text:
I think it was only 15 years ago that I meekly asked if there was a way to cycle from the train station near Giverny to the gardens. My post was greeted with much amusement. Cycle? Who in the world would do that?
That same question would be greeted very differently now, and I would get a lot of experienced responses.
As I've posted various trip reports of vacations that included a cycling tour, I've tried to keep company names out of them. I have, however, done comparative reviews of companies, and I'd like to offer an update again.
This post will cover:
Why Take a Cycling Tour--and Why Not Do It Yourself?
Cycling Tour Generalities
Companies With Which We've Toured
Why Do A Cycling Tour?: A review of various tour companies and general tips
18 Replies | Jump to last reply |
Report Abuse
Post Continued: Why Take a Cycling Tour--and Why Not Do It Yourself?
Everyone has his own reasons for traveling, and everyone has his own approach to planning it. Family styles of travel differ greatly, too.
I love to plan travel, and my family (now grown) loved to travel. In the late 90s and early 2000s, we had tons of frequent flyer miles because my husband basically was on a plane 5 days a week, and that combined with a strong dollar, provided a lot of incentive to get to Europe. My husband and kids were willing to stay in any type of place as long as it was clean (well, I'm not so sure the kids even cared about that), so I had a lot of options in using our travel dollar wisely.
Overall, our vacations reflected different aspects of our family life. I was a former teacher and my husband and kids were athletes. We tended to have "museum style" trips in the winter months and very active vacations in the spring and summer. When the kids were smaller, that meant in the US we were found hiking the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon or looking for Rocky Mtn sheep or moose in national parks.
Ironically, the trips that were harder to plan were the active ones. My family could spend days in museums, believe it or not, and those types of trips allowed for more instant decision changes to allow for everyone's needs. Not so on active trips. I could find the accommodations, make sure everyone had the right gear, get all the transport details locked down, but I could NOT make everyone happy on the trail. My husband hikes too fast. My little one always felt we were not treating her right. And I was always exhausted from being Management 100% of the trip.
So when my little one had just turned 8 and my oldest was almost 13, we signed up with a now defunct active travel company to hike the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. I had felt overwhelmed by trying to match the rail transport with trails we should take, and opted to take an easy way out because this specific tour group's pricing was very comparative with what I had been planning on my own.
The hiking tour was geared towards families, and the company owner really had a feel for what kids needed. We were always back in time for all the kids to hit a pool or playground. The kids got hiking sticks to which one would attach a medallion of each village we went through. We were at a bakery at dawn so the kids could see how the bread they ate that day came to be--and THEN they were told that the baker had just rescued four men from a mountain top hours before.
A good time was had by all, and this is what I took away from it:
--All of us could hike at our own pace and have company, yet
--We were not "locked in" to a group social situation 24/7
--I did not have to plan every day's trail
--I did not have to carry medical supplies--it wasn't MY problem!
--I did not need to know "emergency" words in a foreign language
--I did not have to plan our lunch stop. I did not have to plan where we would have dinner. I did not have to decide which hotel was best.
In other words, I got a vacation in there.
After that, we tried out a hybrid cycle and/or hike tour, and that led us to thinking that we preferred cycling most of all. And as years went by, we tried to do one every year. A few weeks ago, my husband and I completed our 17th cycle tour.
Why Not Do It On Your Own?
The short answer? Bicycle quality. Having a decent bike to ride is the overall most important variable in cycling trip happiness.
Oh, I've rented bicycles frequently as part of a day or two's adventure in cities all over the US and Europe. One of us MIGHT get a decent bike; it was rare that all four of us would. I will discuss more about bike quality in the Cycling Tour Generalities section.
Secondary factors are emergency services, luggage hauling, day's ride, and overall trip timing. Just knowing that I don't have to plan how to get our luggage to another place OR have to haul it on the bike is a huge relief. Knowing that a flat tire doesn't mean a ruined afternoon is another relief. And knowing that someone has a good feel for how long it will take us to get from Point A to Point B at OUR pace is so helpful, and knowing that someone with knowledge of the local area has planned our cycling route to be both enjoyable and safe is a delight.
Another key word: pace. When my husband and I hiked, I was always angry that he needed to speed up a mountain. And it's really true: he NEEDED to speed. That's how he walks, he talks, he works. I'm slow to get going--and then I can zoom. So when we hiked or biked together, one of us was always unhappy.
With these trips, all of my family members can choose their own speed because of support services. My oldest liked to leave before any in the group got going, would do all long options (explained below), might even fit in an extra option, and would be showered by the time anyone else got back. My little one liked to bike with Daddy (fast, but with stops for berries), and I liked to bike by myself.
So as expensive as a complete active cycle tour can be, there are distinct advantages that we, and particularly I, value. -
Report Abuse
Cycling Tour Generalities
In this post, I'll describe qualities common to most, if not all the GUIDED cycling tours we've taken.
Bikes and Equipment Offered
Every one of the five companies with whom we've cycled has offered both upright (also termed "hybrid") and drop handled cycles. Bikes tend to be good quality, and the guides are very familiar with how to repair them on the spot.
All of the companies offer at least a roomy bike bag for the front and/or back, and all have water bottles/water bottle cages. All will provide cycling locks since these bikes are a considerable investment.
Most provide gel seat pads now, but since sometimes a gel seat can actually make seat problems worse, I bring my own (it has a depression in the middle to make my "parts" a bit more comfy) and I also bring my own seat. If you use special pedals (clips, etc), then you bring those, too.
All companies we've cycled with provide helmets. Now that helmets have dial adjustments that make fitting a snap, I wouldn't even consider bringing mine. I was on one trip, however, where a man's head was really huge and they did not have a helmet to fit. If that's a problem for you, you will have to plan ahead.
How the Day Runs
Each company runs its trips a bit differently, but there is a general similarity of operation that crosses all.
Breakfast is at the hotel, and is part of the trip cost. If it's a moving day, the company will ask that luggage be outside the door (or brought to a point) by a certain time. After breakfast, the group assembles somewhere for a "route rap". At this time, the guides indicate overall timing for the day (lunch, tours, options, etc) and go over any pitfalls in the sets of directions they hand out.
Directions are then placed by each rider in their directions sleeve on the bike, which may be on top of the bike bag or just a device between the handlebars. The directions usually have two lefthand columns showing a)running total mileage in km/miles and b) interval mileage in km/miles between direction points. Directions usually are a combination of literal (route 98, for example) and physical (turn left at the white house with two trees).
On any given day, cyclists are usually offered at least two options, a "short" day and a "long" day. It's quite common to have three options, and we've been on trips where there's a "see the guide for more" option.
For those desiring a short option, there are one or more established shuttle points.
In general, on most trips, one guide will cycle the route front to back and back to front, and another guide will sweep the route via van, making sure water and snacks are available at key turning points. Both guides are available that way to change tires, handle emergencies, and so on.
Lunches may be on your own one day and a picnic another day. It all depends on the company and the route.
Often, the group will have a meeting point for a special tour of an important site. One can almost always opt out if so desired.
Dinners are part of the trip cost, except it's common to have one night on your own. Some of the tour members can't bear to be apart by that time; others just would like some time away. Often the guides will call ahead and make reservations.
Distance and Pacing
There are some trips where cycling more than 50 miles would be hard to do. The trip just wouldn't be designed for it. And I've been on one where the minimum cycle was over 30 miles (although the van driver would take pity and do pick-ups). All companies grade their trip difficulties, with 1 usually being easiest and 4 usually being difficult, although they'll also tell you that each day can widely differ. So pay attention and choose a trip that's right for you.
You usually don't have to decide what daily option you'll take right away. I'd say it's common to decide by lunch time how far one intends to go. If you thought you'd ride all day and by 11 a.m., you're pooped, they'll rack the bike on the top of the van, and you hop in.
There are natural limitations, though. If you decide to do the long option of 60 miles, and you are only on mile 25 by 4 pm, the guides will try to talk you off the trail so you are not cycling in the dark. If rain conditions make visibility too limited and hypothermia likely, the guides will pull you from the trail. Note: Rain does not generally stop the tour. They mean it when they say, "Rain or shine".
The pace you choose, though, is largely up to you. My husband and my youngest love to speed ahead and then stop for coffee once or twice before lunch. After lunch, it's beer and ice cream stops for them. They explore all roadside berry patches. They can still do long options even with these breaks simply because they have the athletic ability to do it.
My oldest also had the athletic ability to do long options, but she was rarely seen. She'd grab the directions right after breakfast, have a chit-chat with the guides, hop on the bike, and off she went. If there was a picnic, she'd drop in, grab a handful of something, and disappear. We'd only see her when we got back to the hotel, although the guides often would report "sightings" to us.
I usually ended up seeing everyone on the trail. I started slowly and then sort of moved up the ranks. Some days I'd do short options, most of the time I did the average options, and often I'd do a long option. Now that I'm arthritic, my original pacing has altered, though. It's STILL great.
Most couples do tend to cycle together.
What's Included
In general, all breakfasts and most of the dinners, some lunches, some tour fees, all tips for hotel meals and baggage services are included. At one time, some of the companies charged a rental fee for the bicycle; I think that practice is disappearing.
One of the companies we cycled with provided oodles of alcohol on the trip; most do not do so except for a greeting the first night and a "so-long" the last night.
Tips for the guides (who are your tour guide, your repair person, your chauffeur, and sometimes your medic) are not included. The basic starting point: 4% of the total trip cost which will then be divided among all the guides. We usually start there and then add more to that amount as we see fit for the "above and beyond" service each guide provided us.
Next: Tour Groups We've Used--A General Overview -
Report Abuse
Wow! This is great. I have been on a couple of these myself and you are spot on so far. Can't wait to see the rest. Thanks for posting.
Report Abuse
Thanks for the encouragement, ahotpoet.
Report Continued: Cycling Tour Companies Used
We started out our cycling tour experience with a now defunct company. Since then we have used:
Backroads 11 trips
Bike Vermont (also known as Bike Ireland and Bike Scotland when in those countries) 2 trips
VBT (and although those initials stand for Vermont Bicycling Tours, this company is NOT the same as Bike Vermont) 2 trips
DuVine 1 trip
How Do We Decide Which Company?
Our most important factor is DATE. We like to get two days on the ground before the cycling trips starts and perhaps two days after. We have had to align school dates, my husband's "crunch" and "non-crunch" time at work, and family obligations to come up with windows of opportunity.
Once I have established that, I usually check out Backroads and VBT trips and dates first. I then check out their routing and their relative accommodations, plus factor in value for dollar. Backroads has usually won simply because it runs SO many trips in SO many places, but I would never automatically rule VBT out.
I chose the Bike Ireland/Bike Scotland trips from Bike Vermont because I wanted to go to those places, and their routing was simply superb.
Our Experiences
Backroads is our primary go-to company because we've had more or less reliable experiences with them. They usually make sure art or historical aspects of the area are integrated somehow into the tour. Guide quality is good; bikes are always good. And Tom Hale, the founder, stands by his product. Cost is near the top--but not quite at the top. Alcohol at dinner is not included, although the initial gathering and a farewell drink usually are. Directions are usually very readable.
Changes in the market have created changes in the company. Many longer trips have been shortened to meet the travel time needs of clientele (and to lower the $$$ of the trip). Also, to meet the competition of such companies as VBT, Backroads is offering a cheaper level of trip, termed "Casual."
Bike Vermont My Bike Ireland trip with them, one that covers the West Coast of Ireland from Ennis up to Connemara National Park, may have been one of my favorite trips ever. The pricing was excellent, and our two guides that trip were very effective. Because of the pricing (relatively low), the trip draws people without beaucoup $$$s who are so happy they can do such a trip. That quality of expectation certainly enhances everyone's experiences.
The guides know everyone locally, and they felt free to make last-minute decisions such as taking us for set dancing they had just found out about. Our hotels weren't over the top, but they were quite nice and their locations were PERFECT.
Our Bike Scotland trip wasn't as lovely, probably because of torrential rain every day. But value was quite good again.
One other thing--whoever writes Bike Vermont directions does a great job. Print is big (husband loved that), and there's a really "physical" sense to them. And whoever routed our Ireland trip did a fantastic job, too.
Initials could honestly stand for "Value Bicycling Tours". This company offers a solid bang for the buck. Guides tend to be local; there is usually a cooking lesson and a language lesson on the trip. Alcohol isn't included, but I swear they manage to pour a lot of free booze down our throats anyway!
In addition, they offer great pre- and post- trip packages for a good price, especially since those include ground transportation to/from the cycling trip. Another VBT specialty is their Air Package. We've never used that aspect because we're usually using FF miles or we may even be coming from three different cities, but the pricing is quite attractive. Problem is that often one must take one more connection to make that pricing work. Still, if it's the difference between going or not going on vacation, I think VBT air packages are a steal.
I never like my bike as much on VBT tours as I do on Backroads, but that's not a deal breaker by any means for us. The bikes are still good. And their directions are good.
We've only taken one trip with them, and that was their Burgundy trip. Positives: really good accommodations, really good food and really good wine tastings. The negatives we experienced: really bad directions (in area where getting from point A to point B is a no-brainer) and a "clump" method of cycling.
I have no clue as to whether DuVine runs all of their trips this way OR if our guides were just terrible, but basically, there was no standard safety talk (Backroads and VBT always start out the trip with a strong safety presentation; our people at Bike Vermont would STOP you on the road if they noticed a loose helmet or if you were not cycling single file).
In addition, the guide expected the 14 or so guests to sort of bike "around" him, so that he could chat about the area as we cycled. That worked for most of the guests--no one but us had ever been on one of the these types of trips before.
And speaking of "14"--DuVine brags that it limits the size of its group. We have found over time that have around 20 people on our tour is actually optimal--it allows a more fluid social atmosphere.
DuVine directions were unreadable. Print was teeny tiny, and they were written in non-parallel structure. If anyone thinks that parallel structure was just invented so your English teacher could give you a "C" instead of an "A" on your paper, try following directions--on the fly!--that are not parallel in sequence. You'll go nuts.
Long options on this trip consisted of begging one of the guides to take us out later. Again, it could have been the fault of the two guides.
Overall: Bang for our buck given the area was quite good, but the cycling value was very, very low.
Next: Two Cycling Companies We Know a Bit About But Have Not Used -
Report Abuse
I've changed my mind and have decided I should not talk about any company with which I've not toured. It's just not right. But I can offer a...
Resource for further information about all types of cycling (and walking) tours
This article describes not only guided but also self-guided agencies. -
Report Abuse
AlessandraZoe, this is an amazing post (or set of posts). Would love to get in touch with you (firstname.lastname@example.com) to talk more about bike trips.
Another good site is that is more updated is here:
http://reviews.biketourbuzz.com/ -
Report Abuse
Thanks, theduke37. I'll check that one out.
Other update: recently Bike Vermont http://discoverybicycletours.com/index.aspx
changed the company name to "Discovery Bicycle Tours". Again, although I tend to cycle mostly with Backroads, I still think their West Ireland trip may have been my best ever experience. -
Report Abuse
Very informative posts. I ran across your posts while searching for combination gulet and biking in Turkey ( I am still looking so I would welcome any help). My wife and I have also been on many bike tours. Butterfield and Robinson, Backroads, DuVine, Trek and we are soon going on a walking tour to Maccupichu (sp) w/ VBT that I bought at an auction. Anyway, I feel it is really hard to rate any of the companies b/c I could have a really great set of guides from one company and you could have really poor guides from the same company. I think our DuVine guides were fabulous and our Trek guides were horrible. I do think you can group them by price. B&R are always going to be the most expensive and VBT is almost always the least expensive. VBT's air packages are pretty good from a price standpoint but your flight options are very limited and the flight time choices they give you can be horrible. I always say the things that make or break a trip are weather, guests and guides and the first two no bike touring company can control TPr -
Report Abuse
Good points, Tnelson. And that's probably why we really DO stick with Backroads. Our worst guide with them would have been the best guide with some other companies. Their training level--plus Tom Hale's thumb on the pulse--have created a consistency.
Your points about VBT are important. I have not re-read what I wrote, but we do NOT use their packages. We have FF miles to burn OR need to earn! And with our time limitations, we usually need the most direct flight possible.
At the same time, the people I traveled with on VBT consistently were repeaters who found the company to be very cost effective, particularly because of the air packages.
No matter what, I have never felt "nickle and dimed to death" with VBT.
Agree about group. We once biked with a now defunct company. 24 people I think, ages 8 to 81. Horrible hotels, horrible guides, terrible maps. It was SO bad, however, that we all bonded and we more or less took over the trip.
Best trip EVER. Could never duplicate.
My time is limited right now, but I'll write about my Turkey Backroads trip in a little bit. -
Report Abuse
AlessandraZoe: I think it is a real shame that your wonderful report/info has next to no audience on this specific forum.
Maybe consider - posting it on the Europe Forum, or at least post a thread there simply directing readers to this thread here on Travel Tips & Trip Ideas. -
Report Abuse
Actually I linked to this thread with my last trip report about Puglia. No takers that I could see with that thread.
But I was just considering again reposting this thread link over on Europe, since that is where I tend to spend my posting life, janisj. So you have more or less given me permission, and I shall do so. -
Report Abuse
I just wanted to post that this was fantastic. I went on a cycling tour in Ireland in 2000 and loved it - all you do is bike and eat and take photos.. they do all the rest...
I didn't do another active tour until 2011 when I went to Norway with Backroads (hiking) and again in 2012 to Croatia (also hiking). Same thing: you just show up and do what you came to do. They take care of the rest. For active vacations, it's really nice not to have to think about the infrastructure involved in your vacation. It is not as easy as the museum kind of vacation (as you mentioned).
Thanks for such a great post! -
Report Abuse
You are so welcome, flygirl. And I'm so happy you get the essence of why maybe it's worth NOT to be the trip-god" for a group bike trip.
And for those who would say, "Well, I could drive a car and accomplish the same thing," it's a matter of living in the moment. You really live in the moment on a bike.
Croatia cycling is a trip I want to do.
I do have to tell you that planning museum/plop in city trips is so easy for my husband and children that I had no idea how hard it would be with my sister, with whom I shared a room, a college major, etc. She shops! I do not! She hates museums! I do not! She's willing to sleep in beds shaped like Us for a the minimal price. I do not!
Thank goodness we both love to research restaurants and we do like to spend big bucks on food. -
Report Abuse
Very happy to see cycling info here on Fodor's.
We look for economical trips, so Backroads, etc, are too pricey for us.
One of our favorite trips was a 10-day self-guided Danube River cycle trip. Back in 2007, it was only around 500 euros. Still a bargain today.
http://www.biketoursdirect.com/all-tours -
Report Abuse
I'm thrilled to see this post! I couldn't agree with you more.
We have just been introduced to the concept of biking while on a vacation. We go with another couple where one is VERY active (wants to do all the long rides and hardest hills) and the other is more like us, middle of the pack. Also, sometimes I just dont want to bike every day. Tours plan for that and have a host of good alternatives which I really appreciate.
Of the 2 trips we've done, we've used Backroads(Utah - Bryce/Zion) and Trek(Canadian Rockies). Both were excellent.
Trek bikes were a tad better. I'm 5'1" and need a smaller than average frame. The smallest Trek bike for women worked well for me. The Backroads bike was adequate but needed tweaks to really work.
Our Backroads guides were very thoroughly trained and knew a huge amount about the area's history, geology and almost any other thing we could think to ask. Our Trek guides were equally knowledgeable and supportive. Both sets of leaders were well tuned to the group dynamic, sensing when ppl were tired and needed a day off the bike or "perking their ears" when someone needed medicine and offering to get it during the next store run.
We're off to a Provence with Trek this June. Hope to see some of you out there! Comment has been removed by Fodor's moderators
Report Abuse
You make a great case for organized tours. I've done both the self service option and organized tours and both have their merits depending on what kind of adventure you are looking for. Also highly recommend signing up for local events when possible. Famous examples include La Marmotte, and Etape de Tour. For many, an overseas cycling trip is a pretty special event and topping it off with one of these races is great motivation!
Report Abuse
CS_tms28--Good point about a race for the competitive. It is really neat when all the timing coincides, isn't it?
I always point out, though, that we are not ever going to fly our bikes over there, and my non-tour rental experiences have not been good. So races for my husband are not feasible.
Perhaps he could enter competitive beer tasting, though.
HunyBadger--I must have missed your post, and I apologize. I think adding the info about the bike measurement is important.
More seat info:
I am limited on Backroads because I tend to need at 5' 11" type bike even though I am slightly under 5'8". I have often wished they used Trek bikes because I know I could get a "walk through" in an upright with a Trek. Instead, I have to have a male bike on Backroads.
A male bike is not that much fun now when since I developed bone spurs in my hips. I can't swing my legs easily over the bike. I have to lay the darn thing on the ground, step over, and pull up. Yes, I am a spectacle wherever I go.
In addition, sometimes the bike assignments go by height, even if you have filled out forms saying, "I take a large." I learned the hard way to lie about my height on Backroads forms (I "grew" around 4 inches between my first form and the fourth), and then I have to have a really good understanding of the basic adjustments I'll need.
SEATS! I did not bring my own bike seat or get pad on our New Zealand trip because I was trying to meet carry-on weight. Worst mistake ever.
Again, I emphasize that the WRONG type of gel seat is worse than none. My "double dip" combination of grooved seat and grooved gel pad turned out to be essential for seat comfort. A slightly smaller bike would have helped my seating because my "lean forward" angle would not be on my "parts", but I already knew that a smaller bike meant a bad angle for my really bad knees.
Knee pain=no go. Seat pain is agony, but one can still at least function.
18 Replies |Back to top
|Sign in to comment.
Recent Activity
- 1 Single Senior Citizen travel
- 2 Seeking easy and secluded beach vaca - help!
- 3 Eurail Pass Help!
- 4 iPad use on long flights
- 6 Goin' solo...nothing like it! (A trip report collection)
- 7 Italy, Greece and turkey holiday
- 8 Scottevest jacket product quality issues
- 9 Sardinia, Italy
- 10 Vacation Destination
- 11 Packing list - 6 months with carry-on only
- 12 traveling with fifteen year old grandson
- 14 train tickets for italy
- 15 Shoe Trouble
- 16 Good article on shoes for travel
- 17 Rose Bowl Parade
- 18 BEWARE of Grand Circle Travel SCAMS!!!
- 19 Buying SNCF tickets
- 20 5 week opportunity to travel - any tips where?
- 21 Changes in Travel Insurance: deductible
- 22 How to avoid delays at US border?
- 23 meditation - yoga - retreates.
- 24 Home Exchanges
- 25 Comparison of Budget Booking Sites


text:
A half-hour animated series that follows Quahog's favorite soft-spoken neighbor, Cleveland Brown, as he settles down in Stoolbend, VA, with his high school sweetheart and her unruly kids.
Rallo heads to East Stoolbend to stay at Robert's apartment for the weekend. But when Robert abandons him for a trip to Baltimore, he's forced to make friends with the tough neighbourhood kids. S4 Ep19
Donna forces Rallo to sign up for Stoolbend's version of the Boy Scouts, the 'Freedom Squirts'.
View all photos >>
29 user(s)love it enough to push the button
Copyright © 2013 - MediaWorks TV - All Rights Reserved
Standard Competition/Promotion Terms and Conditions | Website Access Policies | Employment Opportunities | Advertise on This Site

subset: commoncrawl


text:
You've selected a filter combination that will return zero results
Please select at least one Creative or Editorial filter to begin your search.
Please select Rights Managed or Royalty-Free.
Please select Color or Black & White.
Please select Photography or Illustration.
Please enter a valid number
Please enter a start date earlier than the end date
Please enter a valid date
Please change your selection to the left.
The Gallery Collection now features more works by Impressionist masters Renoir and Monet, including canvases from London's National Gallery, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, and Moscow's Pushkin Museum.
School scenes and universal symbols of education are depicted in medieval manuscript vignettes, Victorian paintings, vintage children's book illustrations, and contemporary works.
In celebration of Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding, we put together a gallery of rural and aristocratic nuptials throughout time, as well as vintage bridal illustrations.
Exceptional images for inspired ideas and stories >
Creative and editorial motion clips from the world's leading collections and studios >
Rights clearances for music, film clips, celebrities, and iconic properties >
Unique photography, illustrations and fonts hand selected by creatives for creatives >
© 2002-2013 by Corbis Corporation. All visual media © by Corbis Corporation and/or its media providers. All Rights Reserved.


text:
- Text Size:
- ASmall Text
- AMedium Text
- ALarge Text
Gonzaga will try to keep its perfect West Coast Conference record intact - and its hopes for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament alive - when it hosts San Diego on Saturday. The No. 3 Bulldogs have won their 13 WCC games by an average of nearly 19 points, but their closest margin of victory came in their ninth straight win over the Toreros 65-63 on Feb. 2. Gonzaga, which has lost only to Illinois and at No. 15 Butler, is coming off a dominating defensive performance in an 85-42 victory over Santa Clara on Wednesday.The Bulldogs are led by player of the year candidate Kelly Olynyk, a 7-foot junior forward who averages 17.9 points and 6.9 rebounds and is fifth in the nation with a field goal percentage of 65.4. After opening its WCC season with four straight victories, San Diego has lost seven of its last nine contests, including a 70-67 setback at Portland on Thursday which extended its losing streak to three. Its previous loss was 61-52 at Santa Clara on Feb. 14, hardly a confidence builder after seeing what the Bulldogs did to the Broncos. TV: 7 p.m. ET, Root SportsABOUT SAN DIEGO (13-15, 6-7 WCC): While the Toreros are struggling to win games, they have played reasonably well on defense. San Diego boasts the best 3-point field goal defense in the WCC (30.6 percent) and has yielded the fewest 3-pointers (less than five per game), with Gonzaga going 4-of-8 from beyond the arc in the previous meeting. Freshman Jito Kok, a 6-9 forward, has been a force in the paint, leading the WCC in blocks at 1.7. Sophomore guard Johnny Dee averages a team-leading 15 points and scored 21 against the Bulldogs. Senior forward Chris Manresa (8.5 points, 6.5 rebounds) appears to have the unenviable task of trying to slow down Olynyk.ABOUT GONZAGA (26-2, 13-0): It appears the Bulldogs have an advantage down low with Olynyk and 6-8 senior forward Elias Harris (14.6 points, 7.5 rebounds). The duo combined for 33 points and 16 of Gonzaga's 29 rebounds against San Diego. The Bulldogs, though, are hardly a one-dimensional team with a three-guard offense led by sophomore Kevin Pangos (11.8 points, 3.4 assists), who also makes 44.3 percent of his 3-pointers. Sophomore Gary Bell Jr. adds 9.1 points to an offense that is third in the country in field goal percentage at 50.7 and ninth in points at 78.5. Gonzaga also leads the WCC in scoring defense (60.5) and field goal percentage defense (39).TIP-INS1. Gonzaga clinches its 12th WCC regular-season title in the last 13 years with a victory or a Saint Mary's loss to Creighton on Saturday. Saint Mary's ended the Bulldogs' run last season.2. Kok need eight blocks to set the San Diego single-season record. Dondi Bell had 55 in 1988-89. 3. The Bulldogs lead the series 61-21 and have won 22 of the last 23 meetings and 31 of the last 33.PREDICTION: Gonzaga 81, San Diego 63


text:
Mine knows:
Attack Order: One of Vespiquen's signature moves. Good power, high accuracy, STAB, good chance for a critical hit.
Aerial Ace: Decent power, doesn't miss, STAB.
Power Gem: Decent power, high accuracy, used to deal with Fire, Flying, and Ice types.
Toxic: Inflicts toxic poison. Vespiquen has pretty good defensive stats.
Vespiquen learnset
Gen V
Vespiquen (F) @ Bug Gem
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 68 Atk / 220 Def / 220 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
Item: Leftovers Ability: Pressure Nature: Bold/Impish EVs: 252 Defense, 252 S.Defense, 6 S.Attack/HP/Attack
Protect(HP EVs) or Attack-order(Attack EVs) or Hidden-power(Ground)(S.Attack EVs)
Defend-order makes you very bulky after a couple of uses making this bug hard to take down without a Rock type move. Heal-order is reliable healing. Toxic is status. Protect is for awesome poison-stalling, it even helps with Pressure-stalling, Attack-order would be for Physical STAB while Hidden-power(Ground) would be Steel and Poison type coverage. The main problem Vespiquen has is that it has terrible typing for a wall, you are going to have to watch out for Rock types, Stone-edge is your biggest issue as it has high critical chance and criticals ignore your stat ups, if you come across a Pokemon with Stone-edge either get out of their or try to Pressure+Protect stall them into running out of Stone-edge PP and hope they miss between turns(switching is better though).
my set move - win by stall :)
(wups forgot to add toxic)
This is truely an unfortunate Pokemon. One of the sturdiest RU Pokemon cursed with a 4x weakness to Rock. But there is hope!
Vespiquen @ Leftovers Pressure Impish 252 HP/ 252 Def/ 4 SpD
Roost Substitute Toxic Attack Order
This set helps to keep her alive as long as possible. Substitute is a great move to hide behind. Roost takes the edge off Rock type moves. Toxic helps the rest of the team in unimaginable ways, well ot really. And Attack Order is her strongest STAB move that will keep her from becoming taunt bait.
How to change your username How to add a user avatar Why was my post hidden? The points system Question etiquette Flags vs Downvotes Anime FAQ
Type a Pokemon name, type, move or ability to see instant results.


text:
Arduino Based LED Alarm Clock
Making an accurate microcontroller clock can be a little tricky but you can learn how it's down by building your own Arduino alarm clock using LED Matrices and a coffee can housing. All of the electronics are based on Wisedino (Arduino with timing... |
Powerful AA Battery to USB Device Charger
Need a highly portable USB power source that can be replenished with readily available, common batteries? Â Look no further my friends ;). Â Inspired by the original Minty Boost project, this modder managed to shove 4-AA batteries into an... |
LED Light Box Thumps to Your Music
Here's a super simple DIY project for you - Learn how to solder LEDs to make them sound reactive to your music! It's a really fun project and great for those just getting into circuitry. It's actually one of the first projects I built when... |
Cocktail Robot Mixes the Perfect Drink
The 'Drink Making Unit' is for the geek who loves to create their own custom mixes. We've seen some impressive robot bar tenders before, but now you can have a desktop version. This one was created by Evil Mad Scientists Lenore and... |
Homemade Bioshock 2 'Big Sister' Costume
The new game Bioshock 2 debuted recently and this enthusiast created his own Bioshock costume based upon the "Big Sister" character in the game. He's an experienced DIY Halloween costume maker when he created the Big Daddy character from the... |
Human Spider Climbs up Walls Using a Vacuum Cleaner
A BBC scientist created an impressive homebrew wall climbing system from a simple vacuum cleaner. The creator demonstrated his Spiderman prowess by climbing up the 120 feet facade of BBC Television center in the video below. He documented... |
Superb DIY RC Helicopter with Six Rotors
We've seen an Arduino powered 4-rotor copter, but if that's not enough you can upgrade to six individual rotors with this hexacopter. As you can see in the video above, this thing can reach some incredible speeds with precision control. ... |
DIY House-Wide Music System via Phone Jacks
Streaming audio around your house, such as podcasts, Internet radio or just some music is a great way to relax and can come in useful when throwing a party. But it's expensive. Use your pre-existing telephone wiring to run a house-wide audio... |
Poor Coverage? Make a Cell Phone Range Extender
While there are a few various DIY ways to to extend the range of your cell phone signal such as using tin cans, this is an entirely new, far more powerful method for super powering your signal. A 16 year old from New Mexico created the device... |
How to: LED Hard Drive Clock using Arduino
Ah...the Arduino. The super powerful, easy to program microcontroller brings us another fantastic DIY project. We've seen a few hard drive LED clocks in the past, but this one looks outstanding and is easier to create. It uses POV... |


text:
Next Message | Previous Message Next in Topic | Previous in Topic Next by Same Author | Previous by Same Author Chronologically | Most Recent First Proportional Font | Monospaced Font
Join or Leave MSUNAG Reply | Post New Message Search Archives
text/plain (42 lines)
We have a couple of them, but they haven't got much use yet. They might not be the easiest for anyone from the main campus to look at, given that we're located 60 miles away. Only one of our faculty members has made use of them so far. He was initially very enthusiastic, but now his enthusiasm has waned somewhat. When I asked why he mumbled something about slow responsiveness. I have been meaning to familiarize myself with these things so I can figure out what he's talking about. But even though I'm fairly ignorant I'm mentioning it anyway. Maybe it would be something for anyone who's evaluating these things to pay attention to. John Gorentz W.K. Kellogg Biological Station At 09:26 AM 1/9/2008, Scott Smith wrote: >"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"> >We have 2 in Human Resource Development, so if you're here for a class in the near future, you will probably see one in action! These are the Smartboards, not the Walk-n-Talk boards. We also have a couple of the portable ones. > >-Scott >----- Original Message ----- >From: <mailto:[log in to unmask]>Doerr, Chris >To: <mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] >Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:48 PM >Subject: [MSUNAG] anyone using a smartboard? > >I am hoping that someone has one of these things and would be willing to let me come take a look at it. We are interested in getting something like this: > > > ><http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART+Boards/default.htm>http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART+Boards/default.htm > > > > > >Chris Doerr > >Business & Personnel Office >Physical Plant Division >Michigan State University >Suite 1 Physical Plant >East Lansing, MI 48824-1215 > ><mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] > >www.pp.msu.edu > >(517) 432-0225 voice >(517) 353-5001 fax
Back to: Top of Message | Previous Page | Main MSUNAG Page


text:
Redefining Disclosure
Skip to content
[ Facebook comments] - NEW! Don't have a FREE Black Vault account? You can still comment using your Facebook, AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo! accounts at the bottom of the page.
by blackvault » Wed Oct 20, 2010 10:49 pm
Return to Space Discussions and Theories
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests
[ ]


text:
Satin pick-up ballgown with corset bodice and brooch detail.
Style T9104
This item is available in stores and online.*
Satin pick-up ballgown with corset bodice, bow, and brooch detail at waist.
A train that just brushes the floor. A fitted, seamed bodice also known as a bustier. Often features a lace-up back and boning for structure. A smooth fabric often used in bridal gown design because of its exquisite drape. |
Satin pick-up ballgown with corset bodice and brooch detail. Style T9104
In Love
I recently purchase this dress in white for my spring wedding which is in a few days. I fell in love with this dress from the time I saw it online. I hunted it down from a nearby store. And got lucky another store had it in my color and size. I had to get minor adjustments to it but it's going to be prefect for a garden wedding in Myrtle Beach. Thanks davids bridal.
March 20, 2013
Beautiful Flattering Dress
I ordered this dress online because I loved it and they didn't carry it in my store. The sparkle on the bow is just perfect! The ribs in the corset are very flattering and slimming. The length was perfect, and I don't even have to hem it at all. It does wear higher than other wedding dresses so at first we thought it looked a bit weird and didn't fit, but once we figured it out everything looked great.
November 30, 2012
Very pretty dress. Looks better in person than in the pic. Tried this on at the store and loved it. Can't wait to wear it on my wedding day! :)
November 28, 2012
Best Purchase Ever
This dress is absolutely gorgeous. The picture do not do justice. Ordered this dress online and could not wait for it to come back. Once it came back, I went to the nearest davids bridal and tried it on. It is absolutely stunning. And it's a great price. Can't wait til my big day to wear this amazing dress.
November 15, 2012
*Color & Style representation may vary by monitor. Not responsible for typographical or pictorial errors. Product availability varies by store and online. Some in-store purchases require special order and markdown styles cannot be special ordered. Contact your local store for details.


text:
How to make header height change when scrolling
Does anyone know how the header of the above website changes height when you scroll down a certain amount of the page?
I am trying to create a similar effect for a client but not sure how it is being done.
take a look att the scrollMonitor plugin. might find some cool answers.
if you check that engage.js with your debugger you will find a triggerpoint set to about 65px. and then a listener for scroll events. if the scroll is higher than the triggerpoint the css for the nav is changed. hope i didnt confuse you too much!


text:
What people are saying - Write a reviewUser ratings
User Review - Flag as inappropriate this is realy the poorest i have ever seen, because i can not get easily whatever i need in this page. Review: Financial Management: Theory and PracticeUser Review - Nguyen Thi - Goodreadsi am reading and i thinhk it needs for me, very much. so i like it Read full review Related books
72 other sections not shown Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases12 percent after-tax amount analysis annuity assume average balance sheet bank beta beta coefficient bonds borrow capital budgeting capital gains capital structure CAPM cash conversion cycle cash flows chapter common equity common stock company's corporate cost of capital coupon current assets decision depreciation discussed dividend policy dollar EBIT Equation estimated example expected rate factors financial calculator Financial Management firm firm's fixed assets flotation costs forecast funds future growth rate income increase inflation interest rates inventory investment investors issue lease leverage liabilities loan market risk market value maturity million Note operating option payable payments payout percentage period plans portfolio preferred stock present value profit purchase rate of return ratio required rate retained earnings risk premium risk-free rate risky securities SELF-TEST QUESTIONS sell share short-term standard deviation stock price stockholders Table tax rate WACC yield zero References to this bookFrom other books
From Google ScholarThe Ecological Consequences of Changes in Biodiversity: A Search ...David Tilman - 1999 - Ecology A Further Empirical Investigation of the Bankruptcy Cost QuestionEdward I Altman - 1984 - Journal of Finance Reframing the Organization: Why Implementing Total Quality is ...Rhonda K Reger, Loren T Gustafson, Samuel M Demarie, John V Mullane - 1994 - Academy of Management Review Managerial Control, Performance, and Executive CompensationLuis R Gomez-Mejia, Henry Tosi, Timothy Hinkin - 1987 - Academy of Management Journal References from web pagesFinancial Management: Theory and Practice 11e Financial Management: Theory and Practice, 11th edition Project Hook On A Book: Financial Management: Theory and Practice Solution of Financial Management:Theory and Practice -11th Edition ... Financial Management Theory And Practice 11th edition by Brigham ... Cengage - Finance - Student Product Details Page - Financial ... Eugene F. Brigham CIA = Continuous Internal Assessment ESE = End Semester ... Books torrent download FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (theory and practice) (LIVRO - Livros e ... Bibliographic information |


text:
Corn futures ended steady to higher. Futures were mostly higher on stronger-than-expected export sales totaling 37.8 million bushels for the current marketing year. China bought one cargo of corn. While only a couple of million bushels, the sale suggests that China may bid for corn on setbacks. In addition, freezing temperatures the past couple of mornings may have damaged some early planted corn. Rain will stall corn planting through the weekend and early next week across much of the Corn Belt. May corn settled 1 1/2 cents higher at $6.37 1/2 and December was unchanged at $5.46 3/4.
Soybean futures settled higher on Thursday. News that China was an overnight buyer of old-crop soybeans surprised traders who were selling earlier this week on the idea that prices were too high for foreign buyers. China was a designated buyer of one cargo and there was another sale to an unidentified buyer that might also have been China. USDA also reported weekly old-crop sales. Those sales topped average for the eighth consecutive week. May futures closed 19 cents higher at $14.41 while November gained 13 3/4 cents at $13.72 3/4. It was the highest close yet of the rally for the May contract.
Wheat futures closed mostly higher Thursday. CBOT led the way on ideas that both exports and feed usage are strong on competitive pricing vs. corn. Another night of frost in parts of soft red winter wheat country is another element, although it's still not seen as cutting yields appreciably at the national level. Outside markets lent support today. Today's wheat action was almost like a "delayed reaction" to Tuesday's data. CBOT May was 11 1/4 cents higher at $6.39; KBOT May was 9 cents higher at $6.53; while MGE May was 1 3/4 cents lower at $8.36 1/2.
Cattle futures finished higher Thursday. Cattle futures garnered support from steady cash trade on Wednesday. There was concern that given packers financial stress, cash bids would be down this week. Weekly beef export sales were also strong which helped shore up demand concerns. After the steep selloff over the past several weeks, futures are deeply oversold and due for a bounce. June cattle futures settled $2.10 higher at $117.15 and August was also $2.10 higher at $120.15.
Lean hog futures closed higher on Thursday. Hog futures were supported by an increase in pork and cash hog prices on Wednesday and also from strong outside markets. Prices for most commodities were high as was the stock market and the value of the dollar was lower. Deferred contracts are trending higher with traders hoping for a seasonal increase in the cash market. The May contract closed at $93.13, up 60 cents. June was 58 cents higher, settling at $93.23.


text:
Parliament of Australia
Advanced Search
House of Representatives
House is not live
Senate is not live
Parliament of Australia site sections
Current section pages
Page tools
My Parliament
You are here:
Clicking the 'From' and 'To' fields displays a calendar. Alternatively select date by typing into these fields in the format 'dd/mm/yyyy'.
Current Bills
Previous Bills
Results per page 10 25 50 100
Renewable Energy Amendment (Feed-in-Tariff for Electricity) Bill 2010
Track (What's this?)
Bill | Explanatory Memorandum
Responsible Takeaway Alcohol Hours Bill 2010
Restoring Territory Rights (Voluntary Euthanasia Legislation) Bill 2012
Safe Climate (Energy Efficient Non-Residential Buildings Scheme) Bill 2010
Small Business Commissioner Bill 2013
Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Caring for Single Parents) Bill 2013
Social Security Legislation Amendment (Caring for People on Newstart) Bill 2013
Social Security Legislation Amendment (Disaster Recovery Allowance) Bill 2013
Special Broadcasting Service Amendment (Natural Program Breaks and Disruptive Advertising) Bill 2012
Special Broadcasting Service Amendment (Prohibition of Disruptive Advertising) Bill 2010
A bill is a proposal for a law or a change to an existing law. A bill becomes law (an Act) when agreed to in identical form by both houses of Parliament and assented to by the Governor-General.
Parliamentary sitting calendar
Go to the full calendar of events
Browse all Senators and Members


text:
Plastral is one of Australia and New Zealand's oldest established importer and distributor of Plastic Sheet Products. Servicing many sectors of industry including building and construction, signage, noise control, aquarium, general fabrication, engineering and chemical applications. Plastral offers comprehensive products and technical knowledge in selecting the ideal product, like transparent noise barriers for your area of application.
Plastral has warehouses and distribution centres in all the major cities around Australia and in New Zealand. We supply high quality transparent noise barrier glazing using plexiglas sheets for high impact strength.
For effective noise barriers you can't go past Plexiglas® Soundstop. Lighter than silicate glass, these transparent noise barriers are much more break resistant as well as resistance to weathering and ageing.
Plexiglas® Soundstop combines functionality and attractiveness. When installed on bridges and elevated structures its resistance to bridge vibrations and lightweight architecture play an important role.
As an extremely large monolithic acrylic sheet offering clear distortion free viewing.
High quality impact modified sheets combining UV and weather resistance with high impact strength for protective glazing applications.
Both solid and multiwall sheets for reducing heat build-up indoors and cutting air conditioning costs.
Virtually unbreakable solid sheet for use in security, custodial and vandal prone areas. Available in standard, UV coated and AR (Abrasion Resistant) grades.
Plexiglas® Gallery is the best UV blocker among glazing materials. Plexiglas® Gallery completely filters out destructive UV rays and complies with the highest conservation requirements. Available with full gloss and non glare surfaces.
Plexiglas® defies the yellowing effect of UV radiation, thanks to its naturally uv-stable technology. Plexiglas® has undergone extensive testing and received many awards
Download the guarantee statement: Download (PDF)


text:
A line of first-graders wandered into the room and were quickly sorted by a line-up of students at registration looking through lists ordered by last name. The time had come for the biggest decision of the school day: who to select for president of the United States. The ballot presented a choice between Democratic candidate Barack Obama and GOP candidate Mitt Romney.
Whitley Mathis, 7, sported an American flag on her T-shirt as she wielded a highlighting pen and helped to orchestrate registration. She said she enjoyed checking off the names and learning more about the presidents in the school year leading up to the election.
"I didn't know about some of the presidents," said Whitley. "I only knew the ones on the coins."
The mock presidential election held at the school was treated with the utmost decorum and respect by Crissy Arrington's second grade students. Throughout the year, the class studied the election process, electoral college and kept up with the primaries and caucuses.
"They all kind of had an understanding that people vote, but they didn't understand how the person gets picked to vote," said Arrington. "We talked a lot about the different parties and the two main parties and how they are other parties."
Arrington explained that many of the students expressed very adamant feelings about their choice of candidate and an important part of the curriculum was learning to respect the choices of others.
"We say everybody has their right to choose who they want to vote for but we need to respect others and their feelings because they have that same right," said Arrington.
William Hindman was all business as he organized the paper ballot sheets into their respective bins for the Republican and Democratic candidates. He said some of the ballots were turned in with neither candidate selected, so he had to make sure those weren't counted.
"It's important so you know how many votes Obama and Romney get," said Hindman.
In the end, Romney came out on top with 199 votes compared with Obama's 131. The votes were counted, double-checked and then announced at the end of the day over the PA system. Ballots with both candidates selected or none at all were considered invalid.
All Floyd County Kaleidoscope elementary classes have held or are scheduled to hold mock presidential elections up until the day of the actual election day on Nov. 6.
"We tried to make it as close to the real election day as possible," said Arrington. "They're had a great time. They've really got into it and enjoyed it."
Romney wins Armuchee Middle
Armuchee Middle School students also voted Friday in a mock election for the two main candidates for office of president of the United States. Their election was conducted by the Armuchee Middle School Indian Council, the student government association of the school.
"All week during our morning show announcements, students have been learning about the candidates as well as where to go to find out more information about President Obama and Gov. Romney," said Dakota Thurston, an eighth grade student who serves as vice chief of the Indian Council. "This has been a very informative process that allows for students at Armuchee Middle to express our voice as to whom we think should be the president."
The results of the AMS mock election were in Romney's favor, with 336 students voting for him and 84 casting their ballot for the current president.


text:
Six months ago, Lucas Davenport tackled his first case as a statewide troubleshooter, and he thought that one was plenty strange enough. But that was before the Russian got killed. On the shore of Lake Superior, a man named Vladimir Oleshev is found shot dead, three holes in his head and heart, and though nobody knows why he was killed, everybody - the local cops, the FBI, and the Russians themselves - has a theory. And when it turns out he had very high government connections, that's when it hits the fan. A Russian cop flies in from Moscow, Davenport flies in from Minneapolis, law enforcement and press types swarm the crime scene - and, in the middle of it all, there is another murder. Is there a relationship between the two? What is the Russian cop hiding from Davenport? Is she - yes, it's a woman - a cop at all? Why was the man shot with ... fifty-year-old bullets? Before he can find the answers, Davenport will have to follow a trail back to another place, another time, and battle the shadows he discovers there - shadows that turn out to be both very real and very deadly.
©2004 John Sandford (P)2012 Penguin Audiobooks
Semi retired magazine editor and part time university adjunct instructor who is often distracted by his 10-year-old daughter.
"Davenport is all business in this one"
Having read many of the installments in the Davenport series, I was a little surprised that the usual cast of family and law enforcement characters were minimized in this novel. It was all about Lucas and the characters created for this particular story. And it worked. Carl wasn't very believable but this was tempered somewhat by grandpa who was a great character and who allowed us to believe that maybe Carl could be someone in the real world. I liked Nadia and wouldn't mind seeing her in other Davenport installments (although I'm not sure exactly where this book falls chronologically in the series). As always, narrator Richard Ferrone was superb. His delivery is impeccable, especially when portraying low-life characters. This was not the best Davenport novel I've listened to but it was well worth my time.
"Well written and read but not a great plot."
Book #15 in the series of 22 featuring Lucas Davenport, this was my first exposure to Lucas Davenport, having picked up the book on sale. He sounds like an interesting character, but the mystery doesn't really hold together well. A 50-year-old communist cell in northern Minnesota consisting of members of several clans but previously undiscovered in a region where historically Socialism had taken root? Unknown to the FBI? A grandson brainwashed by his kooky grandfather, apparently willing to do whatever it takes to further the cause? Structurally, you need to accept that an important character in the beginning and end but apparently incidental to the plot withheld the key to the case only to reveal crucial elements when Lucas was stuck. Nevertheless, I liked the internally incompletely resolved conclusion. Will the case reach full closure in connection with a later book in the series? The writing is good; I'd be willing to give another Sandford book a try if the story had an average rating of 4+ by others.
I'm glad that a previous reviewer (Adry) mentioned a background noise that sounds like another story or radio--too faint to be understood but loud enough to be distracting, especially during pauses in the reading. This is the first Audible book that I found to be technically flawed in this way.
Avid Reader
"Hear a second voice in background"
good story. Background voice annoying. Listened to other John Sanford audiobooks. Never had this problems before. Very distracting. Never had this problem with an audible.com book.
"crazy grampa ....lol"
The title was vague...but the story was awesome. I had a little problem with the second part, it had a back noise like radio or something but AUDIBLE courteously give me $10 credit for it...Im very grateful... Thank you
I just love it
Probably not
Plot was OK but a bit forced. A little too far fetched.
Understand this is a "tough guy" mystery type but the constant use of f*** just makes the characters look stupid and lacking in any depth. Sure doesn't give me the idea that "good guys" even have brains to figure out anything ...only that they are constantly irritated and know only one word. The plot seemed a bit Far fetched. The many "exciting" twists made it feel even more so.
I love Audible and I love books. What more can I say?
"Far and away Sanford's very best."
I plan to make it a bi-annual read because it is Sanford's best novel. There is much going on with the plot, it weaves around so easily bringing all the characters together in an intricately written plot.
The great characters from Davenport himself, to Grandpa, and the Russian female cop. I mean it was absolutely dazzling. I have now read all of Sanford's books due to the un-abridging bonanza. I would go so far as to say that this book equals or bests
any cop/thriller book on the market.
The usual perfection.
Definitely written with great humor, as are all Lucas' novels.
I promise if you like Davenport's other books it's a no-brainer, if you are new to Davenport this book should give you reason to read more by Sanford.
"Excellent addition to the series"
John Sanford has managed to create a book with a sufficiently intricate plot to keep the reader interested, along with a variety of characters that he skillfully interweaves among the activities. It surprises me that a series as established as this one can present a book with such a fresh face.
"Amother great Lucas Davenport mystery"
I like listening to these mystery books as you get a better feel for each different character by the voice and infliction of speech.
The Russian "cop". She was intense but very funny at the same time
NO, Listened to this book on my commute to and from work and while working out.
Yet another good Lucas Davenport read! This time Lucas is dealing with Russian spies in Minnesota. A story with a good plot and a very psychotic bad guy that is a grandpa. You don't usually find the old grandpa being such a bad guy! There was even some great humor. I was listening to this while working out at the gym one day and I know people had to be looking at me like I was crazy when I am laughing at a few scenes while lifting weights. I enjoy Sandford's intense plot lines and his sense of humor which make for a great book
"Not the best Sanford has written."
I would rank this book behind the W. E. B. Griffin novels, but in front of Tom Clancy's newest two novels.
Great separation of characters with his different voices for them.
No extreme reaction. In fact, I was surprised to hear who was "the bad guy" in the first chapter. In other Lucas Davenport novels we "see" the killer, but do not know their identity until the end of the book.
I have had problems listening to this book. It seems more boring than other Sanford works.
"I had a hard time getting past the narrator..."
I could not finish listening to this book; I could not get past the narrator's voice to the story. That being said, I plan on reading the book to actually see if the story is good or not.
His voice for at least one of the characters was like nails on a chalkboard to me.


text:
Would you like to see your stuff on Droid Insider? Gain more exposure today, sign up and start posting!, and help contribute a one of a kind android community. Click here to register! |
Rooting your phone is kind of like logging into as administrator instead as a regular user. It allows you to do things that only rooted users can. Such as turn your phone into a wireless router, backup your apps and data, run custom ROM's, or custom Kernels. What are custom ROM's? ROM's are the operating system for the device. Kind of like how windows 2000 is different from XP or vista. Or how Mac's look different then Microsoft Windows. What are custom Kernels? Kernels are the software that runs between the hardware of the device and the programs on the phone. Some kernels can OverClock your devices processor making them run fast then before. I must warn you that rooting your phone will void your devices warranty. However most if not all of android devices can be unrooted and brought back to stock and can be returned without the company even knowing your device was ever rooted. Check out the guilds and if your not completely sure you can always ask questions on our Forums. |
Droid Insider is your insider for roms, kernals, reviews, tips & tricks, made by owner and creator SSDave, and developed by programmer extraordinaire LifeOfCoding (Jimmy Rousseau), they aim at providing your one-stop shop for custom roms, kernals, reviews, and hacks, for any of your android devices in a user friendly environment, with an android community unlike any other. As Android is quickly becoming the largest and most popular tablet and cell phone OS, expect great things from Droid Insider as you watch us continue to grow.


text:
Use this Enclume Stainless Steel 36 inch Rolled End Bar with wall brackets or hang from the ceiling with Captain Hooks. Hand-forged rolled ends keep pot hooks from slipping off and add a touch of beauty.Measures 36"L x 3H", weighs 7 pounds. Pot hooks are not included but are available separately
If you found this item at a lower price, call us at 888-892-9911 or send us the form below. Give us the details on the lower price so we can match it!
We'll match the TOTAL current price of any in-stock item from an authorized retail site. The TOTAL price includes shipping/handling and sales taxes.
We will get back to you TODAY with the lower price if we receive this before 5 p.m. EST. Otherwise, we will contact you the next business day.
Price match doesn't apply to auction sites, sites selling "seconds," or those not authorized by the manufacturer. We must be able to verify the price. Not applicable to previous purchases.


text:
The Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana (EFB) wishes to express its concern at th...
China's shrinking trade surplus
BEIJING - Throughout 2010, China was criticiz...
After receiving all the necessary government approval to facilitate its takeover...
Still recovering from the loss of his wife who died late last year, local rhumba...
Two more judges join the bench | Merafhe undergoes operation | |
LOBATSE: Former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Phadi Solomon and Mercy Garekwe have been appointed High Court judges effective this mon... | Vice-President Mompati Merafhe underwent an operation yesterday to sort out an undisclosed health condition. |
BMC ordered to close | Puma Energy begins operations | |
The Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) is set to lose more than P50 million in revenue following this week's nearly month-long suspension of all beef expo... | After receiving all the necessary government approval to facilitate its takeover of BP Botswana, Puma Energy Botswana has officially begun operations,... |
Black Peril leads in the transfer market | Premier League, be MOBILE start sponsorship negotiations | |
With the January transfer window closed, relegation-threatened Black Peril has made more signings than any other club in the Premier League. | Talks for the renewal of the Premier League sponsorship deal has started, a statement from Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) has said. |
Nyangabgwe emergency ward: torture | Culture of graffiti slowly gaining ground! | |
FRANCISTOWN: Although many people expect to be assisted swiftly, at Nyangabgwe's Referral Hospital's Accident and Emergency ward, patients endure endl... | FRANCISTOWN: Graffiti is defined by Wikipedia, as a name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked on property and includes any t... |
The BPP golden jubilee that was never celebrated (Part 2) | ||
Mmegi Correspondent EDWARD BULE traces the forgotten history of the Botswana People's Party as the golden jubilee of Botswana's first political party ... |
Project Syndicate | Oppressive countries are on the brink of revolution | |
China's shrinking trade surplus BEIJING - Throughout 2010, China was criticized by the United States Congress (and many others) for "manipulating" ... | The Botswana National Front (BNF) has been following the events in the Middle East with a keen interest. It has to be understood that what has happene... |
Crowds gather for mass march | ||
Egyptian protesters were gathering in their thousands Tuesday for mass marches in their campaign to oust President Hosni Mubarak, reassured by the arm... |
Franco overcomes grief to produce new album | Evergreen Kekana leaves revellers wanting more | |
Still recovering from the loss of his wife who died late last year, local rhumba star, Franco (Frank Lesokwane), continues to defy the odds. He has fi... | The Millennium jazz restaurant was fully packed on Sunday evening as music lovers thronged the venue to watch South African music legend, Steve Kekana... |
Home :: Advertising :: Contact Us :: About Us | © Dikgang Publishing Company 2011 :: Developed by |


text:
Thinking of going? Let your friends know by clicking one of the buttons on your favourite date in the list below.
10 Going
1 Might Go
Why not share this with your friends?
Share this on Facebook
The Specials are back once more with a brand new tour! After the huge monumental success of their first two reunion tours, The Specials are back on what will be their biggest show tour for over 27 years! Specials tickets are now available for shows across the length and bredth of the country including London's Alexandra Palace, Glasgow's SECC, The Hull Arena and the Apollo in Manchester.
It's been a monumental two years for the Specials since reforming thats included two sold out tours, multiple festival appearances including spots high up on the bill at Glastonbury, V Festival and Benicassim. Picking up a NME God Like genius Award and appearing on Later with Jools Holland. True national treasures each and everyone of them! Who knows maybe even Jerry Damners can be tempted back on this leg of the tour?
2 Tone Ska revivalists The Specials performed their first gig together in 27 years as a surprise act at 2008's Bestival. Now, they're back on the road as well and will be playing at venues across the UK for a 30th anniversary tour.
Expect a plethora of hits, including Ghost Town, Too Much Too Young, Gangsters and many more! Don't miss the true pioneers of the British Ska movement. Get your Specials tickets today!
The Specials
Portsmouth, UK
Sun 26 May 2013
Portsmouth Guildhall
London, UK
Tue 28 May 2013
Brixton Academy
Tickets from £27.00
Wed 29 May 2013
Tickets from £40.00
We guarantee that you'll get the tickets you ordered in time for the event or we'll refund your money.
Read more
Follow your favourite artists with My Bands and build your personal gig diary today.


text:
Small businesses provide critical resources that contribute to the mission of USAID. We work with U.S. small and large businesses to provide maximum practicable small business participation in USAID procurements.
The Agency's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is responsible for monitoring USAID's implementation and execution of the small business programs and advising the Administrator and senior leadership in this regard.
In addition, OSDBU can help to provide guidance and information to small business looking to work with USAID. This can include:
Detailed information on doing business with USAID
Procurement information from the bureau and office representatives
Listings of Agency prime contractors and subcontractors
Instructions on reviewing and responding to solicitations
Please access the OSDBU contact information web page if you have any questions about USAID's small business participation programs.
Partnership Opportunities
Last updated: May 17, 2013


text:
My husband and son usually end up with more lures and hooks on the floor and seats of our boat than in the tackle box. My 8-year-old son, Ayden, thought of a simple idea to safely and quickly switch and store lures and hooks: Adhere several magnetic strips to the inside of the boat. You can easily stick lures and hooks to the strips to safely put them aside when not in use, and the strips hold hooks and lures tight. You can purchase a magnetic strip at your local hardware store for under $2.
Wendy Gove
Croydon, Pennsylvania
post a comment
All submitted comments are subject to the license terms set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use


text:
So I'm having a major binge-out on cooked food today. One slip up a couple of weeks ago and I cant seem to get back on track! I dont know why I keep doing that. I feel like if I were to just have one cooked meal and stop then maybe thats OK but I just seem to go for everything that I like that is cooked. I havent had anything "unhealthy" (I guess it depends on your standards). I had some avocado, temphe, lentil soup, quinoa, basmati rice, brown rice pasta with homemade marinara sauce, edamame. Just wanna stay home and eat. I had planned to do a 30 day raw commitment like many of you suggested but couldnt even get through 3 days. I started feeling really nauseous at the thought of raw food and was only able to handle oranges. I dont know why that happened! I got really depressed too and was obviously not getting enough cals. Everyone has been so supportive here and I feel embarrassed that I keep failing and posting about it but I cannot shake the feeling that this is what I need to do so I just need advice I guess. What have your methods been for sticking this out longer?
Make sure, too, that you don't have dental metal. (metal mercury fillings, and other dental work) - this might be making you sick and also creates addiction to some foods (gluten, casein and others). For me, it also makes me feel very sick when I eat most cooked foods. (though I've had mine out) That's why I figured I'd mention it. Just in case you had some dental work. It's not something we naturally think of..
Yes and make sure if you have any tooth colored fillings that they don't have metal in them as they usually do as well as toxic plastic. You can ask for a material safety data sheet from your dentist on any product they use, including the bonding agent, numbing agent.
We have our dentists use diamondlite materials, which have very high bio compatibility.
are you stressed?
Mainly making myself stressed over food lol
Just say to yourself: From now until I go to sleep, I am raw. Regardless of what you just ate, even if it was a huge bowl of cooked rice. Just for the rest of that day, you will be raw. Then tomorrow say: Today I'm going to be raw. Don't think about tomorrow and don't think about how you want to be raw for 6 months or wtv. Just think: toady I'm going to be raw. Just think about the now and don't worry too much about the future.
This method really helped me, I would say that phrase to myself everyday with a huge smile on my face. And after about 6 days I didn't need to say it anymore because my body just knew it already because it got into a pattern of it.
Good luck! :)
Emi, that is great advice! I think a big mistake of mine was that I said "I'm going to be 30 days fully raw". Well, 3 days in and I was already wondering how I was going to make it for 27 more days. I should probably set smaller goals. I was thinking a week but maybe day by day is best!
Thanks Happy Willow! Its almost that time of the month for me too
The behavior you are describing can be triggered by not eating enough! I go to a 12 step group, too, for binge eating. I do find a benefit in the spiritual principles of the program that I learned there. And I do believe there may be some physical problem that might predispose someone to addictive behavior, BUT it could just be, your body is starving for adequate carbs. If you had a period of calorie restriction/ carb restriction (and most people in our culture do, because the mainstream diet is so heavy in animal products and fats), then your binge-ing problem, whether on food or on alcohol, could be as simple as being under-carbed. I did not get any relief from my junk food binges until I started eating an average of 3500 calories, and this is why I blog here every day, to try to convince young women to please eat enough so they can start living!
I totally agree with that Greenamama! I know i havent been eating enough fruit cals. Its just so hard to get them in! I think that binge eating definitely starts from restricting calories. Unfortunately, it is perpetuated by more than that. A lot of the reasons why I want to binge these days is because I have an association with it that is pleasant (though the after affect NEVER is). Whenever I've allowed myself "just one last day of eating whatever I want, however much I want and thats the last day EVER!" (yea right, like that ever works) it felt so liberating. That feeling of excitement I felt of being able to do what I wanted without worrying is what keeps me feeling like I want to have just one more day of eating what I want. However, that feeling is lessened tremendously when I am eating enough. My sister has binge disorder and any time she would have a major binge, it was always after long periods of calorie restriction. I'm curious. How do you deal with eating 3500 calories of fruit a day when OA has pretty specific guidelines for how a recovering overeater should eat? Also, how do your fellow OA friends react to your dietary choices? I ask because I think that a fruitarian lifestyle is ideal for recovering over eaters but my sister is on a very strict diet that she was put on by the program. That never made sense to me. She is incredibly skinny now and I cant imagine how that could be healthy
Viktoriya...I read something a few weeks ago when I decided to start making real changes that stick. I think I may have come across it 30bananas, not sure, but it is: "Today can be a new day, or it can be like yesterday...I choose a new day!" And from that day forward I have been on this path. Hitting "rock bottom" is what really kicked me into gear...these revelations like, "if i can't care for myself, nobody can!" and not wanting to go down the bulimic road again, which was something I used to do to comfort myself, although ironically it also kept me miserable. I also came across something the other night that said "all suffering is self imposed"... This is huge! It is not something that we need to feel any shame or guilt about the past and the things we may have done to keep ourselves in suffering mode...but it is about acknowledging that and saying well...today can be a new day, or it can be like yesterday :) So let us choose a new day!
OA does not have very specific guidelines for how recovering overeaters should eat. They suggest that you identify your trigger foods and trigger eating behaviors and abstain from them. They also suggest that you have a plan of eating, but that is just a tool, and not a substitute for working the steps.
No one has ever questioned what I eat or how much. However, your sister may go to a group that interprets things differently, or have a sponsor who suggests those things.
There is a branch of OA called HOW, where member may choose a specific food plan and weigh and measure their food. But that is still just considered a tool, and not a substitute for the spiritual program which is the foundation of all 12 step recovery groups.
The primary thing that I abstain from is under-eating since I became aware that was the problem that was causing me to binge on junk food. I would undereat for 3 days and then binge out, and repeat that over and over. I also abstain from dairy and processed foods, but that is really easy when I am not under-eating.
© 2013 Created by TheBananaGirl. Powered by


text:
Its not about the graphics. Its about pcs cpus only having 2 or 4 cores while the ps3 has 8 (7 running). Ps3 games are designed to use 6 of the 8 cores so running a ps3 game through a processor with only 4 cores would not work. If we could create virtual cores and access the processing power of the gpu for general processing then we might get somewhere.
-reply by Alex


text:
Almost every TV show has a villain trying to stand in somebody's way. Sometimes these villains are victims in their own right, or their sass is more funny than hateful Other times, these villains are downright evil and need a serious ass kicking. Personally, I love villains. To me, they seem more complicated and misunderstood than your typical martyr of a protagonist. Here at the ANDPOP office we decided which TV villains we love, and which ones need to leave.
We rated them on a scale of one to 10 — 10 being the MOST ANNOYING and one being the least.
Cassandra July, Glee, 8/10
Verdict: Hate
This NYADA teacher loves to kill Rachel Berry's self confidence, sleep with her students, and have regular meltdowns. July has zero redeeming qualities. Her burnt out broadway act persona gets no sympathy from me. She is hateful, harsh, and refuses to give Rachel a break. Some may say she puts Rachel in her place, but I say she's jealous of her talent. July deserved it when Rachel finally stuck up for herself.
A, Pretty Little Liars, 9/10
Verdict: Hate
"A" is not one person. A is a series of people who wreak havoc on the so-called liars Aria, Spencer, Hannah, and Emily. The A-team's snooping and revenge tactics are more evil and scary than funny. "A" gives everyone a run for their money. She is downright terrifying. She has a psycho-killer thing going on.
Emily Thorne (Amanda Clarke), Revenge, 1/10
Verdict: Love
Emily Thorne of Revenge reps Amanda Clarke, who's father was framed for a horrible crime. After her father dies, Amanda assumes the identity of Emily Thorne to seek revenge on everyone involved in her father's framing and eventual murder. Thorne sets fires, ruins careers, ruins reputations, and turns lives upside down. Thorne has an evil streak, but her pure brilliance and drive to avenge her father has us smitten. We see her true colours when she truly cares about people — like her mentor Nolan. We love her evil smirk that tells us something important is about to happen. Also, we want her wardrobe.
Ellis Tancharoen, Smash, 10/10
Verdict: Hate
Ellis is downright annoying and conniving. He proves no purpose but to screw up everybody's lives. NO ONE LIKES YOU ELLIS. NO ONE. Leave. Now. Oh right… he is. Bye Ellis. See you, never.
Sebastian Smythe, Glee, 3/10
Verdict: Love
This warbler has a bad attitude and his sights set on Blaine. Smythe throws rock salt smoothies, makes fun of Kurt regularly, and we're pretty sure he lives at the Lima Bean. However, his face is beautiful, his hair is impeccable, his voice is dreamy, his dance moves are smooth, and we're totally obsessed. Smythe can sing One Direction and The Wanted and makes us swoon whenever we see him in that legendary blue blazer with red piping. No wonder The Warblers won sectionals this year. Smythe needs to be on WAY more often. We miss him and his bickering with Kurt.
Regina/ Evil Queen, Once Upon a Time, 5/10
Verdict: TBD
After much time and consideration, we have not reached a verdict in the office. We're torn. Some of us think Regina/ the Evil Queen is downright evil and conniving, while some think she is misunderstood and has good intentions. This is a hard one. The only thing we know is that she has amazing entrances (especially in that cape), and that actress Lana Parilla kicks ass in this role. The character is multi-dimensional and we just can't decide on how evil she really is.
Blair Waldorf, Gossip Girl, 2/10 Read more…


text:
Skip to stories
Your City, Your News. NYC's 24-hour newschannel on the web.
Time Warner Cable. The power of you ™
You are not signed in | Sign in here | Help
Search terms:
You're viewing an enhanced version of NY1.com , now with expanded video content.
You're viewing a lite version of NY1.com
Time Warner Cable customers: Sign in with your TWC ID for video access.
Get my TWC ID. | Get TWC service. | Read the FAQ.
By: Jill Urban
Real estate transactions are complicated enough, but then there are stories of buyers or sellers from hell who manage to make the process harder than it needs to be.
"Perhaps it's the financial crisis, unemployment, political uncertainty, but the lack of cooperation between buyer and seller is at an all-time high," says Ron Gitter, a founder of CoopAndCondo.com.
To help avoid a contentious situation, some experts are sharing with NY1 how to spot some red flags early on and what can be done to protect oneself from trouble once the deal is in motion.
For example, broker and blogger Malcolm Carter of Rutenberg Realty says the first big red flag is a buyer or seller who stalls
"If you do spot that red flag, you have two choices. One is to pull out then and the other is to question just how serious the other side is. It may be there are emotional issues, even geographical issues, but pay attention to that," says Carter.
If both parties are serious about moving forward, a critical time to protect oneself is before the offer is accepted and when the terms of the contract are being worked out.
Sellers should not accept an offer and let other potential buyers go until they are certain that buyer has the financial wherewithal to close.
"They need to get a financial statement along with the offer before accepting it and, in the best of all worlds, get some supporting documents," says Carter.
This is especially important with an all-cash offer or one with no contingencies. While this may seem like a home run at first, a buyer who cannot make it to the closing table will only bring headaches.
"In a contract without contingencies, the seller can end up with a deposit, but the seller can also end up with two or three months with a property off the market. And who knows, the market may change, prices may come down," says Carter.
If one party has too many contingencies, that could leave the other party vulnerable too.
Inclusions are often another hot spot for debate, so make sure both parties are clear on what stays and what goes.
No matter the issue, the best means of protection is with the wording of the contract. So the next NY1 Real Estate report offers some legal advice on how to minimize risk and make to the closing table unscathed.


text:
Discovery that changes the world
Another chapter in Jan Thompsons mission to give a voice to veterans held as Japanese prisoners of war during World War II will unfold next month in Chicago.
Welcoming the intellectually curious
Twenty-two engineering students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale have spent all of this academic year preparing for the year 2040.
A book by Southern Illinois University Carbondale photojournalism and journalism students chronicling the aftermath of a tornado that devastated part of the region nearly a year ago is earning national recognition.
Attend an open house, schedule a tour, and see why you'll fit right in. If you can't visit in person, try our virtual tour.
A popular summer tradition makes its 35th annual appearance in Carbondale beginning June 13, as the Sunset Concert Series opens its 2013 season. . read more...
For a third consecutive year the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Flying Salukis are among the top three collegiate precision flight teams in the nation.. read more...
All news »


text:
You must earn 10,000 points to post other members' whiteboard
Today is our buddy PelicanFan's birthday. I'm throwing him a Whiteboard Birthday Party. Please post a BD message on his whiteboard. Thank you!!!
Love your GAS saving tip.
Congratulations on having the dedication to post for 1,300 consecutive days. Keep up the Great Work and Good Luck in the future! Your buddy, Warren :-)
A very Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!!
If you have time post@ Just For Fun > ROLL CALL! Just say "Here!"
Hi, congratulations on having the perseverance to post for 1,200 consecutive days. WOW!! Keep up the great work and Good Luck in the future! Merry Christmas to you and yours! Your buddy, Warren :-)
A BIG CONGRATS on 1,200 consecutive days! Really awesome! Wow, another milestone has arrived! : ) For most GBs (8M plus) they don't seem to have the dedication or the persistence it takes to come back and post gas prices each day for other GBs! Or they just run out of gas! :( Hang onto your speed lines, it only takes one day to lose them! I'm sure you know! But, even clicking on news articles links, which are the easiest points here on GasBuddy, when you can't or didn't post gas prices before midnight will save your consecutive days! : ) WARNING! Every day GBs lose their consecutive days, many with big numbers, the #1 reason, "oops, I just forgot!" :( If you ever lose your consecutive days; that is NO FAULT of your own, please contact the mods! Keep posting each day to save your consecutive days! Keep going like a PRO Seattle GasBuddy! Have a nice week! Thanks buddy! Ron
Like to be GB buddies?
Q: Do I post the cash price, or the credit price? Show Answer Link to This A: Differences in Cash/credit prices are common in some areas as a result of stations needing to offset the additional costs of these transactions.GasBuddy's goal is to help everyone make wise fueling decisions.When reporting prices for stations in areas that have different prices based on method of payment, we ask that you post the cash price where it exists. If the station does not offer a cash price, the standard price should be reported.The Comments field may be used to include a note about cash/credit prices, but this is not required.Please note that cash/credit prices function differently than discount prices.
(DimeOffCash)According to the FAQ and the Powers That Be, you're only supposed to post CASH prices.


text:
by Ondina Nandine Hatvany, MFT
Licensed Psychotherapist, Couples Counselor
âIâm exhausted,â complained my client Maggy. âRick and I are fighting all the time, our 3-year-old is sick, my mom is doing her usual holiday madness⦠I donât know how to cope!â Rick gave a depressed but affirmative nod.
Sound familiar?
Recently Iâve been talking a lot with my couples about practicing what I call âdoggy medicine.â Doggy medicine can apply to almost anyone, regardless of whether you own a dog (or your dog owns you!) or there is no dog in your life.
What exactly is âdoggy medicineâ?
Doggy medicine is a tool Iâve developed to help couples improve the way they interact with each other. Letâs take Maggy and Rick for instance. They can barely make time for themselves let alone each other. It seems that fighting is the main way they currently connect. They are tired and angry and depleted. The following is a dialogue from one of our sessions where I explained to Maggy and Rick how to use doggy medicine to enhance their relationship.
âWhen you come home, who greets you?â I ask Maggy.
âWell, I guess Latte,â says Maggy, wondering where Iâm going with this. Latte is Maggy and Rickâs dog.
âYes, and how does she greet you?â I continued. âItâs all tails and wags, isnât it? She makes it really obvious that she is happy to see you. How is that for you?â
Maggy smiles. She says softly, âItâs the best feeling in the world.â
âWhat happens when Rick gets home?â I ask.
âWell, yesterday I was tired and had a headache. I yelled at him from the other room if heâd remembered to pick up medicine for Lucy (their 3-year-old.) He hadnât. This really pissed me off. We were fighting within two minutes of him stepping in the door,â Maggy says with a sigh.
âHere is where doggy medicine comes in,â I tell her. âI want you both to practice greeting each other just like Latte greets you, regardless of what mood you are in and before you say anything to each other about the to-doâs.â
What I am advising Maggy and Rick to do is to practice connecting non-verbally, with their eyes and bodies. It could be as simple as looking at each other and giving each other a hug. It can take a second or last a few minutesâit doesnât have to take a long time. The important thing is that a heartfelt connection is made that is free from judgment and that also affirms their relationship as coming first and foremost before all those to-doâs.
Simple instructions, but does this work?
Research shows that when we are physically close with our partners, whether that is hugging, cuddling or having sex, our bodies are flooded with âthe cuddle hormones,â oxytocin and vasopressin. These hormones tend to turn on reward centers in the brain, flooding us with calm and happiness chemicals like dopamine and turning off stress hormones like cortisol.
When is the best time for doggy medicine?
I recommend practicing doggy medicine during the four important transition times of the day:
1) When you wake up
2) When you part ways (usually at the beginning of the day)
3) When you reunite (usually at the end of the day)
4) When you go to sleep
Outside of these transition moments, doggy medicine can be applied anytime and anywhere. In particular, it is useful during moments of stress. Try it. It might not be your first inclination to ask for a hug when you are stressed and it might even feel very vulnerable, but I guarantee that it will produce much better results than yelling at your partner!
Try doggy medicine with your partner and fill your transition times with some cuddle hormones. Oh, and donât forget to thank your dog (or your neighborâs dog if you donât have one) for such great modeling on keeping it simple and staying in connection!
This article was contributed by
Licensed Psychotherapist, Couples Counselor
Check out her listing on GayFriendlyBiz.com
Tags: articles, Couples Counseling, gay replationships, lesbian relationships, relationship advise, relationship counseling, san francisco couples counseling, san francisco psychotherapists


text:
5. | steen | ||
A really spazzy person, usually a short female.
Used as a nick-name, often for girls named Christine. Steen, stop jumping up and down!
1. | Steen | ||
The area between your nutsack and your asshole.
a.k.a. 'The Gooch' "Man, that kid is such a Steen".
"Hey cunt, eat my Steen!" "You can totally see that guys Steen". |
2. | Steen | ||
Means to fuck usually. Can also mean anything else. "Mike cudrey can we plz steen" - maria
"fuck na bitch ur nasty" - mike cudrey -yo nigga u wanna cheese? -hell yeah steen lets rip |
3. | steen | ||
When mike cudrey and his gay fucking friends get high and make shit up. These people are what we call fucking idiots. Mike- Nah steen im mike cudrey mac bitches make 35 g's in 3 months swed
Billy- No, mike see you fucking gay grow the fuck up |
4. | Steen | ||
1.) illegal drug that causes you to trip out and flip shit at random people.
2.) Alternative word for mini asian ninja gangsta 1.) Dude1: Bro, did you hit that Steen tonight?
Bro: Dude, yea i did. wanna go buy some more Steen later? 2.) Dude that fuckin Steen is a crazy bastard! He'll nutcracker you |
6. | Steen | ||
One with a very irregular textured penis. Yo, youve been steened!
7. | steen | ||
a dude that doesn't take no for an answer when he is pursuing a girl...thinks a girl is playin games when she really sayin thanks but NO thanks.
help! that dude is totally steenin me we gotta dip