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The Sea of Okhotsk - with National Geographic
* Subject to availability.
- A cruise in partnership with National Geographic Expeditions offering enrichment with a National Geographic Photographer and an Expert onboard.
- Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
- A cruise to the heart of the pristine lands of the Russian Far East, discovering a breathtakingly beautiful natural region and the wildlife that lives there.
- Magadan, a gulag during the time of Stalin, is a prime site for observing cetaceans.
- Abundant and varied wildlife: many marine birds, Steller sea lions, fur seals, whales, ribbon seals, Arctic ground squirrel, the Kamchatka brown bear.
- Landscapes: uninhabited islands, mountains, forests, volcanoes, ice floe.
- Encounters with local populations.
- Staterooms & Suites
- Port of call & excursions
- Formalities
- Theme
- Cruise Package
- Guest(s) Lecturer(s)
- Important information
- Pre/Post & Overlands
Staterooms & Suites
Superior Stateroom AU$16,510 Not Available Deluxe Stateroom AU$17,710 Not Available Prestige Deck 4 AU$19,620 Not Available Prestige Deck 5 AU$17,860 Available Prestige Deck 6 AU$18,650 Available Deluxe Suite AU$25,380 Available Prestige Deck 5 Suite AU$39,340 Not Available Prestige Deck 6 Suite AU$41,220 Not Available Owner's Suite AU$47,160 Not Available
Designed in 2013 and loyal to the PONANT spirit, Le Soléal like her sisterships embodies the subtle alliance between luxury, intimacy and wellbeing which is Ponant's signature. The elegance of her exterior and interior lines and her intimate size (only 132 staterooms and suites)make this a rare and innovative yacht on the cruise market.
Interior Design
With her fluid lines and a modern colour scheme combining natural wood with shades of grey and white, Le Soléal presents references to a nautical theme.
Port of call & excursions
Otaru, HokkaidoEmbarkation 26/06/2020 from 16H00 to 17H00 . Departure 26/06/2020 at 18H00 .
Boasting an outstanding setting of natural beauty, bordered by the Sea of Japan on one side and Mt Tengu on the other, Otaru is a lively harbour town. This old industrial capital has kept from its past glory buildings in 19th-century brick as well as its canals, formerly the main means of transportation. They give this Japanese town a striking appearance, especially when covered in snow. Magnificent vistas abound - itメs up to you to put them in order of preference. Shukutsu Observatory, overlooking out over the vast Bay of Ishikari, is just one of them.
27 June 2020 – KorsakovArrival 27/06/2020. Departure 27/06/2020.
Korsakov is a fishing port town located in the southern part of Sakhalin Island. Sakhalin is the largest island in Russia, just north of Japan, covered with dense forests, mostly coniferous. Wildlife on the island consists of Kamchatka brown bears, arctic foxes, sea otters, and sables as well as reindeer in the north and several species of whales. This city offers a mix of Russian and Japanese structures. During your visit, you can go up the hill for a great view over the harbour or take a trip to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to learn about the local history and folklore as well as discover some of the island's diverse flora and fauna. The visit to this lively town is a sign that this region is currently booming.
28 June 2020 – TulenyiArrival 28/06/2020. Departure 28/06/2020.
Tulenyi (sea lion in Russian) is a small uninhabited island that is barely two kilometres long, 19 metres large, and full of wildlife, particularly auklets, northern fur seals and Steller sea lions. This island serves as a rookery to one of Russia's largest sea lion colonies. Approaching the island by Zodiac® can be a spectacular sight, as the highly sociable animals rush to the water to welcome visitors.
29 June 2020 – Nabilskiy BayArrival 29/06/2020. Departure 29/06/2020.
Nabilskiy Bay is located on the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island. In this area, fishing is one of the most typical activities, although the exuberant nature offers you some very nice hikes and you can also visit some archaeological sites.
30 June 2020 – Piltun BayArrival 30/06/2020. Departure 30/06/2020.
Piltun Bay, in the north-east of Sakhalin, is an important site for the highly endangered Western Grey Whale. It also attracts a wide variety of seabirds. While ashore, try to spot some Aleutian terns and Steller's sea eagles, which spend the summer on Sakhalin Island after having wintered in Japan in the Shiretoko Peninsula.
1 July 2020 – Iony IslandArrival 01/07/2020. Departure 01/07/2020.
Another spot of this biologically rich area is Iony Island, which lies in the middle of the Sea of Okhotsk. Although very small in size, it's a paradise for wildlife. Bird species such as guillemot, kittiwakes, or aukllets, and a huge amount of Steller's Sea Lions occupy the few rocky beaches.
2 July 2020 – OkhotskArrival 02/07/2020. Departure 02/07/2020.
Okhotsk is a little bustling town located where the Okhota River meets the Sea of Okhotsk. This town is the centre of commercial fishing in the region. During your cruise, while at sea or your ports of call, don't miss the chance to discover the richness of its fauna: ribbon seals, numerous bird species, grey whales, Steller's sea eagles, brown bears, sea lions, seals have wonderful surprises in store for you in this remote and unspoiled part of the Russian Far East.
3 July 2020 – MagadanArrival 03/07/2020. Departure 03/07/2020.
The coastal town of Magadan is surrounded by wild landscapes with endless pine trees and vast rushing rivers. During Stalin's reign, a lot of people were sent to the area of Kolyma to work in labor camps under extreme conditions. The monument of the "Mask of Sorrow" symbolizes eternal grief for the losses during the Soviet era. Magadan has now become one of the major ports of Eastern Siberia and is sometimes called "the Saint Petersburg of the Far East" due to its architectural unity and its sumptuous orthodox cathedral with golden domes.
3 July 2020 – Zavyalov IslandArrival 03/07/2020. Departure 03/07/2020.
Zavyalov Island is a relatively large mountainous island located in northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk, close to Magadan. Visiting this uninhabited island might give you the chance to get up close with some of the area's wildlife, including seabirds and sea lions.
4 July 2020 – Sailing along Krutogorova RiverArrival 04/07/2020. Departure 04/07/2020.
During your expedition, sail along the peaceful Krutogorova River. The Krutogorova River displays an extremely complex interconnection with a floodplain throughout boasting a freshwater way or a whole host of marine wildlife.
5 July 2020 – AtlasovoArrival 05/07/2020. Departure 05/07/2020.
Head south to the Kuril islands, a vast chain of volcanic islands separating the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean. These islands offer a fascinating primitive ad authentic beauty. Atlasovo Island is named after the Russian explorer Vladimir Atlasov, and it was the first of the Kuril Islands to be discovered. It offers many black sand beaches, rocky and lush coastlines, and a volcano that has inspired many legends.
6 July 2020 – Antsiferov IslandArrival 06/07/2020. Departure 06/07/2020.
Antsiferov Island is a remote, uninhabited island in the northern Kuril Islands chain.
The volcanic island is home to a wealth of rich wildlife including Steller sea lions, northern fulmars and tufted puffins.
6 July 2020 – Ostrova Ptich'i, Sakhalin OblastArrival 06/07/2020. Departure 06/07/2020.
7 July 2020 – Kambalnaya BayArrival 07/07/2020. Departure 07/07/2020.
Kambalnaya Bay possesses luscious green landscapes alongside fresh water making it an ideal spot for Kamchatka brown bears. You may be lucky enough to catch adult bears and their cubs during your expedition cruise to the Sea of Okhotsk.
8 July 2020 – Vestnik BayArrival 08/07/2020. Departure 08/07/2020.
Vestnik Bay is the perfect stopover to witness local wildlife. From tufted puffins to guillemots, arctic foxes and Kamchatka brown bears, there is a wealth of wildlife in the forested areas that surround the bay and the rivers are brimming with salmon. Part of the protected South Kamchatka Nature Park, one of the six protected areas that make up the Volcanoes of Kamchatka nature park listed as UNESCO World Heritage. This nature park also serves to protect the traditional way of life of the Evenks, the local indigenous population. Head to shore aboard a Zodiac inflatable and, from land, enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Kamchatka landscapes and the Bering Sea.
9 July 2020 – Petropavlovsk-KamchatskyArrival 09/07/2020 early morning. Departure 09/07/2020.
Petropavlovsk, the oldest town in the Russian Far East, was established in October 1740, when the ships Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul, captained by Vitus Jonassen Bering, the Danish explorer working for the Russian Navy, first entered the bay. The Military Glory Museum, found in the town centre, is the most important in all of northern Russia. Keep your camera at the ready, though, as nearby is the picturesque Petrovskaya Hill, which also has some surprises in store for you - don't forget to admire the sumptuous views across the Bay of Avacha from its summit. The bay's circular shape creates a natural protection against the impetuous wind, all the while providing ships with easy access into port.
Petropavlovsk-KamchatskyDisembarkation 10/07/2020 at 07H00 .
Petropavlovsk, the oldest town in the Russian Far East, was established in October 1740, when the ships Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul, captained by Vitus Jonassen Bering, the Danish explorer working for the Russian Navy, first entered the bay. The Military Glory Museum, found in the town centre, is the most important in all of northern Russia. Keep your camera at the ready, though, as nearby is the picturesque Petrovskaya Hill, which also has some surprises in store for you - don't forget to admire the sumptuous views across the Bay of Avacha from its summit. The bay's circular shape creates a natural protection against the impetuous wind, all the while providing ships with easy access into port.
The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.
Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
Warning about the use of drones: the use of drones aboard PONANT ships, whether they are sailing at sea, at a port of call or anchored, is strictly forbidden. The use of drones on land in the Arctic and Antarctic regions is also strictly forbidden by international polar regulations. In other regions, it may be possible to use drones on land if permission has been obtained from the relevant authorities of each country and each region travelled through, as well as a pilot's licence that should be obtained from your home country. Passengers are responsible for obtaining these permits; they should be able to present them at all times. Passengers who do not obtain these authorisations expose themselves to the risk of legal proceedings.
Russia: an individual Russian visa (single-entry tourist visa type) must be obtained prior to your cruise.
A copy of your passport (photo page) must be sent to PONANT at time of booking of your cruise, this in order to prepare the « letter of invitation » necessary to obtain your visa.
A copy of your visa must be sent to PONANT at the very latest 70 days prior to your cruise date.
Please note: in case PONANT does not receive a copy of your Russian visa by the deadline, the immigration procedures specific to the areas visited won't be obtained for your embarkation.
Polar Expedition
Discover the unique concept of PONANT polar expedition cruises: explore the world's extreme regions while enjoying luxurious comfort and service.
A luxury expedition voyage
Choosing a PONANT expedition cruise means choosing a state of mind: the alliance of elegance and authenticity, of exploration and comfort, of adventure and refinement… The comfort of your ship and your stateroom, personalised and attentive service, refined gastronomy: a very special atmosphere that we take great care to maintain. In the heart of the ice floes of the Arctic and the Antarctic, our luxurious services will ensure that your expedition cruise is an unforgettable experience.
PONANT, polar specialists
With almost 20 years of experience in the extreme regions, PONANT, the world's number 1 polar cruise company, is a real polar specialist. PONANT will take you to the most remote regions in total safety: our Captains and crew are professionals, specially trained to sail in icy waters. Our latest-generation fleet has the most modern technology to guarantee both your safety and respect for the regions visited. The size of our ships means we can get as close as possible to areas that are difficult to reach, offering a privileged access to preserved sites. Our flexibility enables us to adapt to the surprises inherent to these expedition itineraries.
Professional expedition teams, varied activities
After scouting missions in the field, our Expedition Leaders and their teams of naturalist guides design exceptional itineraries in the polar regions. During the cruise, they organise daily outings and shore visits in Zodiac® dinghies and hikes on land so as to get as close as possible to nature and wild fauna. In the Arctic and in Alaska, the close relationships that our teams have been able to build with the local communities will enable you to understand the life of these peoples of the Far North, and to share it for a few hours. On board, the naturalist guides will share their knowledge during various conferences on fauna, the history of the great explorations, geology and climatology…
National Geographic
See the world through National Geographic's eyes and make a difference.
For 130 years, the National Geographic Society has funded groundbreaking scientists and explorers, sharing their findings with the world. National Geographic's deep belief is that when people understand the world, they care more deeply and take responsibility for it. A portion of the proceeds from your purchase of any cruise in partnership with National Geographic Expeditions will go towards the National Geographic Society's non-for-profit mission to explore and protect the planet. (Indeed, National Geographic Society receives funds from National Geographic Partners LLC, funded in part by your purchase. To learn more, visit www.natgeo.com/info.)
A National Geographic expert and photographer join each voyage to share their knowledge and insights. They will enrich the expedition experience through fascinating presentations, informal discussions and see the world through the lens of a National Geographic photographer, learning new techniques along the way.
Transfer + flight Petropavlovsk / Seoul
For your serenity, PONANT selects a flight and organizes the transfer between the port and the airport. This package is included in your cruise fare.
Disembarkation Day – Petropavlovsk / Seoul
Meet and great at the port.
Transfer to the airport in time for flight check in.
Flight Petropavlovsk / Seoul selected by PONANT.
Approximate flight duration: 4 hours, 30 min.
Your programme includes:
- Flight Petropavlovsk / Seoul selected by PONANT in economy class.
- Transfer as per programme.
Your programme does not include:
- Tips for the local guide.
- Personal expenses.
- Other services not mentioned in the programme.
Please note :
Tourist infrastructures are very limited in Petropavlovsk. We kindly ask you for your flexibility and understanding:
- Due to limited local transportation resources, waiting might be generated.
- Flights included in the programme are in economy class.
- For passengers in transit in Seoul, we recommend staying one night in Seoul before your connecting flight.
- Programme and flight schedule are subject to change.
To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents. Passengers must check in at least two hours before flight departure time.
Guest(s) Lecturer(s)
Andrew Evans
National Geographic Expert
Author, travel writer, and TV host Andrew Evans has completed some 50 assignments for National Geographic, reporting live from all seven continents and more than 100 countries. For years a contributing editor for National Geographic Traveler magazine and its "Digital Nomad," Andrew holds degrees in geography and Russian foreign policy and is fluent in Russian and French. He is the author of five books, including two bestselling guidebooks, and his award-winning memoir The Black Penguin, which the New York Times picked as one of "Summer's Best Reads." Andrew has received four Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers. He will share his knowledge of the geography, history, and culture of Cape Verde, the Bijagos, and the Kurils on upcoming National Geographic expeditions with PONANT.
Spoken Languages: English, French (fluent), Russian (fluent), Spanish (conversational), Arabic (basic), Icelandic (basic), Swahili (basic)
Photo credit: All rights reserved
Jasper Doest
National Geographic Photographer: Jasper Doest
Dutch photographer Jasper Doest specializes in conservation issues and wildlife photography, emphasizing the beauty and fragility of our planet. After an ecology major specializing in Arctic ecosystems, Jasper decided to become a photographer in order to bridge the gap between the human and the natural world. As a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, his photographs have received multiple awards and appeared in numerous publications, including National Geographic, GEO, and Smithsonian. Jasper's photographs of Japanese macaques, popularly known as "snow monkeys," received recognition in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and appeared in the October 2016 issue of National Geographic magazine. Doest recently received a World Press Photo award for the continuation of his work in Japan.
Spoken Languages: Dutch (Native), English (Fluent), French (Basic), German (Basic), Japanese (Basic)
Photo credit: All rights reserved
Possibility of withdrawal in case of force majeure.
Important information
Expedition programmes include activities such as Zodiac® outings and landings (sometimes with "wet landing"), moderate walks to more active hikes, all accompanied by your expedition team of naturalist guides.
Ports of call, visited sites, outings and landings will depend on weather conditions, position of ice, winds and the state of the sea. These can force a change of plans at any time. The Captain and the Expedition Leader may at any time cancel or stop any activity, or even modify the itinerary. The final itinerary will be confirmed by the Captain, who will take into account the touristic quality of the sites and above all, the safety of the passengers. His decision will be based on advice from experts and authorities.
Travelling to polar/isolated regions is an exhilarating experience in remote areas: please remember that you are far from modern hospitals with full medical facilities, thus evacuation is extremely expensive. Without adequate medical coverage, all expenses will have to be immediately paid with your personal funds. We urge you to subscribe to full coverage insurance, choose your insurance company very carefully, be extremely vigilant and ensure your insurance is fully comprehensive, especially if you are insured by your credit card. PONANT offers an insurance contract with extensive guarantees, please contact us for more information.
Clothing tips:
- A PONANT polar water-resistant parka is offered on board for all departures with the logo "Free Parka" (no children sizes, in case of consecutive cruises, only one complimentary parka).
- Half calf rubber boots with non-slip soles, which will allow you to go ashore in 20 cm of cold water, keeping your feet dry for walks and visits on steep paths. Boot rental will be offered onboard (for adults only) on Expedition cruises where the logo "Free Boot Rental" appears
- Comfortable trousers: classic Winter trousers, warm cotton tracksuit, wool leggings
- Waterproof and windproof over-trousers – MANDATORY
- Winter trousers with waterproof over trousers are the ideal combination: water-resistance and comfort of trousers are essential
- Pullover, sweat-shirt or fleece jacket
- Woollen or thermolactyl Thermal underwear
- A warm hat, woollen ear muffs or fleece ear muffs, fleece or woollen neck warmer (avoid scarves that do not stay in place)- MANDATORY
- Wool or silk glove liners, water-resistant and supple gloves
- Thick warm socks (ideally woollen)
- Small waterproof backpack (to protect your camera from water).
- Binoculars (strongly recommended for wildlife viewing).
- Highly protective sunglasses.
- Walking poles (highly recommended).
Do not hesitate to visit the online PONANT store which offers a selection of equipment and accessories adapted to our destinations, at the following address: https://boutique.ponant.com
Benefits of the PONANT store:
- Advice on equipment from our experts to help you prepare for your polar expedition
- A wide range of technical equipment for polar expeditions, approved by our experts
- Two delivery options: delivery to your home or directly to your cabin on board the ship
- Duty Free shopping for cabin delivered items
Pre/Post & Overlands
After your cruise
Before your cruise
** Prices per person, based on double occupancy
Attention: the prices listed at the time of your reservation can be different from those listed in the brochure. These prices can evolve based on availability and the real time rates of the airline companies selected.
Travellers are advised to check all the information with the authorities concerned prior to the departure date. Ponant advises Travellers to consult the country factsheets relating to the chosen destinations. Ponant specifically draws Travellers' attention to the fact that the information provided may change up until the departure date, and they are advised to consult that information up until the time of departure. CDP invites Travellers to adjust their behavior to the visited country, to exercise vigilance and to avoid carrying valuable objects during their travel.
Ponant also recommends
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from 30 March 2020 to 7 April 2020
- Tromso - Bergen
- Ship : LE BELLOT
Gastronomy, Vineyards & Grands Crus
from 11 April 2020 to 19 April 2020
- Lisbon - Lorient
- Ship : L'AUSTRAL


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ORNITOLOGIA LODATO di Corbella MassimoVicolo Monti, 9/11 - 27024 Cilavegna (PV) Italy - tel. 0039 0381.9691260039 0381.969126 - fax 00390381.669602P.I. 02340330188 Opening hours: 8.30 am -12.30 pm 15-19,00. Also open on Sunday morning to 12,00 o clock. Closed Sunday afternoon, Monday and Tuesday all day. Tuesday is open by appointment only.


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Salesforce Community Cloud Named a Leader by Independent Research Firm
SAN FRANCISCO—June 23, 2015—Salesforce [NYSE: CRM], the Customer Success Platform and world's #1 CRM company, today announced that Community Cloud was named as a leader by Forrester Research in its report, The Forrester Wave™: Social Depth Platforms Q2 2015. Community Cloud received "high marks for its advanced mobile features, identity management and extensive global support," as well as receiving the highest score in the market presence category.
Comments on the News:
• "Every day, we hear stories about how Community Cloud improves the customer experience, drives top line growth and increases employee engagement," said Nasi Jazayeri, executive vice president of Community Cloud, Salesforce. "With Community Cloud, companies are transforming the way they do business, and we're honored to be recognized by Forrester for helping them connect with their customers, partners and employees in entirely new ways."
• "What really sets our community apart is that it creates a central hub for our clients and their transferees to access all their relevant information and collaborate with other employees, partners and stakeholders in the relocation process," said Susan Schneider, president, Plus Relocation. "Together with our other Salesforce systems, from CRM to marketing automation, we're making all parts of our business even more interactive and actionable."
• "A social layer of business is more than a way to engage in the moment, it becomes a catalyst to move your business forward," said Paul Stillmank, founder and CEO, 7Summits. "Working with the Salesforce Community Cloud has created new touchpoints within an extended network -- reaching the partners, stakeholders and consumers of our clients, and positively impacting our business."
Community Cloud is the connective fabric of the Customer Success platform and enables companies to build powerful social networks that increase employee engagement and productivity, improve customer service and drive topline growth. Built on the proven Salesforce1 Platform, Community Cloud offers Connect APIs so companies can connect third-party systems and data sources into their communities. Last month, Salesforce launched the next generation of Community Cloud with innovations that deliver new levels of intelligence, speed and engagement.
Additional Information
• Learn more about Salesforce Community Cloud: http://www.salesforce.com/communities
• Watch an overview of Community Cloud:
Connect with Salesforce
• Like Salesforce on Facebook: http://facebook.com/salesforce
• Follow @Salesforce on Twitter: http://twitter.com/salesforce
• Read the Salesforce blog: http://blogs.salesforce.com/
© 2015 salesforce.com, inc. All rights reserved. Salesforce, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, AppExchange, Salesforce Platform, and others are trademarks of salesforce.com, inc. Other brands featured herein may be trademarks of their respective owners
About Salesforce
Salesforce is the global leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), bringing companies closer to their customers in the digital age. Founded in 1999, Salesforce enables companies of every size and industry to take advantage of powerful technologies—cloud, mobile, social, internet of things, artificial intelligence, voice and blockchain—to create a 360° view of their customers. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com.
Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase Salesforce applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. Salesforce has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM." For more information please visit https://www.salesforce.com, or call 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE.


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On the eve of the Oi Rio Pro, one needn't explain the parallels that can be drawn between Rockaway's increase in surf tourism with the coast of Peru, or the likeness of our new boardwalk to Avenida Atlântica in Brazil. What may be less obvious is the sense of community that these cultures share with those of our coastal town. Walk into any establishment on this peninsula and you will encounter locals who are there not just to eat, but to bathe in the collective light of Rockaway as a whole. Such was the case when I arrived at Chicks To Go on their opening weekend in March 2015, where I was kindly introduced to Chef Carlos Varella and his family by local surfer Daniel Queiroz. I was immediately struck by their warmth and eagerness to speak to new people.
Fast forward a year later to Chicks To Go's first Anniversary, where I ran into Chef Carlos and his wife, model Andressa Junqueira again- and they were happy to share news that they were opening their own place on "Restaurant Row": "Terra Brasilis beach bistro 96", introducing Brazilian flavors with a "French Twist" to Rockaway. I was intrigued by their story, which begins in Santos, Brazil where Carlos began surfing at age 7, eventually becoming a professional surfer, winning a Hurley competition there as recently as 2013. And somehow became a professional soccer player as well. However, his roots in cuisine go just as far back, his mother-a chef of International cuisine and father a chef specializing in Italian.
But it was later during his seven years living in Mexico that Carlos' future began to take a different path, transitioning his surfing career into more commercial modeling which initially started with Elite Models in Brazil. While there he began to learn Mexican cuisine, the result of an interest developed from cooking meals on surf trips around South America. In Mexico he met his future wife Andressa, also a Brazilian model, who was discovered at the age of 14 in her hometown of Minas Gerais. Their careers eventually brought them to NYC in 2010, where Carlos began to work with well-known Peruvian Chef Emanuel Piqueiras of Panca, in the West Village. That same year Chef Piqueiras invited Carlos to surf in Rockaway where he was introduced to Leyla and Ximena Yrala - of Chicks To Go and La Cevichería and they have been coming here ever since.
Carlos went on to attend French Culinary School, graduating with a Diploma in 2015. Through Ximena and Leyla, Carlos was introduced to David Selig who invited him to participate in The Summer Shift last year, a pop-up with Ximena and Leyla called "Neighbors" representing a mix of Peruvian and Brazilian cuisine, at which time he and Andressa began to think about starting a life here with their children Nicolas and Kalani. A year later in May 2016 that dream has become reality with the opening this past Saturday of Terra Brasilis beach bistro 96 which I attended.
The atmosphere exuded warmth and community as displayed by lively conversation amidst terrific music. It was evident to me that beach bistro 96 will be yet another great addition in the Pantheon of local hangouts. On the menu at beach bistro 96 is Feijoada- the Brazilian National Dish which will be offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays and is sure to become a new Rockaway tradition. Terra Brasilis will also stay true to being "bistro" by serving French dishes such as Ratatouille. In addition to Brazilian foods like Pao de Quejo, Tapioca, Pasteis and Coxinha, Chef Carlos is serving Temakis and a Mushroom Quinoto with Parmesan Shell. Furthermore, Chef Carlos is working with Nutritionist Angela Kurtz of Mt. Sinai Hospital to develop a vegan menu.
I look forward to watching this family welcomed here over the coming summer. Perhaps even more notable however, is Carlos and Andressa's excitement to be meeting YOU. Go eat, sit down, stay a while!BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS


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We come across operators who are absolutely clear about what they have to offer and how players can go about getting these offerings. That gives us a picture of the integrity quotient of the operator and allows us to tell players what to expect. Unfortunately we also come across operators who are vague, or at best ambiguous, about how players can use their offerings. That also allows us to inform players of how they should approach the casino. When it comes to Playtech, things are crystal clear in terms of what the casino has to offer and what player expectations should be. That is why Playtech-powered casinos – online as well as mobile – are such big hits among players across the world.
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We test the casinos on all these parameters, and that is what enables us to give players the comprehensive picture about the different Playtech casinos we review.


text:
Monday, February 6, 2017
Love you
This card is for a mostly red - all the love - very valentiny challenges.
The red card stock was run with a music embossing folder from Sizzix. The Love You was cut using my cricut and the Lyrical Letters Cartridge with black card stock.
All mounted onto a white base and added red sequin blingage.
I would like to add this card to the following challenges if I may please:
Casual Friday = Music (background )
Simply Create 2 = Love
QTR = Valentine
House of Cards = Love
Die Cut Divas = Use Red
Little Scrapy Pieces = Valentine
The Card Concept = Love - Using CAS
Simon Says = The colors of Love
11 comments:
- Dorothy S said...
This is a stand out with the big bold letters - and I also like the rounded corners. I seldom think of doing that and it adds such a nice touch. Thanks for entering the QKR Stampede challenge this week - anything goes, with an optional valentine twist. Dorothy S, DT member
- February 6, 2017 at 7:30 AM
- Channin Pelletier said...
This is awesome!! And I love that you used an embossing folder for the background, adds such wonderful texture and detail!! Thank you so much for joining us at CAS-ual Fridays!
- February 7, 2017 at 1:53 PM
- Caryn said...
Very pretty- love this design and your choice of colours. Great take on this week's theme.
Thanks so much for playing along this week at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
Caryn xxx
- February 7, 2017 at 6:18 PM
- Arlene said...
Lovely and simple - sometimes the very best, like here.
So glad you joined us at Die Cut Divas.
- February 8, 2017 at 12:25 AM
- Cindy C. said...
A simple beauty indeed! Thanks for linking up to our February challenge at Die Cut Divas.
- February 8, 2017 at 7:21 PM
- karalschuknecht said...
Great CAS card, beautiful! Thanks for joining us this week at QKR Stampede. Karal DT
- February 9, 2017 at 8:54 AM
- NanaConnie said...
Beautifully sweet and simple, Dawn! It's wonderful to see you playing along at QKR Stampede in our "Anything Goes" challenge and also using the optional "Valentine" twist. Good luck in the draw.
NanaConnie DT
- February 9, 2017 at 3:54 PM
- Christi Conley said...
Such an elegant card! That bold sentiment stands right out :) Thank you so much for playing with us at House of Cards ~ Christi DT
- February 10, 2017 at 4:20 PM
- Creating with Susan said...
Love the big bold letters paired with the musical background - makes me want to sing the words. Thanks so much for joining us this week at The Card Concept.
- February 10, 2017 at 8:20 PM
- Donna said...
What a sweet cheery card! glad you joined us at House of Cards! Donna HOC DT
- February 11, 2017 at 11:07 AM
- kartkadopolski said...
Beautiful card. Thank you for sharing your project with all of us at House of Cards February Challenge: Love Theme
Katarzyna Ewa
my blog
CANDY on my blog;
DT House of Cards Challenge blog
- March 10, 2017 at 10:22 AM


text:
I sympathize with people who dislike the commercialization of every holiday, certainly including Thanksgiving. I sympathize with those who wonder if the Native Americans who are said to have given the Pilgrims a helping hand that day were only opening the door to misery and inexorable invasion. But the concept of ritually or consciously giving thanks, as well as the notion of celebrating "harvest", whatever it may be, with family and friends, makes Thanksgiving, perhaps, the most sensible of holidays.
I give thanks I've got my wife Micky Shirley–I'd be lost without her. Thank God I've got the friendship of those few close friends who have put up with my eccentricities, my fits of depression, and occasional louche backsliding over the years. I'm thankful I encountered a few adventurous book editors willing to take a chance on some quite outre fiction. Thank God I've got three sons who are employed, intelligent, kindly people. I fully appreciate the fact that I've got opportunities to earn money to pay a mortgage on a home, to pay for a celebrative meal, and, thanks to America's first African-American president, full healthcare coverage at a reasonable cost.
These considerations are valuable. The underlying idea of Thanksgiving, if I open up to it, makes me a better man than I usually am, however briefly. If I give it a chance, it lifts me out of my self-pity. It reawakens my feelings of charity toward others even as it encourages volunteerism and charitable thoughts in many people who otherwise are caught up in their own troubles; these same people are sometimes found handing out hot dinners, on this day every year.
The philosophy implied in thanks-giving is a holiday even my many friends who are sturdily atheist can appreciate; praying Pilgrims or not, the occasion has lasting ramifications for a healthy secular society. One doesn't need to thank God, in particular. One can simply be thankful. (In the end, the same thing–but don't tell the atheists.)
Thank God for giving thanks.
Tags: atheists and Thanksgiving, commercialization of holidays, giving thanks, God, Thanksgiving


text:
Attorney General Eric Holder defended the Justice Department's seizure of Associated Press phone records, though he disclaimed knowledge of certain details about the investigation because he recused himself from the probe.
"The facts and the law have dictated our actions in that regard," Holder told reporters. "This is among, if not the most serious, it is within the most top two or three most serious leaks that I have ever seen. It put the American people at risk. This is not hyperbole. It put the American people at risk," he had also said while talking about the reason for the phone record seizure.
The Associated Press reported last May that the CIA had thwarted an airline bomb plot time to mark the anniversary of Osama bin Laden's killing by U.S. special forces.
When asked why DOJ made no attempt to obtain records from the AP voluntarily, Holder said he didn't know because he recused himself from the investigation.


text:
The National Museum of Myanmar (Nay Pyi Taw) [3], an ASEMUS member, opened its doors to the public for the first time on 15 July 2015. This initial opening, or 'soft opening' is the first step in a longer-term process, since the whole Museum will be open in March 2016.
The building of the National Museum was under construction since 2010. 7 of the National Museum's 20 planned exhibition rooms can be visited as of now. They include the President's Gifts exhibition room, the Primates and Fossils exhibition room, the Prehistoric period exhibition room, the Proto-historic period exhibition room, the Historic period exhibition room, the Myanmar Arts exhibition room and the Myanmar Performing Arts exhibition room.
Entrance to the museum was free during the first month following the soft opening. An entrance fee of 5000 kyats applies for foreigners.
Some pictures of the opening event and the new museum are presented hereby. ASEMUS would like to congratulate the National Museum of Myanmar (Nay Pyi Taw) and its staff for this development.


text: It is not difficult to find tour packages to Gulmarg, but the idea is to find one which suits your preference and budget. While there is a plethora of high end luxury hotels in Gulmarg, it is also possible to find decent hotels which cater to a lower budget. Even these hotels have all the amenities and facilities that are required for a comfortable stay. Some tour packages include a guided tour of all the important places of interest in Gulmarg, but you can also plan your own itinerary after conducting a research online regarding the sightseeing in Gulmarg.


text:
May 10, 2013 – David Moyes Quits Everton As New Manchester United FC Manager
David Moyes was handed a six-year contract to become manager of Manchester United yesterday. This shows the deep belief the club has in naming the Scot as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor. Moyes was personally chosen for the job by Ferguson, with his recommendation being "unanimously" approved by the United board.
Before now, Moyes was the club manager at Everton FC. About his new appointment as MUFC manager, Moyes said:
"It's a great honour to be asked to be the next manager of Manchester United. I am delighted that Sir Alex saw fit to recommend me for the job. I have great respect for everything he has done and for the football club. I know how hard it will be to follow the best manager ever, but the opportunity to manage Manchester United isn't something that comes around very often and I'm really looking forward to taking up the post next season.
"I have had a terrific job at Everton, with a tremendous chairman and board of directors and a great set of players. I will do everything in my power to make sure we finish as high as possible in the table. Everton's fantastic fans have played a big part in making my years at Goodison so enjoyable and I thank them wholeheartedly for the support they have given me and the players. Everton will be close to me for the rest of my life."
David Moyes will hold a press conference at Everton around 1.30pm today. You can watch it on Sky Sports News.
[Sources: Everton Football Club, Guardian UK]


text:
Sign In
Bills, Laws, etc.
PA residents! Speak up! Akitas, Rotts & Pits will be on "the list"!
May 2008
Posts: 6185
To see legislation near your hometown : http://www.akc.org/news/sections/legislative_alerts.cfm
PA Bill to Allow Local BSL
[Thursday, May 22, 2008]
Pennsylvania House Bill 2553 will remove the state's prohibition on breed specific local ordinances, thereby allowing municipalities to adopt any type of law applicable to dangerous dogs, including breed-specific ordinances. It is imperative that concerned dog owners in Pennsylvania contact their legislators and express their strong opposition to this bill.
The American Kennel Club supports reasonable, enforceable, non-discriminatory laws to govern the ownership of dogs. The AKC believes that dog owners should be responsible for their dogs. We support laws that: establish a fair process by which specific dogs are identified as "dangerous" based on stated, measurable actions; impose appropriate penalties on irresponsible owners; and establish a well-defined method for dealing with dogs proven to be dangerous. The American Kennel Club strongly opposes any legislation that determines a dog to be "dangerous" based on specific breeds or phenotypic classes of dogs.
By allowing municipalities to impose breed-specific dangerous dog ordinances, HB 2553, if passed, will permit communities to unfairly target well-behaved dogs of specific breeds, thereby raising the possibility of harsh care and condition requirements or the possibility of penalties for owning certain breeds while not focusing on whether or not an individual dog has previously exhibited dangerous behavior. Additionally, the breed-specific ordinances allowed under this bill will create an unenforceable patchwork of dangerous dog rules across the Commonwealth.
Concerned Pennsylvania dog owners should contact the members of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. Respectfully let them know that HB 2553 is an unacceptable means to address dog control issues.
Hon. Michael K. Hanna, Majority Chairman
302 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202076
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2076
(717) 772-2283
Fax: (717) 787-4137
To e-mail Rep. Hanna, click here.
Hon. Gary Haluska, Majority Vice Chairman
114 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202073
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2073
(717) 787-3532
Fax: (717) 783-7548
To e-mail Rep. Haluska, click here.
Hon. David R. Kessler, Majority Secretary
115A East Wing
PO Box 202130
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2130
(717) 787-2769
Fax: (717) 780-4768
To e-mail Rep. Kessler, click here.
Hon. Mike Carroll
28A East Wing
PO Box 202118
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2118
(717) 787-3589
Fax: (717) 780-4763
To e-mail Rep. Carroll, click here.
Hon. Mark B. Cohen
128 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202202
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2202
(717) 787-4117
Fax: (717) 787-6650
To e-mail Rep. Cohen, click here.
Hon. H. Scott Conklin
101B East Wing
PO Box 202077
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2077
(717) 787-9473
Fax: (717) 780-4764
To e-mail Rep. Conklin, click here.
Hon. Peter J. Daley
214 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202049
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2049
(717) 783-9333
Fax: (717) 783-7558
To e-mail Rep. Daley, click here.
Hon. Richard T. Grucela
G-01 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202137
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2137
(717) 705-1878
Fax: (717) 783-3180
To e-mail Rep. Grucela, click here.
Hon. Harold James
317 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202186
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2186
(717) 787-9477
Fax: (717) 787-7517
To e-mail Rep. James, click here.
Hon. Babette Josephs
300 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202182
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2182
(717) 787-8529
Fax: (717) 787-5066
To e-mail Rep. Josephs, click here.
Hon. Tim Mahoney
104B East Wing
PO Box 202051
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2051
(717) 772-2174
Fax: (717) 780-4786
To e-mail Rep. Mahoney, click here.
Hon. John Myers
305 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202201
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2201
(717) 787-3181
Fax: (717) 772-4038
To e-mail Rep. Myers, click here.
Hon. Frank Louis Oliver
34E East Wing
PO Box 202195
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2195
(717) 787-3480
Fax: (717) 783-0684
To e-mail Rep. Oliver, click here.
Hon. Timothy J. Solobay
G-14 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202048
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2048
(717) 787-1188
Fax: (717) 705-1887
To e-mail Rep. Solobay, click here.
Hon. Tom Yewcic
300 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202072
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2072
(717) 783-0248
Fax: (717) 787-4922
To e-mail Rep. Yewcic, click here.
Hon. Rosita C. Youngblood
121A East Wing
PO Box 202198
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2198
(717) 787-7727
Fax: (717) 772-1313
To e-mail Rep. Youngblood, click here.
Hon. Art Hershey, Minority Chairman
202 Ryan Office Building
PO Box 202013
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2013
(717) 783-6435
Fax: (717) 705-1868
To e-mail Rep. Hershey, click here.
Hon. Bob Bastian, Minority Vice Chairman
402A Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202069
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2069
(717) 783-8756
Fax: (717) 783-3899
To e-mail Rep. Bastian, click here.
Hon. Mike Fleck, Minority Secretary
159A East Wing
PO Box 202081
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2081
(717) 787-3335
Fax: (717) 260-6504
Hon. Karen Boback
141B East Wing
PO Box 202117
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2117
(717) 787-1117
Fax: (717) 705-1889
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Hon. Michele Brooks
153B East Wing
PO Box 202017
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2017
(717) 783-5008
Fax: (717) 705-1948
Hon. Jim Cox
412 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202129
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2129
(717) 772-2435
Fax: (717) 260-6516
Hon. Gordon Denlinger
163A East Wing
PO Box 202099
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2099
(717) 787-3531
Fax: (717) 705-1951
Hon. David S. Hickernell
143B East Wing
PO Box 202098
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2098
(717) 783-2076
Fax: (717) 705-1946
To e-mail Rep. Hickernell, click here.
Hon. Rob W. Kauffman
163A East Wing
PO Box 202089
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2089
(717) 705-2004
Fax: (717) 705-1951
E-mail: email@example.com
Hon. Mark K. Keller
5 East Wing
PO Box 202086
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2086
(717) 783-1593
Fax: (717) 705-7012
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Hon. David R. Millard
402B Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202109
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2109
(717) 783-1102
Fax: (717) 772-0094
Hon. Dan Moul
G-32 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202091
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2091
(717) 783-5217
E-Mail: email@example.com
Hon. Tina Pickett
155A East Wing
PO Box 202110
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2110
(717) 783-8238
Fax: (717) 705-1949
E-mail: email@example.com
For more information, contact AKC's Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail email@example.com
shibas, beagles & more!
May 2008
Posts: 1058
I will certainly be writing to the legislatures. This is unfair and not right at all. I for one can not stand when people think that they can just add breed specific laws in and put restrictions on breeds that can be just as loving as any other breed. I wish bad owners would get punished instead of the breeds. Sure, it'd be more money to individually punish owners, but at least it wouldn't be punishing the remainder of us. Especially when i'm considering an Akita as a future pet.
This is disgusting.
Owner of Sesame Shiba Inu (Toby) 8yrs old | Illustrator & Graphic Designer |
My Website
Post edited by Unknown User at -0001-11-30 00:00:00
May 2008
Posts: 3761
I see the madness is everywhere. Instead of these, there should be a law that makes sure only responsible people can get certain kinds of breeds. You need a permit for driving a car, and loads more stuff. You should need a permit and a responsibility test to own certain breeds.
Post edited by Unknown User at -0001-11-30 00:00:00
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text:
"Meh"mansk: A depressing ex-socialist paradise, A ginormous soldier statue, A busy Orthodox Church, Russian pancakes with Lipton Tea
This morning we docked in Murmansk, Russia. We booked a ship tour, "Murmansk Highlights and Russian Pancakes", a 3-hour overview of the city with a short stop at the end for blini or thin Russian pancakes and tea. Our ship is docked in an industrial and fishing boat area, overrun with wild dogs, fireweed and rusting and abandoned buildings.
We turned in our passports at the beginning of the cruise so they could handle this day (we didn't need them in Norway) and the Russian authorities first required us to fill out a paper form to take with us, with our stamped passports, then decided they would control the situation with colored tags inserted into the passports, so we didn't use the paper forms. Nothing like changing the rules 50 times. I guess the Russians want to ensure that we don't have an overwhelming desire to jump ship and move into this blighted place. It was a general scrum getting the passports and then getting the bus tickets (from our tour tickets), then allowing the Russian officials to inspect the passports to ensure they were stamped, before we could leave the ship. This was a classic example of what happens when bureaucracies take over a government and don't relax the rules when the politics change. I accidentally bumped (hard) into a couple of people working my way into the line and later profusely apologized (so I wouldn't get the "glare" for the rest of the trip).
We finally disembarked and boarded our bus (there were three full buses for this tour). Irina, our young guide, did an adequate job talking about the city (she did confuse left and right), but had a horrible tendency to walk off very fast with her sign as soon as the bus stopped. A few folks had no idea where she went on our first stop, which was next to an untended garden in the city center with the statue of Semyon Kirov, a pal of Lenin who helped develop the city during the Revolution. The weather today was in the mid-fifties, with a chilly breeze and occasional rain showers. Not that nice, but still better than the howling tempests at the North Cape. Murmansk is just below the Arctic tree line, so there are short trees on the green hillsides and many trees and plants in town.
Next, we drove through the suburbs, littered with the ugly, gray and truly depressing concrete apartment buildings built after WWII. Apparently, the Germans destroyed large parts of the city in Operation Silver Fox in 1941, but Murmansk remained in Allied hands and received the bulk of the lend-lease materials in the Arctic convoys. Murmansk has an open-water harbor year-round, so defending the city was critical to the Allied war effort. The post-war apartments were constructed during the height of the communist era under Stalin and Khrushchev, when a tiny square footage apartment (often without bathroom facilities and other utilities) was considered "fair and just". Larger, newer apartments are being built across Murmansk, but still without any real design elements or style. At least there are some new choices in restaurants, businesses, banks, etc.
Our next destination was Alyosha, or as it is properly called: "Monument of the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic during the Great Patriotic War". This huge concrete statue of a Russian soldier (116 feet tall) is on a hill north of town that has a panoramic view of the city. There is an eternal flame at the base of the statue, which was erected in 1974, and also a tomb of an unknown soldier. Plaques around the base of the monument pay tribute to many of the devastating Eastern Front battles. The city of Murmansk is actually littered with memorials and statues, which probably got the best building materials ahead of the crappy concrete monstrosities that pass for "home" for many people in this city.
Our next stop was a new Russian Orthodox Church, the Church of our Savior on the Waters. It was built with private funds in 2002 and was packed with penitents for a feast day. Apparently, I was supposed to have a scarf (guess I didn't read the fine print in the tour description), but several of us compensated by using winter hats and hoods. A sweet little old Russian lady gestured at my unorthodox head covering, but then smiled and patted my arm. The interior of the church reminded me of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sitka, Alaska, with beautiful icons, incense, and areas for prayer and candles.
Just down the hill from the church, there is a lighthouse monument and also a monument to the Kursk, the submarine that sank in 2000, with a loss of all crew members on board (Russia refused help from other countries that would have saved the crew). Like I said, more monuments than you can shake a stick at…
Our final stop was at the Park Inn (a Radisson hotel) for Russian pancakes and tea. After our guide yammered on for twenty minutes about the extra special Russian black tea with lemon (no herb, berry or green teas), we all ended up with cups of genuine Lipton berry-flavored or green teas; it tasted good anyway, after the chilly walks outside. The pancakes, or buckwheat blini, were quite yummy, with sour cream and jam. Of course, they gave people time to cram into a tiny crapola emporium and our bus departure was delayed by a couple that had to buy some dust collector. So far, our souvenirs consist of two refrigerator magnets, a winter cap for me from Iceland, and two shirts from Nautica. I like our pictures much more these days, although I will look for a tiny memento for my desk in Longyearbyen, if we have time.
We made our way back to the dock area, turned in our passports (after the unsmiling Russian agents ensured the red part of the tag was still there) and are now sitting at Waves after a light lunch. It's a bit chilly out here, but tolerable in layers. We are getting a kick out of the wild dogs, who are scoping out the situation near the gangplank, which is right below us. We expect to see three or four of them at any time here in Waves, grabbing a table, a burger and a beer (and playing poker). As I finish this, a huge downpour started, as one of the last buses sits on the dock waiting to unload. The rain is mixed with snow. Life (and the weather) is not easy or predictable in this part of the world, that's for sure.
Murmansk is losing population at a dramatic rate, although it is still the largest city above the Arctic Circle. The current government is incentivizing Russian citizens all over the country to have more children and they hope to continue development of the tourism facilities here. They also hope to tear down the Stalinist apartment eyesores and replace them with something more amenable. I wish I had lit a candle for them at the church, but they should be in our prayers (or thoughts, if you don't pray).
An update may come soon as we sail out past Severomorsk, the closed city near here that is the home of the Russian Northern Fleet. Submarines, baby!!


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HVAC | Air Conditioning AC Repair Services in National City, CA
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text:
Candidate Theresa Spahn joins law firm
Theresa Spahn, who ran for Denver mayor this spring, is going back to practicing law.
She has joined the law firm of Wedgle & Associates.
Spahn was one of 10 mayoral candidates who made the mayoral ballot. She came in fifth in a race eventually won by Denver City Councilman Michael Hancock.
Earlier this year, former City Councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt said of Spahn:
In a different climate, lawyer and public advocate Theresa Spahn might have taken off. That she's made it into the top tier is testimony to her intelligence, poise and hard work. If she possessed the political savvy to be a viable dark horse, she would have begun her efforts two years ago.


text:
I'm sort of what you'd call one of those super-intentional, idea-slinging, visionaries, which means I rather stink at follow-through. I need the accountability of others, and the energy of partners-in-crime to finish well, or else my great ideas will fall apart just before the proverbial race is over.
As a mom, this combination of dreamer-visionary-planner who can't get the ball to the end-zone can be a bit frustrating for my kids. I'll come up with a way to address a particular family conflict, but forget to give them the rewards…and consequences. I'll suggest a great weekend activity early on a Saturday morning, only to get distracted by a simple chore that turned into an all day project and robbed our family of fun together.
I know I'm not alone in this predicament. We have great ideas as moms, but fall apart in the follow through.
That's one reason I struggled for years over whether to have New Year's resolutions. I knew I was destined to fail because I wasn't wired to finish strong — until I read a wonderful book by Anne Ortlund, "Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman." She inspired to me to get intentional about my time management, goal setting, and parenting.
Instead of pursuing perfection, I realized I could strive for steady growth.
As I began to implement Anne's ideas, I ended up creating my own system for living intentionally, modifying her binder and worksheet format so that I could live with more purpose and consistency. What a delight it has been to sit down at the end of every year and pray through my little life plan, as I…
look at what God has been teaching me
ask him what He might want me to learn in the coming year
establish priorities for how I want to spend my God-given time and resources
set some realistic and simple goals for how I want to care for my family and love others well
cast dreams before His throne and wait to see what He does with them
Living with a written-down plan has changed how I live.
It's increased my faith. It's matured my understanding of God's sovereignty! And it's motivated me to teach my own children how to live life on purpose, too. As I've grown through this yearly process, I discovered that it could provide a great framework for teaching my daughters how to make the most of the time and resources God has given them too. So this year, I created a tween and teen version, more suited to their age and stage.
Oh, I know filling out the Equipped Just 4 Teens worksheet may be a stretch for some girls, like it was for one of my daughters, but the process is so worth it — not because of the result but because of the training experience. In this world of instant gratification, learning how to make a plan and wait to see it come together, or be rerouted, is an exercise in self-discipline and character development.
So how about inviting your daughters to live their life on purpose, now?
You can set the stage with a hot cup of tea and something sweet to eat, and then present them with the worksheets and a promise to help them through it. There is incredible value in teaching our girls how to capture in words what we think God is teaching us, what we believe He wants us to learn, and what we sense He wants us to do in the year ahead. It's not a contract we're drawing up, but a draft of ideas that He has authority to re-write. And in a year from now, we'll have a record of what God has done, changed, accomplished, and surprised us with. That's the real delight of this whole experience.
God is always work, equipping us for His purposes, even if our follow through needs improvement!
I pray you'll enjoy the process with your girl, and even go on your own adventure, too.
The Equipped Just 4 Teens resource is available for
More to Be subscribers for free, which you can find here.
You can also grab the adult version for moms over at elisapulliam.


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Our emphasis is Rural Excessive Pace Web in House and Enterprise for the Upper Yakima County! We offer a dependable, high-velocity wireless connection to your House or Enterprise, requiring no cellphone traces! I hope that after studying this you're acquainted with 'meshing', you may have one unit linked to the internet (gateway/backhaul) after which one other unit which just wants power which connects to the principle unit (repeater) to extend coverage. Now that I'm pleased with the brand new system I actually want to push it ahead and have a plan to cowl a run down native procuring/business space with free WiFi, I do not anticipate to make a lot cash from it but I really feel will probably be a superb type of advertising for my WiFi community as it will likely be seen and used by a number of individuals, tons of hopefully.
A modem will enable you access web on your laptop or LAPTOP. There are data packages designed to be used on a pc. Help (What's their firm ranking?)—It is a good suggestion to concentrate to rankings of any firm you're employed with, and internet providers are not any completely different. For BlackBerry customers, Safaricom gives web companies and devices such as BlackBerry Enterprise Solution, BlackBerry Web Resolution, BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry Q10 and BlackBerry Q5. Every service costs Kshs. The wi-fi expertise will facilitate the usage of web radio in Kenya, among other uses.
Unless you are a NASA scientist who's preserving a tab on satellites and house crew each minute of his life – even when he's on his technique to the NASA laboratory (or whichever place it is where they do all these techno-geeky stuff), you're getting more than you need on a daily basis from your 4G compatible Web card! My spouse works from house on a VPN, and this causes here VPN to drop connection – due to this fact the web service does not meet our needs, and we're at 10% of the service we are paying for. Lastly, the Netgear Nighthawk is without doubt one of the quickest wireless gaming routers we've examined that comes with useful options like content-primarily based parental controls, Android and iOS app help, and free again-up software.
Wi-fi routers, cellular and microwave towers, radio communications services and even computer systems can intrude with the wireless release system. When it comes in fastest web connection, we have now Globe that gives the Plan 9499 with jaw dropping 1GBPS speed but with a limited quantity allocation of 6TB. Shop with confidence figuring out that Wirefly needs to help you find the best prices on cell telephones, mobile phone plans, TELEVISION, and Internet service. The bottleneck could also be along the path between you and the distant server which the web supplier would have no control of. This is the nature of the web and must be taken into account particularly for servers further away reminiscent of Europe and Asia.
When DSL and cable web connection methods rose …


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My adventures in Wyoming. After getting married in Feb 2004, I hopped a stagecoach and made my way out to the wild west. Here's what happened next...
Monday, July 19, 2010
Second Child Syndrome
Is second child syndrome real? I don't know, but it already exists at our house. I was just telling my sister this morning that when I was 32 weeks pregnant with Scout, I'm fairly certain the car seat was installed and had already been checked by the EMS base. We had also completed our prenatal classes and the nursery was completed - clothes washed, bedding ready (though it wouldn't be used-we were using a basinette), supplies purchased and arranged by expiration date. Yes, I was that crazy. We were READY. His name had been picked out since BEFORE we were even thinking about having kids. Fast forward to baby #2. He has the crib set up in his room. The crib we had to move out of Scout's bedroom to make space for the big boy bed. There is a dresser in the baby room, but it is still filled with my running clothes (who knows what else is in there, it hasn't been touched in a long time!). The closet has my wedding dress in it, along with winter coats, and possibly a guitar. We have not decided on a name for this baby. I have no idea where the 0-3 month baby clothes are and I haven't even looked for the car seat. And, aside from one major freak out, I'm not all that stressed out about not being ready. Mostly, I know that all I REALLY need are some diapers. It seems like we were fairly low-key with Scout, so I can't even imagine what this second baby is going to be like. Luckily, there are lots of hand-me-downs for him: Scout and Cruise are both sending clothes his way. So, once I find the clothes, he will be a very well-dressed nameless baby!
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The Origins of Push and Pull Email Encryption Delivery
Thought Leadership
The Origins of Push and Pull Email Encryption Delivery
Jim Brashear
In a perfect world, the cloud would provide encryption between each and every email account, between company mail systems and consumers or any mix. If that were possible, all public internet email might eventually be encrypted with user transparency (no special software to fire-up, no need for user names or passwords to access secure messages).
However, in the real world, the majority of email endpoints, especially consumers' computers, are just not equipped to RECEIVE encrypted email transparently, and there is no practical, technical solution that will make that happen. There are just too many ways to receive email (AOL, Yahoo!, Google, Outlook, Notes, etc.) and too many users to upgrade, even if all the necessary software apps existed. That reality is what drove and has sustained the need for well-known push and pull methods for encrypted delivery of email to recipients who are not equipped for transparency.
Push and pull are alternative ways of using standard desktop browsers to let users view encrypted messages. In the case of push, the actual encrypted message is made available to the browser which decrypts and renders it. Pull leaves the encrypted message at a secure, hosted web portal and allows the browser to view it using the same technology used to protect web purchasing sessions (HTTPS). Some people like push, because the recipient assumes full ownership of the message. Technically, pull better matches the framework of what browsers do and were designed to do, making it friendly to tablets and smartphones and robust to browser and security evolution.


text: Click the links below to listen to each track. The music player will open in a new window. To download a track, simply right click (command click for mac) on the player and select "Save As". Here is a Quick Guide on how to burn a NonStop Music Mix in iTunes.


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I pulled myself out of bed at 6.30 am this rainy Sunday to race with 1,000 other runners in the Garmin Kingston Run Challenge organised by Human Race Events.
I chose to do the 8 mile course (which was actually 7.85 miles) as a final training run before Amsterdam Half marathon the following weekend, although there was a 16 and 24 mile option, and it was my first run since I injured my toe a week or so ago.
It was drizzling as we left the house and as the race started (and actually until we got home from the race!). The event was well organised, starting in Kingston Old Market, with Garmin hire, portaloos and medics on hand and luckily, for some, a cafe near the race start which had opened at 6 am especially.
5 minutes before race start I got myself in position behind the 11 minute/mile pacer (there being 6 – 12 minute/mile pacers). I had been planning to go with the 12 minute/mile pacer but after speaking to him, I decided to move up one. The race start was staggered between each seven pacer groups and at about 8.05 we were off.
The Race
We headed straight over Kingston Bridge, where I got jammed in between other runners and behind the two pacers. As soon as I got the space, I headed around them and was off on my own, faster pace knowing I probably could have run with the 10 minute/mile group. Early on I realised my GPS watch wasn't set properly so I only used it to check my average pace.
The course was basically three long roads, the first along the north bank of the Thames between Kingston and Hampton Court bridges, the next along Hampton Court Way, and the final along Portsmouth Road. There were timing mats along the course to take splits at every 2 miles.
The first leg of the course, along the riverside, was the most scenic, topped off with a glimpse of Hampton Court Palace just before the bridge approach. Unusually, I didn't struggle to find my pace at all and settled into running with no problem, especially considering it had been a few weeks since a proper run. My only struggle was to keep my headband on my head!
Along Hampton Court Way there were marshals and a couple of water stations. Along here, at 4 miles, I took my first and only carb gel. Towards the end of this road at the second water stand carb gels were also handed out. I grabbed one but didn't use it – will take it to Amsterdam with me.
All of the three roads were deceivingly longer than expected and I was glad to turn onto Portsmouth Rd, onto the final stretch. I felt I ran at a fairly steady pace and knew if I just kept at my current pace I would make it to the end without conking out at the last hurdle.
Closer to Kingston town centre I saw Dano across the road and he signalled to me to lift my legs higher – thanks Dano. Thankfully, the verge of the town centre came into sight and once the finish line could be seen ahead I picked up the pace slightly and very happily crossed the finish line in 1:22:01.
I was stoked to finish in the time I did, increasing my pace since the last Human Race run to 6.30 min/km and cutting 2 1/2 minutes off my 10 km PB. 2 mile splits were 19:53, 20:18, 20:53 and 20:57. Bring on Amsterdam!


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The growing number of foreign students taking part in classes and joining in with domestic students has given an increasingly intercultural flavour to higher education around the world.In many cases English is used as the language of instruction. Sometimes a special curriculum is designed to accommodate the needs of both foreign and domestic students. In some cases international students take courses in separate groups but are taught by lecturers in a language other than their mother tongue. More and more frequently, foreign guest lecturers are invited to teach courses. I define all of these situations as 'the international classroom'. The main feature of the international classroom is that the language of instruction is not the native language of all those involved, thus creating a challenging multi-cultural educational setting.
Over the last decades I have worked in the 'internationalisation of higher education' in the Netherlands and in various other countries. I have done so in different capacities; teaching, managing, organising, participating and learning. The format and objectives of these activities differed greatly but they invariably shared English as the language of communication. The question is: what kind of English? Howhave I managed and how have others? It is clear that language issues are closely interlinked with broader cultural issues. Misunderstandings are not simply 'cultural', but rather are often rooted in linguistic aptitude. It my view it is important to be cautious in simply referring to cultural differences when it comes to misunderstanding. This explanation is an easy excuse. In fact, personal and cultural issues in conjunction with language influence understanding and the success of the international classroom.
In this essay I reflect on my own experiences as a non-native speaker of English, both in environments of native and other non-native speakers. I discuss what have I observed and what have I learned. Most learning moments occur as a result of critical incidents – situations where things go differently from how you expect them to go. In the conclusion I will make a brief reference to theory and possible themes for research.
Critical incidents
Having drinks
He was a Vietnamese student and arrived in my morning class with a can of beer. I did not notice right away, but at one point I saw him drinking from the can and realized it was beer. Other students in his direct environment had also noticed and there was a bit of giggling. Not everybody was aware and, in my view, there was not enough disturbance to interrupt the class. At the end of the lecture, however, I indicated for him to step down to have a word. I asked him why he had brought beer to the classroom and expressed my great displeasure with his action. He was stunned. His reply was sharp and hurt. He felt insulted. 'There were various places in the building where it said: no food, no drinks. But not here in this room and, by the way, other students were having drinks as well'. He reminded me that I had said that drinks were allowed. I replied that it should have been self evident that 'drinks' did not include alcoholic beverages. Others were drinking water or soft drinks and I assumed that this was completely clear to him. His answer surprised me, but made me smile – 'when you are invited for drinks, do you expect to get water?'
What happened next was a conversation on what the word 'drink' could mean in various situations. Of course, this incident was about other things as well, but it was clear that language played an important role – certainly in discussing the mutual notions implicit in various words. It offered me the possibility to discuss with the student whyhe saw no difference between beer and soft drinks. Our class later discussed this interesting case study of cultural differences in classroom behaviour. In Vietnam, the student was not allowed to bring any food or drinks into the lecture hall. The informal setting of the Dutch classroom had created a context wherein this student had become confused about his own role as a student. He no longer felt secure about appropriate behaviour inside and outside the formal classroom setting. For him the 'self evident' difference with regard to drinks was between hard liquor and everything else, including beer. How was he to understand the unspoken differences between correct and incorrect classroom behaviour?
She was a very intelligent and diligent Chinese student in a master's mathematics class. In fact, she outshone everybody. Over the course of the year, she became more and more silent and withdrawn. She showed no interest in her peers, made no effort to engage in group work and discussions and spent her time exclusively with other international students of her own background. Her teachers ascribed her behaviour to the level of her English. At one point, her withdrawal was also showing in her study results. I was not her teacher, but my advice was requested because I was involved in the management of the scholarship program that supported her. I made an appointment and tried to talk to her. It was a very difficult conversation with little more than monosyllabic input from her side. It was clear she was not amused. By the time I had almost given up, she turned to me and said quite angrily: 'why do I not get the perfect score, why am I not appointed as a leader of my class?' I asked her what she meant, what she expected, and what she wanted. I learned that her knowledge of English was not bad at all; rather, she was bitterly disappointed.
In Dutch institutions, as in various other 'western' universities, students are required to be articulate, assertive and accomplished in group work. Egalitarianism is the norm and prevails. Excellence and honours are in high esteem but are usually not bestowed in the daily setting of the classroom. They are given to the individual and not to individuals as part of a group. Whereas group work is important, the interaction within the group is expected to be based on 'equal' input. Leadership is important for reasons other than hierarchy. Students must derive their self esteem from private success more so than from ranking within the group. Verbal interaction is important and presentation skills are part of the evaluation of results.
Making jokes
Rightly or wrongly, I consider my own English to be quite good. I feel 'comfortable' when speaking English and believe that I can express myself well – most of the time, that is. I remember an evening spent with colleagues after an intensive day at a conference. It all had gone very well, and we were looking forward to an informal dinner and a night on the town. We were a 'multi-culti' group but with a large number of Australians and British people. As the evening went on I realised that I understood less and less. As the language became more and more colloquial the few 'Europeans' in the group were not able to join in making jokes, or even understanding the jokes. I was asked if I was enjoying myself. I said I was a bit tired, which was true. The energy taken to handle another language is often underestimated. My Spanish colleague later said to me 'they [those who spoke English as a first language] are just not nice'. That certainly had not been the case; they simply had a good time. Nevertheless, we both felt excluded.
In an intercultural group the language that is used is a lingua franca (often English). When native speakers dominate the floor the use of a lingua franca can lose its role of communicator and become the 'only' language. This may result in misunderstandings or feelings of exclusion. Everyone might be speaking easily but will still be using the language in the cultural context of their personal background and native tongue. Others may be understanding the words but not always comprehending the meaning as it was intended. Humour as well as body language and other non-verbal signals communicate important messages that can easily be misinterpreted. Such messages are easier to correct verbally if they are not linked to a group using them from the dominant position of native speakers.
The issue of language is very important when it comes to safeguarding cultural diversity in the international classroom. The dilemma faced by those in non-Anglophone countries interested in further internationalising higher education is how to combine increased use of the English language while also acknowledging cultural diversity. On a practical level this means that lecturers' command of English and other languages is under scrutiny. Dealing with cultural diversity in international groups is, to a large extent, dealing with language issues. Language expresses so much more than what is literally said.
Incidents like the ones described above will be recognized by those involved in international education. Our countries are increasingly multicultural societies but there is growing scepticism about the extent to which this leads to intercultural learning. One could question the actual contribution that the presence of foreign students on campus makes to the international dimension of the host institution. The potential for interaction between students from different cultural backgrounds (potentially contributing to global learning objectives) does not automatically lead to intercultural learning and understanding.
Creating a classroom where true intercultural learning can take place means blending concepts like 'foreign', 'strange' and 'otherness' into teaching strategies that make an effort to integrate the cultural input of all students. For the curriculum this means including both content-oriented goals (such as foreign language skills, regional and area studies, humanities and international subjects like international law and business) and attitude goals (such as broad-mindedness, understanding and respect for other people and their cultures, values and way of life) in order to strengthen students' intercultural competence.
Global learning, understood as learning for all students, seeks to promote understanding of cultural diversity by exposure to different ways of teaching, learning and living. Inevitable, it will increasingly include 'virtual mobility' and web-based learning. Intercultural learning does not simply happen. It requires prearranged settings and clearly defined aims. The concept of cultural diversity embraces the general assumption of increasing social diversity (for example, by nationality, ethnicity, gender or professional discipline) as a basic feature of modern society and its institutions. But many issues remain implicit. As I have argued earlier, teachers in international classrooms need specific competencies for teaching across languages.
Geert Hofstede has described culture as the collective mental programming which distinguishes members of one group or category of people from members of another culture. Besides collective mental programming, each member of the group has his or her own individual mental programming and all members of the group share a common human biological nature. Defined in this anthropological sense culture covers all spheres of life. It is learned and it is very hard to un-learn. It defines the way we think, feel and behave. The source of our mental programming is our social environment. It starts at home and continues to develop on the street, in school, at work and in all the social settings a person encounters. Although it is difficult to change deeply ingrained notions, it is not impossible. People have the fundamental capacity to adapt their mental programming throughout their lives as a result of new social settings. Education is such a setting and an international learning experience can provide a very important stimulus to redefine one's ideas. Culture is never static and is always the result of interaction between social groups.
When considering the international classroom we refer to culture in various ways. On the one hand, there is the anthropological definition of culture as the behaviour of groups resulting from collective mental programming; on the other hand, we also deal with the specific cultural situation of an international group of individuals taking part in an international educational program. Knowledge of specific behaviour in different cultures is useful but not necessarily helpful for individuals who encounter each other in the international classroom. They are looking for practical solutions to problems that result from an unfamiliar situation and personal confrontations. This implies that not all cultural differences have to be taken into account, only those affecting communication in the educational process.
ICT has a great potential to enrich 'traditional' teaching, with input from around the world enhancing the international perspective and thus adding an important cultural component to the curriculum. This can energize and enrich content within any setting. Students can discuss topics from the courses they are taking with others around the world, creating a completely new international 'classroom'. The learning process is thus re-engineered, becoming more flexible and less subject to geographical boundaries. It may offer an intercultural experience, but the internet can never stand in for real life encounters (a truth often ignored when justifying budget cuts). The use of ICT in the classroom can raise questions about our image of learning in higher education and teaching as a 'people skill'. It is clear that the use of ICT in higher education will no longer be a question of internationalising a 'national' curriculum but a matter of whether and how an internationalised curriculum incorporates a clearly defined 'national' component.
The specific qualifications that are listed below are meant to prompt further discussion of the role of the non-native speaker in the international classroom. Of course it is not possible to generalize about conditions that would apply in every situation. The qualifications presented speak of 'an ideal situation' that does not exist and focus attention on a topic that has been largely neglected, despite its importance. To question language issues in the international classroom is to challenge established notions of professional quality in lecturers and academic skills in students. For staff to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes listed, important staff development measures must be in place in any institution of higher education that uses a language of communication that is not the native tongue of the lecturer. Training is also essential in cases where native speakers teach non-native speakers. Students also need to rethink interaction between native and non-native speakers. In all situations a new awareness is recommended to acknowledge the impact of language in the academic process.
Ideas for discussion
Here follows a list of knowledge, skills and attitudes. I see them as a basis for communication in the international classroom. The list is relevant for non-native speaking students, but is equally applicable for teachers and others. This list is not meant as a blue print; rather, it is intended to invite participants to discuss what is needed in students and staff to communicate in a multi-cultural and multi lingual environment.
Desired qualifications:
In terms of knowledge, a person should:
- have a very good oral and written command of the language of instruction
- be capable of writing general texts, scientific reports and articles in the language of instruction
- be familiar with the specific terminology used in teaching the subject in question and be familiar with the jargon in his or her field
- realise that culture can be defined in different ways
- be aware that formal education is one of the most important features of a national culture
- remember that culture is learned and is very difficult to un-learn
In terms of skills, a person should:
- be able to use the language of instruction in such a way that the natural flow of speech is not impeded by unnatural use of the voice, such as speaking very loudly
- be aware of the role that body language plays in communicating a message and not use it in an extreme manner, such as making exaggerated movements to support spoken language
- be willing to say things in different ways, rephrasing sentences that are not understood
- be able to use audio-visual aids in support of spoken texts
- avoid using two languages at the same time, for example to explain something quickly to some of the other students and thus excluding others
- be able to distinguish cultural differences from personal traits, for example, knowing whether a person is only shy or feels that it is not appropriate to ask a question
In terms of attitude, a person should:
- be aware of the fact that he or she is not using his or her native tongue and reflect on this fact
- acknowledge that body language and other non-verbal aspects of communication have a great impact on the way he or she is understood (or misunderstood)
- be aware of the role of humour in communication and know that humour can quickly intrude in culturally defined spheres of personal identity
- realise that different levels of language proficiency within the group may account for differences in performance, but not simply ascribe attitude to language (a 'silent' person may be shy, not interested, incompetent, bored or full of respect for the teacher)
- try to be open to suggestions with regards to the use of language
- try to remain aware of his or her own culture and understand that this strongly colours his or her own views
- try to avoid thinking in stereotypes
- try to made adjustments for cultural differences within the group, while at the same time respecting these differences.
Note: This article has previously appeared in the Trigger Papers of the Centre for International Curriculum Inquiry and Networking Conference June 2009 Internationalising the Home Student, held at Oxford Brookes University.
Hanneke Teekens is the Director of Communications for Nuffic, The Netherlands Organisation for International Co-operation in Higher Education.