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South African Commumity of Tampa Bay & Beyond
Summer 2013
Vol 17
Lead with your heart... your life will follow
Immigration Reform in the U.S.
What the Current Senate Bill S.744 Could Potentially Accomplish by Steven A. Culbreath, Esq., Immigration Attorney
Family-Based Immigrants Move the current FB-2A category (spouses and minor children he recent legislative proposal, titled "Border Security, of Lawful Permanent Residents) into the preferred "immediate Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernizarelative" classification, effectively eliminating backlogs. While tion Act", by 8 U.S. Senators, under the leadership of the bill also seeks to eliminate the FB-4 category (siblings of Senator Schumer, aims to overhaul the major areas of our curadult U.S. citizens), it would cap the age of eligibility of married rent Immigration laws, which are seen to be in need of the most sons and daughters of U.S. citizens improvement. The following is a summary at 31, and bring back the previously of its key provisions. discontinued V-visa. The bill still has a long way to Limited Legalization Employment-Based travel before it may become Essentially those foreign nationals who Immigrants are unlawfully present in the United States, binding law. It will be interesting The following employment-based and who entered the United States before green card categories would be exto see how it evolves along the December 31, 2011, could apply for adjustempted from any annual visa quotas: ment of status to that of a so-called "Regway. The final product may not EB-1 immigrants, and those who hold istered Provisional Immigrant". Eligible exactly look the same as the doctoral degree holders, including applicants would then be required to pay physicians who have completed the certain government fees (including some currently proposed model foreign residency requirement. Their form of penalty), and pay back taxes on derivatives would also benefit. Under income earned from employment in the this bill, a new "EB-6" category for certain entrepreneurs would United States. The adjustment-process would also include a travel also be created. The "Startup"-Green Card would create a visa permit and a work permit, which would provisionally be valid for category for foreign entrepreneurs who have raised capital from the life of the pending case. These provisional immigrants would qualified American investors. It aims at addressing the absence of also become eligible to apply for regular lawful permanent resia visa category for entrepreneurs raising outside funding. It was dent status after 10 years, and could then apply for naturalization previously denominated in the U.S. Congress as the "Startup Visa 3 years after acquiring the green card. Act of 2011", as introduced in March, 2011. Under this proposal, the new legislation provides visas to the following groups under Braai News © is a bi-annual publication produced for the certain conditions: [1] Entrepreneurs living outside the U.S.—if South African communities in the U.S.A. a U.S. investor agrees to financially sponsor their entrepreneurial Editor: Sharon Bond venture with a minimum investment of $100,000. Two years later, the startup must have created five new American jobs and either Associate Editor: Noleen Naude have raised over $500,000 in financing or be generating more Ad Sales, Production, Layout & Design: Sharon Bond than $500,000 in yearly revenue. [2] Workers on an H-1B visa, or (727) 399-7386 / email@example.com
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graduates from U.S. universities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or computer science—if they have an annual income of at least $30,000 or assets of at least $60,000 and have had a U.S. investor commit investment of at least $20,000 in their venture. Two years later, the startup must have created three new American jobs and either have raised over $100,000 in financing or be generating more than $100,000 in yearly revenue. [3] Foreign entrepreneurs whose business has generated at least $100,000 in sales from the U.S. Two years later, the startup must have created three new American jobs and either have raised over $100,000 in financing or be generating more than $100,000 in yearly revenue. The investor must be a qualified venture capitalist, a "super angel" (U.S. citizen who has made at least two equity investments of at least $50,000 every year for the previous three years), or a qualified government entity.
Temporary Workers Bill would create a W-1 visa for lesser-skilled workers, and a W-2 visa for aliens coming to the U.S. temporarily to perform agricultural services or labor under a written contract, and a W-3 visa for "at-will" workers with an offer of full-time employment in an agricultural occupation. The W-2 and W-3 visas would replace the current H-2A agricultural worker program, which would be phased out. Asylum Eliminate the one-year filing deadline and authorize asylum officers to grant asylum directly during so-called "credible fear" interviews. E-Verify All U.S. employers would have to become part of the system within 5 years. On the Wicket H-1B Work Visas Increase the annual cap-subject quota to a newly established floor of 110,000 visas, and an increased ceiling of 180,000. The bill would further increase the annual U.S. advanced degree (Master's degree and higher) exemption from the existing 20,000 to 25,000, but limit it to STEMgraduates only, while adding a recruitment requirement for all H-1B labor condition applications. One significant change would be the provision of work authorizations for spouses, which is currently unavailable. Fraud Make it a crime to knowingly defraud an immigrant or to otherwise commit unlicensed practice as an unaccredited representative. Require the identification of individuals who assist immigrants with Australia Day Festivities the completion of forms and empower the Attorney General with injunctive authority For the better part of 10 years, the Sarasota International Cricket Club has hosted to act against an unscrupulous "immigraa three game series known as the Southern Cross-Cup. The series is played between tion service provider" at the federal level. the local African and Australasian members of the club stirring up an intense While the bill itself is much more de- rivalry between two very talented sides. For the full story see page 10. tailed, and contains other provisions not mentioned here, it is evident that the current legislative proposal makes significant inroads to improve a very outdated and broken immigration system. The bill still has a long way to travel before it may become binding law, and it will be interesting to see how the bill will evolve along the way, as the final product See full may not exactly look the same as the curstory page 10 rently proposed model. If and when this Senate proposal is signed into binding and effective law, foreign nationals will be well-advised to seek the counsel and advice of a licensed, qualified attorney who is licensed to practice law in the United States, and who focuses his or her law practice on matters of U.S. immigration law. The American Immigration Lawyers Association can also assist with finding a qualified legal representative to assist you. See ad page 7. 3 BRAAI NEWS SUMMER 2013 ........................................................................................................................................
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Clockwise L-R: Under the African Sun; A Tree I Once Knew;
Trees of Life
The Golden Years
s the dawn of a new century arrived, Daniel Blignaut and his family, embarked on a journey to the United States, bringing with little more than memories of a lifetime left behind in South Africa. They chose Tampa Bay, specifically the quaint town of Safety Harbor, to begin this new era of their lives together.
While in South Africa, Daniel had obtained a Masters Degree in Architecture, but went on to pursue his love of art. That he accomplished by studying Fine Art at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Daniel's passion for art resulted in several solo exhibitions during the 1980s and 1990s. It would be almost 20 years before Daniel would have an opportunity to once again exhibit his work. Fast forward to January 2013, Daniel's work caught the attention of a friend of the family which resulted in an invitation for him to exhibit his work at the Studio @ 620 in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he sold several paintings. With momentum building, both in Daniel's confidence and interest in his work, he was able to secure a second exhibition, this time at the Bill Lowe Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia. http://lowegallery.com/artists/index-scrollbar.php?artist=daniel-blignaut Look out for future exhibitions at this location in Atlanta. In the meantime, a third exhibition is scheduled for July 18, 2013 at the Slice Gallery in Orlando. Daniel's art has always incorporated the use of symbols and vibrant color, and a personal iconography like the chess board pattern. Over the past three decades he was mostly interested in the expressive and symbolic impact of color. In his early work he explored the use of naive art. He often used children's drawings (his own children) as "found" objects for the framework for many of his paintings. In his art he is interested in the accidental line, and in rich complex surfaces, so he has always worked with "found" and "discovered" elements within his own work. Although his work mostly references representational objects, his early work had a definite expressive undertone. In his latest body of work, Daniel revisits the subject of trees to create a series of "portraits" of trees in a non-representational fashion, using iconographic templates. He employs an array of textures and patterns to explore the essence of trees as seen through the various seasons. The trees with their visible expression of seasons and the passage of time and the cycle of rebirth serves as a metaphor for the transient human condition, set against a greater cosmic reality. Daniel developed a graphic vocabulary of patterns and textures to portray these images. This vocabulary is a continuation of the chessboard pattern that has been present in his work since the 1980s. Besides the strong visual image it evokes, the chessboard also references the game of life. His work is permeated with African tribal patterns, with an aesthetic language based on repetition and rhythm. To see more of Daniel's work, visit http://danielblignaut.com/ 5 BRAAI NEWS SUMMER 2013 ........................................................................................................................................
BRINGING VISION TO SOUTH AFRICA It's Saturday morning and Mokgadi Tobogeng, a 63 year old that lives in a dusty, shack lined settlement in a small province in South Africa, lifts her head, squinting her eyes in the direction a sound that she had been waiting for months to hear. There is a glimmer of hope in her deteriorating eyesight. Her problem is a simple, but one that thousands of people face - all she needs is a pair of glasses. But in an unclear, imbalanced world where a trip to the local optometrist is a walk down the block for people living in a city, it is an impossible dream for others living in remote rural communities. All Mokgadi could do was hope that a train she has heard so much about, would one day arrive.
THE PHELOPHEPA TRAIN The Phelophepa Train is a remarkable train whose journey around South Africa began in 1994. Its vision - to provide primary health care to areas where there is one doctor to every 5000 people, has proven to be so successful that it has won numerous awards including the much covenanted, 2008 United Nations best Service Award for service delivery. Thus far it has touched the lives of 14.5 million people and delivered over 500 000 eyeglasses to people like Mokgadi.500 000 people that never would have the joy of clear vision if it wasn't for this train. Supported by The Most Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu and many other global leaders, the non-profit strongly works tirelessly on their mission "To bring hope, empowerment and health equity to the undeserved populations of South Africa's rural communities."
ALL INCLUSIVE $40 000 TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA Your stay will included the most exclusive safari and Cape Town hotels. Celebrated Your Vision with the beauty of this country. Included in the trip is a visit to this remarkable train to see the ethos of this cause and a choice of adventure activites including: Hot air ballooning Whale watching Shark diving paragliding dune sandboarding and a round of golf.
You can help share in the celebration and hope that this train brings. The American Friends of Phelophepa is running an Eye-clinic Donation Drive to support the efforts of this remarkable train. Each $5.00 donation means a pair of eyeglasses for a person like Mokgadi but is also an entrance into the main prize of a fantastic trip to South Africa worth $40 000 and the opportunity to visit this remarkable Train of Hope. Simply visit www.trainofhope.org/celebrate-their-vision to participate and help save someone's eyesight
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There is a train eagerly awaited by everyone fortunate enough to be on the line – The Phelophepa Train. It is a powerful force for healing, change and development in the communities it touches - Kofi A Annan –
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Former UN Secretary General
We sincerely salute your continued compassion and genuine concern, your strong sense of global responsibility and your financial support. We could not make this miracle happen without you
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu -
By delivering quality medical services, education and outreach programs to the "poorest of the poor" in South Africa's remote rural areas, The Phelophepa Health Care train acts on principles to which you, Desmond Tutu, have devoted your entire life - Bill Clinton –
Former US President
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Rhinos in Crisis
New Kingsley Holgate Expedition Carries Rhino Anti-poaching Message to Hearts of Communities
ours before Kingsley Holgate's latest African adventure began, the Izintaba Zobombo Expedition team came face to face with a recently poached White rhino lying where it had be shot near the Shingwedzi River, its horn crudely removed.
Kingsley Holgate – Africa's most well-known modern day explorer - is tracking, researching and documenting the Lubombo Range of Mountains from Crooks Corner in the north of the Kruger National Park to KwaZulu-Natal's historic Ghost Mountain near Mkhuze in the South. He is carrying an important rhino anti-poaching message to rural children in communities on both sides of the South Africa/Mozambique border. "Future generations need to understand the need to protect the last of our Rhinos – we need to get into more hearts and minds," said Kingsley, who has led Land Rover expeditions to every country on the African continent. Using adventure to improve and save lives, the expedition is also continuing the Kingsley Holgate Foundation's humanitarian initiatives of malaria prevention, Rite to Sight and water purification, which have previously benefitted millions of Africans through previous expeditions that include traversing Africa from Cape to Cairo and following the continent's entire outer seafront edge. In South Africa the rhino poaching epidemic has reached the shocking levels of nearly two rhino being killed every day. The Lebombo Mountains have the greatest concentration of Rhino in the world, with the Kruger National Park and other major protected areas embraced in its vast range, from Mapungubwe - home of the ancient golden Rhino artefact on the Zimbabwe border - to Umfolozi and Mkhuze in northern KZN, known as the source of all Southern White Rhino alive in the world today. This is the
first time that a concerted three-country effort is being made to speak directly to communities that often have rhino poaching syndicates in their midst. The 90-day Izintaba Zobombo expedition is made up of five Land Rovers and a mountain bike team who will also cycle the entire route in a world-first attempt. Rhino conservationists and game reserves on either side of the South Africa/Mozambique border are lined up to take part. Project Rhino KZN is the official rhino conservation partner for Izintaba Lobombo and in a show of solidarity, Land Rover SA has donated a Land Rover 130 Defender that will become a dedicated Rhino protection and monitoring vehicle for Project Rhino KZN at the end of the expedition. Named Mashozi in honour of Gill - Kingsley's late wife and loyal expedition partner, this 'Rhino Landy' will play a key role in 50 community-focussed Protect Our Rhinos art competitions and soccer tournaments that will take place with schools along the expedition's route, before being handed over to Project Rhino KZN at Ghost Mountain on 19 June.
"Kingsley's love for all of Africa – it's people, wildlife, magnificent biodiversity and beautiful wilderness - is the very best mouthpiece we can wish for," said the African Conservation Trust's Sheelagh Antrobus, representative of the 18-member Project Rhino KZN association, formed BRAAI NEWS SUMMER 2013 ........................................................................................................................................
Rhino Poaching Update
he number of rhinos poached in South Africa since the beginning of the year now stands at 273. The Kruger National Park continues to bear the brunt of rhino poaching, with the number of rhinos poached since last week increasing from 180 to 201. Since the beginning of the year, the North West province has had a total of 21 rhinos poached while 19 have been poached in KwaZulu-Natal, 19 in Limpopo and 13 in Mpumalanga. The number of alleged poachers arrested countrywide has increased to 83, with five arrests having been made in the Kruger National Park since last week.
A total of 41 alleged poachers have been arrested in the Kruger National Park since January. In the past week, three suspected rhino poachers were arrested in the Tshokwane Section of the Park after killing a black rhino. One of the poachers died in a local hospital after being wounded in a shootout with rangers. The rhino horns were confiscated from the alleged poachers, as well as a 458 hunting rifle with a silencer, ammunition and poaching related equipment.
Source: https://www.environment.gov.za/
In a separate incident on Tuesday, an alleged poacher was fatally wounded by rangers near the Langtoon dam during a shootout. Two firearms, ammunition and poaching equipment were recovered. Rhino poaching
South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tipoffs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.
Kingsley Holgate Expedition... continued two years ago by the province's main conservation bodies who have united to improve and expand regional anti-poaching efforts in KwaZulu-Natal. Project Rhino KZN members include leading conservation NGOs, private and community-owned game reserves and the province's conservation authority, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Their collaborative efforts include a wide-ranging aerial surveillance programme and providing on-the-ground resources, equipment and support to all game reserves in the northern KZN region, which has one of the largest concentration of rhino in South Africa. The day before the official start of the expedition, the expedition team met General Johan Jooste, who has been brought in to help save the Kruger National Park's rhinos. On the 'Rhino Landy' he wrote: "Think big, start small, act now!" The Izintaba Lobombo expedition began in Mapungubwe during April and its progress can be followed through Kingsley's despatches and photographs that are uploaded daily to their facebook page:
South Africa
2010 2011 2012 2013
KNP (SANParks)
MNP (SANParks) 0
Rhino poaching arrests statistics South Africa - Arrests 2013 2012 2011 2010 KNP
Gauteng (GP)
Mpumalanga (MP)
Eastern Cape (EC)
Limpopo (LP)
North West (NW)
Free State (FS)
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) 13
Western Cape (WC)
Northern Cape (NC)
Total 83 267 232 165 www.facebook.com/KingsleyHolgateFoundation. 9 BRAAI NEWS SUMMER 2013 ........................................................................................................................................
Top South African Newspaper Sites
Business Day (Johannesburg) Cape Argus Cape Times (Cape Town) City Press (Johannesburg) Daily Maverick (Johannesburg) Daily News (Durban) Dispatch Online (East London) Financial Mail (Johannesburg) Herald (Port Elizabeth) Google South Africa News Lenasia Watch Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg) News24.com South Africa: the Good News (Bryanston) Sowetan (Johannesburg) Star (Johannesburg) Sunday Times (Johannesburg) Sunday Independent (Johannesburg) Times (Johannesburg) Witness (Pietermaritzburg) Die Beeld, Die Burger, Rapport, Volksblad Yahoo South Africa News ZA News See Breaking News for continent-wide news from sources outside of South Africa.
Help Bring Michael Naicker to the States
evin Perkins, who is considered one of South Africa's comedy "Elite", was born in Durban and raised in the KwaZulu Natal highway area, where he grew up in a family of caring, loving and wacky people. Love and laughter were the staples of life so Kevin grew up, secure, well-adjusted and...one of the most annoying people his siblings and school teachers ever had to deal with. Kev was never very accepting of the societal "norms" and religious dogma foisted on him by "The System". Kev questions EVERYTHING; and anybody who has been to one of his shows will tell you he ain't afraid to tell it like it is!
Kev is better known by most comedy fans as the inimitable "MICHAEL NAICKER" - South Africa's common man's "Indian" superhero. Michael Naicker has been attracting massive comedy audiences since 2001 and Kevin continues to sell out shows around South Africa and all over the world. Kevin has become a true INTERNATIONAL comedian and his annual show schedule and sell out performances bare testiment to this fact. His live shows are total gut-busters and should not be missed. Kevin is VERY interested in doing a U.S. tour. Please contact him directly at email@example.com or visit www.kevinperkins.co.za/index.html
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ORGANIZER WANTED FOR THE TAMPA BAY BRAAIS Please contact Sharon at 727/324-3939 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
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"From My Hilltop - A Living History of South Africa" by
Stan Daneman
he story is told by an old Marula tree (Professor Marula) who has looked down on the changing scene in South Africa for over 500 years. In the book he describes the stunning scenery in the country, and his love for the land and its peoples. Over the years Professor Marula has met with tribal leaders, politicians and the youth of the country. He provides brief lessons in the book along with pen pictures depicting various South Africans. The story is told with great compassion. A leading U.K. critic, Bob Little, says, "the story is told as befits a personified tree from a romantic rather than a clinical point of view. Using the skill of a poet (Stan Daneman is a published poet), he informs while engaging the reader's imagination. The book is an excellent introduction to S.A. He gets behind the facts and explores the culture of the country. The book has been ranked among the top 5 in books on South Africa and South African History history by Amazon. It is available on Amazon Kindle or from the publisher at www. theendlessbookcase.com Visit www.professormarula.com for further information.
Kudos for Oude Meester
ude Meester, a South African luxury brandy producer recently gained traction in the U.S. when it won three medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in March of 2013.
The most senior of the Oude Meester range, the 18-year-old Oude Meester Souverein, won a gold medal, while the Demant and Demant 12 Year Old Reserve both won silver medals. The Oude Meester 12 Year Old Reserve also won the best brandy title at the New York International Spirits Competition at the end of last year. "South African brandy has established a powerful reputation in the UK and Europe, but our connoisseur offerings are still something of a novelty in the US," Oude Meester's global marketing representative, Lee-Anne Lotz, said in a statement. "Since Oude Meester's exposure to American trade and consumers last year in New York, market response has been extremely encouraging. "Connoisseurs are thrilled by the sense of discovery and the levels of excellence they are encountering in a specialty segment of the deluxe brandy market hitherto unknown to them," Lotz said. The San Francisco World Spirits Competition saw 1,407 spirits from 63 countries around the world being evaluated by 34 judges. The winners were announced on 27 March. "Judges were drawn from among well-respected spirits buyers and consultants representing highend restaurants and hotels, mainstream outlets, as well as spirits journalists," Lotz said.
IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS? Are You in Deportation Proceedings? Family & Friends Want to Leave South Africa? You Need Professional Immigraton Advice! Call: Andy G. Strickland, Esq.
4554 Central Ave., Suite E, St. Petersburg, FL 33711
(727) 323-8188
"Their vote of confidence in Oude Meester suggests very exciting market potential for the brand in the US, coast to coast."
Read more: http://www.southafrica.info/ business/success/brandy-100413.htm#.UXMj8qs3Zu#ixzz2R3ZAy2zx
The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide ask the lawyer to send you free written information about their qualifications & experience.
International Cricket
Southern Cross Cup Decider at Sarasota International Cricket Club
he Sarasota International Cricket Club (SICC) is the cricketing home of many a cricketer in Central Florida and beyond. Among the club's ranks are members from all over the cricketing world, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand, The United Kingdom, the West Indies, India, and Canada. SICC offers all of its members a vibrant cricketing environment, and the opportunity to connect with cricketers from around the world through the many club games and tournaments the club hosts each year.
One of the wonderful events the club has been hosting for the better part of 10 years is the three game series known as the Southern Cross-Cup. This series is played between the local African and Australasian members of the club. It is an intense rivalry between two very talented sides. The games are always very closely contested which makes it a rewarding experience for those playing as well as those spectating. The most recent of the games played in the Southern Cross Cup was a much-anticipated rematch that took place in April. The match saw the Africans leading the series 1-0 after a nail-biting victory earlier in the year. This match was certain to be no different. Australasia went in to bat first with debutant Jamie Duguid starting with a much-desired 64 against a high-class bowling attack. With the Africans chasing 194 for a victory in the series, it came down to the final overs with the Africans needing just 6 more runs for a victory, when the final wicket fell. The "player of the match" went to a member of the African side, Robbie Stevens, who dominated with both bat & ball with figures of 4/45 & 44. The deciding match in the Southern Cross Cup will be hosted on May 18th starting at 11am. Bailey's Beef Country of North Port will cater delicious Southern African food along with Robertson Winery wines will be be available throughout the day.
The club is located at 7401 University Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34209. For more information, visit the club's website www.sarasotaicc. com or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
(R) Shivnarine Chanderpaul visiting SICC 12 BRAAI NEWS SUMMER 2013 ........................................................................................................................................
ROck sOlid yO u R lOvE is, sh O u ld N't yO u R RiN G BE?
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What areas of Immigration Law can I help you with? Grant Kaplan is experienced in all aspects of U.S. Immigration and Nationality law, including: 1. CONSULAR PROCESSING 2. CRIMINAL DEPORTATION /REMOVAL DEFENSE 3. EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISAS 4. FAMILY-BASED VISAS/FIANCÉ VISAS
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The Beauty of Wearable Art A
beautiful and distinctive piece of jewelry can inspire the same sense of awe and thrill as a painting by one of the great masters like Monet. That's especially true when the designer is passionate about creating one-of-a-kind jewelry that you can wear and enjoy for a lifetime. "Hand-crafted organic, wearable art that captures an emotional feeling," is how Owen Sweet describes his stunning collection of rings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets and earrings, all found on display at a unique gallery in North Redington Beach. Owen Sweet Design Studio and Gallery just might be one of Tampa Bay's best kept secrets. A native of South Africa, Owen trained under some of the best European designers before going on his own. He has an amazing ability to transform his own or a client's vision into a customized piece that will be found nowhere else. After an initial discussion, he hand sketches several designs; then casts them in wax before proceeding to the finished piece. Owen is probably best known for his strong, sleek, geometric designs that might be described as mini-sculptural art. But he is also infatuated with frogs, geckos and sea life. Porcelain miniatures are sprinkled throughout the gallery and can be found on pendants and bracelets. This year, one of the newest designs, a dazzling ring in white gold and diamonds with five, slender bands studded with diamonds and colored sapphires, captures a whimsical fantasy like something from Cirque du Soleil. Owen has served as an instructor at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art in Largo, and last year won a prize for "Red Romance," an outstanding original design that blends 14K gold, carnelian beads, pearls and semiprecious stones in a spectacular necklace on display in his gallery. If you are looking for an enjoyable and artistic experience, where the individual — never the mass produced — is showcased, put this gallery on your list. Owen Sweet Design Studio and Gallery, 16701 Gulf Boulevard, North Redington Beach. www.ohsosweet.com. Or call 727392-6936. See ad page 13 Published in Atlantis Magazine, 2007.
fter coming to the U.S.A. in 1980, Owen has continued to pursue his decades-long passion for art jewelry and design. Working first under some of Europe's great designers, his distinctive style flourished, which testifies to the masters he has worked under. After working in the U.S. for 10 years with some large retail shops and small jewelry art shops, Owen went out on his own. His geometric streamlined jewelry has unquestionably become his signature. To put it in his own words, "To my mind a piece of jewelry is a sculpture in miniature against a human background." Art jewelry in the U.S. today reflects the inner social and emotional feeling of our society. Art jewelers have been growing under direct influence of the international art jewelry of our century. In Owen Sweet we find a creative artist whose jewelry reflects a special dynamic movement, which is both daring and romantic. His jewelry speaks in a very emotional and almost African language. The viewer immediately responds to his jewelry, and through this response experiences pleasure. Owen fashions gold into smooth geometric forms or ever crude African sculptures which shows the bridge he has built between his birth place and his new home in Florida.
Take a Hike... with care!
Statement by the Table Mountain Safety Forum
uring early 2011, following a spate of attacks on Table Mountain users, the Western Cape Government called on various government entities and civil society organisations to come together and create a partnership to improve safety on our most prominent natural attraction. Out of this, the Table Mountain Safety Forum (TMSF) was created. Since the inception of the Forum, crime on the mountain has reduced drastically. Through this partnership, we are making safety on our mountain better, together. Between 2011 and 2012, the number of crimes perpetrated against mountain users reduced by 50%. In fact, from October 2011 and until January 2013, there was not a single reported criminal incident against a mountain user in the areas on Table Mountain where Forum members are active (in the City Bowl between Signal Hill to Devils Peak and Camps Bay). Unfortunately, between January and February there were a total of 3 incidents of robbery and attempted robbery in these areas, and the Forum has immediately responded to this by increasing its activity with SANPARKS rangers, SAPS officers on horseback and on vehicle patrol, neigbourhood watch patrols and through aerial surveillance, as well as through the eyes and ears of bikers, hikers and walkers. Given that the Cable Way reported record numbers, some 120 000 rides in December alone, incidents are few and far between. The Table Mountain Safety Forum has representatives from SANPARKS, the Department of Community Safety, SAPS and law enforcement agencies, as well as a number of civil society formations and takes a holistic approach to maximizing available resources to ultimately increase safety on the mountain. The forum focuses on: Incident management and data analysis Boosting volunteerism Effective communication – how soon can information be dispatched, to whom and how quickly can a response be initiated Victim support services The use of technology to complement the existing operations Community involvement – neighbourhood watches and CPFs Monitoring and evaluation The primary incidences are thefts and attempted thefts from vehicles left for long periods in parking lots near popular mountain trails. We urge members of the public not to leave any valuables inside their vehicles and to report any suspicious activities. While on the mountain, to report any suspicious activity or to report a crime or emergency, the SANPARKS emergency number is available on 0861 106 417. The popular City Bowl mountain trails have now all been marked, and the number is displayed on these boards. Maps of trails are also available at bike shops, coffee shops or online www.tablemountainbikers.co.za with a QR code for your phone. Most importantly, we call on all members of the public that do experience incidences of crime to report them, as this will allow police officers to intervene and reduce crime in the future. 17 BRAAI NEWS SUMMER 2013 ........................................................................................................................................
South Africa is first to enact cyberbullying law in Southern Africa
Law expect to spur neigboring countries to approve similar legislation
By Michael Malakata | Computerworld Zambia | 30 April 13
outh Africa, Africa's second largest telecom market after Nigeria, has become the first Southern African country to enact a law that clamps down on cyberbullying, which is rampant in the region.
The law, which calls for sending offenders to jail for up to five years, is meant to protect Internet and mobile phone users from being harassed. In order to track down offenders, the law compels service providers in South Africa to hand over details including the names and addresses of subscribers who have e-mail, mobile number and IP addresses from which bullying messages have been sent. If a service provider refuses to reveal or hand over information request for a cyberbullying case, the company can be fined slightly over $1,000 and the staff can be sent to prison up to six months. The South African law, which came into effect April 27, is expected to have ripple effects in Southern Africa, where up to now countries have had no cyberbullying legislation. Already several countries in the region including Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Botswana are implementing mobile SIM card registration as the first step in tackling cyberbullying and crimes committed via phone. Most of the cyberbullying messages in South Africa as in other countries in the region are centered on insults, sexual harassment, threatening and false statements, upsetting messages and name-calling. Zambian President Michael Sata has already warned that the Zambian government will start regulating online media in an effort to put an end to cyberbullying, especially against women, who he said are insulted every day on the Internet. Sata also said there is a lot of bullying, slander and insults on certain media sites in the country against government officials and members of the clergy. "The government will do all that it can to regulate this out of existence," Sata said. Zimbabwe is facing a similar problem, with newspaper reports indicating that cyberbullying is becoming rampant. The Zimbabwean government has threatened to deal with cyberbullying by introducing a law aimed at protecting those being bullied. The new cyberbullying law in South Africa is expected to spur Zambia and Zimbabwe in introducing laws that clamp down on cyberbullying. "Cyberbullying is not just a problem in South Africa and Zambia. It has become a regional problem and we expect to see a radical change in policies by governments to tackle the problem though challenges lie ahead," said Amos Kalunga, telecom analyst at Computer Society of Zambia. Read more: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/internet/3444906/south-africa-is-first-to-enact-cyberbullying-lawin-southern-africa/#ixzz2SB2slj3B 18 BRAAI NEWS SUMMER 2013 ........................................................................................................................................
Sweet Garlic Chicken Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 4 garlic cloves, minced 4 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon olive oil additional herbs and spices, as desired Directions
1 - Preheat oven to 450°F Line a baking dish or cookie sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray or lightly brush with oil. 2 - In small sauté pan, sauté garlic with the oil until tender. 3 - Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar. Add additional herbs and spices as desired. 4 - Place chicken breasts in a prepared baking dish and cover with the garlic and brown sugar mixture. 5 - Add salt and pepper to taste.
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6 - Bake uncovered for 15-30 minutes, or until juices run clear. Cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your chicken. - See more at: www.myfridgefood.com
Bread and Butter pudding is popular throughout the world and recipes can vary tremendously. This is a traditional English version of the popular dessert.
Ingredients 6 thick slices bread 2oz [50g] Sultanas 4 Eggs 1oz [25g] Sugar 2½ Cups Milk A little sugar for sprinkling on top of the pudding [Note: The bread should be slightly stale] To make the Pudding Preheat the oven to 325oF [ 170oC ] Slice the crusts from the bread Cut into quarters, either squares or triangles Arrange the bread in layers in a greased ovenproof dish, ensuring that you have some of the pieces left to place on top of the pudding Place sultanas between each layer of bread Pour the milk in a saucepan and heat until the milk is hot, just short of boiling Mix the eggs and sugar together, in a large bowl and add the hot milk. Stir well while adding Pour the egg and milk mixture over the bread, ensuring that the top layer of bread is not dislodged Let the pudding stand for ¼ hour to soak up the milk-egg mixture. Use the extra sugar to sprinkle over the top of the last layer of bread Bake the bread and butter pudding for 35-40 minutes until the top of the dessert is brown and crispy The pudding may either be served as a hot dessert, or cold, when cut into slices it is also quite tasty served cold.
Smile A While HOW DO COURT RECORDERS KEEP STRAIGHT FACES? These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while the exchanges were taking place.
Attorney: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning? Witness: He said, 'Where am I, Cathy?' Attorney: And why did that upset you? Witness: My name is Susan! Attorney:What gear were you in at the moment of the impact? Witness: Gucci sweats and Reeboks. Attorney:Are you sexually active? WITNESS: No, I just lie there. Attorney:What is your date of birth? Witness: July 18th. Attorney: What year? Witness: Every year. Attorney: How old is your son, the one living with you? Witness: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which. Attorney: How long has he lived with you? Witness: Forty-five years. Attorney: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all? Witness: Yes. Attorney: And in what ways does it affect your memory? Witness: I forget.. Attorney: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot? Attorney:Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning? Witness: Did you actually pass the bar exam? Attorney: The youngest son, the 20-year-old, how old is he? Witness: He's 20, much like your IQ. Attorney: Were you present when your picture was taken? Witness: Are you shitting me? Attorney: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th? Witness: Yes. Attorney: And what were you doing at that time? Witness: Getting laid Attorney: She had three children , right? Witness: Yes. Attorney:How many were boys?
Witness: None. Attorney: Were there any girls? Witness:Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney? Attorney:How was your first marriage terminated? Witness: By death.. Attorney: And by whose death was it terminated? Witness: Take a guess. Attorney: Can you describe the individual? Witness: He was about medium height and had a beard Attorney: Was this a male or a female? Witness: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male. Attorney: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney? Witness: No, this is how I dress when I go to work. Attorney: Doctor , how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people? Witness: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight. Attorney: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to? Witness: Oral... Attorney: Do you recall the time that you examined the body? Witness: The autopsy started around 8:30 PM Attorney: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time? Witness: If not, he was by the time I finished. Attorney:Are you qualified to give a urine sample? Witness: Are you qualified to ask that question? And last: Attorney: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse? Witness: No. Attorney:Did you check for blood pressure? Witness: No. Attorney: Did you check for breathing? Witness: No.. Attorney:So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy? Witness: No. Attorney: How can you be so sure, Doctor? Witness: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar. Attorney: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless? Witness:Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.
Smile A While
Braai News is on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/216669105102037/ "Like" us for updates on what's happening
BOB & THE BLONDE Bob walked into a sports bar around 9:58pm. He sat down next to a blonde at the bar and stared up at the TV. The 10 o'clock news was coming on. The news crew was covering the story of a man on the ledge of a large building preparing to jump. The blonde looked at Bob and said, "Do you think he'll jump?" Bob said, "You know, I bet he'll jump." The blonde replied, "Well, I bet he won't." Bob placed a $20 bill on the bar and said, "You're on!" Just as the blonde placed her money on the bar, the guy on the ledge did a swan dive off the building, falling to his death. The blonde was very upset, but willingly handed her $20 to Bob. "Fair's fair. Here's your money." Bob replied, "I can't take your money. I saw this earlier on the 5 o'clock news, so I knew he would jump." The blonde replied, "I did, too, but I didn't think he'd do it again." Bob took the money.
with Integrity, Compassion & Affordability
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Dr. Kotz´e is a South African Dentist in Sarasota who works with high integrity and understands how you would like to be treated. "Almal is baie welkom!" 21 BRAAI NEWS SUMMER 2013 ........................................................................................................................................
Published on May 15, 2013
Published on May 15, 2013
Magazine for the South African communities of the USA


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Gifts are something that you were born with. For example, knowing something about your existence that is explainable in human words. For example the gift of perception. You know when something just is not right, something is out of whack. It is not based on any skill or ability. It is innate. It was gifted to you with a big red bow and stuffed under the tree in a box with your name on it long before you were even formed in the womb. It was predestined to be part of who you are. These gifts lead us down roads we did not expect and we find ourselves manifesting them in ways that pull us out of our comfort zone, but are effective at it nonetheless.
Talents are something that you develop, that were part of your DNA structure, but you have to develop them yourself as you cultivate them with hard grit, determination or dedication to something. These talents often interweave in your life to create your life plan like in what sports you like, if you play the piano, the jobs you take and the profession you eventually choose. These become your strengths-what you are good at.
They are often used interchangeably but they are not the same thing however, both need to be grown and strengthened in you. You continue to build on these gifts and talents as your life goes on.
True genius DOES NOT mean prodigy.
Angela Maiers explains it like this. Genius is taking your passions and your compassion and putting them together to find your true purpose and destiny in this world. Here is Ms. Maiers on EduAllStars Episode 9 with Chris Kesler and Todd Nesloney.
Qualities Of A True Genius:
A true genius goes deep into exploring all the dead ends that people give you and say that you can't go beyond.
A true genius faces failure with a steadfast determination to rise above.
A true genius has an inexplicable drive and passion that is self driven.
How Can Teachers Cultivate True Genius?
As teachers we must do a better job of cultivating this genius in our students. The question is how?
I believe that it starts with whole brain teaching and nurturing the confidence of the student.
Here is my earlier post on whole brain teaching and my Haiku Deck for my Defense. http://seedsforlearning.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-review-of-brain-based-core-principles.html
Bethel University M.Ed Defense
I also believe that it comes from having a strong philosophy and personal mission statement of education that is solidly founded in student first decision making. Here is mine.
Philosophy of Education:
YOU MATTER! You have a genius in you that is unique and special to you! I celebrate that! I will teach in a way that promotes growth through play and learning.
Mission Statement:
I as a professional educator recognize that each child is an one-in-a-million, never-seen-before individual, that all children are creative and that all children can succeed.
Therefore, I will respect the individual needs of children for whom I have the sacred honor of working with which includes but is not limited to the following: fostering a caring and creative environment as well as emphasizing the social, emotional, physical, intellectual development of each child.
I believe that each child has a genius and a passion special to them. I also believe that passion with compassion creates world changers.
I believe that great things can accomplished through cooperation between school, community, parents, and students.
I believe you matter!
Is it going to be hard to do these two simple steps of whole brain teaching and a student first philosophy? Yes. It is. However, just because it is hard, does not mean it will not be worth it.
**I dedicate this post to a true genius, Mr. Robin Williams 1951-2014. A true genius who knew how to use his gift to make people laugh and brought smiles to children and troops. A man who had the innate ability of comedy and timing, but who also worked hard to develop his talents in the field. He was a student of comedy and his love for learning kept him fresh. Depression is a demon and comes to steal, to rob and to destroy, and that is why it is so vital to tell people with our words and back it with our actions that people matter.

subset: commoncrawl


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In Alaska
Sound off on the important issues at
In 1824, the United States and Russia signed a treaty opening the North Pacific to American fishing and trading vessels.
In 1948, the Rev. Francis Gleeson was consecrated as Bishop of the Vicarate of Alaska.
In 1969, a resolution in the Alaska Senate asking U.S. Congress to declare Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a day of mourning failed by a 10-9 vote.
In the nation
In 1614, American Indian princess Pocahontas married English colonist John Rolfe in Virginia.
In 1621, the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, Mass., on a return trip to England.
In 1792, George Washington cast the first presidential veto, rejecting a congressional measure for apportioning representatives among the states.
In 1887, in Tuscumbia, Ala., teacher Anne Sullivan taught her blind and deaf pupil, Helen Keller, the word "water" as spelled out in the Manual Alphabet.
In 1987, Fox Broadcasting Co. made its prime time TV debut by airing the premiere episodes of "Married ... With Children" and "The Tracey Ullman Show" three times each.
In 2006, Duke University's lacrosse coach resigned and the school canceled the rest of the season amid a burgeoning scandal involving allegations that three players on the highly ranked team had raped a stripper at an off-campus party. (The rape charges were later dropped, but the players still face allegations of sexual offense and kidnapping; all maintain their innocence.) Katie Couric announced she was leaving NBC's "Today" show to become anchor of "The CBS Evening News."
In the world
In 1887, British historian Lord Acton wrote, "All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
In 1895, Oscar Wilde lost his criminal libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry, who'd accused the writer of homosexual practices.
In 1986, an American soldier and a Turkish woman were killed in the bombing of a West Berlin discotheque, an incident which prompted the U.S. air raid on Libya more than a week later.
In 2002, U.S. mediator Anthony Zinni met with Yasser Arafat at the Palestinian leader's besieged West Bank headquarters on the bloodiest day of fighting since the beginning of Israel's week-old military offensive. The coffin of The Queen Mother Elizabeth was carried through the heart of London on a gun carriage as Britain honored the woman whose life spanned a tumultuous century of upheaval and change.
© 2018. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


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470 Crockpot Recipes
I know that a lot of you have at least one of these efficient and time saving appliances hidden away somewhere in your kitchen collecting dust. You probably thought that the crock pot was just for making soups or stews. Well guess what, you
600 Chili Recipes
Are you a chili lover? If you are, then you are going to love 600 Recipes For Chili Lovers! Inside you'll find every imaginable version of chili. There's chilies with beans and without, with meat and without, vegetarian chilies, and low-fat variations on the classic dish that so many Americans love.
300 Chicken Recipes
Chicken is one of America's favorite foods and many different dishes can be created with Chicken! With this collection of Chicken Recipes you're sure to find something everyone in your family will like!
Your family and friends will be delighted with these thoughtful gifts straight from your own kitchen. With this unique ebook you will have over 200 recipes for gift jars filled with the ingredients to make delicious cakes, cookies, soups and chilis, Gift-giving has never been this much fun and so easy.
Gifts In A Jar Recipes
South Of The Border Recipes
With our South Of The Border Cookbook you will find the finest examples of culinary creativity from this intriguing and vibrant country. Explore Mexican Cooking in all its delicious variety with this outstanding recipe collection for today's home cook.
65 Tried and True Traditional Amish Recipes
Amish cooking has become ingrained into traditional American cooking. Chances are, growing up your grandmother or your mother prepared a dish or two that was based on a traditional Amish recipe and you didn't even know it. You just knew that you found it delicious.
490 Award Winning Blue Ribbon Recipes
Blue Ribbon Recipes, 490 Award Winning Recipes is the very best of recipes from state fairs around the country. From cakes and cookies and breads to jellys and main dishes this one cookbook has it all and you can't go wrong with a recipe that has been a winner in a state fair competition.
300 Grilling And Barbecue Recipes
Food just tastes better on the grill. When you mention grilling, most people think of hot dogs and hamburgers. But the grill is for more then that. You can create delicious and mouth-watering meals on your grill. From appetizers to desserts, 300 Recipes For The Grill is packed with recipes that will impess
your friends and family.
141 Delicious Cajun Recipes
All books come in PDF format so they can be read on any computer
with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free from Adobe)which most all computers already have. If you need a copy of
Acrobat Reader you can get it here
With Delicous Cajun Recipes You Get All Your Favorite Cajun And Creole Recipes, If You Like Hot And Spicy Food Then Delicious Cajun Recipes Is For You.
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Cuddlz Adult Blue Wide Elastic Plastic Pull Up PVC Pants For Adults
These are brand new fantastic real baby plastic pants made for adults.
Medium Waist 28-34 Inches (71cm to 86cm)
Large Waist 32-38 Inches (81cm to 96cm)
Extra Large 36-44 Inches (91 cm to 111cm)
XXL 44-52 Inches (111cm to 132cm)
Delivered In Plain Packaging
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Blue Wide Elastic Pull Up Plastic Pants Posted by Unknown on 26th Nov 2015
These are my first ever plastic pants and they feel great they are nice and smooth and it feels like they cuddle you when you put them on a great product.
Comfy and Smart Posted by Ian on 26th Jul 2015
An ideal alternative to Y Fronts when warring disposable nappies. I like these as they look good and tidy, and above all they wash Ok too.


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- Uno
- Universal Network Object. The component model used in OpenOffice that
provides interoperability between different programming languages, object
models on a single machine or across a network (such as the Internet).
For more information see:
- http://udk.openoffice.org/ - The Uno project homepage.
- http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Uno - Open Office Uno Wiki.


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The Fairpark District…a seamless extension of the urban fabric
of existing downtown Tupelo. The ongoing redevelopment of the
former city fairgrounds, Fairpark District incorporates the
architectural character and scale of a traditional small city
downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods.
To learn more about the Fairpark District Development,
visit our press room.


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As a company which specializes in manufacturing medical lasers, we have been growing and developing based on our continuous investment and research efforts since our establishment. We have obtained CE certificates for overseas exporting for our Aroma product, a diode hair removal laser, and Pentagon, a fractional laser, and have exported these products to nearly 20 countries. We strive to ensure customer satisfaction based on our superior international technologies and we hope to always have the trust of customers and local communities as we become a manufacturer of 21st century premier medical equipment.
Company websites
www Website1


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Sweet Spanish Tortilla (with Bacon, of course!)
If you like it, save it!
Save and organize all of the stuff you love in one place.Got it!
If you like something…
Click the heart, it's called favoriting. Favorite the stuff you like.Got it!
Author Notes: A sweet tortilla, you ask? Yes, and it's delicious and healthy! This is a sweet version of the classic Spanish tortilla. —Debra Dorn | Azahar Cuisine
Makes 1 8-inch tortilla
- 5 pieces eggs
- 2 pieces egg whites, beaten until stiff peaks form
- 1 cup apples, heaping cup, diced
- 2 pieces bananas, peeled and sliced
- 1/4 cup desiccated coconut
- 2 pieces fried bacon, crumbled
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- coconut oil
- orange zest
- lemon zest
- Cook the back rashers or bacon and set aside. When they are cool enough to handle, dice with a pair of scissors or crumble, if using bacon.
- In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, and set aside.
- In a large, beat the eggs and set aside. (I beat mine with the electric mixer to make them fluffier, but by hand is fine too).
- In an 8-inch frying pan over low heat, add a few teaspoons of coconut oil.
- Add the apple pieces, the cinnamon and nutmeg, and sauté about 1-2 minutes. Remove from pan.
- In the same pan, add a bit more coconut oil, and sauté the banana slices, just until they are starting to become golden and caramelise, about 2 minutes. Remove from pan.
- Add the prepared apples, prepared bananas, back rasher bits, desiccated coconut, and coconut flour to the whole egg mixture. With a few swirls of the spatula, blend well.
- Fold in the egg whites and mix until well blended.
- In the same frying pan as before, add about 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, and heat over low heat.
- Add the tortilla/frittata mixture and spread out across the pan, by swirling the pan or spreading with a spatula.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Then with the help of a flat plate or flat cover, cover the pan and flip the tortilla over and slide (uncooked side down) back into the frying pan.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes on this side. Flip again, if necessary to ensure it's fully cooked.
- Slide onto a serving plate and garnish with some lemon and orange zest, if desired. Serve warm or cold.
More Great Recipes:
Eggs|Fruit|Breakfast & Brunch|Cakes|Desserts


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How do I increased the size of the font on my blog?
Need help? Check out our Support site, then
Font Size
@hardymon, you are not hosted at wordpress.com, you are self-hosted as was discovered in your other post: http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic.php?id=22826&replies=4
You need to go to http://wordpress.org/support as you were told in the other thread. Since you are self-hosted and using the software downloaded from wordpress.org, you need to direct your question to http://wordpress.org/support/ . WordPress.com uses a multi-user version of the software which is different and few, if any, here know anything about it.
7 Things to Know Before Posting in WordPress.com Forums
WordPress.com or WordPress.org? The difference.
thank you very much
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.


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Looking for new dessert recipe ideas? Head on over to Amazon.com where you can download this highly rated Baked Chicago's simply Decadent Brownies eBook for FREE for your Kindle (regularly $3.99!). This is far and away one of the most delightful recipe books I've run across in years. I've made the s'mores brownies, which really do evoke those girlhood camping trips, and the red velvet brownies, which are simply divine. Really creative, fun, GREAT recipes for giving an old standby (fabulous in is own right) that extra panache. Love this recipe collection!
You can also go here to download this The Paleo Aficionado Dessert Recipe Cookbook completely Free for your Kindle (regularly $2.99).
* If you don't have a Kindle, keep in mind that you can still read books on your computer or other mobile devices with the FREE Kindle Reading Apps found here.
(Thanks, Free Stuff Times!)


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Hi, everyone! I'm a 50 year-old electrical engineer, comp-sci engineer and sales executive that returned to amateur radio in 2007, after a 20 year hiatus. I am active on HF, having been bitten by the DX bug. I am am also active in HF WAS nets, but spend most of my on-air time working HF weak-signal digital modes.
Station highlights include:
I listen to the Livingston (MI USA) County Amateur Radio Klub 2M repeater @ 146.680 MHz, so say "hi" if you're in the area.I look forward to hearing from you
EDIT January 12 2014: I have several rigs running CW Skimmer and JT65-HF 24/7. Please check my call on HamSpots, RBN and PSKreporter to see what my station is "hearing" at any given moment!
Mike - N8MSA
The current main operating position. You can see a hint of the rat's nest of cables that is (barely) hiding behind the major components.
This is yours truly aboard "Urgent Business", operating marine mobile...
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It's never been easier to give suet-loving birds a high-energy food source. Ready to Use Delight Logs do not require a feeder. They are ready to hang, right out of the package. Logs offer no-melt rendered beef suet, plus ingredients like corn, oats and soy oil, to offer feeding bliss to backyard birds. Logs are offered in two delicious flavors: peanut or hot pepper. Attracts woodpeckers, nuthatches, and other suet-loving birds.
Peanut Flavor includes roasted peanuts. Hot Pepper Flavor includes red chili peppers and roasted peanuts. Logs measure 3" dia x 6" long. Each includes a hanging eyelet.
Peanut Delight Log
Ingredients: Corn, Roasted Peanuts, Rendered Beef Suet, Oats, Soy Oil.


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It's been rumored for several weeks that former "Laguna Beach" star Kristin Cavallari would replace Lauren Conrad on "The Hills," something that Entertainment Weekly confirmed in an interview with the 22-year-old who's done pretty much nothing since she left "Laguna" to pursue acting.
On why she's coming back to reality TV:
"The goal for me is to get my fans excited about me again. When I first started out, I had a celebrity name but I didn't have the acting skills I have now. If I have some buzz with my name again, I feel like it will only help."
On introducing Heidi and Spencer:
"It's so funny. I guess it was 4 years ago. I was dating Brody [Jenner] and Spencer was Brody's best friend. I had known Heidi when she was friends with Lauren when we were still filming Laguna Beach. Heidi was like, 'Hook me up with someone. I wanna meet a guy.' And Brody and I were kinda like, 'Well, maybe Spencer?' We'll see what happens.'"
"Ha ha ha! I introduced the Prince of Darkness to his feral demon-bride! Crazy, right?" Yeah, thanks a lot, Kristin. I blame you for this. And this. And my erection. Eh, one outta three ain't bad.


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MINNEAPOLIS - Following a violent weekend of shootings and stabbings, city leaders called out judges for not keeping repeat offenders behind bars and off the streets. A KARE 11 Investigation discovered statistics from a state agency that backs up some of their claims.
"When someone is arrested with a gun, they need to do time. The penalties are there. Impose them," said City Council President Barbara Johnson. She represents North Minneapolis, where much of the recent violence has occurred.
On Tuesday, she publicly accused Hennepin County judges who she claims are handing down weak penalties for gun crimes.
"I want to say there are hardworking people that work in north Minneapolis that do not deserve to have their neighborhoods overrun by thugs with guns. And I'm tired of it! I have met two times this spring with the Hennepin County judges, and I am calling to them, publicly this time, to take gun crime seriously in north Minneapolis."
In response, Hennepin County judge Kevin Burke tells KARE 11 "the solutions for violent crime are more complex than cheap rhetoric attacking judges." He adds "I have an enormous amount of respect for Barb Johnson. I consider her a friend, but I profoundly disagree with her analysis."
Sentencing reports by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission show that in 2012, nearly 52 percent of the time Hennepin Judges sentence someone to prison, it's for less time than called for by state sentencing guidelines. More than twice the statewide average of 24.9 percent.
Those numbers reflect all crimes, and in Hennepin, many of those are drug cases. Judge Burke tells KARE 11 that the majority of those sentences are part of plea deals pre-arranged by prosecutors and defense attorneys and judges such as himself rarely overrule those agreements.
He says "as you get increased caseloads, you will see more plea negotiations to try to and resolve cases and that's the reality of what we have." He adds "I don't think you can find any evidence to indicate there is significant departure on the Hennepin County bench on gun cases. I've been a judge for almost 30 years and I rarely depart on gun cases."
But a report by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission obtained by KARE 11 shows that when it comes to sentencing for first degree aggravated robbery where a firearm is used, between 2001 and 2012 Hennepin County judges gave reduced sentences 47 percent of the time. The statewide average for the same time period was 35 percent. Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau echoed Council President Barbara Johnson's concerns saying "We are arresting people who should have been kept in jail."
Following the public call for judges to issue stiffer penalties for crimes involving guns, Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Assistant Chief Judge Ivy Bernhardson issued the following statement:
"Public safety is a key consideration whenever a judge makes a decision in a criminal case. In upholding the rule of law, judges make sentencing decisions based on the particular facts and circumstances of each case. In Hennepin County, the bench participates in the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee with stakeholders in the criminal justice system (law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders, probation, city and county officials) that meets regularly to explore ways to improve the justice system."


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As we have reported previously on various occasions things are bad for European banks: from DB's record wide 5Y Sub CDS, to Credit Suisse record low stock price, to everyone else inbetween. But did you know that for most European banks, 2016 is shaping up far worse than the dreaded 2008? As the following chart from Reuters shows, the year-to-date stock price performance for most European banks is on pace to far surpass - to the downside - the dreadful for the global financial system 2008.
As Reuters puts its it, "Euro zone banks have seen their shares plummet by nearly 30 percent and yields on their bonds surge since the start of the year, as investors worried about thinning profits and uncomfortably high levels of bad loans in some countries."
This is shown in the chart below.
One problem resulting from this collapse is well framed by Reuters: "A protracted selloff in the shares and bonds of euro zone banks has the potential to knock the fragile economic recovery off track by raising financing costs for banks, limiting their ability to lend. It may also undo some of what the European Central Bank has been trying to do to increase bank lending an pump up inflation via spending.
The selloff makes it more expensive for banks to raise capital on the market by selling shares or bonds.
If this situation were to last, it would dent banks' capacity to grow their balance sheets by extending new loans to companies and households. This would jeopardise a tentative rebound in lending driven by the ECB's ultra-easy monetary policy.
"This can have an impact on the economy, which is bank dependent in Europe," said Sascha Steffen, professor of finance at the University of Mannheim. "And of course it puts more pressure on the ECB because it doesn't help it bring back inflation."
Bank lending in the euro zone started growing again in 2015 after shrinking for three years, but data for December data pointed to a loss of momentum.
* * *
But the sheer magnitude of the market rout shows investors are losing confidence in the sector. A key transmission channel is the market for Additional Tier 1 (AT1) notes - bonds that can be converted into equity under certain conditions and on which the issuer can decide whether or not to make coupon payments.
* * *
"For the past year, ECB easing has been accompanied by private banks' easing of credit conditions," said Marco Troiano, a director at ratings agency Scope. "If market volatility reverses this, banks would tighten lending, negating some of the ECB's efforts."
In other words, after the BOJ's and the Fed's recent policy failures, unless the ECB stabilizes Europe's banking sector, it too will have committed the gravest of central bank sins: policy error.
The problem, however, as Deutsche Bank explained very well in the post preceding this, is that there is a problem: while the market is desperately begging for a circuit breaker, nobody - certainly not the ECB - has any idea either what it should look like, or whether it could work.


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CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Hundreds of lawmakers, union members and community leaders filled the room at Friday morning's Annual Legislative Breakfast.
The Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO brought these people together to discuss issues like sick time, minimum wage and jobs, among other topics and policies important to working families.
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley told 22News that as the economy continues to turn around, it needs to turn around for everyone.
"What we all know is that we need to grow this economy and we need to have the workforce development that will prepare those folks for the jobs of today and tomorrow," said Coakley.
Coakley said she believes businesses, labor unions, not-for-profits, colleges and elected officials should come together to decide how to move forward with the region's economic development.
The event was held at the Castle of Knights in Chicopee.


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THERE can be no repeat of the 1990 attempted coup or anything "remotely close" to it once National Security Minister Gary Griffith is in charge.
This minister said so as he dispelled rumours that a coup was set to take place yesterday.
Griffith said the rumours, which caused widespread panic throughout the country yesterday, stemmed from a prank phone call. He said the identity of the prank caller is being investigated.
He called on citizens to me more "mature" and not fall prey to "rumours, propaganda, hearsay and sensationalism".
Griffith was speaking to members of the media following a joint recruit passing out parade at the heliport in Chaguaramas.
"What I am trying to build into this country is a proper national alert state to give the country the assurances that when one individual makes a stupid statement, it just spreads," he said.
"We as a country, what I am asking us to be mature, let us stop just listening to rumours, propaganda, hearsay and sensationalism," Griffith said.
Griffith said the prank call was analysed and determined to be false.
"What I have established is a national security policy. I have set frameworks, not crime plans, this is a perfect example. What we have is a national alert state, by the alert state it means that at any time the most remote rumour we pick it up, we analyse the information and then we know if to discard it, if to shelve it or if to move it forward towards intelligence," Griffith said.
"Immediately there was no such thing that took place. One person just had nothing to do, he probably just wanted to go home early on a Friday and the whole country, I ask them to trust me on this. There can be no repeat of 1990 or anything remotely close between now and... well whilst I remain in office. It is not going to happen on my watch," he said.
Griffith said the Defence Force plays a "major role" in the fact that there cannot be another July 27, 1990, attempted coup.
The attempted coup was staged by the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen led by Imam Yasin Abu Bakr.
"No group of individuals can even think of doing what they did in 1990. The fact of the matter is through the National Operations Centre, we have that coordination for real-time information that can be passed on to all the agencies; and because of that, there can be no situation where rumours can be spread and the law-enforcement agencies are not aware what is going on," Griffith said.
"We knew from the first time that call was made it was one individual. And again I ask the country when we have situations, hear from the law-enforcement agencies first, hear it from the National Operations Centre, hear it from the Ministry of National Security. If something happens, I will be the first to let the country be aware there was never a situation like that in any possible way," he said.
Griffith said the National Security agencies are "fully ahead of the game".
"We are fully ahead of the game at all times, and if at any time somebody decides to put God out of their thoughts and do something like that, it will be dealt with in the quickest possible time," Griffith said.


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Telescope ReviewsPage 20 By Ed Ting Updated 1/28/04
Click on a Telescope Below: 1) Astro-Physics AP130 f/6 refractor 2) Orion Skyquest XT10 Dobsonian 3) Orion Skyquest XT4.5 Dobsonian 4) Stellarvue AT1010
1) Astro-Physics AP130 f/6 2/1/02 (130 mm f/6 oil-spaced apochromatic refractor, rings, case, OTA, $3950) Apochromatic refractor users are a breed apart. In some ways, they remind me of audiophiles who will only listen to single-ended triode amplifiers. In both cases, users will shell out enormous sums of money for a device that, at first glance, seems to lack any kind of power. SETs and APOs do have their limitations, of course, but used intelligently within certain bounds, they can be astonishingly accurate. Just as many budding audio- philes have had their ears opened by listening to a $4000 vacuum tube amp pushing out a measly 3 watts, I've seen new observers practically fall to their knees at their first view of Saturn through a good APO. Astro-Physics introduced the f/6 version of the venerable AP130 a few years ago. The f/8 version drifts in and out of the lineup, but it looks like this f/6 version has taken its place as the "standard" 5" AP refractor. If you're familiar with the f/8 version, the f/6 is going to look really tiny to you. The case has no side handles, two buckles instead of four, and looks way too small to hold a 5" refractor. Everyone who saw it remarked on its small size. It is sooooo cute.
Another beauty from AP: the 130 mm f/6These AP reviews are getting hard to write. Each one is as perfect as the next one. This one has no aberrations that I can find, even at very high power. We put this scope up against the f/8 version one evening. Despite the longer scope's technical advantage, I could see no difference between the f/8 and f/6 scopes even at low power. I even tried to induce coma at the edges by putting in cheap low power eyepieces, but the 130s (both of them) refused to budge. Impressive. It's smaller than you might thinkThis sample gave razor sharp, so-good-it-doesn't-look-real images of Saturn, and we caught a shadow transit on Jupiter later on. As the moon exited the limb of the planet, it gave the appearance of being a tiny, round wart growing off the surface. When the air settles down, the sky's the limit as far as magnification goes. 400X, 500X, no problem. Around here, with the rig we had set up, the atmosphere and/or the mount gave out before the scope did. The Orion Nebula is beautifully framed with a 17 mm Nagler and an OIII filter. As for the mount, we used an AP400, but the scope is so small and short that a GM8 would do nearly as well up to 300X or so (the GM8 is marginal on the larger f/8 version.) You'll be the center of attention with one of theseAs with any AP product, there is a substantial wait to get one. I don't know the current status of the waiting list for this model, but you should expect a wait of at least two years if you notify AP today of your interest in obtaining one. Again, my advice is to get on the list if you think you want one, then forget about it. Go buy a telescope, go observing, then hopefully you'll get a phone call from AP sometime down the road. Also, if you do not have a mount, finder, diagonal, etc, you need to budget your needs accordingly. Assembling a first-rate rig around this optical tube can easily run you another $2000-$5000. I hate to use the "P" word in a review, but there it is, again and again, in my observing notes: "Perfect resolution", "perfect pinpoint images", "remarkable color shading on Saturn", "beautiful split on a tight double, no light scatter", "perfect star test." On a recent evening in Concord, NH, our observing group was putting on a skywatch in conjunction with the local planetarium. This AP130 was present. A woman walked up to the scope and looked at Saturn. In the dark, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She looked for a few moments, then went back inside. I found her inside a few minutes later. She was crying. "It's so beautiful," she said. I mean, can there be any higher recommendation than that? 2) Orion Skyquest XT10 Dobsonian 2/1/02, 3/2/03 (10" f/5 Dobsonian, 25mm, 9mm Plossls, 8X50 finder, moon filter, $649 + shipping) Here's another impressive entry in Orion's budget XT Dobsonian line. All of the attributes of the XT6 and XT8 (both recommended) are here, in a larger and heavier package. The optics are decent, the motions are reasonably smooth, and (perhaps most importantly) it's not a work-in-progress like some of the other entry level Dobs out there. Once it's assembled, it's quite usable right out of the box. A good scope for ambitious beginners - Orion's Skyquest XT10There are some nice touches. The focuser is a 2" metal rack and pinion unit, and you get an 8X50 finder. I've seen lots of these at star parties and the scopes seem consistent enough for me to recommend them. I was finally able to get the use of one in my driveway for a thorough test. Unfortunately, this sample had the least impressive optics of all the ones I've seen. The star test revealed close to 1/2 wave of overcorrection, and the primary appears to be astigmatic as well. While this is of some mild concern, I'll chalk it up as a stray data point since all of the other XT telescopes I've seen have had good optics. I spent an enjoyable night looking through the scope at an impromptu star party. Also present were the TeleVue 102, AP130 f/6, AP130 f/8, 11" Starmaster EL, and the big 16" Meade Dobsonian. Despite being the least expensive telescope present, it never lacked for people wanting to look through it. We toured the early winter Messier objects and looked at Saturn and Jupiter. While it didn't pose a serious threat to the premium scopes present, the XT10 performs competently on all types of objects. It gathers enough light to use an OIII filter, and better eyepieces helped things considerably. Those good eyepieces should probably be your first upgrade. The scope handles the 27 mm and 35 mm Panoptics, and even the huge 31 mm Nagler quite well. The latter showed some coma at the edges, so I tried inserting one of TeleVue's new Paracorr units. Even with 4 lbs of overhanging weight (not to mention $1000 worth of glass) hanging off the front of the scope, the spring tension system held the optical tube in place. Not that many of you are going to do this, but it's nice to know you could. You should be aware though, that 2" TeleVue eyepieces barely come to focus on the focuser's outer travel limit. I had to clamp the Naglers and Panoptics off the focuser tube with the set screw to find focus. I didn't experiment with moving the mirror up in the cell, but presumably this would help things. I've noticed this on several XT10s I've seen; perhaps that's just the way the mirrors are set from the factory. Beginners should note that this telescope is much larger than it appears in the photo above, and in Orion's catalog. The 58 lb weight (35 lbs in the tube alone) may make it uncomfortable for transport by one person. Consider building a rolling dolly or platform for it. Also, the eyepiece rack is largely cosmetic; once you experience the thrill of having all your eyepieces dew up at once in it, you'll go back to using a conventional eyepiece case. These Orion XT Dobs are all successful. Their success comes from not doing anything glaringly wrong. The mechanics are good, the optics are good, the accessories are decent, and the price is reasonable (but not so low that the quality suffers.) In a way they remind me of the 2001 New England Patriots. There was no one outstanding aspect of the team. But they minimized mistakes, and played just well enough on offense, defense, and special teams to win games, and quietly rose to the top. Orion seems to have found a similar sweet-spot with these Skyquest Dobs, and the amateur community is indebted to them for their efforts. It's a solid package at a reasonable price. Recommended for observers moving up from a 6", or for ambitious beginners. Update, 2/4/02: A few of you have written in to tell me that your XT10s also have modest spherical aberration. So it does appear that there is some optical variation between units. Update, 3/2/03: I've seen two more of these XT10s in recent months. Both have had really nice optics. One retained a sharp image on Saturn at 400X+, something I would not have believed had I not seen it myself. Also, the XT user's group on Yahoo describes a nice mod for the azimuth bearing using ebony star and magic sliders that frees up the motions. Check it out. 3) Orion Skyquest XT4.5 Dobsonian 2/1/02 (4.5" f/8 Dobsonian, 6X26 correct image finder, 25 mm, 10 mm Plossls, $199+) The room went quiet as the the people in the room settled down in their seats. "This meeting of Scopeaholics Anonymous will now commence." A little woman got up to the podium and introduced herself. "Hi, my name is Peggy, and I'm a Scopeaholic." Murmurs greeted her. "My problem is...well.. I don't know if I can tell the difference between all those TeleVue eyepieces. I mean, the Radians, the Panoptics, the Naglers - they all look pretty much the same to me." She sobbed, then stepped down. Several men got up to console her. "That's all right," I heard one man say. "You're among friends. This is a place to admit these things. The healing can start now." A young man got up. "Hi, my name's Greg, and..." he hung his head in shame. "I...I've never understood how to properly read a star test! I defocus stars in my scope, but I'll be darned if I can tell what those little patterns mean!" He collapsed in a heap in his chair. "There, there," said a man, gently nodding. "That's what we're here for. To help astronomers confess their insecurities and lead more normal lives. Now, there's a young man in the back of the room who's here for the first time. Yes, you...the geeky pale-faced guy in the Carl Sagan T-shirt." I stood up amidst the crowd. "My name's Ed, and I'm a Scopeaholic." "Hi Ed," greeted ther crowd. "Well, I...uh..." The crowd leaned forward in their seats. "Uh...well...the 4.5 inch is now my favorite model within the XT line." "What??" said a man in crowd. "The smallest model? That kid's scope?!" "Yeah, I mean...well...I like the other XTs, but the little 4.5 is so well-made, hardly costs anything, no one has an excuse for not having a telescope any- more with this thing on the market, it's such an overachiever-" I didn't get to finish; the room had erupted in laughter. Men were slapping their knees; women were laughing so hard they began wiping the corners of their eyes with tissues. "That little thing? You mean, you mean..." I lost the rest as the man doubled over with laughter. A red-faced, barrel-chested man wearing overalls stood up: "Son, even EYE gots me an XT6 back at the trailer!" I sat up on the couch in a cold sweat. I'd fallen asleep with an Orion catalog in my lap and my cat was eyeing me curiously. (Yes, I've already used this cheesy it-was-all-a-dream plot device on this web site, but do me a favor and suspend your disbelief for a few moments, OK?) Introduced last year, this super-cute Chinese-made 4.5" f/8 Dob from Orion turns heads everywhere it goes. The photo below does not begin to show how small the scope really is. The eyepiece only sits about 3 feet off the ground, making it the perfect height for kids. Unlike previous 4.5" Dobs from Orion and Celestron, which featured a shaky single-sided swingarm design, this one has a real three-sided rocker box and Orion's spring tension system. Couple this with the remarkably small size of the unit, and you have one unusually rigid little scope. A good scope for beginners and Scopeaholics alike: Orion's tiny Skyquest XT 4.5The base is an oversized triangle with sturdy feet attached, which prevents scope tipovers in the middle of the night. There's a convenient carrying handle on top, which allows you to pick up and move the scope with one hand (it only weighs 17 lbs so even your kid will likely be able to move it.) Ambitious kids could probably even handle the assembly too (figure about 20 minutes for an adult.) This sample has slightly undercorrected optics. The primary may, in fact, be spherical (Orion's catalog won't say either way.) If the scope ever goes out of collimation, the unit is fitted with a bona fide four-vane secondary spider to help you with alignment (previous inexpensive Dobs in this series used a maddening single-vane secondary.) The primary cell has generously sized push pull adjustments too. The finder is of decent quality, although experienced observers might have trouble with the correct-image optics. I liked the two-screw "sprung" finder bracket. About the only thing I didn't care for was the plastic (1.25" only) focuser. Although it's much sturdier than the plastic focusers from Meade, I have some concerns about its longevity. It's mean for me to complain about this one component on a $200 telescope -you can spend almost this much upgrading the focuser itself!- but it's worth mentioning. Also, I found the "navigation knob" to be of limited usefulness. Just grab the scope and move it. Also, the scope seems to top out around 125X or so, and the eyepieces are modest in quality. But hey - you're getting an entire telescope for the price of one nice planetary eyepiece (like a TeleVue Radian.) The telescope gives remarkable views for the money. I spent some time at a skywatch, kneeling down in the grass, picking out object after object on a dark night. I caught about twenty Messier objects and could have done much more, except my legs were cramping up. This was a public star party night, and members of the general public, sobered by the costs of the AP refractors and Zambuto-equipped Starmasters in the field, were pleasantly surprised to hear how little the XT4.5 cost. The views of Saturn and Jupiter were crisp, clean, and detailed (not to mention solid, given the scope's beefy construction and low center of gravity) and it gathers just enough light to pull in the show- piece deep sky objects. I usually recommend against buying a telescope under about $350. But this cute little XT won my heart and my enthusiastic recommendation. It would be a bargain at $300. The fact that it costs $199 can only be considered a happy bonus. It doesn't matter if you're an old hand, or a newcomer to the hobby, you should seriously consider getting one before Orion stops selling them, or raises the price. And yes, this 4.5" really is my favorite in the XT line. That's all for now - time to get ready for the next Scopeaholics Anonymous meeting. 4) Stellarvue AT1010 4/1/02, 5/21/02, 1/27/04 (80 mm f/6 achromatic refractor, OTA, 1X red dot finder, rings, $399) (Note: Price was reduced from $449 to $399 in Jan '04) (With equatorial mount, $699) The AT1010 is the newest (and best, so far) version of Stellarvue's popular 80 mm f/6 achromat. It adds a 2" focuser, large rubberized knobs, and a redesigned lens cell. For those of you who are new to this, Vic at Stellarvue uses lenses of his own design. These proprietary lenses are matched by hand, and each scope is individually star tested before shipment. The personal attention to detail means that a Stellarvue will almost always outperform cheaper, generic units. For this, you pay a little extra. This one is $399. The AT1010 on a GibraltarI used this sample (supplied by Stellarvue) over several nights. Vic assured me it was a random sample, but he didn't have to. You've shown me many of your Stellarvues at star parties, and they do seem very consistent. The scope was mounted on a Super Polaris, a TeleVue Gibraltar, and the Unistar mount from Universal Astronomics. If you have one of those generic Chinese Sky View Deluxe-type mounts, it will hold the tube just fine. The star test was impressive, with virtually no spherical aberration seen. False color is about what you'd expect from an 80 mm f/6 achromat - hard to see on deep sky, but getting stronger as you look at brighter objects like Sirius, Saturn, the moon, and Jupiter. Cassini's division is easy, as are shadow transits on Jupiter. Izar was split at only 80X - not bad for an 80 mm achromat. The new 2" focuser is fun to play with - I inserted a 27 mm Panoptic and caught M81 and M82, and saw M31, M32, and M110 in the same field. The Double Cluster is a nice sight, too. The larger focus knobs helped in cold weather. Unlike some scopes, I didn't have to remove my gloves to focus. The red dot finder has a larger window than the Rigel Quik Finder, which makes it slightly easier to use. Like other Stellarvues, the AT1010 is a safe, reliable, if somewhat boring, recommendation (that's supposed to be a compliment; their consistency is so good they're boring.) Vic is an inveterate tinkerer, and is working hard to relieve the boredom with new 102D, 102EDT, and 102APO refractors that are designed to compete with the big boys. Also on the docket are 85 mm apochromats in two different focal lengths. Based on the quality of the technical emails I get from him he appears to be very serious about entering the high end. An early production sample of the 102EDT, a triplet near-apo with a 2-speed rotating Crayford focuser, looked very promising. Stay tuned, we'll be hearing more from Stellarvue in the near future. Recommended. End Telescope Reviews, Page 20


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August 2016 - Celebrity Silhouette to Europe - Northern Europe
This cruise itinerary was really nice; 9 port cities in 8 countries. Ship was excellent (Celebrity Silhouette) - nice accommodations, excellent staff always looking to please, and pretty good (though not fabulous) food. I would definitely sail on this ship again, and would recommend the "Scandinavia - Russia" itinerary.