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A person proposing to apply for approval of a project as a 'private infrastructure facility' may apply to the Coordinator-General for an investigator's authority to gain access to land to investigate its suitability for the development of an infrastructure facility for which the person is proposing to apply for approval as a PIF.
Before applying for an investigator's authority, the proponent must seek the owner's permission to access their land. ('Owner' includes a person who, to the Coordinator-General's knowledge, is an occupier of the land.)
If permission is not granted, the proponent may apply to the Coordinator-General for an investigator's authority for the land.
Purpose of investigator's authority
Activities that are generally covered by an investigator's authority may include:
- conducting surveys and taking samples
- clearing vegetation to the extent reasonably necessary
- constructing temporary access tracks.
The proponent must minimise the risk of damage to the land and rectify any loss or damage, failing which the owner may claim compensation.
The granting of an investigator's authority does not constitute development approval.
Compliance with conditions
The proponent must comply with any conditions imposed by the Coordinator-General in the investigator's authority, which may include a security deposit to cover site remediation or compensation expenses.
Investigator's authority applicants must pay the fee prescribed in Schedule 1D, Part 2 of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Regulation 2010 (PDF).
Fee schedule 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020
Goods and services tax (GST) does not apply to these fees.
|State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act) Part 6 Division 7 – Private Infrastructure Facility Application
|Application for Investigator's Authority under section 143 of the SDPWO Act
The making of an application and payment of the relevant fee does not guarantee that the application will be approved.
Annual adjustment of fees
The fees prescribed in the State Development and Public Works Organisation Regulation were current if the fees became payable prior to 2013. The fees are increased in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) every year from 2013 onwards.
The fees are adjusted on 1 January each year to reflect movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the 12 months to 30 September of the previous year. The CPI is based on the all groups index for Brisbane published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The CPI increase for fees payable in 2020 is 1.9%.
Additional costs
The Coordinator-General is also able to recover from the proponent reasonable costs of any services or advice which the Coordinator-General considers necessary to either decide on an application or take other action in relation to the project. Goods and services tax (GST) is applicable.
How to pay
Payment can be made via cheque, care of:
Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
Or alternatively via direct bank deposit to the following account:
Account name: Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
Account number: 10007096
Reference: Please include the name of the project and stage of the process that the payment relates to (e.g. 'XYZ Project PIF Application')
Further information
- Part 6, Division 7 of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (PDF).


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JERUSALEM – Chicago native Ellie Lavi could not have been happier when she gave birth to beautiful twin girls overseas. She found that the U.S. State Department did not share in her joy when she went to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to apply for citizenship for her children.An embassy staffer wanted to know whether Lavi got pregnant at a fertility clinic. She said yes and was told that her children were not eligible for citizenship unless she could prove that the egg or sperm used to create the embryo was from an American citizen.
"I was humiliated and horrified," Lavi said. "We're talking about the children I gave birth to. Of course they're my children."The incident points out what critics say is a glaring inequity in U.S. citizenship regulations. A child adopted overseas by a U.S. citizen is eligible to become an American, and a baby born in the USA is American even if the parents are not.
But a child born to a U.S. citizen overseas through the increasingly common practice of in vitro fertilization with embryos from donor eggs and sperm is not American, unless an American is one of the donors. And that can be hard to prove since clinics may not reveal such things about their donors due to confidentiality agreements, immigration law experts say.
"The problem is that the law hasn't kept up with the advances in reproductive technology," said Melissa Brisman, a lawyer in New Jersey who specializes in fertility issues.The U.S. State Department says a child born outside the USA to an American cannot receive citizenship until a biological link with at least one parent is established. That link does not exist if an infertile woman uses donor eggs at a clinic to conceive.
No such biological link exists for parents who adopt children overseas either, but U.S. law exempts adopted children from the regulation."Although the regulations are designed to prevent the abuse of American citizenship laws" through fraudulent claims of parentage, Brisman said, "they're also hurting infertile Americans who simply want to pass on their citizenship to their kids."
Lavi said she was in a crowded hall with her kids when the embassy staffer asked her over a speaker from behind a glass partition, "Are these children yours?"Lavi, a single mom in her 40s, said she felt the question was an invasion of privacy and she was not clear about the law regarding such births.
Marla Gatlin, founder of Parents Via Egg Donation in Portland, Ore., says parents have been punished for not knowing the rules and telling the truth to the embassy.Gatlin says pregnant Americans living overseas "often decide to either fly back to the U.S. to give birth, or they lie" to consular officials about how they conceived. Those who lied "aren't going to talk about it now, in fear of having their children's citizenship revoked," she says.
The U.S. State Department says it is merely following proper interpretation of the law, but it is studying whether it can interpret the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow U.S. citizen parents "to transmit American citizenship to their children born abroad through artificial reproductive technology in a broader range of circumstances."
Michele Koven Wolgel, an Israel-based lawyer who specializes in U.S. immigration law, says many embassy officials ask only older women, especially single moms, about the method of birth."That's called profiling," she says.
Most of the 200,000 U.S. citizens in Israel have dual citizenship, and fertility treatments are common because they are free. Wolgel says the State Department is going too far in its interpretation of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.She finds it hard to believe that the intent of the law "was to prevent a woman who carried a child for nine months, who gave birth to the child and whose name appears on the birth certificate from transferring her U.S. citizenship to the child."
"There is an established process for U.S. parents who want to transfer citizenship to their adopted children, but no such avenue exists for parents whose children, conceived with someone else's eggs or sperm, emerged from their wombs," Wolgel said. Moreover, lawyers say, non-U.S. citizens who live outside the USA may be able to claim U.S. citizenship for their child if they can prove their egg or sperm donors (the "biological parents") are U.S. citizens.
"The State Department says the donor determines citizenship, so this would hold even for foreigners who visited the U.S. only for the impregnation, and the child was born abroad," Wolgel says. Even advocates for strict enforcement of immigration laws concede the rules might need tweaking.
"The law exists for a very good reason: to avoid having people claim that other people's kids are their own for purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship," said Kristen Williamson, spokesperson for the Federation for American Immigration Reform. Even so, "this is one of those unique instances that might require special consideration … without wholesale abandonment of the law."
Lavi has given up actively pursuing U.S. citizenship for her toddler daughters."If I'd gone back to the States to give birth, my children would have automatically received American citizenship," Lavi said. "But I don't live there. I live here."
In vitro babies denied U.S. citizenship
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-03-19/in-vitro-citizenship/53656616/1

subset: commoncrawl


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|Presqu'ile park
InAEA 2ND BIANNUAL VIRTUAL CONFERENCE: Conference ProgramDate/ Time: September 24, 2016 (Saturday)/8:00 am PDT to 3:30 pm PDT
There are some talks all through the day and they sound really interesting have a look at the site to read up on them, also the slurl is there. http://www.inaea.org/post/2016/09/07/InAEA-2ND-BIANNUAL-VIRTUAL-CONFERENCE-Conference-Program.aspx
I would like to stay and listen to them all but did I mention I was going camping?! I wish I could take them all with me and hear their talks while eating a hot dog on a stick around a campfire. You know I can only eat hot dogs when I go camping. It's a sad story. I used to like them until one day I made a hot dog and sat down in front of the tv to watch something while I was eating. It had mustard, ketchup and sliced pickles on it I seem to recall. As luck would have it when I turned on the tv a show was already running which was on how processed food was made, and the segment I happened to pop into was specifically on hot dogs. I won't go into details in case you, fine reader, are a fan of hot dogs.. I wouldn't want to take that away from you, but it broke me and my love of the occasional fast and easy hot dog. It was never high cuisine to me but rather a quick food when I was really lazy. You need a food like that and I lost mine. Well one of mine (high five peanut butter and jam sandwich!) Strangely though, when camping I can eat hot dogs. What kind of science is this!? Stephen Hawkins stop worrying about aliens and tell me! I digress. Anyway so yes I am doing a talk tomorrow (then I am going camping!) and you are welcome to come if it sounds interesting to you. Not camping but to the talk.


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NBC Olympics.com – The U.S. women's volleyball team has its revenge.
Serbia ousted the Americans at the World Cup in Japan last year, but Team USA avenged that loss immediately at the Rio Games.
In a preliminary matchup between two undefeated teams Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. squad cruised to a victory over Serbia in four sets (25-17, 21-25, 25-18, 25-19).
Rachael Adams (18 points, four service aces) and Foluke Akinradewo (16 points) led the way for the Americans as they exploited their opponents mistakes, tallying 26 points on Serbia's errors.
The U.S. now has eight points to lead Pool B, one point ahead of China and two ahead of Serbia and the Netherlands.


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Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk EC1-48" W
- Single motor 2-stage frame w/ basic up-down keypad
- Height range from 29" - 48.6"
- Ships in 1-2 business days. Backordered items excluded.
Additional Information
Light touch, smooth adjustments
The standard electric height-adjustable desk frame ensures smooth and comfortable transitions.
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Experience industry-leading stability and noise levels with our thoughtfully engineered and thoroughly tested motors.
Standard two-button up and down keypad
Set your favorite heights of your new sit-stand-move lifestyle.
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The 1" thick work surface on every height adjustable desk is constructed from environmentally friendly chipboard. With a myriad of different color choices and size options to choose from, rest assured that you'll be able to find the perfect top to fit your needs, and can feel great about picking the sustainable option.
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Designed for maximum structural integrity, our frame features double steel tubing that ensures stability even at its highest height. Thicker and more durable powder coating seamless surface resists scratches, water, and stains.
Best standing desk mate
Work while cycling can help your body stay productive and increase your energy and focus. Our under desk exercise bike V9U is the best standing desk mate to help safeguard your health and stay in shape when working from home.
You're Reviewing
Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk EC1-48" W
Warranty Info
- All height – adjustable desks purchased on or after October 5, 2016 include a 5-year warranty for the frame, motor and other mechanisms, and a 2-year warranty for the controller and switch, electronics. For more information on FlexiSpot warranty coverage, click here.
Shipping & Return Policy
- We ship to 48 states in the U.S. from 4 US warehouses via FedEx for free. If you're shipping to Alaska or Hawaii, you will be charged the FedEx posted rate. For orders shipping to Puerto Rico, or any country other than the U.S., please give us a call at (855) 421-2808.
- You are free to return almost any item within 30 days of receipt.No restocking fee is applied for items returned in "like new" condition. No shipping fee is applied for the return of the item.30-day risk-free policy applies only to items shipped within the continental United States.
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text:
Save interesting products in this list and find them quickly at any time.
Simply click on the watch list symbol
Villeroy & Boch's Squaro Infinity is a bespoke shower tray available in different (special) sizes and offering the option of precise trimming to individual dimensions on site or in the factory. An ideal solution for complex layouts - including corners, columns or projections. Squaro Infinity shower trays open up maximum flexibility for bathroom design, including in relation to colour and shape.
A new interpretation of the traditional square shower: the rectangular shower tray. Installed flush against the bathroom wall or in a corner, a rectangular shower tray is an ideal choice even for narrow bathrooms. Rectangular shower trays provide lots of room lengthwise and appear more spacious than their square counterparts - perfect for relaxing spa moments in your own bathroom.
Flush-fitted shower trays are installed level with the bathroom floor, creating a harmonious, modern and spacious effect even in small bathrooms. Besides being a design highlight, a floor-level shower also offers practical benefits: it allows easier entry, while larger shower tray models provide improved accessibility, making them suitable for all life situations.
Surface-mounted shower trays have a rim of 2-4 cm and can be installed easily even in bathrooms with low floor depths. The low rim ensures no distraction from the open feeling in the room, while clearly differentiating the shower area from the rest of the bathroom. The shower tray is not quite flush-fitting, but its very flat design allows safer and more comfortable entry.
Shower trays on a pedestal or plinth are suitable for any bathroom and are available in a very wide range of models. Pedestal shower trays are ideal for bathrooms with a low floor depth as the water outlet can be located directly in the base of the shower tray. The pedestal blends harmoniously with the overall effect of the bathroom and opens up options for individual design - find your favourite model.
Quaryl® is an innovative material from Villeroy & Boch, consisting of quartz and acrylic, that opens up almost limitless design scope - whether creative shapes or linear effects. Our Quaryl® whirlpool tubs, shower trays and baths are completely stable and resistant to impacts and scratches. The non-porous, easy-clean, anti-slip surface also feels gentle against the skin - a perfect choice for your spa bathroom.
White is a classic colour for bathroom sanitary fittings. However, for all those in search of a different look or very harmonious bathroom design, Villeroy & Boch offers a variety of colour shower trays. Depending on the model, these shower trays are available in a selection of matt or gloss colours and patterns - perfect for creating highlights and adding and a stylish individual note to the bathroom!
Certain technical rules and building requirements need to be observed in relation to shower tray seals. To provide you with everything you need for professional sealing of your flush-fitted or corner shower, Villeroy & Boch has partnered with the company MEPA to develop two MEPA Aquaproof shower seal sets that meet all relevant standards.
|Squaro Infinity
|900 mm
|15 mm
|1400 mm
|34,3 kg
|Product designation
|Shower tray
standard models for all installation types (can be cut to size). Technical information: Drainage capacity: 48 l/min, The installation height of the shower tray can be reduced by 30 mm if the Viega outlet fitting art. no. 634 100 is used. Please note: this outlet fitting does not conform to EN 274, All shower trays are classified as anti-slip class C (in accordance with DIN51097), These shower trays are not cut and can be used for all types of installation (recessed in the floor, on the floor, on a base)., Quaryl shower trays can be cut to size on site according to the installation instructions; detailed video at pro.villeroy-boch.com/squaroinfinity or QR code on this page.. Outlet cover in matching matt colour with chrome-plated strip.. Not included in scope of delivery: All shower trays are supplied without support/base.. Diameter: 90 mm


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Wardriving: The act of driving around with scanning equipment, searching for wireless networks (usually of the 802.11 variety). The "War" part of the name comes from the age-old practice of setting up a computer to aggressively dial thousands of phone numbers in a row, looking for other computers or fax machines, or "War Dialing". In and of itself, wardriving is not a malevolent practice. Wardriving, done passively, is totally legal in the US.
WarCycling, then, is the same tactic applied while riding a bicycle. WarCycle 1.0 was set up as follows.
Diamondback Outlook (Hybridzilla)
HP Jornada 680e
Garmin eTrex
EnGenius 200mw 802.11b/g high-power card
Two 19dBi Antennae
Windows CE HPC 2000
WarCycle 2.0 used my newer Jornada 720 which was more stable, and was installed onto a metal plate on my DB Sorrento (The Goat). Still powered by WinCE and MiniStumbler, though.
This time, though, I have made significant changes. For the price, you really can't beat the Wireless card that I've got, and the antennae are superb omni-directional antennae. Sure, better hardware exists, but this stuff is better than you'd find built-in on any laptop. Here's the new digs:
Trek 1200 (The Twelve)
HP Jornada 720
EnGenius 200mw 802.11b/g high-power card
Garmin GPS12
Two 19dBi Antennae
JLime Linux
Of note are a different bike, different GPS, and vastly different software. The GPS12 isn't any more accurate than my (currently destroyed) eTrex but it runs quite a bit longer on a set of batteries. The software is where this rig really shines. You can see a review of this scanning setup (off the bike) on one the the other blogs I occasionaly write for.
What's it look like? Well, when I'm riding, it's pretty stealthy. You can just see a pair of antennae lashed to the top of the panniers, but laying flat. I could get more networks with them mounted upright, but I didn't have anything to mount them on and my aluminum rack isn't magnetic.
Unpack the gadgets and it looks like this:
I rode to church today, too. I only scanned for networks on the way home. Here are the obligatory photos du jour.
Getting ready to roll out. I didn't realize my panniers were on backwards. Whoops.
Lenexa Fire Department on Pflumm Rd.
At church. The green thing is a "Buy one get one free" for Mountain Dew.
As usual, I played sound engineer today. I actually had to re-wire a significant portion of our sound system before church. When we stopped using the subwoofer (we didn't need it really), someone botched the wiring and hooked stuff up all wrong. This is why I wish people wouldn't mess with it unless they fully understand it first.
My Dad and Christie's guitars. Kinda blurry, oh well.
Loaded up for the trip home. I just carried my bottles out in the panniers. I needed the mesh pockets for something else on my way home...
Tasty mountain dew! My favorite bike fuel. With my BOGOF Bottle Cap, this stuff set me back about $3.15 per gallon. Cheaper AND tastier than gasoline.
Miscellaneous Railroad Photography:
A train brake.
Me, being a trespasser. Oh noes!
Random Tunage:
Casting Crowns - Voice Of Truth
Plumb - Stranded
Sunday, June 01, 2008
The WarCycle v. 3.0
Wardriving: The act of driving around with scanning equipment, searching for wireless networks (usually of the 802.11 variety). The "War" part of the name comes from the age-old practice of setting up a computer to aggressively dial thousands of phone numbers in a row, looking for other computers or fax machines, or "War Dialing". In and of itself, wardriving is not a malevolent practice. Wardriving, done passively, is totally legal in the US.
6 comments:
- Dan said...
Of course, the phrase "War Dialing" comes from the movie "War Games" where Matthew Broderick's character dials for modems and stumbles upon the ultra secret government computer called WOPR that controls the entire nuclear arsenal.
"Would you like to play a game?"
- June 02, 2008 2:45 PM
- Noah said...
Ah, such a good movie. Yes, although the technique of "War-dialing" predated War Games by more than a decade, the practice was known as Demon Dialing before that, and often included programs that performed automatic redial of the same phone number in order to win call-in radio contests or to otherwise gain an unfair advantage over a busy phone line (such as the case with popular bulletin board systems of old)
Although, I believe the correct quote is "Shall we play a game?" ;)
Not that I've watched the movie twice this year already or anything.
- June 02, 2008 3:02 PM
- Dan said...
I've never been good at movie quotes. Although, in my defense, I was quoting J.D. from Scrubs who was quoting the movie. (Are you buying this?)
- June 02, 2008 3:04 PM
- Noah said...
I'm buying it, but I'm taking your geek card until you watch War Games again.
- June 02, 2008 3:11 PM
- Apertome said...
The Warcycling setup just keeps getting better -- it's just freaking awesome! And a reminder that I haven't combined cycling and geekery sufficiently.
- June 03, 2008 1:42 PM
- Dan said...
War Games was on AMC last night. I didn't watch it.
- June 04, 2008 8:08 PM
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WASHINGTON—Complicating the West's efforts to isolate Russia, the Kremlin announced Thursday that Vladimir Putin will join U.S. President Barack Obama and European leaders in France next month for a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
The June 6 commemoration will mark the first time Putin and western leaders have come face-to-face since the outbreak of the crisis in Ukraine. The U.S. and Europe have condemned Russia's provocations, ordering sanctions on Putin's inner circle and cutting Russia's ties to some international organizations.
Still, leaders from Germany and France publicly welcomed Putin's decision to attend the observance at Normandy, raising questions about the effectiveness of recent efforts to ostracize the Russian president over Ukraine. While the White House said Obama would not meet one-on-one with Putin, U.S. officials did not appear to be seeking to stop him from attending.
"We would not expect France to disinvite Russia from this historic event commemorating World War II because of what's taking place in Ukraine," White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said. "The events in Normandy on June 6 are focused on remembering the sacrifices of all our World War II veterans." Millions of Russian lives were lost in the war against Nazi Germany.
Yet Putin's presence is sure to intrude on, if not overshadow, the commemorations of the Normandy landings by allied forces. Even without a formal meeting between Putin and western leaders, there will be heightened interest in their interactions, particularly between Obama and Putin, who have a history of tense public encounters.
"If this goes forward, this is not going to be about Normandy and the Second World War," said Heather Conley, a Europe scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "We're just going to be watching the body language."
French officials began inviting world leaders to Normandy months ago, well before Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine and positioned 40,000 troops on Ukraine's border with the former Soviet republic. The guest list also includes Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the leaders of other European countries on both sides of the Second World War, and the heads of former African colonies whose soldiers took part in the war.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said details of the Russian leader's visit were still being worked out. Most of the international leaders in attendance are expected to attend a lunch and formal ceremony on June 6, with other events scheduled throughout the week.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the news of Putin's visit, saying she "had hoped that, despite the different opinions and the great conflict we have right now, a joint remembrance of a difficult time — of World War II — is possible."
Merkel's comments were echoed by French President François Hollande. He told a French television station Thursday that while he has differences with Putin, he has not forgotten the millions of Russian lives that were lost in the war.
However, Putin's decision to attend the D-Day commemoration could undermine what was supposed to be a strong show of U.S. and European unity against Russia that same week. Following Russia's annexation of Crimea, western allies cancelled plans to attend a Group of Eight summit that Putin was scheduled to host in early June in Sochi.
Instead, the seven other nations in the international economic forum will gather without Russia in Brussels before heading to Normandy.
Despite efforts to deepen Russia's isolation, U.S. and European officials acknowledge that it is almost impossible to fully cut off ties with Russia. European nations have deep economic connections, particularly with Russia's robust energy sector.


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Tis beautiful road runs through the valley of the Gods in Southern Utah.
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There are no Upcoming Shows listed for this comedian.
Eric Hahn
Eric Hahn is a hapless waiter/sometimes restaurant manager/comedian/writer/hand model/promiscuis gay guy living and performing in Los Angeles. Eric began performing comedy in 2007 when he was fired by a famous pizza chain restaurant ( hereafter identified only as CPK ) for talking about his experiences as a 10 year manager with said pizza company. Eric is no longer bitter about this and wants to extend a HUGE thank you to CPK for shoving him headfirst into pursuing his dreams. Eric appeared in 2009's short film 3b and can be seen on Hulu.com in their stand up comedy clips.
Eric Hahn's Upcoming Shows
Eric Hahn is Known For


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The National League of Cities Center for Research and Innovation has joined with Next American City to explore how cities are developing innovative models for tackling complex urban issues and strengthening their local economies. In the coming weeks NLC will feature a series of case studies on foreign direct investment, fiber connectivity, and immigration. This blog highlights the first of these, Bringing Chinese Investment to American Cities, the story of foreign direct investment in Toledo, OH.
Despite national election rhetoric, many at the local level are exploring foreign investments as a way to grow local economies. One such community is Toledo, OH and its mayor, Mike Bell, who has been courting Chinese investment to revitalize real estate development, grow health care and pharmaceuticals, high-tech manufacturing and transportation/distribution industries, and in the process, create new jobs and bolster city coffers.
Toledo's Story
Like many other rust belt communities hard hit by the recent recession, Toledo is suffering a foreclosure crisis, shrinking manufacturing base, declining population, and overwhelming budget deficit. Elected in 2009, Mayor Mike Bell, proclaimed that to pass through the recession, "we just needed a bridge." For Bell, that bridge came in the form of foreign direct investment (FDI); an investment in a community by a foreign entity that creates new businesses, provides capital for development projects, develops or expands production or manufacturing facilities or provides new ownership of an existing enterprise.
"In the spring of 2011, the city sold two long-available sites on the Maumee River: the Docks, a restaurant strip that went for $2.5 million, and a 69-acre parcel in the Marina District that went for $3.8 million that had once meant to be the home of an amphitheater and more but was now desolate. The buyer: Dashing Pacific Group Ltd., a partnership between two Chinese investors, Yuan Xiaohong and Wu Kin Hung. Later, the 350-room Park Inn was sold for $3 million to an undisclosed Chinese investor."
Seeing the potential of foreign investment for the community, the Mayor recently worked with the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP), University of Toledo and many other regional partners to host nearly 200 Chinese business people and officials during the Five Lakes Global Economic Forum. The goal: to help foreign investors see the opportunities in Toledo first hand.
But not everyone in the community is sold on the benefits of FDI.
The case study details how "Keith Wilkowski, a Toledo Democrat who was runner-up to Bell in the 2009 mayoral race, cautions against a city-building strategy that believes in a "cataclysmic investment" that will, once and for all, bring Toledo back. Wilkowksi cycles through Toledo's past supposed panaceas: the Portside Festival Marketplace abandoned six years after it was built, the Owens-Illinois Building that was left by its namesake firm in 2006, the 3-year-old $150 million downtown Huntington Center stadium, the brand-new Hollywood Casino. And now China is the answer to Toledo's prayers? "It's both harder and more rewarding than that," says Wilkowski."
"And Mayor Bell, for his part, doesn't entirely disagree. He argues that encouraging diverse, sometimes foreign, investment in Toledo is no magic solution, but it just might be part of establishing a broad, sustainable base for Toledo's economic rebirth. Skepticism about that path, RGP's John Gibney, vice president of marketing and communications, says, isn't surprising. Even those connected to and invested in the China push have their doubts. But he explains the thinking, though, driving the willingness to give it a shot. "A lot of things this community has been doing haven't been working, so why not try it?"
Learning from Toledo
According to a 2011 survey by the National League of Cities, the overwhelming majority of city leaders (83%) felt that expanding trade opportunities and attracting foreign direct investment was important to the success of their local economies. Meanwhile, only 30 percent report being involved in foreign direct investment opportunities.
For cities across the country seeking to add FDI to their economic development toolbox, there is much to be learned from Toledo's approach.
• Focus on key assets
The foundation of an effective FDI strategy is a clear understanding and realistic assessment of strengths and weaknesses. Toledo's strategy is built around its key assets including waterfront, workforce and distribution access, to draw investment that aligns and builds on local strengths.
• Coordinate regionally
Local success in a global economy requires leveraging, strengthening and marketing the breath or resources available in a region – not just lies what within municipal borders. For Toledo, regional coordination of foreign investment efforts and creating a regional identity is proving both beneficial and necessary. "In the past, says Bell, local leaders were unprepared to sell the area's merits. But more than that, in the area's sometimes contentious political environment, they were unwilling to row in the same direction. "What we weren't doing was functioning as a region," Bell says, who argues that what's good for, say, nearby suburban Perrysburg (population: 21,000) is good for Toledo."
• Build relationships
Depending on the country, relationship building can be paramount in FDI. Toledo is being proactive in lead generation by relying heavily on networking, relationship building, and engaging a trusted "middle man" to accelerate these relationships and position the community to take advantage when an investment opportunity arises.
• Respect, understand, and educate about cultural differences
The city of Toledo and its regional stakeholders are also aware of the need to respect cultural differences, and also of the need to help bridge differences in business practices between the U.S. and China that often impeded successful investment. For example, a session at the economic forum called "Differences in Doing Business in the USA" focused on how Chinese companies can find help navigating such issues as licensing their goods to U.S. firms, hiring a local sales rep, going in on a joint venture, and starting a subsidiary.
Learn more about how cities can promote foreign investment.
FDI in the U.S.
In recent years, local FDI strategies have gained traction as domestic investments have slowed and credit has tightened. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2011, U.S. FDI inflows grew by $283.4 billion, representing a 13 percent increase over 2010. Although Chinese investment is a very small percentage of FDI into U.S. communities comparatively, the amount of investment from China has been steadily growing.
But what is the impact of foreign investment on local communities?
In 2010, foreign owned businesses in the U.S. accounted for over 5 million jobs, most in the manufacturing industry, and invest $40 billion in research and development annually.
From cities as diverse as Chattanooga to Toledo to Seattle, FDI has helped create new jobs, boost wages, strengthen manufacturing and service industries, bring in new research and technology and raise productivity. FDI has also facilitated new economic activity in places that may not otherwise have attracted the necessary investment or capital, strengthened local export economies, and attracted foreign suppliers.
Although FDI holds promise for local communities, it is also important for local and regional leaders to diligently vet new investors coming into the community, and to view FDI not as a silver bullet, but one potential part of a broader economic strategy.
Read Bringing Chinese Investment to American Cities to learn more about Toledo's efforts.


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May's Free Games for PlayStation Plus Members Revealed
Fight, point-and-click, puppeteer, puzzle and kick your way through May with these new, free downloads being added to PlayStation Plus' Instant Game Collection.
The PlayStation Blog has revealed the newest downloads being offered for free to PlayStation Plus subscribers throughout the month of May. Starting on the PS Vita handheld, there is the beautiful side-scrolling platformer, Limbo. Limbo will take you through a breathtaking, atmospheric adventure during which its ingenious use of puzzles and graphics will captivate you. Along with Limbo, PS Vita owners will be able to download Surge Deluxe, which is a puzzle game that has you chaining together color-coordinated blocks before the game's on-screen pipes detonate.
PS3 players with PlayStation Plus will get three titles: Puppeteer, Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 and Skullgirls Encore. Puppeteer is an award-winning title with absolutely stunning visuals. The game has you playing as the boy-turned-puppet Kutaro and tasks you with undoing your transformation and stopping the evil Moon Bear King. PES 2014 is soccer at its finest while using Kojima Production's FOX Engine, which means the world's most popular sport will be played on even greener grass. Skullgirls Encore is a modern day tribute to the Marvel vs. Capcom series with a roster of wacky, animated females who are all filled with personality and quirkiness.
Lastly, PlayStation 4's PS Plus subscribers will get to download Stick it to the Man! This point-and-click title tosses together platforming, puzzles and old-school PC game traditions mixed in with a unique, cartoony art style. You play as a regular guy who one day wakes up to see a giant, pink ghost hand floating out of his head. This strange appendage gives your character psychic abilities that he must use to solve the weird occurrences that are happening around him.
Look forward to these games when they become available to download for free on the PlayStation Network with a PlayStation Plus subscription.


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Interview Date: 09/13/2010
Run Date: 10/12/2010
Interviews Home / TV Home / Bullz-Eye Home
If you don't know Jim Breuer from his work on "Saturday Night Live," where he played both Goat Boy and Joe Pesci, then you probably know him from his impeccable performance as a stoner in the '90s film classic "Half Baked."If you don't know him from either of those, though…or, for that matter, even if you do…then you really ought to pick up his new autobiography, "I'm Not High." Breuer isn't entirely thrilled with the title, which is why it has a relatively lengthy subtitle ("But I've Got a Lot of Crazy Stories about Life as a Goat Boy, a Dad, and a Spiritual Warrior"), but he's decidedly happy with the book itself, and he talked to Bullz-Eye about some of the subjects tackled within its pages, including Robert De Niro's "SNL" guest spot, his friendship with Tracy Morgan, and his bewilderment that he starred in one of the great cult movies of the '90s but has rarely gotten another opportunity to work in film.
Jim Breuer: What's up, Will? It's Jim!
Bullz-Eye: Hey Jim, how's it going?
JB: Alright. How are you?
BE: Pretty good. Good to talk to you…and, amazingly, I got a copy of your book far enough in advance that I've had a chance to read it through.
JB: Oh, okay.
BE: And, better yet, it was awesome. I loved it.
JB: Ah, that's good to hear. This will be a great conversation, then. (Laughs)
BE: I certainly hope so. Yeah, in fact, semi-appropriately, I guess, given how you talk a bit about your faith in the book, I was reading most of it while I was with my wife as she was setting up her Sunday school class.
JB: Oh, that's sick! (Laughs) Seriously, though, man, that's very cool. I'm glad you liked it man.
BE: So what inspired you to include the faith aspects of the book? I mean, that was probably the most surprising part of it, but it was also one of the most enjoyable aspects.
JB: Well to be honest with you, for the reason you just said. There's such a deep, faithful side to me, and for some…when I go on the road, you know, there was a time when I would go out there and I was, like, a rock and roll guy. Things that the young people were drawn into me were, you know, the movie "Half Baked," maybe some rock and roll characters, whatever. But then they would come see me, and then they would come talk with me, and they would just be blown away by the conversation. Like, "I didn't see that side of you coming." Honestly, between you and me, I have great entertaining stories, but I couldn't put out, "Hey, Breuer's got this deep faithful side!" I knew if I could put that stuff in…I put them around those stories, so it's almost like a hidden jewel. You know, where they're, like, "Oh, wow, look, it's cake! But what's this in the middle of the cake?" So I knew my intentions were to get those stories out more than anything else. More than anything else in the book, that's what my true passion was driving the book for. And then the rest…it was easy to just pad all the funny and silly around it. As a matter of fact, we went back and forth on the name of the title, because, between you and me, I'm not a fan of that. I didn't want anything to do with the word "high." But they were, like, "Yeah, but you go on stage, and the first thing you say is, 'I'm not high,' and the place cracks up." I'm, like, 'Aright, alright, but only if I get that other stuff in a subtitle. (Pauses) That was kind of a long answer.
BE: But a valid one.
JB: Okay, good. (Laughs)
BE: I also enjoyed reading the "SNL" stuff, of course. I'm a huge fan of "SNL" and have been for ages, and I always enjoy the insider's point of view.
JB: Yeah, and I wanted to put it where I'm not trashing it. I love talking as if you're my best friend, and you go, "What was it like?" And I just tell you what it was really like. You know, like, "Hey, man, this is what happened, blah, blah, blah, he's wearing this and I can't stand this guy." "Which guy?" "This guy. He's a nice guy, but this is why I don't like him." So that's the kind of point of view I tried to put out. And I think I put it in there.
BE: Yeah, it came across as being a positive experience, even though it wasn't 100% positive all of the time you were there.
JB: Yeah. And, then again, what job is?
BE: Exactly. Well, my token question to ask every SNL alumni is to name a couple of your favorite sketches that never actually made it to air.
JB: Oh, God, the Shut-Up Guy. I think I even say as much in the book.
BE: You do, actually.
JB: The Shut-Up Guy, by far. I thought he was clipped at his ankles. I thought the biggest character I was going to have was this guy… (Hesitates) Oh, my God, what was his name? Oh, it was Gunnar Olsen. Gunnar Olsen was a heavy metal guy…which I'm still working on, actually. I mean, he gets faith out of heavy metal. I'm working on a heavy metal, family-friendly show. But he was on "SNL" three times. He did the Heavy Metal News with Colin Quinn and destroyed the place. I had him as visions of a movie, and that was my all time favorite character, because I'm a frustrated lead front singer.
BE: Talking about SNL movies, I loved the pitch for the Goat Boy movie.
JB: Yes! Which I still think is a good idea.
BE: I do, too. I mean, how bad can it be compared to other SNL movies?
JB: Correct.
BE: I didn't realize until reading the book that you and Tracy Morgan were quite as tight as you are.
JB: Well, you know, again, I think I wrote it in there about how Tracy brought my faithful mind to a different level. I was very young, I was in Harlem every day, and to be, like, this kid, who grew up in a neighborhood where… (Hesitates) I mean, we were all white, and up the street was all black, and it was common for me…I didn't even look at them as humans. "They're not humans, they're animals. They belong in a jungle." The N-word was like passing pizza. "Look, there's an N'er," you know. And to go from that to…it just all makes sense now. I moved to Florida and my eyes opened a little more, but when I was in Harlem, if someone were to say, "Here comes a ghetto man, sitting with a white-collar, can't-stand-them guy," and we…it was the best time in my whole life. I feel like someone put on a pair of goggles, and then I just saw it. Everything you've ever seen about, you know, "Well those people are like that because they want to be, they're a bunch of animals, they don't want to get better," I was there. And to hear from Tracy, who really had nothing, he'd be, like, "You know, Jim…" We sat in the car for hours and he would talk about God in his life, and how I should have children, and "God wants me to have children." There's this whole deep side of Tracy that he would never let out, but I saw it, and that's what really connected us more than anything. And, technically, all the people that I put out there in the book have a spiritual little connection to him, a faithful connection.
BE: Well I like the fact that you're able to address faith without getting overly religious. In fact, you make a point of calling out the overly-faithful.
JB: Correct, correct. They're missing the point on the mission. Someone once told me that God's a great product, but the salespeople are awful. They're ruining the product.
BE: There's a thing on your Wikipedia page that I don't remember you mentioning in the book: when Rob Halford came onto your radio show when you were singing Judas Priest's "Devil's Child."
JB: Yes!
BE: Was that insane?
JB: Beyond insane, because we performed one of my all time favorite songs. See, and it's so funny because metal made me more faithful, whereas people think that's the worst, like, "Oh, that's the devil!" And I'd be, like, "Oh, it's all how you look at it. You know, you look at your book…your Koran, your Bible, whatever…one way, and other people look at it another way. You see the music as evil, I see it as a warning of evil, so please listen." So we sang "Devil's Child," and I love that song. It fills me…that song freakin' empowers me. It's like a big, fair warning. I love it.
BE: Nice.
JB: Yeah, so having him come on was sick.
BE: Now you obviously talk about "The Joe Pesci Show" in the book, specifically the experience with Pesci actually being on the show. How mind blowing was it when De Niro actually did come out? Because I know you weren't expecting him.
JB: Oh, dude, first of all, right before they were supposed to come out…not the live show, but the dress show…they came up and they said, "They canceled. De Niro's never been on live television, he didn't know it was live, he's not doing it." Complete panic attack. But Pesci was going to do it without De Niro, so it was going to be me, and Colin Quinn as De Niro and then Pesci…and then Lorne insisted on bringing out Darrell Hammond dressed as like a fat De Niro. To me, it was just the dumbest thing. The wind was completely blown out of my sails, and during the dress, I was actually a little depressed and annoyed during the sketch, because I knew just Pesci was going to come out, and…it was just going to look stupid. And all of a sudden, I heard the loudest roar I have ever heard in my life on that show, and I turned around…and De Niro was there. Literally, when the sketch started, they said he's not there and we're not doing it, and I will never forget that feeling, to see that guy just glaring at you with that look he's got, just nodding his head with this little smirk on his face. It was unreal. Unreal.
BE: Did you get the impression that they did that intentionally to get the maximum surprise?
JB: I think so, yeah. To totally mess with my head.
BE: Another thing I don't think you talked about in the book was working on "Dick".
JB: (Laughs) Oh, yeah. Well, that's because I, uh, didn't really…
BE: Didn't really have much of a part, I guess. (Laughs)
JB: Yeah, well, not only not a huge part, but, literally, I flew in for a day and flew out. I'll tell you how I got it too. They call me up, while I was filming "Half Baked," I think, and they're, like, "Listen, we've got this role in this movie, it's up there, and it's next week," which is another word for, "Someone canceled, can you do it for a lot less money and real quick?" (Laughs) And so it was one of those. It was alright. But I don't look back and go, "Oh, wow, that was great."
BE: So when you were actually doing "Half Baked," did you get the impression that this thing might possibly haunt you for the rest of your life?
JB: No! As a matter of fact, I thought quite the opposite. I thought I was going to be a multi-billionaire by now. (Laughs) The most frustrating part of that movie…and call me egotistical or off the mark…but I thought I pulled off one of the greatest stoners ever.
BE: I would absolutely agree.
JB: And, yet, I never got another decent movie role. To this day, I am baffled by that.
BE: When I think of that movie, I think of how great you, Dave, and Steven Wright were.
JB: Yeah, and none of us did movies again! (Laughs) What happened? The biggest cult movie of the 90's, and I can't buy a freakin' movie role. None of us can. It's weird.
BE: Has there ever been talk of trying to do a sequel?
JB: There always has, but that's up to Chappelle. And if I know Dave now, that'll never happen until we're, like, in our sixties.
BE: Now that would be a funny sequel.
JB: That would be a funny sequel.
BE: So how much of the year do you spend touring nowadays?
JB: Um, I've ran a lot since 2008. I'm ending this December. I had my run, I want to go in a different direction. I want to do some…I want to see what this book opens. I don't know what audience I'm going to get from this book. I'm kind of hoping I get to do really cool spiritual talks. I'm hoping I get to do lectures. So I'm kind of seeing where that goes and I want to be home. My girls are…you know, my wife is home with three kids, and it's just not fun. That's not fun. I would like to be home with them. And I may write another book. Who knows? I'm really just waiting to see what…I'm so curious to see what the audience is going to be. Like, who's reading this and who's passing it along?
BE: I'm kind of curious myself. Like I said, I'm a big "SNL" fan, so I mean that's like shooting fish in a barrel for me to be interested in reading this, but at the same time…I mean, you have a whole generation who doesn't even know you were on "SNL."
JB: Right. Well, we'll see.
BE: I have to ask you at least a little bit about the "Clerks" pilot. You touch on it in passing, but had you been a fan of that film prior to going into the pilot?
JB: I was, yeah, I was a big, big fan. So when they said, "We have this pilot…" Now, I already went through the wringer, so I had a very bad attitude by that time, but they were, like, "Just trust me, you're going to be the star." Okay. But I was pissed because they immediately fired Kevin Smith. So it was not a great experience. We do the pilot, and in the middle of the pilot they fired the lead guy…? But, I mean, we were filming, so that meant I had to stay there for another couple of weeks. So we finally finished filming it, and the funniest guy in that whole thing was French Stewart. He was so funny. But then they cut him out of the whole pilot! It was weird. I don't get it. And then they said it got picked up, and then it didn't get picked up, and…it was just more of a weird experience. I didn't think it was necessary to put it in the book, where it would provoke anyone's mind either way.
BE: Yeah, and I think Kevin Smith has more than addressed it in his spoken-word stuff, anyway.
JB: Did he? I've never heard him talk about it.
BE: Yeah, not so much of a fan of the result.
JB: Well, of course not. How can he be? They took his movie, made it into a TV show, but fired him and made it without him. I'd be a little perturbed, too!
BE: So to close, we touched on this a moment about, but what are your hopes and expectations for the book? Are you going to be doing a book tour?JB: I'd like to do a book storytelling tour. That's what I kind of wish. But, then again, I don't know. I have a million ideas, and…it's amazing. It's the first time in my life where I'm very confident and comfortable just sitting here, like I'm on a beach, just waiting to see what's going to roll up on shore.
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text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Volunteering. Russia. Welcome. Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Volunteering. Russia. Welcome. Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Russia & C.I.S. View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message julisJoined: 20 Feb 2003Posts: 1Location: Russia Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 7:50 am Post subject: Volunteering. Russia. Welcome. Would anybody be interested in having a bit of teaching experience in Izhevsk, Russia, let me know. That would involve teaching English at the English evening courses, up to 15 hours a week and additionally teaching almost any classes (if one feels like doing it) at a regular Junior/Junior High School. Can be anything from PE to Physics... (Done in English or any other major language, just let me know which!) The time one can or wants to start up all this is negotiable. Almost anytime is fine. One up to a few month stay is possible. We will provide you with room (homestay) and board (nothing too fancy, but the basic needs will certainly be covered), forward you your visa support papers (all expenses paid), help you arrange your travel around, in, from Russia in the most economical way possible, assist you with itinerary and transportation advice. We will be happy to see you on our outdoor and bicycle trips too. No extra money paid for that, just the regular contribution, everyone makes up to the trip expenses. Anyone needs more details, drop me a line or two! email: [email protected] Back to top roganJoined: 03 Mar 2003Posts: 416Location: at home, in France Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 6:23 am Post subject: ***************Last edited by rogan on Tue Jul 08, 2003 6:49 am; edited 1 time in total Back to top marussJoined: 18 Mar 2003Posts: 1145Location: Cyprus Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 8:44 am Post subject: volunteering for Izhevsk etc. Well at least they are pretty honest Rogan-you do all the work and they give you nothing!It's a pity that many other jobs advertised in Russia are like this,but cunningly disguised to make them seem very attractive-until you actually arrive there and find out the score,by which time it's invariably too late for you to do anything-except leave again,if you were provident enough to buy a return airline ticket! I once had an experience with a guy from Udmurtia back in the 90's who wanted to do business with me bringing travel groups to Cyprus-his suggestion was that he bring over about 100 factory workers from his firm for one week and they would then tell all their friends and relatives when they returned home to come to Cyprus!The only catch was that he expected all the meals and accomodation to be FREE for the initial group,alleging that we could then make a very good profit by charging high prices for all the ones that he assured me would come afterwards!I also found out that he had access to a Tupolev 154 plane from a local airline which was formed when the Aeroflot internal network dissolved,and though the could charter it to Cyprus-despite there not being an international airport in his town with customs facilities etc. or a certificate for the plane which would allow it to fly outside Russia!Of course,he had no money himself at all,and was planning to charge the factory workers around 150 bucks each to cover the fuel costs-forgetting the landing and parking charges for the plane here during the week it would be sitting at the airport until the return flight! One day,as I often wrote before, I will write a book about my experiences trying to deal with Russians! Back to top Kent F. KruhoefferJoined: 22 Jan 2003Posts: 2129Location: 中国 Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 9:15 am Post subject: 2 sides to every coin? Hello People: Since we're on the subject of 'volunteering', I thought I'd finally jump into this thread with a couple ideas of my own. Obviously, what julis is offering here is not something that veteran EFL teachers would seriously consider. That's a no-brainer. On the other hand, I can see two possible benefits from participating in this kind of work-for-nothing scheme: #1. for USA or UK university students majoring in Russian, this would be a pretty cool way to practice their language skills on "real" Russians, and do some sightseeing over the summer holiday as well. #2. for any EFL "newbies" who are thinking seriously about spending an entire year (or more) under contract teaching in Russia, this would be an ideal way to "test the waters", so to speak. i.e. Do I like this? Can I see myself doing this for an entire year? Sort of like a no-risk test drive, if ya know what I mean. Let's not forget: Many different people browse this forum anonymously, including but not limited to: veteran EFL teachers, EFL teachers who are 'burned out' on Asia and thinking of a move to Europe, total newbies who couldn't find Izhevsk on a map, school Directors, HR managers, general ruso-philes, university students, the FSB? and who knows who else. For someone out there, this might just be appealing. Anyway, those were my thoughts and now I'm done. Paka! keNt Back to top roganJoined: 03 Mar 2003Posts: 416Location: at home, in France Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 5:43 pm Post subject: ***************Last edited by rogan on Tue Jul 08, 2003 6:49 am; edited 1 time in total Back to top marussJoined: 18 Mar 2003Posts: 1145Location: Cyprus Posted: Thu May 15, 2003 1:24 pm Post subject: Julis in Izhevsk.......... Well Rogan,I hope nobody read all that who is not part of his "krisha" or he will be in big trouble there in Izhevsk if he is into all that much business! But have you ever met ANY RUSSIAN who is not a wheeler-dealer(or trying to be!) M. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Russia & C.I.S. 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As a global cultural capital, Paris has no equal. The city's celebrated museums and architecture, renowned research centers and nonprofits, and central location are just a few of the reasons why Paris has been voted the best city in the world for students
for the last four years. The city also attracts top faculty talent—professionals from the European and New York art and design communities—who broaden your view of international design. They make full use of the Parisian context, connecting you to
legendary design houses and events, artisanal traditions, and entrepreneurial tech culture. They give you access to materials and fabrication methods, practitioners, and cultural resources found only here, so what you make uniquely reflects your setting
— whether that involves garments, digital tools, or scholarly articles.
Partners including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD), and Centre national des arts plastiques (CNAP) also offer you special access to objects, products, and creative communities that guide your developing
career in art and design. Whether our connections with InDigital Media/VOGUE.com are taking you backstage at Paris Fashion Week or local digital firms are putting you at the forefront of social innovation, Parsons Paris has you exploring the city
like a Parisian.
Parsons Paris' full-time and part-time faculty represent the international academic, art, design, and business worlds. By bringing together academic leaders and working professionals, we offer a Parsons education that is as boundary breaking as it is
engaging and practical. And small class sizes ensure dynamic academic engagement across the school. Full-time faculty members coordinate academic areas offered in both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Learn about our instructors through
their academic bios, below.


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Poetry virgin: But musical pros save the night
Poetry Lounge and Folkskonde
At the Live Arts Upstage
December 16
Like clasping an ex-whatever to your chest, poetry and I have always been locked in a nervous embrace. I'm a poetry virgin: Since I have never taken a class or more than a passing interest in the singular form of artistic expression, "meters" are incomprehensible, "pentameters" sound like they should be preceded by the word "Doric," and when lines don't rhyme, I look at my watch.
All right, I'm exaggerating, but other than being able to tell good poetry from bad, I'm quite useless. But I do know a little about music, and when I heard that the one-year anniversary party of that singular Charlottesville scene, the Poetry Lounge, would be featuring music to back the readers' pieces as well as a performance by local band-on-the-rise Folkskonde, I knew I had to show up.
Making my way to the new Live Arts Upstage, I was impressed by the new location's setup. The Poetry Lounge was held in a medium sized room, with fine lighting for the stage area and slightly psychedelic colors on the floor. The room was packed when I arrived, shortly before the poets began reading, leading to basically sitting on the stage. Started in 2002 by Todd Ristau and Ristau Entertainment, Erin Fleck, and Tucker Duncan, the Lounge seems to have a very heavy local resident contingent– some high schoolers, some older folk, generally "townies" as the old phrase goes.
The poets each read one piece in turn, backed by a group of six musicians featuring the likes of Andy Waldeck on bass and Adam Smith from Folkskonde on guitar. Shortly before reading, the poets would tell the band what they wanted, shouting out phrases like "something serene," or "spooky Irish ballad," to which the group answered with a tune that pretty much exactly fit what I, at least, had in mind.
The poetry I saw was generally quite good, and even my un-cultured mind could tell that a few pieces were some of the best work I've ever heard– the official Mark Grabowski Interest Test told me so (if it keeps my interest, it's good).
But what I really came for was the music of Folkskonde, and they did not disappoint. This six-piece, including three guitars, bass, drums, and keys, has really grown into performing since I first saw them early in the fall. Made up of various high school-and-slightly-beyond youngsters, the group features at least three different members who sing and write songs, which makes for an extremely varied and well-stocked set.
Their first tune is one of their best, the slightly Zeppelin combined with Flaming Lips song "Stung by a Wasp." Switching instruments and singers, the group next played "The Economist," a heavy-heavy pop tune in which the "la-la-la" chorus weaves around the guitar lines in a most singular fashion. The greatest moment of the show was when two of the group's singers sang in a "round" fashion on one tune, answering each other's calls as the rest of the band rocked on.
Folkskonde– probably my favorite new band.


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Insider tips for your visit to ItalyThere are many reasons why Italy captures the hearts of people around the world: amazing food and wine, natural beauty, fascinating history, important works of art, and, of course, its remarkable architecture.
But if you want to go deep inside the soul of this passionate nation, you'll find that meeting its people and going beneath the surface of its culture will open up your understanding of Italy like nothing else.
Here, we share everything from sightseeing secrets to authentic Insider Experiences.


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The U.S. International Trade Commission, which hears many patent fights, on Friday extended its deadline for ruling on whether Apple Inc infringes patents owned by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd in making the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad.
The ITC had said it would make a decision on Friday but delayed it until Tuesday, June 4. It gave no reason for the extension.
An administrative law judge at the ITC had said in a preliminary ruling in September that Apple was innocent of violating the patents. The next step is for the full commission to weigh in.
Apple has waged an international patent war since 2010 as it battles Google Inc's Android mobile-device operating system. The fight has embroiled Samsung, HTC Corp and others that use Android.
Samsung is the world's largest smartphone maker, while Apple is in third place, according to the research company Gartner. Many experts consider Samsung's Galaxy touchscreen tablets the main rival to the iPad, although they are currently a distant second to Apple's devices.
The case at the International Trade Commission is No. 337-794.


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Last weekend I baked a multi-grain bread using white wine with sweet potatoes which came out as good as I could have expected. This time I wanted to try using a red wine and what goes better with red wine but chocolate and cheese. I used a cocoa rouge which is a special type of cocoa that has an intense bittersweet character with a rich deep red color and fudge-like flavor.
In my last bake with the white wine you did not really taste the wine due to the fact that i used so many different multi-grains so I wanted to make sure to keep this one a little simpler. I two of my favorite flours, durum and white spelt added with some European style flour from KAF and some potato flour.
I also tried to make one loaf using a new cat cookie cutter I just bought, but that was probably a mistake. The cookie cutter ended up leaving too much of an escape hatch for the cheese which ended up splattering all over the front of the bread. I guess that's not the worse thing that could have happened.
The end result was a nice flavorful dark and rich bread with the added flavor of the Havarti cheese to put it over the top. The crumb was nice and open and flavorful with a nice chew.
I used a Merlot from another local winery called Duckwalk on the east end of Long Island.
Directions follow below.
AP Starter
227 grams AP Flour
71 grams AP Seed Starter
151 grams Water at Room Temperature (80-90 degrees F.)
Mix ingredients in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Cover the bowl and let it sit at room temperature for around 8 hours. The starter should almost double when ready to proceed. You can either mix in final dough or put in refrigerator for at most 1 day before using. If your kitchen is warmer than mine which is usually about 70-72 degrees with my air-conditioning you can proceed sooner.
Main Dough Ingredients
425 grams Refreshed AP Starter (65% hydration) from above
103 grams White Spelt (KAF brand)
200 grams Durum Flour (KAF brand)
220 European Style Flour from KAF (can substitute Bread Flour)
50 grams Potato Flour
15 grams Cocoa Rouge (KAF, you can substitute any dark cocoa but use a good quality)
16 grams Sea Salt or Table Salt
410 grams Merlot Wine
26 grams Walnut Oil
Havarti Cheese (sorry but I forgot to measure how much cheese I used. I believe it was probably about 10 ounces)
Mix the flours with the wine leaving 50 grams of wine for later in your mixer or by hand for 1 minute. Let the dough autolyse for one hour in your bowl and make sure to cover it. Next add in the salt and the starter with the balance of the wine and mix by hand for 2 minutes until everything is well incorporated. Mix on speed #1 for 2 minutes and speed #2 for 2 minutes or by hand for 5 minutes.
Next take the dough out of the bowl and place it on your work surface. Do a stretch and fold and rest the dough uncovered for 10 minutes. After the rest do another stretch and fold and cover the dough and let it rest for 10 minutes. Do one more stretch and fold and put the dough into a lightly oiled bowl and let it sit at room temperature covered for 2 hours. After 2 hours you can put the dough into the refrigerator for 24 hours or up to 2 days before baking. Feel free to do some additional S & F's if you feel it is necessary. I baked the bread about 24 hours later.
The next day (or when ready to bake) let the dough sit out at room temperature for 2 hours.
Next, form the dough into your desired shape and put them in floured bannetons, bowls or on a baking sheet and let them rise covered for 2 hours or until they pass the poke test. If you want to make the pattern on top, press your cookie cutter into the dough and place it good side up in a floured basket to rise. When ready to bake, score the loaves as desired and prepare your oven for baking with steam.
Set your oven for 500 degrees F. at least 30 minutes before ready to bake. When ready to bake place the loaves into your on your oven stone with steam and lower the temperature immediately to 450 degrees. The total baking time was around 45 minutes. When both loaves are golden brown and reached an internal temperature of 200 degrees F. you can remove them from the oven.
Let the loaves cool down for at least an 6 hours or so before eating as desired.
This post has been submitted to the Yeast Spotting Site here: http://www.wildyeastblog.com/category/yeastspotting/.


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A trio of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 owners have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Samsung USA, alleging that phone owners have "incurred millions of dollars in fees" while waiting for replacement phones.
The lawsuit doesn't focus on the fires and overheating that sparked two recalls — the initial phone, then the replacement version Samsung released — but on the ongoing costs of paying for the devices and cell plans they were not able to use safely.
About 1.9 million Galaxy Note 7s were recalled in the United States, after 96 batteries overheated and 13 burns were reported, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The suit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and made public Tuesday, claims that, on aggregate, people who bought or were financing Galaxy Note 7 phones lost over $5 million.
U.S. & World
The first recall was issued Sept. 15, and the second came just under a month later, on Oct. 13. In each case, Samsung and the CPSC asked users to power the phones down and replace or refund them, and with the second recall, it announced it was discontinuing the smart phone, just two months after it was launched. The phones are now banned on planes flying to, from or within the United States, including checked baggage.
A company representatives said Samsung does not comment on pending litigation.
Samsung has instructions for how to replace or refund phones on its website.


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I follow and read many great blogs. One of which is Kara Layne Photography. She is in Arizona and usually posts a "HAPPINESS IS" weekly post and I love it. So I thought that I would try it.
I know it has been way too long since I have even posted so I have a lot to catch up on. So here is my "HAPPINESS IS" post Niebuhr style.
There were so many more I wanted to share. So many wonderful happy moments. Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.


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Check out great selection of golf hats and golf visors for men, women and juniors from top golf brands like Titleist, Adidas, Nike, Puma and more!
We've got a wide variety of styles, sizes and colors to give the perfect complement to your golf apparel. Shop today to top off your golf look.


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Hector Leyva of Las Vegas has been Lowriding since 1994. Originally from Los Angeles, Hector carries a heavy influence from the cruising scenes of Hollywood Blvd. Initially homesick in Vegas, this transplant was introduced into the Vegas scene and flourished, finding a home with the Desireable Ones Car Club. A member of this club, Ernando Damien, sold Hector a semi-complete '81 Cadillac DeVille, which became his calling card and trademark ride.
This purchase would not only solidify his presence within the scene, it would help to define his role in the club as well. After a few years in the club, Hector became the president of the Desirable Ones Las Vegas Chapter. With his street Caddy by his side at all times, Hector felt that he needed to set a positive example to continue the club's legacy and heritage. Not quite having reached the desired results with the car that he wanted to have as Club President, the decision was made to re-build the car and turn it into an award winning contender. In doing so, Hector also wanted to prove that owning an expensive commercial property or business is not a necessary resource to build the perfect Lowrider; you can do it on a budget too!
The cranberry-colored 1981 Cadillac Fleetwood was fitted with plenty of additions and tricks. For starters, the car was painted with a Cadillac Cranberry and was doused with a Stage II Pearl which really helps to set the car off. All of the Caddy's body work and paint was done by Ernesto's Body Shop, and then pinstriped by Danny D. of Baldwin Park, and Bugs Gonzales. After the car was painted, Hector had Zack "The Kid" Felix freshened up the paint, as he sprayed candies and pearls to further bring out the shine and tone of the previous job. After a couple of months, several HOA letters, and numerous neighborhood complaints, the vehicle's paint was at long last complete.
In the end, beauty is best served with simplicity, and this theory best defines the rebuild of this elegant Caddy. Inside, the interior was given a breath of fresh air by Armando from Quality Upholstery. He gutted the interior and brought it back to life, but rather than go exotic, he chose to keep the luxurious appeal of the factory style. Some of the standout additions to the car include the custom digital gauge cluster and painted dash panels, which were dressed up with a touch of chrome accents. Beneath the new carpets and the freshly scented leather interior lay hundreds of feet of wiring, which serve as the foundation for Mario Escamilla's audio/video system install. This Scosche sound system was built around the hydraulic set-up, as the vehicle was sent to Wild Child customs in Montclair, CA., for a new old-school set up to be installed. The two pump six-battery set-up featured four square dumps, and four old school filters, which were mounted to a custom AH2 manifold machined especially for the build. Other tricks involved in the set up include a custom fill tank and hard-lines, which were showcased throughout the fiberglass panel-build by Mario.
By this time the car was completely disassembled by Hector and The Kid, who wrenched on it for months in Hector's garage, dubbed "Dezired Customs." The results of their labor included a molded and painted frame, with a full chrome undercarriage that was plated by Kyle of Automotive Plating Services. The small block 350 engine was also painted and dressed up with chrome. Luckily for Hector, he finished the build before the HOA in his quiet neighborhood took action against him for working on his vehicle at all hours.
With the car finished, Hector has been hitting the local show circuit, including the Vegas Super Show, SEMA, The Magic Clothing Convention, and the Las Vegas Motor Trend show. The only thing left on Hector's list to accomplish was to be featured in Lowrider Magazine, and today, he has crossed that off, too. In his own words, Hector wanted to thank the following people:
"Special thanks to everyone who had a part in the transformation [of the Caddy], no matter how small, it was still a collective effort. All my fellow club members who lent a hand, I thank you. A very special thanks is also in order for Zack Felix, "The Kid," whose hard work and motivation served as the key to the build's success. Most of all, I have to say thank you to "Moms," who has always been there to support me during all my builds.
Tech Specs
"Freak of the Week"
Owner:Hector Leyva
Vehicle: 1981 Cadillac Coupe Deville
City/State: Las Vegas, Nevada
Club: Desireable Ones, Las Vegas, NV
Engine: Stock 1992 350 5.7 liter engine.
Body/Paint: Danny D and Bugs tag-teamed the design on the car, and Felix Designs laid out some pearl fades on the pinstriped and silver leafed foundation.
Interior: Using a 1992 interior, the Cadillac was modernized, and the Cadillac seats were stitched in two different tones of leather.
Sound System: Mario Escamilla installed the Scosche sound system, which featured two amplifiers that powered the midrange and subwoofers.
Set Up: 2 Aluminum Black Magic pumps, Custom machined manifold old school filters, dressed with one old school oxygen tank, 4 Adel dumps designed, plumbed, and hard-lined by WildChild Customs.
Tires: Coker 5.20's
Wheels: 13×7 88-Spoke Dayton Wire Wheels.


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Educational Experiences and Transformative Learning in Higher Education in Greece: A Case Study with Student Teachers
This article explores the educational experiences involving students as well as which of those had contributed to their perspective transformation. The research tools used were the questionnaire (Learning Activities Survey) and the semi-structured interview. The results showed that the learning activities contributed to a larger degree over the changes to the personal lives of students during the course of their studies.
Full Text:PDF
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5296/ije.v5i2.3282
To make sure that you can receive messages from us, please add the 'macrothink.org' domain to your e-mail 'safe list'. If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox', check your 'bulk mail' or 'junk mail' folders.
Copyright © Macrothink Institute ISSN 1948-5476


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| 2.3°C Belfast
Hollywood actor Richard Gere has thrown his support behind a plan to transform the site of Buddha's enlightenment into a vegetarian zone to spread the message of peace.
The activist, who is taking part in a five-day training session with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leader, in the Indian town of Bodhgaya, took part in a candlelit march this week highlighting the campaign.
"Bodhgaya is a pious place and I want to come here again," the star of movies such as An Officer and a Gentleman and Pretty Woman told reporters, after joining around 500 monks and activists who took part in the march. "I am with the people who have launched this campaign."
According to Buddhist tradition, Bodhgaya, in the state of Bihar, is where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment around 500BC. Starting in the 19th century, the area gradually become a site of pilgrimage and is now visited by Buddhists from all over the world, whose presence gives it a very different character from the rest of north India's impoverished "cow belt".
Since the Dalai Lama's flight into India from Tibet in 1959, Bodhgaya has become the winter pilgrimage destination for thousands of Tibetans who live in India, and is the site of a large Tibetan market. While not taking life is the first Buddhist precept, it is not essential to be vegetarian to be a Buddhist. The Dalai Lama himself sometimes eats meat while he is away from his purely vegetarian kitchen in Dharamsala. Indeed, because of the climate and the difficulty of obtaining fresh vegetables and alternative sources of protein, many Buddhists in Tibet are not vegetarian. Neither is Gere.
The plan to turn Bodhgaya into a vegetarian zone is the project of a group called Tibetans for a Vegetarian Society that believes doing so would help spread a message of peace. Speaking last night from Bodhgaya, the group's founder, Tenzin Kunga Luding, said Gere's participation in the event had been a morale booster for the activists. "We have been calling for this since 2006 and slowly the campaign is building up," said Mr Luding. "He really was very supportive and very good to us. It has helped the cause a lot."
Mr Luding, born in India, was himself a meat-eater until the age of around 10, when he discovered how animals were raised and then slaughtered. He said that in Tibet the climate worked against a vegetarian diet but he said turning Bodhgaya into a meat-free zone would send a powerful message to the world. "In such a sacred place as this, people come to promote peace and non-violence and I think that if you kill an animal here and then sell it, then the sanctity will be spoiled," he explained. "This most sacred land will act as a model for other places to emulate and will impart more positive influence for the well-being of all humans, animals and the environment."
With the encouragement of Gere's support, the campaigners have also launched a signature campaign near the Mahabodhi temple, the world heritage-listed building said to sit on the precise spot of the enlightenment. They will next submit a petition to Bihar's chief minister, Nitish Kumar, asking him to order the city be turned into a meat-free zone.
Source: Independent
Belfast Telegraph


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He then asked about blurred/double vision, shortness of breath etc, explaining that he would like to do CT Scans to rule out spread to brain, lungs and liver. Given that I have had mild headaches and shortness of breath since my last scans, it makes sense to check particularly as my last doctor's visit with my General Practitioner led me to believe this would not 'kill' me. Where to from here then?
Although my local doctors tell me this is not common, I had an ACAT Assessment last week to see if I am eligible for Government funded assistance to 'free' Haydn up at home. The assessor was Chinese, very practical, with nursing experience in hospice and palliative care. She was not surprised by the description of my chest wall, saying it was quite common, even in young breast cancer patients. I liked her idea of trying yoghurt, which is apparently very cool and soothing. Definitely worth a try on a smaller area!
All in all, there are no real surprises. Tomorrow when I see my general medical practitioner, I will discuss with him the necessity of prescribing suitable pain medications knowing I would like to ensure I am as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.


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(Phoenix, Ariz. – May 5, 2004) Attorney General Terry Goddard announced a new tool today for Arizona residents searching for best prices on prescription drugs. This website is an outgrowth of the Attorney General's Prescription Drug Report also released today, and provides residents with information on pharmacies within their neighborhoods. This locator also provides a price range from low to high for commonly purchased prescription drugs.
These tools provide consumers with the information needed to negotiate the lowest price possible for prescription drugs.
"Consumers should not have to guess when going into a pharmacy to fill a prescription," Goddard said. "This type of information is important so consumers know they are getting a fair price on their prescription drugs."
As an update to three previous surveys conducted by the Attorney General's Office, (June 2001, February 2002, September 2002) the Antitrust Unit conducted a fourth prescription drug price survey in late 2003. This survey builds upon the foundation of the previous surveys in capturing pricing data, but also incorporates new information about pharmacy services and pricing discount plans. Furthermore, the focus of the 2003 survey is to provide useful information to consumers on how and where to safely shop for prescription drugs.
In addition to the report and locator, a brochure was developed to provide general tips on getting the most competitive prices for prescription drugs. This brochure is available by visiting the AG Web site at https://www.azag.gov or by calling the AG Consumer Information and Complaints at 602-542-5763 or outside the Phoenix Metro area at 1-800-352-8431.


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REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- <i>Pied a terre</i>: Walk everywhere from McGuffey condo
Address: 309 2nd St. #211C
Neighborhood: North Downtown
Asking: $407,000
Assessment: $338,800
Year Built: 1981
Size: 1,193 fin. sq. ft.
Agent: Gracie Haines, Real Estate III 434-953-8183
Curb Appeal: 7 out of 10
"In a normal market, these condos would just fly," the agent for this property says, wistfully remembering pre-recession days. This upper-level unit in McGuffey Hill just came on the market this month, and the owner is anticipating an early sale. Maybe that's why the place is priced at $407,000.
At $341.16/sq. ft., the 1981 condo isn't cheap– but no one moves to North Downtown for real estate discounts.
Buyers here are paying for location. The walkable urban lifestyle is the big draw, as well as easy access to great take-out, and no parking worries when you have tickets to The Jefferson. Haines notes that the complex mainly attracts young professionals and retirees: "lots of artists and creative types."
The two-bedroom, two-bath condo has an easy, airy feel. Since the community is tucked behind the McGuffey Art Center, it feels removed from city bustle– but US-250 traffic is still audible.
An outdoor staircase leads to the front door of the two-level unit, so it's not the best fit for those with accessibility concerns. But the height does give the condo lots of leafy green views. Birch trees and a Japanese maple are visible from the living room, which has sliding glass doors leading to the main-level deck.
The laminate floors and wall paint (pleasant neutrals) were just done in March; and the owners had a new HVAC system installed in 2008. Other parts of the place have not been recently updated. With linoleum flooring and toffee-colored showers and toilets, the bathrooms are serviceable, but they're not the aesthetically pleasing, body-cleansing temples you might expect in a high-end condo.
The kitchen makes the most of its limited counter space with an island facing the living room. Walls on either side house storage cabinets and a pass-though so hosts can talk to guests as they're putting the finishing touches on dinner. The appliances, which all convey, were in place when the current owners purchased the condo for $215,000 in 2003.
The first floor is finished off by a large back bedroom featuring cherry-stained built-in cabinets and bookshelves and a large skylight– an ideal office for folks who work more than they entertain.
Carpeting begins on the staircase leading to the master suite, with a large bedroom, full bath, and sliding glass doors leading to a private deck. Since there's no storage in the complex, designers thoughtfully installed large closets in the foyer, the guest bedroom, and across the back wall of the master bedroom. One of the closets here houses the washer and dryer, which also convey.
The 1981 construction date may explain why the condo perks are basic—don't move in expecting a pool, gym, or movie theater. The $1,000 quarterly condo fees include snow and trash removal, water and sewer bills, professional management, and maintenance and insurance on the property's exterior. (The stairs leading to this unit's front door are being redone this summer.) Parking is also included– each condo is assigned one spot; owners with second vehicles are invited to park in another section.
The current owners use the condo as a second home, but if you're looking at purchasing an investment property, the McGuffey Hill Homeowners Association does allow seven of the units to be rented at any given time. (Five are currently rented, at an average of $1,600 per month.)
Otherwise, it's a cool and convenient crash pad for those looking for an urban lifestyle without fuss or pretense.
Each week, a brave local seller invites the Hook to provide an impartial, warts-and-all look at their real estate listing. E-mail yours today!


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Passion Beat Leggings (Out of stock)
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• Open selvage
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- main material 82% polyester, 18% elastane


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Alleviate the everyday stresses of travelling with these top travel hacks.
1. Pack efficiently
Packing is an exciting but frustrating venture – and overpacking is one of the most common travel mistakes. Roll up your clothes inside your bag or suitcase – it's more space efficient and decreases the chance of wrinkles. You can even roll underwear and socks within your clothes for extra room.
2. Lie about your luggage
We don't usually encourage telling tales at Rough Guides HQ, but if you mark your bags as fragile, even when they're not, airport staff will take better care of them. They're also likely to be first off the flight so you're first out the door.
© Elnur/Shutterstock
3. Be an exchange expert
To avoid being ripped off by airport money-changers, buy your currency before you go. Exchanges in airports often charge commission and their rates are generally worse than those online or on the high street. Get more tips on travelling with cash here >
4. Get extra insulation on a budget
When camping in the cold, insulate your sleeping bag with two car windscreen reflectors. Stick them together at the edges and put your sleeping bag inside – they'll reflect your body heat back onto you. Alternatively, use your backpack as an extra layer to cover your feet and keep in that extra warmth.
5. Keep cool
Use duct tape to insulate metal water bottles. It'll keep them cool (or warm if you're a tea drinker), and stop your fingers from freezing to them in sub-zero conditions.
7. Be sanitation savvy
Use a vegetable peeler to make thin strips of soap – that way you won't have a squashed bar of soap on your hands and you won't have to carry a hefty bottle of gel.
8. Refrigerate your batteries
Keep your batteries in the fridge. Apparently most rechargeable (nickel-metal hydride) batteries retain 90% of their full charge when kept in the cold, so when you stop at your hotel, pop the batteries in the mini bar. Note that alkaline batteries aren't quite as effective (they'll only last 5% longer after being refrigerated).
9. Carry your identity on everything
Don't get caught short without your passport or identity card. Scan and email yourself a copy of any important documents, then open them and save them onto any tablets or smartphones you're taking with you; this means you can access them offline too.
10. Don't let go of that H2O
Giving up your water bottle at airport security is a pain. Take an empty bottle (plastic or metal) and fill it up for free at a tap or drinking fountain when you get through the gates.
11. Keep your clothes dry in the rain
There's nothing worse than having to make a dash for the nearest shelter when the heavens open and the next monsoon downpour threatens to drown you and your backpack. Here's a handy tip: line your backpack with a bin bag for extra waterproof protection. This means your clothes will stay dry and you'll avoid having to buy that hand-carved statue at the shop you take cover in.
12. Enjoy lukewarm water
Now, one of my travel companions may disagree with me on this (after we tried and tested the theory in Malaysia), but if you're short on water sources and conditions are getting sweaty, try putting a peppermint teabag in your bottle to freshen up that lukewarm liquid. It's an acquired taste, but it works for me!
13. Be frugal with your flying
Use a site like Momondo, Skyscanner or Kayak to compare flights across all airlines and agencies to find you the best deal for your trip. Momondo even gives you a nice graph of how flight prices vary so you can pick the cheapest day of the week.
14. Be smart with your smartphone
Seven in ten people in the UK now have smartphones, so we should be using them abroad as well as at home. From flagging you a taxi to finding you a friend, some of these top travel apps and websites will make your travelling life easier: the top travel apps and websites for 2016 >
Do you have any travel hacks you'd like to share? Tweet us using #RGhacks or comment beneath this article.
Book hostels for your trip, and don't forget to purchase travel insurance before you go.
Top image © aanbetta/Shutterstock


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Seven Last Words
Book Review by Ann Jonas, Tradebook Buyer - CSB/SJU Bookstores
this review was published in the St. Cloud Visitor
Seven Last Words by Timothy Radcliffe, OP; Published by Continuum Publishing, 2007; 102pp
Timothy Radcliffe, OP, is a Dominican priest and a member of the Black Friars of Oxford, England. He was Master General of the Dominican Order--the Order of Preachers (OP) from 1992 to 2001. While holding this position, Radcliffe traveled extensively, visiting the Dominicans in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. His travels gave him a sense of what the universal Catholic Church looks like.
Radcliffe has written a number of books, including Seven Last Words, published in 2004, and reprinted in 2007. The book focuses on the seven last phrases or words from Jesus on the cross. The foreward of Seven Last Words is titled "In the beginning was the Word" and is more than a foreward--it is really a substantial chapter in the book. Radcliffe explains that in this little book we are not just concerned with the last words of Jesus on the cross, but also with the meaning of Jesus' life and, truly, every life. He goes on to state that he was astonished that the seven phrases had their own "beautiful structure." The first words are addressed to the Father, the middle words lament the absence of that Father, and the ending words again address the Father.
The mid-section of Seven Last Words contains seven chapters--one for each of the phrases, from "Forgive them, for they know not what they do" to "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Each chapter consists of a meditation on the phrase and is accompanied by an image of a cross from Radcliffe's collection. A short, but interesting explanation of each cross ends each of the seven chapters. Radcliffe's meditations include personal reflections and autobiographical sketches to emphasize his thoughts.
The book's afterword is titled "Beyond Silence" and speaks not just of silence, but also of waiting: "We must wait for the resurrection to break the silence of the tomb." Radcliffe also writes of speaking up when it is deemed necessary, and states that the courage to speak is "ultimately founded upon the courage to listen."
The final section of the book has the heading "Our Word." This chapter focuses on violence and "otherness" with brief sections on the conquest of the Americas, the Holocaust and September 11. Radcliffe briefly addresses how each of these events provokes a retelling of the death and resurrection of Christ. The book is summed up on the last page: "We have listened together to the Seven Last Words of Christ on the cross. They promise us forgiveness for the violence that we have committed, Paradise when all seems lost, communion when it has been broken."
Seven Last Words is not an easy book to read, even though it is relatively short. Radcliffe offers some deep and meaningful thoughts that beg to be pondered and reread. The book is a fine contemplative book, especially for Lent and Holy Week.
Radcliffe spends the majority of his time preaching and lecturing all over the world. Other books written by Radcliffe include Why Go to Church? The Drama of the Eucharist; Christians and Sexuality in the Time of AIDS; Just One Year: A Global Treasury of Prayer and Worship; What is the Point of Being a Christian? and I Call You Friends.


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There's not much history to drifting in America... yet. Here's a chance to get in on the ground floor of automobilia by purchasing Takahiro Ueno's D1GP USA-spec Toyota Soarer (aka Lexus SC 400). With no drifting series for 2008 there is suddenly a need to sell the drift machines, making it one of the fastest ways to get into highly-tuned JDM metal. There's no word on price, but we're guessing it won't be cheap, especially after looking at the parts list. Better description below the jump.
JZZ30 TOYOTA SOARER D1 SPECIAL VERTEX RIDGE 30 SOARER Yes, you read that correctly. Vertex USA would like to announce Mr. Takahiro Ueno's famous D1 USA Vertex Soarer is up for sale! For SERIOUS inquiries only, please call our offices at: 888-3-Vertex ext. 401. Below are images and specs of this D1 legendary drift machine.
The JZZ30 Soarer is established perfection with [VERTEX] Body Kit and it reminiscence GT500 racing car. The bonnet and Doors are made by Carbon Fiber and all the windows replaced to Acrylic Windows to achieve lightweight special car. Front Bumper Canards and Front Aero Fenders manufactured to give effective aerodynamics and engine cooling. They also produce wide and aggressive visual. All the parts are balanced each other and fitted to make best potential of JZZ30 Soarer.
[Vertex USA via JPCN]