've seen on other ships. The shows were done "Disney" style, and they didn't disappoint. The pirate party was also fantastic, with the fireworks show at the end - Awesome!
We did our own excursions and we were quite happy with the price and activities we were able to do on our own. I've always found that the excursions offered by cruise lines were higher than what you can get if you plan it yourself, but make sure you do your research beforehand, so you're not wasting time at port. If planning ahead isn't for you, then go with a pre-packaged excursion since there's bound to be at least one which, will interest you and your family.
If you want to see as many Disney characters as possible - than this is the cruise for you. If you are looking for the best quality cruise experience for your dollar, I would recommend a similar styled cruise which offers some character events and children programs.
Reading this review you might think that this cruise wasn't that bad, but please take into account that this itinerary only goes to 3 ports of call. Leaving alot of time spent using the amenities and onboard activities. Overall, this cruise was disappointing due to the cost, poor amenities, and the lack of quality food.
We just returned from our first Disney Cruise. We had 13 in our group, daughters and husbands, and grandchildren(6,5,4,and 2 years of age.) The cruise was out of this world. I'm in a wheelchair, so we got a handicapped room. The room 7136 was out of this world. Roll in shower, grab bars and roll under sink. I also rented a mobility scooter from one of Disney's recommended companies. It was waiting for me when I got there.
The ship is very handicap accessible, plenty of handicap bathrooms all over the ship. Dinning was excellent, rode scooter to dinner and waiter moved it after I transferred to chair. Food was great all over the boat. Plenty of food to snack on 24 hours a day. Castaway Cay was wonderful. All walkways paved so the scooter worked well. Used a beach wheelchair to go onto beach and enjoy my grandchildren.
Food on island was fabulous, ribs, bbq chicken, corn on cob, chips, baked beans, salad, fruit and cookies. Pool were excellent for the children, they are on the 9th deck near the drink station and ice cream machines(open 24 hours), Pete's Boiler Bitesoffered Chicken tenders, hot dogs, hamburgers, FF all day long. The Buffett had the best prime rib ever. All food on the ship was excellent. Looking forward to our next Disney Cruise.
This was our first time on DCL. We set out from Port Canaveral, where DCL has their own terminal. Very smooth operation. The Disney Dream is a beautiful ship, very clean and easy to navigate. Our 4 night cruise took us to Nassau and their private Island, Castaway Cay.
Castaway Cay was just like all other private Islands in the Bahamas own or operated by the cruise lines. Castaway Cay has the advantage that the ship does not have to tender, but docks right into port where a disney tram shuttle awaits and takes you to the main center.
Disney Cruises has everything well coordinated as far as shows,movies and activities. The only drawback I encounter were the long lines for picture taking and character meets.
The stateroom was very accomidating, we had a varanda on the deck 10 fwd. Large enough for two people, but it would be a bit crowded for 4 which is what is intended for.
Dining was very different, since you are schedule to dine at a different restaurant every night. I had mixed reviews for all three and to sumarized I wasn't thrilled with the idea,much toonoisy with the young ones. Food was not as good as I expected, however the Cabana dining for lunch was the best of any ship I've been on with their sea buffet selection.
I took this cruise with DW because of a good discount offered to Florida residents, I would never paid full price for this cruise, however I must say to be fair that anyone with children would probably enjoy it more. Disney Cruise line is not for adults even though they advertise as such. I don't beleive I would take a Dsiney Cruise again unless it was a Transatlantic repositioning with less children on board.
Well, we're back from Disney Dream – our first cruise with DCL. I thought it was an amazing holiday – but certainly not a relaxing one. We're currently booked for Fantasy for next spring break, but I'm not sure if we will keep the reservation or not. You can see my cruising history in my signature which gives some perspective to some of my comments. While we/I love Disney, I don't view Disney through rose-coloured glasses.
Characters – I had an amazing time on Dream. However, I did not feel it to be a relaxing holiday (my own doing). I felt somewhat rushed to take everything in. I never wanted my kids to miss a character, so it felt like one of us was always standing in line for something. There were a couple of disappointments when we'd been standing in line only to be told that we were now lining up for a different character. At the Farewell, we also got cut off when we were the next in line for Chip and Dale. All that being said, the characters were AMAZING. They spent sooo much time with each child, oftensinging and dancing. On our sailing we had, Snow White, Cinderella, Tiana, Aurora, Ariel, Jessie and Woody, Tink, Remy, Smee and Hook, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Chip and Dale, Pluto and Goofy, Pinochio, Peter Pan, Mr.&Mrs. Incredible, Lilo&Stitch, and probably a few others too. We'd sometimes encounter characters coming/going to a photo op, and they ALWAYS stopped to give a hug and chat. The character experience was truly magical. The character experience was a zillion times better on DCL than it was on the Dreamworks cruise on Royal (FOTS).
Autographs – we dropped off our photo mats at guest services. My son did not want princess signatures, so I wrote NO PRINCESS on his bag. My daughter ended up with almost all the signatures. My son however, only ended up with the VIP (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy,Pluto, Goofy and Chip&Dale). He was heartbroken that he did not get any "boy" characters like Woody, Hook, Smee etc. At 9:30 on the last night (when the photo mats were delivered to our room), I ran to guest services and came across the most amazing cast member who wanted to spread some Disney magic to a sad little boy, and ran about the ship to track down the characters and have them sign my son's photo mat. The hard part is now picking one of 600 photos to put in the frame!
DH – I was really unsure how my DH would fare on DCL. We are far from gambling addicts but we do enjoy gambling on our cruises. I had kind of thought that without a casino, we would have tons of free time to do as we pleased. But we seemed to be kind of bored. We only ever had small pockets of time between shows/characters/meals that we were not sure what to do with ourselves. As I note above, we're not sure if we will keep our Fantasy reservation or not. DH was kind of Disneyed-out, and I admit, so was I.
Keys – We had a lot of trouble with our room keys. We had to go through 3 batches before they would work. I'm not sure what the trouble was, but it ate up about 2 hours on first day trying to sort this out. Even after that, we only had our keys working, and could never use the kid's keys to open the doors. I just got tired of pursuing it.
Wave Phone – the wave phone concept is great and I saw many using them. I'm not a techno-expert but I'm pretty savy, and I had trouble figuring out how to use the phone. I probably should have taken the phones to guest services and asked for a tutorial!
Splenda – if you're like me and you like splenda – bring your own! They ship had little yellow packets, but they were not splenda – they were nutrasweet.
Food – overall the food was pretty good. I found the food at Cabanas to be much higher quality than the buffet food found on other cruise lines. The food in the main dining room was very good, but I would consider it to be on par with other cruise lines. Be warned that the breakfast in Enchanted breakfast is buffet, and the lines are long and slow. If you want a sit down breakfast go to Royal Palace and if you ant buffet go to Cabanas. I found Disney did an excellent job of fish (sea bass was excellent!) and an excellent job of roasts. I like my beef medium rare and it was always perfectly cooked. I was disappointed with the desserts. I don't think there was a single dessert that I ate in entirety (other than a mickey bar!). I buy my pastries and cakes from some fine bakeries, so I guess I have a demanding dessert palette. I enjoyed the Celebration cake the most, but if I had paid money for it in a restaurant I would have been disappointed.
Service – this is DCL's strongsuit. The service was excellent. I might still give the edge to HAL for service though. One of the things I most noticed was the service during breakfast/lunch – which are open seating. On most ships, you have excellent service at dinner when you have your dedicated wait team who are working for their tips. The wait staff on Disney watch out for each others guests, and they give phenomal service to all guests. This truly sets Disney apart. Even with open seating at breakfast/lunch, the waiter always made a point to find out our names before they came to our table so they could personalize the service. Even the head waiter was excellent.
Tips – DCL is also quite unique in this area in that there was NO BEGGING for tips, which is often found on most cruiselines. Many cruiselines start telling you on the very first night, with a big sell on the last few nights that you need to tip, tip, tip. I can't recall if there was even any mention of this at all. We asked one water how DCL was as an employer compared to the other cruise lines and we were asking him about compensation, benefits etc. When this question is asked on other lines, they very quickly tell you that they are not paid at all. This is true for Disney, but we had to pull this information out of him, whereas on any other ship, the waiters try to find a away to let you know they work for tips.
Service Questionnaire – At the end of every cruise on any lines, guests are asked to complete a satisfaction survey. Usually, on the last few nights the CD makes a point of soliciting 'excellent' reviews telling guests that they must report excellent because the cruiselines view "very good' as not good enough and that even "very good" ratings get held against them. We received no such pressure from the DREAM CD. In fact, Disney goes so far as to ask if you were pressured in any way to give an excellent rating. Kudo's to Disney for wanting honest feedback. Entertainment – was excellent! We saw Golden Mickeys, Villians, and Believe. All 3 shows were excellent. We also had Mike Super on the ship, and he was truly lavenous.
Kid's Club – was good. I think given the number of kids' they have going through the club, they do an excellent job. My kid's really enjoyed the kid's club but not as much as they have on other ships. They never begged to go to the kid's club and I think that had to do with the number of kid's in the club. On other ships (HAL comes to mind) they have so few kids onboard, that they are able to give amazing personalized service to each family. I asked my 6 year old daughter to rank the kid's clubs and she ranked them in this order HAL, Disney, RCCL, Carnival.
Family Environment – I found that Disney did a very good job of the "family" environment. There were no hairy chest or beer belly contests that I've found on most ships. On other ships, we've enjoyed family activities such as family mini golf tourney, family scavenger hunt, family trivia etc. I'm not saying that Disney didn't have these events, but if they did, they were timed for older families (with teens) later at night, or they were timed when they conflicted with shows or character events. You can't do it all on any ship, and that is the case with DCL.
FE - I panicked before leaving when I read someone write here that the FE space is very narrow and it was! I had made my FE to about 10 inches and it was at least 2 inches too wide. We were on an inside cabin that crossed through the ship, so our cabin steward was not too concerned. If we cruise Fantasy next year, I will use the same FE just shorten my stick from 13" to 10.5" so the stick doesn't stick out as much. The FE was a wonderful experience. We only had 9 families in our group which was perfect. It was easy to manage from a cost perspective, and did not eat up too much time running around the ship. Almost every time we came back to the cabin there was a gift waiting. We gave out the Wilton Mickey Cookie Cutters and a package of Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix. We received 2 music cds, sleep masks, pez dispensers, silly bands, buttons, water pistols, stickers, markers, pencils, notebooks, candy, pirate stuff, St. Paddy's stuff, and much more.
Private Table in MDR - We requested a private table for the four of us and received it. I had heard wonderful stories here of Disney pairing guests who forged friendships after their cruise. I contemplated changing our request, but never did. Our table of 4 was always paired with another table of four who based on demographics were a good match for us. They looked to also be in their early 40s and had kids the same age as ours although their daughter might have been a year older and their son a year younger. We were certainly within speaking distance, and made several attempts to make eye contact or engage with them. There were several times when i'd smile at the other mom, and rather than smile back, she'd look away. When DH attempted to speak to them, we'd get brief answers and then they would terminate the interaction. My point is that Disney does a pretty good job of demographic match-up but they can't account for people who are not social.
Formal Night – I see a lot of questions about formal night. On Disney Dream - I am not certain there was one. Usually, cruises make a big deal (in the navigators and by the announcements) of letting you know when it s a formal night. Usually, the night before, the wait staff will also tell you that the next night is formal night. We came prepared with formal wear for 2 nights. For my daughter, every night was formal! We asked at Breakfast on Day 2, and were told that you could be formal whenever you wanted and that most people were dressier on nights they were in Royal Palace. By Night 4, I noticed that people were dressier, as I was walking around the ship, so we broke out our formal wear for nights 4 and 5. Don't stress over it if you don't want to be too dressy. I think business casual is perfectly acceptable on DCL. A 7-night cruise might be different though.
Magical Porthole – loved it! I don't think we ever felt like it was a true ocean-view. But, there were a constant parade of characters. I also liked that we could shut it off at night. I love the black-out you get with an inside cabin.
I think that is pretty much it. I'd be happy to answer any questions, especially from anyone who wants information comparing DCL to other cruise lines.


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One day, everyone gathers at Cafe "Hako-bune", where Arashi and Hajime are working, and they discuss about the summer
tradition. They end up planning to go to the beach, and Hajime is overjoyed because he will be able to see Arashi in her swim suit. Arashi, Kaya, Yayoi, Kanako is all having fun choosing swim suits from Master's collection. But Jun, misunderstood as a boy, is having a hard time trying to keep his cover. The following day, they go to the beach in Yamashiro's car. Drawing men's attention, playing with the creatures, each one of them enjoys their summer.
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When the US Supreme Court offers its ruling on President Obama's health-care reform law Thursday, only one thing is certain: At least half of Capitol Hill is going to be ticked off.
If the law stands, Republicans will fume. If the law is curtailed or struck down, Democrats will seethe.
But what next? Republicans have vowed that, rain or shine, they'll keep their focus on jobs and the economy – and incorporate whatever happens at the Supreme Court into that larger message.
Democrats, on the other hand, have not even countenanced the fact that the law might fail. At least in public, they're lining up with House minority leader Nancy Pelosi's claim that the legislation is "ironclad" from constitutional challenge.
But if a majority of the high court proves them wrong, Democrats will have to choose between defining their loss as a principled disagreement or attacking the court for what they would see as an ideological – if not outright partisan – ruling.
The Republican stance is largely encompassed by a widely circulated memo from House Speaker John Boehner (R) of Ohio to his conservative House colleagues last week.
"No one knows what the Court will decide, and none of us would presume to know. But if the Court strikes down all or part of the president's health care law, there will be no spiking of the ball," Mr. Boehner wrote. "Republicans are focused on the economy – and under President Obama's policies, our economy is struggling."
If only a portion of the law survives, GOP lawmakers say they will work to repeal the remainder – an impossibility before 2013 given Democrats' hold on the Senate – before returning with "common sense, step-by-step reforms" to fix the American health-care system.
In a practical sense, the GOP's approach means marathon House votes on measure after measure.
As yet, those plans have remained under wraps, giving Democrats a potential window to attack the GOP over popular provisions such as allowing children to stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26.
"Republicans are going to have to come out with a plan of their own," says Ford O'Connell, a Republican strategist in Virginia. "Republicans is going to have to cobble something together, because [repealing popular provisions] gives the president the best path to go after them."
For Democrats, the calculation is more complex. For months Democratic members of Congress have stressed the law's constitutionality and rarely acknowledged that the party was making even broad contingency plans, if the court were to invalidate the law.
But should health-care reform fall in whole or in part, Democrats have two likely avenues to follow. One potential response amounts to recognizing that the court is a separate and equal branch of government – and then attempt to turn the situation around on their political opponents by arguing why the case makes their favorite legislation all the more imperative.
The first path is represented by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D) of Maryland's response to the Supreme Court's decision on Monday to knock down a Montana law restricting corporate donations to candidates seeking state office.
"I am very disappointed that the Supreme Court chose today to affirm its earlier Citizens United decision. The consequences of that decision have seen the voices of ordinary citizens drowned out by the unprecedented influence of political organizations wielding tens of millions of dollars from undisclosed donors with unknown agendas," said Representative Hoyer, the Democratic whip, in a statement.
Then: "This is an issue on which Democrats and Republicans ought to stand together – and have stood together in the past – to demand fairness, accountability, and campaign finance rules that ensure every American has an equal chance to participate in our electoral process."
The practical impact of such a response to an adverse health-care decision would be for Democrats to leave the law largely for dead in pivoting to promote new legislation.
The second, more explosive, response is to challenge the court as an ideological (if not outright partisan) body that has made a significant error. That's a tack closer to Mr. Obama's criticism of the Supreme Court during his 2010 State of the Union message, when he took a shot at the Supreme Court's ruling in the Citizens United v. FEC case that has come to redefine campaign finance.
"Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests – including foreign companies – to spend without limit in our elections," Obama said. "I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, and worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people, and that's why I'm urging Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to right this wrong."
This approach would leave legislating behind almost entirely in exchange for giving Democrats a valuable political weapon.
"[T]here is some evidence in polling data that a campaign against the Court could have some positive effect for Obama," write Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake for The Washington Post's The Fix blog.
Half the country believes the court will make its decision on the basis of partisan political views, Mr. Cillizza and Mr. Blake point out, and the court's popularity has hit a 25-year nadir of 52 percent.
But the high court remains largely unknown to much of the voting public and it approval rating towers above Congress and stands a head above the president himself. And there's the punditry blowback Obama felt after his State of the Union criticism of the justices, with some calling the move an unseemly way to express his feelings on the Citizens United ruling.
"It's a dicey proposition for Obama to run a campaign against the Supreme Court," says Tobe Berkovitz, a professor of political communication at Boston University and a media strategist whose clients have included a clutch of Democratic senators. "Obama is running as an unabashed liberal, and going after the Supreme Court could make him a radical liberal ... that would make him perhaps unattractive to some moderates."
And a challenge to both parties? Whatever the message is, staying on it.
"All it takes is one live wire and you could send a shock through the system and pull what was cohesive messaging down the drain," Mr. Berkovitz says. "That's probably more a threat for the Republicans, but you could always get one of the mad-dog Democrats in the House to shoot off their big mouth and what sounded like a somewhat reasoned response can go haywire."


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How's that for a blog post title : )
I intended to write about the progress I made in my IHSW stitching this past weekend, & also to show you a few gifts I purchased for myself & one I made for someone else recently. However, I'm adding a few words about teas. Specific teas. Teas from Lillie's in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. A dear friend who lives in Cedarburg recently sent me a gift of Peace Tea from Lillie's. It is a delicious herbal tea ... so delicious that I feared it would be gone before I knew it & I would be left with none! Full of hope, I searched for Lillie's online & was ecstatic to find not only her website but a link for online ordering! I immediately ordered at least a dozen teas, most of them herbal. It's kind of odd ... I never liked herbal teas & avoided them like the plague. Then last year, or maybe the year before, I ended up drinking some chamomile for some reason & fell in love : ) Anyway, Lillie's teas have names like Grateful Heart, Evening Repose, Dawn Chorus, Dream Tea, Relaxation Tea, & the above mentioned Peace Tea. All are herbal blends & it's a real treat to have a cup of any of them! Lillie's also sells black teas. I purchased a few of those as well ... Chestnut, Coconut Custard, Vanilla Bean, Orange Spice, & Winter Spice ... but by far I love the herbal teas best. Strange, isn't it, for my tastes to have changed like this. This morning I sat down at my computer with a cup of Grateful Heart, & as I took a sip I realized that I needed to include a plug for Lillie's in my post. If you buy teas from Lillie's, I'm sure you won't be disappointed : )
Now ... on to my IHSW report. I fear that I don't have much to share with you except the start of a LHN ornament, Winter Forest. You can see the finished design here.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Teas, IHSW Report, A Few Gifts I Bought for Myself, & Something I Made for Someone : )
How's that for a blog post title : )
Posted by Shirlee at 9:07 AM 21 comments
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Finishes & Gifts
I know I should be hunkered down in my recliner stitching away for IHSW, but I'm in the midst of making lunch (it's baking in the oven) so I decided to do a blog post instead : )
Last weekend, the IHSW prequel, I finished stitching these two Pine Mountain kits. Please ignore the little white fuzzball on the first item which escaped my attention when I took the photo.
Posted by Shirlee at 1:53 PM 22 comments
Friday, June 21, 2013
A Trip Down Daylily Lane
I do love me my daylilies! They are a little bit of heaven here in the devil's playground. I was walking around looking at them this morning & thinking that I need to buy more ... lol! I will try to hold off doing that until we know if we're getting paroled from here or not. Here are photos of the ones that are blooming now. I believe the last one is an Asian lily? I bought a daylily package at Walmart & that's what grew from it! I hope you enjoy : )
Posted by Shirlee at 11:39 AM 13 comments
Thursday, June 20, 2013
A Message from Sophie
Posted by Shirlee at 1:45 PM 13 comments
Saturday, June 15, 2013
What Am I Missing?
Posted by Shirlee at 7:50 AM 11 comments
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Busy Doing Nothing
Posted by Shirlee at 11:37 AM 20 comments
Saturday, June 8, 2013
God's Creatures
Posted by Shirlee at 10:56 AM 30 comments
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
The Passing of Days
Posted by Shirlee at 1:20 PM 24 comments


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With the world awaiting the Xbox Reveal at Microsoft's Bellevue headquarters on May 21, gamers are anticipating a fall launch for the two consoles that will define next generation gaming – Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft next Xbox, currently codenamed Durango. With the first blurry teaser trailer of the new console online today, Sony did lead with what's important -- games. A couple of the top game developers for Sony's PS4 offer their thoughts on what gamers can expect from next gen gaming.
Guerilla Games has been working on Killzone Shadow Fall, its first PS4 game, with a team of 150 people. Hermen Hulst, managing director and co-founder of the Amsterdam-based studio, said that the team sizes for Killzone 2 and 3 were about 125 people. The increase in manpower was to handle the transition to next gen. The development time for his studio remained just six months longer than current gen at two-and-a-half years. Once ramped up, that window should come down to the current two year development cycle of current consoles.
"It's actually quite comparable in terms of development size and time, but if you look at the scale of what we're doing and the detail -- not just the assets, but also the more believable detailed animation and the effects -- a lot of the effort has gone into tools making sure that we can develop smart games. We've learned a thing or two on previous installments on PlayStation 3, so it's not as scary as maybe some people led you to believe. If you look at the games we've already shown, they're a lot more advanced than previous console launches. Developers were able to quickly get to grips with (the PS4) and show something up and running on the actual hardware. That's a testament to being able to work with the hardware."
Killzone has been one of the flagship first-party shooters for Sony's consoles and portables. A new game is launching for PS Vita from Sony Cambridge, Killzone Mercenaries. With no new Resistance currently planned, according to Insomniac Games founder Ted Price, Killzone will be a key killer app to entice gamers to invest in the new PS4 hardware.
"What we're trying to do is create a more vibrate environment and that requires a lot of different elements to come together," said Hulst. You can build a large city, but you want to populate it and you want to have the world acknowledge you. You want to have all of these little things working and push the quality on all those things and that means you need the hardware to support that. The hardware is really focused on pushing the notion of immediacy and I think that's going to be really important to the gameplay experience. This is next gen. This is how we bring to life a vibrant city and hopefully we're going to bring in a lot of these new elements with the new console."
Sony recently confirmed that Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo 6 will launch this fall on PlayStation 3. There's no word yet on when GT6 might make the leap to PS4. But one thing that might be holding it back is Sony's new racing IP from Evolution Studios, Drive Club. That racing sim is confirmed for the PS4 launch and it's unlikely Sony wants to compete with itself in this genre for such a small launch audience.
"Drive Club is a game that we've wanted to make for many years," said Matt Southern, Studio Game Director at Evolution Studios. "It's really a simple concept with racing only the very best cars in the world at the best places in the world. We looked at the success of first-person shooters this generation and asked ourselves what were the core reasons why those games have been so much more popular than racing games online. We decided it was because with racing games, typically there's only one winner, so we wanted to make a racing game built around teams. This allows players to share in the rewards of being in a racing club."
One of the perks of being a game developer is getting behind the wheel of the fastest cars in the world. The more successful developers can also buy those cars. Southern has sat in a Ferrari 599XX and he said no game has really been able to recreate that incredible feeling of being in that driver's seat.
"(PlayStation 4) hardware has allowed us to focus massively on creating new types of gameplay experiences rather than the old school definition of next gen, but it still at the same time allowed us to do that kind of next gen exploration," said Southern. "We have about 110 developers on our team and the vast majority of them have a very unhealthy obsession with cars. We've used that obsession and the power of the machine to bring Drive Club to life."
Driving games have been a mainstay for any console or technology launch, partly because the games offer photorealistic worlds and an environment that even non-gamers can relate to – being behind the wheel. Southern said that 10 years ago, when they came up with the pitch for Drive Club, the then-independent development studio wanted sumptuous levels of details from the real-world locations to the actual cars.
"We wanted people to feel like you were in that real place," said Southern. "The technology wasn't there for PlayStation 2 and when PlayStation3 came along we wanted to celebrate being lifted from the constraints of a license and come up with something truly insane and really found something special with MotorStorm, so we parked Drive Club never forgetting about it. Then when PlayStation 4 came around this presented the perfect platform for our original vision and that focus on racing clubs."
In addition to creating the new game, Evolution Studios worked with Sony in designing the new PS4 controller. Southern said the studio wanted to "nail the feeling of emulating a steering wheel because there's no better way to play racing games."
Sony outlined five principles for its next gen game development for PS4, which includes the keywords: simple, immediate, social, integrated and personal.
"I get much more excited about the new ways to play as opposed to a deep dive into the (next gen) technology," said Hulst. "When we were first exposed to the five principles, we were thrilled because we've had this idea for Killzone Shadow Fall for a very long time and when we were involved in the discussion about immediacy and personalization and social gaming and accessibility, we felt like we could show Sony this game that we'd trademarked and concepted even before we were a part of the company. It was the promise of the experience for me that was the real exciting thing. I just love making games for new consoles. There's nothing cooler or more exciting for a game developer."
That excitement will build after May 21 as both Sony and Microsoft prepare to showcase new gameplay on June 10 and then allow the industry to get hands-on with software for the first time at E3 2013 in Los Angeles June 11-13.


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Mare Obscurum No. 3
Mare Obscurum No. 3
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• A daily summary of global reports on security issues.
Assailants shot dead five Iraqi policemen at a road checkpoint in Baghdad on Tuesday, getting August off to a grim start just days after the local government said July was Iraq's deadliest month in two years.
The attacks come amid a drawdown of US forces and political instability in Iraq. Iraqi politicians are still fighting over who should become prime minister because of unclear results in the March elections and there is speculation that insurgents are taking advantage of the discord.
News reports did not say how many attackers were involved in Tuesday's shooting, which took place early in the morning. They fired guns with silencers and left behind a black flag to represent the Islamic State of Iraq, says CNN, the call sign of an umbrella group with alleged links to Al Qaeda. The same flag was planted last Thursday, after suspected Al Qaeda militants attacked another checkpoint and killed 16 Iraqi officers.
STORY: Obama touts withdrawal in Iraq. Does he sounds like Bush?
Also Tuesday, in several separate incidents around the Iraqi capital, roadside bombs wounded a total of six people and mortar rounds damaged a building, CNN reports.
While the number of US service members killed or wounded in Iraq has been on the decline, according GlobalSecurity.org, the July death toll for Iraqis was the highest in two years. The Iraqi health ministry announced Saturday that 535 people were killed and 1,043 were wounded across the country last month, says the Voice of America.
Maliki offers to stand down
Some have blamed the recent wave of violence on the political impasse in Iraq's Parliament. On Monday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sought to avoid public criticism, saying in a televised interview that he will not seek a second term if another candidate is agreed upon, Reuters reports.
"I say to the Iraqi people, to those who say Maliki is the problem, I'm ready to freeze my nomination," he said, adding: "The problem is bigger than a single candidate."
Politicians have said the choice of a prime minister is the main stumbling block in negotiations on forming a government nearly five months after a parliamentary election.
Drawdown of US troops
Also raising fears of instability is the gradual drawdown of US soldiers in Iraq. President Barack Obama vowed again yesterday to fulfill an agreement with the Iraqi government to lower American troop levels from 80,000 to 50,000 by the end of this month, in a speech that may draw comparisons to former President George W. Bush, reports The Christian Science Monitor. The US has agreed to remove all troops from the country by the end of 2011.
Juan Cole, blogger and author of Engaging the Muslim World, quotes T.S. Eliot and says the US mission in Iraq is ending "not with a bang but a whimper" –and without an Iraqi government in place. But he says that Obama is making the right moves.
The main thing to remember is that the US military, all the time it was in Iraq, was never really in control at a neighborhood level and that tens of thousands of US troops could not prevent the Civil War from killing so many Iraqis. So there is no reason to think that keeping a large US combat force in Iraq could eliminate political violence. In fact, since the guerrillas used to lay roadside bombs for US convoys, and often missed and killed civilians, the end of active US patrols in the cities actually contributed to a fall in violence.
Moreover, US combat troops cannot help anyone form a government and are irrelevant to Iraq's stalled political process. So Obama is right to stick to the timetable.


text: Residents of Northwood are back in their homes after being asked to evacuate yesterday due to an explosion and fire at the city's municipal airport. Iowa Public Radio statehouse correspondent Joyce Russell discusses which bills in the legislature might become laws in 2014. The Blank Park Zoo's Amur tiger has died, and what Iowa City is doing about a recent rash of sexual assaults in taxicabs. Also, an Olympics update from the Des Moines Register's sports columnist Bryce Miller in Sochi.


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Pasadena, CA - January 4, 2013 - A&E Network has lassoed its newest original real life series "Rodeo Girls" (working title) from The Weinstein Company. Pre-production has commenced on the network's eight one-hour episode order. The announcement was made today by David McKillop, Executive Vice President of Programming for A&E Network and BIO Channel.
"Rodeo Girls" goes behind the scenes and offers a glimpse into the lavish and glamorous world of the women of the pro rodeo circuit. Proving that these competitions are more than just cowboy boots, chaps and spurs, these prominent and privileged rodeo queens are the exception to the rule. Made up of equal parts rhinestones and blue jeans, the ladies of the rodeo work hard, ride fast and play rough. As they travel around the country competing in their sport, these women are fueled by motivation to win, bringing their colorful attitudes with them.
Hailing from backgrounds as diverse as their credit card purchases, these women are in the center of it all and have the big rigs to prove it. Whether coming from million dollar mansions, carpools and inheritances, or working nights to make ends meet, the fierce opponents give it their all as they compete each weekend. All cattiness and drama aside, these tough cowgirls will stop at nothing to fulfill their dreams of being crowned national champion. Of course when everyone is chasing the same goal, there is plenty of backstabbing to go around... not to mention plenty of cowboys!
"We are thrilled to be working with The Weinstein Company on 'Rodeo Girls,'" said McKillop. "The women of the competitive barrel racing world are formidable athletes living sensational lives and we are excited for our viewers to go along for the wild ride."
"Rodeo Girls" is executive produced by Meryl Poster, Barbara Schneeweiss, Roe Baker and Darcy Lapier for The Weinstein Company and Stephen Land for Jupiter Entertainment. Executive producers for A&E are David McKillop, Elaine Frontain Bryant, Lily Neumeyer and Devon Graham.
About A&E Network
A&E is "Real Life. Drama." Now reaching more than 99 million homes, A&E is television that you can't turn away from; where unscripted shows are dramatic and scripted dramas are authentic. A&E offers a diverse mix of high quality entertainment ranging from the network's original scripted series, including "The Glades" and "Longmire," to signature non-fiction franchises, including the Emmy-winning "Intervention," "Duck Dynasty," "Hoarders," "Beyond Scared Straight" and "Storage Wars," and the most successful justice shows on cable, including "The First 48." The A&E website is located at www.aetv.com.
About The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC is active in television production, led by former Miramax Films President of Production Meryl Poster, who returned to the company in 2010 as President of Television. TWC is the studio behind such hit television series as the Emmy(R) nominated and Peabody Award winning reality series "Project Runway" and its spin-off series "Project Runway All Stars" and "Project Accessory;" the VH1 reality series "Mob Wives" and its spin-off series "Mob Wives Chicago" and "Big Ang;" and the critically acclaimed HBO comedy/crime series "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" which also received a Peabody Award. The company is in production on the upcoming TLC series "Trailer Park Lives" and the Lifetime reality competition show "Supermarket Superstar" hosted by Stacy Keibler. TWC's other projects in development include the martial-arts epic "Marco Polo" for Starz, an untitled private eye procedural for FX, and "The Nanny Diaries" developed by ABC with a pilot by Amy Sherman Palladino.


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Job Information
BCD Travel Travel/Sr. Travel Associate in India
Where willyourcareer take you? We're not just any travel management company. We help clients travel smart and achievemore.
Travel Consultant III
Job Summary:
The Travel Consultant III is responsible for accurately and efficiently handling incoming requests via multiple channels (i.e. phone, email, etc.).
The travel consultant is the primary point of contact for the customer and provides active travel consultation towards the business customers, including providing travel details and up-selling of related product.
This position performs at an expert/senior level and demonstrates an extensive understanding and applicability of all areas in the travel industry. Works independently on requests. Takes the initiative to provide assistance to team members and management as requested.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Handling incoming requests:
- Expertly use the appropriate BCD Travel tools and systems to complete requests
- Search and confirm travel reservations for the customer
- Strong understanding of a client travel policy and can appropriately guide and consistently provide consultation to the customer
- Provide travel offers and general travel advice to travelers
- Responds to requests accurately and completely
- Excellent knowledge and application of travel supplier rules
- Maintains, actively communicates and seeks expansion of current knowledge of the state of the various travel industries supported
- Provides the customer with the required industry information, such as low fares, exchange costs and penalties
- Can fulfill all requests regarding necessary regulations (DOT, TSA, passports, visas, etc.)
- Supports BCD Travel and client driven initiatives
Problem Solving:
- Appropriately responds and resolves customers inquiries
- Anticipates and provides assistance on potential challenges that may arise for the customer
- Performs follow-up as needed and within the time frame promised to the customer
- Proactively provides feedback to management to avoid future customer issues
- Accurately processes the complaint (BCD Travel systems and processes and procedures)
- Appropriately displays empathy and acknowledging statements to diffuse emotion during adversity
- Consistently exceeds individual and team goals
- Effectively uses the telephone systems
- Completes reservations with minimal errors
- Consistently follows BCD Travel call/email guidelines
- Adheres to BCD Travel policies and procedures to maintain quality control
- Provides the customer a full recap of the confirmed itinerary
Service Excellence:
- Responds to the customer promptly
- Provides the customer his/her undivided attention
- Listens and captures information from the customer
- Responds appropriately
- Asks questions targeted to encourage complete responses
- Creates rapport with the customer
- Matches the customer's tone and pace
- Keeps the interaction moving forward
- Offers suggestions to the customer and anticipates needs
- Is mindful of the client service level agreement in all transactions
- Seeks opportunities to review operational processes and the commercial relationship with customer and provides suggestions for improvement
- Volunteers for additional tasks
- Actively supports other team members within and across teams
- Uses positive language and word choices to avoid negative customer reactions
- Matches the customer's tone and pace
- Applies proper BCD Travel communication guidelines and standards (clear, concise and personal) to interactions
- Uses correct grammar in interactions
Essential Qualifications:
- Minimum of 3-5 plus years' experience in the corporate travel management industry
- Solid working knowledge of the travel industry, policies, procedures and processes
- Advanced skills on travel industry systems (i.e. GDS)
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in designated languages
- Proven ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously
- Ability to work flexible hours
- Ability to work independently, exercising discretion and judgment
- Demonstrated excellent professional customer service and problem resolution skills
- Strong problem solving and/or critical thinking skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor degree preferred
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
- Demonstrated internet research skills for customer information
Statement to Third Party Agencies: BCD Travel only accepts resumes from agencies on the BCD Travel preferred supplier list. Please do not forward resumes to our applicant tracking system, BCD Travel employees, or any BCD Travel office. BCD Travel is not responsible for any fees or charges associated with unsolicited resumes. Violation of this statement with preferred vendors may result in termination of any active service agreements.
Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled


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by Rae Armantrout
Publishers Weekly In recent years, Armantrout's reputation has soared-she began in the '70s as an obscure, early practitioner of language poetry, and now her poems regularly appear in the New Yorker. Her new book comprises two sequences-"Versed" and "Dark Matter"-of loosely interlinked poems dealing with the prolific poet's usual subjects (the body, contemporary society, violence) as well as more personal explorations of illness and mortality, all relayed in Armantrout's concentrated, crystalline voice, with a predilection for skipping some steps along the way to sense. The first sequence, peppered with pop culture references and quoted speech, features silly yet surprisingly serious poems on topics like "'[b]reaking/ Anna Nicole news// as she buries/ her son.'Ĺ" In the playful "Scumble," the poet speculates as to "What if I were turned on by seemingly innocent words/ such as... 'extrapolate?'Ĺ" The second section, "Dark Matter," is evasively intimate and occasionally, albeit characteristically, bleak, as Armantrout (Next Life) contemplates her own struggle with cancer "with a shocked smile,/ while an undiscovered tumor/squats on her kidney." In what may be moments of intense, sardonic honesty-"Chuck and I are pleased/ to have found a spot/where my ashes can be scattered"-the poet poses metaphysical questions with open endings: jarring moments in which the stakes are suddenly, impossibly high. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Library Journal What you see is what you get in Armantrout's ninth book of free-verse poetry. A professor at the University of California, San Diego, Armantrout (Next Life) was part of the West Coast poetry community of the 1970s, which gave rise to language poetry. At best, her latest work contains brief, impressionistic poems-a few words surrounded by white space-held together by a subtle tension in the connections between words and phrases. Armantrout's poems possess a fleeting light as opposed to an epiphany and a half-heard sound as opposed to rhyme and rhythm. Take, for example, the repetition in the second and final stanza of "Someone": "I'm looking for a/ heart to heart,/ a rhyme/ between the blankness of my/ "my/ and the blue emptiness." It's difficult to know whether Armantrout's sound is, say, a mouse inside the wall or a tree branch brushing the roof of the house. When these poems achieve beauty, it lies not so much in the craft as in the eyes-and ears-of the beholder. Recommended for academic libraries.-Diane Scharper, Towson Univ., MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Library Journal It's been too long coming, but Armantrout finally shone as she should this year, receiving a nomination for the National Book Award and winning the National Book Critics Circle Award for this volume. Only apparently spare, her poems are in fact deeply distilled, glancing off reality in startling ways. With this work, she's achieved perfection. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Top 14
Rocky Elsom set for Toulon
February 25, 2013
Former Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom has been dogged by injuries in recent seasons © Getty Images
Former Australia captain Rocky Elsom will have a medical at Toulon on Monday before completing a move to the Top 14 giants.
The back-row forward has been dogged by injuries in recent years, but is set to to put pen to paper on a short term deal as temporary cover with a permanent deal reportedly in the pipeline. "If the medical is successful, then the player will sign with Toulon," club officials said in a statement.
Elsom, a veteran of 75 Tests between 2005 and 2011, has suffered a series of groin injuries and has also undergone shoulder surgery. He has been playing in Japan with Kobelco Steelers since leaving New South Wales Waratahs last year.
Toulon have lined up the 30-year-old, who also tasted Heineken Cup success with Leinster in 2009, to replace Stephane Munoz, who has been out of action with a fractured orbital lobe since January.
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Peoria, Ariz. – Former UMBC soccer standout Kadeem Dacres (Rosedale, N.Y./Mercer County CC) has signed a professional contract with the expansion Arizona United SC, of the USL PRO league.
"I'm very happy, it's an exciting time," Dacres said. "I'm looking forward to helping the team bring winning ways over here."
Arizona United SC will make its inaugural USL PRO debut at home on Saturday, April 12th against the expansion Oklahoma City Energy at 7:00 p.m. at the Peoria Sports Complex. Former Retriever Pete Caringi III will oppose his former teammate in OKC's third contest.
Dacres excelled in his two-year tenure at UMBC, which culminated as he was tabbed America East Midfielder of the Year in 2013. The left-side midfielder, shined throughout the campaign and finished third in the conference in scoring with 16 points (6 goals, 4 assists). The two-year letterwinner was a unanimous selection for America East Midfield of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors.
The New York native earned Third Team NSCAA All-America honors.


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Obama, French president to visit Jefferson's home
President Obama will welcome French counterpart Francois Hollande to the United States on Monday with a visit to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.
The third president of the United States and his Virginia home are symbols of the "historic partnership" between the U.S. and France, the White House said in a statement.
Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, also served as an American diplomat in France, and was a major supporter of the French Revolution.
"As the residence of Thomas Jefferson, one of the United States' earliest envoys to France, Monticello reflects Jefferson's affection for the people of France, the long-standing relations between our two democracies, and the shared values we hold dear: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," said the White House.
The tour of Jefferson's home will be the start of Hollande's state visit, including a state dinner on Tuesday night.
There may be a new tradition of French presidents visiting the homes of historic American presidents.
In 2007, during a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, he and President George W. Bush went to Mount Vernon, the Virginia home of George Washington.