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Maastricht is a university city located on the southern tip of the Netherlands. Two well-known factors that distinguish this location are its medieval-era architecture and vibrant cultural scene.
Well, as of today, we have one more visual image to connect with this city: a striking modern home conjured up by the architects of CHORA. Flaunting a decadent layout of 325 m², this abode is certainly nothing to be scoffed at in terms of space, yet it is its commitment to interior style, incoming natural lighting and overall relaxing ambience that really took our breaths away – and we thought you might enjoy it as well…
Even from the get-go, this house has our attention. See how it makes use of textured materials to ensure a visually pleasing façade (wood panels, brick walls, roof tiles), not to mention how the neutral colours ensure a soft and serene look on the outside.
And when was the last time you saw a modern home flaunt a garage door that resembles a rustic barn? Such a fabulous little touch!
We just have to mention how fantastic those garden trimmings look, and how pleasant they make the exterior appearance of the house seem.
Just see how those perfectly maintained shrubs beautifully lead us towards the front entrance (styled up in the same charming manner as the timber-clad garage door).
Okay, so the living room isn't technically as light as a feather, but just feast your eyes on all those white and light hues that make it appear so incredibly soft – and how perfectly pale (almost glowing) they become as natural light filters indoors through the flimsy curtains.
To keep the modern style going strong, a "floating" fireplace becomes one of the main focal points, while sleek furniture and décor pieces bring about a certain ambience that we can only describe as "vintage futurism".
Need that expert interior (or exterior) look? Check out our range of professionals.
Doesn't this cooking/dining space just look sooo spacious? Presenting one of the most elongated layouts we've ever seen, this eclectic-styled kitchen doesn't seem to mind sharing its open-plan space with a quaint little dining area.
Classic and modern art pieces keep the décor levels high, while the artificial lighting fixtures (especially the ones above the dining table) turn out to be some of the most unique we've ever come across.
What do you think of them?
Don't think that the back yard turned out to be dull – there is ample space, style and possibilities to keep us busy. What about relaxing on that stone-floor terrace while catching some sun? Or we can wine and dine al fresco style at that modern dining set? Of course there's always the possibility of doing some gardening, or practising laps in the pool in the background!
To see some more images of this unforgettable house, scroll down right now.
For another delightful discovery, check out The creative London flat with décor ideas to steal.


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As of July 2014:
Find us on data.gov.uk
The BGS has embraced EU and UK initiatives to increase access to public sector spatial information via its knowledge exchange work.
For example, OpenGeoscience has made BGS data and information available in interoperable formats that can be combined with data from other organisations to improve environmental analysis and decision making.
INSPIRE is a European Union (EU) directive (a legal act) that aims to enhance the sharing of environmental spatial information among public sector organisations and better facilitate public access to environmental information across Europe.
INSPIRE will create a European spatial data infrastructure (SDI) that will enable spatial information to be discovered, viewed and downloaded in order to assist in policy making across boundaries.
The spatial information considered under the directive includes a great variety of themes — one of which is geology.
UK Location is a UK pan-government initiative to improve the sharing and re-use of public sector location information.
It implements INSPIRE in the UK and extends it through the UK's own Location Strategy. UK Location is coordinated by the UK Location Council and delivered by the UK Location Programme.
INSPIRE and UK Location depends on standardised delivery mechanisms to ensure the integration of spatial information from different contributors.
Data providers need to structure their data according to agreed specifications and deliver it via common protocols. The development of this infrastructure and enabling standards has been a huge community effort in which BGS has played a major role.
BGS staff (past and present) have performed the following roles:
BGS has been working for several years with the Scottish Government doing co-funded research on how to set up a Scottish Spatial Data Infrastructure to implement the One Scotland — One Geography initiative. We are also helping the Coal Authority make data freely and openly accessible to the public in accordance with INSPIRE.
Contact Matt Harrison, Science Director Informatics, for more information on how BGS can help fulfil your organisation's obligations under INSPIRE and UK Location.
INSPIRE and UK Location will be developed in various stages until 2019. BGS has responded by providing the following services for their data holdings that are in scope of INSPIRE:
These services are registered with the UK Location Programme for upward inclusion in the INSPIRE GeoPortal. Having played a vital role in the testing of the UK Location Programme infrastructure, BGS were one of the first organisations to achieve this goal.
The purpose of INSPIRE and UK Location is to support environmental policy and overcome major barriers still affecting the availability and accessibility of relevant data.
These barriers include:
The key elements of INSPIRE and UK Location to overcome the above barriers include:

subset: commoncrawl


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There could be fewer paper receipts at the bottom of shopping bags this holiday season as more stores are now sending out electronic receipts.
Popular stores like Nordstrom, Macy's and Banana Republic are offering to email customers receipts at the point of purchase in lieu of printing out a traditional paper receipt at the register.
"I think it's a natural progression for another paper intensive area of life," said Sarina Dahukey with the high tech research company Gap Intelligence.
Dahukey says she doesn't think printed receipts will go away but that more retailers will offer digital as an option.
For consumers, paperless receipts sent to an email account could be easier to keep track of with no chance of losing the paper copy.
But the retail stores could also use that email address for other purposes.
"The store gets a data file on a new consumer," said San Diego State marketing professor Steven Osinksi.
Not only can the store create a file of information but they also get an email address to use for ads and promotions.
Many stores say they will not share the personal information of their customers.
But Osinski says customers should ask about the retail store's privacy policy before giving out their email address for a digital receipt.
Sarina Dahukey suggests that customers create an email address just for receipts and other marketing interaction.


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Plants vs Zombies HD in Review – Bigger and Better Than Ever!
Truth be told, the first thing I took care of when I purchased my own iPad was to get a copy of Plants vs. Zombies HD. I snuck out on lunch break from work and after buying my iPad, I made a beeline for the nearest Wifi spot and downloaded the game straightaway. By the time I got back to the office, I was proudly showing off my very first acquisition, and my colleagues were just as eager as I was to give this baby a test drive.
Feel free to discuss Plants vs Zombies HD in our forums.
Plants vs Zombies is one of the, if not the most popular PC to iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad port yet.
Adopting most of the elements of the PC game, Plants vs Zombies HD is a tower defense strategy game that's irresistibly cute. Taking the overused concept of defending yourself from waves of zombies, Plants vs Zombies is all about tinkering with a formidable roster of innocent-looking plants that shoot down a diverse set of zombies in a variety of creative, colorful and humorous ways. You have 49 different plants to collect and 26 different zombies of different stripes – whether it's an ex-football player, a buckethead joe, or my favorite, the Dancing Zombie complete with back up dancers straight out of the Thriller video.
Surviving all 50 levels on the Adventure Mode is a must before you get to unlock the mini-games and bonus features such as Quick Play and Survival Mode. You battle the hilarious undead in a number of settings – whether it's day or night, shrouded in fog, or on the roof. My personal favorite is watching the zombies swim in the pool complete with floats, dolphins and diving equipment!
There are 18 different mini-games (including an iPad-specific mini-game, "Buttered Popcornâ€), and iPad specific achievements as well. Again, conspicuously absent from both the iPhone and iPad is the Zen Garden and Puzzle Mode – something fans are still petitioning for inclusion in the next release.
Plants vs Zombies HD takes full advantage of the bigger screen and multitouch features, offering a truly different experience on the device even as against its original PC version. The graphics are gorgeous and the animation is much smoother compared to the freezing/lagging on the iPhone and iPod Touch which usually happens at later levels when zombies are filling up the screen. Some parts strike me as a bit pixellated though, particularly when new plants are unlocked.
The gameplay is smoother than ever. I did notice, however, that the level of difficulty is not as challenging as I expected. Perhaps it's in part due to the relative ease of setting up defenses thanks to multitouch versus the iPhone version, which felt more challenging, since it limits you to setting up one plant at a time.
What I love most about this game is its wacky sense of humor and little bonuses showing a lot of thought was put into the game's concept and development. The almanac of plants and zombies is an enjoyable read, and the visual and verbal puns scattered all throughout the game make it stand out from the rest.
User reviews on the App Store vary from the highest praises to a litany of complaints over the pricing of Plants vs Zombies HD. This is interesting and ironic considering most users found the $2.99 pricetag on the iPhone version (including myself) as shockingly cheap. In the same breath many are complaining about the $9.99 price tag.
I honestly feel that the $9.99 is a fair price regardless of whether it's just a difference of pixels or as some put it, a PC port with minimal effort and less features. I also don't think upgrading is a viable option since the HD version was specifically designed for this device and offers iPad only treats. Still, I do hope for calibrated levels of difficulty and bonus features from the PC version.
All in all, Plants vs Zombies is the kind of game that's great on any device. Definitely the definitive game for your iPad.
|App Summary
|Plants vs. Zombies HD
|Seller: PopCap Games, Inc. (iDP)
|Reviewed Ver:
|Min OS Req:
|Compatible with iPad. 3.2
|App Size:


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By Paul Steinhauser, CNN Political Editor
Washington (CNN) — Hillary Clinton hasn't even stepped down yet as secretary of state and there's already constant speculation as to whether she'll run again for the White House. While no decision from her on any future bid for president is expected in 2013, expect speculation about her future political plans to intensify throughout the New Year.
But if she eventually changes her mind and decides to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, a new national survey indicates that the vast majority of Democrats would consider backing her as their party's nominee.
According to a CNN/ORC International poll released Sunday morning, 85% of Democrats and independents who lean towards the Democratic Party say they'd be very or somewhat likely to support Clinton if she runs for the Democratic nomination. There's a slight gender divide, with 93% of Democratic women saying they'd be very or somewhat likely to support Clinton. That figure drops to 79% among Democratic men.
Clinton has repeatedly said that she intends to retire to private life once her successor as secretary of state is confirmed by the Senate, and she's added that another run for the White House is not in the cards for her.
"Look, I'm flattered. I am honored," she told CNN's Wolf Blitzer earlier this year about calls by other Democrats for her to consider another run in 2016. "That is not in the future for me, but obviously I'm hoping that I'll get to cast my vote for a woman running for president of our country."
Two-thirds of Democrats questioned say they would be very or somewhat likely to support Vice President Joe Biden if he runs for the White House. Biden has not ruled out a third bid for president (he ran unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination in 1988 and 2008). On Election Day, when asked if it was the last time he'd vote for himself, the vice president said "No, I don't think so."
The poll indicates that 56% of Democrats say they would be very or somewhat likely to support New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The Empire State governor, who was elected in 2010, is thought to be considering a run for president, possibly taking the step that his father, former three-term N.Y. Gov. Mario Cuomo, did not take in 1992.
Fifty-two percent of Democrats say they'd be very or somewhat likely to back Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who's very popular with the liberal base of the party, with 41% saying they would support that state's two-term governor, Deval Patrick. And 37% say they would be very or somewhat likely to support outgoing Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer.
Only six potential White House hopefuls from each party were included in the survey's questionnaire, so respondents were not asked about some possible contenders for the Democratic nomination, such as Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia.
Considering the race that is some two years from starting, the results are influenced mostly by name recognition.
A CNN/ORC poll conducted in December 2008 indicated that 34% of Republicans said they were very or somewhat likely to support former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as their 2012 nominee, with then-Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska at 32%. Both of them eventually decided to pass on running in 2012. A few points back were the eventual nominee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who did seek the nomination.
Romney's running mate tops the current GOP list of 2016 hopefuls. Three-quarters of Republicans or independents who lean Republican say that they'd be very or somewhat likely to support Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan if he runs. At a recent conservative awards dinner Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman, joked about running for the White House, saying "know any good diners in New Hampshire or Iowa? I'm sure the press won't read too much into that one."
Fifty-nine percent of Republicans say they'd back Chris Christie. The tough-talking New Jersey governor considered running for the 2012 nomination but eventually ruled it out and backed Romney.
One point behind Christie in the poll is Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, and 51% say they'd support that state's former governor, Jeb Bush. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who's publicly said he's considering a run, had the approval of 48% of respondents, as did former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who earlier this year battled Romney deep into the spring for the GOP nomination.
Among the possible GOP hopefuls not included in the questionnaire are Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman.
The CNN poll was conducted by ORC International December 17-18, with 290 Democrats and independents who lean Democrat, and 290 Republicans and independents who lean Republican, questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 6 percentage points.


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Inglewood, CA 90309
The 90309 zip code is located in the Inglewood community of California in Los Angeles county. You can learn more about Real Estate in Inglewood CA 90309 below, including current Homes For Sale: Condos, Townhomes, Foreclosures and Bank Owned Properties, Short Sales and more. Our Local Inglewood CA Realtors can assist you with selling your home in California or buying your next piece of Real Estate in or around the Inglewood CA 90309 community. Be sure to check out our FREE Instant Home Value wizard to get a quick report on your homes current estimated value.


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Oh Seattle, So Much To Answer For (Favorite Seattle Records of 2011)
I took a year off from doing a favorite Seattle records list due to lazyitis (sorry Seattle). Here's my top ten records from my fair city for 2011 (sorry Seattle).
1. Seapony – Go With Me (Hardly Art)
Twee is alive and well in Seattle. Seapony kind of came out of nowhere late last year. They put their debut album out on local label Hardly Art, played countless shows around town and generally put the Northwest back on the map when it comes to indiepop.
mp3: Dreaming
2. Charles Leo Gebhardt IV – Begin Again (GGNZLA)
Leo Gebhardt plays guitar in a few Seattle bands, but it's his solo stuff that really shines. Begin Again was his second release for the enigmatic Seattle label GGNZLA. Begin Again is full of rollicking and playful, Kinks inspired narratives.
mp3: Chapel of Roses
3. BOAT – Dress Like Your Idols (Magic Marker)
BOAT keep delivering hook laden albums sparked with humor and conviction. Like the Young Fresh Fellows before them, these industrious fellows create unforgettable pop right under the city's collective noses. Dress Like You Idols contains some of the band's best songs yet.
mp3: Forever in Armitron
4. Cute Lepers – Adveture Time (1-2-3-4 Go!)
Adventure Time is Cute Lepers' third (and best) album. It's full of glammy punk rock similar to the Rezillos. Songs full of high fructose corn syrup, actually, no they're probably full of maple sugar, because they're sweet and good for you. Hell, just eat them out of the box with a spoon.
mp3: Misdirected
5. Emuul – The Drawing of the Line (Digitalis)
This record kind of popped up on my radar from nowhere, or maybe it condensed from a passing cloud. Emuul is the latest moniker of Kyle Iman and The Drawing of the Line is hypnotic music that will put you in a dreamlike state. Don't let that fool you, there are pop songs under the gauze of this instrumental electronica.
mp3: Expectations
6. Webelos – Shadow Seasons (self-released)
Shadow Seasons sounds like it could have come out on Teen Beat back in the early 90's. It's a quirky little fellow with propulsive bass driven songs. Think Unrest, Eggs and the Monochrom Set.
mp3: If You Choose To Stay
7. Craft Spells – Idle Labor (Captured Tracks)
This record was made in a bedroom in Stockton, California, but by the time it came out Justin Vallesteros had relocated Craft Spells to Seattle. Idle Labor is heavily influenced by the romantic synthpop of the 80's. Bouncy, longing pop songs that could make you forget what year it was.
mp3: After the Moment
8. Witch Gardens – Alice, Agatha, Branch, & Christ (self-released)
If ever there was a band meant to be on K records, Witch Gardens is it. This is pure ramshackle pop fun by a band seemingly making it up as they go. I love what they've come up with so far which is primarily this cassette.
mp3: Softball Chick
9. Gold Leaves – The Ornament (Hardly Art)
I loved Arthur & You's In Camera. Sadly, that band seems to be no more, but Grant Olson of the duo returned as Gold Leaves this year and it kind of picks up where Arthur & Yu left off. The Ornament is rich and velvety bringing to mind the cinematic records of Lee Hazelwood.
mp3: The Ornament
10. Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground – Introducing (Suburban Home)
Even living in Seattle, you might not have heard about the second album from Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground. Maybe it was the odd choice of a title for album number two. Whatever the case, there was little pomp around its release especially compared to the first one, and I've yet to see it in a record store in town. Too bad, because it's nearly as good as their debut and goes to the same tin pan alley, psychedelia, kaleidoscopic pop well.
mp3: Oh Lord, I Hate You California
Honorable Mentions:
Pony Time – Pony Time (Per Se) | Shabazz Palaces – Black Up (Sub Pop) | Night Beats -Night Beats (Trouble In Mind) | Erik Blood – Music From the Film Center of Gravity (Self-Released) | Consignment – New Low (GGNZLA) | Telekinesis – 12 Desperate Straight Lines (Merge) | Green Pajamas – Green Pajama Country (Green Monkey)


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City's 2-1 win over United was certainly not short on incident.
Club journalists @markbooth_mcfc and @handler_mcfc pick out eight topics for discussion…
1 Best derby ever?
The 6-1 will take some beating and the 1-0 at the Etihad carried great significance but in terms of sheer nerve-shredding drama, this derby might just have been the best of recent times.
City were devastating for the first 40 minutes, producing one of the most blistering starts to a game the Premier League has seen, moving the ball from back to front with incision and speed and winning it back in packs lightning fast.
It's rare that a game of this magnitude lives up to the hype but there's no question this one delivered as Pep Guardiola's side showed the quality and the grit to win at Old Trafford for the first time since March 2014.
It was by turns agonizing, enthralling and downright thrilling – the sight of the two teams like punch-drunk fighters at the end, stumbling on the canvas looking for the knockout blow was testament to just how much both sides had put into an intoxicating 172nd Manchester derby.
Roll on February 25 for Round 2!
2 Players to come in
City's performance was mightily impressive, even more so when you consider who is to come back into the squad.
Skipper Vincent Kompany and central midfielder Ilkay Gundogan are nearing full fitness, while striker Sergio Aguero will be available for selection against Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday in the Champions League.
Boss Pep Guardiola will have a serious selection headache when his full squad is fit!
3 Righting a wrong...
We were unable to score in a Manchester derby last season, so the City players involved in those games will feel as though they owed their rivals one here.
They certainly played like they wanted to set the record straight, bursting out of the blocks and playing a suffocating brand of football that looked like a nightmare to be on the receiving end of.
United have now lost four of their last six home meetings with City.
4 Physical challenge
Much was made of United's physical presence ahead of the game but City's stars weathered the Reds' late storm admirably.
Teeth were lost, blood was spilt but victory was secured thanks to a wonderful combination of first-half silk and second-half steel.
Otamendi won 100% of his tackles, had a 91% pass accuracy, made eight clearances, six interceptions and won four aerial duels.
5 The kid strikes again
Kelechi Iheanacho may well have given the most endearing post-match interview we've ever seen following his match-winning contribution at Old Trafford.
The youngster laughed when he was reminded that he walked in the wrong direction after getting off the team bus before the game but he certainly knew where the goal was when the ball fell to him in the 36th minute.
Kelechi admitted that he hadn't expected De Bruyne's shot to fall to him but he showed none of this surprise when he instinctively clipped the ball past David De Gea.
In doing so, Iheanacho became the youngest City player to score in a Premier League derby and scored his ninth Premier League strike from his 13th shot on target.
Some strike rate…
6 Three points
Take away the fact the game was a derby, and the heart-stopping way in which it was won, and you are left with a pleasing fact.
City won three points, against a team close to them at the top of the Premier League table, away from home.
Nobody knows how much the victory will count for in the final analysis but City have stolen an early march on United.
7 Man of the Match
He gave City the lead and played a decisive role in the match-clinching second but there was more to Kevin De Bruyne's performance than goals.
The Belgian was the standout player on the field throughout this 2-1 win, creating space for his teammates, making driving runs at the United back four and laying on chance after chance for his colleagues.
His numbers make for impressive reading too… with his 73 touches, KDB created six opportunities, took six shots, and produced seven crosses.
What a player!
8 Next!
City have little time to revel in derby victory with the Champions League Group C opener against Borussia Monchengladbach looming on Tuesday evening.
This is where City's squad depth should prove so crucial, with Guardiola able to rotate his first XI should he deem it necessary.
The Catalan boss certainly has momentum - his 100%, six-win start is the most successful ever for a new Blues manager. Fans will be hoping six turns to seven in double quick time!


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Join The Love Chest Community!
Join The Love Chest Community!* indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name Birthday
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This is Africa's #1 Resource for Love & Relationships. The Love Chest takes a holistic approach to love and relationships and through articles, podcasts, videos, events, and merchandise, we talk about Self-Love, Self-Discovery/Purpose, Understanding the Genders, & The Art of Love. Follow @TheLoveChest on Instagram and The Love Chest on Facebook. The Love Chest was founded by Aderonke Adebanjo, a broadcaster, writer, singer, and Love Activist. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Rodney Crowell
GRAMMY award winner Rodney Crowell has long been known as a poet among songwriters. Crowell migrated from Texas to Nashville in the 1970's to learn to be a songwriter. His talents quickly earned a spot in Emmylou Harris' Hot Band, where he honed his skills. After spending several years in his own band The Cherry Bombs, Crowell embarked on his solo career with the 1988 release Diamonds and Dirt, which charted an unprecedented 5 #1 singles. With acclaim and commercial success under his belt he made a clean break from mainstream record labels with the release of the autobiographical album, The Houston Kid. Since that turning point, he has released Sex And Gasoline, Fates Right Hand, produced the likes of Rosanne Cash and Chely Wright and written a critically acclaimed memoir titled Chinaberry Sidewalks; which earned comparisons to the writing style of Mark Twain in a glowing New York Times review. His songs have been recorded by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams, Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Keith Urban and Tim McGraw. His album, KIN was co-written with literary giant Mary Karr and was released in 2012. Following his current album with his dear friend Emmylou Harris, who helped him to make his mark, many years ago, he will release a yet to be titled solo album. Crowell in 2013 is as prolific today as he was thirty years ago and has joined an elite class of masterful storytellers whose words in print and in song can open the mind and speak directly to the heart.


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AbanoRitz Thermae Wellness Hotel Veneto Padua
Hotel Abano Terme Padua Veneto, Luxushotel Italien Abano Terme Veneto Padua 5 Sterne Hotel, Wellness Hotel Italien Abano Terme Spa Resort, luxury hotel Italy Abano Terme Padua Veneto 5 star hotel, Wellness Hotels, 5 Sterne Hotels, 5 star hotels, Hotel 5 etoiles Italie hotel bien etre, 5 star hotel Italy Wellness - Hotel Italy
Via Monteortone, 19
I – 35031 Abano Terme (PD), Veneto - Italy
Reservation DIRECTLY at the hotel: Hotel Booking inquiry
Luxury hotel booking - 5 star hotels, five star resorts - DLW Luxury Hotels Worldwide
5 star Hotel Italy wellness hotel Abano Terme Padua luxury hotel
A Dream Vacation in a fascinating territory
Abano Terme is famous worldwide as the Thermal Baths of Venice, thanks to the extraordinary curative qualities of the thermal water and the bio-thermal clay or aged mud: a true medicine without side effects. At AbanoRitz we propose a package with included services and special offers for a purely relaxing vacation among swimming pools, the SPA, wellness rituals and culinary experiences at our 3 restaurants; immersed in a territory that offers a wealth of culture and folklore, as well as golfing and other sports.
Contemporary Style
Design & Creative Rooms
Never-ending Story: the uppermost or fifth floor is constantly evolving. Traces of its mood can be found in other areas of the hotel. On the fifth floor the rooms were designed for those who wish to stay in an exclusive, elegant area with Italian design: pure creativity for those who wish to experience their holiday starting with the bedroom and those who love beauty because ... it is always trendy!
Design Suite
Light and bright with large windows that look out over the pool park, framed by the Colli Euganei. Rooms that combine fantasy and rationality, creativity and functionality, refinement and comfort. Located on the 5th floor.
These are the most prestigious rooms in our Hotel. The White Room with its round bed for those who love liberty and lightness, leaving the mind to wander without borders. Colour-atmosphere for the warm brown hues in the Brown Room, for those who love interiority and meditation. The beds are furnished with natural materials: linen, raw cotton, and pure wool. Floors, mosaics, and paintings are of the Casamood neutral line.
The lighting, which is fundamental in the modern concept of architecture, is by: Artemide for the famous Tolomeo, Flos for the Parentesi and Arco floor lamps designed by Achille Castiglioni and finally the Caboche chandelier by Foscarini.
Design Room
2 matrimonial design rooms on the 5th floor: fresh, well-lit, with extraordinary touches of colour. The pieces chosen are true furnishing emotions like the Fluttua bed (design: Daniele Lago) or Cassina On Off tables (design: Piero Lissoni), or the television-mirror Teatos and especially the lights: like the Mercury chandelier produced by Artemide and designed by Ross Lovegrove and the Panton seats, two extraordinary, unforgettable red hearts. Essential yet soft lines, prized materials, and present yet discrete technology. These two rooms belong to the category: special luxury room.
Creative Room
Those who are sensitive to new developments while cultivating a passion for tradition and memory that is a bit mythical, who while respecting continuity do not reject change, those who have already discovered that the authenticity of a holiday will never go out of fashion, who, however, cultivates independence of judgment, will get a lot from the AbanoRITZ! And so, fifty years after its inauguration, we want to leave traces here and there of a mood that we love: vintage tracce qua e la di un mood che amiamo: il vintage. In fact, thanks to our collaboration with artist and designer Valter Davanzo, we have created an exclusive and evocative style where the word vintage has the meaning of: loved in the past. For us, rediscovering and revisiting pieces that have a history and that can be loved, used, and enjoyed again, has given new value to the concept of the present. This makes the sense of time intrinsically connected to the value of the holiday. After creating the restaurant The Ugly Duckling , now room 514 is joined with the special rooms on the fifth floor, so time will tell. Because for us, the past has never been so present!
White Gloves Restaurant
The awakening of the senses includes the pleasure of good cuisine
A prized collection of plates from the 1800s are displayed on the walls of the dining room. This is an invitation, a sort of clue to the history of a vocation for good food because we have always preferred quality over quantity.
The Ugly Duckling: Vintage Restaurant
A fabled restaurant or a fabulous restaurant?
This is the AbanoRITZs vintage a la carte restaurant, a creative environment
with a menu that offers dishes that respect the palates and pamper the tastebuds.
Easy: the Barbecue
Less form, lots of flavour: luncheon in the park
During the warm months (from April to September) you can decide to have lunch in the park, behind the pools Easy, the Barbecue awaits you under the branches of our trees. It is open every day upon reservation at the pool bar (additional fee for outdoor service).
Thermae - Health means feeling good in body and mind
Health is a perfect psychophysical equilibrium on which the quality of our lives depends, a precious gift that must be defended and maintained for as long as possible. Our treatments have always been oriented primarily first to prevention, then to cure, and represent the vehicle of choice to achieve, regain and maintain this precious balance.
The AbanoRITZ is a salus per aquam hotel with its priceless spa spring and internal spas.
Medical Wellness & Relaxation
The treatments, rituals, massages, and techniques offered at RitzSPAce
are inspired by the principles, traditions and philosophies of both the oldest western and oriental cultures, by the most efficacious and famous medical and physical therapy protocols, for diversified and complete offer that meets a wide variety of cases and individual needs, expectations and preferences.
The fitness centre is available to everyone every day from 8 a.m to 7 p.m. It has an area for free exercises and an equipped Technogym with machines to tone muscles, for cardio fitness and motor rehabilitation.
Train your body, free your mind
For the lovers of the Green, the Hills offer an extraordinary choice of Golf Clubs in a unique and enchanting surrounding.
The 8 golf fields (Padova Golf Club, Montecchia Golf Club, Frassanelle Golf Club, Colli Berici Golf Club, Asolo Golf Club, Villa Condulmer Golf Club, Ca della Nave Golf Club, Albarella Golf Club), are each found at a few kilometres away from one another.
For those who cannot do without the pleasure of green, the Abano Ritz Thermal Spa has created a special program, which is able to combine the benefits of a Wellness centre and an exclusive beauty club with the entertainment of outdoor competitions
Rates on request


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A United States senator wants the Federal Aviation Administration to relax its long-standing rule against the use of portable electronic devices on airplanes during takeoff and landing. The agency has traditionally claimed the rule is necessary to avoid interference with an airplane's instruments, but it is currently reconsidering the policy.
A growing number of critics argue the rule has no scientific basis. Last week, the Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski sent a letter to FAA Chairman Michael Huerta urging him to revise the rules. On Tuesday, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) sent a letter of her own to the nation's top aviation regulator.
"The current rules are inconvenient to travelers, don't make sense, and lack a scientific basis," McCaskill argued, according to The Hill. "Airline employees have the incredibly important job of keeping us safe in the air—their efforts are better spent worrying about rules that actually accomplish that goal."
"The public is growing increasingly skeptical of prohibitions on the use of many electronic devices during the full duration of a flight, while at the same time using such devices in increasing numbers," McCaskill wrote. "For example, a traveler can read a paper copy of a newspaper throughout a flight, but is prohibited from reading the same newspaper for major portions of the flight when reading it on an e-reader.
Under the current rules, passengers are permitted to use tablet computers such as iPads and Kindles when the airplane is at cruising altitude. But the use of electronic devices is prohibited during takeoff and landing.
The FAA and FCC have been studying the issue of portable devices and airline safety for years and they have yet to uncover evidence that a passenger using a tablet computer could interfere with an airplane's instruments. Indeed, the FAA gave its approval earlier this year for pilots to use iPads. It's hard to see how iPads could pose a safety hazard in the passenger compartment but not in the cockpit.
The use of cell phones is currently banned at any time during a flight. That rule is unlikely to change any time soon.


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Lowepro Sausalito 20 (Bordeaux Red)
Lowepro Sausalito 20 (Bordeaux Red)
Product Code: 641217194
Availability:Out of stock
Lowepro Sausalito 20 (Bordeaux Red)
Product Code: 641217194
Availability:Out of stock
Limited Time Offer
Final Price: $17.99
The Sausalito 20 pouch protects fragile screens and lenses in multiple ways. Soft neoprene foam construction cushions a compact camera or digital device and provides a snug fit. Sturdy PE board embedded in both sides safeguards against impact. And inside, a built-in microfiber cloth both cleans an LCD screen and protects it from dust and scratches. Dual, wrap-around zippers allow easy access from the top or bottom of pouch, plus provide security when closed. Additional features include brushed tricot interior lining, and a D-ring to attach the Sausalito 20 to a key ring or hook.
- Capacity: Many compact point-and-shoot camera models or small digital devices
- Size(Interior): 4.6W X 1.3D X 2.9H in./ 11.6 X 3.2 X 7.3 cm
- Size(Exterior): 5.0W X 1.4D X 3.5H in./ 12.7 X 3.5 X 8.8 cm
- Outer fabric: "PU 1680D Nylon"
- Interior Fabric: "Brushed tricot Microfiber cloth"
- Weight: 0.1lbs/0.1kg


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- Contract for employment on the Brig Othello including names of crew, wages, and terms. Form printed and sold by Solomon Southwick, in Newport [Rhode Island]. On back, list of crew that received "one month's pay advance." Attached, receipt for wages for George Lambert from Samuel Vernon, signed by Elizabeth Preston.
- Portage bill for the Brig Othello, listing crew names, wages, and term of employment on a passage to the coast of Africa. Notes four men, George Harvey, Michael Keable, John Chace, and Ezekiel Mitchell [Mitchel] that "left the vessel at Virginia." On back, additional detail about wage payments to crew members.


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Discover the D-MAX
The Isuzu D-MAX is a stand out performer on or off-road. With the legendary Isuzu 3-litre turbo diesel engine, an impressive 430Nm of torque and an intuitive 6-speed transmission, the D-MAX is all you need for any adventure.
- 3.0LTurbo Diesel
- 430NMTorque
- 6-speedTransmission
3.5T Tonne Towing +
The D-MAX's powerful diesel engine pulls trailers, boats and caravans up hill and down the highway without breaking a sweat.
Passive Entry Start System
A smart key offers an innovative and simple way to lock and unlock the vehicle. Standard on the top of the range LS-T models.
SATNAV & Reversing Camera
Know what's behind you while parking (standard on LS & SX Ute models). Touch-screen SatNav system ensures you get to your destination (standard on LS-U and LS-T).
Leather Accented Seats‡
Experience ultimate driving luxury with leather accented seats‡, standard on the top of the range LS-T models.
5-star ANCAP safety rating on 4x4 D-MAX Crew Cab models built from November 2013 onwards and 4x2 D-MAX Crew Cab High Ride models built from November 2014 onwards. The Bluetooth® word mark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. iPod® is a trademark of Apple, Inc. †Not all devices will be compatible and functionality may vary depending on the device. ‡Seats have leather touches or accents, but are not wholly leather. +Braked towing capacity on 4x4 and 4x2 High Ride models when fitted with an optional Genuine Isuzu UTE tow bar kit. ^6 years/150,000km (whichever occurs first), for Eligible Vehicles with a Warranty Start Date on or after 1/1/19. Excludes trays & accessories. < 6 years Roadside Assistance (unlimited kilometres) for Eligible Vehicles with a Warranty Start Date on or after 1/1/19. >The Capped Price Servicing Program ("CPS Program") applies to Eligible Vehicles at Participating Isuzu UTE Dealers only. For 19MY & later vehicle models, the Capped Price Servicing covers the first 7 Scheduled Services for up to 7 years/105,000km (whichever occurs first). CPS Program is subject to change. For full terms & conditions, current pricing & model eligibility click here.


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NICKY Wroe believes his spectacular late winner for Oxford United on Saturday can provide the spark to ignite a charge up the table.
The midfielder pounced on a half-volley from 20 yards out and found the corner of the net with the purest of strikes at Wycombe Wanderers.
It came just three minutes from the end of normal time, breaking the resistance of the home side who had played with ten men for well over an hour.
The precious 1-0 victory ended a run of four Sky Bet League Two games without a win, which had seen the former leaders slip to seventh place.
Wroe was delighted to show the U's fans what he can do in only the second game on loan from Preston North End.
And he is now focused on making more valuable contributions to boost the side's promotion hopes.
He said: "I'm not here to make the numbers up, I'm here to try and stake a claim for a regular start.
- Match highlights
"The gaffer brought me in and said he really wanted me to affect games.
"(At Wycombe) I have and hopefully I can keep doing that in the coming weeks and we can go on a really good run to get back in the mix."
The numerical advantage meant United were in total control for long spells, but lacked the moment of quality to go in front - until Wroe's stunning effort.
It was the 51st goal of the midfielder's career and the ex-Barnsley trainee admitted few, if any, were better efforts.
- Nicky Wroe unleashes the strike to give Oxford United victory
"I've not struck many as nicely as that," he said.
"It's probably right up there with it being a winner, they are always a lot more special.
"When I hit it I thought 'I've struck it too well' to be honest.
"It was heading for the post and it looked like I was out of luck, but I managed to cut across it just enough and the ball sneaked inside the post."
It was only the midfielder's second appearance after joining on loan from Preston North End until the end of the season.
The balance of the game was similar to Wroe's debut a week earlier, when United had been unable to break down Portsmouth in a goalless draw.
- James Constable goes close with a first-half effort
But the 28-year-old insisted they had not given up hope of finding a winner on Saturday.
He said: "Especially against ten men you always think you're going to get a chance and it's a case of taking it.
"We had a couple of other chances that maybe we could've done better with, but credit to them for getting good blocks in."


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Social Nav Bar Overrides - v2019
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Cavaliers center Tyler Zeller experienced a left hip flexor strain during the third quarter of the annual Cavaliers intrasquad Wine & Gold Scrimmage this past Saturday afternoon. Subsequent physical examination and MRI at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health confirmed the strain. He is receiving treatment and participated in select non-contact elements of practice today. Zeller will continue to receive treatment and, as a precaution, is not expected to play in tomorrow's preseason game at The Q vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. His status will be updated as appropriate.


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|Caption the picture yourself, I'm too disgusted to bother.
My dog rolled around in some other neighborhood dog's crap the other day, and I got him all cleaned up. Since that makes me an expert in getting the layer of poo off of things, I can promise you that it's possible to wash the stains off this team no matter how permanently covered they look in our minds this morning. Just because it's possible, doesn't mean it's going to happen, so let's talk about the feces. I mean, could the Saints have made more of a turd out of their game yesterday?
The questions about this team being able to play on the road have mainly been centered on their inability to handle the elements. Well, they proved yesterday that they just flat out suck on the road, regardless of the conditions. In a half-empty Edward Jones Dome against a team that had already been eliminated from the playoffs, Drew Brees led the Saints to what is possibly their most deserved loss of the year. His two interceptions put the Saints behind the eight ball from the get go and his accuracy was garbage all night, save a few good throws. (He very easily could have ended the game with four or five picks.)
To have what is widely regarded as one of the NFL's elite offenses blow like that when there wasn't even crowd noise to deal with boggles my mind. I haven't given up on this team, but I have changed my stance on "trap games." I've said for years that there are only 17 weeks in the NFL season, therefore making it damn near impossible to overlook any team for any reason. The garbage product put on the field by the Saints – in all phases of the game – leads you to believe that they thought they could go up to St. Louis and win just by getting off the bus. They got punked, pushed around, had plays blown up before they were even called in the huddle. Top to bottom: everyone was garbage. And when I say top, I mean Sean Payton. It looks like we're dealing with the 2008, inflexible, egomaniacal Payton who kept that year's team mediocre. We all saw the footage of Ryan talking to Bill Johnson and Joe Vitt after being exposed (on which particularly embarrassing drive, I can't remember) and he walked off saying, "Fuck that," only to be followed by the Saints offense screwing the pooch to have a scene of Payton going over things with Brees. We saw the benching of Charles Brown, who admittedly deserved having his ass benched, and after seeing all of that, I asked myself, "Shouldn't these meetings and benchings have taken place during team meetings and practice during the week leading into the game?"


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At some point, yes there will.
At some point, yes there will.
Thanks for the quick reply, Uwe.
At the moment I am good with the VIN10 option, but you never know
Is it possible to read engine blocks 208 and 209 with the VDCS lite version if it's registered?
Yes, if VCDS-Lite talks to the ECU in and those blocks exist in that ECU, then the you can read them once it's registered.
Bruce / Uwe, can you update us on this please
If I buy a used HEX-NET unit from another user (he's only used one VIN), can I just go ahead and use it, or do I have to pay a fee to Ross-Tech to make it work?
3.10 Can I sell my VCDS System to someone else?You can sell the Interface, but PC-based activations and support are not transferable. If you have a "dumb" interface for VCDS-Lite and the purchaser wants the full-function version, he will have to register as a new user for $99. All of our Current Interfaces act as "dongles" for VCDS, so the software should be fully functional on any PC that meets our requirements. However, we only provide support to the original owner. If you sell your interface to a third party and that person wants to be a "registered user" (eligible for product support and upgrades), he will have to register with us for $99 here.
2016 koda Superb L&K (190CR)
Pre-booked a VW ID.3 1st Edition
I don't think the registration is transferrable; but obviously wait for the official RT line on this.


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Endeavour was launched into space today for the last time ever. Prayers don't shoot shuttles into space, though: Hurtling Endeavour and its crew 28 miles straight up were a pair of 1.3-million-pound reusable solid rockets.
At its lightest, Space Shuttle Endeavour weighs 172,000 pounds with both of its rockets attached. But when Alliant Techsystems Inc.'s 126-feet long reusable solid rocket motors (RSRMs) are fully fueled, they weigh 1.3 million pounds. Each. And 1.1 million of those pounds are just the solid propellant.
The propellant doesn't start out as a solid. Workers fill each of the motor's four segments with 40 seven-thousand-pound batches of liquid propellant. After a curing process that takes four days, the fuel solidifies, and the fully loaded motors are ready to produce a combined maximum thrust of 5.3 million pounds. Together, they boost the crew to an altitude of 24 nautical miles, all while making travel at 3,094mph look as effortless as a magic carpet ride (from my couch, anyway).
When the rockets have blown their loads, they separate from the shuttle but, due to their speed, continue moving upwards for 13 more miles. After that, they parachute back to Earth, splashing down 141 miles from the launch site. They're captured and refurbished for the next launch, which begs the question: After Atlantis goes up, does the reusable motor become useless? [Kennedy Space Center, NASA and ATK]
Monster Machines is all about the most exceptional machines in the world, from massive gadgets of destruction to tiny machines of precision, and everything in between.


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James Fowler, World Class UK Bartender of the Year 2014
C.F. Lawlor's "The Mixicologist" provides one of the first versions of the Absinthe Suissesse (an adapted version of which I enjoyed last year at New York's Dead Rabbit):
The Mixicologist also contains the famous quote about absinthe in the title of this post: "A cocktail is much improved by the addition of two or three drops of Absinthe." Of course Lawlor's Suissesse contains far more than two or three drops, so don't feel limited by the quote!
Fast forward 119 years, and Gaz Regan writes in the Regan Report 2014 (quoted here) that absinthe is a "very important ingredient" in the bartender's tool chest. "Apart from the fact that it pairs so well to both Scotch and to mescal — both known for their smoky characters — absinthe, when used judiciously, can bring fabulous nuances to cocktails that can be gotten from no other source."
From time to time, I come across bartenders who are not fully convinced about absinthe. In some cases, that seems to be down to bad experiences bartenders have had with absinthe in the past, and that seems to be especially true in markets where the Czech-style of "absinth" appeared before the real absinthe that is now more globally dominant. Or they see that absinthe is burnt and/or shot in other bars, and they don't want to encourage practices like that in their own bar.
So how can I convince bartenders and those making cocktails at home that absinthe can add so much to a cocktail? By quoting Lawlor and Regan? Well, that's one way, but "theory" is not as effective as "practice." And over the last month I have seen two great examples of world class practice (literally "World Class"), using absinthe in cocktails that have helped their creators win two of the top prizes in the cocktail world globally.
I have written previously about the Maid in Cuba cocktail created by Tom Walker at The Savoy for the Bacardi Legacy competition. As Tom said, the inclusion of absinthe makes this a more mature and more interesting alternative to the mojito and the daiquiri, the main drinks which helped inspire the Maid in Cuba, and the audience certainly enjoyed the cocktail at our "Savoy's Green Fairy Secrets" seminar at Tales of the Cocktail 2013.
Nine months later, I was one of many following the global final of the Bacardi Legacy competition on Facebook and was thrilled to read of Tom's victory (here's an interview with Tom about the competition and the cocktail). As I read the news unfold on Facebook, I remember thinking that the Maid in Cuba was not just an exceptionally good Bacardi cocktail, but that it was also probably the finest new cocktail with absinthe to come from the Savoy since Harry Craddock's Corpse Reviver #2. Of course there are other new cocktails with absinthe available at the Savoy including Erik Lorincz's Monet's Moment, but I suspect the Maid in Cuba is already much more famous. So I was delighted to see that the Maid in Cuba will appear in new editions of the Savoy Hotel Cocktail Book. And here's the proof (in more ways than one!):
Tom is a highly motivated, detail-obsessed bartender and maybe his time at the Savoy has given him a special understanding of absinthe. However Tom is definitely not unique in appreciating what absinthe can do for cocktails.
Today after a week of competition in London and in Hong Kong, the UK winner of the Diageo World Class competition was announced. James Fowler of The Larder House, Southbourne (near Bournemouth) has been a long-term fan of good absinthes, and hosted our first Absinthe Dinner at The Larder House on Valentine's Day, 2012. Later that year, he and Joel Solomon came to Boveresse for the world's largest Absinthe Festival. James told me that he uses as much absinthe as vodka in his restaurant and bar, a fascinating statistic, especially given that it is not positioned as an absinthe outlet.
James progressed through the early stages of Diageo's World Class with his speciality cocktail, Copper Colours. Here's the recipe:-
Mixing Glass filled to the top with fresh cubed ice
Add the following to the mixing glass in the order below:-
1.25 ml Butterfly Absinthe
20 ml Pacharan
20 ml Lepanto Olorosso Spanish brandy
40 ml Ketel One
Stir with bar spoon to chill & dilute. 50 revolutions.
Strain into chilled glass
Serve with Iberico Jamon, borage and burnt tangerine segment salad
(photo of James and his prize-winning cocktail from the Bournemouth Echo)
Over the course of a whole week in London and Hong Kong, James and the other finalists had to do far more than just preparing one cocktail (e.g. food pairing), but this speciality cocktail was a key element in James progressing to the later stages. James shows a keen appreciation of what absinthe can bring to cocktails (as well as to food), even if only in dashes. Congratulations, James!
Two great examples of prize-winning bartenders in the UK making good use of absinthe in amazing cocktails. But there are many more prize-winning bars around the world which feature absinthe as an important part of their mix. Here are just a few of the finalists from this year's Spirited Awards at the Tales of the Cocktail that make very good use of absinthe:
The Nightjar (London)
Big Easy, Covent Garden (London)
Dead Rabbit (New York)
The Anvil (Houston)
Cure and Hotel Bellocq (New Orleans)
Canon (Seattle)
Spare Room (Los Angeles)
Clive's Classic (Victoria)
Black Angel's (Prague)
Widder Bar and Old Crow (Zurich)
If you're a bartender and don't currently use good absinthe, maybe you could consider why do all these top bars (and many more) make such good use of absinthe. If you make cocktails at home and don't have absinthe, well, it's almost like being a cook without having salt and pepper.
Congratulations to Tom and James! Good luck to all the nominees at Tales of the Cocktail! And to all future potential prize-winners and those of you striving to make great cocktails at home!


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Welcome to LifeCoach Guide
Life Coach Cumbria Article
For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
The Truth About My Life Coachfrom: Motivated Lifestyle - Staff Writer
Do you want to discover who you are? Are you stressed and overwhelmed about the things going on in your life? Do you want to create a better life for yourself and your family? Are you intelligent, resourceful and successful, and yet you seem to have hit a plateau?
Maybe it's time for you to get some help from a professional who truly cares for you; someone who would focus on you; someone who would assist you on your quest toward a better you.
Try My Life Coach!
What is My Life Coach?
My Life Coach is a company that specializes on life or personal coaching and career coaching. It also helps people get started with becoming a life coach themselves.
The company's website offers free personality and career tests, such as the MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory and Firo-B. The site also provides a free consultation.
The company, since its establishment, has helped many individuals seeking life and career improvements, meet a perfect match in the persona of a life coach. The life coach would serve as a professional partner in assisting a person to achieve his/her career and life improving goals. Described as insightful, intuitive, supportive, and logical, My Life Coach's coaching would make you learn more about yourself, as well as help you get results.
Who created My Life Coach?
My Life Coach was created by Michelle Caron, a professional life coach dedicated to aiding individuals like you and me, who want more out of life and career. She together with a group of expert life coaches in mylifecoach.com, helps people attain the happiness and success that all deserve.
Whom is My Life Coach for?
These are some of the types of clients My Life Coach has:-
1. Top executives
2. Entrepreneurs and businessmen
3. Professionals
What do the clients usually have in common?
1. Most are quite successful.
2. They are open-minded and innovative.
3. They want happiness and fulfillment.
4. They value personal development.
What types of results can be seen in clients?
1. They are happier and less stressed.
2. They now go for their goals and have better relationships with other people.
3. They now know where they should go in their careers and make more money.
How does My Life Coach work?
My Life Coach usually works through the telephone and internet. A coach like Michele Caron usually calls from 30-45 minutes thrice a month, sends unlimited e-mails, and provides short-duration calls as needed. The coach calls so there are no long distance charges to worry about.
The fee ranges from $200-$300 USD per month and can be paid through PayPal or credit card. The commitment depends on you and your coach's agreement, may it be one, three or many months on end.
How do I get started?
Follow these simple steps to experience life changes right away:-
1. Go to the website mylifecoach.com. Read the descriptions of the featured coaches and find one whom you think suits you.
2. Let the life coach know vital information about you, as well as your time zone, preferred schedule, and phone number. Then, wait for the life coach of your choice to get back to you with suggestions on appointment times. The life coach usually offers a free 45-minute preliminary coach session.
There you have it! It is really that easy and simple!
What are you waiting for? Search for mylifecoach.com now and see results in no time at all!


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Charlotte, NC – Using the latest cosmetic surgery techniques, it is possible for people to reach appearance goals they may have been trying to achieve for a long time. State-of-the-art cosmetic procedures are capable of erasing the signs of aging and they can create an attractive body shape from head to toe. However, finding the best cosmetic surgery practice to handle your needs can be a challenge. Fortunately, The Cosmetic Concierge offers the highest quality and most reliable cosmetic surgery procedures in Charlotte, NC.
"The Cosmetic Concierge is a cosmetic surgery center that assures our customers security and reliable services," says cosmetic surgeon Dr. Hope Sherie, the owner of the practice. "We offer a state-of-the-art cosmetic surgery center in a relaxed, spa-like atmosphere in the "Pink" Arlington Building in South End Charlotte, North Carolina. We have fifteen years of experience in the field and are passionate about only providing the best cosmetic surgery modern technology can offer. Our long-term client relationships show the dedication of our team with regard to the needs of our clients."
As one of the leading cosmetic surgery centers in the area, procedures at The Cosmetic Concierge are safe and deliver the very best results. The procedures include: Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), Breast/Arm/Body Lift, Breast Augmentation, Injection & Facial Rejuvenation, Repair & Restoration, and VASER High Definition Body Contouring. All of their cosmetic procedures are done with the complete consent of the patient and are handled by their professionally trained team to assure top-quality results.
The Cosmetic Concierge also offers services directly to the transgender community. The trans-specific procedures they offer include: male-to-female transition procedures, female-to-male transition procedures, buttonhole chest technique, and orchiectomy (testicle removal). The center is proud to have a sterling national reputation for its work with a wide spectrum of transgender patients.
As the leading cosmetic surgery center in the Charlotte metro region, The Cosmetic Concierge provides safe, affordable cosmetic procedures to produce stunning outcomes and transformations. To schedule a consultation or for more information, call the center at (980) 938-0459 or email firstname.lastname@example.com. If you prefer to drop in and set an appointment in person, the office is located at 325 Arlington Ave., Charlotte, NC 28203. Visit The Cosmetic Concierge website for more details. Simply click here: http://cosmeticconciergemd.com/.
Media Contact
Company Name: The Cosmetic Concierge
Contact Person: Dr. Hope Sherie
Email: email@example.com
Phone: (980) 938-0459
Address:325 Arlington Ave.
City: Charlotte
State: North Carolina
Country: United States
Website: http://cosmeticconciergemd.com/


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Schoepp Motors
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2015 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE
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This vehicle is a beautiful Used 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE and with only 42,282 miles on it, it's tough to tell from new. This GMC Sierra 1500 comes in a gorgeous white color and gets 22 miles to the gallon. Visit us at Schoepp Motors East in Madison to sit behind the wheel!
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Schoepp Motors East
Gas V8 5.3L/325
City MPG
Hwy MPG
ENGINE 5.3L ECOTEC3 V8 WITH ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT DIRECT INJECTION and Variable Valve Timing includes aluminum block construction (355 hp [265 kW] @ 5600 rpm 383 lb-ft of torque [518 Nm] @ 4100 rpm
more than 300 lb-ft of torque from 2000 to 5600 rpm)
Locking/Limited Slip Differential
Tow Hooks
Power Steering
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
Aluminum Wheels
Tires - Front All-Season
Tires - Rear All-Season
Heated Mirrors
Power Mirror(s)
Privacy Glass
AM/FM Stereo
Auxiliary Audio Input
Smart Device Integration
Requires Subscription
CD Player
Split Bench Seat
Driver Adjustable Lumbar
WiFi Hotspot
Pass-Through Rear Seat
Rear Bench Seat
Floor mats
Adjustable Steering Wheel
Leather Steering Wheel
Power Windows
Keyless Entry
Driver Vanity Mirror
Passenger Vanity Mirror
Driver Illuminated Vanity Mirror
Passenger Illuminated Visor Mirror
Navigation from Telematics
Traction Control
Stability Control
Daytime Running Lights
Driver Air Bag
Passenger Air Bag
Front Side Air Bag
Front Head Air Bag
Rear Head Air Bag
Passenger Air Bag Sensor
Back-Up Camera
Tire Pressure Monitor
Bumper, front chrome
Bumper, rear chrome with rear bumper corner steps
CornerStep, rear bumper
Door handles, body-color
Glass, deep-tinted
Grille surround, chrome (With (GAT) All-Terrain Package grille is body colored.)
Headlamps, halogen projector
Lamps, cargo area, cab mounted with switch on center switch bank
LED Lighting, cargo box with switch on center switch bank
Mirror caps, body-color (Deleted when (DPN) power camper mirrors are ordered.)
Mirrors, outside heated power-adjustable (includes driver's side spotter mirror) (Body Color.)
Moldings, bodyside, body color (Replaced by (B85) moldings with (GAT) All-Terrain Package.)
Tailgate and bed rail protection caps, top
Tailgate, EZ-Lift and Lower
Tailgate, locking utilizes same key as ignition and door
Tire carrier lock keyed cylinder lock that utilizes same key as ignition and door
Tire, spare P255/70R17 all-season, blackwall (Included and only available with (RBZ) P255/70R17 all-season, blackwall tires.)
Tires, P255/70R17 all-season, blackwall
Wheelhouse liners, rear
Wheels, 17" x 8" (43.2 cm x 20.3 cm) premium painted aluminum, bright machined
6-speaker audio system
Air conditioning, single-zone
Assist handle, front passenger on A-pillar
Audio system, 8" Diagonal Color Touch Screen with IntelliLink, AM/FM/SiriusXM with USB ports, auxiliary jack, SD card slot, Bluetooth streaming audio for music and most phones, hands-free Smartphone integration, Pandora Internet radio and voice-activated technology for radio and phone
Bluetooth for phone personal cell phone connectivity to vehicle audio system
Cruise control, steering wheel-mounted
Door locks, power
Driver Information Center, 4.2-inch diagonal color display includes driver personalization, warning messages and vehicle information
Floor covering, color-keyed carpeting with rubberized vinyl floor mats (Double Cab and Crew Cabs include second row floor mats)
Instrumentation, 6-gauge cluster featuring speedometer, fuel level, engine temperature, tachometer, voltage and oil pressure
OnStar Directions and Connections plan for 6 months including Automatic Crash Response, Stolen Vehicle Assistance, Roadside Assistance and Turn-by-Turn Navigation (Visit www.onstar.com for vehicle availability, details and system limitations. Services may vary by model and conditions.)
OnStar with 4G LTE provides a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to the internet at 4G LTE speeds (Visit www.onstar.com for vehicle availability, details and system limitations. Services and connectivity may vary by model and conditions. 4G LTE service available in select markets. 4G LTE performance based on industry averages and vehicle systems des
Remote keyless entry
Seat, rear 60/40 folding bench (folds up), 3-passenger (includes child seat top tether anchor)
Seats, front 40/20/40 split-bench 3-passenger. Includes driver and front passenger recline with outboard head restraints and center fold-down armrest with storage. Includes manually adjustable driver lumbar, lockable storage compartment in seat cushion, and storage pockets. (Not available with (GAT) All-Terrain Package.)
Single-slot CD/MP3 player
SiriusXM Satellite Radio is standard on nearly all 2015 GM models. Enjoy a 3-month All Access trial subscription with over 150 channels including commercial-free music, plus sports, news and entertainment. Plus you can listen to SiriusXM Internet Radio everywhere on your computer, smartphone or tablet. Welcome to the world of SiriusXM. (IMPORTANT:
Steering column, manual tilt-wheel
Steering wheel audio controls
Steering wheel, leather-wrapped with audio and cruise controls
Visors, driver and front passenger illuminated vanity mirrors
Windows, power with driver express up and down and express down on all other windows
Alternator, 150 amps
Battery, heavy-duty 730 cold-cranking amps/70 Amp-hr, maintenance-free with rundown protection and retained accessory power
Body, Pick Up Box
Brakes, 4-wheel disc with DURALIFE rotors, 4-wheel antilock
Cargo tie downs (4), movable upper
Cooling, external engine oil cooler
Differential, heavy-duty locking rear (Standard on 4WD models. Included on 2WD models with (Z71) Off-Road Suspension Package, (PEC) Carbon-22 Edition, (PDU) SLE Value Package, (PDA) Texas SLE Value Package or (NHT) Max Trailering Package.) (Standard on 4WD models. Included on 2WD models with (Z71) Off-Road Suspension Package, (PDU) SLE Value Packag
Engine, 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 with Active Fuel Management Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing, includes aluminum block construction with FlexFuel capability, capable of running on unleaded or up to 85% ethanol (285 hp [212 kW] @ 5300 rpm, 305 lb-ft of torque [413 Nm] @ 3900 rpm)
Exhaust, aluminized stainless-steel muffler and tailpipe
Four wheel drive
Frame, fully-boxed, hydroformed front section
GVWR, 7100 lbs. (3221 kg) (Requires 4WD models and (LV3) 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 engine.)
Rear axle, 3.42 ratio (Standard on 4WD V6 models. Available with (L83) 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine.)
Recovery hooks, front, frame-mounted, black (Included and only available with (Z71) Off-Road Package on 2WD models. Standard on 4WD models.) (Standard on 4WD models. Included with (Z71) Off-Road Package with 2WD models and (9G3) Suspension Package, off-road, for base decor vehicles with 2WD models.)
Steering, Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist, rack-and-pinion
Suspension Package, Handling/Trailering, heavy-duty includes 46 mm piston monotube shocks and 36mm front stabilizer bar
Transfer case, 4WD, active electronic Autotrac with rotary dial control (Included with 4WD models only.)
Transmission, 6-speed automatic, electronically controlled with overdrive and tow/haul mode. Includes Cruise Grade Braking and Powertrain Grade Braking
Tech Specs
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Some people's love of Chick-fil-A never ceases to amaze.
Armed with tents, heaters and gadgets to pass the time, about 20 Chick-fil-A loyalists on Wednesday morning were outside a new location along Route 83 in Elmhurst, Ill., while Mother Nature delivered another winter blast complete with several inches of snow.
The kicker? The new restaurant doesn't even open until Thursday morning.
Though the elements were brutal, restaurant employees did provide security, access to restrooms and Chick-fil-A food.
The chicken-lovers are all hoping to be among the first 100 people at the restaurant when the doors open at 6 a.m. Those aged 18 and over will receive free Chick-fil-A food for a year.
A company spokeswoman said the new restaurant will bring 65 new jobs to the western suburb.
A Chick-fil-A restaurant in Willowbrook is slated to open next week.
Chicken-Lovers Camp Out in Snow Storm for Free Chick-fil-A
First 100 people at new Elmhurst restaurant Thursday morning will receive free Chick-fil-A for a year
Some people's love of Chick-fil-A never ceases to amaze.


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[where: Chez Lola, 387 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn NY 11205 ]
Councilwoman Tish James spoke earlier followed by the collapse residents. They expressed needing immediate items like bedding and t-shirts. One man talked about having two t-shirts since the disaster. Ppl were free to donate discrete items in lieu or in addition to cash.
– Posted using MobyPicture.com


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Barrett's Bookstore: Come for the books, stay for the people
The rain was steadily falling Monday morning, providing Darien with a short break from the frigid temperatures over the weekend and before the next cold snap set in for the rest of the week.
Inside Barrett Bookstore, 314 Heights Road, there was a sense of calm. The large brown leather sofa, flanked by a large globe and table with brass lamps along the front window, was unoccupied but looked inviting. The walls, as they should be in a bookstore, are covered in thousands of titles. One of the first shelves in the store features books being read in local clubs for 10 percent off the sale price.
Sheila Daley, the store's owner, sat at the half-circle desk in the bookstore working on a computer while Robin Harvey stocked the shelves with new books.
Common opinion holds that the Internet and e-reading devices like the Amazon Kindle soon will push stores like Daley's into extinction. Failures of once-ubiquitous book chains -- like the 2011 bankruptcy of Borders -- seem to fortify that narrative. And there have been some losses at the local level, like the closings of Rainy Faye in Bridgeport and Dinosaur's Paw in Fairfield.
Daley said she has definitely felt a difference in the bookstore as e-books and shopping through Amazon have gained popularity.
"It's tough to compete with Amazon," Daley said. "You can't compete with Amazon."
More InformationFact box
But even with a sluggish economy and the rise of digital reading, many independent bookstores, like Daley's shop and Elm Street Books in New Canaan, are thriving as go-to places for area bookworms.
Sales at independent bookstores grew 8 percent in 2012, according to several news accounts. From January to September 2013, at least 65 bookstores joined the American Booksellers Association, bringing the total to 1,632. That number has gone up every year since 2009, according to the association report.
Barrett Bookstore frequently teams with nonprofits, such as the Community Fund of Darien, for events. The store and the organization will partner in February to bring Kelly Corrigan, author of "Glitter and Glue," for a benefit luncheon at the Country Club of Darien.
Daley, who has owned Barrett's since 1997, has found ways to make her store stand out from the big-box competition, like Barnes and Noble.
"We sell ourselves on the idea of customer service," Daley said. "The staff are all readers and can recommend books based on a particular taste."
The store's success feeds off itself.
"Customers will tell us about books that they love," Daley said in front of a massive oak fireplace, which was once in her great-grandfather's library in a New York brownstone, that was installed in the back of the store. "There's a lot of conversation in this store."
Barrett Bookstore was once located in Stamford, where it opened in 1939. The store faced its first hurdle in the 1970s when the Stamford Town Center was built, diverting a majority of the foot traffic from its location on Summer Street, according to the store's website.
David Rose -- from whom Daley and her husband bought the store -- moved it to High Ridge Road in Stamford, but again met challenges when a Borders store moved in next door. By that time, Rose already had expanded with a second store in Darien in the Goodwives Shopping Center. The store would relocate to the Noroton Heights location after rent went up.
The Stamford store was closed after the Borders opened and the Darien store became the only Barrett.
In 1997, Daley's husband had retired from his job on Wall Street in New York and she was at home when the opportunity to purchase the bookstore arose.
Daley said she always had dreamed of owning her own bookstore since her mother was an avid reader and was putting books in Daley's hands since she was 15, so the couple bought the store. Daley said she remembers as a child going into Barrett's Bookstore with her mother when it was in Stamford.
Neil Silberblatt, the founder of Voices of Poetry in New Milford, said the community connection is an important characteristic of local stores.
"Independent bookstores are the lifeblood of small communities, much as libraries," he said. "They offer everyone the opportunity to be part of the wonderful world of words."
The need for energy does take its toll on some bookstore owners. Janet Olsen Ryan and her husband, Sean, bought the building at 50 Bank St. in New Milford in 2007, and she runs the Bank Street Book Nook there.
But now the couple has sold the building and is looking for a buyer for the business.
"It's been a lot of fun," Janet Ryan said in an interview Saturday. "And I've liked being part of New Milford's downtown. But it's been a seven-day-a-week responsibility, and I never really intended to do retail."
Daley loves being in her store and is there every day from noon to 6 p.m.
"I love being with the people and it goes beyond that," Daley said. "You end up developing a relationship with people, not only talking about what they like to read but you also get to know their families and what their families like to read. It's just a very pleasant atmosphere."
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-330-6583; @Meg_DarienNews
Staff writer Susan Tuz contributed to this article.


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China Sacks Drunk Official Outed on InternetBy Reuters - Print
China's leadership is increasingly quick to react to public incidents of official misbehavior to try and dampen widespread disgust over corruption and officials' abuse of power.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's ministry of transport has fired an official in the southern boomtown of Shenzhen after photos and video clips of his drunken misbehavior in a seafood restaurant appeared online.
Lin Jiaxiang, former Communist Party chief and deputy director of the Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration, was identified in the online images, which show him trying to force a young girl into the men's restroom at the restaurant, the Xinhua news agency said on Monday.
The girl, identified elsewhere as 11 years old, escaped.
China's leadership is increasingly quick to react to public incidents of official misbehavior to try and dampen widespread disgust over corruption and officials' abuse of power.
"Sanlu poisoned our people's future, the evil of public officials strangles it, does our people even have a future?" asked one entry on popular online forum Tianya. Sanlu is the company at the center of an earlier tainted baby formula scandal in which tens of thousands of infants fell ill and four died.
Other online news services carried interviews with the parents of the 11-year old girl. Lin had bragged he was a high official from Beijing and offered money to appease them, the interviews said.
The ministry will conduct further investigations before imposing any punishment, Xinhua said.
(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Writing by Lucy Hornby; Editing by Paul Tait)
© Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved
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text:
On paper it is a brilliant plan. With a greenway of more than 300 acres encompassing picturesque farms with views of the surrounding hills, valleys and lush, deep forests, the Bakerville section of New Hartford has the potential to be a major draw for outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape from civilization.
In reality, though, not so much – yet. I visited the work-in-progress greenway and left dazed and confused, but at the same time impressed and awed by its potential. New Hartford does know how to do it right, as evidenced by my visit to the 158-acre Jones Mountain Preserve several years ago, which is on my top 10 list of best hikes in the state.
So I will start with the good of my recent visit to this northwestern Connecticut town, sandwiched between Canton and Torrington. The Antolini Woods and Surdam Farm Preserve are connected by a fun trail system that takes visitors along paths marked with white blazes and blue dashes. The best place to access the properties is Surdam Farm off East Cotton Hill Road.
The out-and-back trail starts as a pleasant journey through a young forest, but the farther one travels the more the forest setting turns fairy tale-ish, with lush green moss covering rocks and trees and huge above-ground roots that seem as though they could come to life. The deeper you journey into the forest, the more you feel as though the eyes of elves or gnomes are upon you.
My favorite part of Surdam is passing the stream, with water tumbling over moss-covered boulders and through rocky chasms. The trail passes along moss-covered stone walls and leads to an amazing sight – a huge white pine tree growing along and over a giant boulder. The huge roots resemble the tentacles of an octopus, covering half the boulder. The trail loops around the Antolini Woods and returns to the parking area.
Latest Connecticut
I attempted to visit Phillips Farm Preserve, but there are no trails linking Surdam to the former dairy farm across East Cotton Hollow Road. I pulled up to the farm and inquired about access to the hiking trails, and the people I spoke to also lamented the lost potential of unblazed trails. When I was unable to hide the disappointment in my face, they gave me a little hope by telling me to go west and visit the Goula open space property.
But Goula, along Cotton Hill Road, was in the same state as the Phillips Farm, with great views and potential – and no trails. I walked through waist-high grass and wildflowers where bees buzzed from blossom to blossom and dragonflies tugged on the tops of the tall blades. While I found it enjoyable, that journey is not for everyone.
Shortly after the town purchased a conservation easement for the Phillips Farm with help from the state and The Trust for Public Land, Jeanne Phillips said it was her family's dream to "preserve our farm forever for future generations to enjoy." That was more than four years ago. It's time to link these parcels and showcase the entirety of a beautiful greenway.
Visit http://www.town.new-hartford.ct.us/sites/newhartfordct/files/u59/antolini_woods_hiking_area.pdf for a hiking map of Antolini Woods. Parking for the Surdam Farm property is located along the east side of East Cotton Hill Road across from 267 East Cotton Hill Rd. Parking for Antolini Woods is located next to the South End Fire Department at the intersection of routes 202 and 219.


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You're looking at a set of 12″ by 12″ custom made ceramic tiles depicting various Star Wars/Death Star sceneries. If you were to cover an entire wall with them, you'd end up with an intricate landscape oddly reminiscent of the one you saw on the Empire's planet-eating creation. There are 14 different ones, each 3 to 4 inches deep. The set was created for a client that was looking to create a fancy home theatre, which means they probably cost quite a bit. We're just not sure how much. The company, Tom Spina Designs, doesn't list prices, but they do seem open to making a custom decor for interested parties, so they might be willing to make more of these.
[ Product Page ] VIA [ BoingBoing ]


text:
Ed Del Grande
The Plumber
Q It"s so nice to have an actual plumbing newspaper column, so I can cut out some of your articles and hang them up for reference. Hopefully, I"ll see my question on the wall. My family and I recently moved into a small, older home connected to our local water and sewer utilities. Well, I was very surprised to see our first water and sewer bills, and now realize we have to start conserving water to lower these costly utility bills. Can you please give us a checklist of water-saving suggestions that we can follow?
— Don, Pennsylvania
A In many areas, the sewer bill for a home may be estimated by the amount of water that passes through the water meter. So, high water bills may also create a high sewer bills. If this is the case, by conserving water you may be able to bring down the costs of both your water and sewer expenses. With that in mind, here are five of my favorite tips to conserve water:
1. If your home has older toilets that use more than 1.6 GPF (gallons per flush), or if you have weak-flushing toilets, upgrade to new "HET" (high efficiency toilets) that use only 1.28 GPF. Quality HET"s have been redesigned to deliver high-performance flushing.
2. Fix dripping faucets and water lines as soon as you can. Little drips here and there can really add up and turn into big water wasters.
3. If you"re still using an older showerhead, upgrade to a new high-performance showerhead that uses 1.75 gallons per minute.
4. Don"t run the dishwasher until it"s completely full, and when doing laundry use the correct water settings for lighter loads.
5. Change the aerators on your present faucets to low-flow aerators. That"s an easy and inexpensive water-saving project.
Bottom line: In many cases, some little changes to your lifestyle can make big changes to your water and sewer bills.
Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is the author of "Ed Del Grande"s House Call" and host of TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. Visit eddelgrande.com or write email@example.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.


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Chateau Montelena Winery, originally called A.L. Tubbs winery after its founder Alfred Tubbs, was constructed in 1888 and intended as a barrel-aging facility. The Chateau was unique in materials, plan, size, and style for its era. In nineteenth-century Napa Valley, the majority of wineries were constructed of wood. Instead, the Chateau is made of stone with walls three to twelve feet thick, which provides natural insulation against outside heat or cold. Similarly, the structure built into a hillside, to further regulate temperature - something necessary for producing quality wines but uncommon at the time. Also rare among Napa Valley wineries, the Chateau resembles an English Gothic castle gatehouse complete with rusticated stone walls, battlement with crenels and merlons, narrow arched windows, large arched door in the place of a portcullis, and bartizans with faux arrow slits.
Accounts of the stone winery's designer, masons and source of materials vary. The design has been attributed to Hamden McIntyre, the well-known local winery designer; however, McIntyre relocated to Vina in 1887 where he took charge of the vineyard and winery of Leland Stanford. The building is unlike McIntyre's other wineries, none of which were designed in a Gothic style. Some sources also suggest that while in Europe, Tubbs hired a French architect to draw plans for the building, brought back French masons to build it, and imported European stone for the walls. Other accounts suggest the design was inspired by the Cellar of Chateau Lafite in France.
Originally, the interior was one large space with a second-story crushing floor, but in 1960, a second-floor apartment was inserted so the Chateau could be used as a home. The space was then converted into our current Tasting room though parts of the private residence remain and are used on occasion today for family guests and private events.


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A Floating City on Venus
Hellish Venusian surface. Courtesy NASA.gov
(Note: this is a part of The Space Colonization Series)
When space colonization is mentioned many things come to mind: Mars, the Moon, the future, terraforming, and even occasionally asteroids. One thing that rarely comes to mind, however, is Venus. And why should it? After all, Venus is Earth's sister planet from hell, registering a spicy 450 degrees C average on the surface or, in other words, hotter than Mercury. As if the temperature wasn't enough incentive to destroy any thoughts of visiting Earth's closest planetary neighbor, reaching the surface is practically impossible to do safely. Atmospheric pressure reaches 90 times that of ours on the surface or equivalent to being under 1 km of water. Venus also has a relatively slow rotation, completing one rotation every 243 earth days. Thus nights would last a very long time--not that you could see the sun during the day anyway. So, if Venus seems so obviously irrelevant to the idea of space colonization why make an article connecting the two? Well, it is Venus' hellish properties that ironically make it so appealing. The common misconception about space colonization is that colonies are built on the surface. The key to a Venusian colony is it's incredibly dense atmosphere. Remember, "...or equivalent to being under 1 km of water?" Well, things float on water; don't they...?
The Idea
The concept is actually based on a rather simple premise--buoyancy. So, we all know lower density materials rise to the top but how could this apply to Venus? Simply put, breathable gas has the equivalent lifting power on Venus as half of Helium's lifting power on Earth (about 1 kg per cubic meter). This property allows for breathable air domes to lift a colony in addition to their own weight. Tweaking the lifting power could also easily be done by storing helium or hydrogen (both extractable from the atmosphere) filled tanks. The Colonies would float at an altitude of roughly 50 km where the air pressure is equal to Earth's. At this altitude the former problems encountered with a surface colony start to disappear. The temperature chills to a much more normal range of 0-50 degrees Celsius or liquid water temperatures. This altitude also happens to sit above the thick clouds providing abundant solar energy. The clouds themselves are so reflective that pointing solar panels downward would provide almost as much energy as they would pointing upward. The solar power available above Venus' cloud top is approximately 1.9 times that of Earth's providing plenty of power for a potential colony. Ah, that sounds great, but the issue of incredibly long dark periods still looms doesn't it? Fortunately, Venus' atmospheric winds bail us out of that situation giving us a manageable 50 hour solar day and likewise, a 50 hour solar night. Increase the latitude of the 'Bubble' and everything could be packaged into an Earth-like 24 hour cycle.
Bespin from the movie Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
Other than the extreme density of Venus' atmosphere providing buoyancy, it also provides many important resources necessary for food and oxygen. Carbon dioxide and Nitrogen are very abundant in the atmosphere and could easily be harvested. Hydrogen can also be extracted from condensed sulfuric acid droplets, thus providing all of the basic elements required for human survival. Industrial minerals, also very important for maintaining an outpost or colony, could be mined from the surface. The hazards of reaching the surface drastically decrease in difficulty when making the attempt from an already established floating colony (or aerostat habitat). Large cables stretching the 50 km distance or less if the city lowers altitude temporarily could lift minerals from the surface directly to the habitat. Such a large habitat would have an incredibly large heat capacitance and thus be able to withstand momentary dips into much higher temperatures. So, it is starting to become clear how a floating city on Venus could theoretically become self-sustaining. That is great, but we are still left with a legitimate question: why should we want to go to Venus?!
The Reason
Obviously research of the planet is one simple and arguably lame reason to visit. That excuse could be made for practically anything. Everyone knows scientific research would take place. The type of research possible, however, could be highly relevant to our own planet. Global warming is currently a great debate across the globe and an in-depth look into Venus' extreme example of the greenhouse effect could open up many doors to explaining our own climate. Some other topics of interest include:
Before the runaway greenhouse effect, was early Venus temperate?[NOTE: pdf file is currently down so to view a transcript of the file I have decided to host it here.]
Did Venus once have an ocean? If so, did it ever have life?
What causes the geological resurfacing of the planet?
What is the nature of the atmospheric superrotation?
What are the aerosol particles in the atmosphere?
What is the —snow" on Venus mountaintops?
What is the nature of the disequilibrium chemistry in the Venusian atmosphere? Could it indicate atmopsheric life?
View rest of paper [pdf]
There are many other reasons to colonize Venus. First and foremost, human survival is dependent upon our expansion and colonization of space as Stephen Hawking recently made so clear. Venus is enticing for such a proposal for the three very important reasons: location, location, location. One, it is Earth's closest neighbor (excluding the Moon). Two, the colony is located in the dense atmosphere and thus it blocks harmful solar radiation naturally--problems that would be encountered on the Moon and Mars. The third is Venus' relative position to the coveted asteroid belt. It seems counterintuitive that Venus has a prime location for reaching the asteroid belt considering it is closer to the sun than Earth and the asteroid belt is even further than Earth but astrodynamics says otherwise. Here is more from the previous [pdf] explaining the concept in further detail:
In terms of flight time, Venus is closer to the asteroid belt than either the Earth orClearly, Venus presents a distinct advantage concerning mining asteroids, a potential 'gold mine.'
Mars. This is shown in figure 3. For example, the minimum-energy trajectory to the largest main-belt asteroid, Ceres, takes 0.95 yeears from Venus, and 1.05 years from Earth. In terms of flight time, the closer you are to the sun, the more accessable the asteroids are. The asteroids are not actually close to each other, and hence if a habitat is to support prospecting and mining more than one asteroid, the asteroid belt is in some ways the worst location for it. An asteroid is as likely as not to be on the opposite side of the sun, and although the Earth is further from the sun, that does not put it closer, on the average, to any given asteroid. The higher orbital velocity of Venus actually makes transfer orbits somewhat faster, as well as increasing the number of transfer opportunities (that is, decreasing the synodic period).
View rest of paper [pdf]
Establishing a floating city colony also gives humans much more 'practice' with inhabiting alien worlds. Learning to become air and land dwellers could prove to be a valuable asset in the future. Venus gives us a unique opportunity in regards to this because its gravity, at.904 G's, is only slightly less than Earth's. This means that colonists would not need to make frequent trips back to Earth to avoid bone loss or any other negative side effects of low gravity environments.
OK, but there are still problems right?
Of course there are. Many obstacles face a floating colony on Venus, though not as many nor the type that most would expect. The atmosphere is filled with sulfuric acid and other corrosive particles. Ceramics or some other type of layer would be necessary to prevent corrosion. Sulfuric acid fortunately has many industrial uses and could also be harvested for use. Scooping raw materials would also require quite an engineering feet, not to mention the whole project itself being a gargantuan task. The hazards overall are similar to any ambition of colonizing a planet. One big concern would be leaks. Fortunately, since the pressure is approximately equal on the inside and out, leaks of even large proportions would be slow and manageable.
Personally, I wouldn't say that colonizing Mars or the Moon first is a better or worse idea. Clearly those two options get the most attention and seem the most viable options to many. A floating city may not be as easy or as difficult as what has been proposed but the idea deserves merit. I believe the proposal is worthy enough for deeper consideration and more research. Hopefully my spreading of this idea has sparked a few of you with your own ideas. If anyone has any questions feel free to post them and I will try my hardest to address them and find an appropriate answer.
Related Articles:
- Colonization of Titan-- The Future Persian Gulf?
- Colonizing Mercury
- The Space Colonization Series
- The Manifest Destiny: Mark II (Essay on our destiny as humans to colonize space)
- Lunar Dirt Factories? (A look at how lunar regolith could help us colonize the Moon)
- Why Mine the Asteroid Belt? (counter-argument to article "A Billion Tons of Nickel" inspired by the floating city article)
- Copy of PDF file
- About This Blog--My Purpose