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SQ0-L4 | Overhead shower with chromotherapy
Ceiling mounted built-in overhead shower with chromotherapy
Stainless Steel
Rubinetterie Mariani dedicates a wide section of its catalogue to Wellness, suggesting fascinating bath and shower solutions: built-in swivelling jets, shower heads with rain and waterfall effects, water nebulisation and colour therapy. A wellness centre benefits now available for a daily use.
Soaking in magical chromatic successions can amplify the relaxing power of water flow. Colour therapy is an ancient technique to restore physical and emotional balances using the colour irradiation. Many of Rubinetterie Mariani proposals integrate this natural effects with high technology shower solutions. The result is complete settings of absolute relax and an admirable visual impact.
Stainless steel ceiling shower head 54x54 cm, four positions rain, 8 LED with chromotherapy 8 colours with automatic rotation and 4 nebulization jets (powered by elettricity 220V/12V with wireless infrared keyboard to select the color variations and the jet). Supplied with mounting kit and security anchor.


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Photorealist Art
My photorealist art is a collection of paintings and drawings derived directly from photographic sources.
Click the thumbnails below to enlarge the artwork
About Thaneeya's Photorealist Art
The allure of photorealism for me is its innate paradox. A photorealistic painting begins with a blank surface, a photograph, and pigment, which the artist manipulates to create an illusion of reality. The creation of these paintings is a highly abstract process. Essentially, little blobs of color, carefully applied and blended, come to represent and imitate recognizable forms. As much as I admire the final product, I enjoy the process of creating them much more - savoring the surprise moments when the little blobs of color become "real".
My photorealistic paintings represent moments in time and therefore inherently reference their inverse - the passage of time. The hours spent applying pigment to a surface provides a third time-based layer - a performative aspect which leaves behind a record, or imprint of the artist's hand and consciousness. Finally, the viewer adds another layer, with each gaze bringing the painting into the present moment.
My interest in photorealism is as philosophical as it is aesthetic. By laboring over such detailed works, I increase my capacity for awareness of the tiny details that comprise the fabric of existence, an experience which I believe is mirrored in the viewer's mind. The clarity presented in photorealistic paintings encourages clarity in the real world, in observing one's surroundings - which leads to a heightened appreciation of the myriad nuances of life.
To create my photorealist art, I usually use either acrylics, watercolors or colored pencils - but most often, acrylics.
My photorealist art usually takes the form of still lifes, featuring everyday objects like cupcakes or toys. I also enjoy the challenge of painting detailed objects such as money and the reflections in glass.
I learned how to draw and paint in a photorealist style entirely through trial and error. Over the years I've received many emails from folks asking for tips on painting photorealistically with acrylics, which can be tough because acrylics dry quickly, making it hard to blend colors together seamlessly. In response, I created a free 15-page online tutorial on How to Paint Photorealism Using Acrylics to share my knowledge and help others on the path to painting photorealistically. I also put togeher a detailed step-by-step tutorial showing How to Draw a Photorealistic Marble in Colored Pencils.
If you looked through the slideshow above, you'll have noticed that colorful cupcakes are one of my favorite subjects! Several of my photorealist cupcake paintings can be purchased on products:

subset: commoncrawl


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Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
The attorneys at the Law Office of Maggie Aguilar have successfully helped thousands of clients throughout the Chicagoland area to rid themselves of debt, gain peace of mind and get a fresh start. We help residents of the following counties and cities: Cook County, DuPage County, Will County, Chicago, Joliet, Wheaton, among others. Let our bankruptcy lawyers help you, too.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Wipes Out Your Debt.
A Chapter 7 filing is often the quickest way to wipe out your debt. The filing of a Chapter 7 petition stops harassing phone calls, collections and garnishments.
What Debts Are Discharged in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
A Chapter 7 usually wipes out the following debt(s):
- Credit Cards
- Personal Loans
- Medical Bills
- Judgments and Lawsuits
- Utility Bills
- Repossessions
- Payday Loans
What Debts Are Not Discharged in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
Certain debts are not wiped out even through a Chapter 7 filing. These debts include:
- Child Support and Alimony
- Student Loans
- Income Taxes
- Municipal Fines
- Criminal Fines
- Intentional Torts
- Parking Tickets
- Toll Way Fines
If I File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Can I Keep My Home?
Yes, as long as you are able to make your monthly mortgage payments. In fact, you may even be able to keep your car. Call our bankruptcy attorneys to find out what other property and accounts you may be able to keep (known as exempt property).
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
What is a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
A Chapter 13 Bankruptcy involves the repayment of debt. Under a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Debt Repayment Plan, individuals repay all or a portion of their debt over a three to five year period of time. During the repayment period, creditors are prohibited from collection activities. Filing Chapter 13 Bankruptcy will stop foreclosures and repossessions. As with a Chapter 7 filing, some debts may not be discharged in a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is right for you when:
- You want to keep your home and/or your car. A Chapter 13 Bankruptcy will allow you to catch up on missed mortgage and/or car payments..
- You do not qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.
What is best for me?
Chapter 7? Chapter 13? Maybe bankruptcy is not right for you at all. Call us today for a free consultation. We at the Law Office of Maggie Aguilar know well that persons facing financial hardship — and overburdened and whelmed by debt — are not in the best condition to pay a bankruptcy lawyer. Therefore, we sometimes place our our clients on a payment plan. Call us today and feel better.


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Dwight David Eisenhower
News about Dwight David Eisenhower, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times. More
This essay is reprinted from American President: An Online Reference Resource, a publication of the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.
A Life in Brief
A Life in Brief
Born in Texas and raised in Kansas, Dwight D. Eisenhower was one of America's greatest military commanders and the thirty-fourth President of the United States. Inspired by the example of a friend who was going to the U.S. Naval Academy, Eisenhower won an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Although his mother had religious convictions that made her a pacifist, she did not try to stop Eisenhower from becoming a military officer.
Popular War Hero
Popular War Hero
After graduating from West Point, Eisenhower experienced several years of professional frustration and disappointment. World War I ended a week before he was scheduled to go to Europe. After peace came, his career went nowhere. He did enjoy the personal fulfillment that came from marrying Mamie Doud in 1916 and having a son, John, in 1922. And he soon got assignments that allowed him to prove his abilities. He served as a military aide to General John J. Pershing and then to General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines. Shortly before the United States entered World War II, Eisenhower earned his first star with a promotion to brigadier general.
After the United States entered the war, Eisenhower went to Washington, D.C., to work as a planning officer. He so impressed the Army's chief of staff, General George C. Marshall, that he quickly got important command assignments. In 1944, he was supreme commander of Operation Overlord, the Allied assault on Nazi-occupied Europe. In only five years, Eisenhower had risen from a lowly lieutenant colonel in the Philippines to commander of the greatest invasion force in history. When he returned home in 1945 to serve as chief of staff of the Army, Eisenhower was a hero, loved and admired by the American public.
Acknowledging Eisenhower's immense popularity, President Harry Truman privately proposed to Eisenhower that they run together on the Democratic ticket in 1948—with Truman as the vice-presidential candidate. Eisenhower refused and instead became president of Columbia University and then, after the outbreak of the Korean War, the first Supreme Commander of NATO forces in Europe. In 1952, he declared that he was a Republican and returned home to win his party's presidential nomination, with Richard M. Nixon as his running mate. "Ike" endeared himself to the American people with his plain talk, charming smile, and sense of confidence. He easily beat Democrat Adlai Stevenson in 1952 and again in 1956.
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Fact Check of the Day
Trump Falsely Claims to Be First Republican to Win Wisconsin Since Eisenhower
Following Eisenhower's two Badger State victories in 1952 and 1956, Wisconsin voted for Republican presidential candidates in 1960, 1968, 1972, 1980 and 1984 before Mr. Trump's win in 2016.
By Linda Qiu
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Fact Check of the Day
Trump Falsely Claims to Be First Republican to Win Wisconsin Since Eisenhower
Following Eisenhower's two Badger State victories in 1952 and 1956, Wisconsin voted for Republican presidential candidates in 1960, 1968, 1972, 1980 and 1984 before Mr. Trump's win in 2016.
By Linda Qiu


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Last week was the premier of the fifth season of Mad Men on AMC. There has been lots of buzz about the plot line and the arising themes of this season, which did capture my imagination but what I was very much intrigued by were the set design and interior design choices. The office design and decor has been a topic of discussion in past seasons, but not so much the residential interiors, which is where I would like to focus my attention.
The first episode, A Little Kiss premiered new apartments for particular members of the cast. Don Draper and his newly wed wife Megan are living in a very large chic high-rise apartment in Manhattan. The décor is the epitome of modern, late-sixties decor with the cork wallcoverings, wall-to-wall carpeting, Florence Knoll sofas and a dropped center living area.
The decorating is even brought to viewers attention at the end of the episode when Don and Megan discuss her decision to install a white carpet. Although there's a symbolic reference to her character and their relationship in this discussion, I love the reference to Décor magazines and how they affected decorating choices back then. Jack and I have had similar talks about choices I have made for vanity over functionality - and in many cases, I stand by those decisions because in sometimes beauty is more important when it comes to home design.
Even though I like aspects of the Draper residence, I feel strongly that these interiors are very specific to the late 60s. Currently, a lot of the furniture and details of 60s décor is in style but really when you put everything together, you can really tell which era it's from. My favorite Draper designs are: the dining room drapes - which you can see through the kitchen, the Curtis Jere style sculpture over the bed, the front doors, and the entire credenza wall.
In contrast, Pete Campbell and his wife have moved their lives out of the city into suburbia to make room for an expanding family. He seems to have switched roles with Don when he was married to Betty. The only room we have visibility of, is the kitchen, but it is very much the opposite in design to that of Don's current kitchen. The wallpaper, the cabinets and appliances all seem dated (for the 60s). If one were to base their opinions of life in the city vs the suburbia on kitchen design in Mad Men, surely we would all want to live to the city.
Lastly, my favorite home of the bunch that was featured in this episode was Joan Harris' place. If I could choose to live in any one's home on Mad Men, it would be in hers and I wouldn't change too much about it, just maybe some of the furniture.
The walls in the living room are a rich, deep coral with contrasting teal, pinch-pleat drapes. I also love the touches of bronze and brass finishes. Her bedroom is a much more soothing tone of periwinkle blues with contrasting pops yellow. Again, the metal finishes are brassy bronzes. I particularly like the mid-century style bureau and the decorative Curtis Jere style sculpture above her bed. I'm actually going to begin a hunt for something similar for my bedroom now. I think it's the answer to my dilemma of what can I place over the bed that is both abstract, beautiful and not the first choice of a sunburst mirror. Seeing Joan's space has really inspired me to continue on the path creating a dramatic, richly colored home that looks timeless. Aside from a few pieces, her home could easily be featured in the decor magazines of today.
Photo Credits: Please note, all images are screen shots from Madmen Season 5 Episode 501 & 502 "A Little Kiss"


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Barn Stormers Share Goose Meadow Ball Field with Gate House Family Nine/
The Haven Hill Barn Stormers scored 1 ace and the Gate House Family Nine earned 7 as the 2015 vintage base ball match came to a rainy end in the 9th inning at Goose Meadow at the Highland State Recreation Area Haven Hill Festival last weekend. Saturday, August 29's base ball game was enjoyed by all the cranks as players showed skill on both clubs as they paid tribute to the early games of base ball.
Ballists on both teams showed great sportsmanship and prowess as the struck the pill around the field. Next year's Haven Hill Festival game is already anticipated by all the players.


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GLG CEO Alexander Saint-Amand was a guest on Kara Swisher's Recode Decode podcast. One of the most influential and widely listened to podcasts in the world, Recode Decode features interviews with some of the biggest names in business, media, tech, and politics. Saint-Amand's episode, entitled "Is 'Uber meets Harvard' the future of learning?" sheds light on the company's history and offers a look into the future of learning. Read more here.
Access the transcript.
Listen to the podcast below:


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Race Day Preparation
Column for Surf Coast Time - Dec 2016
With less than a week to go before the Torquay Jim Wall Ironman the surf club athletes will be starting their race day preparation and taper. Racing is an opportunity for athletes to showcase all of their hard work, skills and fitness. When you are preparing for a competition there are few important factors to consider to ensure you are organised and feeling your best come race day. I will share with you a few tips and strategies I use to make sure I am race ready.
Be organised. "Perfect preparation prevents poor performance" is one of my favourite sayings. Make sure you have your bag packed, your craft and gear organised and your food prepared. You don't want to arrive disorganised or having forgotten something. I usually make a competition day check list just to make sure.
Even though preparation is vital, sometimes it's necessary to be flexible and go with the flow. Circumstances and problems will arise that are out of your control, for example huge surf, a change in start time or equipment malfunction. These are the times when you should time a deep breath in, reassess and adjust your plan.
Being nervous is normal. Nervousness kicks in when you want to do well. When you are nervous, a hormone called cortisol is released by your body as a response to prepare you to achieve something you really care about. So embrace the nerves, don't let them bother you, acknowledge the feeling and use this to motivate you to race hard.
Ask advice from those more experienced than you. If in doubt about how to warm up properly or which is the best route to take through the surf, ask a coach or someone who knows that particular beach well. Every beach is different and making a specific race plan can make a big difference to how you go about your race.
Keep hydrated, rested and fuelled all day. It's so easy to get caught up in the excitement of a competition and forget the simple things like eating well, warming up and applying sunscreen.
Finally, when you are organised and feeling ready to race, you will have the most fun and race your best. So get out there, go hard and enjoy your day!


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For Immediate Release
Jenn Ettinger, 202-265-1490 x 35
AT&T's Internet Overcharging Spells Trouble for Online Innovation
WASHINGTON - AT&T, the nation's second largest broadband service provider, announced it will soon impose on its customers monthly usage caps and penalties for exceeding those caps.
AT&T is the first national wired broadband provider to adopt usage penalties. It will reportedly cap use at 150 gigabytes of data per month, and will charge $10 in overage fees per additional 50 gigabytes for some users. AT&T is implementing these new restrictions at a time when the company's underlying operational costs continue to drop.
Free Press Research Director S. Derek Turner made the following statement:
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"AT&T's Internet overcharging is a poor solution to an unproven problem, and it will have a chilling effect on economic growth and innovation online. AT&T claims that its caps and penalties will only affect a few users, but unless the limits grow rapidly along with usage, many more customers will soon be ensnared. When ISPs force their customers to watch the meter, experimentation, innovation and business will suffer.
"While AT&T's overcharging plan is not as punitive as those proposed in the past by other ISPs, it still bears no discernable relation to underlying costs, which are estimated to be mere pennies per gigabyte. AT&T's actions are another troubling symptom of a broadband market that lacks meaningful competition, and this move may be the start of a race to the bottom among other providers to see who can squeeze its customers the most. At worst, this is a plan designed to discourage cord-cutting and pad profits; at best, this is another example of an antiquated phone-company business model being forced onto an otherwise vibrant and limitless marketplace.
"We urge Congress to investigate Internet overcharging schemes to ensure that they are not unreasonable or anti-competitive actions by large ISPs designed to abuse their dominant market power and pad their profits at the expense of American economic growth and innovation."
This is the world we live in. This is the world we cover.
Because of people like you, another world is possible. There are many battles to be won, but we will battle them together—all of us. Common Dreams is not your normal news site. We don't survive on clicks. We don't want advertising dollars. We want the world to be a better place. But we can't do it alone. It doesn't work that way. We need you. If you can help today—because every gift of every size matters—please do. Without Your Support We Won't Exist.
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Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, and universal access to communications. Learn more at www.freepress.net


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Christmas is coming and Villa Crespi would like to introduce you its special presents for the most special period of the year.
The best way to surprise is to create a taylor made gift card, making every dream come true
The choice is endless… An unforgettable culinary experience with a romantic candlelight in Antonino Cannavacciuolo's Restaurant or with a cooking lesson, a relaxing afternoon tea in the charming Lounge bar, or a special cuddle to both body and soul with a specific treatment or a massage.
Feel Christmas in the air… Go for a little walk in the medieval village of Orta San Giulio, a boat trip towards the Island and a visit to the Sacro Monte to breathe Christmas flavour.
You will discover a new way to celebrate Christmas, thanks to the unique atmosphere of Orta San Giulio and its enchanted lake.
Do not hesitate to contact us! Call the 0039 322 911902 or send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com


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Paul & Lisa
Event Caterers
We would never suggest that catering was 'in our blood' , but customer service always has been .
Paul has owned and run his own carpentry business for over 30 years and Lisa has had several different careers, including cabin crew, teaching assistant and emergency call handler, before joining Paul in the expanding carpentry firm.
After a serious accident the summer of 2014 , Paul spent months in the garden recuperating and whilst twiddling his thumbs had a eureka moment. He didn't quite know what it was that he wanted to do with his life, but he knew he didn't want to work the same way any more .
After getting Lisa on board, various options were considered and whilst fitting out the new OATOPIA kitchen and warehouse, a seed was sown. We approached Tam & Pete about taking on a franchise for small to medium events.
Having always enjoyed either participating or supporting sports events , we were hooked by the company profile and the enthusiasm for their product. The opportunity to extend this to alternative events made the whole idea of running our own trailer very enticing. After what initially seemed like a whirlwind few weeks, we were up and running. The rest, as they say, is history .
The biggest step of any journey, is the first one.


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Driac 2
We restored the majestic Driac 2 in 2006 for a local client.
The yacht was in a sorry state when she arrived, all her frames very rotten and her fixings had corroded in the hull planking. The interior was very tired and had been chopped and changed over the years, so the decision was taken to replace completely. As a result, we had a free hand to create something new based on the specific needs of the owner.
This was a fantastic project for the team, with a huge jobs list, including reframing, replanking, new stem, new transom, 30 new deck beams, new deck, new interior, new engine and electrical systems, plumbing and the list goes on…
The interior was built in Cumbrian oak, a material we love working with.
Images show the new solid teak deck we put down.
She is now structurally sound, with the new deck and interior fitted and finished. She was launched in 2008.


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Aviator Travel Jib: The Camera Crane on the Go 0
There's another up and coming camera accessory making waves in the Kickstarter arena, and it's called the Aviator Travel Jib. The project was started by Zeke Kamm of Nice Industries as a super lightweight, compact camera crane used to shoot cinematic and breathtaking footage wherever you may be.
Setting up the Aviator Travel Jib takes less than a minute, it can extend from 24-inches all the way up to 6 feet and weighs only 3 ¾ pounds. Oh, and get this: the mobile crane can support cameras weighing up to 6 pounds.
The Aviator Travel Jib comes equipped with a ballast bag, fluid pan base, bubble levels, deluxe padded bag, monitor and accessory mounting ports, and mounting hardware.
If you want to impress you next client, you can get the Aviator Travel Jib by pledging at least $399 for the complete travel kit.
[Kickstarter via Engadget]


text: Today at DEMO Traction, Beachfront Media introduces a syndication and monetization platform for video called Beachfront Reach. There is a mobile video revolution going on now – everything from live streaming video to multi-platform experiences. Two years ago, Beachfront Media decided to focus its development efforts on being the leader in mobile video. EverRead more


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"... is fun and free, you can be yourself in there"
"I used to think there was a wrong and a right and I had a strong critical voice…This has helped me to see that its actually in the process, it's been really useful to help me think about things going on for me that I couldn't talk about before…it also relaxes me"
"You can make something ugly and it's still OK"
"Because of the fact that you're doing art it's not like having an intense conversation with someone"
"I've never missed an art therapy session….I'm proud of some of the work that I do and I am proud that I attend art therapy... I'm grateful, it's cool"
~ reflection by clients / patients
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses visual art media to support people to communicate often complex feelings, thoughts and experiences. It involves the use of visual and tactile media as a means of self-expression. Practitioners are registered health care professionals, approved to work in clinical settings with clients with a range of mental health concerns, developmental disorders and learning needs. Art psychotherapists are expected to uphold a safe therapeutic environment for their clients, following the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) Code of Ethics and the Principles of Professional Practice and Guidelines for Members.
Art therapy supports individuals to:
discover an outlet for often complex and confusing emotions that cannot always be expressed verbally
express difficult emotions, feelings and experiences
identify and understand difficult feelings and experiences
learn more about themselves
build self-esteem and confidence
foster self-awareness, a sense of self and growth
develop ways of relating to others
develop skills for managing anger and challenging behaviour
CASE EXAMPLE: Art therapy with refugees, torture survivors and trafficked women:
Art therapy with refugees offers children, young people and adults a place to put and make sense of difficult feelings & experiences. Clients are able to recognise the positive contributions they are able to make, both physically in the art-making and emotionally in supporting themselves and others in 'making concrete' fragmented, unimaginable and unthinkable thoughts and traumatic experiences. In turn this supports them to recognise their resilience and rebuild their lives. The art-making can offer clients some peace and calm away from intrusive thoughts, memories and feelings. They can seek some sanctuary in this space and find refuge in the act of a supportive, non-judgmental art psychotherapist 'bearing witness' to these previously unbearable thoughts, memories and feelings.
"I have been amazed at how art therapy has supported our clients. I have really witnessed how art therapy has enabled people to start to rebuild their lives and I have heard first-hand from clients how much they have appreciated the supportive space that art therapy has given them" ~ Therapeutic Case Unit Manager, Refugee Service
"These sessions have given me peace and respect, thank you" ~ Client, Refugee Service
"Art making gave me peace of mind in challenging times" ~ Client, Refugee Service
"I go to a calm place and enjoy working together with others" ~ Client, Refugee Service
Jess is a registered Art Psychotherapist with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and has an up to date check by the Disclosure & Barring Service (previously CRB).


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Lost is gone, though certainly not forgotten. Well, at least the talented folks behind the recently concluded drama series haven't been forgotten, especially frequent director Jack Bender.
Having already booked a plum gig as a director and executive producer on sci-fi series Alphas — not to mention landing a deal to stay with Bad Robot, J.J. Abrams' production company — Bender is now stepping off of the Island and heading to Moscow, the latest feature film in the continuing Jack Ryan series.
Vulture reports that the director is "a cat's breath away" from stepping behind the lens for Moscow, which stars Chris Pine as a young Jack Ryan fresh out of the United States Marine Corps. Ryan scores a job as an analyst for a powerful Russian billionaire, but soon finds himself on the run after getting implicated in a terrorist plot.
Best known for his work on Abrams-created television shows such as Lost, Alias and Felicity, Bender's feature film work includes Child's Play 3 and Lone Justice 2. He's also directed several episodes of The Sopranos, Carnivale and Ally McBeal.
Source: Vulture


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The Financial Services Authority sought to close the door on the Northern Rock affair after it put forward plans to overhaul its staffing and systems to prevent another run on a British bank.
The main City watchdog said its failure to monitor properly the Newcastle-based mortgage lender was "totally unacceptable" and must not be repeated as it laid out a seven-point restructuring plan. It said that while its revamp would bring all banks under closer scrutiny it could not eliminate the risk of other finance companies going bust. Under the new regime supervisors will spend more time monitoring financial institutions that pose a risk to the financial system. The regulator will also need to recruit more staff to cope with the increased workload.
Hector Sants, FSA chief executive, said he wanted to make sure "proper standards" applied to all significant firms supervised by the regulator. "That does not mean a 'no failure' regime. However, together with the proposed reform of the insolvency regime for banks and an improved deposit protection scheme, it creates a platform to ... better protect the interests of consumers."
The FSA has come under strong criticism for its supervision of Northern Rock despite repeated warnings about the impending credit crunch.
Its decision to admit to basic failures was welcomed by the British Bankers' Association and the government. However, the report failed to deflect critics, who said the internal review revealed deep flaws in Britain's system of financial regulation. David Cameron, the Tory leader, said the FSA's report on Northern Rock was damning. He told Gordon Brown, the prime minister, in the Commons: "You said the FSA had done a good job. What you haven't read is the report by the FSA that says it is short of expertise in some fundamental areas, notably prudential banking experience and financial data analysis.
"Aren't those the absolutely key things you need to be a regulator? Isn't that why the Bank of England should be in charge of rescues, rather than the FSA?"
Brown responded: "Every financial organisation around the world that is regulating markets is accepting the need to do more ... The real problem is off-balance sheet activities, write-offs that have not been properly declared, credit-rating agencies that have done the job of being advisers as well as raters."
Internal auditors at the FSA found that supervisors were distracted and under-resourced during a busy time for the regulator. A "fewer but better" staffing policy resulted in steep cuts in numbers in the years before the Northern Rock collapse.
The lender was also categorised as low-risk with the result that supervisors spent little time monitoring its activities. There were 15 meetings over two years with the lender compared with 143 at another high-street bank. The Northern Rock meetings mainly took place on one day and most were not minuted.
Sants said the standard of supervision was "not acceptable", though "whether that would have affected the outcome in this case is impossible to judge".
Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, declared that Sants' statement was "a total cop-out". He said: "It is critical that the FSA sets itself higher standards. Not only should it be alert to known dangers, but it should also investigate the impact and risk of new business practices ... Simply asking for more staff is not the answer; we need intelligent regulators not legions of box-tickers - quality, not quantity."
Trade unions said they were disappointed that the review was limited to the conduct of the FSA and not a broader investigation of the lender, its directors and the handling by the tripartite authorities of the run on the bank. Graham Goddard, Unite spokesman, said: "The failures ... mean that some 2,000 jobs will be lost at the bank."


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The Backdoor.Nineblog is a malicious application that belongs from the famous Trojan family of viruses, and attacks the system without getting permission from the user. Once it installed on the computer, the Backdoor. Nineblog can perform a number of harmful activities, and can damage the system in many ways to make it completely useless. This malicious application also creates startup keys in the windows registry to start itself automatically whenever your computer starts. Once installed, this Trojan infection disables your antivirus tools, and change the windows firewall to install other browser hijackers, keylogger, and malware to the system. The overall security of the system is compromised when this tricky Trojan attacks the system. The hackers, and online criminals also use this tool in order to record the activity of the user, and access their personal data including the financial details. All such recorded activity is then transferred to the hackers who use these details to steal the money of the users. This malicious application is also famous as resource eaters and makes your computer very slow in responding. The browsing and other online activities is also slow because of this infection.
The Manual Removal of Backdoor.Nineblog
Once this deadly dangerous Trojan infection sneaks in the targeted computer, you have to find an effective method to remove this virus. There are manual as well as automatic methods available to remove the Backdoor.Nineblog. Make sure that you should follow the manual removal instructions as mentioned here to successfully remove this infection. The manual method steps are described below:-
Start the System in Safe Mode
Restart the machine in order to end the normal mode of operation, and use the F8 key repeatedly to see the list of boot options. Select the safe mode and press the enter key to restart the system in the safe mode.
Kill the Associated Processes
In order to remove the associated processes of the Backdoor.Nineblog, you have to open the task manager by holding the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys together. Once the task manager is accessed, you can see the list of all the running processes in your system under the processes tab. Remove the following suspicious processes associated with this virus:-
- %AppData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe
Delete the Associated Files
Open the system files folder and delete the following associated files of the Backdoor.Nineblog by7 using the Delete key:-
- %Desktopdir%\Backdoor.Nineblog.lnk
- %Programs%\Backdoor.Nineblog\Backdoor.Nineblog.lnk
Reverse the Modification in the Windows Registry
This process cannot be completed unless you do not remove the modifications made by this infection in the windows registry. In this regard open the registry editor by executing the Regedit command through Run option available in the Start menu. Remove the following suspicious entries once the registry editor is accessed:-
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Backdoor.Nineblog\DisplayIcon %AppData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe,0
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Backdoor.Nineblog
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Backdoor.Nineblog\UninstallString "%AppData%[RANDOM CHARACTERS][RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe" -u
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\[RANDOM CHARACTERS] %AppData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Backdoor.Nineblog\ShortcutPath "%AppData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe" -u
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Backdoor.Nineblog\DisplayName Backdoor.Nineblog
Update the existing antivirus program to run a complete system scan after restarting the system in the normal mode.


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played with two of my best best friends in the whole wide world
{rob & brian}
annoyed rob & brian with a zillion million pictures...
celebrated rob's birthday!
found the perfect restaurant for week 9
{just kidding... that's not it}
saw pretty art deco
walked by the south beach wine & food festival
... saw emeril at a distance
took a pic for one of my fave blogs
made the customary trek to la sandwicherie
tried calamari for the first time
{and sorta liked it}
at this week's new restaurant
got burnt
{darn sun!}
listened to regina spektor and lady gaga and death cab on the beach
saw dear john when it rained
went to a few awesome yoga classes
ahh how nice it was to get a bit of sun in the winter...


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Previous abstract Next abstract
Session 44 - The Local Diffuse ISM.
Display session, Tuesday, June 11
Great Hall,
The relative amounts of cold, warm and hot phases in the Galactic ISM continues to be the focus of intense observational and theoretical studies. The production and fate of hot gas primarily from supernova explosions requires numerical simulations of increasing sophistication. We have embarked on a systematic program to incorporate magnetic fields, heat conduction, radiative cooling, cosmic rays, and turbulent motions into multidimensional models of supernova remnant and superbubble evolution. Here we present results of 2D numerical MHD simulations of the late (> 5 Myr) evolution of an isolated supernova remnant in a warm diffuse medium threaded by a uniform magnetic field. We follow the complete evolution of the remnant through collapse of the hot bubble as it radiates away its thermal energy. The effects of heat conduction are included through the incorporation of a new implicit algorithm in the ZEUS-2D code which we describe. The parameters adopted are identical to those used by Slavin and Cox (ApJ, 392, 131, 1992): E_o=5 \times 10^50 erg, n_o=0.2 cm^-3, T_o=10^4 K, B_o=5 \mu G. Our results generalize the spherically symmetric models of Slavin and Cox (1992) to 2D axisymmetry. Magnetic stresses collimate the hot bubble into a prolate ``hot sausage" aligned with the magnetic field by 1 Myr. Thereafter the axis ratio of the sausage increases superlinearly with time as the bubble collapses radially but continues to expand axially with approximately the ambient magnetosonic speed. Magnetic pressure prevents the shell from collapsing due to radiative losses everywhere except at the polar caps. We compute the four-volume of the hot bubble for various choices of heat conduction and compare these results with the spherically symmetric models.
Program listing for Tuesday


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Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Accounting Staffing Agencies and other Accounting Jobs topics.
The recruiting industry has expanded within the past few years. Many firms now only accept resumes via their online recruiting efforts. Many staffing agencies receive online resumes and use this as a screening source. If a resume received appears interesting and promising, the applicant will be contacted by the recruiter.
Explore these sites, submit your resume, and keep your resume updated. These popular sites are visited daily by an untold amount of job seekers, recruiters, and employers. Good luck!
|Guru Spotlight
|Alexis Niki


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A Black Labrador is having fun time with his/her friends in the bathroom! Don't they look like good kids? Nice Black Labrador design for pet salon or grooming salon.
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Direct Link to our Store for more Happy Bath Time Black Labrador Gifts!
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The Ladera Oaks Fitness Center offers many events and activities designed to bolster your motivation for fitness. Fitness challenges, fitness assessment sessions and cross training workshops connect you with the latest theories in sports conditioning and human performance. Classes are offered in yoga, Zumba, body conditioning, circuit training and more. Sign up here for the latest class and workshop schedule.
Wellness Workshops
How is your "Health IQ?" Which foods offer the most bang for the calorie? What is the best way to manage stress? Our Wellness Workshops are a fun and popular way to learn the latest information about nutrition and wellness, and how to put that knowledge to practical use in your family's life.
Healthy Cooking Classes
How do you prepare nutritious and tasty meals that you and your whole family can enjoy? Come along on a culinary adventure, where our fitness staff puts on their chef's aprons and shows you how to please your palate and whittle your waistline. You'll learn the secrets of preparing healthy food that is delicious, gorgeous and quick-to-fix.


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'The Road Ahead' Career Development game tells you who you are and issues a list of jobs that fit your personality.
Use the 'Conversation Engine' for engaging avatar-based roleplay. As players make choices, the platform records their decisions and evaluates skills.
A gamified traditional aptitude assessment that produces a fair, reliable and predictive 'fit score' that reflects suitability for a job role.


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See all our
See all ourGames
3 in 1 Pool Table
- Amazing 3-in-1 Multiple Games Table.
- Choose from Pool, Ice Hockey or Table Tennis
- All In One Solution for Home Gaming
Product Code
Order now and your order will be despatched on or before Wednesday 2 October
Price in GBP
Price guide in other currencies
- Description
- Delivery
- Reviews
- Why Us
3 in 1 Pool Table / Air Hockey / Table Tennis
Discover the 3-in-1 Pool Table with adaptive design for Air Hockey and Table Tennis
This full-size 7ft Pool Table quickly converts into an Air Hockey Game or Table Tennis Table setup in the blink of an eye - an ingenious space saving solution with superb added value.
Featuring an attractive black carbon-fibre exterior, professional quality cushioning, inbuilt storage racks and a smart protective lid; this is a true all in one solution for your games room at home.
Quick and easy game change takes seconds with just one person required to flip the games table from Pool to Air Hockey or Table Tennis.
All accessories are provided free of charge making this an excellent present for the whole family which can be played straight away!
See below for full information about our 3-in-1 Pool Table which comes with a full set of free accessories and delivery to your home as standard.
Christmas cut off dates: 14th December AM for Scotland, Devon and Cornwall and December 19th AM for rest of UK.
Size (Length, Width, Height):
L218, W128, H83 cms approx.
135 kg.
- 2 x full-size 57" cues
- 1 x full-size set of spot/stripe pool balls
- 1 x triangle
- Chalk & brush
- 4 x air hockey pucks & pushers
- 2 x table tennis bats & balls
- 1 x table tennis net
Free UK Delivery on Orders Over £50
|Standard UK Delivery
|1-2 Working Days
|Next Day Delivery
|Order before 2.30pm
Order before 1pm on a working day and your order will be despatched with 24 hours of ordering.
Next Day deliveries are available Monday to Friday (7am to 8pm) excluding Bank Holidays. Order before 1pm for next day delivery.
For more information about our delivery service please click here.
Sorry there are currently no reviews for this product.
Read all our Customer Service reviews (Click Here)
Why us?
Here at The Present Finder we take great pride in selling unusual, high quality presents and providing an easy and enjoyable shopping experience.
All our products are hand-picked by a team of gifting experts with over 30 years experience in sourcing and selecting fantastic presents.
All our gifts are packaged with the utmost care and attention by our warehouse team.
Exceptional Customer Service
We aim to source the most unusual presents backed by exceptional levels of customer service and our mission is not complete until the gifts you have chosen delight the lucky recipients.
If for any reason, you are not delighted with your purchase we will refund your money in full or exchange your goods with no questions asked.
We are incredibly proud of our 98% Customer Satisfaction Score from over 17,000 reviews and counting!


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Announcement: New Youth Pastor/
Pastor Bryan Francis has been selected as our new Youth Pastor and will be starting August 21.
We're looking for donations of bedroom and living room furniture. Please let us know if you have items in good shape that you no longer need.
Pastor Bryan is living out his call to lead teenagers into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. He graduated from Northpoint Bible College with degrees in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry, and he is ready to help students love and serve God in their home, church, and school. Bryan is excited to make Powerline Youth a place for students to have fun and grow their understanding of who God is in their life.


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Crestwood Community School uses Tucasi, the online payment system, which allows payments for trips, music tuition, home to school transport and school uniform to be paid for online using a debit or credit card.
The system is straightforward to use: simply select the item you would like to pay for, add to your basket, checkout and enter your payment details. If you have more than one child at Crestwood then their accounts can be linked allowing payment for multiple trips etc to be made together.
In order to use the online payment system all you need is an email account and access to a computer.
If you require a copy of the letter containing your child's pupil link code and instructions on how to set up an account then please either email: firstname.lastname@example.com or call 023 8064 1232, the main school number.
View the Online Payment User Guide here.
Please note that your bank or card statement will display "Hampshire County Council".


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NVSC Spiritwear
Fundraising for Financial Aid for players in our club. Buy a royal-blue or black Tank Top, T-shirt or Hooded Sweatshirt to wear at games when our NVSC teams play! These are great for grandparents, siblings, parents, and even the players as an extra shirt to wear.
Price of each Tank Tops or T-shirt is $16.00 each, Crew Neck Sweatshirts is $25.00 and Hooded Sweatshirt is $30.00 each


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Larissa Schuster trial set Oct. 15 in L.A. County
The trial of a Clovis biochemist accused of killing her husband and pouring acid on his body is scheduled to begin Oct. 15 in a Los Angeles County courtroom, more than four years after she was arrested.
On Monday, prosecutors, defense attorneys and a Fresno County Superior Court judge began what likely will be a week's worth of discussions on the ground rules for the upcoming trial.
Roger Nuttall, defense attorney for Larissa Schuster, said Monday that the pretrial motions will "help shape the course of the trial."
Schuster, 46, is accused of kidnapping, torturing and killing her husband, Timothy Schuster. The two were in the middle of a bitter divorce when his remains were found in a barrel of acid in Larissa Schuster's rented storage unit in July 2003.
Last month, Judge Wayne Ellison granted a motion to move the trial out of Fresno County because the murder trial of Schuster's co-defendant, James Fagone, had received intense media coverage.
In December, a Fresno County jury found Fagone guilty of murder, rejecting his argument that he was intimidated into joining the gruesome murder plot.
Ellison on Monday said the trial will start Oct. 15 in Department 114 of the Van Nuys West courthouse in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.
This week, both sides are taking up various motions associated with the trial, which cover everything from media coverage to whether certain potential witnesses will be allowed to remain in the courtroom when they are not on the stand.
One part of Monday's hearing dealt with Timothy Schuster's employment records from Saint Agnes Medical Center.
Nuttall wants them as evidence for the trial. In court, he said he may have an expert testify on "battered person syndrome," and he commented that the evidence request pertains to Larissa Schuster's emotional state during the couple's divorce proceedings.
Ellison made no decision on whether the records will be part of the trial.
The jury pool will be 150, which both Nuttall and prosecutor Dennis Peterson said was sufficient.
On Oct. 15 jurors will fill out questionnaires. By midweek, jurors will come into court for individual questioning, and Ellison hopes to have jurors seated by the end of Oct. 18. Opening arguments would then start the following Monday.
It appears that Fagone will not be called as a witness by either side in the trial, but Nuttall said afterward that he expects Schuster to take the stand in her own defense.


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Mukul, Auberge Resorts Collection
Mukul, Auberge Resorts Collection, is a luxury boutique hotel and spa in Guacalito de la Isla - a $250-million, 1,670-acre low-density private beach community on Nicaragua's Emerald Coast. The resort opened on February 1, 2013. "Mukul" is the Mayan word for "secret." The resort features 37 spacious accommodations, each with an ocean view, pool and private staff. Other resort amenities include Spa Mukul, with six private spa-treatment sanctuaries; a palapa covered lounge featuring dining areas and a swimming pool; and the 18-hole Guacalito Golf Course. Guests enjoy access to the property's four miles of white-sand beach and rugged coastline, and seven miles of nature trails on which they can hike or bike to observe the four species of monkeys and other wildlife that reside in the lush coastal forest. Guests can also explore Nicaragua through customized experiences that introduce them to the nature, culture and people of this up-and-coming tourism destination, known as the "land of lakes and volcanoes."
Mukul has won many accolades, including ranking in Conde Nast Traveler's 2015 "Top 15 Resorts in Central & South America" and "Top 100 Hotels & Resorts in the World," Travel + Leisure's "It List," Conde Nast Traveler's "Hot List" and Robb Report's "Best New Hotels" and "Top 100 Resorts." Spa Mukul was named "Best Spa in the World" by Virtuoso, while Guacalito Golf Course was named one of the "Best Golf Courses" by Robb Report.
Mukul and Guacalito de la Isla are the vision of prominent Nicaraguan entrepreneur Don Carlos Pellas, whose family has roots in the country that date back to the 19th century. The Pellas family businesses include transportation, computers, sugar, ethanol, Flor de Caña Rum and the world-class Vivian Pellas Hospital. Pellas also founded the BAC Credomatic financial network in 1985, which he sold to GE Capital in 2011 in what was the largest business transaction in Central American history. With Mukul and Guacalito de la Isla, Pellas is establishing his family legacy – a pristine natural sanctuary where guests enjoy luxurious pampering while connecting to the land, culture and people of Nicaragua in authentic ways, and the surrounding community benefits from the resulting jobs, schools and improved infrastructure.
Pellas assembled a team of proven industry leaders to position Mukul among the most exclusive luxury boutique hotels in the world. The designers include Jeff Jensen, Principal Designer at HKS Hill Glazier Architects, in collaboration with Frank Butler and Song Chia of FAB Studio; SWA Landscape Architects; and Paul Duesing Partners Interior Designers. Their resort projects, among others, include Las Ventanas al Paraiso and Palmilla One & Only Hotel in Cabo San Lucas, and Rosewood Mayakoba and Tucker's Point Club in Bermuda. The Guacalito Golf Course was designed by David McLay Kidd, named the "hottest architect in golf" by Golf World. The concept and treatments at Spa Mukul were created by Angel Vezina Stewart, who was the founding Spa Director at the Spa at Las Ventanas al Paraiso. 2 Interior designer Paul Duesing worked with Nicaraguan artisans to craft furnishings and decorations that reflect the traditions of the country, including patterned floor tiles, tables made of carved native teak, headboards made of Flor de Caña rum barrel staves, accent pieces made of sand-casted polished pewter and etched ceramic lamp bases made of clay from nearby Masaya Volcano.
Mukul was designed as a luxurious yet relaxed private estate by the ocean, with 37 accommodations designed in a style that combines modern elegance with traditional Nicaraguan roots to create a distinct sense of place. Guests can select from Beach Villas, Bohios or the stately Casona Don Carlos:
12 one- and two-bedroom Beach Villas, beginning in size at 881 square feet and boasting nine-foot ceilings and walls of glass, face the gently rolling surf of Playa Manzanillo. With stone walls and gardens providing privacy, the white-stucco, red-tileroofed Beach Villas exude the ambiance of luxurious vacation homes. Mukul's "carefree luxury" philosophy is embodied by each Beach Villa's spacious "barefoot chic" indooroutdoor setting, complete with swimming pool, wrap-around deck, outdoor-lounging palapa and secret garden with an outdoor shower. The impressive 500 square-foot bathroom suites, designed as true sanctuaries for the senses, include separate "his and hers" vanity areas and a "Liquid Temple" wet room with a soaking tub and monsoon shower. The two-bedroom villas are family compounds with their own private show kitchen, pantry and living room.
BOHIOS Like tree houses nestled in the lush canopy, Mukul's 23 Bohios perch dramatically on a steep hillside 300 feet above Playa Manzanillo, offering breathtaking ocean views all the way to the horizon. Built of sustainable native teak and pine, each of the 621-squarefoot cliff houses features high ceilings and a wall of glass that opens onto a sweeping wooden deck with a private plunge pool. The spacious bathrooms are finished in Nicaraguan travertine marble and boast couples' "showers-with-a-view."
The jewel in the crown, embodying the essence of Mukul's hospitality philosophy, is Casona Don Carlos, the Pellas' private beach house. Located adjacent to the Beach Villas, the 20,000 square foot oceanfront compound features an expansive indooroutdoor living area with a soaring 80-foot-high palapa ceiling. The six bedroom suites are divided into two buildings – Casona Don Carlos with four suites and Suite Doña Vivian, named for the wife of Guacalito's owner Don Carlos Pellas, with two suites. The suites have a wrap-around stone terrace and share a large private swimming pool. Suites within the compound may be booked by guests when the Pellas family is not in residence.
Suite Doña Vivian may be rented as a separate accommodation option from the Casona Dona Carlos building when the family is not in residence. The luxurious suite features 3 7,746 square foot of indoor/outdoor living spaces, two complete master bedroom suites, one with indoor and outdoor shower gardens and nearly 360 degree ocean views. On the lower level, reached by steps, the beachfront swimming pool is flanked by a bathroom featuring the only private sauna at Mukul. If guests choose to book the adjoining Casona Don Carlos building, the total space leads to a 20,000-square-foot, sixbedroom suite accommodation option with two swimming pools. SPA MUKUL: Spa Mukul consists of six spacious spa sanctuaries, each with its own
Spa Mukul consists of six spacious spa sanctuaries, each with its own décor, ambiance and signature spa ritual, each harnessing a different ancient healing tradition and offering guests a holistic spa experience. Guests of Spa Mukul are personally escorted by a spa concierge from their guest room at Mukul directly to the spa sanctuary of their choice, bypassing the check-in process and preparing the guest for their journey. Each of the six spa sanctuaries focuses on a different spa experience:
- Secret Garden: Water is the theme in this shadowy, womb-like spa sanctuary where guests float in a pool as a therapist administers a relaxing "Watsu" treatment that combines Shiatsu and stretching. Other treatments include moisturizing wraps and facials. Guests can relax on their own private "island."
- Hammam: Moorish architecture and tiles create this homage to a traditional Turkish "sweat bath," where the five-step detox and cleansing treatment includes steam, massage, exfoliation, soaping and relaxation.
- Rain Forest: Here guests immerse themselves in hydrotherapy that involves a salt water soaking pool, a Monsoon shower, a Vichy shower, scrubs, massage and moisturizing wraps.
- Crystal Temple: Quartz crystals and stones shimmer in the dim light of this twostory-high spa sanctuary where guests indulge in healing crystal, light and aromatherapy treatments that include baths and massages. The Crystal Temple boasts a beautiful ocean view.
- Healing Hut: East meets west in this mountain-view spa sanctuary where guests can enjoy a fusion of the best-known traditional Asian and international healing rituals including Indian Ayurveda, Thai and barefoot Indonesian massages and Chinese reflexology. •
- Ancient Sanctuary: Here guests enjoy treatments incorporating ancient indigenous healing practices and traditional Nicaraguan medicinal plants grown on property.
The 18 hole, par 72 golf course was designed by world-famous Scottish golf architect David McLay Kidd to embrace and preserve the natural landscape and offer golfers of all levels an enjoyable experience. Guacalito Golf Course features a clubhouse; putting green; driving range; state-of-the-art pro shop with rental clubs, shoes and complimentary bag storage; new golf carts; a Golf Academy where golfers can fine tune their skills; and SNAG golf-training games for children.
Set in and around a towering 85-ft.-wide palapa, the Mukul Beach Club is the heart of Mukul, a gathering place where guests can enjoy snacks by the pool, cocktails in the split-level bar and lounge furnished with sumptuous hand-crafted sofas and chairs, and breakfast, lunch and dinner
Family is at the core of Don Carlos Pellas' values, the Mukul Beach Club features a separate area for children. The Kul Kids Club offers a pool, playground and activities specially geared to different age groups. Trained nannies are onsite to supervise children.
The cuisine at Mukul is a fusion of foods from the Americas and authentic Nicaraguan flavors. Much of the produce is grown by local farmers; seafood is selected from the daily catch of local fishermen; steaks are grass-fed Nicaraguan beef, known for its juiciness and intense flavor. The resort's "Cocina NiKul" cuisine includes some of owner Carlos Pellas' favorite traditional Nicaraguan dishes. International specialties such as fresh-made pastas and beef, chicken and fresh fish cooked simply on the wood-fired grill; and contemporary take on Nicaraguan and other Latin specialties. Guests can enjoy "Cocina NiKul" at the following dining outlets on property:
Beach Terrace – outdoor dining on the terrace
Parrilla – dining on the beach
La Mesa – A luxurious dining room where the décor includes mementoes and photographs chronicling the 135-year history of the Pellas family in Nicaragua.
Guests can enjoy vintage rum tastings and Nicaraguan cigars in the intimate Flor de Caña Rum Cellar and walk-in humidor. Hanging from the 52.5 ft. tall ceiling of the palapa is a spectacular chandelier made of 152 baskets, some as large as 12 ft. in diameter.
A staff of Aventura Rangers familiar with the native flora and fauna is on hand to introduce Mukul guests to the rich nature found within Guacalito's 1,670-acre reserve. Guests can learn about the resort's Turtle Watch program, designed to preserve the native endangered Olive Ridley turtles. They are welcome to hike or ride mountain bikes with the rangers, or on their own, on the 12 kilometers of nature trails, home to wildlife including monkeys, sloths, iguanas and tropical birds.
With seventeen impressive surf breaks within a forty-five minute drive, Mukul has positioned itself as a world-class surfing destination. The jewel in her crown is Manzanillo Point, a challenging left-point wave that lies directly in front of the resort's private beach club. Without public road access, outside surfers may only visit by panga. For much of the day, the break often peels off empty except for the handful of fortunate resort guests. Beach breaks in front of the resort are excellent for novices and also peel playfully under the right conditions.
Tropicsurf, the pioneer of luxury surfing, offers full-time surfing guidance at Mukul. Services range from beginner lessons, coaching sessions to master the resort's Manzanillo Point and guided half-day panga or 4WD surfaris along the coast. Guests can enjoy being taken to the best waves and secluded spots, or learn and step up a level under Tropicsurf's unique ten-level coaching plan. Guests also have the option of viewing video or stills footage of themselves in action (subject to availability). Guests may select from Tropicsurf's collection of Firewires, beginner boards and SUPs for rent.
South of Manzanillo Beach, where Mukul is located, the resort boasts four miles of coastline. Guests are encouraged to discover the pristine serenity of Guacalito Beach, a quiet cove where they can enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving around the tiny but rugged Anciana Island. At the southern end of the resort, Tamarindo Beach offers dramatic cliffs, a white-sand beach and a sense of utter privacy. In the near future, an ecosensitive marine dock will be the starting point for whale-watching and fishing excursions, underwater photography and other marine workshops.
Newly available to resort guests in 2015 are two tennis courts, located at the Verdemar Residences at Guacalito de la Isla. Guests can reserve courts through the concierge and complimentary racquets and balls are available upon request. Tennis instruction lessons are also available.
Mukul offers guests access to the "Spirit of Mukul" yacht, a fully-equipped 31-foot, double-engine Pursuit that proves ideal for both inshore and offshore fishing. The wide variety of fish available depends on the season and includes Spanish mackerel, Jack Crevalle, Mahi-Mahi, Red Snapper, Wahoo, Rooster Fish and much more. For the ambitious fishermen in search of big-game fishing, Marlin and Yellow-Fin Tuna are a regular occurrence offshore. Fishing tours are available every day and include gear, bait, radio, drinks, snacks, a certified capitan and mate. For a true ocean-to-table experience, Mukul's chef is happy to cook up guests' very own "Catch of the Day."
Mukul guests have the opportunity to explore Nicaragua beyond the boundaries of the resort. The hotel's concierge can arrange personalized guest experiences that introduce them to the sights and culture of the country and its people. These are not ordinary tourist outings. An excursion to the colorful Spanish Colonial city of Granada might include a visit to the studio of a ceramicist who works with clay from Masaya Volcano to create the custom lamp bases used at Mukul, followed by a private dinner – or even an overnight stay – at the Pellas family's historic Granada mansion.
Another excursion curated exclusively for Mukul guests might be a helicopter ride over Nicaragua's spectacular coastline to Ingenio San Antonio, the Pellas family's legendary Sugar Mill and Sugar Cane Plantation, for a private tour of the Destilería, where the world famous Flor de Caña rum is produced. They might enjoy a personalized bottle of Flor de Caña aged rum with lunch in the Pellas' plantation house. Fishing enthusiasts can enjoy deep-sea fishing in the Pacific from Don Carlos Pellas' yacht, the "Little Sugar," 6 or on overnight stay at his private fishing lodge on the Rio San Juan, where the catch (and release) might be a 150-pound tarpon. Excursions for adventure seekers include a short helicopter flight to Cerro Negro Volcano, where they can experience the thrill of speeding down from the summit on an "ash board." Guests interested in native art can travel by seaplane to the remote Solentiname Islands in Lake Nicaragua, to visit an artists' community known for its primitivist oil paintings and wood carvings.
The Pellas family is committed to responsible travel principles and improving the lives of the people in the community surrounding Mukul, many of whom have been trained for jobs at the resort and provide it with goods and services. Guests are welcome to visit the neighboring fishing village of Gigante, where a number of local beach-side restaurants and small businesses have benefitted from grants and micro loans through the "Don Carlos Pellas Fund for Tourism Excellence" program. In Gigante, guests can enjoy a truly authentic Nicaraguan experience while promoting the wellbeing of the local community. This could include a fishing excursion with one of the local fishermen who provide the resort with its "daily catch." Interested guests might also enjoy a visit to a local farm where vegetables are grown for the resort. The visit could include a typical Nica breakfast with the farmer's family.
At Mukul, Auberge Resorts Collection, the commitment to sustainability runs deep. The hotel was built with the use of rainwater catchments, regional materials, timber from sustainable forests, non-toxic paints and energy-efficient windows. The implementation of a gray-water program is ongoing. Environmental disturbance was minimal; builders replanted more than 1,500 trees – including a one-million pound, 150-year-old Guanacaste rather than cut them down to make room for construction.
Mukul's commitment to sustainability is evident not just in the way it deals with the natural environment, but in the way it deals with the surrounding community. When Carlos Pellas decided to build his dream resort in this remote spot, he chose to hire locals rather than bring in trained staff from elsewhere, so that the hotel would not just be there for the guests' enjoyment, but for the betterment of the community.
Funded by the owners of Mukul and Guacalito de la Isla, Costa Esmeralda Airport – the first Pacific Coast Airport in Nicaragua – began service for international private jets and commercial flights from Managua's Augusto C. Sandino International Airport and Costa Rica's Liberia International Airport in November 2015, offering easier access to Guacalito de la Isla and Mukul and the surrounding areas. The single terminal airport was built on a new site five miles north of Guacalito de la Isla in the department of Rivas – an approximate 10-minute drive from the resort. The 5,000-foot runway will accommodate ATR-42/72, Gulfstream V jets and most turboprop planes. Costa Esmeralda Airport will house a Customs Department and a duty-free shop.
Start at $550 per double per night, including breakfast for two at La Terraza restaurant.
KM 10 Carretera Tola-Las Salinas, Guacalito de la Isla, Nicaragua
About Mukul, Auberge Resorts Collection
Mukul, Auberge Resorts Collection is the first luxury beach resort in Nicaragua, set in Guacalito de la Isla, a 1,670-acre, $250-million low-density, private beach community on Nicaragua's Emerald Coast. The resort was developed by Pellas Development Group, a Luxury Resort and Community Investment, Development and Operating Company founded by Nicaraguan entrepreneur/philanthropist Don Carlos Pellas. Mukul features 37 spacious, beautifully appointed accommodations including 12 one- and two-bedroom Beach Villas and 23 cliff-side Bohios, each with an ocean view, pool and butler. Additional resort amenities include Spa Mukul, with six private spa-treatment sanctuaries; Mukul Beach Club featuring lounge and dining areas, a walk-in cigar humidor, a Flor de Caña tasting room, a swimming pool and the Kul Kids Club; and the 18-hole Guacalito Golf Course designed by renowned golf-course architect David McLay Kidd. Guests enjoy customized activities and experiences that introduce them to the country's sights, culture and people. When the Pellas family is not in residence, guests may book suites within Casona Don Carlos, the Pellas' 20,000 sq. ft. six-bedroom beach compound at Mukul. Rates at Mukul start at $550 per double per night, including breakfast for two at La Terraza restaurant. Mukul is a member of Virtuoso, the Signature Travel Network and Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest global collection of independent luxury hotels.
Media Contacts
Murphy O'Brien Public Relations


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West Bridge
1 Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 945-0221
The West Bridge restaurant is conveniently located right on 1 Kendall Square and provides a taste of traditional American cuisine with classic French techniques for a uniquely delicious dining experience. This slightly pricey spot is best enjoyed by sharing any number of West Bridge's small plate meals, from its well-seasoned salmon to its classically delicious gnocchi, or by heading there a little early to enjoy its more reasonable and affordable lunch menu. No matter what time of day you show up, West Bridge remains a recommended stop in Kendall Square.
Abigail's Restaurant
291 3rd St.
Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 945-9086
Abigail's is a restaurant and catering service that has been a fan favorite in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge for some time now, thanks to an excellent combination of delicious food and friendly, personable service. Traditional dining fare meets forward-thinking ideas here at Abigail's, as pork chops, mussels and steak meet a revolving menu of changing approaches and takes on classic dining fare. The fully stocked bar and brunch options also make Abigail's a place to hit for a hit-the-spot lunch break from the office, or a cool meeting spot on your day off. Either way, check it out!
Hungry Mother
233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 499-0090
Hungry Mother is a name which escapes the lips of many when asked of Kendall Square's hottest, most popular and in-demand restaurants, thanks to this joint's fresh new take on classically traditional southern cooking. Located on Cardinal Medeiros Avenue, Hungry Mother's menu is supremely impressive, and offers up such incredible fare as classic catfish, beef tongue au jus and that quintessential southern beverage…sweet tea. This Hungry Mother doesn't come cheap, however, so bring your wallet as well as your appetite when heading here.
Related: Boston Area's Best BYOB Restaurants
Catalyst Restaurant
300 Technology Square
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-3000
Catalyst Restaurant is a fairly new dining spot to the Kendall Square area, but shares its culinary point of view with West Bridge in that both kitchens share traditional Americana influences with classic French cooking techniques and flavors to create their menus. Catalyst is located right in the hub of Kendall Square on Technology Square and enjoys a spacious, welcoming sit-down area with chic and modern decor to welcome in customers. Meanwhile, menu highlights such as the soft shell crab, blue cod and Tournedos of Beef make Catalyst a place destined to create legions of raving fans in its wake.
Evoo Restaurant
350 3rd St.
Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 661-3866
"Funny name. Great restaurant." – These words will likely be continuously repeated by visitors to this relative newcomer to the Kendall Square dining game. Evoo is shorthand for "Extra Virgin Olive Oil," yet don't think that this quirky joint is all about traditional Italian fare, or anything traditional, in fact, for the Evoo kitchen prides itself on providing deliciously odd culinary twists to its clientele at nearly every turn. Duck and lamb are sure stars of the dinner show here, but it's the dessert menu that takes the proverbial cake, as evidenced by the sage ice cream/apple rhubarb crisp combo, parsnip cake and even tequila ice cream. There's always something unique brewing here at Evoo.
George Pacheco has been writing professionally about arts and entertainment for over a decade. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, George currently resides in a humble New England home with his wife, cat and massive music and film collection. His work can be found at Examiner.com.


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[I was so impressed by Dick Lamm's insights at the ASPO-USA conference in Denver that I made sure to open a dialogue with him. As a result, the former three-term Colorado Governor forwarded me this essay which had been previously published in The Social Contract, TSC Journal (Vol. 9, No. 3; Spring, 1999). If Dick Lamm was thinking this way six years ago, then he's a very useful thinker for us now. When I asked if FTW could republish this essay he replied, "I'd be honored." A short bio of Governor Lamm follows the article. – MCR]
Richard D. Lamm
Copyright 2005, From The Wilderness Publications, www.fromthewilderness.com. All Rights Reserved. May be reprinted, distributed or posted on an Internet web site for non-profit purposes only.
The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement; the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.
— Niels Bohr (1885-1962)
Humankind can seldom resist dividing aspects of life and human events into two opposing positions. "Black or White" or "all or nothing." "Either you're with me or you're against me" is part of our vernacular and thinking.
One has to be careful, of course, not to overuse these stark divisions. Truths overlap, reality is seldom simple and the color of truth is usually gray. But as C.P. Snow has shown us in "Two Cultures," it is still useful to make a point by delineating contrasting viewpoints. Even when the exercise is exaggerated, which it often is, the concept is immensely useful. Like a contrasting agent in radiology, the very starkness helps clarify. We often cannot appreciate the full nuances of a problem without a contrast, often in the form of parables, metaphors, and simplifications.
C.P. Snow in Two Cultures contrasted the differences between the world of science and the world of letters and went on to observe "Between the two a gulf of mutual incomprehension...sometimes hostility and dislike, but most of all lack of understanding."
This same "two cultures" metaphor is useful to spotlight what I consider a new chasm of "mutual incomprehension"---the culture of growth and the culture of limits. Are resources finite or infinite? Can we solve the problems of growth with more growth? Will existing mechanisms and institutions (including capitalism) be sufficient and successful for the next 200 years as they have been for the last 200 years. There is the culture of growth which denies limits and the culture of limits which seeks to adapt to those limits.
Aldo Leopold saw a similar conflict in writing about his "land ethic":
One of the anomalies of modern ecolog(ical thought) is that it is the creation of two groups, each of which seems barely aware of the existence of the other. The one studies the human community, almost as if it were a separate entity, and calls its finding sociology, economics and history. The other studies the plant and animal community and comfortably relegates the hodgepodge of politics to 'liberal arts.' The inevitable fusion of these two lines of thought will, perhaps, constitute the outstanding advance of the present century (Sand County Almanac).
Most of human experience is on the side of both the population and economic growth culture. The world of growth has succeeded brilliantly. It allowed survival in a harsh world. It has brought health, wealth, increased life expectancy, leisure and most important- freedom. Growth has approached the status of a religion. Sociologist Peter Berger points out:
Development is not just a goal of rational action in the economic, political and social spheres. It is also, and very deeply, the focus of redemptive hopes and expectations. In an important sense, development is a religious category. Even for those living on the most precarious margins of existence, development is not just a matter of improved material conditions; it is at least also a vision of redemptive transformation.
But even in our religious fervor, we must ask "can it last?" Is this a sustainable vision? Is this the permanent secret to success for societies?
The other culture believes that for all our genius, we cannot escape ecological limits. This viewpoint holds that we must modify and in some cases reverse mores and cultures that have worked well and under which we have prospered for hundreds of years. They assert that we can delay but not totally avoid the consequences of our infinite demands on a finite earth. They argue that a very fundamental new world has emerged; a set of circumstances which is as important as the industrial or agricultural revolution. It is to change the world of growth into the world of sustainability.
Some would say that this is merely an extension of Snow's two cultures. But the stakes are much higher in the limits/growth dichotomy because they go to the basic assumptions of our civilization. As philosopher Hershell Elliott warns, "We can disagree on the right way to live and use resources, but we cannot avoid the collective consequences of wrong ways". Has economic growth and population growth become more problem than solution? Is the eco-system a hurdle or a barrier? What is our vision of the future and how do we organize the economy and social systems of the future? Can "Yankee ingenuity" and a "can do" culture solve growth related problems as it has solved so many others, or do we have to change our basic operating assumptions and culture?
One of the human dilemmas is that we often see the world not as it is, but as we think it is. Columnist and thinker Walter Lipmann warned: "At the core of every moral code, there is a picture of human nature, a map of the universe and a version of history..." Our economy, our ethical standards, our moral standards depends on the mental map we have of the world. Author Thomas Sowell points out that people have very different visions of how the world works. "Visions are foundations on which theories are built" and Sowell observes that most of us have mental maps of the world in our minds which do much to control our viewpoints. Sowell divides them into "constrained" and "unconstrained."
These visions often arise from fundamentally different premises, says Sowell. Visions are like maps that guide us through the tangle of bewildering complexities. Like maps, visions must leave out many concrete features in order to enable us to focus on a few key paths to our goal. Visions are indispensable, but dangerous — precisely to the extent that we confuse them with reality itself. Visions paint with a broad brush. What has been deliberately neglected in our vision may not turn out to be negligible in its effect on the results.
The great evils of the world (war, poverty and crime) are seen in completely different terms by those with constrained and unconstrained visions. If human options are not inherently constrained, then the presence of such repugnant and disastrous phenomena virtually cry out for explanation — and for solutions. But if the limitation on passions of man himself are at the heart of this painful phenomena, then what requires explanation are the ways in which they have been avoided or minimized (Conflict of Visions).
Are there limits in the physical world, or are those "limits" only limitations of our vision, creativity, technology and ingenuity? Are there limits to human development in the physical world around us, or only in our minds? Can the mental map that Western Civilization has formed in our minds and human expectations be achieved in the physical world we live in? Is the past a guide to the future or a "moral trap" that keeps us from recognizing that we are approaching carrying capacity? Could we end up being victims of our past successes because they have given us the wrong mental map?
Believers in unconstrained visions seek the special causes of war, poverty and crime. Believers in the constrained view seek the special causes of peace, wealth and law-abiding society. In the unconstrained vision, there is no tractable reason for social evils; therefore, no reason they cannot be solved with sufficient moral commitment. In the constrained vision, whatever the artifices or strategies are strained or ameliorated inherent human evils will themselves have cost, some in the form of other social ills created by the civilizing institutions so that all that is possible is a prudent tradeoff (Conflict of Visions).
This reasoning fits perfectly into the dichotomy between the culture of growth and the culture of limits. The jury's still out - neither side can claim victory but the world is presently developing and increasing population and standards of living so the presumption should be with the growth vision. That is not something we should easily give up. The culture of growth has served us well. However it is not the end of the argument for, as Huxley reminds us, "Facts do not cease to exist just because they are ignored."
One of the great challenges of history is to know when a new world or new paradigm has emerged. It is my passionate belief that economic theories cannot be at variance with ecological reality. Our economic system must adapt to our ecological system, or at a minimum our economic system cannot destroy our ecological system. We are, perhaps understandably, blinded by our past successes and those successes make it all the harder to change those policies to meet the new realities. We cannot assume that the practices and policies of the last 100 years will be applicable for the next 100 years. "Success" in societies is not a permanent state but a permanent challenge. Remember Marshall McKuhn's dictum: "Nothing fails like success."
Is additional population growth and economic growth an asset or a liability? Can science delay or avoid the consequences of finiteness (limits)? Is science and technology a cure or could it be part of the disease itself? Is technology and ingenuity a solution or does it buy us some time? The larger eco-system is likely totally indifferent to whether we get the answers to these questions right. Natural ecosystems are never altruistic. Millions have died in the past - the just and the unjust - due to the impact of nature (the ecosystem.)
The assumptions that undergird our whole society incorporate infinite resources. We confidently feel that there are no limits that cannot be overcome. But are these assumptions correct or in error? Public policy and most of our institutions, as presently structured, assumes unlimited resources, infinite wealth creation capacity and no ecological limits. The resulting society is vastly different from a society which assumes environmental and ecological limits.
I think the future can be better planned for by confronting limits to the best of our ability and heed the warning that infinite growth cannot take place in a finite world. The fact that we have been so successful in pushing back those limits does not dissuade me from believing that those limits are real. "All modern day curves lead to disaster" warns former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing. (Population, consumption, environmental destruction). Human civilizations are presently living on the upper shoulders of some incredibly steep geometric curves. We have used more resources since l950 than in the million years preceding l950. We experience more change in a year than our grandparents did in a lifetime. Yesterday's solutions have a nasty habit of become today's problems.
Evidence increasingly shows that something is fundamentally wrong with the growth paradigm. Our globe is warming, our forests are shrinking, our icecaps are melting, our coral is dying, our fisheries are depleting, our deserts are encroaching, our water under more and more demand. I suspect these to be the early warning signs of a world approaching its carrying capacity. We cannot call upon human ingenuity, science and technology to develop new solutions to these new challenges. We must instead change our mental map of the world, our culture and our economy.
I suggest we need not better scientists and technicians but better poets and prophets. We have to modify ourselves and our lifestyles. We are unlikely to be the first species in the world to be exempt from limits.
This writer has been impressed by a scholar named Hershell Elliott who has taken similar reasoning and applied it trying to change all "human centered ethics." Our hubris notwithstanding, he suggests we ultimately must live within a limited and increasingly fragile eco-system. Elliott doubts that growth can ultimately solve growth related problems; we must move to sustainablility. "It is extremely improbable that human ingenuity could devise a system that would be as stable and secure as the one which nature has already designed. The new human system would be unlikely to function for more than a few ticks of geological time."
He questions whether "a priori, human centered ethics" are sustainable in a finite eco-system. He postulates that no ethical system or value system can be valid if it cumulatively destroys the eco-system of which it is a part.
Elliott points out that however laudatory and well meaning in human terms, we can't give priority to humans over every other living thing.
When the man-made biosystem fails because of some ethical misconception about how human beings ought to live in the world, it will be irrelevant that Christians, Muslims and Jews had believed that the true morality was revealed to man in the eternal world of God. It will be beside the point that professionals in ethics and philosophy had used the demands or conscience, the self-evident truths of reason, their theories of justice or the logical inferences from moral language to justify their moral convictions about how human beings ought to live and act.
I fear that Elliott is right. We cannot avoid the collective consequences of wrong ways. The eco-system has little use for our elegantly reasoned ethical systems. To be valid, a thought pattern must be sustainable. "...The fact is that if the practice of a mistaken conception of ethics should ever allow the world's life-support system to break down, nature's experiment with homo-sapiens would be over. "If living by a system of ethics should make human life physically impossible, that ethics is absurd."
We must reconcile our thinking and culture to the ecological system that surrounds us. No matter how attractive and elegantly reasoned is the world built up in our unconstrained vision, it ultimately must fit within the reality of the physical world. As Elliott points out:
The culture of growth which drives the ethical, political, economic thinking in the Western nations, confuses the two domains (mental world and physical world). It assumes the open-ended, infinite expansion which is possible in the mental-cultural domain is also possible in the physical world.
But I fear that it is not. If these fears are valid, the ultimate dichotomy will be between our mental map of the future being largely an extrapolation of the past, and a new mental model requiring profound cultural and economic change to align human activity to the realistic limits of our ecosystem.
Peter Russell in his book Waking Up in Time gives us a powerful metaphor to ponder. Describing a scene from a Zola novel he says:
While a train full of soldiers on the way to war is rushing downhill, the driver and fireman are fighting. The fireman insists on stoking the engine and the driver is trying to stop him. As they tussle, one grabs the other by the throat and together they tumble off the engine, leaving the trainload of drinking and singing soldiers hurtling through the night, totally unaware of what has happened. And there the book ends!
Is humanity on a similar course?
Richard D. Lamm is Co-Director of the Institute for Public Policy Studies at the University of Denver, and the former three-term Governor of Colorado. (1975-1987) He is both a lawyer ( Berkeley, 1961) and a Certified Public Accountant. He joined the faculty of the University of Denver in 1969 and has, except for his years as Governor, been associated with the University ever since.
Lamm has appeared on virtually every national news program, including Buchanan & Press (MSNBC), Larry King Live and Inside Politics (CNN), Today (NBC), Meet the Press (NBC), ABC's Good Morning America, Lehrer NewsHour (PBS), and CBS's Face the Nation. His editorials have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Newsday, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune, as well as in a number of academic and medical journals. While Governor, Lamm wrote or co-authored six books: A California Conspiracy, with Arnold Grossman (St. Martin's Press, 1988); Megatraumas: America in the Year 2000 (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1985), The Immigration Time Bomb: The Fragmenting of America, with Gary Imhoff (Dutton and Company, 1985), 1988, with Arnie Grossman (St. Martin's Press, 1985), Pioneers & Politicians, with Duane A. Smith (Pruett Publishing Company, 1984) and The Angry West, with Michael McCarthy (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982). His latest book is The Brave New World of Healthcare (Fulcrum Publishing, 2003).
Lamm has always been in the forefront of political change. As a first year legislator, he drafted and succeeded in passing the nation's first liberalized abortion law. He was an early leader of the environmental movement, and was President of the First National Conference on Population and The Environment. Reacting to the high cost of campaigning, he walked the state in his campaign for Governor of Colorado. Lamm was elected to three terms as Colorado's top elected official, and in serving as Governor from January 1975 and retiring in January 1987, he was the longest-serving Governor in Colorado's history to that date.
The Institute for Public Policy Studies at the University of Denver comprises the Public Affairs Program (Bachelor's in Public Affairs), the Graduate Program in Public Policy (Master's in Public Policy, MPP), and the Center for Public Policy and Contemporary Issues. In addition to directing the University of Denver's academic policy programs, the Institute for Public Policy Studies contributes to the study and discussion of American society's most critical issues through an active program of conferences, seminars, forums and publications.
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Obviously neither of those were at your disposal, or if they were, they were squandered, because just as Monsters vs. Aliens was a rather short, repetitive attempt to rake in some cash along with the big-screen debut, X-Men Origins
takes a promising concept and runs it into the grounds while upping the difficulty to incredibly frustrating levels and just calls it a day. It sports almost nothing in the way of a worthwhile storyline to link the five agonizingly long levels, and little "extras" like voice acting that were seen in your previous game aren't even here, further making it feel like this was a rote Summer Action Flick: The Game of the Movie.
see deal
X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Uncaged Edition - PC$36.26on Amazon
When it all started out, I was actually pretty excited. The game's Spider-Man: Web of Shadows roots (at least in the engine itself) were readily apparent, and the moves list quickly grew as I sought out little wisps of scent to find unlockables. I thought the process of hanging out around the streaks of gassy color until the bottom screen had an X-Men symbol slooooowly aligning would get more complicated or fun, but it was literally just waiting until the symbol fully formed and then tapping it. Fair enough, though, the combat did seemed interesting, what with being able to juggle enemies, uppercut them into the air to dish out more hurt, rocking a fast/strong series of attacks and even a little dash button.
I quickly found, however, that most of these moves didn't amount to anything but a severe beating when four or five enemies, some of which were shielded, others that had to be knocked down with specific attacks, were on the screen. If I could just get in enough hits to build up my Rage Meter, I could leap out of the fray and then scratch all over the touch screen to hit everyone, which was fun, but almost without fail, another, stronger wave of enemies would come running out. That's not fun, it's frustrating, and it only got worse when I inevitably died and had to endure a lagging checkpoint run back through the same areas.
Maybe it was assumed that because it's Wolverine, and he can heal himself, that tons of cheap enemies that will attack from off-screen or hit you when you're down or juggle you with unblockable attacks would be okay. Thing is, Wolverine doesn't regenerate nearly fast enough, so battles can take his health from full to nil in just a few seconds, and even all the perfectly-timed blocks in the world can't stave off the inevitably trip through the last checkpoint area. It got so I'd just try to sprint through any areas I could until they'd get walled off and I'd have to fight my way out with spazzy little jumping strikes and playing keep-away on the walls.
What's worse is that the combat can be fun when enemies are dogpiling on top of Claws McGee; there's quite a bit of depth to the moveset, and finding and unlocking new movies is, if nothing else, a nicely involved process. But almost none of those moves are used because they just lead to getting pounded from all sides. I just resorted to using jumping hard attack strikes over and over again because it was the only thing that would stun enemies long enough to get my health back up.
Right from the beginning, too, the game showed some nice comic roots. They got Weapon X's escape from his facility (now Alkali Lake according to the big screen mythos), giant helmet 'n all. The characters all sport a kind of exaggerated, cartoony look that feels rather Joe Madueria-esque, and it fits the look of the game, right down to the smoothness of the animations. The problem is, you'll end up spending so much time running through the same areas, doubling back or running through an upper level that they lose some of their punch. The first time I saw a piece of paper flitting down from above during the prison break level, I thought it was cute. The third, fourth and fifth times? Not so much.
The audio isn't quite as entertaining. There's no real voice work, and while the sound effects are solid (everybody needs a good "SNIKT" in their lives), the music tends to just sort of done while you mash buttons. Where's a gravelly-voiced Wolvie adding some punch to him calling everyone "bub?" It just didn't have the kind of aural oomph I was hoping for.
I guess that kind of describes my expectations as a whole with X-Men Origins: Wolverine: I expected oomph, I got something rather tame and repetitive. It's possible some will be able to stomach dying over and over again to get to the end, but the comic book covers and hidden moves weren't enough to take me back through things -- even if they did allow access to earlier areas later on down the line. Nope, this just felt like a quick buck cash-in, and I know Griptonite is better than that.
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X-Men Origins: Wolverine Review


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Today is your last day to vote for Adam Irigoyen for the 2012 ALMA Awards! Head over to ALMAAwards2012.com and cast your vote to help Adam win top prize in the Favorite TV Actor- Supporting Role in a Comedy category.
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This year's show will be hosted by Eva Longoria and George Lopez on September 16, 2012. NBC will be airing the event on Friday, September 21, 2012 at 8 PM ET.
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Immaculate Heart of Mary's Hermitage
Prayer for the Holy Father
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the Rosary)V. Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Benedict.R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and
make him to be blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enenies.Our Father. Hail Mary.V.
Let us pray.R.Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant, Benedict, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct
him, according to Thy loving-kindness, in the way of eternal salvation; that, of thy gift, he may accomplish it with all his
might. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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