text:
No way! That's the message
Here, now, is the exchange of warring letters between the executives. Sunday, EA sharpened its weapons and went public with the previously behind-closed-doors negotiations.
Feb. 6, 2008
Mr. Strauss Zelnick
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Take-Two Interactive Softeware, Inc.
622 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
Dear Strauss:
Congratulations on your recent announcement about the release date for "Grand Theft Auto IV." I am sure it must feel great to have this important title locked and ready.
Further to our recent discussions, this letter is to formally express Electronic Arts, Inc.'s ("EA") interest in acquiring Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. ("Take-Two") and to propose a transaction in which EA would acquire all of the outstanding shares of Take-Two common stock for $25 per share, payable in cash. We are confident we can consummate a transaction quickly, confidentially and on the terms proposed.
The proposed combination will create significant value for your stockholders. Our offer price provides a substantial premium of 58% over Take-Two's most recent closing price, and a 51% premium over Take-Two's 30-day trailing average price. The cash purchase price provides certainty of value to Take-Two's stockholders in today's uncertain economic environment.
We believe that moving quickly to negotiate and conclude our proposed merger is in the best interests of Take-Two and EA. Waiting for a later date leaves open significant uncertainty regarding the timing, the probability and the value of a potential transaction, and is not in the best interests of either company or Take-Two's stockholders.
We also believe the proposed merger provides an attractive outcome for Take-Two's employees and business partners. We have a powerful product slate for 2008 and beyond, with exciting releases planned for many of EA's well-established franchises, as well as important new franchises we are launching, such as "SPORE," "Dead Space," "Dragon Age" and "Mirror's Edge."
We feel that Take-Two's IP portfolio is well-aligned against EA's product footprint, and its studios fit well with our decentralized, divisional model. Take-Two's creative teams are an essential part of the Take-Two business, and we believe EA would offer a stable and supportive environment for your studios to focus on developing great new games with the backing of a global games industry leader. We believe EA can and will represent the best home for these teams anywhere in the entertainment world.
We have completed a thorough review of Take-Two's public information and are prepared to move forward immediately to consummate a transaction with minimum disruption to Take-Two. We believe that, with adequate access to the necessary information, we can complete all required due diligence in approximately two weeks.
We believe that our due diligence review would require limited access to a small number of senior executives of Take-Two, and its legal, accounting and financial advisors. Importantly, no interaction with any of the studio leaders will be required until our other due diligence is completed and the material terms of a transaction are agreed to.
Considerable time and resources have been put forth in developing this offer, and our Board of Directors has approved its delivery to Take-Two. Our offer is not conditioned on any financing requirement. However, our offer is subject to the satisfactory completion of our due diligence review of Take-Two, the negotiation and execution of mutually acceptable definitive transaction agreements and the satisfaction of customary conditions to be set forth in such agreements.
We do not intend to make this letter public, and our offer will automatically terminate and be withdrawn in its entirety if any portion of this letter, or the existence of discussions between EA and Take-Two relating to a possible business combination, are disclosed to any person other than the directors and officers of Take-Two and its legal and financial advisors.
We look forward to hearing back from you by the close of business on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, with a response to our proposal.
I am available to meet and discuss all aspects of this proposal with you and your board. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I very much look forward to hearing from you and working with you and the Take-Two team to consummate a successful transaction.
John Riccitiello
Chief Executive Officer
Continue to next page for Take-Two's response.
Feb. 15, 2008
Mr. John S. Riccitiello
Chief Executive Officer
Electronic Arts Inc.
209 Redwood Shores Parkway
Redwood City, Calif., 94065
Dear John:
Thank you for your letter of February 6, 2008.
The position of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (the "Company") with respect to an acquisition of the Company by Electronic Arts Inc. ("EA") has not changed from that which you and I have previously discussed.
As part of the Board's stated objective of maximizing shareholder value, we have been and remain open to considering a business combination with interested parties at the right time and the right price. However, the Board has concluded that EA's proposal has not been delivered at a time nor does it contemplate a price which is consistent with this objective.
On a personal note, I want to thank you for the courtesy reflected in our prior discussions and also your letter. I look forward to getting to know you better in the future.
Strauss Zelnick
Executive Chairman of the Board
Continue to next page for EA's response.
Feb. 19, 2008
Mr. Strauss Zelnick
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
622 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
Dear Strauss:
Thank you for your letter of Feb. 15, 2008. While I appreciate its courteous tone and value our ongoing dialogue, I am disappointed that you have rejected Electronic Arts Inc.'s ("EA's") $25 per share cash offer to acquire Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. ("Take-Two") and declined to engage in the friendly negotiations we proposed. We continue to believe that an acquisition of Take-Two by EA is in the best interests of your shareholders, employees and other constituents, and we remain interested in acquiring Take-Two.
So, to further demonstrate our seriousness and encourage you to move forward now, I am writing to increase EA's offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Take-Two to $26 per share in cash. This offer is subject to Take-Two agreeing by Feb. 22, 2008 to commence negotiation of a definitive merger agreement and to permit EA to commence a limited due-diligence review of Take-Two.
Our revised, all-cash offer represents a 64% premium over Take-Two's most recent closing price and a 63% premium over Take-Two's 30-day trailing average price (based on prices as of market close on Friday, Feb. 15). We believe our offer represents a unique and compelling opportunity for Take-Two shareholders to maximize the value of their investment in the company, with materially lower risk than if Take-Two proceeds on a stand-alone basis.
We also believe that the transaction we are proposing represents a uniquely attractive opportunity for Take-Two's creative teams and key employees. EA is a diversified leader with well-established franchises and proven intellectual properties, global reach, and significant financial resources. I know we both agree that Take-Two's talented creative teams deserve a permanent home within a stable and growing publisher that provides these teams an environment to do what they do best--create great games.
EA is organized in a four-label model that provides our creative teams the autonomy they need to fully realize their creative ambitions, while also providing a stable and supportive corporate and publishing infrastructure which allows them to best address the global marketplace. We have the resources to make the significant investments in technology and infrastructure needed for the most creative and innovative games in the industry. In short, a combination with EA would provide Take-Two's studios and employees a combination of the right resources for investment and global reach, and the right environment to do their best work.
We believe that Take-Two's shareholders would not be well-served by any further delay in negotiating and completing the proposed merger. While the videogame industry remains an attractive, high-growth business, the challenges and risks in the business are escalating, and the need for scale is becoming more pronounced. Despite steps taken since March 2007, Take-Two remains dependent on a limited number of titles, and has limited capital resources. In addition, Take-Two faces ongoing financial, legal and operating issues and a very intense competitive environment. Given these factors, we believe it will be increasingly difficult for Take-Two to create sustainable shareholder value, and that Take-Two remains exposed to considerable risk of value-loss.
We also believe that any delay in this proposed transaction works against the interest of Take-Two's shareholders, because:
--There can be no certainty that in the future EA or any other buyer would pay the same high premium we are offering today. We place significant value on the ability to close the transaction relatively quickly so that EA's strong publishing and distribution network, including our global packaged goods, online and wireless publishing organizations, can positively impact the catalogue sales of GTV IV ["Grand Theft Auto IV"] and also the launch and sale of titles released later this year. We want to work with you and your team to complete the transaction in time to begin realizing its significant marketplace benefits in advance of this year's holiday selling season.
--We believe Take-Two's current share price already reflects investor expectations for a strong release of GTA IV as well as the longer-term issues that Take-Two faces. Once GTA IV ships, Take-Two will again be dependent on less-popular titles and face increasing challenges to compete with larger and better-capitalized competitors.
--With GTA IV shipping on April 29, development on this important title must now be essentially complete. We believe now is the right time to complete a transaction with minimal disruption for Take-Two.
We also believe the transaction we are proposing will create value for EA's shareholders. In addition to the top-line benefits noted above, we can achieve bottom-line benefits by combining Take-Two's and EA's corporate and publishing infrastructures and by optimally supporting Take-Two's creative teams and intellectual properties in EA's decentralized label structure.
Considerable thought, time and resources have been put forth in developing this offer, and our Board of Directors unanimously supports it. Our offer is not conditioned on any financing requirement. It is subject to the satisfactory completion of a due diligence review of Take-Two, the negotiation and execution of mutually acceptable definitive transaction agreements, and the satisfaction of customary conditions to be set forth in such agreements.
We are prepared to move forward immediately with formal due diligence and the negotiation and execution of a definitive merger agreement, and believe that with adequate access to the necessary information and people, we can complete both in approximately two weeks. We believe that our due diligence review can be completed with minimal disruption, requiring only limited access to a small number of senior executives of Take-Two and its legal, accounting and financial advisors. We also have prepared a draft merger agreement that we can forward to you immediately.
Our strong preference is to conduct a private negotiation. If you are unwilling to proceed on that basis, however, we may pursue other means, including the public disclosure of this letter, to bring our offer and the compelling value it represents to the attention of Take-Two's shareholders.
I am available to meet and discuss any and all aspects of this proposal with you and your Board. Again, we believe this proposal represents a unique opportunity to maximize value for Take-Two's shareholders, and that the combined enterprise would be extraordinarily well-positioned to build value for our respective customers, employees, developers and other business partners. We hope that you and your Board share our enthusiasm, and we look forward to hearing back from you by Feb. 22.
John Riccitiello
Chief Executive Officer
Continue to next page for Take-Two's response.
Feb. 22, 2008
Mr. John S. Riccitiello
Chief Executive Officer
Electronic Arts Inc.
209 Redwood Shores Parkway
Redwood City, CA 94065
Dear John:
Thank you for your letter of Feb. 19, 2008. As you know, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. ("Take-Two" or the "Company") carefully considered Electronic Arts Inc.'s ("EA's") previous offer of $25 per share and concluded that neither the timing of the proposed acquisition nor the price was consistent with the Board's objective of maximizing stockholder value. The Board's rationale for rejecting EA's prior offer is not altered by your decision to increase that offer by 4%.
I would like to reiterate, in the clearest possible terms, the Board's conviction that this is not the right time for Take-Two to enter into a negotiation to sell the Company. Our organization is keenly focused on the scheduled April 29th launch of "Grand Theft Auto IV," and on maximizing the value of the game to the Company and, in turn, our stockholders. It is the Board's strongly held view that beginning strategic discussions now would distract our Company and thereby threaten the value of this key franchise.
While I understand that you may disagree with the Board's reluctance to commence discussions immediately, the Board and I want to assure you that our concerns about timing are genuine. Potential negative financial consequences to Take-Two are significant, and we believe [they] outweigh the benefits of commencing discussions at this time.
As you know, there is no certainty that EA will actually close on the proposed transaction on mutually agreeable terms, especially since you have proposed a price that we would not accept and have qualified your offer by a diligence request. Moreover, as we have all seen time and again, the process surrounding acquiring a public company from start to finish is complex, uncertain, intrusive and distracting, and we believe it would be especially so to the creative artists at the core of our business and to all those who may be displaced by a transaction.
While the Board is convinced that discussions at this time would be imprudent, we also appreciate the potential benefit of a frank and private dialogue with EA. To that end, the Board would be willing to commit to entering into a good-faith discussion with EA on April 30, 2008 to determine if we can reach common ground on the proper value of the Company and therefore an appropriate, mutually beneficial transaction. This would, of course, be subject to both parties reaching a mutually acceptable confidentiality agreement on customary terms. We are prepared to begin negotiating this confidentiality agreement immediately.
In order to alleviate any concerns you may have about the proposed starting date for these discussions, I would be pleased to meet with you privately as soon as possible to talk on a general basis. In addition, our Board would confirm, subject to its fiduciary duties, that from now until April 30, 2008 (the "Quiet Period"), the Company will not pursue negotiations with any other potential strategic partner for a business combination unless we have first contacted you. Further, if the Company receives any bona fide offer to acquire the Company during the Quiet Period that the Board decides to explore, the Company will immediately inform EA and we understand that EA may then act as it sees fit.
I would like to note that if EA chooses to announce publicly the Board's proposal or announce any offer by EA to acquire the Company during this Quiet Period or if the contents of this letter become publicly available in sum and substance, the Company will consider all of its alternatives, including discussions with other parties, and further we will reserve the right to refuse to provide EA access to information or diligence.
John, I believe I know you well enough to rely on your considering this proposal in the same good faith we have in making it. I look forward to your favorable response.
Strauss Zelnick
Executive Chairman of the Board


text:
- Articlenumber:275579
In Stock ?Add to Wish List
Subtotal £0.00
Total amount £0.00
In Stock ?Add to Wish List
Belyaka is part of the Swarovski Crystal Paradise collection and belongs to the category ''Tropical Birds''.
This Paradise bird is made of Black Diamond crystal.
Comes with a stand. Also, there is a possibility to display the bird on a tree display.
The packages are sent by GLS or TNT/PostNL. All packages will be registered and sent insured. The packages will be delivered to the home address unless you indicate that the package can be delivered to your neighbors if you are not present. Once your order is shipped, you will receive a tracking number by e-mail. Through the tracking number you can track your shipment through the internet and you will see the day of delivery. This varies by country.
If you are not at home on the delivery date, you can specify a different delivery date on the day of shipment to 23:59 using the received email, or it is possible to pick up your order at a GLS collection point. If you are not present during the offering of the package then your order will be offered again the next day.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Chocolate Meringue Cups
Looking for something low in cholesterol that will satisfy your sweet tooth? Give this airy cloud of cocoa meringue and chocolate mousse a try! It's a bit fussy, but it's well worth the effort. —Ellen Govertsen of Wheaton, Illinois
Total TimePrep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 45 min. + standing
Makes15 servings
- 4 egg whites
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons baking cocoa
- 1 cup fat-free milk
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons corn syrup, divided
- 1/4 cup baking cocoa
- 3 ounces semisweet chocolate
- 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
- 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cold water, divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 egg whites
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 15 peppermint candies, crushed
- Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Beat egg whites until foamy. Beat in the vanilla, salt and vinegar; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high until stiff peaks form. Sift cocoa over egg whites; fold into egg whites.
- Drop 15 heaping tablespoonfuls onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Shape into 3-in. cups with the back of a spoon. Bake at 275° for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Turn oven off; leave meringues in oven for 1-1/2 hours.
- In a large saucepan, combine the milk, egg, 1/4 cup corn syrup and cocoa. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture reaches 160° and coats a metal spoon. Remove from the heat. Add chocolate and cream cheese; stir until melted.
- In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup water; let stand for 1 minute. Cook and stir over low heat until gelatin is dissolved. Stir gelatin and vanilla into chocolate mixture. Cool.
- In a heavy saucepan, combine the egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and remaining corn syrup and water. Cook over low heat and beat with a hand mixer on low until mixture reaches 160°.
- Pour into a large bowl; beat on high until soft peaks form. Fold into chocolate mixture. Chill for 1-2 hours or until mixture mounds.
- Just before serving, spoon mousse into meringue cups; sprinkle with peppermint candy pieces.
Nutrition Facts1 each: 201 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 153mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 starch.
Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.


text:
Gravotech, leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of innovative engraving, marking and cutting solutions pursues its development with MML Capital, together with Bpifrance and financing from Idinvest Partners and a pool of banks led by LCL, alongside management (Gérard Guyard, Pascal Cros).
Gravotech group, result of the merger of Gravograph, Technifor and Vision Numeric, offers a comprehensive range of solutions including engraving, marking and cutting equipment, consumables, software and a range of services (installation and maintenance, trainings, etc.). Gravotech products cover four main technologies: laser marking, mechanical engraving, scribing and dot peen marking. International player, Gravotech operates industrial platforms in France, the United States and China and distributes its products in more than a hundred countries. Gravotech generates over € 120 million of sales of which half outside Europe.
The shared ambition is the continuous development of innovative products including in the laser technology, the development of new innovative services for Gravotech clients and the reinforcement of the commercial presence in key geographies such as the United States and China.
MML Capital, transatlantic fund located in Paris, New-York and London, will support Gravotech in the next steps of its international development.
The arrival of MML Capital and Bpifrance represents a great opportunity for Gravotech to build a new chapter of its development focused on digital innovation and constant internationalisation. I thank LBO France, IFE Mezzanine, the pool of banks led by Société Générale and all the stakeholders for supporting the group these past years.
Convinced of the potential of Gravotech, global leader on its market and of the quality of its management, MML Capital is thrilled to support the group in this new phase of its development.
Gravotech, a very international group, is definitely a "Industry of the Future", ambassador of French industrial excellence and of the "French Fab".
Gravotech : Gérard Guyard, Pascal Cros
Buyers - MML Capital (Henry-Louis Mérieux, Louis de Montille, Anne-Claire Lainé, Nicolas Marion) ; Bpifrance Investissement (Arnaud Legardeur, Rebecca Denyer, Sophie Paquin)
Lenders - Banking pool: LCL Crédit Lyonnais (Dirk Weinand), Arkéa (Eric Gaulier, Cédric Alin), BNP Paribas (Michel Siciliano, François Van Eijk), Caisse Régionale Crédit Agricole Centre Est (Claire Demengeot), CIC Lyonnaise de Banque (Thomas Hartweg, Fabrice Bayard) ; Idinvest Partners (Eric Gallerne, Maxime de Roquette-Buisson, Olivier Sesboüé)
Sellers - LBO France (Jacques Franchi, Philippe Karmin) ; Mezzanine : IFE Mezzanine (Jean-Pascal Ley) ; Banques senior : Société Générale (Patrick Sandray, Stéphane Izard, Augustin Giard)
Legal advisors
MML Capital, located in Paris, London and New York, supports European and American SMEs in their development by investing as majority or minority shareholder (growth capital, shareholding reorganisation). MML Capital currently invests its sixth fund of €440m raised in 2016 and offers equity and/or bonds solutions. www.mmlcapital.com
Equity investments of Bpifrance are operated by Bpifrance Investissement. At each step of their development, Bpifrance provides companies with loans, guarantees and equity. Bpifrance supports companies in their projects of innovation and international development. Bpifrance also facilitates export with a wide range of solutions. Consulting, university trainings, networking, and acceleration programs for startups, SME and MidCaps are also offered to entrepreneurs.
Thanks to Bpifrance and its 48 local branches, entrepreneurs benefit from a unique local counterpart to help them efficiently to face their challenges.
More information on: www.Bpifrance.fr - https://presse.bpifrance.fr/
Follow us on Twitter: @Bpifrance - @BpifrancePresse


text:
France's Gallery
location: Québec
Member Type: Enthusiast
Expertise: Amateur
Tools: Poser, DAZ Studio, PaintShopPro
This sharecg account belonged to France, who passed away on April 4, 2012 at the far too young age of 58. It is being kept alive by her friends at KCTC. http://kctc.francemi.net/
We have some of her older non-kid and toon related freebies that will be added here when we get time to do so. Creating these gave France a lot of pleasure, and we hope you all enjoy them!


text:
Filipendula species
Plants of Home and Garden
Seed sown just covered in a protected location when fresh in fall, or in spring at 50-60F/10-15C. Sun to part shade and moist, fertile soil; Filipendula rubra, or queen-of-the-prairie, Filipendula ulmaria and Filipendula vulgaris, dropwort, tolerate boggy soils. Divide in early spring or fall. Zone 3-9
Note that Filipendula ulmaria, the herb meadowsweet, is also known as Spiraea ulmaria, and Filipendula vulgaris as Filipendula hexapetala
See Also
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria, Spiraea ulmaria)
Related Topics
Dividing Plants
|Copyright © 2020,
All rights reserved


text:
G Suite Add-ons
Your favorite third-party applications, inside G Suite
- Integrate how you work into where you work with G Suite Add-ons.
Your favorite third-party applications, inside G Suite
Deep integrations between G Suite and other productivity applications allow work to happen seamlessly across platforms, all from inside G Suite.
Keep your favorite applications open in the G Suite side panel, whether you're working in Gmail, Calendar, or Drive.
Surface relevant information and enable actions based on what you're working on and which G Suite app you're working in.
Simplify the use of Add-ons with specific entry points in each G Suite app, including the compose box of Gmail, the right-click menu of Drive, and the conferencing options in Calendar.
G Suite Add-Ons only access the minimum required data that is needed to complete an action, helping your company's information stay secure.
Share your diagrams from Gmail.
Sign or send documents for signatures directly from Mail, Drive or Calendar.
Manage tasks through Gmail and Calendar.
It's easy to get started with G Suite Add-ons. Head over to the Developer Center for all the information you need to know to start building an Add-on. Click here for more details.
Automatically download or choose which Add-ons to install for employees through the Google Admin Console.
Admins can use the API Permissions tool to define which APIs can be accessed through add-ons, including disabling and whitelisting specific add-ons to have access to user data.


text:
Rammstein's brute-force vocals, totalitarian look and provocative texts about power and sex are always sources of controversy. All their albums since 1997 have reached number one in the German charts.
The hard metal band Rammstein formed in Berlin in 1994 and their international breakthrough came just three years later – with the album Sehnsucht and two titles on the soundtrack of David Lynch's film Lost Highway. Tours of the USA and Latin America followed, where the band's unrelentingly harsh sound and German-language lyrics found many fans. Rammstein's albums have gone not only gold but platinum in Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Russia, Argentina, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.
두 가지 유용한 조합(브라우저 확대/축소):
확대: +
축소: +
다음 아이콘을 클릭하여 브라우저 공급자에서 기타 도움말을 받으십시오:


text:
We Try Burgerville's Fresh Strawberry Milkshake
Keeping tabs on the chains.
Inescapable in and around Portland, Oregon, Burgerville prides itself on fresh, local, sustainable fast food, an industry anomaly if ever there was one. In addition to its permanent menu, the Pacific Northwest chain rolls out special fare throughout the year to make use of seasonal produce. While this practice is most prominently utilized in Burgerville's sides, such as onion rings made from Walla Walla Sweets that are only available in the summer, the chain also offers limited-time-only milkshakes featuring whatever fruit is at the peak of its quality. And when summer kicks off, that means fresh strawberry shakes.
Made with strawberries from Liepold Farms in nearby Boring (yes, there's a town called Boring, Oregon) and ice cream from Sunshine Dairy, the seasonal strawberry shake at Burgerville is nothing if not creamy. Previous years' shakes boasted considerably larger chunks of strawberry, often causing straws to become plugged with fruit. Burgerville seems to have taken the complaints to heart, and the strawberry pieces in this year's shakes are noticeably smaller; I drained my 16-ounce plastic cup to the very bottom with zero straw blockage. Strangely, the flipside to this further breaking down of the fruit appears to be a shake with a less prominent strawberry presence.
In place of the strawberry-forward profile is a blend of sweet ice cream and a mild dairy tang. For all the real fruit in the shake, it still doesn't quite taste "real." It's as if the strawberries were augmented by some kind of fruit-flavored powder, like what you'd see used in a Starbucks smoothie. Without an ingredient list available there's no way to confirm that, although it could just be the heavy sweetness of the ice cream creating the effect.
Don't mistake this beverage for a healthy treat: the regular size carries 820 calories and 34 grams of fat. Fresh strawberries or not, it's a seriously rich milkshake first and foremost, and it's pretty hard to stop drinking it once you've started.
1122 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214 (map) 503-230-0479; several locations listed at burgerville.com
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


text:
The government has announced plans for an internet safety campaign for secondary school children across Britain in a move that is hoped to crack down on child sex abuse.
Initially, one million children will be involved in internet awareness talks with a mixed group of police, teachers, and child protection staff.
The ThinkYouKnow campaign, launched today by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, will be introduced in schools, foster homes and other "youth environments" for children between the ages of 11 and 16.
Children will be directed to a "virtual police environment" website where they "can report any instances of inappropriate online contact".
The initiative is being introduced to not only increase awareness among school children about the risks associated with using the internet, but is also expected to lead to investigations and arrests where necessary.
Government minister Vernon Coaker said: "Raising awareness by arming children and their parents with good practical advice is key if we are to win the battle against child sex offenders."
The campaign will focus on social networking sites, chat rooms, and gaming sites and sessions will take place in schools to highlight "safety first" advice on internet usage.
CEOP Centre chief executive Jim Gamble said: "Where children go then the predator will follow and in the same way as we safeguard our playgrounds, our parks, our streets, we must secure in whatever way possible the public place that is the internet." ®


text:
Looked like it was going to be a rough one right away tonight as the Zepghyrs put up five runs in the second inning, but Iowa bounced right back with four in their half of the second. Unfortunately that was all that Iowa could do with the bats as they dropped this one to New Orleans 8-4.
At the Plate:
- Chris Coghlan was 1-for-3 with a walk, and a run scored.
- Chris Valaika continued his hot start, he was 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and is now hitting .333 on the season.
- Logan Watkins had a big two run single tonight, he went 1-for-3 with a walk, two RBI's, and a run scored.
On the Mound:
- Carlos Pimentel was beat up tonight, he took the loss as he worked five innings, giving up seven runs (oops) on six hits, while walking five (oops, again), and striking out five.
- Yoanner Negrin, a personal favorite, was solid out of the pen. Negrin worked 3.1 innings, giving up one run on five hits, while walking none, and striking out three.
- Marcus Hatley mopped things up as he worked two-thirds of an inning, striking out both guys he faced.
The Daytona Cubs can't find any offense, and recently their pitching has faltered as well, that's not a good mix. The trends continued tonight as the D-Cubs could only manage to score three runs on nine hits in a 10-3 loss to red hot Dunedin.
At the Plate:
- Pin-Chieh Chen had a solid game at the top of the order, he went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
- Tim Saunders is not having any trouble at the plate right now, he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, and two stolen bases tonight. He is eight for his last fourteen at the plate, yikes.
- Rock Shoulders had a big game tonight, he was 2-for-4 with a double, his first home run of the season, an RBI, and two runs scored.
- Bijan Rademacher has been outstanding this year, it continued in this one, as he went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored, he's now hitting .379 on the season.
On the Mound:
- Jose Rosario didn't have much going for him in this one, he took the loss to drop to 0-2 on the season. He worked 4.1 innings, giving up eight runs, six earned, on seven hits, while walking six, and striking out two, yuck.
- Starling Peralta was really good out of the pen, he worked 2.2 scoreless innings, giving up no hits, he didn't walk anyone, and he struck out three.
- Stephen Perakslis struggles in relief, he worked one inning, giving up two runs on two hits, while walking one, and he didn't record a strikeout.
The Cougars could only manage two runs on two hits in game one, and that was enough for another win. 19 year-old Jen-Ho Tseng was brilliant in picking up his first win of 2014.
At the Plate:
- Ben Carhart is having a solid 2014 so far, and he was able to find some success in this one, he went 1-for-2 with a double, and a walk.
- Yasiel Balaguert is unconsious at the plate right now, he was 1-for-2 with an RBI, and a run scored, he's now hitting .409 on the season.
On the Mound:
- All Jen-Ho Tseng, all the time. Tseng was stellar, he worked 5.1 scoreless innings, giving up six hits, while walking none, and striking out six.
- Zack Godley was just as good out of the pen to pick up his second save of the season. Godley worked 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up one hit, while striking out four of the five guys he faced.
Another light hitting game for the Cougars, and another win, how about that? The Cougars are rolling and it's because of their pitching, Blackburn followed Tseng with a "one up you" performance, and that was great to see tonight.
At the Plate:
- Jacob Hannemann was 1-for-4 out of the lead-off spot, with his fifth stolen base of the season.
- Carlos Penalver had the only run scoring hit of the game, for either team, he was 1-for-3 with a double, and an said RBI.
- Ben Carhart capped off a productive doubleheader going 1-for-3 in the win.
On the Mound:
- Paul Blackburn couldn't have been much better tonight as he picked up his first win of 2014. He worked six scoreless innings, surrendering one lone hit, while walking one, and striking out six, hot fire!
- Jose Arias worked the final inning for the save, how's this for a line? One scoreless inning pitched, no hits, walked one, and struck out FOUR, in one inning, yep.


text:
Action Plan
Automatic, Selective and Indigenous Streams
Telefilm Canada is your financing partner. We support all stages of a feature film, from development, to production and post-production, to marketing to audiences both at home and abroad.
Aside from the official coproduction treaties currently in force with nearly 60 partners from all over the world, Canada also offers a large pool of creators and technicians whose reputation is recognized worldwide, all ready to contribute to your project's success.
Business Intelligence
We gather, analyze, and disseminate valuable business intelligence for Canada's audiovisual industry that would otherwise not be produced or available.
Festivals & Markets
Every year, Canada's productions and talent shine brightly at festivals and markets around the world. Through our activities and initiatives, we help to build demand for these Canadian productions and make them easier to access.
Funds & partnerships
Telefilm Canada is a recognized and trusted administrator of funds and programs. Organizational excellence is at the heart of what we do.


text:
Reddit user Dylanjosh posted some awesome art from his imgur account. The pictures are of Medieval versions of The Avengers. That's right, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow — they're all there! It has a little Guild Wars 2 feel to the art style, too. I totally wish there was an RPG where I can play as these re-envisioned characters. Or have a comic of it. Either way, I'd love to see a Medieval X-Men, as well. So let's get on that.
Here's a few of my favorites from the Medieval Avengers; make sure you check the rest out.
[Source: Reddit]
You can follow Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ.


text:
As I anticipate a few of the Uk based modellers may be traveling to the show by rail over the Easter weekend an important travel update.
The commercial bus operator has pulled the plug on the racecourse to/from Rly Station event link bus for the Sunday & Monday.
The link bus options this year are now Service 197 Saturday (Similar to last year) or the public service route 11 (Sun & Mon). The latter a much reduced service with a less convenient return route. Full details of the changes now on-line at http://www.yorkshow.org.uk/howget.htm#linkbus Car travel unchanged.


text:
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Email
Share More
Video : 115.9 Hours
Language : Hindi
Along with : e-Book (92 Pages)
Includes: Physical Book
No. of Views: 2.5 Times
Select Variant
(Inclusive of GST @18%)
Get upto 585 Cashback in your CCI Wallet.
CCI Learning App for your Android mobile
088803-20003, 1800-3000-0505 (Toll Free)
Member Strength 31,78,540 and growing..
India's largest network for finance professionals
Alternatively, you can log in using:


text:
Orcas Small Bag (Seaweed)
or make 4 interest-free payments of $55.00 fortnightly with More info
Product Details
-100% Semi-Vegetable Tanned Cow Leather
-Two-way zip with gusset opening
-Adjustable shoulder strap can be worn over the shoulder or across the body
Featuring classic ELK design aspects, Orcas Small Bag is a must-have everyday bag. A two-way zip follows a gentle top curve opening up to substantial space with side gussets to allow for a wider opening. An internal zip closure pouch helps keep your smaller belongings organised whilst a wide sturdy base allows for depth and room. The adjustable strap is fixed into place at the back of the bag and can be worn over the shoulder or across the body with comfort. This is a classic everyday bag that would pair well with bold and neutral tones.
Design Notes
Each of our leather pieces is handmade in India by family owned and operated factories. We visit these factories two to three times a year to assess working conditions, manufacturing processes and to see our goods being made. The leathers used are selected for their appearance, suitability and hand feel. Every component and element of our pieces are chosen for a reason. Linings, trims, findings and leathers are all carefully selected. Each design is both independently tested and internally tested by our production team, at Elk HQ. We use different types of leathers for different bags and the source of the skins varies from piece to piece. Most leathers come from New Zealand, India, South America or China.
Size & Fit
Width 24 x Height 20 x Depth 6.5 cm
Care Instructions
Semi Vegetable Tanned Cow Leather
To maintain the beauty of your Elk bag we recommend protective sprays and using a good quality leather conditioner to treat the product, which will increase its longevity. Do not put leather pieces on the ground or rub against abrasive surfaces. Leather is a natural material and will wear with age and use


text:
What to Do When Your Social Media Strategy Is Successful [VIDEO]
There are many guides out there that teach businesses how to tactically use social media, but few that discuss how to adapt all your departments to its uprooting effects.
That's what Amber Naslund says, and why she co-wrote The Now Revolution with Jay Baer, a book that focuses on helping businesses develop a "horizontal strategy" to handle the impact of social media. Naslund appeared on Behind the Brand to talk to Bryan Elliot about her book, and her advice for businesses.
"Social media is really easy to get into, but we don't have a lot of suggestions of what happens when it goes right," Naslund suggested. "Slow down. Consider all the areas social could touch... like product development and customer service."
As the former vice president of strategy for Radian6, a popular social media measurement tool, Naslund has experience helping businesses figure out what kind of returns to expect from investing in social media. She said that innovating and trying new things may mean you can't use traditional benchmarks to measure how well your new strategies are performing.
"If you're doing something new, you kind of have to look at its success a little differently," Naslund said. "It's not that it can't make money out of the gate, you just can't tell what it's impacting immediately."
Click above to watch the whole interview with Naslund, and tell us what you think in the comments.


text:
The brinksmanship that has come to characterize Crown-First Nations dealings augurs badly for any resolution of the problems facing Canada's native people.
Such brinksmanship is on full display at the moment, with Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Grand chief Stewart Phillip warning this week about the possibility of "an aboriginal uprising."
And Attawapiskat chief Theresa Spence is on the 24th day of a hunger strike, in a teepee near Parliament Hill.
Spence is holding out until Stephen Harper meets with her to discuss native concerns, a ridiculous request that could trigger others to follow suit.
The standoff is reminiscent of past confrontations related to land disputes and resource rights. Remember Oka, Ipperwash and Caledonia (in Ontario), Burnt Church (in New Brunswick) and Gustafson Lake (in B.C.)?
Always there's some fight-to-the-death stalemate, sometimes the RCMP gets involved, occasionally a death occurs.
This is a lousy way to address complex disputes that require compromise and thoughtfulness to resolve.
Nonetheless, natives have decided that confrontation and civil disobedience are the way to go. The Idle No More movement is agitating for cross-Canada demos, flash mobs, blockades and round dances.
"This is ... a movement the Harper Government ignores at their [sic] peril," declares Phillip.
He has written the PM an open letter, stating: "grassroots-sponsored political actions are being carried out in response to your government's heavy handed political agenda."
Native people say they're not reaping a fair share of revenues from their traditional lands, and that Conservative legislation is diluting environmental protections deemed crucial to safeguard their territories.
The Grand Chief cites a "deepening gap" between Ottawa's pro-industry agenda and environmental principles valued by native people. Phillip is also critical of the government's "loud-mouthed, highly offensive comments and belligerent actions."
He points to native concerns about several proposed developments in B.C. — the Northern Gateway pipeline and tanker port project, planned expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline, and the Prosperity Mine proposal.
"This is a critical turning point in Canadian history," he decrees. "Indifference to First Nations rights will no longer be tolerated. ... We shall continue to take any and all measures necessary to defend our homelands. This is an absolute certainty."
But Phillip and other chiefs would have more credibility in their demands if their own record was more democratic.
How many times has the public heard about nepotism and fiscal hanky-panky on Canadian reserves?
And the Assembly of First Nations, which so often speaks for the entire community, in fact is an organization elected by and representing interests of the elected chiefs more than those of grassroots natives, who are without voting rights for the head of the organization.
As B.C.-based Ojibway author Richard Wagamese has written: "To be a First Nations person in Canada is to be rendered voiceless by the very organization that purports to represent you."
For the government's part, it should be doing a more professional job of managing an obviously troubled relationship with this historically and politically important constituency in Canada.
Just as provincial premiers convene at regularly scheduled meetings of the Council of the Federation, just as the PM and premiers used to meet at annual federal-provincial conferences, so should the PM and his Indian Affairs minister be holding scheduled sessions with First Nations representatives.
Right now such meetings only occur randomly, as when Harper met with AFN representatives last January, or with chief Shawn Atleo late last year. Or they occur in response to some crisis. As a result, parties involved reach the boiling point, and too often protests, hunger strikes or guns are brought to bear.


text:
DWTS – More "Put Me On The Show" Contenders & We Wishes
Ok, we have more names to throw around to you. What do you think of these people who are trying to get on the show?
Irish born singer, Paul Byrom is our first to report to you. If you do a search on his name at Twitter, you'll see his fan base campaigning for him to be on the show. Here is a tweet from him today. If you aren't sure who he is, check out this link under his name. Very nice, I must say. 😀
Thanks for all the votes on DWTS.hope ABC notice
— Paul Byrom (@paulbyrom) January 2, 2011
Not sure if it's true or not, but, Lara Bingle has been approached to participate on the show. Special thanks to Pure DWTS fan Vin for this information from Sify. The link also mentions Brynne Edlston, Alby Mangels, and Chef Manu Feideo among a DWTS wish list.
The swimsuit model had rejected the offer four times but this time she is considering it, according to a source.
Melbourne socialite Brynne Edelsten, wild man adventurer Alby Mangels and saucy chef Manu Feildel are among those on the Dancing wish list, reports News.com.au.
Bingle will be in the US until early in the New Year.
Danny Gokey, third place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol, would also like a chance to show his stuff on Dancing With The Stars and maybe lose some weight at the same time. Here is a take from Country Music Tattle Tale.
Danny Gokey is where he is in country music because of one reality show: "American Idol." Now, he tells CMT.com he's eyeing another reality show. He says he would like to be on "Dancing With the Stars." He says he likes dancing. And, on that show, "you lose weight, too."
Danny says Simon Cowell told him he couldn't dance. But, he says if he were on "Dancing With the Stars," he could tell him, "you know, Simon, I'll show you one day."
LOL to Danny wanting to prove Simon Cowell wrong about his dancing abilities. That would be kind of fun to see. For some reason, I can see Danny dancing with Cheryl if this were to come true? Note: this isn't the first time Danny has tried to get on the show. You can read an earlier post HERE from Season 9 for when Danny tried to get on the show and how the producers tried to work around his tight schedule. He is more free this Season. So, could this be a strong possibility?
Pop Stop TV is reporting that Kyle Massie's brother, Chris, would like to dance on the show. More below. There is also a video at the link (it didn't have a code to embed or I would have posted it).
PopStop TV correspondent Dena Kalil caught up with the brothers at the 'Disney on Ice' Charity event and he hinted exclusively that we might just see him on the show next season!
When asked the question, Chris answered coyly:
"Well, I would consider going on there because I would want to win it for the family. If I win it, I would give it [trophy] to him [Kyle]."
When we asked Kyle who he wanted to see on there, he told us he'd like to see Lindsay Lohan, Obama, and Oprah!
Judging by the way Chris's eyes lit up when we asked him the question, we definitely think he knows something.
I'm not sure Chris is being as serious as Pop Stop would like to think, but, who knows? I liked Kyle Massey on the show. But, personally, I'm not ready for another "Massey" to be on the show…yet, anyway.
Marilu Henner is said to want to be on the show as well. From Showbiz Spy.
MARILU Henner wants to dance!
The Taxi actress, 58, says she's desperate to appear on the hit US TV show Dancing With the Stars!
"I feel like the girl who's waiting for the handsome guy to ask her to the dance," she said.
Wow, and wouldn't it have been cool if the DWTS producers could have convinced John Travolta to dance? Now that would have been a dream to see. However, he has politely declined. From Popcrunch.
…reality TV fans will have to wait just a little longer for ABC producers to convince the fleet-footed actor to showcase the fancy footwork that dazzled cinema audiences in Pulp Fiction and Staying Alive on the small screen sensation Dancing With the Stars.
We hear Travolta recently said "Thanks, but No Thanks" to an offer to join the cast of stars on the next season of the hit ballroom competition.
An DWTS insider tells Star: "They approached John. Everyone remembers him from Saturday Night Fever
and what a fantastic dancer he is. The ratings would be incredible."
Though Travolta initially expressed interest in a starring stint on Dancing, the actor eventually politely declined, deciding instead to spend his free time at home in Florida with wife Kelly Preston and their two children, daughter Ella and newborn son Benjamin, Star claims.
"Daddy duties are his main priority right now," the informant adds.
Ok, so what are your thoughts on these possible DWTS contenders? Of these choices, who can you see and not see on the show?


text:
Question: Does Faith or Religious Activity Improve Health?
Question 1:
Mr. Atheist, if you had your wish and all of the Christians in the United States suddenly joined you, the result would be that ... Many more people would experience depression and high blood pressure, placing a greater drain on the health-care system. Americans in general would suffer a massive loss in life expectancy. I'm sure I could go on.
So here is my question. What kind of warped morality would wish this upon a nation?
If Kaff was correct in his fundamental premise, it may indeed be more ethical to promote churchgoing, regardless of its core truth value, simply to decrease pain and suffering. Unfortunately for all of us, no evidence of such magic exists.
This has to be one of the most bankrupt studies I've ever read. Can anyone say, cum hoc, ergo propter hoc? you know, they say that those people who carry matches in their pocket tend to get lung cancer more, so we ought to speak out about carrying matches as a risk for cancer, right? [roll eyes]
Let's look at the abstract:
METHODS: A probability sample of 3,968 community-dwelling adults aged 64-101 years residing in the Piedmont of North Carolina was surveyed in 1986 as part of the Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE) program of the National Institutes of Health. Attendance at religious services and a wide variety of sociodemographic and health variables were assessed at baseline. Vital status of members was then determined prospectively over the next 6 years (1986 1992). Time (days) to death or censoring in days was analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: During a median 6.3-year follow-up period, 1,777 subjects (29.7%) died. Of the subjects who attended religious services once a week or more in 1986 (frequent attenders), 22.9% died compared to 37.4% of those attending services less than once a week (infrequent attenders). The relative hazard (RH) of dying for frequent attenders was 46% less than for infrequent attenders (RH: 0.54, 95% CI 0.48-.0.61), an effect that was strongest in women (RH 0.51, CI 0.434).59) but also present in men (RH 0.63, 95% CI 0.52-0.75). When demographics, health conditions, social connections, and health practices were controlled, this effect remained significant for the entire sample (RH 0.72, 95% CI 0.64-.81), and for both women (RH 0.65, 95% CI 0.554-.76, p<.0001) and men (RH 0.83, 95% CI 0.69-1.00, p=.05). CONCLUSIONS: Older adults, particularly women, who attend religious services at least once a week appear to have a survival advantage over those attending services less frequently.
First, note the p-value = 5 for men, and less than 0.0001 for women, which immediately raises an intelligent person's eyebrows. The authors comment that males are much less likely to attend religious services, yet, this effect is least pronounced in males??
The p-value is a measure of statistical reliability of any correlative study. There should be no significant difference between the sexes if the variable studied is the causative factor. Second, note that they made no concession for AGE!. Think about this for a minute, if you are still attending church, whether 50 or 100, do you kind of think...you're in better health than the BEDRIDDEN friend of yours? Christian or not? 50 or 101? Well, it sounds good at first, and then, the more you think about it, people with arthritis of the hip won't die tomorrow, but can't attend services, while those with fine walkin' skills and Jeebus-lovin' skills still go to church, but have a bad heart, which pops on em at 50...hmmmm...
This is a terrible study, and the follow-up researchers who cited this study agreed:
see Risk Factors, Confounding, and the Illusion of a Statistical Control, Psychosomatic Medicine, v66 i6 p868 (2001)
You apparently didn't read the follow-up study by the same authors, did you? See, this prelim was published in 1999, and when their methodology flaws were pointed out to them, they decided to go back and try again. Funnier still, the follow-up by the same authors admitted:
During a median 6.3-year follow-up period, 1,137 subjects (29.5%) died. Those reporting rarely to never participating in private religious activity had an increased relative hazard of dying over more frequent participants, but this hazard did not remain significant for the sample as a whole after adjustment for demographic and health variables. When the sample was divided into activity of daily living (ADL) impaired and unimpaired, the effect did not remain significant for the ADL impaired group after controlling for demographic variables (hazard ratio [RH] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91–1.35). However, the increased hazard remained significant for the ADL unimpaired group even after controlling for demographic and health variables (RH 1.63, 95% CI 1.20–2.21), and this effect persisted despite controlling for numerous explanatory variables including health practices, social support, and other religious practices (RH 1.47, 95% CI 1.07–2.03).
In plain English, once these educated idiots realized their study was flawed, and went back and fixed the uncontrolled variables (comparing bedridden people who may or may not wish to go to church, and/or who may or may not have gone until becoming bedridden, at the age of 101, with a healthy 60 year old, is about the dumbest study I've ever seen), they found, guess what? That the activity of daily living was more important than anything else. Surprise surprise. So, whether grandma is out gardening or praising Jeebus in church, she, SHOCKER, is statistically more likely to be healthier than someone who does neither (often, because they can't). Man, whatta GD study, a real charlie foxtrot. In their own words, admitting this:
A study by Koenig and coworkers demonstrated that an ill, elderly population may not be able to overcome the force of impending mortality even when employing various behaviors that have been shown in healthy populations to correlate with extended survival (42 [this is the study that the BBC article you linked to cited]). It is possible that the relatively subtle effects of private religious activity are not sufficient to overcome the overwhelming force exerted on mortality by health decline to the point of ADL impairment. Thus, the milder effects of private religious activities on mortality are more detectable among those persons who are relatively healthy. Future studies may want to ask how long a person has been engaged in private religious activity, to determine if habits begun after the onset of ADL impairment are begun too late to show a survival benefit.
Beautiful, eh? If they're really bad off, Kaff, don't try to look for Jeebus' help. Also, never mind the social support and friendships and human networking that come with churchgoing, which often explains away the "milder effects", without invoking your Magic Man.
Swedish scientists studying an overview of these kinds of studies conclude:
Our analyses reveal that most domains of activities are associated with reduced mortality risk; however, in most instances the likelihood that healthier individuals tend to be more involved in activities serves as an effective explanation for these associations. [ie, if you're in good health, you're more active, be it religiously or otherwise, and that's why the ADL effect noted in your paper made the religious "protection" disappear...duh]
...Older men appear to benefit from participating in solitary but active pursuits, measured with an index that includes hobbies such as carpentry and gardening. This finding deserves a word of caution. Because respondents selected activities on the basis of their capacity to engage in them, we cannot be certain that existing differences in health between active and less active men are responsible for this finding....[note that these researchers are more thoughtful and clever than to commit the cum hoc, ergo propter hoc of your paper]...
Formal group involvement—organizational and religious activities—produces no longevity benefits, because their association with mortality is fully explained by the tendency of healthier respondents to be engaged in those activities. This "selection" hypothesis goes against the findings of other studies, particularly those that find religious attendance to be a robust predictor of mortality among elderly persons (Idler and Kasl 1992Citation; Koenig et al. 1999Citation; Oman and Reed 1998Citation). Interestingly, family contact does not predict mortality risk and is consequently omitted from our analysis. This finding is in line with earlier studies of oldest old persons in Sweden showing that family integration tends to have virtually no effect on various kinds of health outcomes of elderly persons. It is also consistent with the current Swedish welfare model that mandates the state, through public services, to assume the main responsibility for providing care needed by elderly persons (Parker 2000Citation; Szebehely 2000Citation)....
see The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 56:S335-S342 (2001).
Let's end with the discussion by your papers' authors:
In this study we found that private religious activities provided a protective effect against mortality for an elderly population free of functional impairment, even after controlling for numerous covariates; no such effect persisted in the ADL impaired group. To our knowledge, this is the first study to document a possible protective effect for private religious activity on mortality in a large community-dwelling population. Whereas studies of organizational religious activity (ORA) and mortality have shown a positive correlation (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9), this study demonstrates protection via nonorganizational religious activity (NORA), at least for those who practice NORA before the onset of impairment in ADLs.
BUA-HA-HA-HA...good stuff! I think I'll thus avoid church and stay busy in the garden, and then when I get impaired, I'll send my wife to church to ensure her survival, but flip a coin to determine whether or not it will confer benefit for me to go, ah hell, who am I kidding? I'll keep working in the garden, it's good for us that God cursed the ground, eh?
Does Private Religious Activity Prolong Survival? A Six-Year Follow-up Study of 3,851 Older Adults, The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, v55, m400 (2000) [follow-up by your authors]
See also:
Physicians and Patient Spirituality: Professional Boundaries, Competency, and Ethics
Roles of Religious Involvement and Social Support in the Risk of Colon Cancer among Blacks and Whites
Religion, spirituality, and medicine [Sloan, 1999 Lancet]
Religion, Spirituality & Medicine [Richard Sloan's follow-up, the lead author of a recent article in the prestigious medical journal Lancet cautioning physicians not to prescribe religion as medicine. This study was published prior to the Duke study in 1999]
"Linking religious activities and better health outcomes can be harmful to patients, who already must confront age-old folk wisdom that illness is due to their own moral failure. Within any individual religion, are the more devout adherents 'better' people, more deserving of health than others? If evidence showed health advantages of some religious denominations over others, should physicians be guided by this evidence to counsel conversion? Attempts to link religious and spiritual activities to health are reminiscent of the now discredited research suggesting that different ethnic groups show differing levels of moral probity, intelligence, or other measures of social worth. Since all human beings, devout or profane, ultimately will succumb to illness, we wish to avoid the additional burden of guilt for moral failure to those whose physical health fails before our own."
The relationship between religion/spirituality and physical health, mental health, and pain in a chronic pain population. [Pain patients' religious and spiritual beliefs appear different than the general population (e.g. pain patients feel less desire to reduce pain in the world and feel more abandoned by God). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed significant associations between components of religion/spirituality and physical and mental health. Private religious practice (e.g. prayer, meditation, consumption of religious media) was inversely related to physical health outcomes, indicating that those who were experiencing worse physical health were more likely to engage in private religious activities, perhaps as a way to cope with their poor health. Forgiveness, negative religious coping, daily spiritual experiences, religious support, and self-rankings of religious/spiritual intensity significantly predicted mental health status. Religion/spirituality was unrelated to pain intensity and life interference due to pain]
Spirituality in health: the role of spirituality in critical care
Analysis of Lancet article, by FFRF
Reality check
Huh, whattya know? Maybe your "facts" are a little off? Maybe the fact that longevitiy studies and infant mortality studies and teen pregnancy and abortion rates and murder rates were ALL directly correlated to increased religiosity in western democracies never caught your attention? Well, let me help you out:
Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies
Whattya know? The countries with the highest number of atheists just so happen to have lower murder rates, teen pregnancies, abortions, infant mortality, and longer longevity. Maybe you should do some reading ;)
Some "pro-religious" sources [older]:
Science & Theology News
Religion, Spirituality, and Medicine: How Are They Related and What Does it Mean? [by Koenig, author of flawed study, 2001]
Religious Involvement, Spirituality, and Medicine: Implications for Clinical Practice [Mueller, 2001]
Note that Mueller was the lead author of the recent study confirming that intercessory prayer does nothing:
Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: A multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer [April 2006]
What kind of sick morality would put false hope in the heads of many? Worse still, confirmed by Mueller's recent study, those people who knew they were being prayed for did worse than those who weren't prayed for at all. Perhaps it's the problem of linking morality with health? Perhaps you don't know any better. Perhaps those who derived their sick morality from a God who kills babies [cf 1 Sam 15:3, Num 31] can't see the problem in foisting false hopes and lies on others for the sake of propping up this god's popularity?


text:
Right now I'm obsessed with Intarsia. It's a word that might not be on the tip of your tongue, but it's likely plastered across your chest this fall. Intarsia is a knitting technique used to create pattern with multiple colors so that distinct fields of color appear to be inlaid with one another [in other words, multiple types of yarn form a design that looks to be from one continuous thread]. Below are some great examples of the intarsia trend on sweaters:
In seasons past, intarsia was mainly a fringe trend found on the runway and on the backs of the fashion elite - think fashion bloggers, celebrities and magazine editors - and as a result, intarsia was expensive and hard to find on anything besides those dreadful argyle socks. Today, mainstream retailers have embraced the trend, which equates to more democratic price points: along with the designer stuff, you can access intarsia sweaters at ever-affordable high street stores such as F21, Old Navy, H&M and Target.
See the Bon Vivant and a Budget sweater buying guide HERE
This appears similar to the grey sweatshirt trend
As the days get shorter and colder, here in the Northeast, I need something cozy to throw on. I'm particularly fond of the intarsia trend because it's stylish and functional on those chilly fall mornings. What do you think of the intarsia trend? Would you wear it in an office environment? Do you own any intarsia pieces? Leave any comments below.


text:
The twisted imaginings of the author H.P. Lovecraft have been the influence for a myriad of films (such as Reanimator and Evil Dead), but his icy touch is yet to be felt on PlayStation 2... Until now.
In the roaring '20s, police detective Jack Walters encounters dark things that man was not meant to know, the terror breaking his sanity. Suffering from acute amnesia and schizophrenia, Jack is committed for several years& Now a private detective, Jack is drawn into a case involving rumours of strange creatures, unholy rituals and several disappearances from a coastal town called Innsmouth.
This ultra-creepy, first-person descent into madness and evil does its very best to weird you out and scare the living daylights out of you. A dynamic sanity system means that as Jack goes slowly insane he cannot comprehend the things he is seeing; you feel the effects - hallucinations, panic attacks, vertigo and paranoia.
As you explore the detailed, shadowy town of Innsmouth, you'll need to use you brains as well as your bullets and brawn if you hope to survive your ordeal. Challenging puzzles utilising 1920 technology and artifacts from an ancient cult keep you occupied but keep checking over your shoulder as intelligent and deadly enemies may be slithering, lumbering or quivering up behind you. The stuff of nightmares is now on PlayStation 2.
1 Players
See it in action


text:
About Just Cavalli
The sunglasses collection consists of rims realized with different materials shown into different colours in order to be suitable to a male and female public who wants to be in line with the fashion trend. The colour plays the main role and it makes particularly winning the ophthalmic collection, made up of rims in acetate and metal.
CoolFrames Designer Eyewear Boutique is an authorized Just Cavalli online retailer. All frames are guaranteed to be defect-free and authentic. We will replace any defective or damaged items to ensure 100% satisfaction. Our in-house optical lab can install custom prescription lenses into any eyeglass frame and many sunglass styles. We specialize in Essilor presciption lenses including Varilux Progressives, Transitions as well as Crizal Alize and Sapphire (Forte) Anti-Reflective coatings.


text:
If you need a futuristic fight scene to perk you up, then we've got you covered. This catchy new song from Five Knives, "The Future," comes with a terrific video that shows a scary future world of authoritarian police, rigid conformity — and 9-year-old ninjas who fight back against the system!
Video director Lance Drake writes in to io9 to say that the video is influenced by Lucas' THX1138, and adds this:
The 9-year-old is named Dallas Liu. He is a real life ninja and competes in a modern fighting / dance style called tricking. He is the next Bruce Lee.
Liu basically makes the video awesome. Plus, I love the bouncy apocalypse music!


text:
Google's Steady Surge Takes It Past $727
Apple isn't the only tech behemoth whose stock is charting ever-increasing gains these days. Google shares are on a similar upward trajectory, and have been since early September, when they crossed the $700 threshold, hitting a price they had not seen since 2007.
A year ago, Google shares were trading at about $480. Today, they closed at $727.50, up more than 9 percent, to reach another 52-week high. And, given the company's last earnings report — which was better than expected — and the recent introductions of new Android handsets from Samsung and Motorola, they're likely to move higher still in the weeks ahead.
Scott Kessler at S&P Capital IQ attributes a lot of the recent momentum behind Google's stock to the company's second-quarter earnings. "I think there was some investor concern ahead of Google's last quarterly report," Kessler told AllThingsD. "But they turned in a solid quarter, and that provided the market with a lot of reassurance. Look at the stock now; it's up about 25 percent for the past three months."
Add to that the warm welcome given to the company's new Nexus 7 tablet, and the company's recent rise isn't all that difficult to understand. Said Kessler, "They've had some strong product launches. The Nexus 7 is doing well."
And despite some product missteps and the legal issues burgeoning around Android, Google remains a search advertising juggernaut. With PC search revenue continuing to produce steady cash flow and the company well-positioned to swallow a big chunk of mobile advertising revenue as well, there's ample reason for the market's optimism.
As Nikesh Arora, Google's chief business officer, said during the company's last earnings call, "The good news is, we're seeing phenomenal growth in mobile queries across the board. Mobile is, right now, where search was in 1999."


text:
|The mummified cat and the rat in the crypt of Christ Church in Dublin.
Photo by Adrian Grycuk at Wikimedia Commons.
Toxoplasma gondii (we'll call it T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite that has developed just such mind-hacking abilities! As far as we can tell, T. gondii only reproduces in the digestive tract of cat species, where it lays fertile eggs that are pooped out into the environment. From there, T. gondii eggs can contaminate any number of things that are consumed by other animals, such as rodents, birds, or even humans. When cats eat prey animals that are infected with T. gondii, another generation of parasites is now positioned to reproduce and the cycle continues.
However, prey animals can be pretty good at avoiding cats, in part by avoiding the smell of cats. This is a problem for the reproductive plans of T. gondii. The tiny protozoan has responded to this problem with remarkable biological sophistication: They alter the behavior of their rodent hosts so that the infected rodents find the smell of cat urine so irresistible that they run straight towards their predators! Now, researchers have found that T. gondii-infected rats don't only like the smell of cat urine, but they even prefer the smell of wild cat urine over the smell of urine of weaker domesticated cats.
|A rat checks out odor-soaked papers
in a Y-shaped apparatus. Image from
Kaushik, et al. (2014) in
Integrative and Comparative Biology.
As expected, the T. gondii-infected rats avoided the cat-urine-soaked arms less than the uninfected rats did. Furthermore, when presented with a choice between arms with wild cat urine versus domestic cat urine, the infected rats (but not the uninfected rats) preferred the smell of the predatory wild cats over the domestic cats! Infected rats also moved more slowly around the wild cat urine compared to domestic cat urine, as if just begging any wild cats that may be around to eat them. It appears that T. gondii have developed a mechanism to turn rats into mindless zombies that practically run into the mouths of the nearest, most vicious cat they can find.
These mind-hacked rat-zombies may not be the only victims of T. gondii. People (particularly those that change their kitties' litter boxes) can also become infected with the parasite. Some estimates suggest that nearly one-third of all people are already infected! Furthermore, people that test positive for T. gondii infection find the smell of cat urine more attractive than people who test negative! Although we are not likely to run to be eaten by our house-bound kitties, we may be more likely to change the litter box (or get more cats and become a crazy cat lady). So it looks like many of us are mind-hacked zombies too!
Want to know more? Check this out:
Kaushik, M., Knowles, S., & Webster, J. (2014). What Makes a Feline Fatal in Toxoplasma gondii's Fatal Feline Attraction? Infected Rats Choose Wild Cats Integrative and Comparative Biology, 54 (2), 118-128 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icu060


text:
The php[architect] publishing group has announced the release of their June 2014 edition of their magazine: Under the Surface.
The June issue is waiting for you! This month, we look at how PHP works under the surface.
Articles in this month's issue include:
- "PHP Internal Design" by Julien Pauli
- "PHP Memory Explained" by Julien Pauli
- "The Confident Coder: Trust, But Verify" by Aaron Saray
- "Laravel Tips: Mastering and Extending Caching" by Dirk Merkel
You can pick up your own copy of this month's issue directly from the php[architect]] site in either a digital or print format. You can also subscribe for a full year (digital) for just $49 USD.


text: You are in for some hot muscle photos with the powerful and strong Joanna Thomas. Her pink dress fits like a glove and really shows off her figure. Joanna flexes her biceps, triceps, quads and calves. She turns around and pulls her hard ass cheeks apart giving you some nice close up shots. She sits her ass on the granite and spreads her legs exposing her pretty pussy and hard clitoris. She gets naked and flexes her big muscles once again.


text:
February's Petit Vour Beauty Box Review
It's time to reveal February's Petit Vour beauty box! If you're new to Petit Vour, it's a monthly subscription box that comes loaded with mini samples (and often full-sized samples) from fancy, vegan and cruelty-free brands. This service is only $15 a month for US residents and it includes free shipping (click here for international rates). Pretty sweet, right?
February's Petit Vour's "Love is Magical" themed Beauty Box included:
- Ofra Pressed Blush in Charm, $15 -This highly pigmented, long-lasting blush is gorgeous! I feel like it's one of those shades that complements almost every skin tone. I've been so used to using loose mineral blush, which can be bulky and messy, so I'm stoked to be giving this compact pressed powder version a whirl.
- Everyday Minerals Tinted Lip Butter in Fairly Mauve, $6 – This sheer and subtle, flattering shade of hydrating lip butter is infused with meadowfoam seed oil, Murumuru (Amazonian butter), and marula and passion fruit plant oils. It's the perfect nourishing blend to keep your smackers soft and supple.
- Everyday Minerals Sunlight Corrector, $7 – I always have dark-ass under eye circles… in my case, it's totally genetic (womp-womp), so I'm obsessed with mega full coverage under my ol' eyeballs. I'm currently smitten with Tart's Creaseless Amazonian Concealer and I'm scared to veer away, but I have been using this mineral corrector over my liquid concealer and am liking it so far. Powder over liquid is always a good thing – allows everything to set and look flawless.
- Amala Purifying Cleanser, Moisturizer & Mask samples – I haven't tried these out yet, but I'm sure they're bomb. I like to save this mini sample packets for when I travel. They take up so little space and they're leak-proof.
- R.L. Linden & Co. Ms. Tilly Rosalie's Beauty Tea, $4: This calming floral blend is for sipping and soaking. Ms. Tilly Rosalie's Beauty Tea is a relaxing, delicate floral tisane that doubles as a facial steam, eye compress and aromatic plant bath. I haven't yet gotten around to trying this one either, but I will most definitely be using this in the tub. Soaking in an herbal bath (accompanied with salts and fizzies) is one of my all-time favorite treats! 🙂
If you like what you see, you should consider hooking yourself up with a Petit Vour subscription. It's only $15/month with free shipping. Not in the U.S.? Click here for international rates. xx
What's your fave vegan monthly subscription box? Have you subscribed to Petit Vour yet? How do you like it?
PV Box was sent to me for review.
About Sunny (Sunny's Profile)Longtime vegan, hardcore compassionate beauty junkie, serious cake aficionado, and lover of all things floofy and sparkly! If there's something in particular you'd like me to review, drop me a line at email@example.com. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Google +.
Filed in: Subscription Box
Comments (1)
Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed
I love that there's a monthly box of cruelty free products. It's great that they have some full size products as well. I think I'm going to sign up. Thanks for the review!


text:
Pablo Palomino will present a podium talk entitled, "Cancellous And Cortical Bone Tissue Quality In Men Are Differentially Affected By Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus."
Recent Posts
- Walsh and Snyder win ELI Undergraduate Research Awards
- Ganesan and Patel win second ELI Undergraduate Research Awards
- Social Event at Ithaca Beer Co
- Taylor recognized with young investigator award at ICCBMT
- Ganesan and Patel win ELI Undergraduate Research Awards
- Hemmerling to Present at the Orthopedic Research Society Annual Meeting, February 2-5
- Hemmerling wins ELI Undergraduate Research Award
- Mileti to Present at SciX Conference, October 21-26
- Donnelly to Present at ASBMR annual meeting, September 28-October 1
- Mileti receives SAS Undergraduate Student Award
- Lloyd AA, Luengo EA, Donnelly E. Atypical fracture with long-term bisphosphonate therapy is associated with altered cortical composition and reduced fracture resistance. PNAS. 2017
- Palomino, Taylor, Lloyd to present at ORS Upstate meeting, July 27-28
- Hunt recognized with young investigator award at ICCBMT meeting
- Taylor EA, Lloyd AA, Salazar-Lara C, Donnelly E. Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Mineral to Matrix Ratios Correlate with Physical Chemical Properties of Model Compounds and Native Bone Tissue. Applied Spectroscopy. 2017
- Palomino to present at ORS annual meeting, March 19-22
- ASBMR atypical fractures award bisphosphonate bone collagen conference diabetes Engineering Learning Initiatives Undergraduate Research Award fellowship FTIR imaging fun graduate student grant invited talk material properties mechanical behavior mechanical properties MRS multiscale nanomechanical properties NIAMS NIH NSF osteoporosis publication sledding student trabecular bone Type II diabetes undergraduate winter


text:
Gift Guide: For Wine Lovers
GalleryGift Guide: For Wine Lovers
What should you buy for the wine aficionado in your life? No one really wants an album for scraped-off wine labels or another "turn this wine bottle into a candle" set. And maybe they're yearning for a sock-monkey wine sleeve for blind tasting—but probably not.
If your favorite oenophile already has a decanter (and the quick-aerating Vinturi), here are a few more ideas for wine-related gifts they actually want.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


text:
Stonewall's new guide – Global Working – is based on the experience of global members of its Diversity Champions programme, which engages over 600 employers who have 10 million staff worldwide. It includes case studies from employers as diverse as Barclays, the Armed Forces and Ernst & Young. The guide offers global employers ten tips to make sure gay staff are supported to take full advantage of opportunities to work abroad – and calls on employers to champion gay equality wherever they're based.
Stonewall Director of Workplace Colleen Humphrey said: 'Years of hard lobbying by Stonewall has secured vital legal protections for gay staff in Britain. But in over 80 countries it's still illegal to be gay, and other countries don't legally recognise civil partners or same-sex parents. Our guide will help global employers support their gay staff on assignment in those countries – and help make a difference to 400 million gay people living worldwide.'
As well as supporting over 600 major employers, Stonewall's Workplace team also now runs a range of conferences across Britain, seminars and professional development courses as well as publishing an annual graduate recruitment guide and regular research into workplace good practice. Stonewall's next Workplace Conference is in Manchester on 15 June.


text:
Where does wheat come from? Today doof.me.uk can exclusively reveal that it grows on plants! Wheats have ears – they're listening to you!!
Archives for July, 2013
This Way
I really liked how this old gate looked when I was out walking this afternoon.
Very very hungry caterpillars. Saw these ones having some sort of conference on a plant between Henley and Greys Court this afternoon. Also a bee, a fly, and an unidentified red insectoid.
Furry. Looks friendly. Alas couldn't figure out how to zoom in my phone's camera before it scampered. Not furry. Looks alien. Do NOT approach! Figured out how to make my phone zoom in for this one. Digital zoom is totally not worth the effort. Are Nokia really the only ones innovating in this space? Should […]
Massive discounts at Argos!
Mel Smith
Was genuinely saddened to hear of Mel Smith's recent death :(. So many memories of watching his shows as a child.
Also, totally forgot to post photos from when I visited Copenhagen last month. Here they are! The castle at the end is the one Hamlet was supposed to live in.
Outdoor Climbing
I've failed terribly at posting my photos on here of late. I blame work. Here are several I took when we went outdoor climbing in Majorca at the end of May. Somewhat unsettled weather, but it didn't actually rain until the last day. Climbing on the beach! About to go on an adventure off the […]


text:
Blasphemy Day is important. Not for offending people, but for celebrating the right to speak without fear that such an offense can land you in jail, or worse. Political speech often offends me, but the rough-and-tumble of open political debate is a good thing. When we coddle ideas, we allow bad ones to flourish. Religious speech is, and should be, protected in the same sense that political speech is. This includes religious speech that the listener disagrees with. A day to celebrate this idea? I like it. More after the jump:
Calloo, Callay! It's blasphemy day!
When we tug on the beard of the prophet;
When we say to the pope, "you're a miserable dope;
That ex cathedra chair? Just get off it!"
We point out that god is an impotent sod–
If indeed we assume god exists–
Just a vanishing fable, forever unable
To step from mythology's mists.
Here's your chance to express what you think of this mess;
If you haven't before, you should try it!
If you try just one bite, just one blaspheme, you might
Find a welcome new dish for your diet!
The first amendment means, to me,
The right to play at blasphemy;
The right to say "There is no God"
Without the threat of firing squad.
To speak, or sing, or draw, or write
And not be paralyzed with fright.
To mock Jehovah if I wish;
To point and laugh at Jesus fish;
And though the image strikes me weird,
To pluck Mohammed's silly beard.
To say such things as I may choose
Regardless of opposing views.
About the pow'r of Holy Writ
I proudly do not give a shit.


text:
Teacher Resources
Building a more humane community begins with our youngest citizens. Teachers play a valuable role in helping to foster kindness and compassion in our next generation. Check out some of the services we offer to educators for students of all ages!
Academic Animals
Sign-up to receive this free newsletter for educators.
Field Trips and Off-Site Youth Programs
Come visit and learn! We offer programs for students of all ages. Programs align with state and national standards and are sure to leave everyone smiling!
People and Animals Learning (PAL) Program
This nationally recognized violence prevention program pairs underserved youth with shelter dogs each summer. Learn how you can nominate a student for the PAL Program.
Bird-Safe Classrooms
Help protect wild birds by teaching students about migration through interactive games and project ideas for your classroom.


text:
It seems hard to imagine now, but the Turnberry Hotel was once owned by the forerunner to British Rail. Nowadays, no greater disparity could exist than that which contrasts the splendor of life at the Turnberry with the misery of a journey on a British train. The great golfing hotel lies on the coast of Scotland some 60 miles south of Glasgow. It needs little in the way of an introduction for golfing enthusiasts: it is currently rated as the third-best course in the British Isles. And it is one of the great hotel resorts in the country.
For the past few years it has been the property of a Japanese company, which has lavished some £30 million (about $46 million) on refurbishing it and more than £6 million (about $9.1 million) was spent on a new spa complex complete with healthy-eating restaurant. This, the owners hope, will provide an alternative to golf, especially at those gloomier times in the Scottish year when only a time-transported Spartan would venture out onto the green.
The site is lovely, with views over the two 18-hole courses: Ailsa and Arran. The former is named after the Ailsa Craig, a rock that lies a few miles out to sea and looks a little like a lopsided Christmas cake. The latter is a tribute to the south Hebridean island of Arran.
The bedrooms have been revamped, too; in this case by Jenny Maclean, a niece of the diplomat and writer, Sir Fitzroy Maclean. Fabrics by Colefax and Fowler, Osborne and Little and Coles have been introduced; most bathrooms have separate baths and shower cubicles, and the grander suites have whirlpool baths. Emphasis is placed on privacy. Hotel staffers will not enter the rooms unless it is clear that they have been invited.
There are three restaurants: the main hotel dining room with its profusion of Ionic columns; the Bay, with its emphasis on healthy food (no red meat or fat); and the Clubhouse, where guests can eat very simply or opt for a roast should they wish. The kitchens come under the overall control of Stewart Cameron, a member of the Academie Culinaire de France, who has been with British Transport Hotels or their successors throughout his career.
Cameron is a wise, level-headed chef of the old school. He respects local ingredients and regrets the disappearance of many specialties he enjoyed as a child in a farming family. He hangs his Ayrshire beef for three weeks and his lamb for 12 days. The fish is chiefly brought from Girvan harbor nearby, but if he needs something special he has no trouble getting it from Edinburgh, London or Paris. Cheese is a passion. He favors buying a limited number of excellent local cheeses such as Lanark, Dunsyre and Biggar Blues as well as fine Dunlop from Mull. He likes to balance these with an English Stilton or Cheddar or a Reblochon from France.
The style in the main dining room with its Edwardian grandeur is traditional. Meat is carved at your table; there is game in season, plentiful smoked salmon and other dishes you would expect from a hotel of this sort. To these Cameron's head chef adds the odd touch of fantasy on the à la carte menu: some modern dishes. The style is very modern in the Bay restaurant, where I had lunch. A finnan haddock risotto with plenty of saffron and Parmesan had a decent, firm texture. This I followed with some rare lamb's liver flanked by a dariole of lentils and haricot beans (a little dry) with glazed shallots all served on a puddle of juice. Three, little quark cheesecakes were the dessert. I felt quite full after lunch; clearly they aren't willing to take healthy eating so far that it will spoil your holiday.
Many people at the Turnberry are regulars who sometimes stay for two weeks. Cameron mentioned one old German nobleman who likes to order a simple roast chicken. "These people have done everything and been everywhere. They are not looking for us to impress them. We try to give them exactly what they want," he says.
The wine list is predictable: it is strong on claret, even mature claret (1970s), but weak on Burgundy and the Rhône. There are all the top Champagnes and some good Ports (Dow 1963 at about $153) and the rare indulgence of a good Swiss wine from Dézaley. There are also as many as 150 malt whiskies.
In the humidor there are Partagas, Series D; Punch Petit Corona, Petit Punch; Bolivar: Petit Corona and Bonita; Villiger: Half Corona and Export. And, of course, smoking is allowed throughout the hotel and grounds.
-- Giles MacDonogh writes about spirits for the Financial Times.
The Turnberry Hotel
Ayrshire, Scotland
Phone: (65) 531000
Room rates: $200 to $340


text:
Ignite's integration with TomTom saves our clients time and money by making scheduling and dispatching fuel orders more efficient than ever. Dispatching a day's worth of fuel orders directly to the driver requires only a couple of clicks. When a fuel order comes in, dispatchers can quickly view where all the delivery trucks are and dispatch the order to the TomTom PRO navigation device of the most appropriate truck. Once the delivery is completed, the driver's TomTom PRO navigation device automatically updates the WEBFLEET dashboard. This seamless workflow reduces the use of cell phones while driving.
Blue Cow Software was founded in 2004 and specializes in a suite of software solutions designed for the Fuel Industry. Our flagship product, Ignite, provides you with unparalleled flexibility to manage your customer base (i.e. CRM), increase the efficiency of running your business and improve your delivery accuracy. Blue Cow Software has integrated with TomTom to provide fuel delivery companies with efficient dispatching and improved driver behavior, safety and efficiency.