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Iowa Baptists seek to multiply disciples
Posted on Nov 25, 2013 | by Staff
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DES MOINES, Iowa (BP) -- The Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of Iowa was held amidst a renewed spirit of cooperation, purpose and a desire to multiply disciples and churches.
The meeting drew 145 messengers representing 48 churches and 21 guests.
The worship team and worship minister Chris Johnson from Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Ames led the music throughout the Nov.1-2 meeting at the Merle Hay Holiday Inn and Suites in Des Moines.
Messengers approved a recommendation that next year's annual meeting be changed from a two-day meeting to a one-day event. Reasons for this recommendation included a cost savings to the convention and a hope that more lay leadership and bi-vocational pastors will be able to attend the meeting.
New officers include: Lloyd Eaken, pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Anamosa, president; Ken Livingston, pastor of First Grace Baptist Church in Sheffield, vice president; Ken Kraft, pastor of New Life Baptist Church in Kingsley, second vice president; and Jerome Risting, member of Temple Baptist Church in Mason City, secretary.
At the close of the Friday evening session, messengers greeted Mike and Ginny Roberts to celebrate Mike's transition from the position of church planting catalyst in the Northeast and Great Rivers associations to the position of director of missions for Great Rivers.
Tom Law, interim executive director for the convention, encouraged congregations to raise their giving to the Cooperative Program by 1 percent a year for the next three years so that by 2016 the Baptist Convention of Iowa's Cooperative Program income will be about $750,000. This will help allow the convention to stand stronger on its own as a Southern Baptist Convention partner, Law said.
Law expanded on the concept of Multiplying Disciples, Mutliplying Churches (xDxC) that had been introduced by church planting catalyst Roger Graves early in the meeting. Calissa (Livingston) Holan shared a related testimony about the ministry opportunities that xDxC has brought about in her life.
The xDxC discipleship process is a way to develop strong healthy churches, Law explained. It also is a tool to disciple people and train them to disciple others.
"xDxC is enabling churches to take ownership of their communities as pastors challenge individuals to reach out to the people in their lives," Law shared. "Roger Graves is excited to train more churches and individuals in the xDxC process. We can look for more opportunities to learn about xDxC in the near future."
Law thanked Joni Wilkinson, Woman's Missionary Union director, for planning and promoting the Iowa Missions Offering. Law and Wilkinson presented a certificate to Roger Vester, pastor of New Life Church in Davenport, for the largest single contribution of $2,989.05 to the Iowa Missions Offering in 2012. A certificate was presented to Andrew Estes, pastor of First Baptist Church, Albia, for the largest per capita giving to the Iowa Missions Offering in 2012.
Dan Doolin, chairman of the Executive Director Search Team, gave a progress report on the search for Iowa's next executive director. The search team is moving into the next phase of the process by identifying the top candidates and beginning to interview those candidates. Committee members include Doolin; Mike Carlson, vice-chairman; Jerome Risting; Bob Stout; Ted Keys; Eugene Guthrie; Chuck Spindler; and alternate John Faulkner. The team has received and reviewed numerous resumes and is seeking to hear God's voice during this process, Doolin reported.
Micah Fries, vice president of LifeWay Research, delivered the annual sermon. He preached from 2 Timothy 3:10-15. He challenged messengers to create a culture of disciple-making in their churches.
The constitutional changes presented at the 2012 Annual meeting were given a second reading and were ratified by a show of ballots. The method of determining messenger representation was changed from numerical and financial to a strictly financial basis. Changes also allow mid-term vacancies to be filled upon recommendation of the Administrative Committee and by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board members who are present and voting.
Bylaw changes that were approved included the merger of the Committee on Committees and the Executive Board Nominating Committee into one Nominating Committee, and the elimination of the Baptist State Paper Committee with the creation of a new Media/Digital Team to lead in areas of communication.
Other constitutional changes were submitted for a first reading, including making the position of second vice president a convention officer, the elimination of Executive Board standing committees, and a change in nomenclature from "association" to "region" for the election of Executive Board members. These changes were passed by a show of ballots, and will be given a second reading during the 2014 Annual Meeting.
Read the full text of these changes at bciowa.org/constitution. They also were printed in the October edition of the Iowa Baptist.
Next year's meeting will be held Nov. 8 at the Merle Hay Holiday Inn and Suites in Des Moines. The 2015 annual meeting is scheduled for Nov. 7, 2015.
Compiled by Jon Ole Olsen, publication editor of the Iowa Baptist News.
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Dr. Kumanyika explained that the Committee has woven the concept of social determinants of health into their recommended, overall approach to organizing Healthy People 2020. They are aware that the concept is difficult to operationalize and had set time aside to discuss it. In framing challenges of a social determinants approach she noted: 1) it is a long-range proposition that may appear to take the immediate focus off of health issues, and 2) it is not clear to people how one would go about addressing social determinants, particularly when setting objectives.
Dr. Kumanyika defined "societal" determinants of health (e.g., promoting quality child care, safe roads, schools and other areas of the social and physical environments) and said the term is widely used in Europe. The Committee wanted to introduce it into the lexicon in the U.S. because "societal" is broader than "social" determinants, encompassing both social and physical environments. Healthy People 2020 is prevention oriented, so it should help different users to think about their role in addressing societal determinants of health. A job of public health is to convince other people that they're doing public health. Point out policies and activities that can improve health and reduce disparities. Policies that are made in other sectors that inadvertently have an effect on health must be pointed out.
Health in All Policies (HiAP) is being used to replace the older phrase, "Healthy Policies," because that terminology implies it's the responsibility of HHS; the phrase "All Policies" sends the message that it is everybody's responsibility. To operationalize social determinants theory, one could use tools such as problem and solution trees or logic models,1 as part of a participatory approach working at either the professional or agency decision-making level, or in communities. A group of informed stakeholders can identify the problem by asking, "Why does this situation occur?" And then, "What are the causes of the causes?" Then they can look at the solutions to the problems. This approach raises awareness among stakeholders. Using a systems approach, one can develop the broad interventions that are needed.
Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is another tool for engaging public and private decision-makers to make decisions that take into account the impact on health—positive, negative, and distributional. HIA is particularly useful when health issues tend to be neglected. When people are working on agriculture or transportation committees, we must say to them, "You are making health policy." Health is one critical factor—certainly not the only one—that should be taken into account in making decisions. The usage of HIA is growing in the U.S.; it takes a broad, population-based perspective and is multidisciplinary. Public health can use HIA to collaborate with people who have a background in these other issues, so that everyone is not talking in different lexicons.
Dr. Fielding described specific approaches to HIA. He said that many politicians have fairly short-term views. HIA can help them to think of future generations. He mentioned his hope that HIA will become a priority for the Domestic Policy Council. If we want to say broadly, "How do we improve health?" that would change the nature of the discussion. He mentioned a UCLA Web site that summarizes HIAs that have been conducted to-date (http://www.ph.ucla.edu/hs/health-impact/), emphasizing that it will become important for intersectoral efforts to quantify the impact of a social determinants approach.
Dr. Kumanyika outlined two potential directions: 1) operationalize social determinants that relate to identified health problems and make the case that they would impact health; or 2) evaluate potential actions to identify where you would get the most value and the fewest adverse effects. Dr. Fielding said one must look for the best opportunities to affect policies and programs in other sectors. How can we be opportunistic (i.e., plan for the periodicity of legislation such as the Agriculture bill and Transportation bill), and help people to prepare for policy approaches in addition to the program approaches. He opened the floor for comments.
A member said that the Committee's Phase I report referred to "social and physical" environments, rather than "societal determinants," and asked if it would confuse people to use a new term. Dr. Kumanyika responded that "societal" is being used to refer to factors that are of the social structure, including social and physical and economic factors. The meaning is the same, but the new term is more inclusive of different types of societal factors. After discussion, the Committee decided that "social and physical environmental determinants" was preferable to overarching terms (e.g., "social determinants" or "societal determinants") and agreed to use this phrase in future.
A Committee member pointed out that "health is not everything." It is important to be respectful of other sectors (e.g., don't try to tell transportation people about transportation policy). Consider that the techniques for evaluating things are often denominated in dollars; things are not discussed in terms of health. Others suggested that HiAP runs the risk of sounding like hubris. A member commented that HiAP will happen when people want to integrate health into their area. What is that incentive structure? What's the value exchange? It is clear how the health sector benefits when transportation integrates health into its decision making, but it is less clear how transportation benefits.
Dr. Fielding said the purpose of HIA is not to say that health is the most important thing; it is to make health one of the factors that decision-makers take into account. The people who make decisions are often elected officials who are trying to balance many factors. For example, they're not necessarily experts in transportation. To illustrate that HIA can make a difference, he offered the example of Los Angeles County's advocacy to require menu-labeling in fast food restaurants. Initially the Governor did not approve it. An HIA was conducted using data from New York City to show that relatively small changes in ordering could affect the increase in pounds of weight gain. That information was given to the Governor and his staff, as well as LA County supervisors, and it affected their final decisions.
Several members noted a need for tools to help community level users understand the social determinants approach, including clear examples of what a social determinant is and models of what policies should be implemented upstream to address the factors downstream. Participatory action approaches may be useful. A member said it is important to recognize that this is a shift from what is familiar to many stakeholders. Another member noted that understanding of social determinants is limited even among health officers throughout the U.S. Dr. Fielding emphasized that HHS should take a leadership role in communicating about this issue.
Because the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reviews regulations that various Federal agencies put forward, a member said it should be one of the organizations represented in the FIW. The Committee should look at how OMB defines health to ensure that they take a public health perspective on it. Dr. Fielding said that several members of the Committee had been trying to address this issue for years; OMB's scoring is limited to cost implications for the Federal government over a limited period of time. They take direction from the Senate Budget Committee regarding the method by which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) does its scoring. OMB may be easier to approach about this than CBO, so it might be good to bring them to the table. Other key points discussed are summarized below:
Dr. Kumanyika reviewed milestones of the Implementation Subcommittee's work to-date, including proposed recommendations and resources, and then opened the floor for discussion. Dr. Fielding asked ODPHP for an update on HHS activities for planning the implementation of Healthy People 2020, particularly in relation to a strategic communications plan. Carter Blakey, ODPHP Senior Advisor, explained that the FIW is still developing objectives. ODPHP has a communications contract, but these efforts are in their early stages. They hope to engage stakeholders through the social media. They have reestablished the Healthy People Consortium, but haven't yet determined how to engage members beyond having a list of interested people. She mentioned that the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) has conducted, on behalf of HHS, an assessment of the needs of Healthy People 2010 users, which will be shared with the Committee once it is completed.
Dr. Fielding commented on the need for a strategic communication plan to articulate what the communications will be, and how they will be rolled out. This groundwork must be done in advance of the actual release of Healthy People 2020. A member agreed that good ideas have been put forth for potential products, but no discussion has yet occurred about how to create a demand for these products. Social media are a channel, not a strategy. Later, it was noted that the Committee may want to think about the diffusion of social change and social norms (e.g., how do people adopt active lifestyles). Dr. Fielding asked Dr. Douglas Evans, Committee Member, to reinvigorate the Subcommittee on Communications, which he chaired last year, in order to discuss needs for a strategic communication plan.
A member said it is important to think about how best to generate evaluation data on cost-effective interventions. How would you evaluate Healthy People 2020 interventions? Do we anticipate that there might be the equivalent of community clinical trials? What about efforts to accomplish the objectives with a particular population or select population? There should be a public space where people can go to learn about who is doing what; this could be a feature of the Healthy People Web site.
The Committee's list of implementation recommendations mentions HiAP in several places, but the actions it prescribes are not concrete. Dr. Fielding felt it important to create areas of the Web site that are specifically designed for other sectors (e.g., Housing and Urban Development [HUD] or the Department of Transportation [DoT]). People from these target audiences should help to configure material for these parts of the site, and the right links should be used to direct them to it. A member asked what lessons were learned about this type of approach through Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Dr. Fielding said EIAs are paid for by the people who want to do a project, but the approach is more procedural than practical. There is a huge set of very expensive processes required. Those who are promoting HIA feel that requiring it is not the right model to use. EIAs have gotten people involved, but participation is not great, and the material is not easy to understand.
1See Snowdon et al. Problem and solution trees: a practical approach for identifying potential interventions to improve population nutrition. Health Promotion International, Vol. 23 No. 4; 16 September, 2008.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A Milwaukee man is due back in court November 14th, for allegedly breaking into two homes in Washington County and stealing valuables that included jewelry.
47-year-old Jeffrey Benson waived the state's time limit for a preliminary hearing on two felony burglary charges.
According to authorities, Benson stole over $12,000 worth of jewelry on October 23rd – and he later sold it to a shop in West Allis which only paid him $1,200, or 10 percent of the estimated value.
Sheriff's officials quoted Benson as saying he found the jewelry in a bag in Milwaukee while he was searching for scrap metal.


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Experience the wonders & charm of the 29th annual Pacific Rim Whale Festival & the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
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Get Back In The Saddle
May 3 – 4, 2014
Headlining Clinician - Justin Mundt Clinic Application
More Clinics & Horsing Around! - Clinic Sign-up Form 2014
- Portia Kalinka – Miniature Horse Clinic
- Judge Jen Kvalheim - Horse Show Psychology
- Ivy Schexnayder – Trick Training Clinic
- Jackpot Liberty Contest
Breed Demo/Stall Contract Horse Exhibitor Contract 2014
Become a Vendor! Vendor Contract 2014
Saturday: 9am – 6pm
Sunday: 9am – 4pm
4921 Expo Drive
Manitowoc, WI 54220
$7.00 – Daily Pass
$10.00 – Weekend Pass
Children 8 & Under FREE
Mission Statement
Horse-A-Rama exists to improve the equine facilities on the ground of Manitowoc County Expo, Inc., to promote and maintain an interest in horses, and to expose the public to the varied aspects of the equine industry.
It is the purpose of Horse-A-Rama to: Create and improve the horse show facilities on the grounds of Manitowoc County Expo Inc. Promote the safety of horse owners & exhibitors using the equine facilities and to generate interest in and educate the public about horses and the equine industry.
Horse-A-Rama, Inc. is a volunteer organization with a 501 (c) (3) status, and a public charity to which donations are tax deductible. All profits from our annual event go directly into the building and maintenance of the equine facilities at Manitowoc County Expo.


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Karen Andreola
Saturday, July 30, 2011
A White Robin
Karen Andreola
24 comments:
- Heather said...
What a lovely post! I love Miss Read. I have read most of her books but I have not read the white robin. I will have to search for that. I have never seen a White Robin. Thank you for sharing your picture.
We have an Albino Dove that visits our feeders quite often.
Your apron is lovely!
- July 30, 2011 at 11:48 AM
- Maria said...
What a simply beautiful post! I enjoyed seeing the apron completed. There is nothing like finishing something by hand...it sure does bring joy to our lives.
- July 30, 2011 at 2:18 PM
- Homeschool on the Croft said...
What a beautiful apron. I'm not surprised you don't want a splash of sauce on it.
Oh, what a delightful photo of chubby chops... delicious!
- July 30, 2011 at 4:41 PM
- Naptime Seamstress said...
Very pretty apron! I think the gathering foot would make life easier - maybe...
I've never seen a white robin, either.
And the grandson certainly is a cutie :)
- July 30, 2011 at 5:17 PM
I've been making napkins this week. So far, I've finished twelve brown/tan/ecru plaid ones.
Yes! Baby is beautiful. I love his delighted smile.
Isn't it interesting how connections (books, birds, etc.) sometimes pop up everywhere? It fascinates me. So often this will happen with my personal Bible study and our preacher's sermons.
We've been enduring 100 F degree weather here (Midd. Tennessee) as well. Thirst is ever present. Even with air conditioning (and plenty of it I might add) it's still hot hot hot.
It is a pleasure to read about sewing, reading, birds, and grandsons.
Thank you,
- July 30, 2011 at 5:42 PM
- Susan said...
Two new things for me today ....white robins and books about Miss Read. I will have to be on the look out for them both!
- July 30, 2011 at 6:33 PM
- Carrie said...
Your apron is so pretty! Where did you get your pattern?
- July 30, 2011 at 6:55 PM
- Karen Andreola said...
Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
The pattern is by Sew Liberated: www.sewliberated.com.
The Man-of-the-House, who had popped into "Kindred Quilts" with me, saw the pattern and purchased it. I was quite surprised because he usually has no opinion on such things. It really was about time I had a nice new apron.
I'm looking forward to seeing Joseph's smile in person soon.
Karen A.
- July 30, 2011 at 7:18 PM
- Kimberly Shaffer said...
Such a lovely post Karen, thanks for sharing your bird sighting with us. We are enjoying the humming birds in our garden this month. I was just looking longingly at the Country Diary and now I will be sure to paruse page seven. Thanks for the picture of the Baby, He's beautiful.
Lord Bless you and yours,
- July 30, 2011 at 9:39 PM
- Mrs.Rabe said...
I will now be on the look out for a 'blonde' robin! How interesting.
I have read Village School by Miss Read. I enjoyed it and will need to find the others you mentioned.
Your apron is very nice -
As to Joseph...what a delight! I just want to hold his squishiness!
- July 30, 2011 at 10:38 PM
- seashoreknits said...
Karen, your post reminded me that I had recently read another recommendation of the Miss Read books. So I promptly went on-line to purchase some. I am excited to discover this new (to me) author.
I do own a copy of the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady (another recommendation from you!0 and so I was delighted to look up the reference you cited to the white robin. It was touching to see her concern that the bird might fall prey to someone's gun! We know that "your" white robin will always be safe in your garden!
Thank you for sharing, as always. I simply love your new apron - it looks so sweet and feminine on you. And the grandson? Simply adorable.
Peace for your new week -
- July 31, 2011 at 1:42 PM
- no spring chicken said...
Wherefore the reader of the lady of the house's blog expresses her deep satisfaction with all of the ideas and inspirations presented... and the roly-poly baby!!
Blessings, Debbie
- July 31, 2011 at 2:12 PM
The apron is lovely! Well worth the effort, I'd say.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your Mother Culture CD. You have such a delightful voice!
- July 31, 2011 at 5:27 PM
The apron is very pretty, I am sure it will get much use.The grandson is adorable, so so sweet.I can imagine that soft baby skin as you nuzzle his round little face.Am looking forward to your CD arriving here soon.Have never heard of a blonde robin. Very interesting post, thanks for sharing. God bless your week Karen.
- August 1, 2011 at 9:06 AM
- Mrs. Fordyce said...
The Miss Read books are delightful, aren't they? Have you read any of the Thrush Green series? They are just as lovely as the Fairacre novels.The apron is lovely, and that roly poly little grandson is adorable! What fun!
- August 1, 2011 at 2:57 PM
- Natalie at Maple Leaf Circle said...
Please let us know how the pumpkin zucchinis turn out . . . what a beautiful "conversation vegetable"! I'm looking for the Miss Read books in our library, so hopefully I can enjoy them in these last days of summer. Thank you for the recommendation!
PS - Love the roly poly cherub grandson!
- August 1, 2011 at 8:04 PM
- Amanda said...
...you tell a story with such beauty Karen.
Several things on my mind here.
First, I love that apron! You did a wonderful job on it. Doesn't it make you so happy when your husband loves it too:) Second, what lovely photos you've captured to go along with your sweet story here. I love the black eyed susans in the window. So colorful.
Oh goodness that boy is some kind of handsome. Sweet cheeks indeed:)
And last but not least. During my baby shower, I was gifted with Lesson's at Blackberry Inn. I'm reading it and smitten by it already! I can hardly put it down. I just finished reading the chapter where you quoted the poem "home". How I can't tell you that it spoke right to my heart. too much to say in a small comment box.
- August 1, 2011 at 11:02 PM
- Melissa said...
Ah Miss Read...a beautiful retreat from our daily world.
I've never seen white robins. White squirrels and even a strange cinnamon squirrel (we live where there are grey squirrels and an occasional red squirrel that ventures from regions south of us). The coloring of the cinnamon squirrel reminded me of a roan.
The apron is lovely. I would suggest it was worth the patient effort.
Too bad you can't send the zucchini this way. I planted two hills. One hill never sprouted and the plants on the second hill are rotting before they grow to a reasonable size. I've never had problems with zucchini before.
- August 4, 2011 at 6:13 PM
- Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...
I read this earlier but didn't get a chance to post comment until today. The very day I read it, I was perusing my book shelf and noticed The White Robin! What a coincidence.
I only have a few (hardback) Miss Read books. I had some older paperbacks (not the nice ones put out since Jan Karon helped make her famous) but I gave them away to introduce Miss Read to another.
I love her Christmas books, there are three or four of them. Each a stand alone book... so I have recommended them to friends new to Miss Read.
Hehehe, I have "Country Diary" because of your recommendation a very long time ago. :)
- August 5, 2011 at 7:15 PM
My apron pattern arrived today! You pass along such delightful project ideas.
I've never cut bias tape before. I felt quite uncoordinated as I tried to piece the first sections together. After the first one, it became easy to visualize and pin.
Many thanks,
- August 6, 2011 at 12:35 AM
I loved this post, too. Eager to get a copy of a Miss Read book, and find Lark Rise To Candleford. I was also thrilled to learn about a white robin! Can't wait to show my boys. I was looking at the heading of your blog from across the room as I washed the last stray dishes of the evening, and thought how perfectly it fits your blog. I always feel calmed and encouraged after reading here. I have gotten to your other websites with the articles from this blog, but I can't remember how. I wondered if you had ever considered putting in links to your other sites from this blog. Thank you, Karen!
- August 8, 2011 at 10:57 PM
I'm planning to make a second apron using this pattern, but I'm not making it reversable. I find the reversable one to be too heavy for my liking. We shall see...
- August 9, 2011 at 10:03 AM
- Karen Andreola said...
When I read your comments it is as if you popped 'round for a little chat in my kitchen on the way to the shops or after returning from a child's music lesson. Thank you for sharing my excitement in spotting the white robin.
The poem "Home" I feature in Blackberry Inn gives me goose bumps. It is a good reminder to a young mother to enjoy her children while they are children still.
Our two zucchini plants are beset with mildew but persevere.
To access the articles on Homeschool Highlights click any book in the sidebar, then click "Articles" top left. A widget is needed.
My apron isn't lined either.
Karen A.
- August 12, 2011 at 8:16 AM
- budgeteer said...
How I have been enjoying your blog. I found it because you visited me at Heart for home-making. I don't get much time to blog or go visiting at the moment. As I live in England, UK, I am very familiar with Miss Read. I have all her books and reread most of them over and over. I prefer the Fairacre stories. However, my favourites are 'No Holly for Miss Quinn' and especially 'The Christmas Mouse'
- October 1, 2013 at 3:39 AM


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You are here: Home
/ About USDA / Secretary's Weekly Radio Address
This week, America's farmers and ranchers work hard every day to put healthy food on our tables. Thanks to their incredible productivity, we have the capacity to produce enough food not only for every American family, but for much of the world.
This week, Over the course of 2013 we've seen yet another banner year for U.S. agricultural exports.
This week, American innovation is one of our most special traditions, fueling our nation to new heights over the course of our history. Innovation is critically important in rural America, where research is helping to grow American agriculture, create new homegrown products, generate advanced renewable energy and more.
This week, America's farmers, ranchers and landowners have led the way in recent years to conserve and protect our soil, water and wildlife habitat.
This week, the White House released a new report showing the critical need for Congressional passage of a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill.
One very important reason for Congress to expedite work toward a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill is to continue today's rapid growth in local and regional marketing opportunities for American agriculture.
There are a wide range of important reasons why rural America needs passage of a comprehensive, multiyear Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible.
While rural Americans have already waited too long for passage of a new Food, Farm and Jobs bill, this week brought a promising new development.
It's no secret that agricultural work is tough work - and as America's farm families know, it can be dangerous.
In his weekly radio address Rural America faces tremendous uncertainty today. Congress has not yet passed a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill, and the current extension of 2008 Farm Bill programs will soon expire.


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I have been taking belly dance classes from Malik through the duration of my pregnancy with my third child, as well as before and after. I found bellydance to be a good way to enjoy and embrace being a woman, as well as confidence building. It was a great workout to ease my aches and pains as my belly grew during my pregnancy & extremely helpful in my post partum recovery.
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"Narration was bad"
never would i listen to martin gollery. the voice just didn't agree with me.
unfortunately, it was when the narrator made a mistake, then backed up & repeated the word correctly... 3 times in 15 minutes... no editing? seriously? lol.
just doesn't sound like this is his thing. not believable, poor voice impressions...
love me some audible
"what a great hidden gem!"
I don't understand how this only gets a 4.0 from some people! crazy creative and interesting!
"this series is going downhill"
the actual writing still feels like OSC, but the imagination put into this book doesn't feel remotely close to the first ender series. it's at the point where despite reading the original and a few of the shadow series books, i'm not even sure i'll listen to book #4. :(
"fun little gem for those alive in the 80s!"
this book has lots of fun references to movies, music, games and movies. but it's a fun listen even without knowing all the refs. if you aren't into computer games, this might not be for you.
"nice little gem"
the story and characters weren't overly interesting, but the premise was interesting enough to keep it interesting.
"was hoping for more, but still worth it"
it was a lot like the other area 51 Voss, minus that one name character we all love. nonetheless, the backstory was fun to hear. So I was hoping to hear more about the origins of the swarm
"I couldn't love the premise anymore, but…"
I found myself a little bored at times with this and nexus. there is definitely the set up for a third book, but I'm not sure I will listen to it. there were great parts to this book, but there was a lot of flat and boring parts too. I thought this was going to be a book that I enjoyed re-listening to, but I won't be.
nonetheless, it is a very interesting concept.
"what a great surprise!"
this is a great sci-fi book with some action and fun characters. it kept me interested in finding out what happens next throughout the book.
in addition to the book being fun, it presents a question of what would we do if we (humans) had this technology. i can't wait to read the sequel.
if this book reminds me of influx, daemon and freedom TM. (highly recommended.)
"this book really hooks you and then ..."
... and then it seems the editor took a break halfway through. i really liked the ideas in this book and it had some very creative ideas, but then it becomes hard to follow because it jumps around a bit too much. this made the book lose some of its steam. still, it's definitely worth a listen despite this.
"better than the 1st two and well worth the listen!"
book #2 for me was decent, but was so "blah", i didn't even write a review. it was entertaining but when it was over, i felt no excitement or ... anything. it was just done. in book #3, there seemed to be more emotion and though put into the story. i feel as though it could have been a few hours longer and parts were rushed, but it was good enough to be happy with the purchase.
"how can someone not like this book?"
i really enjoyed this book and practically listened straight through (was on a plane). it has a similar feel to daemon/freedom TM, but has some parts that are disturbingly creative. i was blown away. there were a few areas i would have liked to see played out differently, but i have no hesitation recommending this book. mr suarez has basically hooked me into buying anything he writes. well played, sir.
if you've not read anything by DS, i recommend daemon/freedom TM (2 part series) over this, but i can't see being disappointed in this book. the character development probably lacks a little bit, but the story & problems presented are gripping enough where it hardly matters.
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The Iowa Hawkeyes were defeated on their home turf Saturday by Michigan State. The loss was the first for the Hawkeyes since their season opener.
According to Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, Michigan State's defense made it hard for the Hawks to move the ball up the field.
"We knew that they were a tough team to run the ball against," Ferentz said. "They've been that way for quite some time."
The Michigan State Spartans were the first to put points on the board early in the second half with a 27-yard field goal by Michael Geiger followed by a touchdown by Macqarrett Kings Jr. a few minutes later.
The Hawkeyes made a comeback late in the first half with two touchdown passes from Jake Rudock making the halftime score 14-10 for the Hawks.
But Iowa couldn't hold on to that lead.
Early in the third quarter Connor Cook threw a pass to Bennie Fowler for a 37-yard touchdown bringing the Spartans ahead.
Cook threw 277 yards, a career-high for the sophomore quarterback and completed two touchdown passes during the game.
The Hawkeyes were unable to score at all in the second half and were held to only 23 yards rushing.
Junior running back Mark Weisman ran only nine yards on seven carries for the Hawks, who ultimately lost to the Spartans 26-14.


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'Tis the Season for Flogging Molly
I'm not upset that Chicago doesn't get Flogging Molly for St. Patrick's Day this year. Really, I'm not. Totally.
OK, maybe just a little.
But I'll take them when I can get them.
I wound my way down to the Aragon Ballroom on Saturday to catch the lads again. I try to go every time they're in town. We caught up for a bit before show time, spending a bit of time discussing the finer points of antenna selection amongst other topics. I excused myself for a bit to run another errand and then came back, slapping my pass on just as I heard the first note of "Drunken Lullabies" was struck. I ran upstairs to find every body that could be packed on the floor with drinks raised above their heads, singing along.
I made my way to the mix position to again meet up with long-time tour manager and Front of House Engineer, Aaron Glas. I've seen some legendary shows at the Aragon, but those were mostly in my past. The venue is, how do I say this gently…"acoustically challenged". Er, maybe "a sonic nightmare" would better suffice. It is a building from another time – one when amplifiers and speakers were far from commonplace. For all its failings as an ambient space, Aaron managed to work magic. It helps to have a band as good as Flogging Molly providing the material, of course.
The set list included some newer additions – not necessarily new songs, but some seldom-heard songs ("The Power's Out").


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please please finish the story! i am dying of anticipation!
despite the long pause in updates i do hope you will continue with this story. it is really good. i am thoroughly enjoying it and i hope to be reading more soon!
Love it! I can't wait to read more!
another great chapter! please don't me wait that long again :)
Author's Response: Thnx for the review! :) I wish I could promise an early update but unfortunately my next chapter was corrupted so it needs to be redone. Will do my best to finish sooner..
Hey I just reviewed but I was just wondering what it would take for you to let me beta your story? I'm not really all that interested in becoming a full time beta or anything, or at least not yet, because I've never done it before, but I'd love to give it a try with your story, because I'll be honest with you, (and I promise you this is not me trying to flatter you or suck up at all), but this story is honestly my favorite fan fiction story being written right now! I read A LOT of fan fiction too! Even if you already have a full time beta, maybe I could try like pre-beta'ing it or something so I can see how I do, and decide if it's something I would want to do more often and whether or not I'm good at it, because I've really been looking for a way to get more involved in fan fiction and/or Mugglenet. If it's not a possibility at all then it's perfectly fine I just thought I'd ask since you seem like an extremely cool and nice person, who really cares about your fans and readers! Thank you for your time and I'd really appreciate a response whether it's good or bad. If you did possibly want to talk about it more just say so in your review response and I could just leave you my email or aim screen name or something. Sorry for the long review and thank you again for your time and excellent writing!
Author's Response: First of all, don't apologise for your review, because the longer the review, the happier I am! I think you came at the right time as I would love to find another beta, even if you only want to do it for a short time. Here's my email address, if you have any questions- firstname.lastname@example.com. You sound like a person I could work well with and I look forward to talking to you again. :)
i don't think ive reviewed on this story before, but let me just say, I LOVE IT!!! i just cannot wait for more. when will the next chapter be completed because i just can't stand to wait!! lol keep up the amazing work!
Author's Response: Woo hoo! Another review! *calms down* Ok thanks for your review, as you can see, I love gettin reviews. Anyway, the next chapter is mostly written out, but it will be a while until its beta'd and ready for posting. Sorry to keep you waiting, and I'll do my best to get it up asap. Thanks again and I'm thrilled you love my story. (**,) ~sevylicious
Yay!! An update!! =) A lovely chapter, but that cliffhanger was just not fair!!
Author's Response: Yay! My first review for the chapter! Big whoop for you and 50 house points, really, you made my day. As for the cliffhanger, well, I have to make sure you come back for more somehow.. ;) ~sevylicious
PLEASE UPDATE!!!!! Why are you taking so long? It's an amazingly cool story and I can't wait to read more! I've been waiting for months but nothing's happening! Please don't keep me in any further suspense!
Author's Response: Hey! I'm so sorry to keep u waiting but the chapter is finished, the only snag is, (and I'm not beta bashing here) that I'm still waiting for on 3 of my betas. I really want you to read a good version of my writing so I do rely on all their input. However, if it does look like it will take a while for a response, I will post anyway. I'm glad you're enjoying it and took the time to review, so thanks for that and I will rush to post the next chapter!
Author's Response: The next chapter is done and in the process of being beta'd so hopefully it should be up soon. Sorry to keep you waiting:)
Already reviewed, but the computer ate it! Grrrrr...
Yay - she's back!!!!
Great chappie - my guess for Morgana is Ravenclaw or Griffindor - with a slight lean toward Griffindor, after, of course, being offered Slytherin which she will reject to spite her family.
How is she to pay for her school supplies? Or are you assuming she'll earn enough this weekend to pay?
Looking forward to more..
Author's Response: Yea computers are known to do that at times.. Anyway, thanks for the review as always. Mm, as for her house, well we're just going to have to wait and see. She's got a whole week to get through, so lets hope she'll be able to make enough to get everything she needs in her shopping trip. Will try to update sooner;) ~sevylicious
I'm guessing Slytherin. Can't wait to read more! Well done.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review! It's a pleasure to hear what you think. Hope you keep reading and nice guess with the house, guess we'll just have to wait and see..
yay the long anticipated chapter of dark heiress is up!! =]- I definetly love where the story is going keep up the great storytelling
Author's Response: Thanks for the review! I definitely will try to update faster and do my best to not disappoint you with the story. Pls keep reading and reviewing, it really makes my day;)
Utterly entrancing. You have a real way with words, and so far I absolutely love the plot. Update soon, please!
Author's Response: Thanks for the review it's good to hear from those who enjoy my fic. I'm sorry to reply so late but RL has kept me so caught up lately. Good news is, there's another chapter on it's way that should be up as soon as its been approved by the mods. Please keep reading and reviewing, it's alwyas great to hear what my readers think.
I, like the other chapters, really enjoyed it! Yes it was very much sad and unnerving but I like that she finally left that place! And who oh who could this new person be? A certain hook-nosed teen with a grudge against four certain pranksters??? ;) Great job!
Author's Response: Thanks for the review, am glad you're enjoying it; I know that may sound like a cliché since I say that so often, but it's great to hear when people enjoy your work. rnAs for your idea of the 'new person', well I'm not giving anything way...;)
I Like It!!!!
Author's Response: Thanx! Keep an eye out for the next chapter and keep reviewing!
I am glad that Melantha left her family, they seem to be nothing but a couple of uncaring snobs.
And for her mother to assume that her daughter initiated things between her and Lucius, when he was the one who forced himself on her is stupid!
Apparently, Her mother did'nt really want to be a mother. Treating her child like a piece of trash. Same goes for her father. Such idiots! Thank goodness for the person who came to Melantha's aide. It had to be Sevrus Snape, who has a caring heart....
I really like this story, and Although it is fiction, I cannot help but rail against that poor girll's excuse for parents.
Author's Response: Wow thanks for the cool review as always. The fact that you're getting emotional over a chapter in my fic lets me know that I don't actually suck at writing fan fiction! It's great to know that readers can get so engrossed in reading my work which is a real compliment. Please do keep reading (and reviewing) and I will try not to disappoint!.
Ah, there you are... I was getting worried that I'd never see you again - and never find out the end of this story.
Nice chappie - I was wondering when a certain dark haired wizard would turn up. ;)
Hope you're not too long with another update. C u next time!
Author's Response: Glad you enjoyed that chapter and hope you will the rest. I know it took me a while to update, but between RL, getting the chapter beta'd and going through validation, time does fly. Good news is that 90% of the next chapter has been written so (hopefully) the next update will not be too far away. Don't distress, I too read fics and I know how frustrating it is to wait for the next chapter or find a fic abandoned. I do plan on finishing this fic (actually already have the epilogue written) and will really try to update regularly.
Sneaky Malfoy bastard - but we all saw it coming, didn't we... well, all but Melantha, that is. I suppose only being 16 has it's down side.
Hopefully she has some excellent revenge in store for young Mr Malfoy...
Looking forward to it.
great chapter can't wait till more!
Author's Response: Look out for the latest chapter, A new Beginning, which should be up as soon as it's approved by the mods. As always, thanks for the review.


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FREDRICK in WV
Very comfortable to wear to prevent blisters in harsh riding conditions.Read All Reviews
Kelly in WA
Worked OK not great, but better than without.Read All Reviews
Scott in Washington
I purchased these because I would regularly get blisters or hot spots when I raced our local hare scrambles. I have used the same pair for over two years and they are still working great. They are not bulky like you might think. They are very thin but also very durable. I wash them after each ride and let them air dry with the rest of my gear.Read All Reviews
CASEY in UT
works like it is supposed to and is holding up fineRead All Reviews
Bryan in AB
These save my bum big time. Small is tight, maybe ill go for the medium next time. I love the bum paddingRead All Reviews
Tom in Washington
Just finished a 3000 mile adventure ride thru all types of weather. The materials and weather tight zippers are excellent. Cuffs are big, could seal a little tighter. Good weather proof vented shell, in colder weather, another layer would be advised. I'd give it a 4 1/2 star rating.Read All Reviews


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Oceanaire Seafood Room - Dallas
- Address:
13340 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1369
Dallas, TX 75240Neighborhood:
North Dallas
- Cuisine:
SeafoodPrice: $31 to $50
Oceanaire Seafood Room - Dallas
- Dining Style: Casual Elegant
- Website: http://www.theoceanaire.com/
- Phone: 9727592277
- Hours of Operation:
Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30AM - 5:00PM Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 5:00PM - 10:00PM Friday - Saturday: 5:00PM - 11:00PM Sunday: 5PM - 9PM Reservations Recommended
- Payment Options: AMEX,Diners Club,Discover,MasterCard,Visa
- Cuisine: Seafood, Steakhouse
- Executive Chef: Marc Morton
- Dress Code: Business Casual
- Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
- Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Takeout, Wine
A word from Oceanaire Seafood Room - Dallas
As sleek as a 1930s ocean liner, yet as relaxed as a dinner on the shore, the Oceanaire provides the perfect setting to enjoy Ultra-Fresh seafood, flown in daily from around the world. Sip a Sidecar in the lounge, sidle up to the oyster bar, or kick back in a horseshoe booth before diving into a sea of Ultra-Fresh fish, including steak-cut Alaskan halibut, seasonal favorites like fresh Copper River salmon or hard-to-find delicacies like true Dover sole or bluefin tuna. Our daily-printed menu will guide you, a wine list as deep as the sea will seduce you, and the world's freshest seafood awaits you at the Oceanaire.Continued
Foodspotting photosSee all photos
Awards voted by OpenTable diners
- Diners' Choice WinnerSeafood
Oceanaire Seafood Room - Dallas - Best Restaurants in North Dallas ›
Oceanaire Seafood Room - Dallas reviews from OpenTable diners
170 reviews since June 4, 2014
- Food4.2Service4.3
- Ambiance4.3Noise LevelModerate
special occasion (117)romantic (66)fit for foodies (65)notable wine list (45)good for groups (35)hot spot (17)vibrant bar scene (15)great for lunch (14)neighborhood gem (10)late-night find (7)great for brunch (6)kid-friendly (5)scenic view (4)great for outdoor dining (1)Show More
- Pleasant dining experienceAvicks1Dined on 9/23/2014The oysters were the best thing on the menu! I was pleased with my meal but it has been better in the past. However, the atmosphere was nice and so was the service. I will try again.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- 18AnnivDined on 9/20/2014Our servers were amazing. It was our anniversary and the staff really helped us to have a wonderful evening. They even took a couple of pictures for us. I have the say the salmon was incredible!!! Thanks so much!Special Features:
- Total disaster!MetaDocDined on 9/12/2014Well, it went wrong from the get go! The reservations I made at OpenTable did not even make it to the restaurant, I did call a few minutes before our arrival to make sure we were reserved, only to find out that we were not. They then had to swing us in, resulting in our being place at a table directly in the walking path for all waiters, line staff, and other service employees. My elbows were hit on so many occasions, that my wine split on the out of country government dignitary we were entertaining, and my pregnant wife was kneed in her stomach--all by accident, but still unacceptable! Could not get a manager to stop by the banishment table we were sitting out, to save my life, it was as if they knew we were being punished! Disgusted!
- Night OutAng1972Dined on 9/12/2014My husband and I found ourselves without children on a Friday night. We decided to have an upscale, nice dinner. This was our first time at The Oceanaire, we were very pleased with everything from the moment we walked in. Thank you for helping provide a wonderful, romantic dinner for us. We will be back in the future!Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- excellent dining experiencebobbieDined on 9/12/2014Great food, excellent menu, beautiful restaurant. The only thing that I was dissapointed in was in the comments, when I booked reservation, I said it was my best friends birthday dinner. When they emailed me they acknowledged that it was her birthday dinner but no one ever mentioned anything about her birthday. I prefer restaurants that acknowledge the occasion.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Always specialBandBDined on 9/7/2014Food and service consistently great anytime, especially special occasions!Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- OpenTable Diner Since 2014Dined on 9/6/2014The quality of the fish and the portion size was very poor considering this is their core. Steak houses have better quality with larger portions.
- TedBVIPDined on 9/5/2014You can always depend on a reliably good meal at Oceanaire. Our very astute waiter picked up on the fact that I didn't chose the ceviche appetizer because it was cooked. In describing the fish special, cobia, he happened to mention it was sushi grade and was available as sashimi. It was fresh, crisp, and flavorful. I was pleasantly surprised by the quantity as it was similar to most cooked dishes. That much in a sushi restaurant would have been $150, yet it was priced as the other entrees. Score!! Only negative I have, which happens at some other fine dining establishments in Dallas, is the outrageous cost of valet parking after you've just dropped hundreds of dollars on dinner. Even with validation it still cost too much.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Lobster roll disappointsPattyVIPDined on 9/4/2014There was enough mayo in my lobster roll for four rolls. It was saturated. I have been to Oceanaire many times and this was my first disappointment.Special Features:
- beautifullyteDined on 8/31/2014Great ambiance, food was ok. I would come back to try something different.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Always a favoriteZiggysGirlDined on 8/31/2014The restaurant is one of our go to favorites, and we are never let down. The calamari appetizer is great for 4 guests. We opted for salmon and crab cakes for our entree and both were very pleased. The scalloped potatos were yummy and we had no room for dessert.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Receptionist FabricationsOpenTable Diner Since 2013Dined on 8/30/2014This was restaurant week and we had a certificate for the forth course. Before booking with this restaurant is because I called an spoke with the receptionist and confirmed that they were accepting the forth course certificate on the date of our reservation or we would select another restaurant but she said that the certificated would be accepted. However when we got there they would not accept it, this is an out right fabrication to acquire our business.
- Not ImpressedMediocreDined on 8/29/2014From the service to the food, this place was mediocre. The ambiance was the only thing, somewhat, impressive. I'll stick with places like Ocean Prime, which gives the experience I was expecting from this place. Total waste of time and money!
- FabulousFoodieMTDined on 8/25/2014We had a wonderful meal at Oceanaire. Great bottle of wine suggested by the chef for a reasonable price. The fish was fresh and the combinations were wonderful.Special Features:
- Excellent & so much more!!CRenaeDined on 8/24/2014Our server and the service staff were amazing. They made the environment warm and inviting by providing outstanding customer service. The food was fresh and tasted superb. I would recommend Oceanaire Seafood Room to everyone.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- A little disappointedMri34VIPDined on 8/23/2014The New England clam chowder, salad, bread, and shells and cheese were good. The black and blue trout, Wagyu beef and our desserts left us disappointed. We will most likely not return since this restaurant is expensive.Special Features:
- Average Food, Noisy, ExpensivetrophywifestephDined on 8/23/2014I had heard about Oceanside for years and finally tried it. I was surprised when I walked through the doors at how noisy it was. And it's expensive, "but surely it'll be worth it" I told myself. Unfortunately I was wrong. The food (clam chowder and shrimp and grits (was that brown sauce from a can?) were average at best. To summarize: noisy, expensive and average food. Service was good though.
- CelebrationMellyMel84Dined on 8/23/2014I celebrated my 30th birthday here and it was absolutely wonderful!! The service and food was great. Not to mention they customized the menu to read Happy Birthday to me. I will definitely be returning.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Our server Mia was fabulous!SuzanneVIPDined on 8/23/2014We had Mia the last time we were there and she remembered what we like! Very attentive!Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Not up to par with past experiencesMsMouseDined on 8/23/2014Service was great although attention needs to be paid to the staff's uniforms to be sure they are pressed & crisp. The food was disappointing compared to many other experiences we have had at Oceanaire. Sauces, thick breading and heavy blackening overshadowed the food's natural flavors instead of enhancing them. We believe this experience to be an exception rather than the rule so we will return to see if our hunch is correct.Special Features:
- OpenTable Diner Since 2012Dined on 8/22/2014Thoroughly enjoyed our evening! Dinner was great, service was exceptional!Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Overall experience was average.Mo357Dined on 8/17/2014Service was very good. Clam chowder was supurb, trout NOT so much, and sorbet good. One in party brought food up twice in restaurant's restroom and frequented the toilet at home throughout the night there after. We will NOT be returning.Special Features:
- Decent but not GreatJDH9611Dined on 8/16/2014Feels like a chain restaurant. Food is good but overpriced. Service lacking. Waitress never brought bread, forgot silver ware after clearing appetizers, very FAKE sincerity from staff. I'd go back if somebody else was paying. The food was good - but not a good value and the service and atmosphere didn't compensate for that.Special Features:
- Typical Landry's Mediocre QualitysusangrphxDined on 8/16/2014We started with an acceptable ceviche. Our friend had crab cakes. They had a lot of crab, but were not crispy at all. We had the restaurant week appetizers - avocado salad & clam chowder. Both were delicious. Our main courses were the barbecue shrimp & grits and wagyu sirloin. My shrimp was over cooked; my grits were gummy. Normally we adore wagyu, but this was not any better than any other steak. Our friend shared some of her halibut with a smoked sauce - too smoky & the halibut was overcooked. Our restaurant week desserts - blueberry bread pudding and Smores Chocolate Mousse - were literally inedible. We didn't eat them. Our friends had a chocolate cake that was OK. Overall, I would likely not return except to try the raw oyster bar.
- FABULOUSNATENIGHTFUNDined on 8/15/2014My favorite restaurant in Dallas, the food is beyond delicious! Nate was our waiter...he was amazingly amazing! He was fun, friendly, honest, helpful, and he made our evening feel like we had just made a new friend! The food is always to die for, so fresh and yummy! Thanks for a wonderful night! If you get lucky, you will get to meet Nate too!Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Anniversary dinnerOpenTable Diner Since 2006Dined on 8/15/2014We took my mom and stepdad here to celebrate their 20th anniversary and it was great. They printed special menus with a "happy anniversary " greeting at the top and congratulated them on their anniversary. Service was very attentive, food was excellent and although it was a vibrant scene, it wasn't too loud to carry on a conversation. Seafood is very fresh with so much to choose from. I recommend this restaurant.Special Features:
- Accommodating staff, pretty settingMeddlesomeMomDined on 8/15/2014We reserved a table near the entrance, in a quiet area. The hostess seating us made sure that our party was comfortably situated, including our guest of honor, an older person with a walker. We enjoyed the ambience. It's bright enough for anyone to read the menu! Our food was reasonably good--fresh oysters especially tasty. My halibut was cooked overlong and dry--my only real complaint, but at over $40 a serving, I'd hoped for better.Special Features:
- splendid as alwaysTwiceOnTuesdaysDined on 8/15/2014I have visited about six Oceanires and continue to always enjoy my experience. Service is always top-notch and the quality of seafood is typically excellent with an obsession to quality. Wonderful ambiance and wine list. I will say that my most recent experience was a bit of an aberration considering the Maine sea scallops I ordered were rubber-like. I did not want to send them back but would have been justified in doing so. Everyone else's food was terrific (one had halibut, another sole, and another had crab legs). We were celebrating my niece's 17th birthday and the wait staff made for such a fun and memorable evening.... in spite of the subpar scallops, I look forward to going back.Special Features:
- Date NightKDowneyDined on 8/14/2014Date Night was a hit! Thanks to Daniel for being such an attentive, but not to imposing server. Atmosphere, food & service, a real experience!Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Great place for business lunchToddDined on 8/14/2014My first visit to Oceanaire. We had a lunch meeting with a new client and found the atmosphere, food, and service to be excellent. A big plus was the ability to hold a conversation at normal levels which is not possible at the more popular restaurants. The ambience is upscale and this would be a nice place to have dinner with friends or a significant otherSpecial Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Not outstanding but great serviceSugasmommaDined on 8/13/2014We went to the Oceanaire for the first time to take advantage of a gift card and restaurant week. The oysters, which are one of the premiere items on the menu were nothing special. My husband ordered the halibut. It was very good but a very small portion for the price!! I had shrimp & grits which were yummy. The bread tasted like it had been warmed up in the microwave...spongy & chewy. The desserts were average. Our server was very knowledgeable, We won't return.Special Features:
- Excellent 4 1/2 StartsJoey9999Dined on 8/11/2014Excellent and Fresh Seafood - great wait staff - great ambiance
- Great food and service!CSalDined on 8/11/2014Our waiter, Nathan, was phenomenal! He was knowledgeable about the menu and made our experience extremely enjoyable! We will definitely be back.Special Features:
- Terribly DisappointingPottressVIPDined on 8/10/2014I invited 2 friends to join me here for dinner to kick off Restaurant Week. The food was mediocre at best. I've only eaten here twice and that has been my experience both occasions. I doubt I'll ever return.
- Restaurant Week ChoiceHungry1Dined on 8/10/2014My choice for Restaurant Week turned into a disappointment. There were 7 in our party, we tried everything on the special menu but the steak. We don't eat spicy- so the entrees marked "Dirty" had the sauces and spices on the side. The trout was dry and came on the plate with a sprig of parsley. The salmon, also dry, came with some rice. The shrimp were tasteless according to my husband, but came with rice. We started with clam chowder- the only success of the night. The desserts - sorbet: very good, PB&J donuts were stale, bread pudding with blueberry compote was dry. If this meal was designed to get us back- it failed.
- OpenTable Diner Since 2014Dined on 8/9/2014This is our special occasion restaurant. We have never been disappointed.Special Features:
- Love this place!!OpenTable Diner Since 2013Dined on 8/9/2014I always look forward to a special celebration due to the fact our family picks this place over all other restaurants in the area.Special Features:
- Fresh & DeliciousMaryJDined on 8/2/2014My husband and I had our anniversary dinner here, and it was lovely. We each had Chef's Selections - mine was sockeye salmon with fried rice, his was the scallops with mushroom risotto. I had the clam chowder as an appetizer and it was wonderful. I gave 3 stars for ambience only because I could've done without the TV screens. They weren't too terribly loud but seemed out of place for such a nice restaurant.Special Features:
- Great ExperienceOpenTable Diner Since 2008Dined on 7/31/2014Everything was spectacular! Don't miss the crab cake appetizer!Special Features:
- AcereDined on 7/31/2014Food was not worth the $325 that I paid for two persons (fish was over cooked and veggies too salty) and our server was too busy talking with another couple during our entire time at the restaurant on 07/31/2014. He apparently knew them from a previous visit. It was so bad that we heard the other couple tell our server that maybe he should ignore all their questions and go attend his other patrons. The restaurant could certainly use better cleaning. Our booth had several food spots on the seating surfaces. The Oceanaire in Denver, Colorado was superior to the Dallas restaurant in every aspect.


text:
Local feminist author to speak at Blaine library
By Tara Nelson
In 1994, three book-loving friends, Jesse Larsen, Erica Bauermeister and Holly Smith, wanted a convenient, content-rich guide to the great works of female authors. So they decided to write one themselves.
From Sylvia Plath's pre-suicidal book Bell Jar and Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man is Hard to Find, to Elaine Brown's autobiography, A Taste of Power, about the seeming irrelevance of a woman's place in the Black Panther Party, 500 Great Books by Women showcases some of the most notable works by women writers ranging from contemporary to as far back as the 13th Century.
The easy-to-navigate book is organized by 21 subjects ranging from art and violence to mothering and growing old. It also contains separate indexes on books by author, title, and country as well as genre.
Larsen, a Seattle native and self-proclaimed "working-class feminist" said she began writing at a young age but did not publish her first book until the age of 50.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in writing from Antioch University in Seattle in 1992. Later that year, she moved to Vermont to complete the Masters of Fine Arts degree in writing and literature at Goddard College in 1995. She moved to Bellingham in 2004 and will speak at Blaine's public library at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 26. Admission is free.
Q: What inspired you to co-write this book?
A: "When I started Antioch, my first advisor suggested I study the literary tradition of working class women writers.
I was eager to do this but as I quickly discovered, there were no easy ways to find the authors whose works I needed to read. I wanted a book that would introduce me to the many women in my literary tradition.
"So, as Alice Walker tells us, when we need a book that isn't written yet, it is up to us to write it. I started the book as an independent study project during my last year at Goddard. Then I met and began working with Erica and Holly and together we wrote an important book for everyone."
Q: In your book, you describe yourself as a "working-class feminist." Explain.
A: "When I call myself a working-class feminist, I mean that I place class, gender, and race at the center of my inquiry and worldview."
Q: What is one of your favorite books and why?
A: "I love too many books to have a single favorite but Alice Munro is my favorite author and I still dearly love Lynda Berry's book, The Good Times Are Killing Me."
Q: Can you give us a sneak peek into your next novel, "Shifting Sideways"?
A: "My novel, Shifting Sideways, is about a working-class American family and has since grown into a multi-volume work that is still in progress. The first volume, All Mama Wanted, is finished but is yet unpublished."
Larsen's book is available at Amazon.com and at the library. Larsen's web site is located at www.jesselarsen.com.


text:
7 U.S. Code § 1381 to 1382 - Omitted
Section 1381, acts Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, title III, § 381,52 Stat. 66; Apr. 7, 1938, ch. 107, § 12,52 Stat. 204, related to cotton price adjustment payments with respect to 1937 cotton crop, and to transfer of pledged cotton of 1937 crop to Commodity Credit Corporation. Subsec. (c) ofsection 1381, which authorized sale of pledged cotton by Commodity Credit Corporation, was repealed by act July 3, 1948, ch. 827, title II, § 202(b),62 Stat. 1255.
Section 1381a, act June 16, 1938, ch. 464, title I, 52 Stat. 745, which was not a part of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, related only to payments for 1937 crops.
Section 1382, act Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, title III, § 382,52 Stat. 67, required the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide for the extension, from July 31, 1938, to July 31, 1939, of 1937 cotton loan.
The table below lists the classification updates, since Jan. 3, 2012, for this section. Updates to a broader range of sections may be found at the update page for containing chapter, title, etc.
The most recent Classification Table update that we have noticed was Tuesday, August 13, 2013
An empty table indicates that we see no relevant changes listed in the classification tables. If you suspect that our system may be missing something, please double-check with the Office of the Law Revision Counsel.
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text: This quiet private residential area, located at only 500 m from the sea and 35 km from Barcelona, hosts brand new independent and terraced houses, surrounded by a perfectly harmonized natural environment. Each house has four bedrooms, a large dining room with a study area, a living room with access to the garden and swimming pool, a fully equipped kitchen with breakfast area, three parking places in the basement floor, a large playroom and a utility room. Extras: house automation, air conditioning (independent on each floor), centralized automatic blinds, automatic irrigation system, parket floors. Plots surfaces from 590 to 993 square meters. Prices from 830.000 € to 949.000 €.


text:
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There are no 2005 Jaguar S-Type reviews. However, the following might be helpful:
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Grace and Pace by DesertJagMan on 06/17/2012. Trim: 2005 Jaguar S-Type 4.2 R, Owned 3 years.
Pros: Have had many cars (BMW, Porsche, Lincoln) - the last four (4) have been Jags and three (3) of those have been R models. Had a 2003 "R" that I purchased new and loved - so replaced it with a newer model. The 2005 S-type R is one of the all-time best. Comfortable for long trips, decent mileage, well-appointed interior and great paint. Looks good - Rides well - Spirited Acceleration. Just makes me feel good to get in and drive it. The R-Models have been greatly under-rated and under-appreciated. Quality is top notch - no more the days of old when Jags didn't maintain proper standards. The car is a pleasure.
Cons: I wouldn't mind another 50 horsepower - but when this was built (7 years ago) 390-400 was just about as good as it got for a performance sedan.
Overall review: Would recommend the marque to anyone. Grace and Pace. Gorgeous. The ads have it right.
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Die Hard or Go Home: Saving the Die Hard Franchise
Posted by
Trevor Snyder
on 02.26.2013
Many fans are understandably calling for John McClane to hang it up after the dreadful
A Good Day to Die Hard
. But could a sixth film still save the series and allow the iconic character to go out on a high note? 411's Trevor Snyder examines...
"Few fans of the series would disagree that this sclerotic fifth installment should probably be the last."
Dana Stevens, Slate
"This would be a good day to kill this franchise for ever."
Roz Laws, Birmingham Post
"One of the great action franchises in movie history not only delivers its first bomb, it puts a crater in the franchise so large I fear it can't be rebuilt."
Bob Grimm, Tucson Weekly
"The well has certainly dried up for the
Die Hard
Julian Roman, MovieWeb
"Loud, insultingly low-concept, and irony-free... today may be the perfect day to take
Die Hard
out back and put a bullet in its head."
Jeff Meyers, Metro Times – Detroit, MI
"This series needs to die here. That would be something to "Yippee Ki-Yay" about."
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"If this is going to get passed off as a
Die Hard
movie, it's a good day to kill off the franchise."
Nolan Woodford, 411mania
Die Hard
is dead."
Devin Faraci, Badass Digest
A Good Day to Die Hard
is a bad movie. In fact, forget "bad" - it's depressingly terrible, especially if you happen to be a big fan of the
Die Hard
series. Poorly directed, and written by
worst screenwriter in the business, it's a movie that seems almost DESIGNED to anger fans of the franchise. And this is coming from a guy that quite liked
Live Free or Die Hard
(most people I know usually agree that, when taken on its own merits, the fourth film was a fun enough summer action movie…I have a feeling its standing in the eyes of fans is about to take a HUGE leap up now that this fifth one has come along).
A Good Day to Die Hard
is NOT, however, is an appropriate end to the
Die Hard
saga. Or, at least, it shouldn't be, no matter what numerous detractors are claiming. Bruce Willis has been saying for a while now that he would like do six
Die Hard
movies and then hang up the John McClane character for good. After watching
A Good Day to Die Hard
, it's easy to look at that as more of a threat than a promise. But here's the thing – no matter how awful that fifth film was (and, again, it was mighty awful), I don't
to dread the next one. It's just not a good feeling not to be excited for a new
Die Hard
movie. And besides, I sure as hell don't want
A Good Day to Die Hard
to stand as McClane's final cinematic adventure. We can't really let him go out like this, can we?
In the immediate wake of this travesty, it's easy to question whether a sixth and final film is really a good idea. I remain convinced it could be…as long as some crucial steps are taken in the development of the next movie. Don't forget,
Rocky V
was an embarrassment, as well, and that series was able to rebound with a much more fitting finale. James Bond has been bouncing back from lackluster entries for years. There's no reason not to believe
Die Hard
couldn't do the same. It's just clear that, given how this last one turned out, A LOT of work is going to have to go into crafting a truly worthwhile sixth and final
Die Hard
film (my personal pick for a title –
Die Hard or Go Home
, or maybe
Die Hard or Die Trying
). I don't claim to have all the answers for how to make up for
A Good Day to Die Hard
, but here are six key elements those involved with McClane's next adventure need to keep in mind if they really want to deliver the epic send-off we're all hoping for:
Ironically, the one essential ingredient to a new
Die Hard
movie is also the most potentially destructive. Don't get me wrong –Willis
McClane, and we all love him for it. But the Willis of today is arguably not the same Willis we fell in love with back in the early days of the series. Even putting aside Kevin Smith's stories of how difficult Willis is to work with (which is kind of easy to do because, quite frankly, who really wants to take Kevin Smith's side against John F'N McClane?), it's hard to look at some of Willis' recent output and not have doubts about his present motivation. I'm not saying
Willis movie during his prime was a home run, either, but can you imagine
Die Hard with a Vengeance
-era, or even
Sixth Sense
-era Willis agreeing to star in films as forgettable as last year's
The Cold Light of Day
Fire with Fire
? What's that? You didn't hear of those? Oh, that's probably because they were the latest in a string of straight-to-DVD Bruce films! That's right...Bruce Willis is starring in straight-to-DVD movies, as if he's Steven Seagal or something.
Now, I'm not saying Willis has gotten lazy, but…well, actually, I guess I am saying that. Heck, I even wrote an
entire article
about it last year. I mean, did anyone else notice that in
A Good Day to Die Hard
, whenever McClane and son were running away while under enemy fire, Willis could hardly even be bothered to duck down? Hell, the most exciting action shots of McClane were either almost certainly stunt doubles, or
a CGI Willis.
But, hey, he's playing an older McClane, so I can live with Willis not wanting to do too much crazy physical work in a sixth
Die Hard
. All things considered, it might even be more appropriate for the character's age. The real problem is that Willis' vision of the series no longer seems to match up with what the fans want to see. At some point after
Die Hard with a Vengeance
, Willis mistook the audience's elevation of McClane to cinematic icon to mean that they wanted him to turn into a superhero type character. Keep in mind that, at the time of its release, Willis said
Live Free or Die Hard
was the
film in the series, and that he was personally involved with the development of
A Good Day to Die Hard
, as well. I'm guessing it's the unfortunate influence of his good buddies Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, but whatever the case, Willis doesn't view John McClane as an "everyman" hero anymore. He wants to portray him as an indestructible superman (and, judging by the evidence in the latest film, he wants to do so with the least amount of onscreen effort possible). All this nonsense about the larger stakes of these "21st century
Die Hard
" movies – a term Willis and the current producers keep tossing around – is even more baffling given that it ignores the fact that the original Die Hard is STILL the one fans keep returning to and re-watching over and over. Can't the man see we want more of THAT?
The good news is, Willis doesn't appear to be a complete lost cause. The potential for greatness is still there. Sure, there were the aforementioned straight-to-DVD stinkers, but last year also saw Willis deliver excellent work in both
Moonrise Kingdom
. What did those two films have in common? Both were guided by the vision of a strong-minded filmmaker. Guys like Wes Anderson and Rian Johnson can get great performances from Willis because, most likely, they're not willing to just sit behind the monitor and let him coast by with little effort (like, say, Kevin Smith was). This mentality needs to be applied to the new
Die Hard
on every level, starting with the producing. Willis himself has been the one consistent guiding hand through all five
Die Hard
movies, but the sixth movie – at least on the behind-the-camera side – needs to be wrestled away from him and put in the hands of people who actually care about giving this series a fitting finale. For instance, did you know Joel Silver was a producer on the first two
Die Hard
movies? Why not try to bring him back to wrap it up? Sure, Silver has had his share of duds, but I've got to believe he would never have let a
Die Hard
movie under his control sink to the depths of
A Good Day to Die Hard
. Find a strong producer like Silver to steer the pre-production ship, and while you're at it:
You'd think this would go without saying. But Willis and company obviously thought John Moore was a decent choice for
A Good Day to Die Hard
, so apparently not. Now, to be fair, there was nothing in Moore's previous filmography to suggest he would deliver the sort of incoherent, nauseating shaky-cam action sequences that sunk the movie…but there was nothing to suggest he would make a
movie, either. Moore's career has been underwhelming at best. He's the guy you hire when you have an OK little action script that you want to quickly make for a modest budget and make a nice little return investment on, without putting too much thought into it. He is NOT the guy you give the keys to one of the biggest action franchises in history to. And, while I personally don't have anything against Len Wiseman and thought he did a fine enough job with his
Die Hard
entry, I think you need to shoot much higher for a sixth and final movie.
The conventional wisdom among many
Die Hard
fans right now seems to be to bring John McTiernan back for the grand finale. On one level, I understand that thinking, but on the other hand I can't help but wonder how distracting McTiernan's recent legal problems will continue to be in the foreseeable future, and how much it might effect his attention while making a new movie (to say nothing of the fact that he hasn't directed anything since 2003). We had our great times with McTiernan and
Die Hard
– I think it's probably time to move on.
Again, just like I haven't given up on Bruce himself, I think there's still a good chance you could hit a home-run with choice of director here. Consider what Sam Mendes did with
. I'm not sure any directors of
caliber are interested in a sixth
Die Hard
, but you can't tell me that a number of talented action directors out there weren't inspired by this series growing up, and wouldn't love the opportunity to put their own stamp on it (as was the case with Mendes and Bond). If this is truly going to be the last
Die Hard
, put it in the hands of someone who is going to blow us away. My personal choice would be
The Raid: Redemption
's Gareth Evans, but for a more thinking-outside-the-box choice, why not ask Rian Johnson if he's interested? We've already seen with
that he can get good work out of Willis, and a
Die Hard
film would seem to fit into his apparent desire to constantly try out different genres. Those are just two decent options…I'm sure there are others (if we're going with my idea for Joel Silver as producer, maybe he could bring along Shane Black to write and direct?). My point is, you don't have to aim low and just bring in a journeyman director. Give this to someone with a real vision, and let
Die Hard 6
be this series'
DON'T JUST IGNORE LUCY AND JACK McCLANE
I bet a lot of fans will be calling for a sixth film to completely abandon McClane's offspring, preferring him return to lone-wolf hero. While I DO agree that McClane should spend most of the film's action scenes by himself, I think it would be a mistake to forget these two altogether. It's too much of an easy cop-out just to dump them from the franchise, even if you didn't like the last couple films. Besides, Mary Elizabeth Winstead has actually been quite charming in her brief appearances as Lucy (and I don't want to meet anyone who would be against more Winstead in anything), and Jai Courtney did his best with what little the script offered him in
A Good Day to Die Hard
. Neither have done anything to deserve being cut out of the picture.
Besides, not only has the franchise firmly established their characters now, but the fourth and fifth films have also established a new major theme for McClane – repairing his family. This is, thematically, a strong motivation, and one that still works even despite the recent films' failings. For the narrative of McClane's current journey to feel complete, the final movie should not only feature both kids (even if in reduced roles), but should also definitely bring back Bonnie Bedelia as Holly. C'mon, man, think of everything John McClane has given us over the years. Is it too much to ask to let the guy end the series happy, reunited with his wife and children? I don't think so.
By the way, this also means DO NOT KILL JOHN McCLANE!! I know a bunch of fans are going to say it's the only appropriate ending, but that's just typical cynical fanboy BS. I like a depressing ending as much as the next guy, but it's not suitable for every story. I never liked the rumored idea of a fifth
Lethal Weapon
film that would kill off Riggs and Murtaugh, and I don't like the idea of killing off John McClane. These characters deserve happy endings. That being said…
BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF JOHN McCLANE
I might not want the dude to die, but I damn sure want him beat to holy hell, covered in blood and barely able to walk by the end of whatever ordeals he faces in the next movie.
This obviously goes back to what I was saying about Willis' bizarre obsession with making McClane seem invulnerable. We saw it slightly tip that way in
Live Free or Die Hard
, though not nearly as much as that film's critics will have you believe (watch it again and you'll see McClane actually takes quite a beating in the movie, before eventually having to shoot himself through the shoulder to save the day). But
A Good Day to Die Hard
officially tipped McClane over to full
mode. In the span of one minute, McClane gets out of a truck that has flipped and rolled numerous times without a scratch on him, and is then immediately hit dead-on by another car…which he also gets right up from as if nothing has happened!! Are you kidding me? This is
shit right here. It's simply not that interesting to watch any hero with that level of invulnerability, and especially not John McClane. In the first
Die Hard
, some glass in his bare feet damn near incapacitated the man. It felt real, and made us care more about him. This can't really be that tough to figure out, right?
DON'T IGNORE McCLANE'S HISTORY
One of the most frustrating things about the last two
Die Hard
movies is how they seem determined to distance themselves from the original trilogy…not just stylistically, but also in terms of the character's own history. It might have been a mistake for
Die Hard 2
to copy the first film's formula as closely as it did, but there was also something to be said for the continuity of seeing not only Holly, Al Powell and Richard Thornburg return, but also acknowledgment of what McClane went through a couple years ago. That continuity was also felt in
Die Hard with a Vengeance
simply by virtue of having Simon Gruber as the villain.
For whatever reason,
Live Free or Die Hard
didn't seem all that interested in painting John McClane as the infamous figure he almost certainly SHOULD be by now. Heck, there was even a scene where the villainous Gabriel uses his computer hacking skills to peek into McClane's personal life, and he doesn't seem to notice ANYTHING about the previous three times McClane has dealt with this kind of thing. Likewise, aside from some offhanded comments by Jack about how "killing bad guys" is John's biggest talent, the most recent film also fails to indicate how commonplace this is all becoming for the guy.
Die Hard
is a series that should still feel a little grounded in reality, and for us to accept that reality you need to show us that not only is this is a guy who has lived through all this crap, but that other people are aware of it as well.
What if, in the sixth film, McClane is now retired, but has become a minor celebrity after writing a book about his exploits (a book that Lucy put him up to writing, by the way, since there's no way that would ever be
idea)? It might be fun to see McClane's exasperation whenever he is recognized on the street...particularly if it keeps happening while he's also involved in battling those aforementioned "bad guys." It would be a nice, subtle meta-commentary on the character's iconic status, while also allowing for a few references to the previous movies.
And speaking of continuity, we come to the final crucial element for a successful sixth and final
Die Hard
This is where I suspect I might lose some of you, as I imagine many will consider the idea of yet another Gruber coming for revenge against McClane to be a little too cute. And you know what…I don't necessarily disagree. But in terms of a conclusion to the
Die Hard
saga, I think it's the right kind of cute.
What started with a Gruber must end with a Gruber, the old saying goes (or at least it will, if they listen to me and make this movie). There's a certain kind of lyrical poetry that would come from ending McClane's cinematic saga with another Gruber as the main villain – it would call back to our best memories of the series, as well as insinuate a sort of (believable) destiny/fate that kicked in for McClane when he first encountered Hans all those years ago. Now, the reveal of yet ANOTHER brother might be a bit of a stretch…but perhaps a sister? Or, better yet…Hans and Simon's father. I know what you're thinking – wouldn't that dude be hella old? Yes, he would…which would make him even scarier. An elderly man in the twilight of his life decides his last act on this earth must be to destroy the man who robbed him of both his sons (but not, perhaps, before first trying to mentally destroy McClane by targeting HIS children…see, I told you there was still a place for Jack and Lucy). For once, it's not at all about money…it's about pure revenge and the death of John McClane. And the fact that the elder Gruber most likely intends to die himself (or is at least at peace with the idea) makes the scenario extra chilling. Just imagine, oh, I don't know…Werner Herzog in this role. Willis vs. Herzog? Can you honestly tell me that doesn't already sound a lot better than anything we saw in
A Good Day to Die Hard?
Now, granted, old-man Gruber probably isn't going to be the guy you want running around actually taking it to McClane throughout the entire movie. You'll want a good secondary villain for that role, perhaps a Gruber cousin or just somebody absolutely loyal to the Gruber family for some reason. I'm thinking a Mads Mikkelsen type would be good here. Having two featured villains also gives Jack his own big villain to kill, if you decide to go that route in the third act.
So there you have it – a number of moves that I honestly believe could send this series out with the respect it deserves. You'll notice one thing I didn't harp on was the necessity of an R rating. Obviously, given the more intense, revenge-driven story I'm advocating, I would
an R…but considering how superior the PG-13
Live Free or Die Hard
was to the R-rated
A Good Day to Die Hard
, it doesn't seem like something worth fixating on right now. Concentrate on a compelling story and exciting actions sequences first;
we can work out how much swearing and actual bloodshed the movie requires.
Oh, one more…it wouldn't hurt to throw a Reginald VelJohnson cameo in there, even if it's just a mid-credits scene showing McClane and Powell fishing together or something. C'mon, you know you'd dig it.
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