text:
Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm EST
USA Mailing Address
WaterART Fitness International Inc.
210 South 8th Street, Lewiston, NY, 14092 (map)
Canadian Mailing Address
83 Galaxy Blvd, Unit 19, Toronto, ON., Canada M9W 5X6 (map)
Phone Number 416 621 -0821
Toll Free 1 866 543- 8938
please Email Us if you have questions or need our help
WaterART Fitness Training & Certification Programs is the integration of Exercise Design to EMPOWER our clientele in the individualization of their workout sessions. Exercise Science is the foundation for Fitness. Motivating and making education enjoyable is an ART. The WaterART Fitness International has been developed to provide fitness leaders with quality education that motivates their clients. The courses are based on most documented and current research.
Our Mission Statement is to raise the GLOBAL Aquatic Fitness Industry Standards through: 1. Research - based Education, 2. Superior Equipment and Resources, 3. A Dynamic Professional Image through Dress for Success program4. Understanding the difference between land fitness, swimming & water fitness
Check out the WaterART Fitness International Guidelines for Water Fitness Professionals
Check out the WaterART Fitness International Guidelines for Land Fitness Professionals
Check out the Standards for Certification
Check out the Advisory Board
Check out the Insurance Ontario Fitness Council (OFC) & Fitness Practitioners Association of Ontario (FPAO)


text:
The Lollipop Bakery has been baking deliciously soft cupcakes in Beijing since 2009, and our cupcakes are now also available in Shanghai!
Every day the Lollipop team freshly bakes all sorts of wonderful cupcakes, from our signature Earl Grey to Red Velvet, swirling on our famous buttercreme frosting and packing them carefully into our beautiful iconic boxes.
Available for delivery, or at retail outlets across Beijing and Shanghai, a Lollipop Bakery cupcake is the perfect daily indulgence or special treat.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
After weeks of controversy in limited release, Sony's $40 million Osama Bin Laden assassination film, Zero Dark Thirty, shot into first place with $24.0 million this weekend following five Oscar nominations (though not one for director Kathryn Bigelow) and an expansion from 60 to 2,937 theaters. After four weekends, the well-reviewed drama has earned $29.5 million total, and given its omnipresence during awards season, there's no telling how high it could ultimately climb. $100 million is certainly not out of the question.
Zero Dark Thirty, which earned an "A-" CinemaScore, finished in the same range as Act of Valor, another recent Navy SEAL film, which garnered $24.5 million in its opening weekend in February 2012. The film is already far bigger than Kathryn Bigelow's last directorial effort, The Hurt Locker, which found $17.7 million in 2009, and it will easily surpass both K-19: The Widowmaker ($35.2 million) and Point Break ($43.2 million) as the biggest hit of her career. Zero Dark Thirty played mostly to older males — according to Sony, 59 percent of its audience was male, and 62 percent was older than 30. Despite awful reviews, Open Road Films' $2.5 million horror spoof A Haunted House finished in second place with a surprisingly strong $18.8 million from 2,160 theaters. The comedy's $8,412 per theater average was the best in the entire Top 10 — ahead of even Zero Dark Thirty's $8,172 average.
A Haunted House is the latest offspring of the 2000 hit Scary Movie, which earned $157 million domestically and birthed not only a franchise, but an entire genre — one that Marlon Wayans, star of both Scary Movie and A Haunted House, now dwells in most often. The films that have resulted — with such creative titles as Epic Movie, Date Movie, and Superhero Movie — don't lampoon films per se. Instead, they simply reference as many movies as possible, and play up parody, rather than actual satire. A few years ago, it appeared that audiences had lost their appetite for such comedies. In 2008, Superhero Movie bowed with a weak $9.5 million on the way to $25.8 million total. A few months later, Disaster Movie fared even worse, debuting with $5.8 million and earning just $14.2 million total.
Yet over the last few years, these films (which have lately dropped the Genre Movie title format) have seen increasing returns. 2009's Dance Flick started with $10.6 million on the way to $25.6 million total, and 2010's Vampires Suck opened with $12.2 million on the way to $36.7 million. A Haunted House's successful bow — especially considering its teensy budget — is the best opening for a spoof film since Date Movie scored a $19.1 million frame in 2006. Even with such a strong opening, there's a very good chance that A Haunted House, which earned a "B–" CinemaScore, will not make it to $40 million total. With a young target audience and poor word-of-mouth, the film, like nearly all its predecessors, will ikely prove extremely frontloaded.
Warner Bros.' $60 million L.A. crime drama Gangster Squad wound up in third with an underwhelming $16.7 million debut. The film, which stars Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone, fared better than Brad Pitt's recent gangster flop Killing Them Softly, which tanked with $14.9 million total, but it couldn't compete with recent hits like The Town, which started with $23.8 million, or Public Enemies, which earned $25.8 million in its first three days. The film suffered weak critical reviews, but its "B+" CinemaScore grade suggests it could find an audience yet.
Two Christmas Day releases rounded out the Top 5. The Weinstein Co.'s $100 million western Django Unchained fell 45 percent to $11.1 million, bringing its total to a terrific $125.4 million. As of this weekend, Django has officially replaced Inglorious Basterds, which earned $120.5 million total, as the highest grossing film of Quentin Tarantino's career. In fifth, Universal's $61 million musical Les Miserables dipped 37 percent to $10.1 million, lifting its cume to a dreamy $119.2 million.
1. Zero Dark Thirty – $24.0 million
2. A Haunted House – $18.8 million
3. Gangster Squad – $16.7 million
4. Django Unchained – $11.1 million
5. Les Miserables – $10.1 million
A number of Oscar nominated films fared very well this weekend as well. In its tenth frame, Disney's $65 million biopic Lincoln increased 17 percent to $6.3 million, hopping into seventh place in the process. The film has yet to leave the Top 10. Silver Linings Playbook got a big boost, too. Weinstein's $21 million David O'Russell dramedy jumped 38 percent to $5 million from 810 theaters. Thanks to a brilliant platforming strategy, Playbook has enjoyed great word-of-mouth and earned $41.3 million total over the last two months, and it will move into nationwide expansion next weekend. Life of Pi fell by only 5 percent to $2.7 million, bringing it ever closer to the $100 million mark domestically. The Ang Lee adaptation has grossed $94.8 million in the States thus far — and a truly remarkable $452.2 million worldwide. Way further down the chart, Amour, made its presence known upon expanding from 3 to 15 theaters. The much-heralded drama about an elderly couple earned $270,000, giving it a robust $18,040 per theater average. Keep an eye on all these films in the weeks to come — Oscar season can have a massive effect on the box office.
Next week brings the releases of Broken City, The Last Stand, and Mama. Check back to EW for full box office coverage of those films.
For more box office updates/analysis:
RELATED Box office Preview: 'Zero Dark Thirty' and 'Gangster Squad' target No. 1


text:
CHICAGO, March 18 (UPI) -- Andre Iguodala put Denver ahead with a 3-pointer in overtime and the Nuggets benefited from a controversial call to complete a 119-118 victory over Chicago.
Iguodala's trey with 7.1 seconds remaining in the extra frame wiped out a 118-116 Bulls lead and the Nuggets hung on for their 12th straight win when Joakim Noah was called for offensive goaltending with 1.7 seconds left.
On the play, Marco Belinelli launched a jumper that appeared to be short of the rim and Noah deflected it through the hoop for an apparent game-winner.
The officials, however, overruled the basket after they determined via a video review that Noah touched the ball as it was in the cylinder.
Wilson Chandler finished with 35 points for the Nuggets.
Nate Robinson led Chicago with 34.


text:
Top Items:
Burgess Everett / Politico:
In surprise, unemployment benefits advance — In a surprise, several Senate Republicans on Tuesday morning joined with Democrats to break the filibuster of a bill to extend unemployment benefits for three months. — By 60-37, Senate Democrats secured the votes needed to advance the bill …
Discussion: CNN, Slate, Mediaite, Taylor Marsh and The Raw Story
David Weigel / Slate: Republicans Will Revive Unemployment Benefits Only If They Get to Keep More People From Getting Medicaid
David Edwards / The Raw Story: Mitch McConnell to Dems: Kill Obamacare if you want unemployment benefits
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Morning Plum: Republicans reframing fight over unemployment benefits — With the three month extension of unemployment benefits set for a Senate vote this morning, multiple Republicans are going all in on the suggestion that they would support extending benefits if only it were paid for.
David Espo / Associated Press: SHOWDOWN SET ON UNEMPLOYMENT BILL IN SENATE
Ed Kilgore / Washington Monthly: UI Extension Moves Ahead in Senate
Jason Easley / PoliticusUSA: Mitch McConnell Offers To Extend Unemployment Benefits if Democrats Kill Obamacare
Steve Benen / msnbc.com: Jobless aid advances despite GOP obstruction
Lisa Mascaro / Los Angeles Times: Senate vote on jobless aid postponed; bad weather strands senators
Janet Shan / The Hinterland Gazette: Katherine Hackett at Obama Unemployment Benefits Presser: "Not at Home Living Good Life"
Danny Vinik / Business Insider: Here's Where Things Stand On The Effort To Extend Unemployment Insurance
John Bresnahan / Politico:
Michael Bloomberg gives $2.5M to Senate Majority PAC
Michael Bloomberg gives $2.5M to Senate Majority PAC
Discussion: Washington Wire and Weasel Zippers
Thomas Catan / Washington Wire: Bloomberg Puts Up Cash for Democratic Senators
Jonathan Weisman / New York Times:
Jobless Benefits Extension Clears One Hurdle, but More Remain
Jobless Benefits Extension Clears One Hurdle, but More Remain
Discussion: The World's Greatest … and National Review
Meredith Shiner / The World's Greatest …: Unemployment Insurance Advances in Senate
Patrick Brennan / National Review: Unemployment Insurance Extension Gets Cloture in Senate
Washington Post:
Income gap takes shape as central issue for both parties ahead of 2014 midterms
Income gap takes shape as central issue for both parties ahead of 2014 midterms
Discussion: Firedoglake, Washington Monthly, National Review, Business Insider, NBCNews, Guardian, Associated Press and Politico
Ed Kilgore / Washington Monthly: The Conservative Anti-Poverty Agenda: Heating Up Kemp's Stale Ideas
Andrew Stiles / National Review: Rubio to Outline Anti-Poverty Reforms
First Read / NBCNews: First Thoughts: The GOP Still Faces an Empathy Gap
Burgess Everett / Politico: Barack Obama courts GOP ahead of uphill Senate vote
Boehner Statement on Jobs
Boehner Statement on Jobs
Discussion: Talking Points Memo, The Plum Line and PoliticusUSA
Caitlin MacNeal / Talking Points Memo: Boehner Reiterates Unemployment Extension Needs To Be Paid For
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line: A surprising step forward for unemployment benefits
Mark Mazzetti / New York Times:
Burglars Who Took On F.B.I. Abandon Shadows — Stealing J. Edgar Hoover's Secrets: One night in 1971, files were stolen from an F.B.I. office near Philadelphia. They proved that the bureau was spying on thousands of Americans. The case was unsolved, until now.
Jesse Walker / Hit & Run: FBI to Students: Watch Out! Socialists Are TOTALLY Gay.
Catherine Thompson / Talking Points Memo: FBI Burglars Come Forward, 43 Years Later
Will Bunch / Philly.com: Meet the Ed Snowdens of Media, Pa.
Sarah Hedgecock / Gawker: Revealed: The Burglars Who Stole a Whole Office of Files from the FBI
Russell Brandom / The Verge: Whistleblowing FBI burglars come forward after 43 years
Brett LoGiurato / Business Insider: Five Burglars Involved In An FBI Heist That Changed History Are Finally Coming Forward
Trevor Timm / Freedom of the Press Foundation: Amazing New Book Reveals Whistleblowers of J. Edgar Hoover's Illegal FBI For the First Time
Amanda Wills / Mashable: 8 Activists Admit to 1971 Theft Exposing FBI Spying
BillMoyers.com: Morning Reads: COINTELPRO Burglars Revealed; Jon Stewart on Climate and Cold Weather
Dave-Dr-Gonzo / Liberaland: Four Decades Before Snowden, Burglars Blew Whistle On J. Edgar Hoover's Spying
Greg Mitchell / Pressing Issues: Taking Credit for FBI Raid
Michael Isikoff / NBCNews:
After 43 years, activists admit theft at FBI office that exposed domestic spying
After 43 years, activists admit theft at FBI office that exposed domestic spying
Discussion: Yahoo! News
Thom Shanker / New York Times:
In His New Memoir, Robert M. Gates, the Former Defense Secretary, Offers a Critique of the President — WASHINGTON — President Obama eventually lost faith in the troop increase he ordered in Afghanistan, his doubts fed by top White House civilian advisers opposed to the strategy …
Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Business Insider, Mediaite and NBCNews
Igor Bobic / Talking Points Memo: Bob Gates Slams Biden As Being 'Wrong On Nearly Every Major Foreign Policy' In 40 Years
Geoffrey Ingersoll / Business Insider: Former Secretary Of Defense Bob Gates Basically Calls Joe Biden A National Security Risk
Bob Woodward / Washington Post:
Robert Gates, former defense secretary, offers harsh critique of Obama's leadership in 'Duty' — In a new memoir, former defense secretary Robert Gates unleashes harsh judgments about President Obama's leadership and his commitment to the Afghanistan war, writing that by early 2010 …
Discussion: Weekly Standard, The Fix, The PJ Tatler and Post Politics
Michael Warren / Weekly Standard: Gates: Obama, Hillary Said Opposition to Iraq Surge Was 'Political'
Chris Cillizza / The Fix: How Bob Gates' memoir could haunt Hillary in 2016
Bryan Preston / The PJ Tatler: Former SecDef Robert Gates Unloads on Obama
Angry Dennis Rodman defends North Korea basketball game — (CNN) — Basketball star Dennis Rodman defended his controversial visit to North Korea with a team of former NBA players in a combative exchange Tuesday, saying it was a "great idea for the world." — In an exclusive interview …
Lucy McCalmont / Politico: Stern, retired players hit Rodman trip
Janet Shan / The Moderate Voice: Dennis Rodman Defends North Korea Basketball Game, Gets Testy Over Kenneth Bae
Dennis P. Halpin / Weekly Standard: Rodman Brings Bread and Circuses to Pyongyang
Christina Coleman / Global Grind: If You Don't Know! News & Politics Roundup: Chicago Gun Ban Ruled Unconstitutional...AND MORE!
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air: Video: CNN's mind-boggling interview with Rodman & Co
Barry Petchesky / Deadspin: Dennis Rodman's North Korea Trip May Be Falling Apart
Janet Shan / The Hinterland Gazette: Dennis Rodman Gets Angry After Being Asked About Kenneth Bae Release
Scared Monkeys: Dennis Rodman Defended His Basketball Diplomacy Visit to North Korea with Former NBA Players …
Taylor Berman / Gawker: Watch Dennis Rodman's Bizarre, Screaming Meltdown on CNN
Geoffrey Ingersoll / Business Insider: Dennis Rodman Interview On CNN Devolves Into Incoherent Yelling
Andy Towle / Towleroad News #gay: Dennis Rodman Explodes at CNN Host in Interview from North Korea: VIDEO
Taylor Bigler / The Daily Caller: Watch Dennis Rodman lose his marbles on CNN [VIDEO]
Tommy Christopher / Mediaite:
Dennis Rodman Screams at CNN's Chris Cuomo, Implies Kenneth Bae is Guilty in Bizarre Interview
Dennis Rodman Screams at CNN's Chris Cuomo, Implies Kenneth Bae is Guilty in Bizarre Interview
Discussion: TIME, ThinkProgress, Washington Free Beacon and National Review
Andrew Johnson / National Review: Rodman: Kim Jong Un 'My F***ing Friend, I Love Him'
Tara Palmeri / New York Post:
Spitzer caught sucking Lis Smith's toes in topless hot tub romp — Sleazy Eliot Spitzer turned a resort hot tub into a steamy love cauldron over the weekend — kissing and sucking the toes of his topless mistress, Lis Smith, in front of families with children, mortified witnesses told The Post.
Jim Treacher / The Daily Caller: Eliot Spitzer's latest toe-do
Eddie Scarry / TheBlaze.com: NY Post takes off Eliot Spitzer's pants
Betsy Newmark / Betsy's Page: Cruising the Web — This is one of the most bizarre stories I've read in quite some time.
Colin Campbell / Politicker: Morning Read: 'Joseph Crowley Has Loosened a Sustained Yowl'
DefendWallSt / Weasel Zippers: Oh Look! Eliot Spitzer Is Still A Gross Weirdo
Steve Bainbridge / ProfessorBainbridge.com: Sicko Spitzer Snagged Sucking Smith Soles
Gabrielle Bluestone / Gawker: Kids Forced to Watch Eliot Spitzer Suck His Topless Girlfriend's Toes
Greg Pollowitz / National Review: Eliot Spitzer Finds a Way to be Creepier than Eliot Spitzer
Larry J. Sabato / Politico:
Republicans Really Could Win It All This Year — A definitive guide to the 2014 elections from our new columnist. … Another midterm election beckons, and over the next 10 months we'll see headlines about a thousand supposedly critical developments—the "game changers" and the "tipping points."
Discussion: The Moderate Voice, The Week, The PJ Tatler, No More Mister Nice Blog, CANNONFIRE, Booman Tribune, Hot Air, Mediaite, First Read and The Plum Line
Joe Gandelman / The Moderate Voice: Sabato: Republicans really could win it all this year
Edward Morrissey / The Week: My advice for the Tea Party
Bryan Preston / The PJ Tatler: 'Republicans Could Win It All This Year'
Steve M. / No More Mister Nice Blog: VOTERS WILL AGAIN VOTE FOR A PARTY THAT PROMISES TO BLOCK EVERYTHING THEY WANT
Joseph / CANNONFIRE: For whom the doors open
BooMan / Booman Tribune: Sabato's Bleak Predictions
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air: Sabato: Republicans could really win it all in 2014, if ...
Noah Rothman / Mediaite: Liberals Getting Heated in Frantic Effort to Shift Political Focus to 'Inequality'
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line: How 'polarized' is the American electorate?
Richard Pollock / Washington Examiner:
Surprise! Walmart health plan is cheaper, offers more coverage than Obamacare — WATCHDOG OBAMACARE HEALTH CARE ACCOUNTABILITY WALMART — New Obamacare health insurance enrollees may feel a pang of envy when they eye the coverage plans offered by Walmart to its employees.
Discussion: TheBlaze.com
Meredith Jessup / TheBlaze.com: Sorry, liberals: Walmart health plans beat Obamacare
Joshua Stewart / GPB:
Senate Conversations: Paul Broun 'Fighting For Liberty' — The primary race for Georgia's open U.S. Senate seat heats up in the first weeks of 2014 with the election looming May 20. — For Rep. Paul Broun (R-Athens), the race is all about liberty. — "What I'm fighting for is liberty.
Discussion: Talking Points Memo, First Read, Weasel Zippers, Ajc Blogs: &lsquo, Post Politics, The Raw Story and Taegan Goddard's …
Daniel Strauss / Talking Points Memo: GOP Rep. Broun: Dems Only Have A Shot In Georgia If They Legalize 'Aliens'
Domenico Montanaro / First Read: GOP Sen. candidate says only way Democrats win Ga. is if 'illegal aliens' get to vote
Dapandico / Weasel Zippers: GOP Rep. Broun: Dems Only Have A Shot In Georgia If They Legalize 'Aliens'
Ajc Blogs: &lsquo: Your daily jolt: Paul Broun says Democrats need illegal alien vote to take Georgia
John Hinderaker / Power Line:
Rachel Maddow Is Crazy, Too — MSNBC has had a hard time lately. The network fired Martin Bashir and Alec Baldwin for craziness, on-air and off-air respectively. Melissa Harris-Perry was forced to apologize, first on Twitter and then, tearfully, on the air, for making political hay out of Mitt Romney's adopted grandson.
Discussion: National Review, Ed Driscoll, The Raw Story, No More Mister Nice Blog, Mediaite, American Power and The Democratic Daily
Andrew Johnson / National Review: In Rachel Maddow's Koch-Addled World, MSNBC Is Funding the Tea Party Too
Steve M. / No More Mister Nice Blog: FOLKS WHO THINK VALERIE JARRETT IS THE WHITE HOUSE'S SUCCUBUS NOW THINK RACHEL MADDOW IS MSNBC'S SUCCUBUS
Matt Wilstein / Mediaite: National Review Identifies the Only 'Adult' at MSNBC
Donald Douglas / American Power: Rachel Maddow Wears the 'Ideological' Pants at @MSNBC
Hart Williams / The Democratic Daily: Et Tu, National Review?
Pew Research Center for the People and the Press:
In New Year, Half Are Looking Forward to Midterm Elections — More Republicans than Democrats Are Anticipating Midterms — As 2014 begins and the midterm election campaigns heat up, about half of the public (51%) is especially looking forward to November's congressional elections while 49% are not looking forward to them.
Tal Kopan / Politico: Poll: GOP excited for midterms
Sean Sullivan / The Fix: The GOP's midterm enthusiasm advantage, in 2 charts
Amanda Hess / Pacific Standard:
Why Women Aren't Welcome on the Internet — "Ignore the barrage of violent threats and harassing messages that confront you online every day." That's what women are told. But these relentless messages are an assault on women's careers, their psychological bandwidth, and their freedom to live online.
Discussion: Washington Monthly, The Switch and The Verge
Ed Kilgore / Washington Monthly: Policing Internet Threats Against Women
David Freddoso / Conservative Intelligence Briefing:
Ten freshman governors who have shrunk their states' bureaucracies — In 2010, Americans went to the polls and elected a whole crop of new governors — 26 in all, if you count the election of governors who had previously served non-consecutive terms in Iowa and Oregon.
Peter Hamby / CNN:
Christie heralds DREAM Act as message to Washington — Union City, New Jersey (CNN) - Flanked by Hispanic leaders, students, and immigration reform advocates, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie celebrated the signing of his state's so-called DREAM Act on Tuesday, hailing the new law …
Discussion: Riehl World News
Josh Israel / ThinkProgress:
Why A Majority-Minority Congressional District May Go Unrepresented For An Entire Year — A quirk of North Carolina's election law may leave voters in the state's 12th Congressional district without representation until 2015. Though Rep. Mel Watt (D) resigned his seat on the first day of …
Discussion: ABC News and Raleigh News & Observer
Alan Duke / CNN:
What the heck is a polar vortex? — (CNN) — Americans in two dozen states from the Midwest to the Southeast and Northeast are shivering this week courtesy of a distorted polar vortex. The rush of cold air it's sending southward is the biggest visitor from the North Pole since Santa Claus.
Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Weasel Zippers and Blogcritics
Caitlin MacNeal / Talking Points Memo: Sen. Inhofe Bares Some Leg After Climate Change Speech (VIDEO)
Victor Lana / Blogcritics: Stop The Polar Express - I Want to Get Off Now!
Caitlin MacNeal / Talking Points Memo:
Gingrich: 'Life Was Fine' During Warmer 'Age Of The Dinosaurs' — Newt Gingrich, a self-proclaimed "amateur paleontologist," said Monday that the Earth's rising temperature is not a major issue. — "The age of the dinosaurs was dramatically warmer than this is right now and it didn't cook the planet …
Discussion: Little Green Footballs, The Huffington Post and Mediaite
Paige Lavender / The Huffington Post: Newt Gingrich: 'Life Was Fine' During Age Of The Dinosaurs When Earth Was 'Dramatically Warmer'
Tom Kludt / Talking Points Memo:
McCain Thinks Obama Is The One Who 'Blew The Whole Thing' In Iraq — Rising bloodshed in Iraq has Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) convinced that failure of the American military effort there now falls on President Obama's shoulders. — McCain went on Fox News on Tuesday morning to once again blast Obama …
Discussion: Daily Kos, Lawfare and Washington Post
Jed Lewison / Daily Kos: McCain blames Obama for Iraq
Jane Chong / Lawfare: Today's Headlines and Commentary
Michael Hirsh / NationalJournal.com:
How Janet Yellen's Agenda Could Transform Washington — The next Fed chair is an old-school progressive economist. Just wait until she starts sharing her passions. — Every Federal Reserve Board chairman comes into office with a secret agenda, a hidden passion.
Discussion: New York Times
Annie Lowrey / New York Times: Yellen Wins Backing of Senators to Lead Fed
Karl Bergholz / ABC News:
3 Amtrak Trains With Hundreds of Passengers Stranded Since Monday — About 500 passengers aboard three Amtrak trains were stranded overnight in a remote part of northern Illinois because of blowing and drifting snow, Amtrak officials said today. — The trains were halted late Monday near Mendota, about 80 miles west of Chicago.
Kathryn A. Wolfe / Politico: Icy grip on air travel begins to ease


text:
As we discuss the challenge that coffee-growing communities have all over the world this week, let's take a look back at a previous post on how to choose a coffee with a conscience.
Originally posted October 25, 2011.
The next time you buy coffee, make sure you are environmentally aware about where you coffee comes from. The words Fair Trade, Shade-Grown, and Organic are just a couple of buzzwords that are now being used to describe your cup-of-joe.
Havent heard of these words? Here is what they mean:
Whats shade-grown coffee?
- Shade-grown generally describes coffee grown under a canopy of diverse species of shade trees, often on small farms using traditional techniques.
- Shade-grown coffee, in contrast to sun-grown or technified coffee, provides food and shelter for songbirds, as well as other animals and plants.
- Shade trees also provide natural mulch, which reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. Up to 40 species of trees can be found on traditionally managed shade coffee plantations; these trees protect the coffee plants that grow beneath them from rain and sun, help maintain soil quality, reduce the need for weeding and aid in pest control. Organic matter from the shade trees reduces erosion, contributes nutrients to the soil, and prevents metal toxicities.
- As rainforests disappear, shade coffee farms offer one of the last places for birds to feed and rest in many tropical regions. In addition to birds, shade coffee plantations provide habitat for orchids, insects, mammals (such as bats), reptiles, and amphibians.
Whats organic coffee?
- Organic coffee growing strives for a balance with nature, using methods and materials which are of low impact to the environment.
- Organic farming replenishes and maintains soil fertility, eliminates the use of toxic chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and builds a biologically diverse agriculture. In a natural ecosystem, nature constantly works to correct imbalances. Organic farmers do the same by selecting the most environmentally friendly solutions to the pest and disease problems that affect their crops.
- When a grower or processor is certified organic, a public or private organization verifies that it meets or exceeds standards defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
What is fair trade coffee?
- Certified Fair Trade coffee has been traded and sold according to international fair trade criteria, which includes:
- Farmers are guaranteed a minimum price for their coffee. If world price rises above this floor price, farmers will be paid a small premium above market price.
- Coffee importers provide credit to farmers against future sales.
- Importers and roasters agree to develop direct, long-term trade relationships with producer groups, cutting out middlemen (or coyotes) and bringing greater commercial stability to an extremely unstable market.
- The fair trade movement is based on the idea that producers in developing countries are capable of achieving economic success provided they receive fair prices in international markets for what they produce.


text:
Hurricanes over the past 5,000 years appear to have been controlled more by El Nino and an African monsoon than warm sea surface temperatures, such as those caused by global warming, researchers said Wednesday.
NEW YORK -- Hurricanes over the past 5,000 years appear to have been controlled more by El Nino and an African monsoon than warm sea surface temperatures, such as those caused by global warming, researchers said Wednesday.
The study, published in the journal Nature, adds to the debate on whether seas warmed by greenhouse gas emissions lead to more hurricanes, such as those that bashed the Gulf of Mexico in 2005.
Some researchers say warmer seas appear to have contributed to more intense hurricanes, while others disagree. The U.N. International Panel on Climate Change said this year it was more likely than not that humans contribute to a trend of increasingly intense hurricanes.
Frequent strong hurricanes thrived in the Western Atlantic during times of weak El Ninos, or warming of surface waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and strong West African monsoons even when local seas were cooler than now, the study said.
"Tropical sea surface temperatures as warm as at present are apparently not a requisite condition for increased intense hurricane activity," Jeffrey Donnelly, the lead author and researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, said in the study.
Intense hurricanes made landfall during the latter half of the Little Ice Age, a period of cooling that occurred approximately from the 14th to mid-19th centuries, he said.
Donnelly took core sediment samples from coastal lagoons in Puerto Rico to determine the frequency and strength of hurricanes that hit the Caribbean island over thousands of years. The storms whipped up sand and other coarse grains that were deposited in the lagoons.
He compared the deposits with historic paleoclimatology records to determine that the storms hit during periods when El Ninos were weak and when Western African monsoons were strong.
Intense hurricanes hit when local sea surface temperatures were warm or cool. In fact, "the Caribbean experienced a relatively active interval of intense hurricanes for more than a millennium when local sea surface temperatures were on average cooler than modern," the study said.
Changes in intense hurricane activity should be better predicted with more study of the Eastern Pacific and West African climate patterns, it said.
Source: Reuters
Contact Info:


text:
Bowman has Blackhawks on verge of another Cupby Dan Rosen / Chicago Blackhawks
|Getty Images
BOSTON -- Chicago Blackhawks' fans everywhere watched with disappointment in the summer of 2010 as their Stanley Cup championship team was being dismantled because of the salary cap.
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman, however, was the guy rubbing his hands together in the corner, laughing like Dr. Evil, excited and energized by the challenge of putting the puzzle back together with some new blood and fresh faces.
"There is an element to some change that I actually think is good," Bowman told NHL.com on Sunday afternoon. "If you bring the exact same team back year to year, it's awful tough to push through the grind of a schedule and a season. If you have a few guys who didn't win it and they want to get there, I think it brings some energy to the group. I don't mind the fact that you have to make some changes."
Bowman kept the core intact after winning the Stanley Cup, but that meant there eventually wouldn't be room for more than half of the players that played in Game 6 against the Philadelphia Flyers. They were depth players -- guys who played a massive role in 2010 -- and Chicago just couldn't afford them.
A little over 36 months after the demolition of a championship roster began, here are the Blackhawks again, in the same position they were in 2010, 60 or more minutes away from becoming the first team in the salary-cap era to win the Stanley Cup twice. They can do it against the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, RDS).
Chicago got to the cusp because yes, the core stayed intact and guys like Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook improved, but mostly because Bowman and his staff replenished the lost depth by drafting, developing, signing or trading for comparable players with favorable salaries.
"It is obviously a system that worked for us before," Bowman said.
The most notable comparison can be found in net between Antti Niemi and Corey Crawford.
Chicago let Niemi go to the San Jose Sharks, choosing instead to match the offer sheet the Sharks gave to defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson three years ago.
The reason: Crawford was ready for a promotion.
"Our options were we could let Niklas go and get the draft choices, but those draft choices wouldn't have been until the 2011 draft and those players we got probably wouldn't help us until at least around now," Bowman said. "We didn't have anybody else like Niklas, a 24-year-old defenseman at the time that can jump in and play those minutes. Nor was there anybody that was readily available that could fill that hole without us having to give up assets to do it. But, we had Corey. … The only thing Corey needed was an opportunity. Here we are a couple of years later."
Dustin Byfuglien, a power forward on the 2010 team, was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers after the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, but Bowman already knew that Bryan Bickell, a 6-foot-4, 233-pound power forward, was prepared for a bigger role. Bickell, who played four games in the 2010 playoffs, earned it this season and has become one of the most prominent forwards on the team this spring and summer.
He could be the next guy Bowman has to replace. Bickell could leave Chicago via unrestricted free agency this summer.
"I can't say that we set out and said we're going to replicate Byfuglien with Bickell," Bowman said. "It wasn't necessarily player for player, but that analogy is pretty accurate."
So, too, Bowman said, is the one between defensemen Brian Campbell and Johnny Oduya.
Campbell was shipped to the Florida Panthers at the 2011 NHL Draft; eight months later, Bowman acquired Oduya in a trade from the Winnipeg Jets. Both good skaters. Both good puck movers. Both veterans. Problem solved.
Andrew Ladd, Kris Versteeg, Troy Brouwer, John Madden, Tomas Kopecky and Ben Eager eventually all had to leave Chicago, too. Enter Brandon Saad, Marcus Kruger, Viktor Stalberg, Michal Handzus, Michael Frolik and Brandon Bollig.
Saad, a second-round pick in 2011, is developing faster than the Blackhawks thought he would. Handzus is surprising as a second-line center. Stalberg adds speed to the lineup. Kruger and Frolik have become Chicago's top penalty-killing duo and fourth-line wingers between Dave Bolland.
"Frolik is a top-10 pick [in 2006], he scored 20 goals his first two years in the League," Bowman said. "I've seen a lot of guys with that profile who are too stubborn and too upset when they're given a role like that and they don't buy into it, they're always frustrated when they're not getting a chance. But you see Michael (Frolik), you're not going to meet a more upbeat, positive kid. That's the way he is all the time and I think that contributes to his success. He's embraced the role. It's a tough thing to do in today's game to find unselfish guys who just want to win."
Bolland is one of those guys. He was a gritty and dangerous checking-line center on the 2010 team, but has become Chicago's current faster and younger version of the defensive-minded Madden.
In turn, Andrew Shaw, a fifth-round draft pick in 2011, has taken over Bolland's role from the 2010 team.
Bowman scoffs when people say Chicago got lucky with Shaw, who was bypassed in both the 2009 and 2010 drafts before the Blackhawks took him with the No. 139th pick in 2011.
"Shaw is a guy who we really sort of targeted," Bowman said. "I remember [chief amateur scout] Mark Kelley saying, 'We're going to get this kid.' "
But even Kelley didn't want to discuss Shaw too much.
"He said, 'There's a reason for that, because I think he's a diamond in the rough and I didn't want to tip our hand,' " Bowman said. "He was a last-year draft eligible player and if the rumor gets out, all of a sudden he's not as hidden."
Michal Rozsival wasn't hidden, but he did fly under the radar when Bowman signed him in September, shortly before the lockout. He plays a similar role to the one Brent Sopel played in 2010.
Nick Leddy gives the Blackhawks something unique from what they had three years ago -- a young, developing, promising No. 6 defenseman. Nick Boynton and Jordan Hendry didn't have Leddy's skillset.
"Back in 2010, you had some guys who were probably unknown names that made names for themselves throughout that year and in the playoffs, and you're seeing that happen again this year," Kane said. "For us to be in this situation again three years down the road, especially after the breakup we had from that 2010 team, losing 10 or 11 guys, whatever it is, I think it's a great success."
Even if Chicago can win one more game, there will be changes this summer. They're unavoidable, especially with the salary cap dropping nearly $6 million to $64.3 million.
Maybe Bickell finds another team willing to give him more money. Maybe backup goalie Ray Emery (this year's better version of the 2010 Cristobal Huet) is offered a starting position or at least a more lucrative contract by another team. Maybe Handzus, Stalberg and Rozsival -- all potential unrestricted free agents -- sign elsewhere. Maybe Bowman pulls off a trade or two.
"We'll make some changes, but for the most part, we'll be in a better spot [than we were in 2010]," Bowman said.
He's right. The turnover won't be as great as it was after the 2010 run, but like Bickell and Crawford were a few years ago, the Blackhawks already have depth guys waiting, watching and ready for their chance to take a run at the Cup.
They're backed by a general manager and an organization willing to accept change. They've learned that it doesn't kill a potential dynasty.
"Whether it's Jimmy Hayes, Brandon Pirri or Jeremy Morin, they're going to be hungry," Bowman said. "They've witnessed this. They want to be the guys doing it. I think it's good to have that excitement for the challenge."


text:
Portable Displays and Modular Displays
Make a splash at your next event with a portable modular display from our extensive library of designs. Browse our design library where you are sure to find the modular display best suited to your unique needs.
Feature Filters
Product Line Filters
next >>
results 1 - 12 of 61


text:
Welcome to ChurchBuild
This site has grown out of the belief that your church building has a significant impact on the life of your church, and that your building should fit well with your ministry. Our aim is to equip you to make better use of your buildings for the glory of God.
If your church is considering undertaking a building project you will find a wealth of useful information in the ChurchBuild Project Guide under the 'How To' tab – this provides a framework for developing and running a project. Look also at the Downloads section, where you can access free resources, including those referred to in the Project Guide.
Browse through the other sections of the site where you will find a Blog and discussion of other resources. If you find something useful here, or have suggestions for improvement, please let us know via the Contact page.
New Publication: Check out the new Buildings for Mission handbook, just published by Canterbury Press – gathers together in one place all the things you wanted to know about church buildings but were afraid to ask!
Introducing the ChurchBuild Project Guide…
The ChurchBuild Project Guide is a collection of more than 30 articles covering many of the practicalities of getting church construction projects built. Start with the Welcome section, or dive straight into one of the sections. Here is a selection of some of the most frequently visited articles:


text:
The Knicks seemed to find their way offensively Tuesday night against Charlotte only to become lost again Wednesday night in Cleveland. In a pathetic second half showing, the reeling Knicks scored only 36 points and lost 91-81. Amar'e Stoudemire showed flashes of brilliance and worked hard on the boards but was unable to find any consistent jump shot. Carmelo Anthony is a walking bandage right now and cannot consistently dominate offensively.
Here are notes from the game:
- The Knicks need a point guard. Badly. The 3 Knick point guards, Bibby, Shumpert and Toney Douglas had a combined 6 assists tonight. Melo had 6 by himself and Billy Walker had 4. By comparison the Cavalier point guards, Kyrie Irving and Ramon Sessions, combined for 12. The Knick point guards are not only bad but they are holding the offense back. Shumpert basically did not play tonight. He was nonexistent in the 22 minutes he played and was benched early in the 4th quarter. Douglas came in and did what Toney Douglas does best. He panicked. When Douglas panics, he shoots. When Douglas panics and shoots he misses and when he does not hit his shots he is useless. Tonight, Douglas did not move the ball, he did not score and he did not get Melo and Amar'e the ball where they needed it. This game came down to the 4th quarter and in the 4th quarter the Knicks sucked. They decided to run the offense though Douglas and Jeffries despite the fact that Amar'e played strongly at the rim again tonight and Melo showed a few flashes in the 4th. Why Douglas would take it upon him self to continue chucking aimless shots, he finished 3/12, is beyond me. Which brings me to my next point.
- I do not like to criticize D'Antoni. I do not like feeding the notion that the team would be better without D'Antoni this season because they wouldn't be. However, I find it unacceptable that Toney Douglas was allowed to run around and basically blow any chance the Knicks had to win the game. If you're D'Antoni, YOU HAVE to sit Douglas late in that 4th quarter. Clearly the game was moving far too fast for him. I would rather have seen Bibby out there late in the game. Bibby would have at least realized that running a high screen with Jeffries every possession was not the way to go. Again I do not commonly rip D'Antoni but he deserves blame for not benching Douglas late in this game.
- However, I did like the Knicks ball movement in this game up until they went to the Douglas-Jeffries offense. I thought the ball moved nicely, I liked what Melo did. He did a nice job of not forcing shots and moving the ball to where it needed to go. His shots did not fall tonight as he went 5/14 but I liked how he played within the offense. Stoudemire gave a good effort as well. Despite the fact that his jump shot is anything but consistent, STAT made an impact offensively. Showing relentlessness on the boards tonight, he picked up a season high 14 boards. The bottom line is this offense is not going to gel consistently for a while, and I'll continue to pull my hair out every night, but the two stars in particular seem to have the right idea. The offense will make no progress if the ball sticks every possession and I think STAT and Melo are doing a good job of trying to get others involved.
- I do not understand why this damn team cannot shoot. The Knicks were 3/20 from beyond the arc tonight. How do you shoot 15% from downtown?? I do not understand this team. They should not be this bad shooting the ball. Look at the Knicks 3 point percentages from last season compared to this year and then tonight's game.
Carmelo Anthony:
2010 w/NYK 42.4%
2011: 31.5% Tonight: 0/3
Bill Walker:
2010: 38.6%
2011: 33% Tonight: 0/2
Toney Douglas
2010: 37.3%
2011: 23.5% Tonight: 2/8
Landry Fields
2010: 39.3%
2011: 21% Tonight: 0/1
Mike Bibby
2010 with ATL: 44.1% 2010 with MIA: 45.5%
2011: 37.2% Tonight: 0/2
- This team has guys who have shot well in the past. They should be able to shoot in the present but so far this year they have been atrocious. I think a the impending arrival of Baron Davis will help the spacing and rhythm but at some point this team just has to play better basketball. Get looks. Shoot the ball. Make the shot. Right now the Knicks are struggling to make the shots and it is incredibly frustrating.
- Conversely, the Knicks allowed Cleveland to shoot lights out from downtown. The mighty (only against the Knicks) Cavs shot 9/20 from down town hitting their 3's at a 45% clip. When you shoot 3/20 from downtown and allow the opponent to shoot 9/20, often times you will not win. The Knicks, especially on nights when they struggle to score, cannot allow opponents to shoot open 3's. Chandler is doing a fantastic job of protecting the rim this season and Amar'e actually has played decent defense as of late. The strength of the Knick defense is in the paint and they must force teams to try and score there. Letting a garbage team like Cleveland shoot 45% from downtown is unacceptable.
- Fields had another solid game. Fields scored in double digits for the 5th straight game tonight scoring 13 points on 5/7 shooting. He had a couple really nice drives to the hoop and a strong and-1 at the basket. Anthony Parker did have his way offensively against Fields late in the 2nd quarter but apart from that stretch, I thought Fields played a solid game.
- Jeffries hit another corner 3…
- The Knicks turned the ball over 22 times tonight. Cleveland turned the ball over 18 times. The Knicks allowed 14 offensive rebounds tonight. A big reason the Knicks are struggling is because they do not do the little things well. When playing a lowly team like Cleveland, allowing 14 offensive rebounds and losing the turnover battle by 4 is unacceptable. This team has more problems than Melo and STAT and cannot win by playing this way. To compensate for their poor shooting, the Knicks must pay special attention to offensive rebounding and ball security. The Knicks rank 27th in the NBA in turnovers per game at 16.7. Conversely, 9 of the top 10 teams that turn the ball over the least have winning records. In order to pick up some wins during this slump, the Knicks must excel in turnovers/offensive rebounding, not lose both categories to bad teams.
- That Deron Williams guy looked pretty good for New Jersey tonight. Melo has been struggling… Just saying.


text:
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Litigation Release No. 22099 / September 19, 2011
Securities and Exchange Commission v. One or More Unknown Purchasers of Securities of Global Industries, Ltd., 11 Civ. 6500 (S.D.N.Y.) (filed September 16, 2011)
Court Freezes Assets Linked to Suspicious Securities Purchases Ahead of Global Industries, Ltd. Acquisition Announcement
On September 16, 2011, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a Temporary Restraining Order freezing assets and trading proceeds of certain unknown purchasers of the securities of Global Industries, Ltd. (the "Unknown Purchasers"). The Commission filed a complaint alleging that the Unknown Purchasers engaged in illegal insider trading in the days preceding the September 12, 2011 public announcement that Technip SA ("Technip"), a French company, and Global Industries, Ltd. ("Global") had entered into an agreement pursuant to which Technip would offer to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Global for $8.00 per share, a 55% premium over the closing price of Global common stock on the trading day preceding the public announcement. The Commission's complaint alleges that the Unknown Purchasers engaged in insider trading, thereby violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The complaint seeks permanent injunctive relief, the disgorgement of all illegal profits, and the imposition of civil money penalties.
The Commission's complaint alleges that on September 8 and 9, 2011, the Unknown Purchasers bought a total of 685,840 shares of Global common stock through an omnibus account in the name of Raiffeisen Bank International AG Vienna, Austria, at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., at share prices ranging from $5.14 to $5.39. These purchases accounted for 8.6% and 11.9%, respectively, of the total volume of Global trading on each of those days. The closing price for Global common stock on September 9 was $5.15 per share. On the next trading day, September 12, before the U.S. markets opened, the public announcement of the Global buy-out was made. Following the public announcement, Global shares opened at $7.77. The Unknown Purchasers sold all 685,840 shares of Global on September 12 at prices ranging from $7.77 to $7.80 per share, realizing a profit of approximately $1,726,809.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a Temporary Restraining Order freezing the assets relating to the trading; requiring the Unknown Purchasers to identify themselves, imposing an expedited discovery schedule, and prohibiting the defendants from destroying documents.
The Commission acknowledges the Office of Fraud Detection and Market Intelligence of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") for its assistance in this investigation.


text:
Ample Guitar TC is a virtual electric guitar which is based on samples of a Fender Telecaster. The library has 3.8 GB of samples, all in 44.1 kHz and 24 bit recording quality. Furthermore Ample Guitar TC offers all common playing varieties such as strumming, fingerpicking and much more. Another feature is the integrated tab player that can play all popular formats of Tabs.
The Tab Player can load and play several prevalent guitar tablature file formats. Users can load, display and playback any specific track inside a tablature file. When used in DAWs, the Tab Player also allows users to export the tablature as an audio file.
The Tab Player supports all the fingering, looping, chords, articulations and other markers in the loaded tablature. Supported articulations articulations include: Strum, Natural Harmonic, Artificial Harmonic, Hammer On/Pull Off, Trill, Bend, Tremolo Bar, Legato Slide, Slide In, Slide Out, Vibrato, Tremolo Picking, Palm Mute, Popping, Tapping, Let Ring, Staccato, Dead Note, Grace Note, Ghost Note, Accentuated Note, Fade In, etc.
As a built-in function, the Tab Player works seamlessly with the Ample Sound instrument engine, which has extremely customized guitar playing logic so as to model a real world guitar being played. The Tab Player can even judge on its own to automatically add some refining articulations when it thinks it is appropriate, such as slapping on strings or body, or other realistic and indispensable noises.
Strumming is an important factor of guitar playing. By taking advantage of the Ample Guitar Strummer engine, the Tab Player can not only mingle different articulations into strumming, but can also alternate between strumming several strings (i.e. multiple notes) simultaneously and strum at a particular string (i.e. one note).
The following reviews have been placed by customers who also bought this product from us. All reviews are provided through eKomi, Europe's largest independent customer review company.
spitzenmäßiger Sound und eine sehr gute Handhabung. ***
Product activation:
An internet connection is required to authorize / activate the product.


text:
|Experience EASY online shopping with Home Furniture Mart
|Best Value
|Fast Delivery
|Free Shipping
Ulti-MATE Garage 3-Door Partioned Wall Cabinet GA-08
Related Items
Manufacturer Details
The Ultimate Garage Storage features modular units that are fully expandable. This state of the art garage storage system transforms your space into a functional work area and provides plenty of storage options for tools, sporting goods, and household accessories. Ultimate Garage is built using polyurethane coated multi-density fiberboard (MDF) doors, drawers and facings for maximum strength and stability. Cabinets are assembled using a thermofused melamine laminate over MDF for a clean, finished and refined look.
Ulti-MATE Garage 3-Door Partioned Wall Cabinet GA-08


text:
As a high school foreign-exchange student in Finland, Ben Horn explored the culture and language of several Scandinavian countries. Many years later, that 12-month stint abroad continues to influence his life.
"I started to appreciate the Scandinavian look — simple, clean, fresh and timeless," he said. "A huge change from anything I'd seen growing up in Chicago."
Today Horn owns FinnStyle, a Finnish-design home store in Minneapolis, and lives in a glass-walled contemporary home on a wooded lot bordering Theodore Wirth Parkway.
It took nearly 35 years before he was able to build a home with the understated Scandinavian modern design he grew to love in Finland.
Five years ago, Horn was ensconced in a high-rise condo in downtown Minneapolis. The lure of nature — and a yard — led him to buy property in Bryn Mawr, which reminded him of Finland.
After living there two years, Horn had the ramshackle cabin on the lot torn down. Then he collaborated with architect Tim Alt of Altus Architecture, who shares his passion for modern Finnish design, to create a new home for Horn and his teenage son Max.
"The plan has an organic Scandinavian spirit," said Alt. "The materials, shape and the scale aren't grand. And the landscape also plays a prominent part."
Horn wasn't interested in a suburban-type home that stretched to the lot line, he said. "I wanted it to be a one-of-a-kind design — smaller and special — like a jewel."
Finland played another fortuitous role in Horn's life when he met the woman who is now his wife. At a Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association meeting, he met Lisa Goodman, a Minneapolis City Council member. They connected over a shared interest in the Scandinavian country; Goodman was planning to travel there for a work-related trip.
By the time the couple became engaged, Horn's clean-lined, contemporary-style home was in the final stages of design. That's where they planned to live after they got married. But they discovered a big hurdle to overcome: Almost every single design detail was the complete opposite of what Goodman would have chosen.
She had been living for years in a condo in the Bellevue, an 1890s brick building in downtown Minneapolis. Her decor style was steeped in traditional historic character, with crown moldings, hardwood floors, a wood-burning fireplace and defined spaces furnished with antiques and vintage collectibles.
"This architectural style is not my taste," said Goodman, referring to the couple's completed home today. "But I've really come to appreciate it." It helped that Goodman was able to choose warmer materials and wood finishes and infuse Marimekko "pop art" fabrics and accessories in vibrant colors, which are sold at the FinnStyle store and on its website (www.finnstyle.com).
"Tim had designed a house for two men," said Goodman, who married Horn in 2012. "I found ways to make it inviting and add lots of color."
Goodman and Horn also shopped for a vintage dining-room table and Scottish sideboard to furnish the interiors of the wood-and-glass modern shell. She made sure that her antique Moroccan brass light fixture had a prime spot in the dining room.
Horn was open to all the changes. "You don't have to do all modern in a modern house," he said. "Mixing the old and new is fun." He did get to place a sleek Jotul cast-iron stove in the corner of the living room, just like you'd find in a typical Scandinavian home.
"It's different," said Goodman. "I'm used to a mantel where you can display photos."
Goodman's final flourish for the home was a green roof surrounding the deck above the garage. She's been a longtime proponent of green roofs and sustainability in city buildings. "I wanted to walk the talk and put one in our house," she said.
The green roof is planted with prairie natives, sedum, hens and chicks, and chives, which can easily be snipped to add to food. "It's fun to see the plants close-up," said Goodman. "And it has so many ecological benefits, like stormwater management."
Alt is a big fan of Finnish architect Alvar Aalto's Villa Mairea in Finland, and Alt echoed one of its design motifs in the Goodman-Horn home. The floating wood staircase has railings composed of simple birch dowels of varying heights. "It's a modern vertical element and a visual cue that guides you up the staircase when you come in," said Alt.
The sculptural staircase leads to the second floor, where Horn wanted to position the kitchen, dining and living rooms for the best views of the changing seasons through the walls of glass.
Two lounging decks — one facing east and one facing west — are ideal lookouts for gazing at wildlife, the Minneapolis skyline and people coming up the driveway. Alt designed the flat-roofed, 2,100-square-foot dwelling with dark-stained cedar and fiber-cement siding to better blend in with the serene forest setting.
Max especially likes the country feeling, while still being close to all the fun activities of an urban area. "It doesn't seem like we're living in the city," said Max, who takes their dogs Finn and Sadie to romp in the woods right out the front door. "But in five minutes you can be in downtown Minneapolis."
After a long day at FinnStyle, Horn can come home and unwind in his personal piece of Finland. And Goodman has slowly warmed up to the modern aesthetic.
"It makes him so happy, that it's a joyful place," she said. "It's been an easy compromise late in life."


text:
HOUSTON — A deal between Mexican club Atlas and the Houston Dynamo for 21-year-old Mexican international Edgar Pacheco fell through on Friday, Dynamo president of business operations Chris Canetti told MLSsoccer.com.
According to Canetti, the details of the deal had been agreed upon to make Pacheco the second Designated Player in club history, but the winger had a change of heart at the last minute.
"We reached an agreement on terms with [Atlas] regarding the transfer fee and had a general agreement on his salary," Canetti said.
Ultimately, the decision not to come to the Dynamo was Pacheco's, Canetti said.
Pacheco scored a goal in Mexico's friendly with Bosnia in February in Atlanta, his second cap with El Tri. His international experience, youth, speed and attacking skills made him attractive to the Dynamo, Canetti said. Additionally, Atlas were seeking the right deal to move the up-and-coming winger to a club outside Mexico.
"We liked his upside as a player, his youth and we liked his value on the transfer market in the future so, really, there was everything to like about the deal," said Canetti.
With the April 15 transfer deadline approaching, the Dynamo are not giving up the chase for a DP. The club has maintained any such player will have to be the right fit both on the field and in the locker room, but Canetti was clear Friday the search will certainly continue up until the deadline.
"I can't tell you who the targets are, but I can tell you that Dominic [Kinnear] and his staff will be very busy this weekend," Canetti said. "On top of the Vancouver game, they'll be making evaluations to determine if a move can be made before the window closes."
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on twitter at @Dynamoexaminer.


text:
A man found guilty of setting his Cape Coral home on fire may have his conviction overturned.
A jury convicted Jesus Ventura Perez, 56, of first-degree arson dwelling building people present and burning to defraud insurer in November 2011. He was sentenced to just over three years in prison.
On Friday, Judge Stevan Northcutt of the Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal released an opinion reversing Perez's convictions on both charges. Two other appellate judges concurred with Northcutt.
"We agree that the evidence in this case was insufficient to prove that Perez set the fire," he wrote.
The home, at 1818 N.E. 18th Ave., caught fire in June 2009. A local fire investigator documented damage from smoke and soot in various locations, but the kitchen sustained the most damage.
Perez told the State Fire Marshal's Office that he fried eggs and potatoes in the morning, then left to visit a relative. When Perez returned home that afternoon, he found the home filled with smoke.
Perez tried to extinguish the flames with a garden hose, then asked a neighbor to call 911.
" Perez does not challenge the State's proof that the fire was caused by arson. His point is that the State offered no evidence, direct or circumstantial, that Perez was the arsonist," Northcutt wrote.
The only testimony concerning Perez's whereabouts around the time of the fire came from the neighbor, who testified that he had not paid attention to Perez's comings or goings that day. No one took samples from Perez or his clothing, and no proof was offered that the house was locked.
Northcutt noted that the state presented no direct evidence of Perez's guilt.
" If the circumstantial evidence furnishes only a suspicion of guilt, it is insufficient to prove arson," he wrote. "The evidence must be of a conclusive nature leading to a reasonable certainty that the defendant, not anyone else, committed the arson."
" The circumstantial evidence here was woefully insufficient to prove that Perez started the fire," Northcutt added. "His convictions for both arson and burning to defraud an insurer cannot stand."
Attorneys Rene Suarez and Chris Brown are representing Perez.
"We were not surprised. We did expect that it would be overturned based on the interaction of the appellate panel at oral argument," Suarez said. "We got the impression that is would be reversed."
"It seemed pretty clear to us that it should, based on the case law," he added.
Suarez did not believe his client was aware of the opinion as of Friday.
"He's going to be very excited," he said.
Suarez noted that the process has had a huge impact on Perez, the father of a young girl.
"That was the biggest thing when the verdict was read and the jury was let out," he said. "He kept saying, 'My daughter. My daughter.'"
His client has tried to make the best out of his time in prison.
"He's kept himself busy by taking classes. He's trying to keep his mind occupied," Suarez said. "And he's always kept the faith that he would be exonerated."
Clerk of the Court James Birkhold, with the Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal, explained that Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has 15 days to file a motion for a rehearing over the opinion. If denied, a mandate will be issued to the 20th Judicial Circuit Court, reversing Perez's convictions.
As of Friday afternoon, the Attorney General's Office had not filed any motions.
Perez is currently incarcerated at the Dade Correctional Institution.


text:
Luxury Hybrid: '13 Lexus RX
Featuring the new bolder, signature Lexus spindle grille and upgraded interior, the 2013 RX 450h rolled into our driveway last week. A trendy choice for consumers wanting a luxury crossover that will spoil them as well as be conscientious when it comes to fuel economy, the 2013 RX hybrid is designed to impress.
Exterior Design
The 2013 RX hybrid is a looker. Its sleek profile is accentuated by broad "shoulders" for an athletic yet elegant presence.
Walk around to the front and you'll notice the new distinctive and contemporary grille, in addition to the LED daytime running lights and fog lamps, which are integrated into the sculpted lower front bumper fascia.
From the side, pronounced front fenders flow into the doors, and integrated rear fender flares neatly sweep around to pull together the taut rear corners of the vehicle. The lower body emphasizes the standard 18-inch wheels.
Time to step inside.
Luxury Comfort
Lexus luxury begins with how the customer first interacts with his or her vehicle. All RX models are equipped with the SmartAccess keyless entry with push-button start. As the driver approaches the vehicle, interior and exterior courtesy lamps illuminate. Opening the door, the instrument panel lighting gradually fades in. When the engine is started, the instrument gauge needles and markings illuminate, followed by the multi-information display. After the driver exits the vehicle, the lights fade out at different intervals.
Other amenities inside the RX hybrid include three available seat materials: standard fabric, optional leather-trim or even softer semi-aniline leather. In addition to Light Gray, Black and Saddle Tan, Parchment is available as an interior color for vehicles equipped with optional leather trim. Standard wood trim choices include Ebony Bird's Eye Maple or Espresso Bird's-eye Maple.
The quiet climate-control system offers quick cooling and warming. And the RX can accommodate a variety of music sources, providing auxiliary and USB inputs and a standard integrated SiriusXM Satellite Radio receiver (complimentary 90-day trial subscription included).
The RX continues the tradition of offering the Lexus Premium Audio system as standard equipment, in this case a powerful nine-speaker system with a six-disc changer. Creative placement and angling of the speakers' cross-channel sound to the occupant on the opposite side of the vehicle to transform the cabin into a clear, crisp acoustic environment.
Luxury options
The RX offers several additional luxurious amenities — especially when it comes to listening to your favorite songs.
For the crème de le crème in audio, there's the optional 15-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound system that allows listeners to enjoy 330 watts at 0.1 percent THD through 7.1-channel surround sound. The Mark Levinson system, a Lexus exclusive, features a center channel coaxial speaker, metal-cone midrange speakers, tweeters and a 100-watt amplified subwoofer. A 2.5-inch speaker built into each D-pillar provides the right and left surround-sound channels. The diffusion of sound provides each occupant the same level of audio quality.
There is also an optional rear-seat entertainment system that includes two high-resolution 7-inch screens, one in each of the front seatbacks. Each screen can display video from separate sources. A remote control allows independent control of each screen. Additionally, rear-seat occupants can choose to listen to audio through the wireless headphones instead of the vehicle speakers.
The RX 450h's Lexus Hybrid Drive features a 3.5-liter V6 Atkinson-cycle engine, 295 total system horsepower and combined fuel economy similar to an average four-cylinder mid-size sedan. The front wheel drive (FWD) model delivers EPA-estimated 32 mpg city and 28 mpg highway (30 mpg combined) fuel economy ratings, while the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) model earned EPA ratings of 30 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined.
The RX 450h is built at the Kyushu plant in Japan. To learn more about this luxury hybrid, visit www.lexus.com.


text:
Recently added item(s)
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Classes and Conferences
Compare Products
You have no items to compare.
My Cart
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Be the first to review this product
* Required Fields
Enter the email address for the user (change qty above to send to multiple people).
Note: The download link will expire in 72 hours.
An email containing instructions for e-Book, MP3 or Webinar products will automatically be sent upon purchasing. Preview the instructions here.
Get Social
Join Our Insider's Club


text:
BROCKTON, Mass. – A seven-run top of the ninth in game one and a six-run top of the seventh in game two proved to be the deciding innings as the Colonials of Western Connecticut State University swept baseball by the finals of 12-9 and 13-7 Friday afternoon at Campanelli Stadium in the final Little East Conference regular season doubleheader of the year.
With Friday's sweep, the Colonials (17-22, 5-9 Little East) who entered the contest tied for last place catapulted themselves into sixth and earned the final spot in this year's conference tournament Western also need a little bit of help from the other doubleheaders this afternoon and got everything they needed to sneak into the postseason. The Beacons (15-21, 7-7 Little East) who could have ended the year in third will enter next week's conference tournament as the fourth-seed.
The Beacons pitching staff which has been solid all year had a pair of tough games Friday afternoon. Facing the conference's top line-up at the plate, Western Connecticut recorded a combined 33 hits, with only 16 of the 25 runs scored in the sweep marked down as earned.
UMass battled back in both contests but the two huge run innings proved to be the deciding factor. In the opener junior Jamill Moquette (Boston, Mass.) was un-fire as he went 3-for-6 with a double and a home run, five RBI and two runs scored. Also having a strong game one at the dish was shortstop Bryan Failla (Torrington, Conn.) as he went 3-for-5 with a RBI and three runs scored.
In the nightcap, Matt Consiglio (Southbury, Conn.) had one of his better days at the plate finishing the 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Jose Pena (Boston, Mass.) also had a decent day finishing 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and runs scored.
Looking to close out their 2013 regular season on a winning note to build some momentum for next week's tournament the Beacons knew they would have to limit the big bats of the Colonials. Just like every conference doubleheader this season, the Beacons turned to their ace Kyle Szatrowski (Agawam, Mass.) in the opener.
Unfortunately the lefty did not have his best outing allowing three runs on 10 hits, while only striking out two. However it was the bullpen later in Friday's contest that had the most trouble as the final three pitchers surrendered the seven runs in the top of the ninth on just three hits. All seven runs were earned with five of those and the loss being charged to Matt Dziok (Southampton, Mass.).
The late rally by the Colonials countered a huge five-run bottom of the eighth for the Beacons which at the time gave them a 9-5 lead going into the top half of the ninth. Prior to the two huge half innings, Western Connecticut led for most of the afternoon scoring their first run of the day in third before tacking on two more in the fifth. The Beacons cut WCSU's lead to one in bottom half of the fifth when Moquette and Failla each recorded RBI singles.
After the two runs in the seventh for both teams, the Beacons would explode offensively as they jumped all over the Colonials pitching staff, which ranked last in the LEC going into Saturday's doubleheader.
Consistent hitting and head's up base running would put the Beacons in a position where they were able to erase the Western Connecticut deficit and take what everyone thought was a commanding lead. That was until the ninth with the Colonials bats just powered through the Beacons pitching staff to pullout the late inning comeback.
The nightcap got off to a really bad start for UMB as they allowed four runs in the first inning on three hits and three errors. With sophomore Patrick Austin on the hill the Beacons looked to their lefty to repeat his magic from one week ago when he threw 7.1 perfect innings before allowing just two hits to earn the conference win.
Like Szatrowski, Austin's day would be limited to just five complete innings in which he allowed seven runs, three earned, on nine hits. He would also walk two and strikeout two.
Western Connecticut's bullpen got a huge pick-up from one of their biggest bats as Conor Bierfeldt went all nine innings to earn his first win of the season. Bierfeldt who leads the conference with an over.700 slugging percentage allowed seven runs, four earned, on 10 hits. He also struck out six and walked one.
After the four-run first, the Beacons would battle back in the third with four-runs of their own to even the game. The two squads each put-up three runs in the fifth to keep the score deadlocked now at 7-7. Things did not come apart for UMB until the top of the seventh. UMB would eventually turn to senior Michael Boughton (New Britain, Conn.) to stop the bleeding the seventh which he did quickly. He then pitched back-to-back scoreless innings to keep UMB in the contest, but unfortunately like the temperature the Beacons bats had become cold.
Baseball will return to action next Wednesday when they travel to the University of Southern Maine for the 2013 Little East Conference tournament. The Beacons will face the third-seeded Owls of Keene State College in the third game of day one. Start time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.


text:
- Happy 235th birthday, land that I love. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Preach on, Thomas. Here's a link to an earlier Independence Day post. If you are a US citizen and you've never read the Declaration, why, this is a great time to fix that.
- Speaking of the British Empire (no hard feelings), what would you do if you were a clueless colonist in London for five days this coming September? I need some tips.
- My swoopy plate wall was mentioned on Apartment Therapy (brief flourish of celestial harp music). Wow. Love that site. Thanks, Abby, for the tipoff.
- I think I may have a little problem with Netflix streaming. I'm kind of obsessed with it. I've completely lost interest in 'real' TV. I've watched all four seasons of Battlestar Galactica in an embarrassingly short amount of time. Now I'm on MI-5. All this good TV that I didn't know existed. Evil, evil Netflix.
- I've never had such a terrible dry spell at the library. Every likely book I check out is so lame. I've taken to just grabbing books off the shelf at random and crossing my fingers. You guys reading anything good?
- On the homestretch with the Gramma Wolfie doll. Yeah, yeah, you've heard that one before. I have made several prototypes that will be going in the shop soon, because I don't really need six Gramma Wolfie dolls in my studio.
- My hair is getting really long. I'm at that critical juncture where I'm thinking, 'is this too long for a 40ish woman to get away with?' What is the standard with that? Is there a standard? I could always just keep it up in a granny twist. Which I do 90% of the time anyway. I have a permanent sore spot on the top of my head from the clips.
- Stay tuned toward the end of this month for a Kids' Crafternoon blog tour and giveaway!
Friday, July 1, 2011
23 comments:
If you haven't read "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society" you should pick that one up. So good! Also, I have heard that "The Help" is a good read. I haven't read that one yet myself, but hope to soon!ReplyDelete
Definitely recommend "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. Loved it & it's coming out in the theaters mid August! :)ReplyDelete
I'm currently readings the "Anita Blake" series. 18 books total and I can't stop reading, they're too good! By Laurell K. Hamilton. Also, heard the Hunger Games is pretty good, that's next on my reading list!ReplyDelete
This is a completely unhelpful comment, but I LOVE School House Rock :)! No one I've mentioned it to has ever heard of it. I'd love to share a good book recommendation but I don't have time to read these days.ReplyDelete
I just read a great book, Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. And the great thing is that it is the beginning of a series. So, if you like it, there are more.ReplyDelete
Two more books to consider - Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin and any of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books.
The Hunger Games trilogy, if you haven't read it. I just finished Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Like it a lot.ReplyDelete
Well, if you are going to London, and like Netflix, then start watching Dr. Who and you will see lots of things that you will then want to visit! But of course, the tower of london, tower bridge, the london eye . . .ReplyDelete
And if you are looking for a good long summer read, have you read "And Ladies of the Club"?
I love Netflix streaming too. We just got finished watching the first two seasons of Parks and Rec -- it didn't look good when we saw snippets, but it is so funny!ReplyDelete
I'm reading "Caleb's Crossing", what I call a "slow and sure" book. I'm going to finish it, but I'm not rushing through it. Also, "The Butterfly's Daughter", a lighter read. When I can't find anything that sounds good to me, I usually go back to a favorite author or reread favorite books, always a good way to spend the summer. London? Go to the museums. The Victoria and Albert is a good source of inspiration.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 1, 2011 at 5:03 PM
I agree the Victoria and Albert is THE museum for a maker and crafter.ReplyDelete
Likewise Liberty is THE department store for a maker and crafter. It's lovely.
Borough Market (Fri & Sat only) is a celebration of food and produce with things to taste and great photo ops.
Tate Modern is massive, free and packed with modern art.
Go to the South Bank Centre for atmosphere and culture. Lots of restaurants as well as cinema, street theatre and music.
I dont seem to have much time to read anymore either....if you are after something a little different, give this one a try "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" by Susannah Clarke. It's a fantasy/magic yarn told in the style of Jane Austens writing in that period. I'm slowly getting there...maybe it will be finished by Xmas...ReplyDelete
The Help by Kathryn Stockett is FANTASTIC. So is The Historian. I'm reading The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff, and it's pretty good too. And if you've never had time for Memoirs of a Geisha or East of Eden, those two are my all time favorites.ReplyDelete
We do the Nerflix by mail, do not think I would get anything done if we had streaming...as far as books, I am not sure what you like...but James Patterson, JD Robb(Nora Roberts) are both good reads...ReplyDelete
The British Museum is amazing - sections of the Parthenon, the Rosetta Stone, artifacts from people and places mentioned in the Bible. The Elizabeth, near Hyde Park, came highly recommended to us -- it was a clean, comfortable, and reasonable little hotel - simple but with lots of charm. Westminster Abbey is also worth seeing if only for a few minutes on the outside :).ReplyDelete
I recently read Caleb's Crossing and really enjoyed it. It was slow getting into, but once into it, I couldn't put it down. It's about the first native Americans to attend Harvard back in the 1600s. Much of the book is set on Martha's Vinyard, and the rest on Boston. It is just excellent. About women, education, the hardness of the times in the 1600s, the pull between "settling" the country and leaving things wild, etc. Very good. Reading Ann Patchet's new book now. Not into it far enough to say whether it's good or bad, but I sure loved Bel Canto, if you haven't read that one. Awesome book!ReplyDelete
Lots of brilliant suggestions for your London visit, I'd also recommend Greenwich Market which I think you'd love. Rather than taking the underground go for the river bus, which is a far more pleasant way to travel (you can catch it from Westminster just past the London Eye if you're in that area, and go to Greenwich from there).ReplyDelete
I just wanted to say, as a first time visitor to your blog, I've spent the last two hours looking through it and you are truly inspirational - thank you for sharing!
Wow, y'all! Thanks so much for all the book recommendations! I was on the verge of reading David Copperfield yet again. I'm taking your list the library next visit. Sounds like I might have to get on the waiting list for The Help.ReplyDelete
Thanks also very much for the London sights to see! Lisa, sounds like you are in the know! And welcome to the blog, I'm so glad I could lure you in. :-)
Katie, what in the world? I grew up with School House Rock, but I guess you young whippersnappers didn't get a steady diet of it on Saturday morning. I know, it's wonderful, right? It's the only reason I can still recite the preamble.
London is great - have always loved to go there and walk (yes, you can walk very much of it) through it... some hundered years ago it seems. Ulla has lived there I think, so she might know as well some great spots.ReplyDelete
I always loved the markets there: Covent Garden is a must see and Camden Lock has a great variety of things to look at. Go and see the Parks, they are worth it and enjoy a Cuppa Tea ; )
Haircut, are you kidding? You look great and you have a great taste, so don't worry about the "get away thinking".
Books, well I think I read more German Books these days, I am not sure they are translated - nope, I just looked it up. Have to look deeper in my shelves for that ; )
One of my favorite series is the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde... start with The Eyre Affair. If you like mysteries, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is fun as it the Mrs. Pollifax series (it's older). I don't read much new fiction, but if you haven't read The Mapp and Lucia books by EF Beson, they're a lot of fun. (I would suggest starting with the book, Mapp and Lucia, and then go back and begin the series.) Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons, though their titles sound odd, are actually some of the funniest books I've ever read. They're by Shirley Jackson. If you like to get lost in huge, long sagas, A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, is one of my favorites.ReplyDelete
Have you watched Doc Martin yet or Downton Abbey? Those are must see and available instantly on netflix... which is sort of the opposite of what you asked for, sorry.ReplyDelete
sbsterling, yes, actually, I have already devoured both of those series and thought they were excellent! I'm always on the lookout for quality Netflix, so do share.ReplyDelete
Exciting that you will be going to London! I've moved to England recently... you will have NO PROBLEM wasting time in London. A few tips.. bring warm clothing. I'm a Canadian who has moved to England and it can get cold here. Prepare to spend three times as much on food (not exaggerating, sadly). You'll have to check out Oxford street Regent street and the area around Picadilly, Westminster Abbey, and basically wander the city, it's beautiful. You could easily spend a few days just shopping at Harrods, which is a HUGE department store that is very iconically London; and is a lot of fun to wander in. Anyway it's really very easy to be occupied, I'm sure you won't get bored. Love your blog! Very inspiring :).ReplyDelete
katherina3, wow, thanks for the insider tips! I'm gathering them all together. I know I will end up wishing I had way longer than 5 days, for sure!ReplyDelete
Hello. Enough about me. Let's hear from you! If you post a question, I answer with a reply comment, so be sure to click the 'notify me' box as you post your question to receive the answer via email. Thanks!


text:
Jeju Volcanic Islands and Lava Tubes World Heritage Site, Republic of South Korea
Jeju Island in the Republic of South Korea is not only the location of the 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress – parts of it have also been recognized as a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to their outstanding aesthetic beauty and them bearing testimony to the history of the planet and the processes of volcanism.
The site has been added to the World Heritage list as a serial site in 2007, under the full name of "Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes". It consists of three components:
Geomunoreum, regarded as the finest lava tube system of caves anywhere in the world, with its multicoloured carbonate roofs and floors, and dark-coloured lava walls; the fortress-like Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone, rising out of the ocean, a dramatic landscape; and Mount Halla, South Korea's highest mountain, with its waterfalls, multi-shaped rock formations, and spectacular lake-filled crater.
Size and Location
Jeju Island is the Republic of Korea's largest island and is located 130 km from its southern coast . Hallasan National Park, with its central feature Mount Halla, is located in the center of the Jeju. All parts of the World Heritage site together make up 18,846 hectares or about 10% of the island.
View images of the World Heritage site
Jeju Island offers visitors and experts a wide array of spectacular geological features:
It is one of the few large shield volcanoes in the world located over a hot spot on a stationary continental crust plate. It is distinguished by the Geomunoreum lava tube system, which is the most impressive and significant series of protected lava tube caves in the world, and includes a spectacular array of stalactites and other decorations, with an abundance and diversity unknown elsewhere within a lava cave. The Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone is exceptional in its structural and sedimentological characteristics.
Together with the two other components of the site, which showcase diverse and easily accessible volcanic features, the lava tube system is a magnificent demonstration for the understanding of global volcanism: It displays the unique spectacle of multi-coloured carbonate decorations adorning the roofs and floors, and dark-coloured lava walls, partially covered by a mural of carbonate deposits. The fortress-like Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone, with its walls rising out of the ocean, is a dramatic landscape feature. The volcano Mount Halla, with its array of textures and colours through the changing seasons, waterfalls, display of multi-shaped rock formations and columnar-jointed cliffs, and the towering summit with its lake-filled crater, further adds to the scenic and aesthetic appeal.
Flora and Fauna
The vegetation cover ranges from sub-alpine evergreen coniferous forest, dominated by the endemic Korean fir (Abies koreana), to temperate deciduous hardwood forest, in which Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica) predominates. The flora includes some species endemic to Jeju Island and Korea, and species at their northern and southern distributional limits. Twenty-three mammal species are native to Jeju, including brown bear (Ursus arctos), Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), lynx (Lynx lynx) and roe deer (Capreolus pygargus). Four mammal species are endemic to the island.
The site is well managed and resourced, with a management plan in place. Key management issues include avoiding potential impact of agriculture on the underground geological features and managing the high number of visitors to the site.


text:
I see you!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Isn't that the cutest, most precious little blob that you've ever seen?!
Today we met our new doctor, who has the mouth of a sailor, and must have felt comfortable enough around us, to use the word "shit" at least 20 times. Finally, a human doctor. The reason our baby is so blob-like, with no visible body parts, is because I have an oddly shaped uterus that didn't feel like participating with the ultrasound. And because of the combination weird shaped uterus, and narrow pelvis, its been both advised and settled upon that I'll be having another c-section. This time without going through 20 hours of labor first, 12 of those being without pain killers (ouch!).
A strong heartbeat, and visible embryo dancing, has me feeling officially pregnant.


text:
The camshaft position sensor sends a signal to ECU which is responsible for telling the ignition coils when to fire.
There are no posts in this forum.
Use this control to limit the display of threads to those newer than the specified time frame.
Allows you to choose the data by which the thread list will be sorted.
Order threads in...
Note: when sorting by date, 'descending order' will show the newest results first.
Forum Rules


text:
Pomona Events, Coupons, Reviews!
Subscribe to KidsScoop! The monthly family event and savings newsletter.
Are you looking for an alternative to tying shoes without getting velcro? What about if your shoes constantly keep untying themselves. Here is a great solution. You can turn any pair of shoes into custom-fitted slip-ons with HICKIES lacing system. Perfect gift for any age from kids to adults.
One size fits all! My sons showlaces are always coming undone. Sure, we could double tie them but then there is the struggle of untying them after they are in knot. Hickies is the perfect solution and it's a time saver! In the morning, my son sometimes pushes the limit as to when he should be out the door. There have been times where he doesn't have time to tie his shoes and he grabs them and runs outside for the bus.
Since using Hickies, he is able to slide this right on and go!
Save 20% on HICKIES lacing system! - Save 20% on HICKIES lacing system! Use code USFG at checkout to save. Only valid on Hickies
Disclosure: I received this item in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Hickies helped my autistic son be more independent
Never Tie Your Shoes Again With HICKIES No Tie Shoe Laces
Hickies Lacing System
Hickies Never Tie Laces - Review
No More Tying Shoes when you have Hickies Lacing System!
Hickies Review: The Evolution of Shoelaces
Make Life Easier with Hickies {No Tie Laces}
Not Wasting Time on Tying Shoes This Year
HICKIES - Never Tie Laces Are A Hit!!
Hickies: Back to School Series #1
Hickies Never Tie Laces with promo code
Never Have Frayed Shoestrings Again- Hickies Review
Never Tie Your Shoes Again with Hickies Never Tie Laces
My Review: Hickies Lacing System
Play Uninterrupted with Hickies No Tie Lace System
Hickies: Making Shoe Tying Easier For Kids!
HICKIES, Inc.
Never Tie, Never Worry. {A Hickies Review + Discount} #2017HolidayGiftGuide
Never Tie Shoes Again with Hickies
Hickies Turns Shoes Into Slide On's
You will love Hickies, No tie laces
What to do When Your Kid with Cerebral Palsy wants to be Miss INDEPENDENT
HICKIES Review
Hickies Never Tie Laces Offer & Review
Kids and Adults love Hickies for all their shoes!
Here's Why You'll Never Have To Tie Your Shoes Again With HICKIES
Got me a Hickies Product
Shoe Tying Shortcuts for Kids and Even Adults
Hickies Lacing System- Never tie your shoes again!
Hickies Lacing System!
Hate Tying Your Kids' Shoes Everyday?
Parents Make Your Life Easier with NoTie Shoelaces
Easy Morning Routines with Hickies No Tie Shoelaces
Check out this new lacing system for kids AND adults!
Hickies Is Turning My Son's Sneakers Into Convenient Slip-on Shoes.
Say Hello to Never Having To Tie Your Sneakers Again
I Love These Hickies!
Hickies No-Tie Elastic Shoelaces Review
Never Tie your Shoestrings Again with Hickies
Using Hickies with our SPD Child
HICKIES - No Tie Elastic Shoelaces
Save 20% HICKIES shoe lacing system!
Hickies- No tie solution to sneakers!
HICKIES for your Shoes
Hickies - 2016 Holiday Gift Guide Stocking Stuffers
Brilliant Concept
Never Tie Your Sneakers Again !
HICKIES No Tie Elastic Shoelaces Review
Hickies: No Tie Shoelaces Review
Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffer get Hickies Lacing System
Hickies Eliminate the Need for Shoe Strings!
I Shall Tie No More
HICKIES - No Tie Elastic Shoelaces Review
Hickies No Tie Shoe Elastics Are My New BFF
Perfect Stocking Stuffer Hickies Responsive Lacing System Review
A Cool NEW shoe accessory!
Hickies Lacing System Review
Unique Stocking Stuffer Idea: HICKIES #HolidayGuides2016
Hickies - No Tie Elastic Shoelaces
Hickies Shoe Lacing System #Review #LifeWithoutLaces @usfg
Bye Bye Shoe Lace - Hickies Elastic No-Tie Shoelaces
Hickies Lacing System: Review and Demo
HICKIES - No Tie Elastic Shoelaces
Three Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Family or Friends
No More Untied Shoes with HICKIES Lacing System
HICKIES - No Tie Elastic Shoelaces - Winter Sale+ Review
HICKIES - No Tie Elastic Shoelaces are the coolest way to keep shoes on!
HICKIES - No Tie Elastic Shoelaces to the Rescue
HICKIES make great stocking stuffers for anyone!
Review: Hickies Shoe Laces PLUS 20% off Code
Enjoying #LifeWithoutLaces With HICKIES
Oh how I love these things - for all ages!
{{Product Review}} HICKIES | No Tie Elastic Shoelaces
HICKIES responsive lace system review
Review: Hickies: No Tie Elastic Shoelaces
I'm Using HICKIES - No Tie Elastic Shoelaces / #PerfectGift
Review of the Hickies Elastic Shoe Lacing System
Hickies can be a parents best friend...
Save 20% on HICKIES lacing system! Parenting Hack I Love!
Hickies No Tie Elastic Shoelaces #Review
Stocking Stuffers: Hickies No Tie Shoelaces #LifeWithoutLaces
Save 20% on HICKIES lacing system and review
No More Tying My Shoes....thanks to HICKIES - No Tie Elastic Shoelaces
Know Anyone That Has Trouble Tying Their Shoes


text:
Best Western to open its first hotel in Burma
Best Western International has announced plans to open its first hotel in Burma.
The hotel chain has signed a deal to take over management of the Green Hill Hotel, a six-month-old property located in Burma's largest city, Yangon.
Best Western says it is the first U.S. hotel company to venture into the emerging territory.
The Southeast Asian country, also known as Myanmar, had been closed off to most tourists for years. But two years after the government released Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi from 15 years of house arrest, the tourism industry is booming. A series of government reforms has also facilitated more foreign investment.
A record million visitors traveled to Burma last year, two-thirds of them vacationers. That is expected to increase 30% in 2013. There are now fewer than 800 hotels to accommodate those travelers, and most of them are below international standards.
The Green Hill Hotel will be operated by Best Western International under its mid-scale Best Western brand.
READ MORE: In Burma, sailing uncharted waters
ALSO ONLINE: Best Western latest hotel giant to add customer reviews
"There is no doubt that Myanmar is one of the world's hottest hotel markets at present, with a major increase in new hotel supply needed to cater for a huge influx of guests," Glenn de Souza, Best Western's vice president of international operations for Asia and the Middle East, said in a written statement. "So it is vital that hotel owners in the country choose the right partners to ensure optimum performance at their properties."
Bruce Ford, senior vice president and director of business development at Lodging Econometrics, a hotel real estate consulting firm, said it will take time for Western and U.S. hotel brands to become a large presence in a country that they have been shut out of for so long.
"It will take time to build the supply there because there are not many locations that could be converted," he said. "Newly constructed hotels may be 3 to 4 years in the making."
But, he said, the interest is there. "Many major franchise companies would love to find locations and sites to bring into their family of brands because of the change in foreign investment laws," he said.
De Souza said Best Western is committed to a long-term investment in Burma.
"Best Western International wants to form long and lasting partnerships in Myanmar, We want to be here for the long-term, to help grow the country's tourism industry," he said. "Our partnership with the Green Hill Hotel is just the start of our plans for Myanmar."
The Green Hill Hotel has189 air-conditioned rooms, all equipped with 32-inch flat-screen televisions, bathrooms with bathtubs and showers, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The property has a contemporary restaurant with Asian and other international cuisine and meeting rooms for business travelers.


text:
» You are here: Home » Dildos & Dongs » G Spot » Strap U Ripples Silicone Strap On Harness Dildo Pink
Strap U Ripples Silicone Strap On Harness Dildo Pink from XR Brands. This smooth, matte silicone dildo is perfect for harness play! With its flared base and gently curved shaft, it is ideal for most any strap on harness. Silicone is the ideal body safe material, since it is latex and phthalate free, and easily sterilized. The dildo has a slim shaft with raised pleasure swells along its length, which will arouse and titillate with every thrust. It is also perfect for solo use as a classic dildo. Venturing into pegging or anal play? The compact size and non-porous material makes it perfect. No matter what your fantasies, this versatile harness dildo is a fantastic toy. Measurements 6.75 inches in total length, 6.5 insertion length, 1.25 inches in diameter. Material Silicone. Color Pink.
Illinois residents will be charged 8.00% sales tax.
This website is intented solely for viewing and purchasing by an adult audience. If you are under 18 years old (21 years old in some states) we ask you to leave this website. Please do.All models are 18 years of age or older.


text:
i have installed gnome3.7 from gnome3 ppa
and i have removed evolution using
sudo apt-get remove evolution*
and accidentally it removed gnome, gnome-shell and bunch of other things
and now when i restart and log in it says
failed to load sessioon "gnome"
and unity greeter is not showing desktop environment selector?
i have cinnamon, unity, installed?
i went in to recovery mode edited lightdm conf file and set session to ubuntu but still it is logging into gnome instead of unity
how i can fix this


text:
Daily Slice: The Grapeful Dead at Paulie Gee's, NYC
Pizza reviews in NYC.
Daily Slice gives a quick snapshot each weekday of a different slice or pie that the folks at the Serious Eats empire have enjoyed lately. Here's one for the unofficial 'Grapes on Pizza Day' at Slice. (Or maybe it should be 'Grapes on Pizza Week'?!)
What do you do when you have vegan or lactose intolerant friends and a craving for pizza? You take them to Paulie Gee's, which has some of the best truly vegan pies I've laid eyes on.
Sure, you can get plenty close to vegan pizzas, such as a plain marinara, but all too often they're laced with "just a sprinkle" of parmesan, or the sauce is cooked with "just a pat" of butter. It's sad but true—when eating out vegan, Italian (or Italian American) food just isn't your friend.
But at Paulie Gee's, vegan pies are conceptualized from the ground up without meat or dairy. One great example is the Grapeful Dead ($15), a pie topped with spinach, pickled grapes, and nutritional yeast. It's not just good "for vegan pizza"—it's plain delicious. The slightly vegetal spinach is sweetened by lightly spiced pickled grapes, a combination that sounds weird in your head but works perfectly on the plate. Nutritional yeast provides the perfect parmsesan-like punch, so nutty and savory your omnivorous friends will love it, too.
And don't tell Paulie I said so, but I think this pizza is great with some Mike's Hot Honey. He chastised me for making the pizza too sweet (the pickled grapes are more sweet than sour), but I don't think wilted spinach ever had a better friend than that hot stuff.
Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11222 (map) 347-987-3747; pauliegee.com
This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; your purchases via these links can benefit Serious Eats. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.