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General news
Protect your children from violence, UNICEF tells parents
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday advised parents to communicate freely with their children in order to ascertain their lifestyles and protect them from harm.
UNICEF's Child Protection Specialist, Mr. Dennis Onoise gave the advice in Zaria at the ongoing workshop on Violence Against Children (VAC) organised by UNICEF and NOA for community facilitators in Kaduna State.
According to him, parents need to pay more attention to their children and provide them with their basic needs in order to insulate them from sexual, emotional and physical violence.
"Many of the children who are abused are children whose parents are not paying attention to them. We need to talk to parents about appropriate parenting.
"Parents have the responsibility to make sure their children are well protected, because abused children tend to engage in negative activities like terrorism and prostitution," he said.
Onoise said that the workshop was organised to discuss and develop dialogue guidelines with community facilitators where violence against children was common.
He said that UNICEF and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) had conducted similar workshop for religious and traditional leaders to sensitise them on the menance of violence against children.
The UNICEF official said that the religious and traditional leaders were prepared to collaborate with UNICEF and NOA in putting an end to violence against children in their communities.
He said that social health workers, sexual assault center managers, youth leaders and women leaders in the communities would be engaged as community facilitators.
Onoise also disclosed that parents and caregivers would be engaged through theatre for development, video screening of real life stories of violence against children and other channels of sensitisation.
He said that the grassroots community dialogue would commence in December.
Edited / Maharazu Ahmed
General news
UNICEF, Kwara renew partnership in critical sectors
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Kwara State Government on Monday rolled out their key activities towards achieving development in the critical sectors in the state for 2020.
Nigeria News Agency reports that the activities were drawn from the plenary reflections of sectoral teams, constituted at the 2019 End of Year Review and Planning Meeting of the UNICEF and Kwara Government.
Dr Zakari Adam, Chief of Kaduna Field Office of UNICEF, said the objective of the meeting was to question what the funding agency had achieved in terms of cooperation with the Kwara government.
This, he said, was to identify challenges in the course of its 2019 activities with a view to avoiding such challenges in 2020.
The objective is to know if we have achieved any result. If yes, which one can we put forward as the more important result.
If partially, what is going to be our arrangement to complete what is remaining; and if nothing was achieved, or if we are faced with some challenges, what are we going to put in place to ensure we don't face similar challenges in 2020," he said.
The UNICEF boss expressed delight with the outcome of the exercise, saying that sectoral groups were able to agree on the way forward in education, nutrition, health and HIV as well as communication for development among others.
He also applauded the media participation in the review and planning exercise, rather than merely coming to cover the event.
The (media) partnership should not be about coming to report the meeting alone, but having you as part of our reflections.
Even your views, aspirations and the way media people communicate are needed.
The media has this capacity to develop clear participation from crowd, community and grassroots," he said.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Shuaib Akanbi, Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, commended UNICEF for coming back to the state after some years of lack of intervention.
Akanbi assured the agency of the state government's cooperation at ensuring that the state is moved forward in the critical areas of interest to UNICEF.
He expressed optimism that UNICEF would soon help to restore the lost benefits of the state.
Mrs Memunat Adams, Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry Information and Communications, pledged that the state would not default in its responsibilities at ensuring a smooth partnership with the agency.
Edited by: Moses Solanke/Ismail Abdulaziz
General news
FG donates relief materials to flood victims in Kebbi
Management has donated relief materials to over 351 victims of 2019 flood disaster in three Government s) of Kebbi.
The Director-General of the Agency, Alhaji Mustapha Maihaja, who was represented by the Head of NEMA, Sokoto Operations Office, Dr Kofoworola Soleye, distributed the relief materials in Yauri Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
Soleye said the materials were given to alleviate the sufferings faced by flood victims in the affected local government areas.
We know that it will not be enough to take care of all what you lost, but just for you to know that the federal government is aware of your plight and commiserates with you," he said.
Maihaja said that government would distribute 450 bags of rice, 220 bags of millets, 450 bags of beans,among others to the 2018 flood victims in three local government areas of the state.
"An assessment was carried out by NEMA in conjunction with Management and officials of affected LGAs.
The areas are: Ngaski, Yauri and Shanga; where over 351 farmers affected by the 2019 flood in the areas," he said.
The state Chairman of SEMA, Alhaji Sani Dododo urged the beneficiaries to ensure they use the items for the purpose they were meant.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Malam Musa Shehu thanked the federal government and NEMA for assisting the victims. .
Edited by: Chioma Ugboma/Tukur Muntari.
General news
Man, 33, arraigned over alleged fraud, stealing
A 33-year-old man, Mr Sola Adebayo, was, on Monday, arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates' Court over alleged fraud and stealing.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Jonathaan Okunade, told the court that Adebayo, with no fixed address, was facing a two-count charge bordering on fraud and theft.
He said that Adebayo collected the sum of N 2.8 million from Mr Akingbe Collins, under the pretext of giving him fortune-making charms.
Okunade said that the accused and others, now at large committed the offences sometime in October at Odo, Ado-Ekiti.
He said that Adebayo also stole a wrist watch belonging to the complainant, valued at N250,000.
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
He prayed the court for adjournment to enable him study the case file and present his witnesses.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the defendant, Mr Stephen Olumuagun, prayed the court to grant him bail, assuring that his client would not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye, admitted Adebayo to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.
He ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant.
Adegboye adjourned the case till Jan. 15, 2020, for hearing.
Edited by: Azubuike Okeh and
(NAN)'Wale Sadeeq
General news
Osinbajo makes public letter to organisers of 2019 anti-corruption defender award
Osinbajo makes public letter to organisers of 2019 anti-corruption defender award
Abuja, Dec. 9, 2019 The Office of the Vice President has made public the letter which Vice President Yemi Osinbajo wrote to the organisers of Anti-corruption Defender Award of 2019.
The letter made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, indicated that the vice president had given two reasons why he would not be able to attend the event held on Monday in Lagos.
Osinbajo said his first reason was that he would be in Abu Dhabi for an international meeting under the auspices of the government of the United Arab Emirates where he was the keynote speaker.
The vice president's second reason was that he thought it insensitive to attend the ceremony in view of the recent developments on Friday in the Sowore case.
I am extremely grateful for the recognition and award of the 'Integrity Specialty of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism's Anti-corruption Defender Award of 2019' to me.
The award, I note, is for our Justice reform efforts in Lagos State. I had accepted the award with pride on behalf of the excellent Justice Sector team we had.
However, two reasons explain my absence. First is that I am currently in Abu Dhabi for an international meeting under the auspices of the government of the UAE where I am the keynote speaker.
Second, in view of the developments on Friday in the Sowore case, I think it would be insensitive and inappropriate to attend the ceremony.
"Please accept my heartfelt apologies and extend the same to the other members of the organising team. God bless you," the letter reads in part.
Edited by: Muhammad Suleiman Tola
General news
ActionAid Nigeria, ICPC, CSOs decry decay in education sector
ActionAid Nigeria has called on Nigerians to collectively work in truth, trust and transparency in the fight against corruption to salvage the nation's educational system.
Ms Halima Sadiq, ActionAid Project Manager in Kogi, made the call after a procession of students, youths corps members, members of Society s) to Secondary , Lokoja, on Monday in Lokoja to mark the 2019 International Anti-Corruption Day.
Nigeria News Agency reports that the event was organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria, INGRA, SOFADONDO and other concerned CSOs.
Sadiq decried the corruption and attendant decay in the nation's educational system, saying that the state of most of the nation's educational institutions from primary to secondary and tertiary levels was pathetic.
We should collectively fight corruption to revive our educational system. If we don't fight corruption, corruption will kill our education sector as well as other sectors such as Agriculture, Health and the entire economy.
Chilezie Commissioner in the state, speaking in same vein, said the decaying standard of education would not allow proper training of students and youths for the leadership task ahead of them.
Talking about the level of decay and dearth of infrastructure in MCSS, Lokoja, Ogwuegbu said, "We are talking about decaying standard of education. Can we produce Future Leaders in such schools.
This is even within Lokoja,the state capital. Only God knows what will confront us when we go to the villages.
So, that is the main reason why we must wake up to fight corruption so that doctors of tomorrow will be trained here. I beg all of you. Wherever you see corruption, report it to us and leave the rest to us,"Ogwuegbu said.
Principal of the school, Mr Yakubu Aliyu-Danaladi, charged the students to guard against corruption and corrupt tendencies if their future must be guaranteed. "Look at the decay and dilapidation of school structures. You must rise up against corruption.
Otherwise, it will come to a level where we will not be able to access the basic necessities of life as government would no longer be able to provide. I urge you all to support the government and the ICPC to kill corruption," Aliyu-Danladi said.
Ella, , "Sofadondo", a registered advocacy group for campaign against "Sex for Marks/Marks for Sex", said the menace had truncated a lot of ambitions and caused untimely deaths through suicide among victims.
Edited by: Abdullahi Yusuf
General news
Kano Anti-graft agency boss urges public support on fight against corruption
Mr Muhuyi Magaji, the Chairman, Kano state Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, has renewed his calls to the public to support the agency in the ongoing fight against corruption in the state.
He made the appeal at a musical concert and drama performance organised by the Anti-graft agency at the popular Minat Event Centre in Kano on Monday.
The Nigeria News Agency reports that the event was organised as part of activities to commemorate the 2019 International Anti-corruption Day.
He said there was an urgent need for the public to support the crusade because "if we allow corruption to thrive, it will cripple the economy of the country".
We can trace all the problems facing us and Nigeria as a country to high level of corruption because if a country like Ethiopia can have a national carrier, I see no reason why Nigeria will not have," Magaji said.
According to him, the essence of organising the event was to raise public awareness against the menace so as to enable people support the agency by joining the campaign.
The anti-graft agency boss urged Nigerians to consider the anti-corruption campaign as a collective responsibility which should not be left to the government or its agencies.
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of the state re-affirmed the commitment of his administration to continue to support the agency and all other anti-graft agencies to enable the country to move forward.
The governor, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Works and Housing, Mr M. A. Lawal, said corruption is the main reason why the country is not moving forward.
Kano state is in the forefront in the fight against corruption because it is only in Kano state that we have vibrant agency fighting corruption and we are getting results," he said.
He commended the chairman of the state anti-graft agency, Mr Muhuyi Magaji, and his team for their doggedness in carrying out their duties.
NAN reports that a Hausa drama on the ills of corruption was presented by popular Hausa actors in Kannywood.
The event was attended by various stakeholders including representatives of EFCC, ICPSociety s), NYSC anti-corruption club as well as students, among others.
Edited /Muhammad Suleiman Tola
General news
Ghost workers: Ondo Govt. stops salaries of 51 LG staff
The Ondo State Government, on Monday, said it had stopped salary payment to 51 workers who refused to show up for the recently-concluded local government verification exercise.
The state Head of Service (HoS), Mr Dare Aragbaiye, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Akure, as part of the activities marking the 2019 Public Service Week celebrations.
Aragbaiye described the 51 affected persons as ghost workers, saying that the verification exercise was part of government's efforts to ensure that ghost workers were not included in government payroll.
He praised Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for prioritising the salaries of civil servants in the state.
Recall that this administration inherited seven-month unpaid salaries and allowances. Within a space of about two years, the salary backlogs are almost completely cleared, leaving only a month.
To date, all promotions have been effected and works are in progress for the 2020 promotion exercise.
Notwithstanding the lean resources of government, some critical recruitments have been made to boost the health sector.
Some redeployments have also been made from other sectors to shore up the staffing positions in our schools, pending when a full-scale recruitment of teachers will be made,'' he said.
On the Public Service Week celebrations, the HoS said that it was a yearly event agreed on by all African Union member-states in 1994, in Morroco.
Aragbaiye said a two-day programme, commencing from Tuesday, had been lined up for the celebration in the state.
According to him, the theme for this year's celebrations is "ICT and Innovative Governance: Panacea for Youth Unemployment and Migration''.
Edited by: Oluyinka Fadare and
(NAN)'Wale Sadeeq
General news
We will deal ruthlessly with corruption – ICPC
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offence Commission (ICPC) on Monday vowed to deal with corruption and corrupt tendencies with a degree of ruthlessness to reduce its effect on the nation's economy and development.
The commission also said that the fight against corruption in the country could only succeed if Nigerians changed their ways of doing things and effectively embraced integrity, transparency and accountability as the way of life.
Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, National Chairman of ICPC, said this at an occasion to mark the 2019 International Anti-Corruption Day organised by ICPC on Monday in Lokoja.
Nigeria News Agency reports that the meeting was organised in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria and its local rights partners in Kogi, Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change in Development (PIBCID.
Owasanoye said the commission would be ruthless in dealing with corruption and corrupt tendencies within permissible limits under the nation's extant laws to bring the menace to it knees.
He said that the 2019 Anti-Corruption Day tagged: "United Against Corruption" was not limited to the Anti-corruption agencies , but to every eligible Nigerians , stressing that the menace had affected all Nigerians and would continue to do so if not tackled headlong.
The chairman, who was represented by the Kogi Commissioner, ICPC, Mr Chilezie Ogwuegbu, said that the commission would intensify efforts at detection and investigation of acts of corruption.
He said the commission's searchlight would also beam on embezzlement of public funds and abuse of office, stressing that it should be loud and clear that corruption would be dealt with decisively without fear or favour.
When a country's institutions are weakened by corruption, its security forces would not be trusted, its borders would become porous, criminality will fester and its insecurity may be internationalised .
Halima Sadiq, acting Executive Director, PIBCID, in her Speech, said the country was endowed with great potentials to achieve greatness but lamented that corruption had created poverty and manifested in many forms through waste and misallocation of resources.
It has been established that corruption leads to massive poverty, lack of facilities such as good roads, electricity, water , health facilities and other infrastructure such as industries and educational facilities, among others," Sadiq said.
She commended ICPC, NOGrassroots , Hands Across Africa Initiative, Activista and SOFADONDO for their support in fighting corruption in Nigeria.
Edited by: Abdullahi Yusuf
General news
Shun unhealthy rival while pursuing gender parity, Group cautions women
Dr Modupe Ogunniyi, National Coordinator, Agricultural and Entrepreneurial Skills Development Initiative for Women and Youths (AESDIW&Y), has called on women groups to shun unhealthy rivalry while trying to achieve gender equality.
Ogunniyi made the call in Ilorin on Monday while speaking at the plenary discussion on "Gendered Work-Space: Realities and Responses" at an International Conference on Workers Education and Employment Relations.
The Nigeria News Agency reports that the programme was organised by Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Ilorin, in conjunction with the Nigerian Industrial and Employment Relations Association.
NAN also reports that the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources Management, University of Lagos, is also one of the organisers of the programme.
Ogunniyi stated in her presentation that rather than engaging in rivalry, women should make conscious efforts to present the best in their midst for socio-political engagements, leadership and effective representation in all spheres.
Though creation, thoughts, language, science and psychoanalysis as well as urban/rural spacing have already made the gender difference clear, I want to observe that creation equally made the gender to complement each other in innumerable ways.
Women should be self-aware of who they are, not with arrogance, but with the boldness and assertiveness of that awareness.
They should insist on maintenance of their spaces and their self-worth; proving the self-worth by their level of intelligence, commitment and effective service delivery.
Though the society has created limits and diminishing spaces for women, by tagging them 'respectable women', provided the limits are not broken, women should not have their human rights gagged.
Those so-called limits in urban/rural spacing, religion, socio-political economic realities and even governance need to be restructured through high-level engagement of powers that be," she said.
Ogunniyi identified advocacy/lobbying, intense and non-stop awareness creation at all strata and deployment of other machineries at the disposal of women as techniques to break such limits and for them to have fulfilment and happiness which, she said was their right.
She stressed the need to appeal to the understanding of the powers that be for at least 35 percent women representation in governance.
Ogunniyi also called on women in positions of authority to mentor the girl-child and young women for assertiveness, courage, boosting of self-esteem and leadership.
Edited by: Razak Owolabi and
(NAN)'Wale Sadeeq
Dr Modupe Ogunniyi, National Coordinator, Agricultural and Entrepreneurial Skills Development Initiative for Women and Youths during her presentation
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- Malaria: EU/UNICEF programme treats 16,992 children in Adamawa
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I am just going to go ahead and apologize in advance for the bad cell phone pictures, but we are in crunch time here people! I have about a week to finish up everything before we start our travels. I have got a pretty good done pile right now and everything else has at least been cut out I think, so I am in a pretty good place. Except for the queen size quilt that needs to be quilted and bound. Details.
the done pile - so far two gifts for my sister, a shirt for me and the security blankets (finally!). Clearly I need time and light to photograph things.
suitcase for the little - terrible picture but I am ready to start this. hopefully it will be awesome.
another gift for my sister using these lovelies. actually almost done, just waiting on some hardware
hats/scarf for the girlies - hats cut
baby shoes/slipper things - I started putting these together, hopefully I'll finish up today and if I'm lucky they'll fit.
And of course quilt and bind the queen size quilt. I am hoping to take a day and tackle that this weekend. The only other thing that is pressing is a gift for the littlest that I am waiting on the pieces for. Also I just got my fabric so I have a back for my penny sampler and the fabric for the wedding quilt so probably in a few weeks when all the crazy dies down, I will start on those. So that's what I'll be doing for the next week. Maybe I'll even get a little hot chocolate/cookie baking/light seeing/moving watching in :) Hope everyone else is doing well on their holiday makes list!

subset: commoncrawl


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A Wee Bit of Heaven is nestled right in the center of Morden, within walking distance of restaurants and shops and the Pembina Valley Arts Centre. Close to walking trails and bicycle trails. Our spacious home offers 2 guest rooms. The first room is a romantic renaissance themed room with a queen bed. The second room is an African themed room with a double bed. Both rooms share the bathroom on the main floor. We offer continental or full breakfast.
Sorry, no smoking, children or pets are allowed at this accommodation.


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No matter what is the nature of your business, as an entrepreneur, you understand that its success is dependent on the sales you close. It may sound simple but if you ask any successful sales professionals, they will tell you that closing a deal relies on many factors and techniques.
There are many important parts of the process, lead generating, qualifying, following up and general communication/knowledge. But closing is the elite art which all sales people will pride themselves on, as an ultimate metric for 'the greatest'. Unfortunately, no one remembered the person who, almost, got lots of sales…
After asking around many successful salespeople, we have compiled this list to share with you some of the greatest tips on closing the best sales of your career.
- Ability to Judge a Potential Client
Being able to adapt and understand on the first meeting that a customer would close a sale or not is a superpower in the business world. To judge a good prospect, you simply need a good ear. If on your first meeting, the potential client is asking detailed questions about your products or services or showing his discontent with some of your competitors, there is a likely chance of sealing the deal.
- Be Confident
Never doubt the product you are selling or yourself. If the client gets even the slightest of hint that you not confident about what you are doing or in your product, he would keep pushing you around. Instead, go slow, stick to your script and reflect a strong personality. Many people are susceptible and can be easily overpowered by anyone with a strong and confident presence.
- Be Responsive
Being responsive to the questions you are being asked is crucial but a simple yes or no fails to make any sort of influential impact on the potential client. Try to answer a question with a question of your own. Like if a client asks you about the services you offer rather then reading him the list of services you can ask him what he is looking for. This will not make your client feel special but also make your services feel customized.
- Don't Be Dominant
Do not let your prospect feel like he is being dominated. You can avoid this by not contradicting with his statements. Try to share objective information and then ask for your prospect about his views. This allows him to weigh in your information and respond to you positively rather than just trying to outdo you with aggressive replies.
- Do Not Make It Personal
Always remember that tough customers are part of the business and you do not have to feel intimidated by them. Never lose your cool and always be respectful toward others. If it feels like that things are getting out of hands, just end the meeting and get out of there. Remember that you win some and you lose some but if you managed to keep your cool and got out in time, you might be able to approach the same prospect again in a few weeks' time. After all, giving it another shot is better than losing a prospect permanently.
Remember these tips when heading out for your next meetings and you will see your sales rise drastically.


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Sections / Articles
Communicator - January 2018
|Communicator Archives
Connect the Dots
New web portal helps you make the most of afterschool and summer learning programs. Read more
Webinar Recap: Start Now to Finish Strong
Use these tips to help encourage your staff and students to be resilient throughout the school year. Read more
Wellness: Turn Down the Pressure
A firefighter-turned-principal on the importance of self-care. Read more
Reading Across the Curriculum
This book outlines a step-by-step approach to disciplinary literacy. Read more
Collaborative Learning With Structure
How one instructor intentionally models and fosters the key collaboration skills that students need—now and in their professional futures. Read more
National School Counseling Week 2018
Celebrate your school counselors during #NSCW18 by showing how much you appreciate their overall support towards student achievement. Read more
Report to Parents: Setting Goals
Share this resource to help parents motivate, energize, and focus students to set and achieve academic and personal goals.
English Version | Spanish Version
Wow!Ed Newsletter: Mindful Discipline
Principals, consider mindful discipline as a positive approach to replace or reduce suspensions and expulsions. Read more
Grants, Opportunities, & Free Resources
Learn about upcoming grant deadlines and get information about free resources that can help your school. Read more
Apply for Arts Grant from NAESP & Crayola
Crayola and NAESP offers a special opportunity to apply for a Champion Creatively Alive Children Grant. Your school could receive a $3,500 grant. Read more
Register For NAESP's 2018 Conference
Join us in Orlando for the 2018 NAESP Pre-K–8 Principals Conference, featuring keynote speakers, Sal Khan, Sean Covey, and Daniel H. Pink. Read more
Register for National Mentor Training in Virginia, Feb. 15-16
Take the time to invest in yourself, your career and the principal profession as a Certified National Principal Mentor. Read more
Write for #PrincipalMag
Writing for Principal is a great way to contribute to the principalship and to enhance your own professional development. Read more


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Flirt With Me
Recently I have been asked from many of my clients what I'd like to recieve for the gift....it is never a requirement, but if you insist...I have a dream list.
Any books would be great, but recently I am interested in reading these..
"Social Life of Money" by Nigel Dodd
"Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't" by Simon Sinek
Lingerie: 34B-C and Small or XS
Jewery: No big chunky jewery please. I love miduim to small size jewery for my delicate figure. Lapis Lazuli and Diamond are my favorite.
Flower: Gardenia, Lily, Rose
Perfume: Marc Jacobs by Marc Jacobs, Joe Malone's Intense Tuberose Angelica
Spa: Spa at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, NY
Spa at Penninsula Hotel, NY
Champagne: Salon, Krug, Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose
Amazon Gift card


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The Well-Balanced Pianist 2012
At The Well-Balanced Pianist Colorado 2012 we focused on performing. We had a special performance class, and a class on anatomy for pianists. We also had piano lessons (of course!), clinics designed to help participants play more musically and efficiently, classes and private sessions in Aston-Patterning nd the Feldenkrais Method, and discussions about practice and performance mindset. Before the Main Program started, we had a day of luxuriously long private bodywork and piano lessons for a small group of pianists.
The following pictures show some of our activities at The Well-Balanced Pianist 2012. To the left you can see some comments from participants.
To complete the picture, you'll want to check out the poems and song lyrics participants wrote (and co-created) to celebrate their process!


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It seems like suddenly almost everywhere you turn someone has opened a cat cafe — a glorious place where you can play with cats (and sometimes other cuddly animals such as rabbits and dogs) while sipping your morning or afternoon coffee.
Most of the time, these feline sweeties are sitting right next to you or, if you're lucky, on you.
We've found 21 cat cafes in Japan, Singapore and Taiwan that will fill your heart with kitty love and fill your stomach with caffeinated goodness.
Cat Cafe Nyanny
Walking around in Akihabara, how could you not be drawn into Cat Cafe Nyanny, with its many signs outside that feature hand-drawn pictures of coffee and felines? Before you can enter the small building, you have to use disinfectant on your hands and remove your shoes (a standard Japanese tradition), but once you do, you can enter what is essentially kitty heaven. The interior is filled with scratching posts and hiding perches and tubes for any of the 20 felines that may be at Cat Cafe Nyanny on any given day. The cats can and do go anywhere.
Cat Cafe Nekorobi
Whether you're in Japan and want a low-budget way to see parts of Toshima, Cat Cafe Nekorobi has amenities aplenty: books, video games, computers, smartphone chargers and tablets. Just pay a small hourly fee to hang out.
You cannot pick up the cats here, but you are encouraged to attract their attention with cat toys. You can also photograph yourself with any of the felines here. Cat Cafe Nekorobi has 13 kitties of different breeds that wander around the space.
Temari no Ouchi
If you take a look at the website for Temari no Ouchi in Musashino, you get a good hint of what the actual building looks like. Designed like a fantasyland, this tall, spacious cafe's prime landmark is a round woodland cat house with plenty of climbing space for the cafe's kitties.
While you do have to pay an entry fee, it's absolutely worth it. Fake ivy and moss hangs from the chandeliers affixed to the ceiling while patrons sit on the floor and eat and drink on quaint circular wooden tables. The cats here are very happy, and it's totally infectious.
Cateriam Cat Cafe
In Tokyo, near the Shimokitazawa Station, is Cateriam Cat Cafe, which also has signs beckoning you inside. You can only spend a limited amount of time here; 15 minutes is standard.
As you browse the menu, expect any of the 15 cats to come out and greet you. While Cateriam's staff asks that you be as respectful to the animals as possible, if the felines are awake and lounging about you can pet them and photograph them.
Cat Cafe Miysis
While many who stroll into Cat Cafe Miysis in Yokohama will probably visit during breakfast or lunchtime, bloggers recommend that you stop by nearer to closing time. At this point, the cats have had their dinner and they're very energetic.
The cafe is hidden on the second floor of a nondescript building, so you'll definitely have to make an effort to find it. You'll get at least an hour of kitty playtime (and you can add more time if you want for more money), although it's advised that you don't give the cats any food outside of snack time and that you don't grab them. If it is snack time, these friendly animals will run up right to you.
Neko Cafe Leon
Another Yokohama cat cafe, Neko Cafe Leon's star kitty is also called Leon. This munchkin cat is particularly adorable because of its stubby legs.
The cafe is quite popular and gets particularly busy during the weekends, where you might wait between 30 and 60 minutes just to get in. The cafe is close to Yokohama's Chinatown and the Ishikawacho Station, so you could easily spend a whole day in this part of the city. Neko Cafe Leon keeps its doors open to patrons until almost midnight.
Cat Cafe Calico
The lights of Shinjuku's Kabukicho district are already sensory overload, yet nestled among all that activity is Cat Cafe Calico. It's on the sixth floor, and you'll need to clean up and stash your belongings upon arrival.
There is something for everyone here: Gamers can try out the newest titles while kitties curl up and watch, and book lovers will appreciate the mini library, where you can also find plenty of cats. Feed the felines and yourself (with separate food, of course) and commemorate your trip with a free postcard and a cat picture book from the cafe.
Neko Cafe Hapineko
Translated to mean "Cat Cafe Happy Cats" in Japanese, Neko Cafe Hapineko in Shibuya is located on a packed street, but if you can find it you're going to have one fun day. The stresses out of the outside world melt away once you enter the main room with its large window, comfortable furniture, and endless cat toys and hiding places.
As many as 16 cats live here, the majority of which are shorthair felines. While these animals love human interaction, they're also friendly enough with each other that they'll play and chase to entertain you and themselves. You can purchase time at the cafe in increments of 30 minutes.
Cafe Manekineko
Hiroshima's own Cafe Manekineko is practically impossible to miss: Its exterior is decorated in bright red, there are signs on either side of the wall, there is a big flag, and a cheery welcome mat next to a giant cardboard cat greets you.
While the staff kindly asks that you don't take pictures with the flash on or feed the animals, you can handle the felines here. With more than 30 cats inside, you shouldn't have any issues finding a cute kitty to spend some time with while you sip a drink or enjoy a snack.
Cat Cafe Keurig
The owner of Fukuoka's Cat Cafe Keurig, Kayuno Nomura, already cared for a number of stray cats in her neighborhood. Eventually, though, when these animals didn't come back she decided that she wanted to take in other strays and make sure they'd be healthy and happy.
Her cafe houses more than 20 former stray kitties with plenty of room to play and wander. While many cat cafes in Japan let you get close to the animals by petting and feeding them, Cat Cafe Keurig lets you take it one step further: You can actually adopt any of the cats here and give them a loving.
The Company of Cats
The Company of Cats reports that in its early days it was a hub "for a bunch of feline pals to gather, do a little yoga, get high on catnip and bask in sunbeams." These adventurous kitties were all once strays who were taken in; the cafe is also passionate about getting patrons interested in organizations and causes that promote animal safety across Singapore.
House rules insist that you don't run around, that you don't yell, that you let a sleeping cat be (although pictures are permitted), that you don't use the flash on your camera or phone, and that you don't carry the animals. However, if one of the two cats at the cafe decide to curl up in your lap for a nap, that's totally OK.
Meomi Cat Cafe
Mosque Street's Meomi Cat Cafe is such a beloved spot that it's recommended that you book a reservation before your arrival. Most bloggers write that the cats here — including a munchkin named Mario, a Scottish Fold with a flat face named Junior and an American Curl appropriately named Curley — are a little shy at first, but that once they warm up to you will have quite an unforgettable experience. You get an hour at the cafe for a single fee, but you can also buy more time in increments of 30 minutes if that first hour just isn't enough.
Neko No Niwa
Some years ago, Sam and Sue fell in love with a sweet cat named Marbles. Then, on a trip to Japan, the couple discovered that cat cafes are huge over there, but not so much in Singapore. Hence, Neko No Niwa was born.
Just as with most of these establishments, you have to clean up and remove your shoes before you can hang out with the dozen-plus feline friends. Kids are allowed, but they have to be at least seven years old and accompanied by their parents or guardians at all times. If you like any of the cats you see here, you can bring one home by adopting it.
The Cat Cafe
Simply and aptly named, The Cat Cafe in Singapore opened due to Housing and Development Board rules for most residents that ban them from keeping cats. Singaporeans and visitors can still get their kitty fixes here, though, by petting and sitting with strays the cafe has adopted.
For a flat fee (if your building is not regulated by the HBD), you can take a cat home. The fee you pay helps ensure that future kitties the cafe adopts get their feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus tests, a microchip, other vaccinations, sterilizations for both genders, and a toxoplasmosis test to keep cats and patrons healthy.
Seed Futian Cafe
A little past Taipei in Kaohsiung hides the Seed Futian Cafe, a great place to both get a tasty cup of coffee and see fostered felines that have a new life. This spot specializes in a variety of teas and organic vegetarian fare. And if you feel a bond with a particular cat, ask the staff about adoption.
Mask Cat Cafe
Another artsy and sophisticated spot, Mask Cat Cafe in Taipei is just wondrous with its artwork installations and storefront. Three cats occupy its interior; one is a little older and not as active, but the two younger kitties more than make up for it. If you have food, these cats will practically become your new best friends. The staff here makes it own teas and coffees and bakes mouthwatering desserts daily. With charging outlets and Wi-Fi, you might as well kick back and spend some time here.
Su Huo Ling Workshop
Taipei's Su Huo Ling Workshop is homey and comfy enough to dream away an entire afternoon. The rooms here are sparse yet bright, and you'll find one shih-tzu hidden among the cafe's pack of nine cats. If you have your own cat food or treats, you can take these with you to feed the kitties; you can also buy food if that's more convenient. All the animals here are especially affectionate.
Yongkang Street is one of the most trendy roads in Taipei, and it also happens to be home to Yaboo, a cafe with beautiful wooden decor and bright ceiling lights. This bustling spot is sunny and bright in the daytime and cozy and dim at night — just the kind of place you'd expect to see a poetry reading instead of a few cats napping on wooden benches. Get some work done, bring some friends or come alone to reap the benefits of having an animal friend nearby.
T&F Cafe
Another spot in Taipei where booking ahead is recommended, T&F Cafe is close to Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, so you can easily make an afternoon or an evening in this part of the city.
T stands for "Together" while F is short for "Forever," which refer to the father and mother cats' love for each other. Although not as large in number as some of the other cat cafes in Taipei, with four animals in this feline family, these tight-knit furry friends are sure to become your buddies for as long as you stick around. They're notorious for taking up seats, so make sure to get yours right away.
Toast Chat
Take in the resplendence of the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, and then take a load off at nearby Toast Chat. The cafe's delicious French toast gives the establishment its name. You can only order breakfast and brunch here, so come earlier in the day for food; alcoholic drinks are also available for brunch or later. Note that children must be 12 or older to get in.
The Lightened
No wonder cats love spending time at Taipei's The Lightened. With luscious chocolate cakes, quiches, freshly baked breads and rolls, scones and cheesecakes, who wouldn't be drooling?
The lattes and coffees here are nicely decorated, and although the felines are curious about the foods being made, they stick to their own meals. That said, you'll love their involvement with all that's going on in and around the cafe. Settle into an armchair and see which of the two cats come over to sit near you first.
Images by:
Karl Baron, Yanko Peyankov, Tom Godber, MsSaraKelly, Takashi Hososhima


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NEWS YOU CAN USE: Here's Why Your Credit Score May Rise Next Year, But Is It More Harmful Than Helpful?
Your FICO score is about to be reevaluated with a new system that will give Americans a chance to prove themselves to lenders, but is it more harmful than helpful? Get the details and decide inside...
Starting in 2019, your credit score may get a boost. The reason? Cash is now part of the equation.
A new pilot program called UltraFICO may enhance your credit score by incorporating data from your savings and checking accounts. The new program will allow Americans who "have very little credit" prove themselves to lenders, despite not having a history of making on-time payments on a car loan, mortgage or credit card.
NBC News reports:
FICO parent company Fair Isaac Corporation announced Monday a new model called the UltraFICO Score, which will augment traditional metrics of credit risk with voluntarily offered information from bank statements, like evidence of saving and on-time payment transactions. When it debuts in a pilot program next year, credit experts say the UltraFICO score will improve access to credit for people with so-called "thin files" who have little, if any, traditional credit history.
The new system will allow lenders to make more informed lending decisions when evaluating the credit risk of a prospective customer, which would allow the lender to do a better job at matching the right credit offer to a potential customer.
FICO plans a big shift in credit-score calculations, potentially boosting millions of borrowers pic.twitter.com/YejozGpvui
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 27, 2018
Sounds good right? Some of y'all are already making purchases in your head with this new information. However, it may not be as good as it sounds.
While boosting credit scores to make it easier to qualify for loans may seem like a good idea, it's actually horrible for the economy. This is how recessions happened in the past. People were getting approved for home loans they shouldn't have been, then they defaulted and were then thrust into a mortgage crisis which sparked/added to a recession.
So, think about it. This new FICO evaluation could only benefit lending companies and corporations, likely friends of Trump. Just sayin'. You have to weigh all your options here.
So, do you think UltraFICO is the new financial wave or will it end up causing more unnecessary issues when it comes to borrowing money? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Photo: Getty


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The History with Two Prehistories. On the design of the Moscow Palace of Young Pioneers
AbstractThe article refers to the history of design of the Moscow Palace of Young Pioneers architectural complex on Leninskie (now Vorobievy) Gory viewed in the context of evolution of the national architecture. While speaking about how the project came into being and which way was chosen to find the architectural character, the author proves that the Palace was a pivotal point in the history of Russian architecture and became one of the symbols of Soviet Modernism.
How to Cite
NOVIKOV, Felix. The History with Two Prehistories. On the design of the Moscow Palace of Young Pioneers. project baikal, Russian Federation, n. 50, p. 144-151, nov. 2016. ISSN 2309-3072. Available at: <http://projectbaikal.com/index.php/pb/article/view/1100>. Date accessed: 11 dec. 2019. doi: https://doi.org/10.7480/projectbaikal.50.1100.
N. Khrushchev; thaw period; Palace of Young Pioneers complex; Modernism; new Soviet architecture; constructive solutions
Copyright Notice
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)


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Order now a beautiful pair of Soleko's Queens Solitaire Spice contact lenses and enjoy great vision and pretty brown eyes. These coloured contacts are available also in plus powers, which makes them quite unique.
NOTE: There is a 2 week lead time for these lenses at the moment. Sorry for the inconvenience.and all editorial content by


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Screening isn't required to use my paid Kendall Calls/Sexts but you should be at least 21 years old and older
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Giftrocket and CASHapp are currently my preferred payment methods. See details below and CONTACT me for the correct email address to use when paying with giftrocket or for paying via cashapp!
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Payment options for Kendall Call are: Giftrocket (CONTACT ME for the email address to use for giftrocket payment as it isn't listed anywhere here)
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Vanilla Visa pre-paid Gift Card as well as Amazon Cards can be purchased at most convenience stores like Walgreens, CVS, Target.
Text or email to see when I'm next available to take your call/sext session or use my contact form to pre-book if you wish.
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A phone session is a great way for us to get to know one another a little better before we meet. Our call will give you a snap shot of what it's like to spend time with me. It's a great way for those that don't live in my area to get to know me and invite me to visit their area too!
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I can't wait to connect with you in this HOT & SEXY way - Kisses Kendall


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Photographers! Put your imagination to work with one of music's most creative artists, The Smashing Pumpkins!
JPG has teamed up with the legendary alt-rock band fronted by Billy Corgan to celebrate the June 19th release of their latest album, Oceania - with a one-of-a-kind photo challenge series!
The Smashing Pumpkins have been long-time fans of the visual arts and have created the "Imagine Oceania" campaign that is running across their social media channels. To kick off the campaign, The Smashing Pumpkins are teaming up with JPG for our first-ever photo challenge series! Each of the 13 song titles featured on the Oceania album offers its own unique visual endeavor. JPG has created a separate photo challenge based on each of the 13 song titles, providing our users the opportunity to best represent each individual track.
Launched on May 25th, we have opened the first of 13 total Photo Challenges! Over the next few weeks, you will have the opportunity to submit one photo to each of 13 individual photo challenges, based on song titles from the upcoming album. This may be your big chance to be featured on a limited edition print-on-demand canvas poster signed by Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins!
The hauntingly beautiful album cover image (above) was photographed by Richard Shay, son of Chicago legend Art Shay
"Oceania" track listing:
01. Quasar
02. Panopticon
03. The Celestials
04. Violet Rays
05. My Love Is Winter
06. One Diamond, One Heart
07. Pinwheels
08. Oceania
09. Pale Horse
10. The Chimera
11. Glissandra
12. Inkless
13. Wildflower
Oceania was recorded at singer/guitarist Billy Corgan's private studio in Chicago with his bandmates: guitarist Jeff Schroeder, drummer Mike Byrne and bassist/vocalist Nicole Fiorentino. The powerful 13-song collection (see track listing above) was produced by Corgan and Bjorn Thorsrud and mixed by David Bottrill. Marking The Smashing Pumpkins' 7th studio record, it is "an album within an album," part of their 44-song work-in-progress Teargarden By Kaleidyscope. The Smashing Pumpkins highly anticipated album Oceania is scheduled for release on June 19th, 2012.
Stay tuned-in on Facebook and Twitter and, of course here on the site and in our newsletters, for the opening announcements of the 10 remaining challenges. Get your photos ready and submit as soon as each theme opens. <b>Check back daily to view, 'like' and 'favorite' the photos you think best represents each song.</b>
Follow The Smashing Pumpkins on Facebook
Follow The Smashing Pumpkins on Twitter @SmashingPumpkin
Follow Billy Corgan on Twitter @Billy
All submissions will close June 17th. The 13 final photographs in each challenge will be chosen by Billy Corgan & The Smashing Pumpkins as the best representation of each song title. The 13 final photographs will be designed into a limited edition print-on-demand poster and will be announced upon record release day- June 19th. Posters will then be printed on high quality canvas, signed by Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins and shipped to the winners. Poster will then be available on www.smashingpumpkins.com for purchase.
Submission General Rules: 13 winners agree to allow The Smashing Pumpkins full rights to the photograph for printing on demand posters for sale on smashingpumpkins.com. Photographers will get credit on the poster but will not be compensated beyond the signed canvas limited edition print. All winners must sign a waiver to this end. All submissions can be shared on The Smashing Pumpkins social media sites.
Photo Challenges Currently Open For Submissions:
The Celestials
One Diamond, One Heart


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The majority of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals progress from acute to chronic disease, despite the presence of a strong humoral immune response to the envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2. When expressed in mammalian cells, E1 and E2 form both noncovalently linked E1E2 heterodimers, believed to be properly folded, and disulfide-linked, high-molecular-weight aggregates that are misfolded. Previously, we identified 10 human monoclonal antibodies (HMAbs) that bind E2 glycoproteins from different genotypes. Here we demonstrate that one of these HMAbs, CBH-2, is unique in its ability to distinguish between properly folded and misfolded envelope proteins. This HMAb recognizes HCV-E2 only when complexed with E1. The E1E2 complexes recognized by CBH-2 are noncovalently linked heterodimers and not misfolded disulfide-linked, high-molecular-weight aggregates. The E1E2 heterodimers seen by CBH-2 no longer associate with the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone calnexin and are likely to represent the prebudding form of the HCV virion.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the causal agent of hepatitis C, which is a major health problem worldwide (28). HCV is a positive-strand RNA virus (2) that belongs to the Flaviviridae family. Its genome encodes two membrane-associated envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, which are N glycosylated in their large N-terminal ectodomains and are anchored into membranes by their C-terminal transmembrane domains (31). These latter domains have been shown to be endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signals (5, 7, 17, 20). When expressed in cell culture, the E1 and E2 glycoproteins assemble into noncovalently linked E1E2 heterodimers. These noncovalent E1E2 complexes have been proposed as functional subunits of the HCV particle. In addition, a significant amount of E1 and E2 is also present in high-molecular-weight, disulfide-linked aggregates, thought to result from a nonproductive folding pathway leading to misfolded protein complexes (for review see reference 31).
Because of the lack of a suitable cell culture system for in vitro propagation of HCV and the unavailability of virions in sufficient quantities, truncated, secreted versions of E2 have been used as soluble surrogates for native virus particles. Indeed, the identification of CD81 as the putative cellular receptor for HCV is based on its binding to a truncated form of E2 (36). Intriguingly, intracellular forms of truncated E2, enriched for the presence of monomeric, nonaggregated E2, were found to bind CD81 with greater affinity than did the secreted forms (18, 26), suggesting that antigenic or structural differences exist between intracellular and secreted forms of the E2 glycoprotein. Several murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been shown to recognize conformation-dependent epitopes within E2. Studies using these antibodies (Abs) (including MAb H53) have provided additional insight into the conformational state of the envelope glycoproteins during intracellular processing and folding and have helped to define a native, prebudding form of the HCV glycoprotein complex (7, 12, 34).
CBH-2 human MAb (HMAb) specifically recognizes E2 complexed with E1.
Abs that arise in HCV-infected individuals in response to viral infection are anticipated to react with the truly native conformation of the viral envelope structure. Recently, several HMAbs have been identified that react with conformational epitopes within E2 (1, 11, 23, 24). Moreover, some of these HMAbs have been shown to have neutralization-of-binding (NOB) activity (1, 23, 24) defined by their ability to neutralize binding of recombinant, truncated HCV-E2 to human cells (37). Previously, we identified 10 HMAbs that bind to full-length HCV-E2 glycoproteins from genotypes 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b. Nine of these Abs reacted with conformational epitopes, six of which were NOB positive based on their ability to block E2 binding to cells or to CD81-coated plates (24). Additionally, two of the NOB-positive HMAbs inhibited binding of infectious HCV virus particles (genotype 1a) to CD81 immobilized on polystyrene beads (24), suggesting that these two HMAbs recognize important conformational epitopes within E2.
Preliminary experiments using this panel of Abs indicated that CBH-2, one of the two NOB-positive HMAbs that inhibited binding of infectious virus particles, reacted selectively with E2 glycoprotein only when coexpressed with E1. To follow up on this observation, HEK 293 cells cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium-10% fetal calf serum were transiently transfected (using the GenePORTER 2 transfection reagent; Gene Therapy System, San Diego, Calif.) with 10 μg of plasmid encoding different forms of HCV glycoproteins from genotype 1a, H strain: full-length E1 (E1; amino acids 171 to 383), truncated E2 (E2 661; amino acids 364 to 661), full-length E2 (E2; amino acids 364 to 746), E1 and E2 (E1E2; amino acids 171 to 746), and E1E2p7NS2 (amino acids 171 to 1026). Transfected cells were lysed in lysis buffer, 4% Triton X-100 (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.), 100 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 1 mM EDTA, and Complete Mini protease inhibitor cocktail tablets (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany), for 30 min on ice and were clarified by centrifugation at 20,000 × g for 30 min at 4°C. Protein A-immobilized CBH-2 was incubated 2 h at 4°C with clarified cell lysates. Ab-antigen complexes were washed four times with phosphate-buffered saline containing 0.2% Triton X-100. CBH-2 immunoprecipitations and aliquots of each lysate were boiled for 3 min in reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) sample buffer and were electrophoresed on 10% polyacrylamide gels (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). Proteins were transferred to polyvinyl difluoride (Immobilon-P; Millipore, Bedford, Mass.) and were immunoblotted with an anti-E2 MAb (3/11 [19]) and detected with a mouse horseradish peroxidase-conjugated anti-rat (human-adsorbed) Ab (BioSource, Camarrillo, Calif.). Detection was performed using enhanced chemiluminescence detection reagents (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Little Chalfont, United Kingdom).
Interestingly, CBH-2 did not precipitate (Fig. 1) truncated E2661 (upper panel, lane 2) or full-length E2 (upper panel, lane 3) glycoprotein, although cell lysates contained E2 proteins as determined by Western blotting (WB) with the anti-E2 MAb (Fig. 1, upper panel, lanes 8 and 9). However, CBH-2 was able to precipitate E2 when coexpressed with E1 (Fig. 1, upper panel, lanes 4 and 5). The additional faint higher-molecular-weight band observed in lane 5 is probably the unprocessed E2-NS2 precursor. Negative controls included empty vector-transfected cell lysates (Fig. 1, upper panel, lanes 6 and 12) or lysates prepared from cells expressing E1 alone (Fig. 1, upper panel, lanes 1 and 7). The blots were subsequently stripped by incubating in stripping buffer (62.5 mM Tris-HCl [pH 6.7], 100 mM β-mercaptoethanol, and 2% SDS) for 30 min at 50°C and were reprobed with an anti-E1 MAb (A4 [15]), which was used to confirm the presence of E1 in the immunoprecipitates and lysates. As previously observed with the conformation-dependent anti-E2 MAb, H53 (7), CBH-2 was able to coprecipitate E1 with E2 when the HCV envelope glycoproteins were coexpressed (lower panel, lanes 4 and 5). The requirement of CBH-2 to bind E2 only when expressed in the presence of E1 suggests that this HMAb may be recognizing a conformation of E2 that closely resembles native E2 glycoproteins as they exist on virus particles.
Properly folded E1 and E2 glycoproteins interact to form noncovalently linked heterodimers (12), which are believed to be the native, prebudding form of the virus (31). Previous studies have shown that E1E2 heterodimers can be formed when HCV envelope proteins are expressed both in cis and in trans (6, 9). In order to know whether CBH-2 recognizes these heterodimers, 293 cells were transfected with plasmids encoding E1 alone, E2 alone, or E1E2 (cis) or were cotransfected with a plasmid expressing E1 and a plasmid expressing E2 (trans). Following transfection, cells were lysed and intracellular HCV glycoproteins were immunoprecipitated with CBH-2, separated, and detected as detailed above (Fig. 2). To control for postlysis heterodimer formation, lysates from cells transfected separately with E1 or E2 were mixed prior to immunoprecipitation with CBH-2 (Fig. 2, lane 5). Cell lysates contained similar amounts of E2 glycoprotein as determined by WB with 3/11 (Fig. 2, lanes 8 to 10). The cell lysates contained additional diffuse bands in the upper part of the gel that likely represent aggregates (Fig. 2, lanes 8 to 10). Again, CBH-2 failed to precipitate E2 molecules when expressed in the absence of E1 (Fig. 2, upper panel, lane 2). In contrast, coexpression of E1 and E2, either in cis (E1E2) or in trans (E1 plus E2), resulted in efficient binding of E2 by the HMAb (upper panel, lanes 3 and 4). Proper folding and formation of E1E2 complexes did not appear to occur postlysis, as the Ab did not precipitate an appropriately sized band when incubated with a mixture of E1 and E2 lysates (Fig. 2, upper panel, lane 5). The blot was subsequently stripped and reprobed with A4, which was used to confirm the presence of E1 in the immunoprecipitates. As previously observed with the conformation-dependent anti-E2 MAb H53 (6, 9), CBH-2 was able to coprecipitate E1 with E2 when the HCV envelope glycoproteins were cotranslationally expressed (lower panel, lanes 3 and 4) but not when they were mixed postlysis (Fig. 2, lower panel, lane 5). Taken together, these results demonstrate that CBH-2 binds only to E2 glycoproteins that are complexed with E1, suggesting that this HMAb recognizes a prebudding, possibly native form of E2 envelope protein.
CBH-2 requires cotranslational expression of E1 to efficiently bind to E2 glycoproteins. This result was surprising, since this HMAb was originally identified by assays that required its binding to full-length E2 expressed in the absence of E1 (24). The assays used previously detected reactivity with immobilized E2, whereas we used immobilized Abs to precipitate the envelope proteins from a soluble cell lysate. Under such conditions, it is likely that only high-affinity interactions (>108/mol) could be detected (25). It is also possible that the binding of E2 on solid phase may mimic the interaction with E1 to create the CBH-2 epitope.
The effect of HCV envelope proteins on folding of each other has been addressed by several studies. E1 has been shown to fold improperly, remaining in the reduced state, in the absence of E2 (30, 35). Insertion of alanine substitutions within the transmembrane domains of E1 and E2 disrupted E1E2 heterodimer formation and decreased the amount of properly folded E1 (32). Similarly, glycosylation of E1 was dramatically improved when it was coexpressed with E2, indicating that glycosylation is also dependent on the presence of polypeptide sequences downstream of E1 (14). These results indicate that E2 possesses a chaperone-like function to facilitate proper folding of E1 (for review, see reference 31). In contrast to E1, E2 expressed in the absence of E1 was shown to fold properly (30). Yet, coexpression of E1 either in cis or in trans was required for stable association of E2 with the ER membrane, suggesting that interaction between the hydrophobic transmembrane domains of these proteins is required for efficient ER membrane insertion and complex formation (6). The requirement of CBH-2 to bind E2 only when coexpressed with E1 suggests once more that the presence of E1 may also influence the folding of E2, such that the epitope recognized by CBH-2 is formed only when E1 and E2 are in a complex.
The unique ability of CBH-2 to react with E1E2 heterodimers is seen only in the context of genotype 1a. Recently, Triyatni et al. have shown that the ability of CBH-2 to bind HCV-like particles (HCV-LPs) is restricted to genotype 1a (H77 strain); CBH-2 did not react with HCV-LPs from genotype 1b (J strain) (38). In that study other conformation-dependent mouse MAbs, H2 and H53, also showed preferential binding to the HCV-LP 1a. The interaction of HCV-LP 1b with Abs was broader, exhibiting reactivity with Abs to both conformational and to linear epitopes (38).
CBH-2 HMAb selectively binds noncovalently associated E1E2 heterodimers and not disulfide-linked aggregates.
Studies using transient-expression systems have shown that E2 interacts with E1 to form oligomers. In the presence of nonionic detergents, two forms of E1E2 complexes are detected: a heterodimer of E1 and E2 stabilized by noncovalent interactions and heterogeneous disulfide-linked aggregates (15). Aggregates were first observed when the proteins were expressed by virus vectors that can induce a high level of protein synthesis (15, 22). However, aggregates have also been reported when HCV proteins are expressed in a nonvirus vector that drives a lower level of protein synthesis (3). In our study, we analyzed the assembly state of E1E2 complexes precipitated by CBH-2. For this purpose, we immunoprecipitated HCV glycoproteins with CBH-2 and compared its reactivity to three other NOB-positive HMAbs (CBH-5, CBH-8E, and CBH-7 [24]). Cells expressing E1E2 were lysed in the presence of 20 mM iodoacetamide (Sigma). The cell lysate was subsequently divided into equal fractions, immunoprecipitated with each of the HMAbs, and analyzed on an SDS-PAGE gel under nonreducing and reducing conditions followed by WB with 3/11 (Fig. 3A and B, respectively). Interestingly, CBH-2 preferentially bound the nonaggregated form of E2 (lane 3), whereas the other NOB-positive HMAbs bound additional aggregated E2 (lanes 4 to 6). It is worth noting that these other HMAbs immunoprecipitated a more intense band corresponding to E2 that likely contains both properly and improperly folded monomeric forms of E2. These results suggest that CBH-2 probably recognizes only properly folded E2 glycoproteins. When the same samples were analyzed under reducing conditions (Fig. 3B), the precipitated E2 molecules bound by each of the HMAbs collapsed to a single band, supporting the hypothesis that all HMAbs, with the exception of CBH-2, bind both nonaggregated forms of E2 and high- molecular-weight, disulfide-linked aggregates. The presence of E1 in each of the immunoprecipitates was confirmed by stripping the blot and reprobing with A4 (Fig. 3C). The HMAbs that bound more total E2 molecules also coprecipitated higher levels of E1. This experiment confirms that, although all HMAbs bind to E2 molecules, only CBH-2 specifically binds to noncovalently linked E1E2 complexes, which are believed to be the native, prebudding form of the virus.
It has been previously shown that the folding of E1 is slow and that coexpression of E2 is necessary for the proper folding of E1 (30). In the absence of E2, E1 remains in a reduced state and forms aggregates containing improperly folded oligomeric structures of E1 (30, 35). Since acquisition of oxidized form correlates with proper folding and assembly of native heterodimers (12, 16, 30), we analyzed the folding of E1 to further characterize E1E2 complexes recognized by CBH-2. Since no MAb that recognizes properly folded E1 glycoprotein is presently available, we monitored disulfide bond formation in E1 by SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions, as described previously (16). This method takes advantage of an increase in mobility as a protein acquires a compact conformation, stabilized by the formation of intramolecular disulfide bonds. The increase in migration of proteins with a low molecular weight, such as E1, is more apparent than when higher-molecular-weight proteins, such as E2, are analyzed. We therefore focused on the conformation of E1 in the E1E2 heterodimeric complex. HEK 293 cells were transfected with plasmids expressing E1E2p7NS2 or E1 alone and were lysed in the presence of iodoacetamide. Proteins from E1E2p7NS2 lysate were immunoprecipitated with A4, CBH-2, or the well-characterized mouse conformation-dependent anti-E2 MAb, H53 (7, 12). Proteins from E1 lysate were also immunoprecipitated with A4. Bound proteins were analyzed under nonreducing conditions in WB with A4. As shown in Fig. 4 (lane 5 and shorter exposure), a reduced form of E1 was clearly immunoprecipitated by A4 in the context of E1 expressed alone, as previously observed (30, 35). In our experiments, this Ab that recognizes a linear epitope seems to preferentially recognize the reduced form of E1 proteins from E1E2p7NS2 lysate, either in immunoprecipitation (Fig. 4, lane 1) or WB (Fig. 4, lane 4). Similar to previous findings (7, 12), the mouse conformation-dependent anti-E2 MAb, H53, recognized only the oxidized form of E1 (Fig. 4, lane 3). Similar to the case for H53, only the oxidized form of E1 was immunoprecipitated by CBH-2 (Fig. 4, lane 2), indicating that E1 proteins coimmunoprecipitated by CBH-2 have acquired a compact configuration and are properly folded. Since precipitation of the oxidized form of E1 correlates with proper folding and assembly of native E1E2 heterodimers (12, 16, 30), these results show that CBH-2 recognizes only properly folded, native E1E2 heterodimers.
The involvement of ER chaperones in HCV glycoprotein assembly has been studied. It showed that calreticulin and BiP interact preferentially with aggregates of E1 and E2. In contrast, calnexin (CNX) has been shown to have a higher affinity for noncovalently linked complexes (4). Immediately after their synthesis, monomeric forms of E1 and E2 interact with CNX. Intramolecular disulfide bonds form rapidly in E2, leading to the folding of at least one subdomain. This partially folded form of E2 interacts with the nonoxidized form of E1, forming an intermediate E1E2 complex that is associated with CNX. E1 and E2 acquire their final state of folding and finally dissociate from CNX as the prebudding form of HCV glycoprotein complex (13, 31). In our study, we examined whether E1E2 complexes recognized by CBH-2 still interact or not with CNX. The state of folding and assembly of E1E2 immunoprecipitated by CBH-2 was analyzed by monitoring the presence or the absence of coimmunoprecipitation of CNX, as described previously for H2, a mouse conformation-dependent anti-E2 MAb (12). For this purpose, COS-7 cells were infected with a recombinant adenovirus expressing E1E2p7NS2 (amino acids 171 to 1026) at a multiplicity of infection of 25 PFU per cell. This recombinant adenovirus was produced by the Adeno-X expression system (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). Forty-eight hours postinfection, cells were lysed and intracellular HCV glycoproteins were immunoprecipitated with CBH-2, H53, A4, and a linear anti-E2 MAb, H47 (8). A rabbit polyclonal anti-CNX Ab (Transduction Laboratories, Lexington, Calif.) was used as positive control. Proteins were analyzed under reducing conditions and were revealed by WB with the rabbit anti-CNX Ab (Fig. 5, upper panel). As expected, cell lysate contained large amounts of CNX that can be detected by immunoprecipitation followed by a WB with the anti-CNX Ab (Fig. 5, upper panel, lane 7) or directly by WB with the same Ab (Fig. 5, upper panel, lane 8). CNX was coimmunoprecipitated with the mouse linear anti-E1 (Fig. 5, upper panel, lane 6) and anti-E2 (Fig. 5, upper panel, lane 5) MAbs, A4 and H47, respectively, indicating that these MAbs recognize E1E2 complexes associated with CNX. MAb H53 coprecipitated minuscule amounts of CNX (Fig. 5, upper panel, lane 4), as described earlier (J. Dubuisson, personal communication). Interestingly, as observed with the conformation-dependent anti-E2 MAb, H2 (12), CBH-2 did not coprecipitate CNX (Fig. 5, upper panel, lane 2), indicating that E1E2 heterodimers recognized by CBH-2 have dissociated from CNX and are properly folded. The blot was subsequently stripped and reprobed with 3/11, which was used to confirm the immunoprecipitation of E2 (Fig. 5, lower panel). E2 glycoprotein and E2-NS2 precursor were efficiently detected in immunoprecipitation with the anti-E1 and anti-E2 MAbs (Fig. 5, lower panel, lanes 2, 4, 5, and 6) and in lysate (Fig. 5, lower panel, lane 8). The anti-CNX Ab seems to preferentially recognize cellular CNX that does not interact with HCV glycoproteins (Fig. 5, lower panel, lane 7). High proportions of E2-NS2 precursor are probably due to a less efficient cleavage in the adenovirus expression system. Both E2 and E2-NS2 precursor were recognized by MAb CBH-2 (Fig. 5, lower panel, lane 2, and Fig. 1). It is not known whether one or both of these E2 forms are present in mature HCV particles. Taken together, these results show that CBH-2 binds E1E2 heterodimers in their final state of folding, dissociated from CNX, indicating that this HMAb recognizes the prebudding form of the HCV glycoprotein complex. CBH-2 preferentially binds noncovalent E1E2 heterodimers and is able to inhibit the binding of HCV infectious particles. These data suggest to us that CBH-2 may be a useful tool for identification of native HCV envelope complexes.
Interaction of E1E2 heterodimers with CD81.
The ability of recombinant versions of HCV-E2 to bind human CD81 has been confirmed in several studies using recombinant fusion proteins containing the large extracellular loop (LEL) of CD81 (CD81-LEL) (10, 19-21, 24, 27, 33, 34, 36, 38-41). It was also shown to react with E1 and E2 glycoproteins reconstituted into liposomes (29) and with HCV-LP 1a (38). Most importantly, the CD81-LEL fusion protein was shown to interact with HCV genome-containing particles (36), demonstrating that CD81 does indeed bind native E2 glycoproteins as they exist on HCV virions. We therefore wanted to investigate the reactivity of the CD81-LEL fusion protein with intracellular forms of the HCV glycoproteins. For this purpose, a recombinant carboxy-terminal fusion protein containing the LEL of human CD81 fused to glutathione-S-transferase (19) was preadsorbed onto glutathione-Sepharose 4B beads (Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden) and incubated with cell lysates expressing E1E2 containing or not containing 20 mM iodoacetamide as described above. Bound proteins were analyzed under nonreducing and reducing conditions and were immunoblotted with an anti-E2 MAb (Fig. 3A and B, lane 1, respectively). CD81-LEL preferentially bound a high proportion of nonaggregated E2, as shown by the intense band that comigrated with the CBH-2-precipitated E2 molecules (Fig. 3A, compare lanes 1 and 3). The soluble CD81 also precipitated high-molecular-weight aggregates of E2, which collapsed to a single band when the samples were reduced (Fig. 3B, lane 1). Similar to what was shown with the HMAbs, the interaction between CD81-LEL and E1E2 complexes was analyzed by stripping blot A and reprobing with A4 (Fig. 3C). CD81-LEL coprecipitated high levels of E1 glycoprotein. These data demonstrate that soluble CD81 recognizes noncovalently linked E1E2 complexes, similar to those recognized by CBH-2. It is presently unknown whether the reactivity with misfolded and aggregated E2 is due to misfolded, soluble CD81 or whether aggregated material could bind to cell surface-expressed native CD81.
In conclusion, CBH-2 is a conformation-sensitive HMAb that recognizes E2 only when coexpressed with E1. This exclusive specificity indicates that coexpression of E1 probably affects the conformation of E2. CBH-2 specifically binds E1E2 heterodimers from genotype 1a that are noncovalently linked and properly folded and no longer associate with the ER chaperone CNX (Fig. 5) and are believed to be the prebudding form of the HCV virion. Besides providing a novel tool for the analysis of HCV virion assembly and entry, CBH-2 is useful for optimizing production and isolation of native HCV envelope complexes for vaccine applications.
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants CA34233 (S.L.) and DA06596 and AI47355 (S.K.H.F.) and by grant 2110046 from the California Cancer Research Program (S.L.) under Interagency Agreement 97-12013 (University of California Davis contract no. 98-00924V) with the Department of Health Sciences, Cancer Research Section.
We thank J. A. McKeating for the E2-encoding plasmids and for anti-E2 MAb 3/11. We thank J. Dubuisson for anti-E1 MAb A4 and anti-E2 MAbs H53 and H47.
- Received 20 August 2002.
- Accepted 10 October 2002.
- ↵*Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University Medical Center, 1105a North Wing, CCSR Building, 269 Campus Dr., Stanford, CA 94305-5151. Phone: (650) 725-6425. Fax: (650) 725-1420. E-mail: levy{at}cmgm.stanford.edu.
- American Society for Microbiology


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So the first test is over, and Australia maintained their long record of success at the Gabba to no great surprise here. So, what positives can we take from it?
Posts Tagged: Moeen Ali
Ruthless India Despatch Visitors
There was a point in the fourth test between India and England when the hosts were 30-odd runs behind their opponents with only three wickets remaining. It was a false dawn though and the masterful Kohli and magnificent Jayant Yadav (in only his third test) combined to take the match and with it any hopes… Read more »
Congratulations to Bangladesh as England Spin to Defeat
Well done Bangladesh on a first test win over England. The victory was thoroughly deserved and the series could have so easily finished 2–0 to the hosts rather than the 1–1 draw. Both matches were excellent adverts for test cricket in that they were testing for both teams with the Tigers in my mind claiming… Read more »
Points to Ponder After Opening Loss
One test in, England are one-nil down. Well done Pakistan Having brushed Sri Lanka aside England are in the midst of a much sterner test against an in-form Pakistan. And the visitors succeeded where many others have failed of late, i.e. to expose England's weaknesses. Perhaps England's main weakness is a lack of top quality… Read more »
No Star Shines Bright for Either Side
So the Ashes are now at end with England the victors and Australia put back in their place. A 3–2 scoreline flatters the green baggied ones a little but in truth the last test was a dead rubber for England. They were never going to play to the same level on intensity as when they… Read more »
India take the initiative into the third test
Two tests in, 1–0 to India. England's poor summer continued apace today with a shocking (sorry, appalling) collapse after lunch today to hand the visitors the initiative going forward into the rest of the series. On current evidence it would be hard to see past India winning the series.
How to manage a problem like England
In a way I am almost glad England failed to grind out a draw against Sri Lanka. Had they done so it would have been seen by many as some sort of miraculous escape. Backs to the wall, stoic defence when the chips were down. It must not, however, detract from a dire performance. For… Read more »


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Patrick Bauer: Preston North End sign Charlton Athletic defender on three-year deal
- From the section Preston
Preston North End have signed German defender Patrick Bauer on a three-year deal following his decision to leave fellow Championship side Charlton.
Bauer, 26, scored the late goal in the League One play-off final that won promotion for Charlton back to the second tier after a three-year absence.
But he turned down the offer of a new deal at Charlton, who are in talks about a potential takeover.
The ex-German youth international will officially complete his move on 1 July.
"I am happy to play finally in the Championship again," said Bauer, who joined Charlton from Portuguese top-flight side Maritimo in June 2015 when the Addicks were still a second-tier club.
"I was four years at Charlton. We had some disappointing moments, but also highs, like the promotion this season.
"I spent a good time there, but it was time for me to start a new chapter in my career."
Bauer is the first signing of the summer by Preston, who finished 14th in the Championship in 2018-19 and survived the potential loss of Alex Neil to West Bromwich Albion.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


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The beauty that resulted from this styled shoot at the Imperial Sand Dunes is a testament to the many talents and abilities artists bring to the table and what can take place when they work together in harmony.
As the expression goes, "time flies by when you're having fun." So, have fun and enjoy every second of it, knowing Nate and his team are there preserving each detail, each magical moment in the form of timeless images.
Being from San Diego, Brittany and Nick were looking for a fresh take on their engagement pictures. Rather than heading straight to the beach, we decided to explore an area just outside of Julian, and it did not disappoint.
Kelsey and Max chose the perfect venue for their fall wedding in Estes Park, CO. Less than a mile from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, Della Terra Mountain Chateau is situated among some of the grandest views in the country.


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Oracle Database Documentation
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Movement Day Global Cities
22 Sep 2020 · 24 Sep 2020
Brooklyn, USA
22 Sep 2020 · 24 Sep 2020
Brooklyn, USA
Movement Day Global Cities is a catalytic event designed to transform the world's cities by focusing on impacting today's urban issues through the gospel and collaborative leadership. Learn more at https://movementday.com/md-global-cities.
The Lausanne Movement connects influencers and ideas for global mission, with a vision of the gospel for every person, an evangelical church for every people, Christ-like leaders for every church, and kingdom impact in every sphere of society. Learn about our beginnings, ongoing connections, and mission today. Learn More


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Club Member Benefits
Our Wine Club Team is dedicated to assisting club members as your direct contact at the winery. We are delighted to assist with tasting reservations and any questions you may have. Email us or call 707.944.8642
- Preferred pricing on eligible wines and merchandise (does not include Platinum Wines) (more details)
- Access to limited library and large format wines
- Exclusive access to Front Row, a club-only tasting experience (seasonal) (more details)
- Complimentary and special priced tasting experiences (more details)
- Guest passes to send your friends and family to experience Cliff Lede Vineyards as a club member (more details)
- Preferred rates at local partner hotels, including our very own Poetry Inn.
- Membership benefits begin upon receiving current club release
- No cost to join; we simply charge your credit card prior to shipping each new club release. There is a one year (4 releases) commitment
- Wines conveniently shipped directly to you. Business address strongly preferred. See upcoming shipment schedule.
- Special email offers for Wine Club members only.
- Priority invitation and pricing to special events
Preferred Wine Pricing
Exclusively for wine club members
Debut Club Members
- All club releases --- 10% off
- Purchases of fewer than 12 bottles --- 10% off
- Purchases of 12-35 bottles --- 15% off
- Purchases of 36 or more bottles --- 30% off
- Merchandise --- 20% off
Classic Club Members
- All club releases --- 15% off
- Purchases of fewer than 12 bottles --- 15% off
- Purchases of 12-35 bottles --- 20% off
- Purchases of 36 or more bottles --- 30% off
- Merchandise --- 20% off
Collector and Ultimate Club Members
- All club releases --- 20% off
- Purchases of fewer than 12 bottles --- 20% off
- Purchases of 12-35 bottles --- 25% off
- Purchases of 36 or more bottles --- 30% off
- Merchandise --- 20% off
Tasting Experiences at Cliff Lede Vineyards
As club members, you are invited to enjoy our various tasting experiences.
Reservations: Required for all tastings (walk ins welcome at the tasting bar). Please call ahead (707.944.8642) or email to arrange your visit. More information on each experience can be found on the Cliff Lede Vineyards website.
Front Row | Complimentary for club member and up to three guests. $35 per additional guest
Located in our shaded courtyard, Front Row is our luxe member-only lounge.
Veranda Tasting | Complimentary for club member and up to 3 guests. $50 per additional guest
Reserve a table for you and your guests on our outdoor veranda, as you enjoy five current release wines. Weather permitting.
FEL Pinot Garden | 1 Complimentary wine by the glass for member and up to 3 guests.
The FEL Pinot Garden provides a relaxed outdoor setting for enjoying wine by the glass or holding a private group tasting.
Backstage Tasting Lounge | $50 for member and up to 3 guests, $75 per additional guest
Accessible only with a Backstage Pass, this contemporary lounge has a rock edge and features our limited production wines.
Tasting Bar | Complimentary for member and up to 3 guests. $35 per additional guest.
Stop in to our tasting bar (no appointment necessary) to taste a flight of five wines from the Lede Family Wines portfolio.
Guest Passes
Share the Napa Valley experience
Send your friends and family to Cliff Lede Vineyards to experience the perks of club membership next time they are in Napa Valley.
- Four guest passes per calendar year
- Guest receives Classic club level discounts on day of visit
- Complimentary tasting experience in Front Row, Tasting Bar, or on the Veranda
How to Use Guest Passes
To request a guest pass tasting, you may call our Concierge at 707.944.8642 or send us an email.
Upcoming Releases
Below is a general outline of wines you will receive in upcoming release. The number of bottles per wine and release is dependent on your club tier.
October 2019
Cliff Lede: 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain & 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga
FEL: 2017 Pinot Noir, Savoy Vineyard & 2017 Chardonnay, Savoy Vineyard
December 2019
Cliff Lede: 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain, 2017 Claret, Special Library re-release: 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
FEL: 2017 Pinot Noir, Ferrington Vineyard & 2017 Pinot Noir, Wendling Vineyard
February 2020
Cliff Lede: 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District & 2017 High Fidelity
FEL: 2018 Chardonnay, Anderson Valley& 2017 Pinot Noir, Donnelly Creek Vineyard
April 2020
Cliff Lede: 2017 "Rock Block" Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District & 2019 Sauvignon Blanc
FEL: 2018 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley & 2019 Pinot Gris, Anderson Valley


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These crocuses first opened in my yard on March 8th. Today, a beautiful warm spring day, more crocuses opened and the honey bees came to visit! I'm sure I've never had crocuses open this early in March before - not since I moved from Tennessee to central New York 24 years ago. We are expecting a whole week of warm weather now, and some people are worried that the sap won't run in the maple trees and we won't have fresh syrup this year. I do love maple syrup as much as anyone, but I love spring flowers more, so I just can't feel too bad about it.
This afternoon I went out in the sunshine to gather the dead branches that collected around the yard during the winter, and to clean up the dead leaves around the crocuses, hoping that I might spot a fairy. No such luck, but it's comforting to know that many people have seen fairies. I have read too many first-person accounts of fairy sightings not to believe in their existence, and so I can hope that I will see one someday, too!
illustration by Cicely Mary Barker
Right now I am reading The Real World of Fairies: A First-Person Account by Dora van Gelder, which says: "Love for flowers and a conscious invitation to the fairies to help is a way to come to know them and perhaps even to see them. It is love of living things which is the great bridge between the two kingdoms." So while I tend my flower gardens I invite the fairies to help me build a bridge between my world and theirs. Even though I haven't seen them yet, I think they sometimes answer the questions I ask myself while I'm observing nature. For instance, today I noticed a couple of daffodil shoots poking up through the brown leaves in an area where I know I planted lots of bulbs. I wondered why these two were coming up so far ahead of the others, and immediately the answer came: These two are just more eager to come out than the others! They are willing to take the risk that it may freeze again while the other daffodils would rather play it safe. Apparently each flower has an individual personality, something that never occurred to me before! (I'm not really sure if it's the flower or the flower fairy that decides when to emerge, but whoever it is, some like to come out sooner than others!)
Another interesting observation I made today was a little clump of crocuses blooming way in the back corner of the back yard, quite far from where I had planted the bulbs. The neighborhood squirrels enjoy digging up crocus bulbs and transplanting them in odd places. While it's annoying to have my carefully designed plantings re-arranged, it's also a delight to go out in the spring and see what nature has done all on her own, with the help of her creatures, the fairies, and the elements. Later in the spring or summer I will probably discover two or three flowers that seeded themselves from someone else's garden, and I will find out which plants the deer have a yen for this year.
Of course I always eagerly anticipate the arrival of the new flowers I planted bulbs for in the fall. Last October I put a few of my daffodil bulbs in my neighbor's yard, and I can't wait to see the reaction of these friends who have always admired my spring flowers but never planted bulbs of their own. Bulbs are such amazing, miraculous things! How could anyone plant one of those plain, brown objects, see its flower bloom in the spring, and not KNOW with absolute certainty that this is the work of Divine Love?
In reading The Door of Everything, I learned that we humans are like flower bulbs ourselves. Ruby Nelson compares us to tomato seeds and chrysalises, waiting to turn into tomatoes or butterflies. Flower bulbs and acorns offer the same kind of imagery. We just have no idea what magnificent beings we are going to turn into, but the promise is in the world all around us if we just use our eyes and don't take it all for granted. Spending time in nature - appreciating, observing, tending, and preserving - is a way to build the bridge that will take us from our bulb-like life to a life of beauty, peace, and love.
Fairy Bridge near Kewaigue