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Now he's going to bother me about this case for the next few days.
Thank God college started! :P
Now he's going to bother me about this case for the next few days.
Thank God college started! :P
My Ridiculous Computer Setup
MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Beer, Games, Opinions | CPU Overclocking Thread | GPU Overclocking Thread
It doesn't support Hyper-ATX boards though.
Last edited by Xuvial; 2012-01-26 at 03:42 AM.
My Ridiculous Computer Setup
MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Beer, Games, Opinions | CPU Overclocking Thread | GPU Overclocking Thread
My Ridiculous Computer Setup
MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Beer, Games, Opinions | CPU Overclocking Thread | GPU Overclocking Thread
I actually found a flaw with the legendary MX518, the glossy surface has become slippery after all this time.
As usual Logitech are on the top of their game and addressed that with the G400 (along with a more responsive wheel), which I immediately bought as my MX518 replacement. That mouse was built for me <3
Last edited by Xuvial; 2012-01-26 at 04:25 AM.
On another note, is the G400 as good as the MX518? I've been wanting to have a backup mouse for some time now, a cheap razer mouse isn't gonna do it :P
i7-6700k 4.2GHz | Gigabyte GTX 980 | 16GB Kingston HyperX | Intel 750 Series SSD 400GB | Corsair H100i | Noctua IndustialPPC
ASUS PB298Q 4K | 2x QNIX QH2710 | CM Storm Rapid w/ Reds | Zowie AM | Schiit Stack w/ Sennheiser HD8/Antlion Modmic
Logitech's description:
So yeah, I'm sure the G400 will earn the "tank-like durability" title that the series is known for :P"If you liked the Logitech MX518, you'll love the G400. You get the features you've come to rely on with improvements in precision and speed.
When an ordinary mouse just won't do—a 3600 dpi optical engine, 2X greater dpi than the MX518, gives you precision targeting and pinpoint accuracy."
Last edited by Xuvial; 2012-01-26 at 09:29 AM.
hmmm guess I can join this thread now...
i7 2600k
Asus P8Z68-VLX
Nvidia 560ti GTX 1GB (I know don't roll your eyes too hard)
Steelseries shift Keyboard, Razer Naga (had before this setup, still like it)
For what I require this computer does what I need it to both gaming and workwise. J'adore.
If that graphics card in a year no longer manages what I need it to then I'll have to upgrade but for now it's handling fine, only some minor issues with some of the 3D work I do. And this won't be the main PC I use it on so it's great for working at home on just the modeling.
The only part I wasn't sure about was the motherboard...my computer knowledge would be considered above average but not quite adequate enough to fully piece together the true efficiency of my computer without some outside research.
Oh and I definitely need a new case but for the price I got it I wasn't going to be too picky.
Last edited by Aqua; 2012-01-26 at 10:13 AM.
I have eaten all the popcorn, I left none for anyone else.
i5 2500k
p8z68-v le
16gb ram
1tb hd
hd 6850
challenger case
23inch acer led
Alas, Xuvial, it's far too late to bring up the NZXT Switch 810 now. Besides, I don't like it's exterior appearance particularly. I really do like the case's features though. They're really good. But not gonna change my mind at this stage now. :P
New watercooling stuff is supposed to come within the hour or so now, as I understand it. I'll throw some pictures up again when they appear, I think.
Here's some pics and specs of my New Htpc
Gigabyte H61N-USB3
Intel I3 2105
Corsair LP 2x2gb ddr3
Samsung Bluray combo drive
Apex case w/ Allied 250w psu
OCZ Agility 60GB SSD
Logitech K400r
I put this together several months-->years ago parts cost just over 400$ ssd was reused from another machine.
As for software I'm running Win7 x64 home-->Win8.1 Pro w/ WMC, XBMC, PowerDvd 11 Ultra-->12 Ultra, and I recently picked up a used Ipod Touch 2nd gen--> now using a Logitech K400r to control everything.
Last edited by lockblock; 2014-08-01 at 08:39 PM.
Current Computers: Gaming Rig, HTPC
Some of my Photoshops
---------- Post added 2012-01-26 at 08:06 PM ----------
Student Activities Affair was today at my college and the Computer Club decided I should bring in my rig to sort of show off more or less, and I could leave it overnight tonight since tomorrow we have a LAN party. So here I am in the middle of my tower and monitor with the Linux Club people to the left in the picture.
My Ridiculous Computer Setup
MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Beer, Games, Opinions | CPU Overclocking Thread | GPU Overclocking Thread
Here's my current rig:
Fractal Design R2 Chassis
Seasonic XSeries 760w 80+ Gold
Corsair H60 Watercooler
8GB G.Skill DDR3 Ram
Gigabyte Nvidia GTX460 1Gb OC'd to 820mhz
Intel Sandybridge i5 2500K OC'd to 4.4Ghz
Gigabyte Z68x-UD3H-B3 (rev 1.0) MoBo
Also in pic my 8,2 Macbook Pro
[IMG]http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd497/m2geek/Gaming Rig 2/325755_2486716500289_1623963618_2322040_1763375893_o.jpg[IMG]
[IMG]http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd497/m2geek/Gaming Rig 2/326324_2486717540315_1623963618_2322041_2099586629_o.jpg[IMG]
[IMG]http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd497/m2geek/Gaming Rig 2/331854_2486719020352_1623963618_2322043_825459152_o.jpg[IMG]
[IMG]http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd497/m2geek/Gaming Rig 2/323497_2486719900374_1623963618_2322044_1541728160_o.jpg[IMG]
Infracted. Images with greater than 800px wide needs to be thumbnailed.
Last edited by Marest; 2012-01-26 at 08:33 PM.
Alpha AND Beta for Starcraft2, Heroes of the Storm, Diablo, Hearthstone and Overwatch - But never for World of Warcraft, the game I actually Care about.


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Bally Peska Patent Leather Wedge Pump
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subset: commoncrawl


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Atletico shocked; Inter win
A review of Thursday's Europa League action not involving English clubs, including a shock defeat for Atletico Madrid and a triumph for Inter Milan.
- Related Content
Reigning Europa League champions Atletico Madrid suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Group B rivals Academica in Portugal on Thursday night.
With a win enough to guarantee progression, Atletico turned in a flat performance against the side lying 10th in the Portuguese table, and a goal in each half from Wilson Eduardo gave Academica victory.
While the result is still unlikely to affect the holders' progress to the knockout stages, their status as group winners is now open to question after Viktoria Plzen joined them at the top on nine points.
The in-form Czechs brushed aside hapless Hapoel Tel Aviv 4-0 two goals from Daniel Kolar and one each for David Stipek and Marek Bakos.
Elsewhere Rubin Kazan and Inter Milan booked their respective places in the knock-out stages after securing victories which guaranteed their progress from Group H.
Vladimir Dyadyun's 19th-minute goal gave the Russians a 1-0 win at Neftchi while two second-half strikes from substitute Rodrigo Palacio helped Inter end Partizan's hopes with a 3-1 triumph in Belgrade.
Fredy Guarin also scored for the visitors, while Nemanja Tomic replied for Partizan in injury-time. The group winners are likely to be determined when Rubin face Inter in Russia in a fortnight's time.
Lyon maintained their 100 per cent record and ensured qualification from Group I after beating last year's runners-up Athletic Bilbao 3-2 in Spain.
Bafetimbi Gomis and Yoann Gourcuff put the visitors 2-0 up at the break and despite Ander Herrera and Aritz Aduriz pulling Bilbao level, Alexandre Lacazette grabbed a 63rd-minute winner.
Also in Group I, Sparta Prague all but assured qualification after a 1-1 draw with Ironi Kiryat Shmona in Israel, Leonard Kweuke cancelling out Darko Tasevski's early goal for the hosts.
Two Libor Kozak goals kept Lazio on top of Group J with a 3-0 win over Panathinaikos at the Stadio Olimpico. Sergio Floccari added a 59t- minute third for Vladimir Petkovic's men.
Ukrainians Metalist Kharkiv confirmed their progress from Group K with a 3-1 win over Rosenborg. Taison, Cleiton Xavier and Juan Manuel Torres scored for the hosts with Borek Dockal replying for the Norwegians.
And Bayer Leverkusen will join Metalist in the knockout stages after coasting to a 3-0 win over Rapid Vienna with goals from Jens Hegeler, Andre Schurrle and Manuel Friedrich.
Hannover booked their passage from Group L after a dramatic 3-2 win over Helsingborg, who finished with nine men.
A double from Mame Biram Diouf gave the Germans a comfortable advantage before Nikola Djurdjic and Alejandro Bedoya dragged the score back level.
But the Swedes had Peter Larsson and Walid Atta both sent off in the closing minutes before Szabolcs Huszti struck the winner with an injury-time penalty. Meanwhile, group rivals Twente and Levante drew 0-0 in Holland.
Marco Streller scored an 80th-minute winner as Basle kept their Group G hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Videoton, while group leaders Genk needed an injury-time equaliser from Glynor Plet to rescue a 1-1 draw at Sporting Lisbon, who despite being down to 10 men due to the dismissal of Stijn Schaars had led through a Ricky van Wolfswinkel goal.
Back to the early games and Swiss side Young Boys blew the fate of Group A wide open with a shock 3-2 win over Serie A Udinese in Italy.
Raul Bobadilla opened the scoring for Young Boys in the 27th minute and despite Antonio Di Natale's equaliser, they regained the initiative through Alexander Farnerud and Rapha Nuzzolo.
Diego Fabbrini gave the Italians late hope with an 83rd minute effort but their defeat leaves them stranded at the bottom of the table on four points. Anzhi Makhachkala, who beat Liverpool in Moscow, now top the group by a point, with Liverpool and Young Boys tied second.
Fenerbahce all but guaranteed progression from Group C with a 2-0 win over AEL in Turkey. Dirk Kuyt and Moussa Sow scored the goals while AEL had Edwin Ouon sent off late on.
The Turks' hopes were boosted by a 2-2 draw between Marseille and Borussia Monchengladbach, which leaves the two sides locked together on five points.
Mike Hanke put the Germans ahead before goals from Joey Barton - direct from a corner - and Jordan Ayew turned the game in Marseille's favour. Juan Arango rescued a potentially crucial point in the third minute of stoppage time.
In Group D Bordeaux stay second abehind Newcastle, who drew at Club Brugge, fter David Bellion's 16th minute goal proved enough for them to see off Maritimo 1-0 in France.
Steaua Bucharest kept control of Group E with a 2-1 win at Molde, Alexandru Chipciu and Iasmin Latovlevici netting before Daniel Chima hit a late consolation.
Goals from Vedad Ibsevic and Martin Harnik kept Stuttgart's hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Copenhagen in Denmark.
Edison Cavani scored all four as Napoli beat Group F leaders Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 4-2 in Italy. Artem Fedetskiy and Roman Zozulya replied for the visitors, who remain top.
Also in Group F, AIK gave themselves hope as a Mohamed Bangura goal gave them a 1-0 home win over PSV.
Click here for completely free £10 bet with Sky Bet & £5 free every week


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CROC Classic 1" Infrared Flat Iron
- Overview
- Features
- 1" titanium plates for an effortless glide
- Dual plate technology provides fast heat up and even heat distribution
- Large amounts of infrared heat offers highly efficient, fast acting, non-toxic, and non-allergic properties
- Digital variable temperature settings up to 450ºF
- Tourmaline seals in moisture, adds silky shine, and holds style
- 40-minute auto shut-off safety feature
- Perfect for keratin-treated hair
- 1-year warranty
- About the brand
The CROC 1" Infrared Flat Iron is internationally patented to combine ceramic, tourmaline, titanium and infrared technology. The tri-plate design provides 3x the smoothing power than other irons. The infrared technology allows the heat to penetrate the cortex of the hair while protecting its integrity. The infrared rays also detoxify and deodorize the hair, leaving the cuticle laying more flat and compact. Hair looks shinier and healthier after every use. This is the perfect tool for all hair types and is especially great for coarse or color treated hair.
Croc by Turbo Ion flat irons feature patented safety features and advanced ceramic and ionic technologies for salon quality styling. Croc transforms your style with a host of inventive technologies including the Automatic Temperature Reserve, an energy saving technique that reduces working temperature in between uses and activates when you pick your Croc back up. Get the latest technology for a safe, quick and easy styling.
You May Also Like
#thick hair / #ionic
Create sleek, smooth styles and straightening with the Croc 1 Titanium Flat Iron. Infrared heat and titanium plates style in a single pass.New Price:
Great Until The SmokeI have had my Croc for a few months now. I enjoyed how well it straightened my thick hair. Now, I have broken off spots in my hair. This has never been the case with my hair since it's always been in good condition. The last time I used it something on the inside of it started smoking...I quickly unplugged it. It kept smoking and had a horrible smell to it. I must have a defective one!May 21, 2010KgHAIR TYPEThick or Coarse Hair
Use this link to send this review via e-mail, Twitter, or to post to your blog.Close
Great ProductThis is a great product, I was using the ISO hair straightener in my hair prior and it is about 100 times better, I only had to run it through my hair one time. I've tried GHD, Chi, and many others with not as satisfactory results. My hair is very wavy curly and has a lot of frizz in it. I also have the keratin treatment done to my hair and HIGHLY recommend it, you can buy the bottles on Folica now and do it at home. It was super fast shipping I bought it on the 5th and got it on the 7th!May 8, 2010Crystal
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Best Flat Iron I Have Ever Used!My hair is red/burgundy (been bleached and dyed many times- slightly damaged)... After I would style it on low heat with my other flat iron, it would feel pretty dry... Today I was thrilled to come home from an early workday to see this flat iron had arrived (FAST SHIPPING)... after using it one time i noticed it straightened very fast and I did not have to go over it so many times... No pulling either on my hair... PLUS the best part was I didnt feel like my hair was steaming or too hot to the touch- I definitely could get away with straightening it with less heat than before. My hair felt less damaged - I am amazed. I love this flat iron! Glad i found it after a week of searching for the perfect one!Apr 13, 2010MaleetHAIR TYPEAuburn / Color Treated Hair
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Thrilled!I absolutely LOVE this flat iron; there are almost no words to describe it! I have multi-ethnic 3c hair that can get pretty tangly. When I first tried to straighten a section I had the temperature at 330 degrees, and I was aghast when it hardly straightened it at all! I was so angry, I was cursing and ready to trash it...but then I had an idea! :) TURN UP THE HEAT! When I turned that thing up full blast, it did WONDERS to my hair. Even though I wish I didn't have to use that much heat, it was what my hair type required to get straight. My hair looks amazing! I typically have very frizzy ends after flat ironing because I have a lot of splits. But this thing makes me look like I have no splits at all; it gets it so straight! I straightened with no product and its holding up well thus far. Thank you, Croc 2!Mar 3, 2010AuntiebeanieHAIR TYPEAfrican American / Curly Hair
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Curles And BeyondI have extremely curly hair and have tried plenty of flat irons of wich I have liked I presently own the sedu revolution and amika as well but this one is my fave by far I must admit that I am very happy and my search for the perfect flat iron is over the only thing I wasn't happy about was that it didn't come with a storage pouch other than that I'm very pleasedMar 2, 2010YaniraHAIR TYPECurly Hair
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Great But.......This product is amazing but I do recommend if you have thick hair past your shoulder I seriously recommend the Croc 1.5 inch because the 1 inch is small and it took me longer than expected to finish my hair. I had to exchange for the Croc 1.5 inch. Also, I measured the plates and it falls short of one inch,about 7/8 inch, so buyers beware. I would have gave it 5 stars, but the size of the plates threw me off. As far as quality of product it does give promised results!!Mar 1, 2010K.HAIR TYPEThick or Coarse Hair
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Amazing StraightenerMy hair is colored brown because it is totally gray, therefore it is coarse, but also thick. I have to color it about every two weeks and I straighten it everyday...so it is damaged a lot of the time. I have tried the Sedu and liked it but it has stopped working both times in less than a year, so I went back to the Chi. At Christmas time my Chi quit and someone demenstrated a Cortex at a mall I was at, so I got one of those. I thought I liked it until I kept noticing the smell of burnt hair all the time (not a good smell). My cousin got a croc and loved it. I went on the web site and read the reviews and decided to try the infared croc. I Love it! It straightens perfectly and there is no burnt hair smell, nor have I noticed any damaging effects. I would highly recommend this product.Feb 24, 2010Shari / Plattsburg, MO United States
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Too Pricey For What It Is WorthI have a natural curly hair...I've had Chi for years but it only last me couple years and the cord breaks...so, after reading the reviews on flat irons, I was convinced to get the Croc...I immediately knew that this one is not for me, from 1 stroke onto my hair, I could hear my hair breaking!! I only had the temperature at 380. I got sooo scared that I return it for an exchange the next day! This flat iron is not worth it for what the cost is. I don't recommend it! By the way, the shipping took forever, the whole process of the order took about 2-3 weeks.Feb 23, 2010Cha / Las Vegas, Nevada
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Incredible!! Better Then Any Other!I have used to Croc 2 1 inch wet-dry hair iron several times and loved it. My hair is very long and quite damaged due to flat irons. I ordered this Infrared Croc 2 1 inch and I have never been happier. It works good without the Infrared lights, but when you turn the lights on, you see a change in your hair quality immediately. It becomes so silky like a baby's hair. It's incredible. People who say it burned their hair probably had damp hair OR used products before Ironing when the directions specifically say DO NOT use products on your hair before Ironing. And ofcourse if you have it on 450 degrees your hair iron will cause steam NOT SMOKE while ironing your hair. It's common sense people. THIS IS A MUST HAVE!Feb 17, 2010Faren / Davie,fl US
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Don't Care For The Infrared Flat IronI used the wet/dry croc flat iron for 3yrs before it broke. I just purchased the infrared flat iron and I feel it performs poorly compared to the wet/dry version. I will be returning this iron and reordering the wet/dry version.Feb 7, 2010Lisa / United States
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text:
|Posted by Terry Love on October 02, 1999 at 13:00:00:
|In response to Re: Canadian Toilets - Parts in USA or the "new" cadet
: : : I am wondering if I buy 3.5 gallon toilets (american standard) in Canada whether I will have trouble getting parts so that service will always be a pain?
: : The Canadian American Standard, is most likely produced in the US. Parts should be no problem. They really don't flush any better than the "new" cadet which is a legal 1.6 toilet. Seems like a lot of extra work to me to install old technology. I have had one of the new cadets in my home for two months now. I prefer it to the old 3.5 Terry
: when you say new cadet, which do you mean? There are a few cadet model numbers, at least one of which has power assist flush. Thanks
Cadet EL Toilet, 2898.012 Gravity
|Replies to this post


text: Nice to meet you love boys and girls! Here at Audiko we offer you to download love ringtones for free. Having the largest database of free ringtones in all possible music styles including love with all its variations including Pop, R&B, Country and many more! Here are tremendous bands and artists of the love genre of music including the most well-known stars such as serdar, pirate as well as Потап & Настя Каменских or Neon Genesis Evangelion. In such a way, we have all love ringtones for iPhone and mobile for your ringer. Currently everyone listens to the hottest hits such as Addicted to You by Avicii and Wrecking Ball by Miley cyrus and downloads them to their phones. Here you can find any love ringtone to download in a couple of seconds! You can simply download love ringtones to your phone from Elliot Yamin, Yiruma - First Love, Pimentas do Reino, Ronnie Lewis Jr and Jerk It Out or search for your favorite artist or band within Audiko's free ringtone database. Be sure you will find one you need.


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Looking for a jaw dropping, heart racing experience? Try Grafton's newest attraction – a zip line that affords those brave enough a stunning river view and hours of fun. The nine zip lines total 1.75 miles, which should take approximately two hours to complete. The first of nine zip lines is nicknamed the Baby Bear – the shortest measuring only 300 feet in length. The longest, at 2,000 feet, is the Soaring Eagle, which has breathtaking views during its 250-foot descent. The Deer Hollow (3rd zip) and the Barn Burner (the final zip) are both 1,500 feet. The Limestone Leap (7th zip) is 1,300 feet, the River Run (5th zip) is 1,200 feet, the Gobblers Knob (6th zip) is 1,000 feet and the Road Runner (2nd zip) at 700 feet.
The town of Arthur is located in the heart of Amish country, home to more than 2,000 Amish residents and hundreds of charming countryside businesses, Illinois' Amish Country offers shopping, dining, special events and guided educational tours (some of which feature meals in actual Amish homes).
Take a sightseeing or theme cruise on the Spirit of Peoria, an old-fashioned replica of a 19th-century riverboat that docks at the Peoria RiverFront. Join a one- to five-day overnight excursion to Starved Rock State Park or the St. Louis riverfront and be entertained by live ragtime piano and banjo music, as well as a storyteller sharing river lore, while the Spirit of Peoria paddles along the Illinois River. Stay the night at Starved Rock Lodge and see a show by a Mark Twain interpreter who brings the iconic author to life.
Join us on Chicago's #1 architecture tour! Only the Chicago Architecture Foundation and Chicago's First Lady Cruises can showcase Chicago's world renowned city architecture with style, class and comfort. Learn about the architecture and design of over 50 buildings as described by CAF-certified Volunteer Docents/Guides. Don't settle for imitations, look for the CAF logo. Cruises depart daily. Open-air and air-conditioned seating is available. Full Service Bar onboard each vessel. Cruising April - November. Visit our website for full schedule. For a truly unique CAF Cruise experience, join us for our specialty river cruise experiences, including: Capture Chicago Photography Cruise, summer Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9am; Twilight Cruise, summer Thursday, Friday and Sunday evenings at 7:30pm; American Girl Dinner + River Cruise, select summer afternoon and evenings. For more information, visit www.cruisechicago.com/architecture_tours and view our "NEW for 2014" tab.
Based on the book Haunted Alton by Troy Taylor, Alton Hauntings Tours offers an entertaining and spine-tingling trip into the unknown, taking visitors to the most authentic haunted places in Alton. Uncover the eerie folklore, ghostly tales and documented haunted spots on a three-hour walking tour of the city's most haunted sites. Visitors will see sites that have become nationally known, like the old Alton penitentiary, First Unitarian Church, Enos Sanitarium and many others. The tours have been proven to be popular with ghost enthusiasts and history buffs alike, and nowhere else can you learn as much about the real, haunted history of Alton. Walking tours and bus tours are offered during two touring seasons – Spring & Summer and the Haunted Fall Season. Private tours are also available for groups of 20 or more. Reservations must be made in advance for all tours.
Navy Pier's resident 148-foot, four-masted schooner pays tribute to the Great Lakes' rich maritime heritage during a variety of cruises each day.
Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co.
We operate Chicago's premier Hop On Hop Off ® city sightseeing tours in the classic red & green Trolleys and fun-filled Double Decker buses. We also offer private group transportation for special events such as weddings, parties, and corporate outings. For 19 years the Hop On Hop Off® sightseeing tour has been the gold standard for entertaining and informative tours. Covering 13 miles and 14 stops, the Signature Tour is an eye-popping adventure through the heart of Chicago, giving you the option of Hopping On and Off at your choice of stops to visit the hottest retail, cultural, and family attractions. Summer tours include neighborhood tours and night tours.
Looking for that perfect daring escape for you, your friends or family? Zip Chicago Canopy Tours provides an experience you will not soon forget. It will create memories that last a life time. The tour is completely guided and contains no motorized machines for propulsion. All you have to do is enjoy your flight! Our guests can reach speeds of up to 45 mph. The platforms and suspension bridges are surrounded by an assortment of native trees. Check out our different tours to see which adventure is the right one for you!
Old State Capitol State Historic Site
The Old State Capitol is a reconstruction of Illinois' fifth statehouse, the first to be located in Springfield. It is here that Lincoln practiced law, served as a legislator and gave his famed House Divided speech on slavery in 1858. The building served as the seat of state government and a center of Illinois political life from 1839-1876. The current State Capitol Building is the center of state government, where visitors can watch Illinois politics in action when the legislature is in session. Open 7 days a week.
View over 40 outdoor interpretive exhibits placed throughout the downtown area to experience Springfield as Abraham Lincoln knew it. Each exhibit is intended to capture a moment in time for Lincoln and how he was affected by the people, places and events he encountered in his hometown. Each story is accompanied by graphics or photographs and a medallion that is symbolic of that particular story. Visitors are encouraged to collect rubbings of each medallion.
Chicago Music Tour, Inc. specializes in guided bus tours of Chicago music history, including jazz, rock, blues, classical & soul. Tours feature a soundtrack of songs for each sight or stop. Open since 2011, the tours have received widespread acclaim. Tours include the Chicago Bound Blues Tour, Chicago Rocks 1980-2005, The Chicago Music Tour, Raised in Chicago Jazz Tour, Michigan Avenue Serenade Soul Tour, & Chicago Rock Stars tour. Tours run on weekends, but are available for private events.
J.E. Robinson Underground Railroad Tours
In the early 1800s, Alton became a safe haven for slaves escaping from the bonds of slavery. Because of the area's neighboring slave state of Missouri, runaways found refuge in the free land surrounding Alton. The tunnels of the Underground Railroad run deep beneath the streets along the "Alton Route." The area was a major stop along the Underground Railroad, hiding slaves in caves, barns and basements throughout Alton, Otterville and Jerseyville. Hear the slave's tales, feel their fear and learn about Alton's remarkable past on an Underground Railroad Tour. Tours available by appointment only.
Tuscan Hills Winery, recently opened in 2011, is on Historic Hills Drive, directly behind the Harley Barn. This winery is located on eight picturesque acres which helps bring an Old World Tuscan feel to the heart of Effingham. The owners are focused on creating elegant, approachable, and perfectly balanced wines of the highest quality. Wine tastings, along with space available for reservations makes this a must stop for group tours. Tuscan Hills Winery wants you to "Come as our guest, but leave as our friends." We welcome you to plan your next event at Tuscan Hills Winery - whether it's a beautiful wedding in our vineyard or book the space for your next meeting.
The Chicago Pedway Tour will lead you through the Pedway, the backdrop for an amusing and enlightening tour of some of the hot-spots (or a least warm-spots) of downtown Chicago. The tour focuses on interesting anecdotes and tales about some of the great buildings downtown, but it's also a study of the city underneath the city. The Pedway is a strange and wonderful place and adds so much to the city's personality. These are great tours for Chicagoans who want to learn more about the city and for tourists who want a full Chicago experience without ever going outside. The tour is 90 minutes and is $20. Monday/Thursday/Saturday at 10:30 am. Please note: the start location for the Monday and Thursday tour is at 40 W. Lake St. in the "Gallery of Shops." The start location for the Saturday tour is at start at Block 37 – 108 N. State St.
Mississippi Explorer Cruises at Chestnut Mountain Resort
Jump aboard Mississippi Explorer's latest 1.5-hour cruise. Experience the magical splendor of Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge.
Amish Country Tours with ACM Tours
ACM Tours is a full service, receptive tour guide company with many special services available at no additional cost. We literally open the door to fabulous Illinois Amish Country! We are ready to assist you with meals, attractions, lodging and step on guide service. We have available trained, professional, local step-on guides who are well versed in the history, customs and folklore of this most unique part of Illinois.
Get the best view of Alton and the Mississippi River from eight stories in the air atop the Melvin Price Locks & Dam. Take a free guided tour and see towboats and barges as they push their way through this incredible structure. It's also a great spot to eagle watch in the winter.
Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline
Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline offers 90-minute tours for the whole family that include lake and river cruises, fireworks cruises, canine cruises and night cruises all departing from the landscaped dock on Chicago's Riverwalk at the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Cruising season May - October.
Chicago Architecture Foundation
The Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) is a nonprofit organization with tours, exhibitions, programs and events for all ages. Visit CAF on Michigan Avenue to view our 1,000-building scale model of Chicago, shop in our award-winning store or participate in a fun LEGO® building event in our ArcelorMittal Design Studio. Choose from 85 tours by boat, walking, bus, or even L train, including the CAF River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady Cruises. Tours depart daily and are led by CAF's expert docent guides. Every fall, check out CAF's free annual Open House Chicago festival. Private tours and group tour rates available. Open daily 9am to 9pm. Learn more at architecture.org
Bald Eagle Watching in the Cache River Wetlands
The Cache River Wetlands offers great opportunities for eagle watching, as well as spotting other birds. The Cache River Wetland Center provides resource and identification materials to help you spot eagles and other birds in the area and along the rivers. They will provide maps and directions to the viewing station for the nest just off Illinois Route 37 off Perks road and south of the visitor's center.
Japan House offers the public an opportunity to learn about traditional Japanese culture through tea ceremonies, workshops and special events through the year. The beautiful Japan House gardens are open from dawn to dusk for you to stroll through and enjoy. The Japan House closes during the summer. Call for information on tea ceremonies and tours.
Absolutely Chicago Segway Tours
Try a segway tour, where you'll enjoy fantastic views of Chicago's famous attractions. Explore Chicago by day or night with friendly tour guides.
Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field Tours
Get an insider's look at this historic American landmark that has enchanted baseball fans for almost a century. Each 90-minute guided tour shows guests the clubhouses, bleachers, press box, dugout, field, and more.
Chicago River Architecture Tour - Wendella Sightseeing Boats
The Chicago River Architecture Tour is a 60-minute journey through the heart of the city. Led by an architectural expert, this in-depth tour traces the history and innovations of urban architecture in Chicago.
Spirits of Bloomington Historic Ghost Tours
The Spirits of Bloomington Historic Ghost Tours feature guides dressed as President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln who reveal fascinating tales, myths and paranormal accounts of McLean County.
Peoria area's only Segway tour and Quadracycle bike rental experience. Offering 30-minute, 1-hour, and 2-hour Segway tours as well as 30-minute Quadracycle bike rides. Gliding with World On Wheels is as fun as it gets. Use them for individual riding or corporate events. Open March thru November, weather permitting. Feel free to call for an appointment. Easy riding for all age levels.
Take the 3-hour food tasting and cultural walking Chicago tours, which combine delicious food and drink tastings with some serious fun in Chicago's most delicious, off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods. Suitable for all age groups and fitness levels, you'll experience delectable foods from one-of-a-kind specialty food stores and ethnic eateries while receiving an insiders view into the culture, history and architecture that defines the Windy City. Walk away with new culinary perspectives, big smiles, satisfied taste buds and the confidence to continue exploring the areas where locals live.
"Lincoln: History to Hollywood," an exhibition of sets, costumes and props from the Steven Spielberg's Academy Award-winning film "Lincoln," has opened at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum complex, located in downtown Springfield, Illinois. Items of note in the exhibit include Lincoln's office set, a vignette of Mary Lincoln's bedroom, Lincoln's gloves, Tad Lincoln's tin soldiers, and the rocking chair where President Lincoln sat with Tad. Most of the furniture pieces in the exhibit are antiques from the Civil War era, not reproductions. The exhibits are on long-term loan from Spielberg and DreamWorks Studio. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum features more than 40,000 square feet of galleries, theatres and historic displays that takes visitors on a journey from Lincoln's humble beginnings through his Presidency. The "Lincoln: History to Hollywood" exhibit will be located in Union Station, across the street from the presidential museum.
Epiphany Farms Restaurant is committed to supporting, growing, and showcasing a thriving local food culture. We serve as an anchor for a network of local food producers by increasing community awareness of locally sourced ingredients, increasing interest in the culinary traditions of the Midwest, and providing a positive model for responsible stewardship of the land that nourishes us. Their "Farm to Fork" concept represents a concern for every step of the process linking the meal to the land that produced it. "Farm to Fork" means keeping money in the local economy and using only what the community can provide. It signifies attention to excellence: from the farmer raising the crops to the family sitting down in our dining room to share a meal together.
Beall Mansion - An Elegant Bed & Breakfast Inn
Indulge yourself at the Beall Mansion, a sumptuous Bed and Breakfast Inn located 12 blocks from the Mississippi River. Designed by Lucas Pfeiffenberger and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this elegant mansion features 18 ionic columns, eleven and a half foot ceilings, crystal chandeliers and marble and bronze statuary throughout. Let us pamper you with sumptuous feather beds, whirlpools for two, 24 hour "all you can eat" chocolate buffet, and optional gourmet breakfast in bed. Free Wi-fi. In room massage, spa, golf and corporate packages available.
Springfield & Central Illinois African American History Museum
The Mission of the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum is to identify, research, collect, catalogue, restore, house, maintain and interpret documents and artifacts relating to and chronicling the history and legacy of African Americans in Springfield and Central Illinois. The Museum will provide research opportunities, educational programming and interpretive services for historians, authors, educators, and others interested in the lives and legacies of African Americans in Central Illinois.
Amish Adventures & Stellar Tours, Inc
Amish Adventures will give you an up close and personal tour of the Illinois Amish culture and religion as you travel back in time along our quaint country roads with our professional and informed tour guide. To help our visitors learn more about the Amish culture, we offer a variety of tours that are customized to fit your itinerary. Tours of Amish homes, Amish farms, Amish woodworker's shop, a meal in an Amish home and a Step-on Guided Tour of the Amish countryside!
Take a journey on the Illinois Lincoln Highway, a 179 mile National Scenic Byway. From the Indiana border, west toward the mighty MIssissippi, you will find an adventure filled with variety, rich in history and heritage. As you travel the Lincoln Highway route across northern Illinois, take time to discover each communities' unique culture and special offerings and find a past era woven together with the present.
These half-day bus excursions celebrate the history, stories, traditions, and most importantly, the people of our great city. Tours departing weekly from the Chicago Cultural Center. Explore Chicago's neighborhoods with local tour guides. All tours are conducted by motorcoach and by foot, and depart from the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 East Randolph Street. Check in at 9:30 am in the main seating area behind the Randolph Cafe. Unless otherwise specified, tours do not include lunch or refreshments. All tours are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors/students/children, with the exception of Taste of the Neighborhoods ($50/$45). Cash and major credit cards are accepted. Chicago Neighborhood Tours is presented by the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture.
Showcasing classic and one-of-a-kind Corvettes and memorabilia, My Garage Museum is a must-see attraction for any car enthusiast. Corvettes on display include Indy pace cars, racing machines, the last C-4 and the first 21st century model.
Explore Chicago with a friendly, knowledgeable Chicago Greeter as your guide! Visitors can register for a free 2-4 hour guided walking tour of a neighborhood or special local interest of their choice. This free service matches an individual, family or small group of friends with one of over 200 enthusiastic volunteer Greeters who love sharing their expertise and passion about the city and all there is to see and do here. For more information, visit http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/tours/tourism/chicago_greeter_tours.html.
Danville Dans at Historic Danville Stadium
Built in 1946 as part of the Brooklyn Dodgers farm system, during the summer the field is home to the Danville Dans, a college summer wooden bat team. This NCAA-sanctioned, Major League-sponsored wooden bat collegiate league plays at Danville Stadium.
Whether you're interested in science or just fishing in the ponds near the buffalo herd you're welcome at Fermilab. Take a self-guided tour of the laboratory, the Art Gallery and science and educational displays. View the grounds from the 15th floor observation area. Visitors may also visit the Lederman Science Center. Performing arts and lectures. Groups welcome by appointment. Public tours are offered every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and as part of the Ask-a-Scientist event on the first Sunday of each month.
John Deere Harvester Works Combine Factory Tours
Tour Deere & Companies largest combine factory and Visitors Center. Minimum age 13, closed toe shoes required, tours subject to availability and factory production schedules. Watch combines made from beginning to end. Watch them dipped in the famous green paint and watch workers and machines create these amazing agricultural machines. To Schedule a tour call 800-765-9588. Tours are Monday through Friday at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. by appointment. Tours are guided and take place aboard motorized vehicles.
CITY:East Moline
Bobby's Bike Hike Chicago Tours
Tour Chicago on a cool cruiser-style bicycle and follow a guide who makes brief stops at the most popular sights, providing light-hearted commentary that will keep you entertained. Some fun rides include the Lakefront Neighborhoods Tour, Bikes, Bites and Brews Tour, and the Southside Gangster Tour.
Just minutes away from the city but a world away, Ballard Nature Center is home to dozens of species of birds and wildlife. Natural prairie, wetlands, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, ponds and creeks round out the outdoor experience.
Take an eight-block tour of some of the haunted locations in downtown Alton, investigate the four floors of the Mineral Springs Hotel, be part of a seance and top the evening off with a tarot card reading. All tours begin and end at the Mineral Springs Mall. Tour options include New Moon Haunted Tours, Waking the Dead Walking Tours, Cemetery Tours and Haunted Overnights.
Mercury's Urban Adventure Cruise
Immerse yourself in Chicago's rich history with a live commentated, family-friendly 90-minute tour cruising the Chicago River and Lake Michigan aboard Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline. Learn fun facts and hear fascinating tales as you cruise amongst the city's famous architectural giants. Capture incredible photos as only can be experienced from the unique vantage point of the Chicago River, and marvel at incredible skyline views from the expansive waters of Lake Michigan. Cruises depart daily, May through October.
In operation since 1850, the farm features a blacksmith shop and Clydesdale horses. Chuck wagon cookouts are available.
Architecture River Tour with Shoreline Sightseeing
Enjoy a 75-minute Chicago River tour led by our experienced and entertaining guides. Discover why Chicago is known as the birthplace of the skyscraper as you cruise by more than 40 world-famous landmarks. Day and evening departures from two convenient locations: Gateway Park at Navy Pier and the Michigan Avenue Bridge.
See the beauty of the Mississippi from the deck of a real, old-time riverboat. Relax, unwind and recharge!
CITY:Scales Mound
The 3000 acre park includes a seven mile backpack trail among its 15 miles of trail system. Boats and canoes are available for rental in season, and seven lakes are available for fishing. Hunting of pheasant, rabbit, squirrel, dove, waterfowl, goose, mushrooms, turkey, and deer is permitted (Illinois and Vermilion County Conservation District regulations apply).
Climb aboard the Trolley, sit back and relax as we bring the history of historic Petersburg Illinois and the surrounding area to you. We will take you past several points of interest along your journey back in history. Petersburg is rich in Victorian Homes, most of which were built in the 1860's and 1870's. During your journey into history, you will be entertained by points of interest along the way. We will stop for a short while in downtown Petersburg. At this time, you may choose to disembark and enjoy the downtown area on foot. There are a variety of shops and eateries to wander through. Don't worry, the trolley will return to pick you up. Your ticket includes a round trip back to Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site. The Trolley runs on an hourly schedule. Consult with your conductor as to the return pick up times as well as the time of the last trolley of the day. Charter Available.
Wendella's Signature Lake & River Tour
The journey begins with an up-close perspective of Chicago's internationally-known architecture as seen from the Chicago River. Then venture through the Chicago Lock on to the calm, cool waters of Lake Michigan for expansive views of Chicago's extraordinary 26-mile skyline.
Located in Rosiclare City Park, the River Walk offers great views of the Ohio River. The walk is handicapped accessible with benches for those who want to rest and enjoy the view.
Visitor information, canal exhibits/programs, canal boat tickets, cafe, gift shop, great bathrooms, free Wi-Fi. Private meeting room/facility/canal boat rentals. At western terminus of I&M Canal.
Chicago Savvy Tours specializes in architectural and historical tours of Chicago, and offers a variety of services for both private and group tours.
University of Illinois Champaign Urbana
The University of Illinois is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement. It's distinguished by the breadth of their programs, broad academic excellence and internationally renowned faculty. This Big Ten school offers rich experiences beyond the classroom from the best in performing arts to world-class sports. Discover the scenic campus through tours of the historic buildings and those that are pushing the envelope in technology.
The TREC trail system is a public trail designed to create recreational opportunities. The trails provide a great place for visitors to exercise, whether its walking, riding bikes, or roller blading. The mission is to develop a countrywide, multi-use trail system, educate the communities on the benefits of the trails, and promote an active lifestyle by providing recreational activities.
Illinois Waterway Visitor Center
View Starved Rock Lock & Dam. Enjoy interacting with towboat Pilot House. Learn Illinois River's unique history and watch wildlife (bald eagles in winter).
Provides tours in nine languages. Each tour comes with a chauffeur, expert guide, and luxury vehicle. Group tours available.
A self-guided driving tour that celebrates the hometown values and heritage of our 40th President.
Open 7 days a week to service the traveling public. The Ottawa Visitors Center is your one stop shop for information on the Starved Rock Areas special events, lodging, and outdoor activities. Stroll our turn-of-the-century Old Town with its lush walkways, boutique shops and unique restaurants. Stop here for your "Scenic Route to the Rock."
Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area
A pool of clear bubbling water which sparkles like silver on sunny days provides the basis for the name of Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area. Even on extremely cold days, this pool does not freeze, and visitors marvel at the bordering beds of watercress. Majestic oaks and prairie grasslands provide a panorama of natural beauty to park visitors. The Fox River runs through this picturesque area which is also home to several small manmade lakes. A natural prairie restoration project gives visitors a feeling of the original landscape with native wildflowers, songbirds, waterfowl and upland game. Picnicking, fishing and hiking are popular pastimes in summer, with ice fishing, sledding, ice skating and cross-country ski trails available for the winter sports lover. For relaxing, exercising or just enjoying nature, Silver Springs is the perfect get away location.
Chicagoland's first guided Segway tour provides an informative ride with unique and fascinating Chicago stories, fantastic photo ops and the chance to ride the coolest machine in the world.
Chicago's only Segway-authorized touring company has locations at Navy Pier and Michigan Avenue, plus certified tour docents who will ensure a memorable, safe experience.
Walking tour with researched, authentic stories about Galena's ghostly past & present. Mix of history and mystery.
For a whole new way to experience Chicago, get out on the water with Spirit of Chicago. Come aboard for a fun, energetic cruise experience you won't forget. You'll enjoy delicious food and drink, friendly service and great entertainment with Chicago's sparkling skyline as your backdrop. Join Spirit for a lunch, dinner or special event cruise, or consider Spirit for your next group event.
Explore Chicago's lakefront, museums and parks on a three-hour Segway tour led by guides all year round. Steve's Segway Tours was started by a tour guide, is owned by a tour guide, and is managed by tour guides. Why is this so important? Because only a tour guide truly understands that great tour guides put their heart and soul into each tour.
MetroWalkz Self-Guided Walking Tours
Discover Chicago at your pace, on your schedule! Explore the city's most popular destinations with MetroWalkz Self-Guided Walking Tours. Designed specifically for your mobile device, each of our free, fun and informative tours contain easy-to-use maps and insider narratives, making sightseeing a breeze. Current tours include The Magnificent Mile, Loop Architecture, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Museum Campus, Grant Park, Chinatown, Old Town, Gold Coast and the West Loop. Chicago is known as a city of neighborhoods, and it is best seen on foot. To take our FREE self-guided walking tours, just open your mobile browser and go to www.evisitorguide.com/chicago, then "Tours" > "MetroWalkz". To get the most out of your Chicago visit, use eVisitorGuide's other features including information on museums, attractions, dining, nightlife, shopping, theater and much more. With eVisitorGuide and MetroWalkz, everything you need to discover Chicago is in the palm of your hand!
Prairie Aviation Museum has displays, static aircraft, education programs, air shows, group tours, and special aviation events for over 30 years. As an aviation and space museum, we honor military and civilian aviation. While visitors are quick to notice our displays, we love to tell the stories of the men and women who have contributed to the creation, development, expansion, and promise of aviation and space exploration. We are a family friendly museum, where visitors of all ages can touch our displays and static aircraft and visit with members who flew and maintained the aircraft in the Air Park. We love to hear visitor's stories about experiences that they and/or members of their family have had related to aviation and space.
Watson Adventure Scavenger Hunts
Explore museums, historic neighborhoods and more while hunting for answers to tricky, humorous questions. Monthly hunts are offered for the public and private groups.
Experience history and culture through educated commentary and multimedia on iPads while exploring stories and places even locals don't know about. Highly trained guides share forgotten stories from the past on regularly scheduled tours.
Heart of Oak Park Walking Tour
See the evolution of architecture, from early Victorian to Art Deco, on this self-guided tour. Combination tickets include admission to Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple, Ernest Hemingway's Birthplace and Museum, and Pleasant Home.
CITY:Oak Park
Galena's only ADA-compliant and climate-controlled trolley service! Daily narrated tours, May-October. Unique group tours, wedding transportation offered year-round.
Chicago at Sunset Tour - Wendella Sightseeing Boats
The setting sun gives way to the city's nightly light show as each building begins to shine. For two hours you'll be treated to what's been called the world's most beautiful skyline.
Boone County Conservation District
The Boone County Conservation District manages over 3,00 acres of prairies, woodlands and wetlands in scenic Boone County, Illinois. Minimum impact recreational opportunities, special events and educational programs are offered to the public throughout the year.
Amelia's Galena Ghost Tours, Inc.
Nightly ghost tours on a luxury air-conditioned shuttle bus with a theatrical flair exploring several locations in historically haunted Galena.
Let Noble Horse make your day or evening special. See the city from a lovely antique horse carriage ride. Noble Horse Carriages are available at 2 locations: Michigan Avenue: 820 N. Michigan Avenue, the corner of Michigan Avenue and Chicago Avenue and Old Town: 1410 N. Orleans Street, the corner of Schiller and Orleans.
Twin Groves Wind Farm features 240 turbines across 22,000 acres of land. The wind farm generates 396 megawatts of affordable, pollution-free wind energy, which is enough to meet the annual energy needs of about 120,000 homes. Learn more about this exciting new facility with a guided tour which begins at the Twin Groves Lookout Visitor Center.
My Kind of Town Tours & Events
This company offers group cultural and educational tours. Reservations are required.
CITY:Highland Park
Rent a bike and ride along the city's breathtaking Lakefront Trail with a guide from Bike Chicago, or pick up a free map and take your own self-guided tour. The section of the bike path that winds along North Avenue Beach.
Mies van der Rohe Society Tours
The Illinois Institute of Technology's Mies van der Rohe Society offers dynamic tours of its architecturallly significant campus. Architects Mies, Koolhaas and Jahn are all represented here.
Abe Lincoln's Talking House Driving Tour
Tune your vehicle's radio to 1650 AM or 1620 AM and listen to the history behind 14 homes in Pittsfield that have a connection to Abe Lincoln. Front yard signs also explain each home's historical significance.
Bicycle/Hiking Trails - Aurora
More than 35 miles of scenic trails, from Aurora to Crystal Lake, pass through scenic landscapes. Active travelers enjoy biking, hiking, jogging and cross-country skiing. Nature-seekers enjoy bird watching and tranquil vegetation. Routes include the Fox River, Virgil Gilman and Red Oak Trails, and the Illinois Prairie Path.
Take a walk through Riverside's history by spending the afternoon with the Frederick Law Olmsted Society, your guide to learning more about the village's unique community and landscape design. Riverside was designed in 1869 by famous landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.
This historical tour of Old Main at the Knox College campus includes stories about the Lincoln-Douglas debate held at Old Main, the sole remaining original site of the famed political debates.
Galena/Jo Daviess County Historical Society
A qualified museum guide will board your group's motorcoach and take you through Galena, with stops that can include the Galena/Jo Daviess History Museum, Ulysses S. Grant Home and Old Market House.
The Obama family home is a lovely red brick manse located on a tree-lined street in the historic Kenwood neighborhood, near the University of Chicago. Tour the area's points of interest with a local volunteer from Chicago Greeter, a free service offered by the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture.
Within this breathtaking monument lie the remains of Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of their four sons – located in the country's second most visited cemetery behind only Arlington National Cemetery.
Your personal stylist will bring you to the most unique boutiques that you won't find in any other city. Tours include a personal shopping stylist and perks like local treats and drinks, and discounts and gift certificates from the hottest boutiques.
Carl Sandburg State Historic Site
Author-poet Carl Sandburg was born in the the three-room cottage at 331 E. Third Street in Galesburg on January 6, 1878. The modest house relfects the typcial living conditions of a late-nineteenth-century working-class family and features many furnishings that once belonged to the Sandburg family. Behind the home stands a small wooded park which features the Quotation Walk, a celebration of the Prairie Poet's work and words. It is in this tranquil setting that the ashes of Carl Sandburg and his wife Lilian were liad to rest beneath Remberance Rock.
This bus tour allows visitors to sample four types of Chicago pizza: thin crust, deep dish, stuffed and Neopolitan. Learn about and see Chicago one slice at a time.
Take a self-guided tour of Aurora's historic downtown. Tour brochures are available at the Aurora Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
Guests have the opportunity to rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats to explore the rivers and lakes at Kickapoo State Park. Canoe and kayak trips (8 or 13 mile) are offered or rentals can be done by the hour. Following your adventure, guests can grab a bite to eat at the on-site Dockside Cafe which offers live music throughout the summer.
O'Leary's Chicago Fire Truck Tours
Board a genuine open-air antique fire truck and take a tour that focuses on the Chicago FIre, and stops at two Chicago fire stations. Reservations required.
Discover Geneva's historic districts - from the refurbished downtown storefronts to the dozens of treasured Third Street Victorian homes that now house over 100 unique specialty shops and quaint eateries.
Pioneer artisan and craftsman demonstration, historic building tours, kids activities, craft vendors, with food and refreshments. Enjoy period music and audience participation entertainment throughout the weekend in an 1820's pioneer village.
CITY:Pleasant Plains
This horse-drawn carriage service is available for scenic tours, weddings and other occasions. Equipped for all seasons. Evening rides in downtown Peoria Fridays and Saturdays during April through mid-October. Thursday through Saturday rides during June through August. Pick-up points at Hotel Pere Marquette and The Landing. $20 for two adults and $5 for each additional person. Children under 10 ride free. Carriage rides available 7 p.m. through midnight. May be hired any time of the year for service in the Peoria and surrounding area. We also have a horse-drawn trolley available for special groups outings. Call for details!!!
Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music holds diverse collections of personal papers, archival records, and museum artifacts documenting America's music heritage from the nineteenth century to the present, as well as scholarship produced by nationally and internationally recognized composers, musicians, conductors, and inventors. The Center is home to the world's largest concentration of original compositions by John Philip Sousa, one of many significant historical collections that document the American band movement and the early evolution of electronic and avant-garde music. The Sousa Archives strives to provide exceptional service, programming, access, and tours of our collections to all visitors.
The East End Historic District is distinquished by its grand collection of homes of every period and style since 1850. Most have been painstakingly restored with lawns of beautiful planted sugar maples, tulip trees, flowering dogwood and redbud trees. Enjoy Quincy's several historic districts through the Quincy Area Convention & Visitors Bureau's Self Guided Driving Tour, available online at www.seequincy.com.


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© moodboard/Corbis
Are you destined for "Top Chef" or more suited for "Worst Cooks in America"? Take this quiz to find out your culinary IQ when it comes to cooking techniques!
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0 out of 30
Question 1 of 30
What is the technique for removing the browned bits from a pan to flavor sauces, soups and gravies?
making a roux
deglazing the pan
This is deglazing the pan, and the resulting liquid is the delicious base for making a pan sauce or gravy.
Question 2 of 30
The soaking of a fruit in a flavored liquid so it penetrates the fruit is called …
Common ingredients used to macerate fruit include juices, sugar, liquor or syrups.
Question 3 of 30
Which of these cooking methods does not involve hot oil or fat?
pan fry
Boiling is cooking food in boiling water or a water-based liquid such as milk or stock.
Question 4 of 30
What is a roux?
a mixture of flour and fat used for thickening sauces
Roux (pronounced "roo") is a thickener for sauces and soups that combines equal parts flour and fat, usually butter.
a yeast-based dough
a sugar syrup
Question 5 of 30
Which of these foods might you poach in white wine?
You can definitely poach fish in white wine, although you'd want to poach eggs in water and most poultry in some type of stock.
Question 6 of 30
What is the technique called when you plunge food into ice water as soon you remove it from cooking liquid?
This technique is called shocking. It immediately stops the cooking process.
Question 7 of 30
True or false: Sweating and steaming are same method of cooking.
Sweating is to cook a food over gentle heat, covered or partly covered, until it releases its moisture into the pan and liquid. Steaming is to cook in steam by suspending foods in a covered pot over boiling water.
Question 8 of 30
True or false: There is no difference between blanching and parboiling.
Parboiling is partially boiling food then finishing the cooking later. In blanching, the food is cooked briefly in boiling water, then removed and plunged into ice water to stop the cooking process.
Question 9 of 30
What is the preservation method called that cooks food and preserves it in its own fat?
salt cure
Confit, a specialty of Gascony, France, is derived from an ancient method of preserving meat (usually goose, duck or pork) in which the meat is salted and slowly cooked in its own rendered fat.
Question 10 of 30
When sauteing, which of the following do you need?
a small amount of fat over high heat
When sauteing, you need a small amount of oil or other fat in a skillet or saute pan over high heat.
a large amount of fat over low heat
a small amount of fat over low heat
Question 11 of 30
Where does the heat source come from when you broil foods?
Food is cooked directly below the primary heat source when it broiled.
both above and below
Question 12 of 30
What is the boiling point of water?
212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius)
The temperature at which water boils is 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius).
230 degrees Fahrenheit
185 degrees Fahrenheit
Question 13 of 30
Combination cooking uses what two cooking techniques?
dry and moist
Combination cooking uses both dry and moist cooking techniques.
convection and conduction
microwave and infrared
Question 14 of 30
True or false: Searing meat before cooking it seals in the moisture, resulting in a juicier finished dish.
This is false. Searing does, however, give meat dishes added depth and flavor by caramelizing the surface of the meat.
Question 15 of 30
To bard a roast means to do what to it?
wrap it in fat
To bard a roast means to tie fat, such as bacon or fatback, around it to prevent it from drying out while it cooks.
trim the fat
stuff it with herbs
Question 16 of 30
What three vegetables make up mirepoix?
carrots, onions and celery
Mirepoix is a combination of chopped carrots, celery and onions used in flavor stocks, sauces, soups and other foods.
green pepper, onions and celery
carrots, onions and green pepper
Question 17 of 30
In what cooking method do you first brown food (usually meat or vegetables) in fat, then cook it in a small amount of liquid over low heat for a long time?
Braising is ideal for tough cuts of meat because the long, slow cooking develops flavor and tenderizes the food by gently breaking down its fibers.
Question 18 of 30
What is the difference between roasting and baking?
There is no real difference.
Roasting is generally the same as baking but refers more to proteins and vegetables. Baking typically refers to breads, pastries and other sweet dishes like cakes and pies.
Roasting uses higher heat.
Baking is for pies only.
Question 19 of 30
True or false: Ceviche cooks fish and seafood in an acidic marinade rather than over heat.
The acid from the citrus juice penetrates the flesh, breaking down the proteins and giving the finished ceviche a texture similar to seafood cooked using heat.
Question 20 of 30
What are the specs of a julienne cut?
1/8 inch by 1/8 inch by 2 inches
A julienne, also known as a matchstick cut, is 1/8 inch by 1/8 inch by 2 inches.
1/8 inch by 1/8 inch by 1/8 inch
1/4 inch by 1/4 inch by 2 inches
Question 21 of 30
What type of knife should you use to dice carrots?
paring knife
utility knife
chef's knife
A sharp chef's knife is the best knife to dice carrots (and many other vegetables).
Question 22 of 30
What purpose do the oval-shaped depressions on a Granton blade serve?
help it stay sharper
make it easier to hold
help keep food from sticking to the blade
The depressions on a Granton blade help keep foods like raw potatoes from sticking to the blade when you are slicing.
Question 23 of 30
What is a honing steel used for?
to keep a fine edge on a sharp knife
A steel is a long, thin, round rod made of high-carbon steel used to keep a fine edge on sharp knives.
to hold hot dishes
to replace the blade of a knife
Question 24 of 30
True or false: A brine is a strong solution of water and salt used for pickling, preserving and tenderizing foods.
Brining is an age-old process that has recently regained popularity. The trick is the right balance of salt in the brine — too little and it won't do any good, too much and the food will taste salty.
Question 25 of 30
Which of the following is the correct order for breading a food such as a chicken breast?
First dip it in flour, then in a liquid, then in breadcrumbs.
To coat food with bread, crackers or other crumbs, the food is first dipped in flour, then in a liquid (beaten eggs, milk, beer, etc.), then in the crumbs, which may be seasoned with salt, pepper and various herbs.
First dip it in a liquid, then in flour, then in breadcrumbs.
First dip it in flour, then in breadcrumbs, then in a liquid.
Question 26 of 30
True or false: Clarified butter has a higher smoke point than regular butter.
Because the milk solids that make butter burn are removed in clarified butter, it has a higher smoke point than regular butter and can be used to cook at higher temperatures.
Question 27 of 30
True or false: To flambe means to ignite a sauce or other liquid so that it flames.
French for "flamed" or "flaming," this dramatic food presentation is achieved when liquor is added to a food that is warmed and ignited just before serving.
Question 28 of 30
True or false: You can deglaze a hot pan by adding water, stock or wine.
The liquids remove the browned food bits from the bottom of the pan, which can be used to make a flavorful pan sauce or gravy.
Question 29 of 30
What does it mean to cure a meat?
to remove the fat before cooking
to preserve by drying, salting or smoking
Food can be cured in one of three ways: brining, packing in salt or smoking. All of these methods preserve perishable proteins like meat.
to cut away bacteria left after dry aging
Question 30 of 30
If you like your pasta prepared al dente, how do you like it?
firm to the bite
Al dente is Italian phrase meaning "to the tooth." It's used to describe pasta that is cooked only until it offers a slight resistance when bitten into, or is firm to the bite.
soft and chewy


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Illinois Public Media News
In-depth reporting from WILL, NPR, the Associated Press, and other sources
Contact WILL News at email@example.com
(Courtesy of Aptito)
October 28, 2013
(Amber Hunt/AP)
October 27, 2013
Lacking Lethal Injection Drugs, States Find Untested Backups
(Todd Gleason - University of Illinois Extension)
October 25, 2013
Pigweed Hurting Crops In 26 Illinois Counties
Page 495 of 1123 pages ‹ First < 493 494 495 496 497 > Last ›
WILL Newscast audio
NPR News
White House Spokesman Predicts More Federal Action Against Marijuana
Private Prisons Back In Mix For Federal Inmates As Sessions Rescinds Order
A Citizens' Petition Calls For A New French President: Barack Obama
Major League Baseball Poised To Change Intentional Walk Rule
On Tillerson And Kelly Visit, Mexico Seeks 'Clarity' On Immigration Proposals
Arkansas Supreme Court Strikes Down Local Anti-Discrimination Law
WATCH: In The War Between Tigers And Drone, Chalk One Up For Tigers
The Small North Carolina Town That Wants To Dissolve Itself
Fight For Mosul Moves Westward And Centers On City's Airport
SpaceX Cargo Craft Is Now In Space Station's Grip, One Day After Aborted Docking
More NPR News
WILL Highlights
A short film series examining the severe underrepresentation of African-Americans in the sciences.
Classic Mornings
Get more out of your classical music experience and check out Vic Di Geronimo's blog.
The 21st
21st century radio for the 21st state. Weekdays at 11 am on WILL-AM 580.


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The small intestine very intelligently allows the passage of digested food to leave the confined of its interior and via the bloodstream such foodstuffs are delivered to all the cells of the body so that they can be nourished. Putting food in your mouth is one thing, ensuring it adequately gets delivered to the 10 trillion cells making up your body is quite another.
But while the small intestine acts as a conduit for food to leave via small openings, it too prevents the movement of anything it considers to be a 'bad guy', be it bacteria, parasites or other toxic substances. This scenario occurs quite beautifully in the normally functioning 'unleaky' small intestine.
In the damaged small intestine, a very different picture presents itself. Due to enlarged openings, partially digested food passes into the bloodstream before full digestion has occurred, bad organisms too gain access to the bloodstream. This is the picture of a leaky gut and it's not a pretty one.
What we know very clearly, is that once a diagnosis of gluten intolerance has occurred and a gluten-free diet has been initiated, the next critical step is to ensure that the health of the small intestine is restored. This has far reaching effects that not only would influence digestive health, but also the health of the rest of the body including development of autoimmune disease, inflammation leading to degenerative disease and neurological problems, to name just a few.
Therefore I was delighted to run across some recent research that not only was extremely revealing as to how best to keep the small intestine healthy, but a major breakthrough in leaky gut.
The researchers out of Australia discovered specialized immune cells calls ILCs (innate lymphoid cells) are generated from a gene called the T-bet gene. These cells are responsible for killing bad bacteria in the small intestine, keeping the good bacteria happy, healing small abrasions on the lining of the intestine and preventing intestinal cancers. These are some amazing cells.
They are activated when the T-bet gene is turned on. What turns on the gene? Green leafy cruciferous vegetables! Now that's an easy solution. Not only are greens loaded with antioxidants, they keep the ILCs functioning at a good level.
Which vegetables fall into this category? Glad you asked – here's the list:
|collard greens
|Chinese broccoli
|brussels sprouts
|wild broccoli
|bok choy
|broccoli rabe
|turnip root, turnip greens
|arugula (rocket)
|garden cress
In summary it is believed that ILCs play a critical role in controlling:
Food allergies
Inflammatory diseases – this category basically includes all the degenerative diseases killing most people. E.g heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.
Development of bowel cancers – the ILCs are thought to prevent these cancers.
This is exciting. Imagine being able to turn on these important genes and activate these immune cells, all with a decision of eating more green veggies. And, as you can see above, you have quite a selection to choose from.
While I wish this was the ONLY step you had to take to heal a leaky gut, it certainly is a very important step that is easily achieved – no lab test, no doctor visit – just eat those healthy greens.
I hope this was informative for you. For more information on this study go here.
If your health is not as you desire, please consider contacting us for a free health analysis – we're here to help! Just give us a call at 408-733-0400. Our destination clinic treats patients from across the country and internationally.
Need Help? We're Here for You!
If you felt as if I was describing you above, you are not alone. As I mentioned earlier, adrenal fatigue/exhaustion is almost epidemic. If you would like assistance and don't have a clinician whom you feel can assist you, consider contacting us for a FREE Health Analysis – call 408-733-0400. We are a Destination Clinic and treat patients from across the country and internationally. We would be delighted to help you as we have been doing so for over two decades.
Until next time, I wish you very good health.
IFM Certified Practitioner
Founder of HealthNOW Medical Center
Co-author of "The Gluten Effect"
Author of the eBook: "Gluten Intolerance – What You Don't Know May Be Killing You!"


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NDP leadership fees cause stir
A $15,000 entry fee and strict rules for sharing donations in the B.C. NDP leadership contest have caught some candidates by surprise.
With five candidates already declared and Vancouver-Kingsway MLA Adrian Dix expected to announce his bid on Monday, the party executive released a major overhaul of its rules last week. They include a spending limit of $175,000 and a provision that all candidates must split their donations 50-50 with the provincial head office.
Fraser-Nicola MLA Harry Lali reacted with fury to the new rules, calling them "ridiculous" and comparing them to the Republican Party in the U.S. where only millionaires need apply.
The 2003 contest that selected Carole James as leader had only a $2,500 entry fee, and the decision to "skim 50 per cent right off the top" means candidates must raise $350,000 to reach the limit, Lali said.
B.C. NDP provincial secretary Jan O'Brien said the party executive decided the leadership contest must be self-financing, and the new one-member, one-vote process means substantial new costs. A phone and electronic voting system must be used, and the party is also staging a series of regional leadership forums before the April 17 vote.
The 50-50 rule already exists for local constituency fundraising, and has been extended to the leadership contest for a party that still has debt from the 2009 election and has lost membership since then.
Monday is also the cutoff for new NDP members eligible to vote in the leadership election. That has forced Dix and other candidates to sign up members before they have even begun to campaign.
Leadership candidates Mike Farnworth, John Horgan and Nicholas Simons also expressed surprise at the steep increase in the cost of the NDP leadership.
The B.C. Liberal Party has a $25,000 entry fee for leadership candidates, and a spending limit of $450,000. At least one candidate, Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Kevin Falcon, has said that limit is too low when travel, phone banks and other costs are added up.


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Have a little white wine left in the bottle? Use 1/2 cup wine instead of the chicken broth for an elegant little twist.
Serve garlic mashed potatoes to enjoy with the creamy mushroom sauce. Add broccoli spears topped with a sprinkle of grated fresh lemon peel to round out the flavors.
You don't have to serve pheasant under glass to make it special. Mix together some crisply cooked and crumbled bacon, toasted chopped hazelnuts and chopped fresh
parsley to sprinkle over each serving.


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Cloud Computing: Deploying Open-Source Cloud Systems: 5 Pros and 5 Cons
Pro No. 1: Flexibility
By definition, open-source clouds offer a higher degree of flexibility than their proprietary rivals. Rather than simply reading manuals or attending training sessions, customers can read and modify the code itself and participate in various projects by contributing software code, starting a related open-source project, providing documentation or holding free seminars. Interacting and learning from the broader community provides customers more flexibility in their cloud designs and provides innovative internal or external offerings.
Open-source cloud frameworks have made a major splash in recent months with big players such as Rackspace/NASA, Hewlett-Packard, VMware and Citrix backing major open-source cloud initiatives like OpenStack and CloudStack. As these major vendors continue to build out their public cloud infrastructure to battle with the incumbent services leader, Amazon Web Services, there are some underlying questions about whether the same technologies are ready for the enterprise. After all, open-source cloud system deployments are only a few years old, without a lot of use cases in production at this time. Although a number of first-mover-type enterprisessuch as telecoms, financial services providers, scientific laboratories and media companiesare already comfortable with the alternative open-source cloud systems, not many smaller and midrange companies know much about them. In an effort to bring our readers a balanced view of this topic, eWEEK has assembled this slide show based on information from Floyd Strimling, technical evangelist at Austin, Texas-based Zenossa provider of unified IT operations software for physical, virtual and cloud-based IT infrastructure, to examine the pros and cons of deploying an open-source cloud for an enterprise of any size.
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Kelly & Katie Two Tone Tote
Sorry, this item is sold out!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Item # dsw12prod4460123
Classic and elegant style, the Kelly & Katie Two Tone Tote is the perfect accessory for any outfit. With a design that will last you for seasons to come, this will easily become one of your favorite handbags to carry.
- Faux leather tote
- Top snap closure
- Flat handles with 10" drop
- Faux suede lining with zip pocket and two slip pockets
- Dimensions 13" x 5½" x 15"
- Imported
- View more Kelly & Katie Handbags
By: kathryn123
Location: Tennessee
November 09, 2014
"This is super cute but it cannot hold much weight. It looks good but the strap lasted only a few months. Perfect but not for heavy loads"
By: Stephanie00
Location: Boston, MA
September 26, 2014
Great bag!
"I purchased this bag in the Black\Camel color tone. Overall it's a great bag that fits a ton of stuff. I can take it to work and have my wallet, sunglasses, keys, makeup pouch etc. in there and there is enough room to have other stuff such as a notebook, ipad, or kindle and scarf as well. I gave this bag 4 stars instead of 5 because I wish it had metal studs on the bottom of the bag to protect from scratching but also to provide some detail to the bag. I also wish it had a strap inside to hook your keys on to. That would make it a lot easier when searching for your keys."
By: OlgaF
Location: New York
May 24, 2014
Le$$ for More
"You get more than a bang for your buck with this tote. It is strong, has a modern shape (not a dated bucket/boat shape most totes have) and totally comfortable I use this bag 24/7 with work, grad school, my long subway commutes and running errands. I didn't expect a $40 bag to be this great."
By: BarbieInConn
Location: Danbury, CT
April 21, 2014
Tons of Compliments!
"Received this Kelly & Katie 2-Tone Purse (I chose red and tan) last week and found it bright and cheery...I was so sick of black, especially after this long New England winter so got out of my comfort zone! I was so happy to see how roomy it was: I could fit not only my usual wallet, make-up kit and odds and ends in it, but also my Day Planner, Kindle, and son's Leapster!I have been stopped several times by ladies in the mall l asking where I got it. I may just get a few more since they come in various colors. Great purse!"
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Senior Account Manager - Life Sciences PR- London
- Employer
- Paramount Recruitment
- Location
- London, England
- Salary
- Salary DOE + Benefits
- Posted
- Dec 02, 2012
- Closes
- Dec 30, 2012
- Ref
- Contact
- Kaitlin Taylor
- Discipline
- Operations, Marketing
- Result Type
- Jobs
- Position Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
A world leading Healthcare PR agency is on a quest to find an exceptional Senior Account Manager to join their 'in demand' team in London. Boasting prestigious clients across the Biotech, Medical Device, Pharmaceutical and public sectors; this agency has become a leader in the life science industry and has well and truly earned a reputation of excellence.
As the Senior Account Manager, you will act as a key point of contact for your companies leading clients, offering superb support and advice due to your incomparable industry knowledge. You will lead and manager the junior members within your team; ensuring work is distributed and completed according to strict time and budget guidelines. Furthermore, you will be a proactive member of the senior team, contributing to business pitches and the strategic direction of the company.
To succeed as the Senior Account Manager, you must have previous experience managing PR campaigns within the Medical Communications or Pharmaceutical sector. It is essential that you are educated to degree level within a scientific discipline. The ability to speak another European language is highly desirable.
In return for your dedication, you will be offered a brilliant starting salary and company benefits package. This is also a unique chance to work for a cutting edge Life Science PR agency that not only invests in your career, but provides a friendly and supportive office atmosphere to top it off!
To hear more about this amazing opportunity, or other Senior Account Manager positions, please contact Kaitlin at Paramount on 0121 616 3479.
Keywords: Account Director, Senior Account Manager, Medical Communications, Healthcare Communications, Life Science, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical, Medical Devices, Biotech, Healthcare, Medical, London, PR, Public Relations, Media Relations
Paramount Recruitment Limited provides services as an agency and an employment business. We regularly have similar roles in this area. Please see our website for details or send your CV in to us to find out the latest opportunities.


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Avid has been the main video editing software in Hollywood, so being able to use Avid software on your system allows you to easily interface with other Avid users. While it takes a bit of getting used to, it's ideal for a workflow that has several users working on the same project. Avid has released Media Composer 6, which doesn't necessarily need to have Avid hardware to run properly.
Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 is another video-editing software program that has really improved over the last year. Premiere Pro is now 64-bit, which means that it will run really fast on a 64-bit computer. In addition, it has harnessed the GPU processing power of NVIDIA graphics cards. This CUDA technology can add hundreds more cores of processing power to your new or older model video-editing computer. And if you like a lot of effects, using CS 5.5 Premiere Pro will make it easier to pop your project in and out of After Effects to quickly add some AFX magic.
Video editing is all about achieving a high quality of images, and sometimes this means improving the look of the footage that you have to work with. For this you need a color-correction program.
Most video-editing programs have a basic color-correction tool and some transitions to use between clips. If you want to have total control of your images, look into the Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve. The Lite version is free, and a few years ago the full version sold for over $500,000 — so that's what I call a good deal! If you go with a DaVinci, be sure to check out the Avid Color panel. This compact panel makes DaVinci work much faster and easier.
Usually, a third-party plug-in is necessary to do high-quality video editing. Here are some plug-ins that I've tested and found to be useful. Firstly, if you're on a budget, Nattress Film Effects can fix up your DV footage, convert 60i footage to 24p, and add some nice effects — all for $100. And for some free transitions, try Film Impact plug-ins at www.filmimpact.net . I use these transitions a lot and they work really well.
Tiffen currently has its Dfx-3 bundle, which has some outstanding plug-ins. The company also offers a digital version of its glass filters that would normally be placed in a matte box. Now, instead of carrying around five different levels of Black Pro-Mist glass filters, you can simply add the appropriate filter to your footage during the editing process. There are also White and Warm versions of these filters as well, and those are just the Pro-Mist filters. There are about 2,000 filters in this bundle, which gives you a high degree of creative control while editing your images — it will also save you thousands of dollars in glass filters.
Tiffen is truly the only plug-in manufacturer that you need to know about, but you can also look at plug-ins offered by other great companies. Since there's not enough space here to write a full review on each product, I'll just share the highlights and you can download the demos to do experiments for yourself.
The Boris FX BCC 7 package allows you to easily Corner Pin an image on a sign or TV set; do wire removal on stunt shots that used a safety wire; or hide the identity of someone on screen via their Witness Protection filter. The Boris FX FEC package has a lot of nice Blurs as well as filters that sharpen or soften your image. In their Distort section, the Bulge filter can be keyframed to mimic a heartbeat, and the Ripples are fun to show a location on a map. I also use the Spotlight and Light Ray a lot to add some light where there is none. This is a huge collection that will amuse you for days.
CGM is a German company that offers some unique plug-ins. The Binoculars Pro, Handy Cam and Photo Camera all give you the look of what you would see through your camera eyepiece or viewfinder, including the visual markings and time code. The Clone Area and Clone Grain filters are handy for fixing any random spot on a wall that you didn't notice while shooting.
The CoreMelt Complete package has an Advanced Reflection filter that is very cool; Heat Haze that mimics the heat rising off a desert; Lock & Load to get rid of handheld camera shake; lots of Glows and Blurs; an Advanced Vignette that's very subtle; and a bunch of other useful filters. The 3D Image Grid instantly turns regular video into a flashy open segment for your project, and the 3D Ventilator Shaft paints your video on four walls, with it moving past you as you fall down the shaft.
Digieffects Damage offers a lot of cool film looks, like Aged Film, Overexpose, Interference and Skew. And Delirium has unusual FX, like Bubbles, Fairy Dust, Fog Factory, Rainfall, Smoke and Snowstorm, which are all great to have in your editing toolkit. You can make realistic rain shots with a hose and some planning, as your actors get progressively wetter, just like in a real rainstorm.
Digital Film Tools' Film Stocks plug-in lets you give your video footage the look of being shot on different film stocks. This is handy for matching your video to film clips or for giving a filmic took to your whole project. With PhotoCopy, you can give your footage the look of famous movies, from the black-and-white era of Ben Hur to the bluish cast used in the sci-fi film A.I. It also does the same with paintings, photographs and photographic processes. There's an unlimited amount of looks that you can create with this plug-in.
Noise Industries' FxFactory favorites include Random Close Up, which zooms in randomly, saving you a ton of time from keyframing by hand. Random Crop does the same thing with cropping, instantly creating an exciting effect with very little effort. My other favorite is Perspective Reflection, which puts your images on a screen in a virtual room. These plug-ins create very sexy-looking images, but if you want to have some real fun, try the Funhouse Mirror preset — it will turn anyone whom you dislike into a short, little troll. Very satisfying!
RE:Vision Effects standouts include Twixtor, which gives you speed control over moving footage to make Timewarp effects. You control how the action slows down or speeds up, and it all looks great. Video Gogh, a plug-in designed for the movie What Dreams May Come, lets you turn your video into a Van Gogh-esque painting. And RE:Flex is wonderful for morphing faces like in some of the high-end commercials seen on TV.
Irudis' Tonalizer/VFX is handy for fixing up skin tones or scenes that just don't look right, and Red Giant Software offers a host of useful plug-ins. The Toonit Roto Toon turns your footage into a nice-looking cartoon, while Primatte Keyer Pro is one of the best in the industry and my favorite for compositing blue/green-screen work. There's also the Knoll Light Factory, which is legendary for its lens flares. The company's Magic Bullet Suite with Colorista II for primary and secondary color correction is also great. Cosmo lets you put electronic makeup on your talent to soften, color and smooth skin tones; the Looks plug-in offers many film and video looks to apply to your images; and Mojo gives you a small interface to quickly add warmth, punch, bleach and skin tone to your images. Finally, MisFire is full of FX to add scratches, fading, grain and other film artifacts to your video footage.
Whether they're used alone or combined together, these suites of plug-ins can take your footage from zero to hero, allowing you to turn average footage into stunning, awesome images.
MSRP: Boris FX FEC $750, BCC $995.00
Contact: www.borisfx.com
MSRP: Digital Film Tools PhotoCopy $195.00, Film Stocks $195, Composite Suite Pro $395
Contact: www.digitalfilmtools.com
MSRP: CoreMelt Complete $199.00
Contact: www.coremelt.com
MSRP: Digieffects Delirium $199.00, Damage $79.00
Contact: www.digieffects.com
MSRP: RE:Vision FX, Price Varies with Package
Contact: www.revisionfx.com
MSRP: CGM DVE Ultimate $394
Contact: www.cgm-online.com
MSRP: Red Giant Software, Price Varies with Package
Contact: www.redgiantsoftware.com
MSRP: Noise Industries FXFactory Pro $399
Contact: www.noiseindustries.com
MSRP: Nattress Film Effects $100
Contact: www.nattress.com


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By PATSY STODDARDEditor
At the recent Emery School District Board of Education meeting came a show of support from the Emery High football team for football Coach Jim Jones. Coach Jones has taken the principal job at Canyon View Junior High and was informed that this season just past was to be his last season coaching football as his duties as principal would keep him too busy to coach.
Kevin Diaz, an assistant coach for the 2008 season spoke to the board. He said he has coached with Ron McBride and places Coach Jones in the same category as McBride. "The kids love Coach Jones. You can see it from the show of support we have tonight. This team needs Coach Jones next year. A change in offense is not good at this point. It will hurt the kids who are going to be seniors. Coach Jones loves football, it wouldn't be right without him. The kids played hard this year and deserve to have Jimmy back. He would only miss some school if any on a Friday of an away game. I have been to schools in California who have principals who are coaches," said Diaz.
Superintendent Kirk Sitterud said everyone recognizes the value of Coach Jones and the job he has done for the football team. "Coach Jones and I had this discussion before he became an administrator. The focus of a principal needs to be on academics. Coach Jones indicated at that time that he understood that. It's true there isn't anyone out there with Coach Jones' experience. Maybe there could be a transition period and he could still assist, but the goal of principals is academics and their focus should be on their school. We are not just trying to say Coach Jones, you're out, but where does it end; if we open the door then where does it end? In 1A schools it is common practice for principals to also coach. But, in 3A there are no high school principals who are coaches. We appreciate your show of support to Coach Jones," said Superintendent Sitterud.
The school board will take the matter into consideration. "Football is the least intrusive sport and has the shortest season," said Superintendent Sitterud.
Board member Marie Guymon thanked Diaz and the football players for their show of support.
In an email received from Superintendent Sitterud he said, "As with many District established administrative practices and Board directives, there is no written Board policy on this matter, nor is there a need for such a written policy. These expectations come from a firm belief that a principal's focus should be on the total school program, and most particularly on student learning, without the distraction that stems from the intensity surrounding athletic competition preparation each week. This required expectation, and the administrative focus and commitment that come with it, are clearly defined for candidates for principal positions before the hiring takes place."
In talking to Coach Jones he said he had no idea the meeting was taking place and the players were going to the meeting. He appreciates the support of the players and the parents. Coach Jones is the principal at Canyon View Junior High which has 180 students. Coach Jones was allowed to finish out the 2008 football season, but told he wouldn't be able to coach any more because he was an administrator now. Coach Jones said, "I told Superintendent Sitterud, I would give up coaching and I can't go back on what I told them I would do. I appreciate the support of the parents and players."


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Rudy the Reindeer
Rudy the Reindeer Jar
Materials Needed:
Anchor Hocking Christmas Tree Jar
Medium brown enamel paint
Red and white pipe cleaners
1 pair craft eyes-we used oval shape eyes
3 small red bells
1 medium red bell
Dark brown felt-ears
Tan felt-ears
Black felt-mouth
Craft glue
- Paint jar with medium brown paint-let dry, may require two coats.
- Trace ears using template provided-glue tan felt to bottom of brown felt.
- Cut 1"strip of black felt to form smile.
- Cut ¼" long strip to place vertically between mouth and under nose.
- Glue eyes, nose and mouth to jar.
- Glue ears to the inside of jar.
- Twist red and white pipe cleaners together to make candy canes-you will need a total of ten.
- Attach four together to form antlers, stagger heights-glue under the rim of jar lid-repeat on other side.
- Glue remaining two candy canes & bells to bottom of the jar.
Categorized under: Crafty Lady


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I'm sad to say that Chris Pentz, of the Pentz Group Communications, is not faring well in her fight with bladder cancer, despite her surgery in January. Chris has been an invaluable resource for Medical Meetings, a speaker at our Pharmaceutical Meeting Planners Forum, and she's just an all-around wonderful person. According to the newsletter of the Philadelphia Area Chapter of MPI, of which she's the vice president of education (as reported on the MIForum listserv):
If you would like to help, The address is: Chris Pentz Fund/PAMPI, P.O. Box 579 Moorestown, NJ 08057


text:
Volunteer Advocacy Training
July 22, 2013 — August 11, 2013
5:30 pm
This event is over.
Support, Advocacy & Resource Center
830 N Columbia Center Blvd. Suite H, Kennewick, WA 99336
If you are looking for an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life or to give to your community, here is your chance. The summer 2013 Volunteer Advocate Training for the Support, Advocacy & Resource Center (SARC) will be held from July 22nd, 2013 through August 11th, 2013 for a total of 32 hours. SARC is in great need for volunteers at this time, especially bilingual, Spanish speaking, volunteers!
The Support, Advocacy & Resource Center is a non-profit, United Way agency serving Benton and Franklin counties. We provide crisis services and prevention education for community members on issues regarding sexual assault/abuse and all non-domestic violence crimes such as child abuse, elder abuse, assault, homicide, robbery, identity theft and fraud. SARC relies on community volunteers to help run its 24-hour hotline. The volunteer advocates only respond to calls regarding sexual assault/abuse. It's easy and you can do it from the comforts of your own home. To be an on-call crisis advocate, all you need is a cell or home phone number and the answering service connects you to the caller. Or, if you are able and willing to meet with clients face to face, you can sign up be an on-call hospital advocate. This 32-hour training is designed to give volunteers the tools they need to work with victims and their families.
For more information on the many ways you can volunteer, please call Renee Blackman at (509) 374-5391 or email firstname.lastname@example.com to find out how you can make a difference.