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My One Word 1/4 Year Update : UNLEASHED
Wow, it's been over a quarter of a year already. Time for an update on My One Word : Unleashed. It's been one of my best words yet!
Here are some articles on what the One Word process is all about – I highly recommend having One Word as a theme for the year. It has given me purpose and helps me to reinvent myself.
- Take a peek into my one word process
- 4 positive results from reinventing yourself one word at a time
- Reinvent yourself one word at a time
I chose the word Unleashed because this was the year to be free!
Unleashed from:
- all kinds of fear
- worry and anxiety
- procrastination
Unleashed to:
- love God with all my heart
- write and publish a book – finally!
- pray effectively and intentionally
- do hard things (this is an affiliate link – which means that if you purchase the product mentioned I will receive a small compensation that will help to fund this website and continue bringing you faith based articles. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my links.)
- worship God from the heart not just the mind
This is what I wrote in my journal at the beginning of the year:
I want to be unleashed from ties, bonds and yokes that are keeping me from:
- moving forward in my writing
- growing stronger spiritually
- being a confident woman
- being fearless
The only yoke I need is Jesus'
So how am I going?
In the past 3 months I have been unleashing from fear & worry and unleashing into prayer & writing. It's been an exciting journey. I am amazed at how far I have come in just a short time period.
Unleashing in prayer
I had two motivations to become more unleashed into prayer –
- I am writing a book on Simple Prayer and
- my sons are growing up and soon they will be leaving home – I felt the urgency to cover them daily in prayer as they make important life decisions.
I was concerned at the beginning about the balance between petition and treating God like a genie. I didn't want to get into 'asking' mode all the time. I desired a natural communicating relationship with God that involved a lot more than just asking Him for protection and provision. God knows our hearts – He knew my desire was for a deeper relationship with Him. The Psalmist cry in Ps 42:1 was also the cry of my heart – "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you O God." That is where I wanted to be – like a thirsty deer panting for the crystal clear, flowing streams – where I would come to daily (even moment by moment) to quench my craving for God. It starts with desiring more of Him – to praying for more of Him – to deciding that this is important enough to make quality decisions every day to spend time in communion with Him. The more I talk to God the more I want to commune with Him.
I have discovered the importance of starting every activity with a conversation with God. I am currently studying Ezekiel online using a PUP precepts study – it really sets out the way God works – His pattern of communicating.
Ezekiel starts with seeing God's glory first then moves to serving Him.
He starts with knowing God in a personal way then moves onto doing things for God.
He starts with worship – discovering that God is a consuming fire – then moves to work – worship then work.
I am such a task orientated person and this discovery turns my world upside down. God wants me to see His glory first, to know Him first and to worship Him first THEN move onto serving, doing and working.
Prayer is first seeing God's glory THEN seeking God's grace
Over the past 3 months I have become convicted on how I read the Word – I love to read and study the Word but I didn't take the time out to talk to God first before I read – for His illumination and wisdom.
"When we read our Bibles without pleading for the Spirit's illumination, we betray a lingering confidence in our flesh that we can understand God's eternal truths through the medium of our finite, earthbound minds" -Dwight Edwards "Releasing the Rivers Within" page 98.
The above quote struck home – how arrogant was I to think that with my mind I can understand God's Word without seeking first the Spirit's leading!
Unleashed from fear & worry
I have been aware for a long time now that I tend towards being overly concerned about my circumstances. Certain people in my life have highlighted this weakness of mine <smile>. Most of the time I was in denial about it – claiming that I wasn't worried but just "concerned".
Well, this is the year to beat worry out of my life. Basically the source of all worry is fear and the root of all fear is unbelief. If I truly believed that God has everything in my life under control – why worry? why be afraid?
I realised that this is the year that something needs to be done.
One of my sons is going work through Camp America for three months then travel (with no set plans!) for the last month before heading home. I see it having the potential of being a major source of all sorts of fear and worry! But that is not going to happen!
So, my game plan is this – I have decided that I am not going to live with worry anymore. Worry no longer is the theme of my thoughts or words. Whenever a worry thought enters I am going to banish it to God. To become unleashed from fear and worry involves a lot of communicating to God. It involves facing the truth of the situation in light of God's words. It feels like I am at a training bootcamp for my mind! Hard going but I believe that as I continue to practice casting my care onto God it will get easier until it will peace will be my default mode.
Unleashing my writing
I have always wanted to write and publish a book – ever since I was a young girl who always carried around paper and pen to write with. But fear and excuses have kept me from it. I decided that this year was the year to face my fears and just do it! There has been moments when my mind dumps doubts on me and I think that there is no way that I can write and publish a book. But I don't want to get to December 31st and feel defeated when another year rolls around without fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Last year I faced my weight issue and won! This year I going to face my fear and win also.
I now have a first draft of my book – Simple Prayer: The Guide for Ordinary People Seeking the Extraordinary and it's off to the editor in a couple of weeks time.
The trick to staying on track is to keep my dream moving.
Don't get stuck in the middle.
Don't give up because things get too tough.
Keep moving forward.
The next part is the bit that I have been fearful off – marketing and publishing. I am going to just do it.
Over to you…
What dreams do you still have unfulfilled?
I want to challenge you to make this year the year to fulfill those dreams – bring them into reality.
I would love to join you in your journey – please share in the comments below on what you want to really get done this year – is there something you need to be unleashed from or unleashed into?


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Discipline in Classrooms
~ better awareness
~ more choices
~ and better decisions.
- The children are capable - Give the SPACE to kids to manage and LEAD to find solution.
- Let me see -ALL intentions are positive - the actions may be not appropriate - so let me focus on their intentions.
- Lets do it together - We are "CO-CREATOR" of the problem so let us be co-creator of the solution. Root of any behaviour is somewhere else. So let us not "label" children.
For example just by taking the session on discipline and asking you to relax I cannot expect you to be 100% following. BUT i go with the belief that you are trying your best and may be you will need reminders but YOU ARE CAPABLE. This belief will lead me to have a positive attitude for you as faculty hence our repo will be better :) My relaxation does not guarantee that you will follow BUT my panic also does not guarantee that you will follow. Then why not be RELAX and think more to lead you to look at things differently rather than labeling you that "this person cannot relax". What say?
When we try to solve the problem and expect "results" we strain ourselves as faculty - while when we look at "let me see" and do things with relaxed mind - I am at peace. I look for more avenues, solutions, and more trials.
When I use discipline strategy - as a faculty I need to see that I am using VAK instructions in my sessions. During the session we all realize that A is over used while V and K are under used. So let us remind each other about V and K.
When I say use V and K - that does not mean use of A is not recommend. Wen you want to introduce something you use A, V and K all the ways and follow also in all the way.
Also as sandhya and padma pointed that we use our own style more - for example If am visual I tend to use more visual in my class - me as a faculty need to consciously bring in A and K in my approach.
When do you need to discipline?
Any act which leads to
- disturbing others
- harming the physical environment (tearing, breaking)
- hurting other
- physically
- emotionally
- Not following the codes to work together - these are formed in the beginning of the class that we all follow some codes to make working comfortable for all of us in the session. These are made with the consensus of the kids. Read here more.............
How do you discipline kids? What you do when two kids fight/ pinch/ push ?
Our belief: we do not know who , when , where started the fight so there is no point in punishing the one and not the other or punishing both !
Immediately separate them - gently. If any child is hurt - take care of the first aid. Allow them to sort their problem.
They are fighting because thats' the (best) choice available to them So we try to give them different choice - you can talk, write a note, move away if you are not liking and so on.
We take up these issues in circle time and follow it thru.
- Do not expect the problem to be solved so soon
- Try it differently
- Try it many times
Meet the child at different levels.
LEVEL FIRST- Understanding Child to discipline
1 Prepare: When I order you to jump - you are at loos. But If I tell you that jumping activates your brain and helps in learning so we will jump for 20 times - chances are that your are willing to jump - PREPARE the child for any situation.
2 EMPOWER : When you tell them to walk in straight line - they do not why? when you tell them HOW they can walk in sit line - they come up with their own solution.
3 Flow with nature - Flow with their nature - they need to jump - give them options to jump.
4 State pf mind - When they feel good about them they behave well - self esteem. Even when you as faculty feel good about yourself or anybody appreciate your efforts you are more open to feedback:).
5 Flexibility - Need to change the way I have been working.Also read, discuss when you are not able to find solution - do not live with it. Stress, panic leads to more stress. While flexible attitude leads to "solutions" - MY BIT.
LEVEL SECOND - Co-operation strategy
- Describe the problem - The paint is on the floor. Climbing on the chair is dangerous.
- Give info - There is another class getting disturb with the noise.
- Non Verbals or one words - shhhhh or say firmly "no biting" - one of the important non verbal is using something TANGIBLE - a small object, a paper, a lemon .. anything which relates and still makes the child focus on the behaviour without words.
- Offer choice -You can talk in the break time or when you go home.
- Put in writing -We will keep quite during class time. We respect others and do not disturb them
LEVEL THIRD - Alternative to punishment
- Natural
- Logical Consequence
- Upstate and prepare - If I disturb the class I will sit and observe them. Let this come form child - guide him to find way and lead to commit - what if I do not not follow the code set by me (child).
- Related - I will see how others are doing activity. Again guide -if it is unrelated lead them to discover related solution.
- Follow it thru - Be firm and do it. Try to be MUM and no lectures. Do not use the consequence as threat. You cannot underline being firm - but this does not mean being harsh or rude. To be firm you also need to be self disciplined - cannot be firm when you feel or not firm when you do not feel like.
- Express your feelings - When anybody hit any child -it hurts the other child and I get upset.
- State expectations - I would like you to take care of each other.
- Give Alternative
- Stop - We cannot hit anybody.
- Start - When you want to hot anybody you can cross your hands or you can tell that you are angry.
- Give chance to Amend - How would you like to make that child feel happy - would you like to tell him, or make a card.
- Work together to find ALTERNATIVE - Let us see what all we can do when we want to hit anybody - draw, write, express, jump and so on
What do you do when one thing does not work?
When one thing does not work we move onto other. All kids are different and react differently. The basics of all discipline is to "respect" the child. And understand the child. Misbehaviour is just a symptom - we need to correct the root of the symptom not the behaviour.
Read more (2)
How do you handle complains?
Our response
- EMPOWER - Would you like to tell him what do you want him to do (not hIt you) ?
- EXPRESS - Would you like to tell him/ her how do yo feel when he/ she hits you ?
Codes are the guideline we follow to work together in the class.
We look at at the child – we do not see child any less or not capable. If we are making a particular rule/ code – we make sure they are made by the children in the session. Code in Geniekids are not made only by the faculty ALONE. When we treat equal – we respect. When we consider the child to be as respectful - it is the relationship of at par. Read more on codes.
Trying Geetha
Three cheers for Geeta for trying out the strategy of "acceptance" in her success Saturday session today. Geeta you were concerned - you first brought up this issue in the success sat meeting and then once again in the workshop and tried immediately in your session. Inspite of many ups and downs in the session you "consciously" tried. We beleive that is the spirit of geniekids - openly talk about our issues within a sessions, seek solutions from within and from others, and then TRY - i.e. experiment consciously - Thank you Geetha for following this path of learning!
Thank you Aditi & ratnesh for the workshop which I felt I was in need of it at that moment. You have surely opened one more window of my mind and with this I would explore more. To be open I tried so many ways to bring the kids into the group without any frustration but with a lot of enthu. Three cheers for Ratnesh and Aditi for their continuous Hardwork - Geetha
Felt good revisiting the topic.
Hi Ratnesh and Aditi,
thank you for today's session. It is very important to revisit the things we learned in our TTT from time to time to refresh our memory and also to help us think differently. How much ever I am trying to be in the Geniekids mode , sometimes I do slip back to the typical and non geniekids mode of using more verbal instructions in my sessions and even at home with my own kids. But today's session helped me to reflect back on the use of VAK and also has helped me to realise that I was again getting trapped in some of my beliefs about two year olds. Also a big thanks for revisiting the point of being a co creator of the issue. This certainly changes the perspective of looking at the same issue. I shall most definitely incorporate more of the kinesthetic and visual inputs for handling issues of hurting in the class. Also, it was nice to hear from you and Mina that I have used some effective strategies myself in the past or even as recently as today which means I am capable of doing that. So, looking forward to more relaxed, effective and fun filled sessions from monday.
Session on discipline
We sure need refresher courses of some of things we already learnt. to me the discipline session was interactive and insightful, but it did leave a lot of things unanswered so there was a sense of "incomplete" ness after the session. nevertheless, the fact that some of the topics were reviewed served as a reminder to implement it the next day in the classroom - as a strategy, we as the SS class are working on one code every Saturday and signing on it.
I am totally for more such monthly sessions. In its own subtle way, there are changes happening.
First of all I'd like to thank for conduct trainings at GK for all of us, it helps to refresh, re-align and implement things that we have taken for granted and tend to forget. The session on discipline has helped me to look at some of my strengths and build on many more abilities. The eg of driving and the fact that I'm one of the vehicles and cannot control others has deeply struck me. It was more like a feeling of relief-that I enjoy a relaxed drive and not CONTROL other vehicles!! I think the whole battle is when I try to control. Also the fact that I'm the co-creator of the problem-equal owness :) Somewhere got me closer to my children in a very different way. Meeting children at different levels is what I'm going to try out, also consciously use VAK.
The session was very interactive and enjoyable.
The session was interactive and also a subtle reminder to what we have already done and to re start it.The session also helped relook at VAK and to give some more SPACE and to tirelessly continue using strategies. The most important one RELAX sounds like a magic mantra just to say it to myself.
In action !
Today I started putting up pictures in the room for codes like not hurting, pushing, hitting, pulling, waste papers in the dust bin, keep the stationary neatly in the shelf, etc. I found that the group responded to the pictures quite well. Since it was only the first day, I did not expect magic to happen. But I noticed that they were experimenting with the written codes. On first event of an issue happening, I drew the pic, stuck it on the wall and told what it meant. On next instance, I merely showed it to them. I found that they for example pushed somebody, then went to the relevant pic put up on the wall and talked to themself about it nonverbally. I plan to keep using this strategy to manage such events in the class.
Just thought of sharing my experience with all.
Action Time
I would also like to share that I used the red jingler ( not sure of the name of the musical instrument) for circle time and also drew how all of us are sitting and it helped to get into the circle. With one of them also telling to add name of children who have not come today. Also have put some dawings of not pushing,biting etc and also with alternates of (talking expressing )what we can do is helping much more than earlier.Though of course pushing still happened but I kept taking them back to what was on the cupboard and best thing is I did not say a word only action.
Will keep trying.
Non verbals
I started with giving nonverbal instruction more. One funny thing happened seeing me using nonverbal more one child started using the same to others when they were pushing and fighting - Padma
During our writing time children were picking crayons for themselves one child decided to give a crayon to another and started enjoying it as a game, soon there were many crayons all over the place. I was relaxed and thought 'let me see.' On the fly a song was made up-the crayons like to jump,jump jump jump, into the pretty pink basket. As I sang a little kinesthetic movement, of holding crayons in both my hands and jumping them into the basket, caught on. The child who was throwing the crayons immediately started picking and enjoying the act of putting crayons into the basket, we added different movements dancing crayons, rolling crayons etc. Pick up cards came, but children were not interested to leave till the last crayon went back into the basket, one child put her leg deep under the cupboard and pulled out every crayon from underneath. We all enjoyed the entire episode. I really felt good that i did not use the standard phrases of acceptable and not acceptable and also realised that finding options was a simpler way to do things.
RELAX---but HOW?
After the discipline session, I have started using pictoral and non verbal ways to reinforce the NO HURTING OTHERS concept in my class. I have also started taking special efforts with reference to rapport building with the children who joined in later than the others in the class. In the first week of implementing these strategies along with role plays and stories pertaining to this issue, I have observed that there is a lot of pulling and pushing happening in the class. I am spending much of the time during the session seperating the children who are pushing and pulling hair and cannot relax in such a situation. By the time I seperate some children who are hurting others, there are others who also do the same and then I am just running around seperating them. I am distracted due to these issues while doing the activity. In case of pulling hair and hurting others, I cannot even adopt the "let me see" approach as it may lead to injuries. I have noticed that the ones who were not so much into hurting others have now started doing the same looking at those who do it. It is catching up.
Any thoughts ? Please help.
Radhika Wrote - Today was my
Radhika Wrote - Today was my first day with kids(practicals).couple of them didnt get settle down till the end of the session.
This was casually discused with my son in the bed time and i asked him what can be done with that kids.(crying).
The immediate reply came frm my son was "just leave them as they r".
then he told the story that even he was done the same when he was
crying and he said that meghna aunty just left him and then he came out
with the smiling face.
My (ratnesh) thoughts in reaction to Radhika's son's wisdom:
is life so simply intuitive?
if yes, then one wonders, why it escapes us (adults).
one wonders what is there to teach them (children)?
and who to teach (we????)?
aren't we consciously or unconsciously always leading them to our own rights and wrongs?
and if yes, with what consequences?
is knowing akin to building walls around us - then why at all know?
what about mindlessness, which Buddha talked about
just wondering ... so many thoughts ... thanks radhika
It is very important to
It is very important to revisit the things we learned in our TTT from time to time to refresh our memory and also to help us think differently. How much ever I am trying to be in the Geniekids mode , sometimes I do slip back to the typical and non geniekids mode of using more verbal instructions in my sessions and even at home with my own kids.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thursday, February 26, 2009
Style Sightings
Stumbled upon this street style site only a few days ago. What I like about it is that it has absolutely no air of pretension. It features both the sartorial and the downright whacky, even surveying clubs and beaches, and occasionally, its author launches into reverie.
Take a peek at its most recent menswear posts.
Posted by Miguel Paolo Celestial at 7:03 AM
Labels: bloggers, Street Sightings, Street style
2 comments:
- Giancinephile said...
Two tone shoes are to die for!
- February 27, 2009 at 5:02 PM
- Miguel Paolo Celestial said...
I know. Been looking for a pair for some time now...
- February 28, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, is a classic piece of performance art and may be the best single representation of the sex, drugs and rock and roll generation. It marked the cultural upheaval of the '60s and '70s, and it is returning to the New York stage.
The show helped bring fame to songs like "Let the Sun Shine In," "Aquarius," "Hair" and "Good Morning Starshine." Its world premiere was at the Public Theater in 1967. The following year it moved to Broadway, and ran more than 1,800 performances and impacted populations world-wide.
Many of the costumes were based on the rock-stars of the time, Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Roger Daltrey. While the costumes inspired conversation, it was what the actors didn't wear that helped to fuel the firestorm of controversy that surrounded the production.
Check the production's title song from HAIR, the movie, in the video above.
Just remember to keep it groovy, turn on, tune in, drop out, and don't trust anybody over thirty.
Rebellious Baby Boomer Musicals
More Stats +/-
Manscape Madness
Big Bird-Inspired Hairy Fashion
Real Life Rapunzels
Funky Hippie Toasters
Musicals About Counterculture Festivals


text: About Author uttoransenAuthor Uttoran Sen is a self-proclaimed expert on eCommerce, he recommends his favorite shopping cart software for eCommerce business. Author Archive27 Aug 2012 23 Steps to Making Pinterest Work for Your Business By uttoransen social media 168 Comments A Guest Blog by Uttoran Sen. Share your article by following the guest blogging guidelines. Experian recently reported that Pinterest is the third largest social network – following Facebook and Twitter. If you're surprised to hear this, you're simply not paying very close attention to the social world of the internet and, of course, theRead More


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This is after four - 5 yard skeins of floss - 20 yards. My feeling is that it will use just over 30 yards to complete. Just filling in where it needs, with no rhyme or reason at this point.
My budget this month is good - but of course the plumbing bill alone put me into never even close to budget. But it had to be done, and I waited long enough that even knowing the drain was not right for years and years, it never quite occurred to me that the dripping might also be rotting the wood around the drain. And I should know that. Same thing is true of a dripping or leaking toilet. It rots the floor around the base. A midnight surprise just waiting to happen. So I am glad to have it done. Next will be the house roof, which I have also delayed for a couple extra years, but I am starting to push my luck there too.


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There are many arrangements of portable toilet rental available which answer to each need that you may have, from focal ones that have basic sections to over the main ones that can square with various open restrooms. We are to a great degree sharp towards each kind of taste which can be satisfied. The cost of renting when you require a portable toilet is an outstanding choice not as much as the cost of getting one. Since restrooms back in the past few years are used for certain days and not more it looks awful too in light of current circumstances gets them at a higher cost when you can essentially rent them for a little measure of the cost and extra meanwhile.
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It is NOT ok to contact this poster with commercial interests.


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The Real McCoy's M-65 Field Pant
—01. Trademark authentic detailing .
—02. Drawstring hem.
I struggle with cargo pants, or anything overly military for that matter, I really do. But I'm also prone to allowing two things to sway me into a purchase; pockets; preferably an abundance of them, and refined, authentic details. I like olive green too, don't get me wrong, but, despite fulfilling much of the criteria I mentioned, I'm not sure if these pants are tempting enough for me personally. That doesn't mean to say they wouldn't make the perfect addition to somebody else's daily wears, as braver men than me have both fought in, and casually worn pants such as these.


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Vacation rentals in Rest of Europe, Asia, Australia etc. (villas, farms, cottages, apartments)
> SlowTrav > Rest of the World > Travel Notes > Germany
Berlin, Germany A City Reborn
Shannon Essa (Shannon)
Tired of having the entire Bundesrepublik Deutschland painted with a lederhosen, beer and cuckoo clock brush, Diana and Shannon have joined forces to write their impressions of the fascinating northern German cities of Berlin and Hamburg. The two cities differ from each other, and together they differ completely from central and southern German culture, providing an opportunity for a completely different experience in Slow Travel.
With a distance of approximately 160 miles or 250 kilometers between them, both cities can certainly be experienced as part of one trip.
Walking through Berlin today, it is hard to believe that sixty years ago, it was a pile of rubble and less than twenty years ago, a 103 mile wall wound through the city, dividing Berlin into two very distinct places. Even ten years ago there was a wasteland where now impressive city monuments and well-designed business and shopping centers stand. The city has managed to rebuild itself in a remarkably short period of time and, once again, Berlin is one of the most vibrant, energetic, and interesting cities in Europe. From the bazaar-like atmosphere of the Turkish quarter in Kreuzberg to the trendy shops and restaurants of Mitte and the urban cool of Prenzlauer Berg, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to run out of things to do in this world-class city.
Though the city center was almost completely leveled by bombs during World War II, there is plenty to see much of it as a reminder of the war and the years that followed. While you wont find any ancient structures in Berlin, youll find an immense number of antiquities in some of Berlins museums and while many of the cities churches were damaged, some still stand.
It would be a shame to have anything less than a week to explore Berlin and if you like museums allow even more time. There are lots of vacation rentals available, and a vast array of food shopping options, from outdoor markets to department store gourmet shops with everything from bagels to caviar to the famous doner kebab. Berlin, visited this way, can be a great value.
Getting around. Youll need a good map, such as Streetwise Berlin, to get around. Berlin has an excellent transportation system and you can get virtually anywhere with the U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains (the S-Bahn is faster) and the citys streetcars and buses. Taxis are not over the top expensive. When walking, make sure to stay out of bike lanes many people get around by bike and youll get run over or at least honked at if you are in their way.
This list of things to see and do is but a tiny representation of what Berlin has to offer.
Sites to See
The Brandenburg Gate. Probably the most symbolic and certainly the most photographed of Berlins historical sights, this monumental city gate was completed in 1795. Watching tourists snap photos below the gate now, it is difficult to imagine that not so long ago, the Berlin wall was built on both sides of it, separating west from east.
Memorial for Jews Killed in the Holocaust. A stones throw from the Brandenburg Gate is this effective monument to the Holocausts victims. It is difficult to not be moved by this large area (205,000 square feet) with concrete slabs of varying heights. Its one of those places that looks different on any given day, and is worth more than a passing glance.
Holocaust Memorial
The Reichstag. The German Parliament building was built in the late 19th century and was the site of many important events, including a fire in 1933, which was blamed on communists, and led to the Nazis gaining power. Now, a beautiful glass dome sits on top of the building, with a viewing deck and a restaurant.
Museum Island. Even if you dont like museums, this island in the heart of the city is where it all began the first settlements appeared here in the early 13th century and it is a lovely place to walk around.
Alexanderplatz. While not pretty in any traditional sense, this square and the nearby Fernsehturm are vivid examples of 1960s East German architecture. In the square itself, you will find the Weltzeituhr the World Time Clock, which must have been cutting edge in its day, but now looks pretty dated. Also in the area, there is a train station and subway station (where youll surely make a transfer sometime during your stay); department stores, and a lot of businesses and restaurants. The Fernsehturm, a 1,197-foot TV tower that is visible from almost everywhere in the city, has a view platform and revolving café at the top. It is worth the 10 Euro to get up there, but it is even better to get up there and then have a drink at the revolving café.
Tiergarten. This large city park (525 acres) is home to the Kulturforum where a complex of museums, including some of the citys finest, and the Berlin Philharmonic concert hall can be found. The rest of the park is lush, green space that is perfect for a day away from asphalt and artifacts. Well, maybe not completely. The affecting Sowjetisches Ehrenmal, a monument to the 300,000 Soviet soldiers killed in Berlin during WWII and the famous Siegessaule - another landmark, the 223 foot Victory Column are both in the Tiergarten, along with lots of bike paths and outdoor cafés.
Checkpoint Charlie. This famous crossing between East and West Germany has the iconic images of a Soviet and American soldier overlooking it and is surrounded by some pretty touristy restaurants, but between 1961 and 1990 this was the only crossing place and therefore has a symbolic place in recent history. The Haus am Checkpoint Charlie museum, adjacent to the border crossing, is worth a visit try to get past the first couple of rooms, which can be very crowded, to the rooms beyond. There are a number of exhibits about the Berlin Wall, people who escaped, the fall of Communism in other countries, and much, much more.
KuDamm. This beyond-bustling West German district is a testament to capitalism, but also has its own really cool vibe. Shops, cafés, hotels, and restaurants line the streets and there are people everywhere, but the hollowed shell of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedachtnis-Kirche stands, literally in the middle of it all, as a reminder of the war. Saturdays here are impressive, with many people out and about shopping, eating, and hanging out at outdoor cafés.
A Spree River Cruise. Kind of touristy, yes; kind of cheesy, yes. But, also a really great way to see some of the incredible modern architecture of Berlin, and to get a general sense of the layout of the center.
Modern architecture along the Spree River
Potsdamer Platz. If there is one place to see the nothing-short-of-miraculous rebuilding of Berlin, this is the place to do it. In the beginning of the 20th century, this area teemed with people and had a vibrant nightlife; by the middle of the century, there was nothing left. As late as the mid 1990s, the area was still an empty wasteland. Now, there are a number of incredible new buildings and the area has been reborn. If you like modern architecture, definitely visit the Sony Center if nothing else it is a remarkable complex of glass and steel with a really inviting atrium. The Filmmuseum there is an absolute must for anyone interested in film, and especially, German film.
This lovely city square has an old-world feel, though the buildings here were badly damaged during WWII and rebuilt. Youll find two important churches here the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral), and the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral), which was built by French Huguenots in the early 18th century. Also in this square is the Konzerthaus, home of the Berlin symphony, and some nice cafés on the perimeter.
The Gendarmenmarkt from a cafe window
Youll find some amazing museums in Berlin. From history - ancient and more recent to art and antiquities, youll find it all. Some of the not-to-miss museums:
Pergamon Museum. This museum houses three amazing structures, among many other things. The Pergamon Altar is a Greek altar dating back to 170 BC, removed from the city of Pergamon in what is now Turkey and installed here along with other fragments from the same region and period. Another attraction is the Miletus Gate, a 52-foot entryway to a market in Miletus, a Roman outpost in Asia Minor that dates back to 120 A.D. Even more striking is the Ishtar Gate from Babylon, a stunning gate and processional made of colorfully glazed brick built during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 B.C. These are just three destinations in a museum crammed with ancient things to see allow at least half a day.
German History Museum. This vast museum houses art, sculpture, artifacts and memorabilia from the earliest of German civilizations to the present day. Parts of the museum, particularly those related to the Holocaust, are pretty intense and you wont leave feeling particularly happy. So, dont visit here if you want your vacation to be a completely carefree one.
Jewish Museum. As with the German History Museum, a visit here is worthwhile, but not the most uplifting of experiences. The galleries are housed in a zigzagged building that is in itself meant to symbolize the path of the Jews in Germany and the exhibits cover a period from the Middle Ages to current times. The Garden of Exile and Emigration, instead of feeling calming, will instead leave you feeling out of sorts and wondering why?
Gemaldegalerie. This museum in the Kultureforum area in the Tiergarten houses contains hundreds of paintings, from the 13th century onward. In addition to a stunning collection of German painting, there are impressive galleries housing Dutch and Italian paintings, including many masterpieces from the Renaissance, and collections from France, Spain and England.
Kuntstgewerbemuseum. Lovers of arts and crafts will take great delight in this museum in the Kultureforum, which has a collection of crafts and decorative art from the Middle Ages to the present tapestries, textiles, ceramics and furniture, among many other things, are represented here.
Slow travel in Berlin
It is easy to find goods for your vacation rental in Berlin. There are food shops, wine shops, and bakeries everywhere. The streets are teeming with cafés, bars, internet cafés, and other necessary places for the traveler. Berlin also has great outdoor food markets.
Ka De We. This department store has an unbelievable gourmet department on the 6th floor. While not cheap, foodies can spend an insane amount of time just wandering around. In addition to a bakery, a deli, a wine and liquor department, and a large counter dedicated to smoked fish, caviar and other decadent delights, youll find all manner of spices, imported foods, sweets, and many food bars and counters where you can sit and partake of some of these delights.
The Galleria at Alexanderplatz. The gourmet department here, while not quite as impressive as the one at Ka De We, is geared more towards the typical shopper local, and foreign. Youll find almost anything youd find at Ka De We, just maybe not packaged as beautifully and at a much better price. They have a fantastic chocolate department here, as well as fresh made sushi, among many other things.
Winterfeldmarkt. This market in Schoenberg, every Wednesday and Saturday in the Winterfeldplatz has everything the upwardly-mobile young resident could want incredible looking pastries, olives, vegetables, honey ... even fresh bagels. There is a cute outdoor café/bar right in the middle but if that is too crowded, there are lots of other outdoor cafés in this hip neighborhood.
The Turkish Market. Step into something completely different at this outdoor market, held on Tuesdays and Fridays on Maybachufer in Kreuzberg. Youll find incredible breads, olives, cheeses, and other items from the daily Turkish table, plus a lot of household goods, shoes, and toiletries. Its impressive and an absolute must for foodies.
Youll find everything in Berlin. Besides German food and such street delectables as Currywurst and Bratwurst, youll find everything from Chinese to Mexican to Thai to Italian. A good book to invest in before going, if you are a foodie, is A Hedonists Guide to Berlin. It has some really great recommendations of all cuisines, in all neighborhoods, and in all price ranges. It is also worthwhile to check out chowhound.com for ideas.
Lets put it this way the bars and clubs in Berlin dont close until the last customer has gone home. There are hundreds of cool places to hang out, from coffeehouses to retro-bars to jazz clubs. Even the subway stations can be fun. If you are into bars and nightlife, once again I recommend A Hedonists Guide to Berlin. This book has a lot of really cool places to hang out in it I cannot recommend it highly enough.
It wont be a surprise to anyone that I recommend staying in an apartment or vacation rental in Berlin. I just think it would be a shame not to be able to partake of the glories of Berlins food shops and take-out places (not to mention being able to have coffee when you wake up at 11:00 AM and chill all those fine wines you bought for an afternoon break.)
One apartment I can highly recommend is here (and reviews):
This place looks lovely as well:
Some useful websites which provide good info for travelers:
An excellent overview of Berlins public transportation can be found here:
Some restaurants I like:
Some bars I love:
Cool Berlin blogs:
Some excellent Berlin trip reports:
And some Berlin photos from our gallery:
Related sections
Sarah Walker Photo Essays: Photo essays on Munich, Berlin, rural Germany, Bavaria, Austria, Vancouver, New York City.
Discuss this article in our forums
Shannon worked in the wine business since 1986, saved her money and spent a year in Venice, Italy till she ran out of money and had to come back. She is the author, with Ruth Edenbaum, of Chow! Venice, a book on eating in Venice.Besides traveling (and thinking about traveling), Shannon regularly attends services at the Church of Rock 'n' Roll.
© Shannon Essa, 2008
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Creole Coffee Punch
Chicory was used in New Orleans during the Civil War to stretch limited coffee supplies. Over the years, blending the slightly bitter root with coffee beans became a local tradition.
Total Time:
Level: Moderate
Yield: 5 3/4 cups
Serves: 6
- 4 c. strongly brewed coffee-chicory blend
- 6 tbsp. sweetened condensed milk
- ½ c. whole milk
- 2 tbsp. whole milk
- ½ c. rum-based orange liqueur
- ice cubes
- orange twists
- Combine coffee-chicory blend, milks, and liqueur, and stir to combine well. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1 1/2 hours. Serve over ice, garnished with orange twists.
Looking for cocktail recipes? Try our top fruity drink recipes, retro cocktails, or punch recipes.
More recipes like this
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Mah Jongg Magic Tournament II
Washington DCJCC
Sunday, March 141:00 - 4:00 pm$27, Discounted Member Price, $18 (all JCC memberships honored)Last year's sold-out tournament returns!Come ready to throw some tiles and win at the Mah Jongg MagicTournament at the 16th Street J. Hurry to register for this fun-filled evening which will include prizes, refreshments and new friends.Don't want to play without your group - Bring your group with you!Register here online or call Jean Graubart at (202) 777-3268.
Advanced registration is required. Due to the nature of play we unfortunately cannot accommodate Walk-ins. Limited seating is available.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
We're sorry, the deadline for buying tickets for this event has passed.
Related Links
Off-line Registration/Ticket Purchase Form


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Looking for a good book to buy as a last minute gift? I've got a few suggestions. My reading list for 2016 is over 100 books again this year and it's been tough to keep this list short!
Winning the "Best Book to Make You Smile, Laugh, and Become Intrigued by the Storyline" award is Robin Sloan's Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. Set in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, occasionally in New York, it's a fun book for anybody who loves books, coding, and fantasy.
If nonfiction story telling is more your thing, then the winner of the "Best Book About the American West, Brothers, and Mules" award is The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck. A few years ago two brothers retraced the old Oregon Trail by mule powered wagon. Funny, thoughtful, and well written.
A lot of church friends published books this year, and it was hard to choose from among them. So I'm skipping them all and instead gave the award for "Best Book for Christian Living, Even if You Forget it All After You Finish the Book" to Augustine's Confessions. Not for the faint of heart, but wow what a classic.
Do you know somebody totally baffled by the election results? Give them Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance, which I award the "Best Book to Capture the Struggling Culture of White Working Class America." The author tells his personal story and opens a window onto the desperation, hopelessness and frustration of a people we too easily dismiss as hillbillies and rednecks.
Need something a little less serious and disturbing? The winner of the "Best Book of Adventure, Mystery, and Fun" award goes to Pirate Hunters by Robert Kurson. The true story of two guys who invest everything they've got to find one of only two certified pirate ship wrecks in the Caribbean. An absolute blast.
Need a beautiful work of fiction? The winner of the "Best Book of Fiction that Could Pass for Truth" award has to go to the beautifully written and universally acclaimed The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I have no idea how anybody could not love this book.
The business person on your gift list, the winner of the "Best Book About Business or Economic or Historical Look at Trade That Doesn't Suck" award goes to…well, it's a multi-way tie. Under New Management, From Silk to Silicon Valley, God and Gold, Geography of Genius, and Search for God & Guinness are all worth reading.
Finally, I have to mention two books that might make lousy gifts because they deal with heartbreaking topics. But they are very, very powerful and should be on your personal reading list. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and Being Mortal by Atul Gawande deal with heartbreaking topics. Just Mercy is a brilliant account of the injustice of the death penalty and Being Mortal looks at the de-personalization of the elderly in the health care system.
Hope this helps. Oh, and whatever book you buy as a gift, be sure to include a copy of Junkyard Wisdom by a little known author from Northern California!


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Midwest coaster trip. Part #4 Valleyfair
It was Tuesday June 12th and our hotel was just minutes from Valleyfair. Before I start, I want to point out that we had to pass up Adventureland in Des Moines Iowa. We were within minutes of the park the evening before. I tried racking my brain of how to fit Adventureland in, but couldn't come up with a solution. Not only would it have been a new park, but this was my first time in Iowa and my first time in Minnesota. Adventureland closed at 7:00 pm that day and we didn't get to Des Moines until 7:00 pm, so it was nearly impossible to add Adventureland and the state of Iowa to my list.
We arrived at Valleyfair at 9:30 for a 10:00 opening. This was my first visit to the park. When the gates opened we headed straight for Renegade, because it was primary goal of that park. We boarded the second train of the day in the front seat. Now in the morning it was only 65 degrees. The ride was very good with a mix of laterals and air time and the first drop was incredible. My only complaint was it was very slow in the turns. We rode the front seat again and then the back seat. We rode the back seat one more time before we left when it warmed up for a total of 4 rides. The back was better than the front and the ride did speed up once the sun came out. Renegade wasn't as smooth as American Thunder or Prowler, and wasn't as good, but it still ranks as my 12th favorite wooden coaster. So it still was a good ride. As far as my GCI woodies, here is how I rank them.
Next ride was Mad Mouse. It was better than I expected. Then we hit High Roller. We waited 15 minutes for back seat. This was the pleasant surprise of the trip. This classic woodie was smooth and full of air time. It reminded me of Skyliner at Lakemount, only better. I really wanted another ride on this coaster, but we were short on time.
The kids got their credit on Cosmic Coaster, a kiddie coaster. Then we headed for Wild Thing. We walked onto the back seat then waited a few trains for front, for a total of 2 rides. The back was much better. Out of the Morgan Hypers it had the best return bunny hops, but the first part of the ride wasn't as good. That completes my Morgan Hypers in the US. Here is how I rank them.
The park now was starting to get a little crowded. We waited 25 minutes for a middle seat ride on Corkscrew. This Arrow looper was rough, but it was over water, which was kind of neat. We then waited 15 minutes for Steel Venom, a Intamin inverted shuttle, simular to Wicked Twister at Cedar Point, only one side is twisted. The cool thing about Steel Venom is that there is a pause on the side that isn't twisted. We had a middle of the train seat.
Our last ride was Excalibur. It was a walk on. We rode the middle. A little rough, but this Arrow coaster was unique. It was 3:00 pm and we had another park that day so we left and drove 20 minutes to Mall Of America.
I agree that Mad Mouse a nice old school wild mouse, IMO a ton better than the Ricochet coasters. Corkscrew is a little rough, but I was riding it defensively avoiding the OTHR's, so wasn't too bad; For me, the back seat on Excalibur was rougher, my least favorite at Valleyfair. I agree that High Roller is a nice old school woodie. I guess I found the right spot on Wild Thing, as I rode it in the back twice consecutively and liked it. The first drop was nice, but I agree that the helices after was just 'okay', but I loved the station run tunnel with head choppers; I see that you ranked it last with Morgan, I gotta get out and ride some more Morgans LOL. Sorry for rambling. Again, thanks for the TR!
* This post was modified at 6/20/12 10:49:00 PM *


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The IMF have just released their outlook for economic growth in 2010-11. It contains masses of information but these two charts caught my interest given that China has now moved into the position of NZ's 2nd biggest trading partner. The US is also in the pink. I wonder if the colour use was intentional? The numbers represent % economic growth. (NZ ranks 26th in the world on GDP per capita in current prices and US dollars).
NZ still least corrupt
1 hour ago


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At 04:13 PM 6/12/02 -0700, Garret Wilson wrote: >2. If RDF Schema says what the object *is*, then what about multiple >rdf:ranges? ( http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/WD-rdf-schema-20020430/ hints that >this might be possible.) If a property has two ranges defined, then is the >object of the property automatically understood to have *two* types, or does >it mean that each of the objects has one of the two types? The former. Multiple types for an object are possible and, IMO, useful. My stock example is that a horse can be of type animal and also of type means-of-transport. #g ------------------- Graham Klyne <firstname.lastname@example.com>Received on Thursday, 13 June 2002 06:30:48 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 6 January 2015 21:15:18 UTC


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If you haven't heard, Facebook bought mobile photo editing and sharing firm Instagram for $1 billion this week.
The amount is astronomical for a company that has no known revenue stream. It also begs a number of questions about both companies, including how Facebook will leverage Instagram's vast user base for a profit, what current users of Instagram think of the union (they're generally none too pleased) and whether users will act on their displeasure, leading to a mass exodus (that's yet to be seen, but if you're interested in deleting your Instagram account, here's how you might want to go about it).
But the merger also highlights an interesting prediction from Washington Post columnist Vivek Wadhwa — that the next Mark Zuckerberg would come from Brazil.
Guess where Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger is from.
According to a Tuesday report by the BBC's Rebecca Marston, Krieger, a Brazilian native, came to the U.S. in 2004 to study at Stanford University. He teamed up with fellow Stanford student Kevin Systrom to start Instagram in 2010 after being inspired by old Polaroids (that camera-maker could have desperately used a $1 billion infusion of cash when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection back in 2008).
In his March 21 column, "Brazil: Home of the next Zuckerberg?" Wadhwa outlined how Brazil, among other countries, has experienced a "noticeable evolution in entrepreneurial culture":
My prediction is that, by the end of this decade, we will see some Mark Zuckerbergs emerging from the slums of Sao Paulo or New Delhi, India or Valparaiso, Chile. Why, you ask? Because entrepreneurs are doing what governments can't—creating innovation ecosystems.
Krieger happens to be a Sao Paulo native.
Krieger has a ways to go before reaching the stratosphere in which Zuckerberg resides — the Facebook co-founder sits atop a company with a roughly $100 billion valuation. But he certainly has a sizable chunk of Facebook — all thanks to a free mobile app that, until recently, wasn't even available to anyone except iPhone users.
So, Brazil, who's next?
Full disclosure: The Washington Post Co.'s chairman and chief executive, Donald E. Graham, is a member of Facebook's board of directors
Read more news and ideas about Innovations:
Vivek Wadhwa | Brazil: Home of the next Zuckerberg?
Rob 'CmdrTaco' Malda | There are no backups in Oz


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Making Beats in Congo
There's a lot going on in the Democratic Republic of Congo right now. The eastern city of Goma was recently overthrown by a rebel insurgency – the latest episode of a conflict mineral fueled beef, which has plagued the region for two decades. But here at Blackademics we've got another story to tell – a story about youth, technology and beats. This summer, I traveled to Goma, Congo with my colleague Apple Juice Kid to build an electronic music production studio, called Beat Making Lab. After two intensive weeks of instruction, our students produced some incredible work. Get a glimpse of it here and stay tuned for more!
3 Comments to 'Making Beats in Congo':
dubturbo on 12 May 2013 at 7:00 pm: 1
I do not know if it's just me or if perhaps everyone else experiencing problems with your blog. It appears as if some of the text within your content are running off the screen. Can somebody else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This may be a problem with my web browser because I've
had this happen before. Thank you
Luxury iPhone 6 Plus Cases UK on 12 Dec 2014 at 11:23 am: 2
Processor wise the 5S comes with a dual-core A7 processor clocked at 1.3 Ghz with 1 GB of RAM while the new iPhone 6 comes with a dual-core A8 processor clocked at 1.4 Ghz with the same amount of RAM, plus NFC is now available on the iPhone 6.
ztephone's Blog on 16 Mar 2015 at 5:53 am: 3
Meanwhile, the StartupBus that left from Nashville last year, will now draw the busloads of coders and entrepreneurs to Nashville, and the Southland conference that sold-out to more than 600 attendees last year, has since split into two separate conferences, both taking place in June and bringing nationally recognized entrepreneurs to their onstage discussions.
Leave a Reply
Published on November 5, 2012 at 1:49 am.
3 Comments.
Filed under Africa,technology.


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..Mine isn't but it was until yesterday.
I attended Professional Standards/Code of Ethics Training this week provided by the Michigan Association of Realtors. Our trainer, Bruce Aydt, went over changes in the COE, and this is one that actually was put in January of 2007, yet is not at all well known.
Standard of Practice 12-9
REALTOR® firm websites shall disclose the firm's name and state(s) of licensure in a reasonable and readily apparent manner.
Websites of Realtors® and non-member licensees affiliated with a Realtor® firm shall disclose the firm's name and that Realtor®'s or non-member licensee's state(s) of licensure in a reasonable and readily apparent manner. (Adopted 1/07)
Blogs are, of course, websites. Your blog probably does suggest a market that you work in, but, in my opinion, it does not comply with this COE unless you specifically put something on it that says the state of licensure and firm's name.I will be adding these items to my sidebar now. miOaklandCounty.com is compliant. How about your blog?
Photo provided by Hawaii


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All the (deserved) attention Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has gotten through the first four games didn't go unnoticed by his defensive teammates.
So they formulated a plan.
"It was a big fun joke where everybody was messing with J.J.," defensive end Antonio Smith said. "Connor, Cush, me, Cody. Just basically Brooks, the whole defense was like man, we all gotta get on the highlight film. The whole highlight film is J.J.
"So they called it operation keep J.J. off the highlight film by making plays too."
A reporter popped in to note that the plan didn't work. Watt, after all, had two sacks and a fumble recovery.
"Yeah, it did," Smith said. "It worked out perfectly. J.J. still did his thing and everybody else is on the highlight film, too. It didn't work the way they thought it was going to work, but it worked in a good way to where everybody was making plays. That's the best way for it to be."
Indeed, Smith had a sack fumble (Watt recovered the fumble and later asked if we saw how Smith pitched the ball right to him), safety Glover Quinn had a sack fumble, Brooks Reed, Danieal Manning and Kareem Jackson all had pass defenses and, of course, Manning and Jackson both returned interceptions for touchdowns.
Watt showed up at his locker at this point in Smith's interview and another reporter called out to him: "J.J., he's killing you over here."
Watt shrugged and smiled.
"It's all good," Watt said. "We're all making plays, nobody cares who gets the credit."
"Tone just tells the truth," Smith said.
See the best images from the Texans' 38-14 win over the Titans.


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Latin rhythms blend in harmony with the diners' chatter. Here at Media Luna, the ambience is relaxed and welcoming, much like the village atmosphere of Clovelly in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Tonight, the intimate Mexican restaurant near the roundabout of Clovelly Road and Arden Street is running at near full capacity.
I start with the recommended cocktail, a Lime Margarita ($15) made with fresh lime, Tequila and Cointreau. The first sip affirms its status as the signature cocktail. The blend of citrus and sweetness is perfectly balanced against the Tequila. The second confirms that it is the best Margarita I have had. Ever.
Mr G orders the Deluxe Anejo Margarita ($23), made with fresh lime, Grand Marnier, Anejo Mezcal, served in a half-salt and half-chilli rimmed glass. The taste is beautifully smoky and lingering on the palate. Niko steps out from behind his bar to ask if we're enjoying the cocktails, a lovely personal touch which gives us an opportunity to compliment his libations.
The dining room is decorated with semi-crescent moons and brightly coloured stars which are symbolic of Mexico. I feel as if I am back in my cousin's apartment with her collection of Mexican artefacts collected during the years she lived in Mexican City. Pictures hanging on the walls are replicas of La Loteria Mexicana, a traditional Mexican game similar to Bingo.
Though our table for two is the last one at the rear of the restaurant, its secluded and intimate location has an advantage. It affords us behind the scene glimpses at the workings of the kitchen and the bar.
Our host Edgar is extremely gracious and welcoming. He is passionate about the dishes when he ask him to explain the specials. And when the first course arrives, his hearty buen provecho (bon appetit) takes me back in time to my Spanish classes at university.
We start with an entrée to share from the specials menu. Quesadilla de Tinga Y Flor de Calabaza tastes as good as it looks. The pulled chicken in chipotle sauce is presented in a green tortilla with bright zucchini flowers peeking from the sides.
The sauce is spicy and sharp, adding another dimension of flavour to the shredded chicken. A generous serving for one person and quite adequate to share between two people.
I order a signature dish, Enchiladas De Mole Poblano ($22.90) and immediately take a liking to the colour complements on the plate. Under a chilli cocoa sauce, the corn tortillas are filled with shredded chicken and topped with onion rings and fresh cheese. The main course is served with Mexican rice and beans, a mild flavour in comparison to the rest of the ingredients. The chilli cocoa sauce is more subtle than I had expected which gives the robust dish a complexity of flavours I love.
Mr G orders the Cochinita Pibil ($23.90), described as a traditional Mayan dish of pork marinated in Achiote paste served with Mexican style rice, mixed lettuce, Habanero chilli and pineapple sauce. The soft tortillas are used to scoop the shredded pork. With this dish, you feel as if you are taking part in centuries of culinary traditions.
With the arrival of the main courses, we move on to a jug of Sangria. Although it is enjoyable and goes down very easily, I should have stayed with the Lime Margarita, a more apt accompaniment to the heat of the ingredients from the main courses. And because I was secretly craving another.
The staff at Media Luna are very friendly and attentive to the diners' needs. Edgar works the room with charm and ensures we are enjoying ourselves. With the melange of great food, delicious cocktails, warm service and a convivial ambience, I could easily be somewhere in Europe or Latin America.
With only two choices available, we skip dessert and coffee ask for a little after dinner drink that would go down well with the meal we've had. Niko the barman, enthusiastically suggests his B52. A layer of Kahlua at the bottom, topped by Baileys and finished with a thin layer of Cointreau that ends up in flames. Sipped from a straw, from bottom to top.
After cocktails and sangria, sipping the three layers of alcohol equally through a short straw proves to be a little difficult for me. The first sip nearly empties the Kahlua leaving the Cointreau flirting with the Baileys.
You can't help but admire the décor of the restaurant. The combination of bold colours, designs and ornaments give it an ambience like a fiesta.
There's a mermaid on a door and more scenes from the Loteria adorning the walls and doors.
A trip to the unisex bathroom offers a chance to view more of the decorations on the walls and the interior of the amenities.
The unisex bathroom is worth a visit to check out more of the interior, though the men may not like to stare at the scary face ahead while using the amenity.
The number of diners begins to dwindle which reminds us that time has passed too quickly. Niko, the barman, presents us with a complimentary after dinner drink served in a shot glass.
It tastes a little like a Margarita of sorts, made with Curacao instead of Cointreau. I can easily drink another but like all good things in moderation, I prefer to come back with friends to enjoy more of Media Luna has to offer.
And another Lime Margarita.
Media Luna
309 Clovelly Rd
Clovelly NSW 2031
This article is posted on Gourmantic.com - All rights reserved - Copyright © 2018.


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I Love Low-hangers
Personal Stories, Advice, and Support 513 People
Mrs HillI was just a young boy, too young to know anything about sex. I was probably only in the 1st grade, but I had this teacher, Mrs Hill. She was an older lady and rather heavy set. She would sit on a chair in front of the class when we were having playtime and if I ran by in front...
R1G1D1 70+, M 1 Response 7 Sep 14, 2013
I Am Seeking A Woman For An Anr / Abf In The San Francisco Bay AreaI love nursing for hours and hours. The closeness and bonding is a really huge part of it... but all the wonderful sensations that ANR partners share are undeniably appealing to no end. For me, the feeling I get while latched at the breast of a woman that truly loves to nurse her...
milkandlove 36-40, M 0 Apr 16, 2012
Low And Always Will Be!I have been nursing for the last 16yrs. Between children and my husband I have never stopped. I LOVE it. My husband loves my breast. He says he doesn't care how low they go they will always be beautiful because o have been used and needed and brought so much warmth to the...
jointhecorner 36-40, F 18 Responses 53 Apr 29, 2012
Low HangersLOVE LOW HANGERS.MY WIFE FALLS IN THIS CATEGORY.SHE WAS ONCE BANGED SO VIGOROUSLY BY A REALLY BIG LAD,HER **** SLAPPED HARDSWINGING VIOLENTLY.WE ARE FROM KUALA LUMPUR ,MALAYSIABYE
panil24680 51-55 1 Response 1 Oct 24, 2011
Where are these men who "love low hangers"?NOT IN MASSACHUSETTS lol
christinelove69 46-50, F 13 Responses 22 Aug 12, 2014
Might Not Be Sagging Much LongerMine have sagged and pointed south for quite some time just due to size. The only time they were every "perky" was when I was very young, and they had not reached the larger cup sizes yet. They've sagged since making it to 34E. Now I am a 38H and working on lactation. With...
blessedwithbreasts 41-45, F 9 Responses 14 May 16, 2011
G Rated. Just Wanted To Share.So I was in this big box store the other day, and this older woman,maybe in her late 60ies or early 70ies, was walking towards me inone of the main isles. She was smartly dressed in that she waswearing a pair of lose white slacks with a lose fitting white longsleeve blouse. Her...
AlterEgo1958 51-55, M 1 Response 4 Aug 15, 2012
Hang Low ****I love breast so hang low, floppy and big...I think they are so sexy and soft to touch. Unfortunately i never had woman with that kind of breast.. I hope at least i can have some friend here to admire in pics. Ty Mark
odisseo45 41-45, M 1 Response 3 Oct 26, 2012
As a younger 22 year old man I want the ladiesto know those low hangers make be hard as a rock ;) i love older women especially 60s and 50s.....I love them knockers
jarocho 22-25, M 1 Response 0 Apr 4, 2016
Swimsuits?Ladies, when you go swimsuit shopping, do you purposefully seek out swimsuits/bikinis with no support up top to allow the girls to continue sagging when you're poolside or at the beach?
JustForFun222 36-40, M 4 Responses 9 Jan 6, 2013
Can't Wait To Have ThemI love saggy **** they are very sexy especially with big nipples on them. They also move alot more then perky **** and turn me on. Hubby also want gravity do it's work on mine because saggers drive him crazy so i hope they soon migrate south and my nipples start pointing down.
Can't Fight GravityI'm a lover of big breasts, but only if they're real. The silicon and saline crowd don't do a thing for me. But since I have devoted a lot of attention to real *******, I know that they will eventually sag. It's a fact of life and, for me, just means that those beauties are the...
dirtysecrets54 56-60, M 4 Responses 9 Jan 20, 2011
In Praise Of Pendulous BreastsFor years I tried to get my wife to go braless and always got the same response. She would tell me that her boobs were "too droopy," and I would tell her I thought they were beautiful. I loved how soft and pendulous they were, and I thought they should be allowed to hang soft and...
R1G1D1 70+, M 2 Responses 9 Aug 21, 2013
breastmlklover 46-50, M 0 Mar 17, 2016


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Staying at home 90% of my time with a toddler (and soon to add an infant to that mix) makes me really enjoy my time that I get to play around on the web. A good portion of that time is spent in social networking. Yes, I have a MySpace page (although I have moved away from that site as I really don't care for the layouts), a Facebook page, use Twitter, and am constantly investigating new sites. So, I was really interested to hear that Complete Blog announced their Top Social Networking Sites for February (based on monthly visitors). Here is what they found:
Yes, MySpace is still up on top but I really don't see it staying there long. No offense against MySpace. I think that more people in their mid-late 20s, 30s, and 40s are becoming part of the Social Networking scene and MySpace seems to cater much more to the teens out there. That is just my opinion. I was really excited to see that Twitter has had a 4000% increase in monthly visits in the past year. WOW! I was also surprised to see sites like Classmates.com and Reunion.com so high up on the list. With the other social sites out there now, I guess I'm just surprised to see that people still visit those sites regularly.
I hope you take the time to check out some of these sites. Let me know what you think and if there are any other sites out there not listed above. Oh, and as always, you can check me out on FaceBook & Twitter.


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Scott Carson, Boeing's commercial boss, gave a luncheon address Thursday to a Seattle civic group, and talked at some length about the just-ended Machinists strike, and about the need to stay competitive in a global environment. Other than a statement last Saturday, it was his first public comments about the strike since it ended. My story on Carson's speech is below the update:
Boeing presented SPEEA, the union that represents Boeing engineers and technical workers, with its first full economic offer Thursday. It did not go down well.
"If Boeing is looking for a different process to reach agreements with unions without going through a strike, as CEO Jim McNerney said this week, making an offer that completely misses the interests of our members is not that process," said Alan Rice, chair of the SPEEA Technical Negotiation Team.
The SPEEA contract ends Dec. 1. Boeing said it will make its best and final offer by Nov. 11.
Below are statements issued Thursday night by both sides.
SPEEA statement:
After delaying responses to key union proposals for two months, The Boeing Company on Thursday presented what company negotiators called a "first, full offer" for new three year-contracts covering 20,474 engineers and technical workers. SPEEA negotiators called the response incomplete and disappointing.
"The company's responses to our proposals leaves large gaps between Boeing and what is needed by employees who engineer and design the world's most advanced aerospace products, said SPEEA Executive Director and Chief Spokesperson Ray Goforth.
"We've been waiting for a response from the company for more than two months and what we received today is disappointing," said Goforth. "It is clear difficult talks remain."
The company's response included a high-level outline of medical plan changes. More detail was provided in response to the union's wage proposals. SPEEA negotiators are reviewing the nearly 100 pages of documents passed to them by Boeing in preparation for presenting counter proposals Friday.
Union negotiators delivered a complete proposal to Boeing in September after nearly six months of negotiating in joint committees. Main Table negotiations started Oct. 29. The company delayed the start one day to settle the strike by 27,000 machinists.
"It's concerning that Boeing continues to point to an artificial deadline of completing talks next week," said Goforth. "We are prepared to keep negotiating until we have a deal for members."
Boeing remains determined to change SPEEA contracts in several areas that union members oppose. The company continues to press for removing Utah engineers from the Professional contract, eliminating the defined benefit pension for new employees, shifting more healthcare costs onto employees and continuing the outsourcing of engineering and design work to suppliers, contractors and overseas companies.
Boeing's own data shows many union members are paid below average wages for the aerospace industry. Union officials said that for Boeing to remain a market leading company, it must pay industry leading wages. Contract improvements sought by the union also include increasing vacation to industry standards and for the company to follow the example of Airbus North America and honor Martin Luther King Day as a paid holiday.
"If Boeing is looking for a different process to reach agreements with unions without going through a strike, as CEO Jim McNerney said this week, making an offer that completely misses the interests of our members is not that process," said Alan Rice, chair of the SPEEA Technical Negotiation Team.
SPEEA has called a strike at Boeing twice since organizing in 1946. The first was a one-day strike on January 19, 1993. The second was a 40-day strike that stopped delivers, customer service, engineering and technical work at Boeing from Feb. 9 to March 20, 2000.
Negotiations involve two union contracts. The first covers 13,898 engineers and a second contract for 6,576 technical workers. While the majority of workers are in the Puget Sound region, the contracts cover some employees in Oregon, Utah and California. Both contracts expire Dec. 1.
Negotiations for 700 engineers at Boeing Wichita start Nov. 13. The Wichita contract expires Dec. 5.
BOEING STATEMENT by Doug Kight:
Today, Boeing presented SPEEA with updated contract provisions on non-Boeing labor and presented initial economic offers for engineering and technical employees concerning benefits and compensation.
The proposal on non-Boeing labor, which incorporated key contributions from SPEEA, has made significant progress toward agreement in recent days.
We presented our first economic offer, which included pay increases over each year of the contracts through an annual salary adjustment fund, pension increases and enhanced health care coverage with slight cost increases.
It's expected that SPEEA and Boeing will exchange offers and counteroffers as we work toward concluding contract negotiations next week. This will give SPEEA time to mail ballots, as per its standard process, so employees can vote on the final contract offers.
As in previous negotiations with SPEEA, we don't intend to release the details of the first offers or the subsequent exchanges. SPEEA seemed to appreciate some of the proposals we presented at the meeting and said they would make counterproposals on others.
I'd like to summarize progress made in today's talks and outline the company's thinking on key issues.
Non-Boeing labor
After several days of back-and-forth on critical provisions of the contract around non-Boeing labor, the company and SPEEA seem to be converging on acceptable contract language that addresses the union's desire for a dialog in the process and Boeing's need to retain the flexibility it needs to run its business. The union expressed appreciation for the progress made on the issue.
Health care and retirement benefits
Our health care proposal provides outstanding coverage at lower costs to employees than most other large companies offer. Boeing has identified a zero-payroll-deduction plan for the duration of the contract.
We also offered to enhance benefits with an emphasis on wellness and preventive care as a way to keep employees and their families healthy as well as reduce Boeing's health care expenditures over the long run. While Boeing intends to absorb the majority of the additional costs from these enhancements, we have proposed slight increases to what employees will pay.
We're proposing to increase the basic monthly pension benefit for current employees. For individuals hired on or after Jan. 1, 2009, we're proposing a defined contribution retirement plan rather than the traditional defined benefit pension plan. This is the same plan that the company recently introduced for all newly hired salaried employees, including executives. For more information, read the Comparing Retirement Programs fact sheet.
Pay and incentives
Our overall compensation philosophy is to provide salaries that are competitive within the market for employees with the wide range of skills the company needs, thus attracting and retaining talented employees.
Boeing's offer to SPEEA supports this compensation strategy. In an industry where attrition rates typically are around 4 percent, our attrition is about one-quarter better than the average, or approximately 3 percent. Excluding retirements, Boeing's overall attrition is about 2 percent.
Our initial offer includes salary adjustment funds – for both the Professional and Technical units – in each year of the contract. Salaries are adjusted after employees go through the annual performance management process.
In addition, SPEEA-represented employees will continue to participate in the Employee Incentive Plan.
Negotiations will continue tomorrow.
Actions for managers:
Please share and discuss this information about this initial offer with your employees. Ensure that they understand that this is the initial offer, and that Boeing and SPEEA are expected to exchange proposals over the next few days.
Review a fact sheet on Comparing Retirement Programs as well as existing fact sheets available on our Web site. You can print out the fact sheets and use them as a tool in discussions with your team.
If you haven't already, sign up for alerts to be notified when updates are made to our Web site.
This offer is an essential step in this give-and-take negotiating process. As we continue our discussions with SPEEA, we are working towards our goal of final contract offers that reward our engineering and technical employees for the amazing work that they do every day and ensure that Boeing continues to be on the cutting edge of innovation.
Thank you for your tremendous support of this process.
BY James Wallace
P-I aerospace reporter
Boeing commercial boss Scott Carson didn't say the state's climate for business "sucks," as his predecessor did, though he did say Washington state must do better.
Nor did he threaten to move Boeing's jet-making business out of the state, as another Boeing leader once did.
But Carson, chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, made it clear Thursday that the aerospace giant must be competitive, and location, as in real estate, is critical.
"Location is a choice," Carson told a civic group during a luncheon in downtown Seattle
And strikes are not good for business, Carson said.
"Customers expect reliability," he said in the keynote speech to the Prosperity Partnership.
"That's been our hallmark for more than 50 years," he said. "Our customers must, they absolutely must, be able to count on us. Struggling lately with work force stability issues has made this much more difficult for us."
It was Carson's first public comment about the 57-day strike since it ended Saturday. He did not take questions from reporters either before or after the luncheon. The strike, by some 27,000 Machinists, most of them in the Puget Sound area, delayed the production of about 80 planes and further delayed the 787 program.
Carson said strikes are especially hard on employees, they are hard on suppliers, they are hard on communities and they are hard on Boeing.
"The only big winner in any Boeing strike is the competition," Carson said.
The strike took a toll on Boeing and the Machinists, who received $150 a week strike pay from their union, starting the third week of the strike.
Boeing said Thursday it delivered only five planes in October – planes that had already been built before the strike that began Sept. 6. Boeing was delivering about 40 planes a month before the strike shut down its jet-making operations in the Puget Sound area.
Although the Machinists union strike is over, Boeing still faces several more days of tough negotiations with its second biggest union, SPEEA, which represents about 21,000 engineers and technical workers. Their contract ends Dec. 1 and Boeing has said it will make its final offer Nov. 11.
This was the fourth strike in two decades against Boeing by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, arguably the most powerful manufacturing union left in the U.S. The union also struck in 2005, for four weeks, and came close to striking in 2002. The union has struck Boeing seven times since 1948.
Industry analysts estimate that Boeing lost about $1.3 billion in cash in September because of the strike and at least that much in October. That's money the company did not get from customers when they take delivery of planes.
Several industry analysts have recently said that this strike may have finally pushed Boeing to eventually move its jet-making business out of Washington, to a right-to-work state in the South where Boeing would not face so much labor strife.
Jim McNerney, Boeing chairman and chief executive, said last month that is was premature to talk about where Boeing might one day build its next plane after the 787.
But in various messages to employees during and after the strike, McNerney said the strike hurt Boeing's customers and its reputation.
In an e-mail to Boeing employees Monday, McNerney said:
"Beyond the internal side of the strike, there's no doubt in my mind-and there should be none in yours-that this experience was nothing but a big disappointment to both our commercial and military customers. It also created hardships for our suppliers and our communities. While it may sound cliché, no side ever wins a strike, despite the efforts of analysts and the media to determine otherwise after the fact. The costs are more than just economic, and the reputations of all parties suffer significantly. For the sake of our customers, our company and our employees, we have to find a better way."
Carson, in his Seattle speech, echoed his boss:
"The reputation of all involved suffers significantly," Carson said of strikes. "For the sake of all of us, our customers and certainly our employees, and for the company, we must find a better way. There should not be an us vs. them attitude in our labor relations. We are all Boeing. The company's success and job security go hand in hand. We are in a competitive fight for the life of the enterprise every day and we must be mindful of how critically important it is to be flexible and be able to adapt in ways to protect our ability to grow and improve this business and compete internationally."
Boeing's commercial leader did not suggest Boeing might one day be building jets some place other than in the Puget Sound area.
In a recent comment to the Wall Street Journal, Carson said Boeing is "committed' to building planes in the region.
"That commitment now comes with a 'but' statement at the end of it," he told the paper. "I want to keep building airplanes here, but we have to have a reliable and stable relationship with our bargaining units."
In his speech, Carson talked about his love of the area and of Boeing.
His father was a Boeing test pilot, who joined the company the year Carson was born.
"As a kid growing up here, Boeing loomed very large," he said. "It defined our region."
But he said Boeing and other companies face a new "reality."
"The realities of doing business in the 21st century are very different than the reality of doing business in the 20th century," he said.
He noted that some companies that were once in the Northwest have either disappeared or moved away. "Others appear to be gradually slipping away," he said.
Boeing, and many other companies, must be global to survive, he said, and that means having global partners.
Boeing's global partners in Japan and Italy, for example, manufacture the wings and part of the fuselage of the 787.
"Today, Boeing is a global company in a global industry, competing in an increasingly global market place," Carson said. "This is an important reality about our company because it effects the way we will and must do business."
Boeing's unions have been especially critical that Boeing has outsourced more and more of its manufacturing capability.
But Carson said those relationships with global partners give Boeing more market access and spread the risks.
"Those supplier and partner relationships are critical to our success," he said.
He said it is increasingly tough to compete, and the landscape is changing. Airbus is not the only threat. Russia, China, Canada and Brazil are now among a growing list of competitors, he said.
"It's a jungle out there," Carson said. "Aerospace is an incredibly competitive business and it is getting more so all the time."
He said Washington state, home to Boeing's commercial airplane business, must do more to improve the economic climate for business.
"I think we suck," was how Alan Mulally, who had Carson's job before taking over at Ford Motor Co. in 2006, described the state's business climate back in 2003. The state subsequently passed more than $3 billion in tax breaks for Boeing to keep 787 production in the state.
Carson was less blunt than Mulally in assessing the state's business climate today.
"I would say we have made progress, but we also have a lot of room to improve," he said.
Carson said there were four steps that could be taken immediately to improve that climate: Develop a state budget that preserves essential public services but does not raise taxes; reform unemployment and worker compensation programs to prevent uncompetitive increases in employer costs; finish all authorized state transportation projects on time; and make a long-term commitment to education.
"We are all facing very difficult times together," he said. "We must all face the realities of the changing competitive world."


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*1. Europe palace antique telephone. elegant and luxury appearance. function and decorate integrate design
*2. High quality ceramic material. handmade with care. good gloss. fine texture
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*4. Setting: can set the date and time. language and input method; Scene mode: can choose situation pattern and adjust the volume
*5. Smart Bluetooth phone cannot be used over regular telephone lines
*6. Innovation breakthrough. reduce radiation index. increase health factor
*7. Bluetooth music: you can play the music in the smart phone when connecting the Bluetooth
*8. Phonebook: synchronization with smart phones; External links: Bluetooth link and sync
*9. Call records: you can view the recent call records after connecting the Bluetooth
Package Content
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Using Model-View-Presenter (MVP) pattern in Windows Phone 7 projects
I am very fond of using patterns when developing and I have seen the importance of patterns in several projects. When it comes to Windows Phone 7 development I guess the most popular pattern to use is the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) pattern. I have successfully used a different (but still quite similar) pattern for several mobile app projects. In this post I will show you how to use the Model-View-Presenter (MVP) pattern when developing Windows Phone 7 applications.
I will not go into details describing the MVP-pattern since I covered that pretty well in another post I wrote a while back: Using Model-View-Presenter (MVP) pattern in Compact Framework. What I will do is to show an example on how you can design your Windows Phone 7 app architecture to use MVP-pattern. I will use the same login example as I used in the Compact Framework post. You can see that the biggest difference between how you do this for CF and WP7 is the data binding capability in WP7.
Before we go to the code a short summary on the essence of the MVP-pattern: The View is only responsible for displaying output to the user and receiving input from the user. The View will always ask the Presenter what to do with the data and the Presenter will pass the data on to the View. The Model consists of business objects and can be used both by the Presenter and the View. The figure below explains the MVP-pattern.
Now it's time to have a look at the code. For this example I have created a solution called MvpDemo. To this solution I have added two projects. One Silverlight for Windows Phone – Windows Phone Application project called MvpDemo and one Silverlight for Windows Phone – Windows Phone Class Library called MvpDemo.MVP.


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Prices, specials, features and availability subject to change.
Contact for details
Experience a NEW quality of life. Wilsondale Apartment Homes and Retail Center is a prime location with easy access to I-64. Located near Langley Airforce Base and the Peninsula Towncenter. Wilsondale offers all the advantages of urban living in a suburban setting. Our service is sure to exceed your expectations and our professional on-site leasing and management team is available to assist you with your apartment needs.
Lease Terms - 3, 6, 9, and 12 month leases available. Pet Policy: $250.00 pet fee non-refundable and $25 pet rent per month; 45 pound weight restriction
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I've used the standard Hennessy Super Shelter, incl the underpad, for about 300 nights of hanging here in the north country (MI).
I was also thinking of getting the newer silvered bubble pad to use in conjunction with my existing setup -- for better insulation. Note that I use an Explorer Deluxe Asym Classic.
When I called up Hennessy to ask them whether this is a good idea (I think it was last year some time -- 2012), the guy on the phone I spoke with recommended against using the two systems at the same time. He kept saying that they are two different systems -- each is good in and of itself -- but their official recommendation was against using them both at the same time. This didn't make sense to me, but I took their advice, just the same.
I've upgraded to an Arrowhead Potomac UQ. I've only used it two nights so far. It seems to work well. My strategy is to mostly use the UQ (i.e., not the underpad). For maximum warmth on the coldest nights, I intend to use the UQ in addition to the underpad. I haven't yet tried using the space blanket in addition to the UQ, but that should improve warmth as well.